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Both 13-Inch and 11-Inch MacBook Air Models Next Week?

eurisko said:
Hi there if i could place a bet on a 11.6"/12" macbook it would be this:

699$ for HDD 899$ SSD

I think 899 it's a good price point.
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I would laugh now, but I'm refraining until Wednesday.
$799 is a better price point, tho.
Why not $299?
Or $.99?

You guys dream of some alternate reality that Apple never has stepped into.

$100 off is, to Apple, a drastic price reduction. Expect these things to be $999 (and up) IF LUCKY. I suspect $1099. Maybe if Apple drastically cuts down the ports and makes a pad it could be $899 for the lowest, but that's entering the alternate universe of po'boys.
 
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In taking about everything that would make the air ideal and with all the talk of Apple "cloud" everything... A good evolutionary product would give the iWorks suite a cloud presence as well some other apps to allow for lower computer storage specs.
 
Piggie said:
I do wonder how many people actually get a kick out of Apple's pricing and would not want them to cost less, costing more may even be better?

Like a perfume that's sold way above what it's worth, just to keep it slightly exclusive.

I recall some time ago watching on Television about this and talks with some top perfume creators and they admitted that if they kept the same product but lowered the price then they would sell less as people don't want to to be available cheap to everyone and get a kick out of the fact that they can afford to have it and others cannot.

Logically you would think Apple could make a MUCH lower cost MacBook (basically the same spec as most Windows Laptops) but just make the tiny change to allow OSX to run on it (which some have done anyway as a Hackintosh) and open themselves up to a whole new marketplace of buyers who want a cheap laptop but cannot afford Apple prices.

Exactly the same as a guy I work with who wants to buy his boy a laptop for Christmas but the cheapest Macbook is almost twice the price he can afford to pay.

The crazy thing is, I suspect many people here would hate Apple to make such a device as then it will take some of the "special feeling" away from them as being superior in owning an expensive Apple product. Even though they don't have to buy the cheap version.

They just don't want others to have the same thing as they do.

Which is kinda sad.
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I think there's a lot of truth in this. The way 'some' mac users lord their choice of OS over the 'unwashed masses'.

The MBA has been an overpriced netbook since launch. Those people who bought it could only have done so to massage their own ego - this product as a computer at that price, just doesn't stack up.

Every now and then Apple launch a product which is truly innovative and superior - the original ipod and iphone - however it's been a long time since they've done that with their computers.
 
mutantteenager said:
I think there's a lot of truth in this. The way 'some' mac users lord their choice of OS over the 'unwashed masses'.

The MBA has been an overpriced netbook since launch. Those people who bought it could only have done so to massage their own ego - this product as a computer at that price, just doesn't stack up.

Every now and then Apple launch a product which is truly innovative and superior - the original ipod and iphone - however it's been a long time since they've done that with their computers.
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My problem is, I will only buy a Apple product if it's BETTER than a competing product. Yes, I appreciate that you have to pay more for construction quality and design.

But I'm not going to pay extra for better build, and better design, but a technically worse product.

I think Apple should match the PC world, then add on design and build quality THEN change more. Not make a technically poor device and change more.

iPhone and iPad are examples of two products that tick my box for how Apple products should be.
 
My wish for Macbook ( Pro ) upgrade:
* USB3
* small 4GB / 8GB fast flash ram to install OSX for quick boot times / OS IO operations
* High Res screen as default
 
mutantteenager said:
I think there's a lot of truth in this. The way 'some' mac users lord their choice of OS over the 'unwashed masses'.

The MBA has been an overpriced netbook since launch. Those people who bought it could only have done so to massage their own ego - this product as a computer at that price, just doesn't stack up.

Every now and then Apple launch a product which is truly innovative and superior - the original ipod and iphone - however it's been a long time since they've done that with their computers.
Click to expand...

The reason I bought MBA had nothing to do with ego and everything to do with having a Mac in my bag that didn't give me shoulder ache. People who assume because of its size the MBA is nothing more than eye candy are completely misinformed. I was able to use Logic, Adobe Creative suite and also perform some last minute polishing of After Effects at times when heading back to the Mac Pro at home just wasn't an option. MBA delivered something that still to this day is not available in any other product - unless you're happy to settle for less which I'm not.
 
ibosie said:
The reason I bought MBA had nothing to do with ego and everything to do with having a Mac in my bad that didn't give me shoulder ache. People who assume because of its size the MBA is nothing more than eye candy are completely misinformed. I was able to use Logic, Adobe Creative suite and also perform some last minute polishing of After Effects at times when heading back to the Mac Pro at home just wasn't an option. MBA delivered something that still to this day is not available in any other product - unless you're happy to settle for less which I'm not.
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I thought the same until I tried the new Sony Z ... it leaves the MacBook Air so far behind.
 
entatlrg said:
I thought the same until I tried the new Sony Z ... it leaves the MacBook Air so far behind.
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Well I haven't used one so it's a bit rich for me to disagree. I'm only interested in running OSX - especially for Logic and Final Cut.
 
I really hope this event is a good day for the MacBook Air.

I'd like to see it replace the MacBook. It seems pure fantasy to hope they can price the new smaller air at $899, but if they do, it will be big.

IMHO, the best part of the MacBook Air is that it has no SuperDrive. All that wasted space for an increasingly niche feature, traded off for far better performance/weight ratio, and room for larger batteries.

Apples MacBookPros would benefit greatly from a complete redesign that does not use the DVD drive. I know, I know. Online fanbois will cry fowl, and mix in tired rants about bluray (get over it, never happening).

All they would have to do is revamp the old MBA SuperDrive accessory to work with all Mac notebooks. This would allow for the 3 times per year that you actuality need the drive for installing software or whatever.

If you're the type of person who leaves the laptop all day on a desk burning DVDs, I dare to say attaching the USB accessory is not a big deal.

For most people, the trade offs would be highly desirable. Instead of having to work around the huge optical drive, MacBook pros could cram in far better hardware, that would improve the experience far beyond what a DVD drive does for you today.
 
entatlrg said:
I thought the same until I tried the new Sony Z ... it leaves the MacBook Air so far behind.
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I don't know what the Sony Z is, but I do know that it does not run OSX. So, regardless of what it is, it's already less desirable to me.

There are lots of choices on the market, and one that I've made is OSX. So whatever ships with OSX, is what I have to choose from.
 
abcborges said:
No retina display?
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Apple's only retina display is 3.5" long. What makes people think they can achieve that pixel density at any larger size, let alone 12-14"???

The next retina display we'll see will likely show up on the 7" iPad. Even that would be a huge accomplishment.
 
Piggie said:
My problem is, I will only buy a Apple product if it's BETTER than a competing product. Yes, I appreciate that you have to pay more for construction quality and design.

But I'm not going to pay extra for better build, and better design, but a technically worse product.

I think Apple should match the PC world, then add on design and build quality THEN change more. Not make a technically poor device and change more.

iPhone and iPad are examples of two products that tick my box for how Apple products should be.
Click to expand...

I think the way Apple designs computers is much better than simply taking the latest and greatest CPU/GPU and try to make a working design from there. I know it is Apple propaganda, but after using the MBP for a year and comparing it to the laptops in the PC world, I can definitely tell Apple designs with user experience in mind first, and raw tech specs second. Just take the trackpad for example. I used to hate working on laptops because of the stupid mouse pads. But on the macbook, the trackpad is so good and allows me to work so efficiently and effortlessly, I actually prefer using it over a mouse. Why haven't any PC manufacturers adopted a similar trackpad yet? It can't be that hard, so I have to assume it's just because simple things that improve the user experience are not on their list of priorities.

What are most people looking for in a laptop? I'd wager it isn't the latest Intel CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a big power hungry discrete GPU. They want something that is light, cool, comfortable to use, has a long battery life, and something that looks nice to boot. Doesn't the 13" MBP hit all these points? Would explain why it sells so well.

That isn't to say Apple isn't guilty of holding back tech just for the sake of it. They definitely gimped the white macbook with only 2GB of RAM, which clearly puts pressure on people to buy the MBP instead. I think that is shameless. There is no reason why every macbook should not ship with 4GB or RAM in 2010. It is not a premium feature anymore.
 
It will be too much dreaming to expect a dual or hybrid OS as in iOS/Lion on the smaller MBA? I will love the idea and it will be something they did before with OS 9 and OS X introduction.
 
My hope for the perceived new MBA is rather simple:

:apple: Considerably lower cost, maybe around $999.
:apple: Increased RAM capacity
:apple: Continue with the 13" model (make an 11" if they want, but keep the 13" too)

Other than that, I don't have any crazy expectations. I am still debating on a MBA or an iPad. Mainly for blogging and other writing.
 
Lesser Evets said:
I would laugh now, but I'm refraining until Wednesday.
$799 is a better price point, tho.
Why not $299?
Or $.99?

You guys dream of some alternate reality that Apple never has stepped into.

$100 off is, to Apple, a drastic price reduction. Expect these things to be $999 (and up) IF LUCKY. I suspect $1099. Maybe if Apple drastically cuts down the ports and makes a pad it could be $899 for the lowest, but that's entering the alternate universe of po'boys.
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It's easy to find a 200$ margin.

For example this notebook i bought:

Acer Aspire 1810TZ
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor SU4100 1.4G
Motherboard Chipset: Intel GS45 + ICH9MS
Memory Capacity: 3GB
Hard disk capacity: 320GB
Screen size: 11.6 inches 1366x768
Graphics chip: Intel GMA X4500 HD
LAN: Built-in 10-100-1000M card
Wireless: 802.11n wireless card, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Built-in camera: built-in camera, 3 megapixel
USB: 3 ports, USB2.0
Card Reader: Built-in
Other interfaces: VGA port, HDMI interface, RJ45, voice input, voice output hole, DC power jack, security keyhole.

Cost me 399 € that's about 560$.
So make another extra 100$ usd to swap the SU4100 for the SU9600 processor.
And we are at 660$.
There's a margin of 239$.

Lately i haven't bought any apple computer because of their price. I remember the time an ibook 12" was considered a ultraportable and it costed 999$.

I also remember the Powerbook 12" for arround 1699$, but they were way ahead of the rest of the computer industry, and those products at the time justified the price.

The current Macbook Pro 13" is a rip off, a 13" screen with 1280x800 in 2010?!
 
It's interesting to see an SSD drive incorporated in a system like that. I guess the form factor could be anything they want. It makes me wonder though if this is a prototype then is it possible that Apple did a one-off SSD stick and that the production model might use that 'not a USB' port as a way to connect other SSD sticks to the Air.

Interesting idea however it doesn't look like much of a port. It's so close to the magsafe power port...

I guess we'll see what we see on Wednesday.
 
abcborges said:
No retina display?
Click to expand...

Because a pixel density of +300 is SO required on laptops.

You really are newbie here, aren't you? It will be years before "retina" makes it to the computer world. The technology is there now, buy the cost for a display that large at that density is outrageous.
 
GR33NIE said:
Mostly somewhere north of the MacBook's I'd imagine. Here's hoping that isn't the case though 😉
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A friend of mine was looking at getting an Air and put it off for a while. They didn't like the dongle based CD/DVD idea. They were almost sold on the 13" MBP but didn't like the weight. Yes, they are that indecisive. Well, at least they decided on a Mac...

An 11" Air would be hard to sell I'd think. My own experiences with a netbook were less than successful. I hate the damn thing. I don't know where it is at the moment either... (Drat!) Not that I mind.

My own experiences with my 13" MBP are that the screen is smaller and displays less which is an issue at times but nowhere near the trade-off of the netbook. It's lighter and faster than my 15" MBP. Still (tangent) I find myself reaching for my iPad more than either MBP. (Although I still have issues with viewing video on it occasionally) Whatever...
 
Black

I don't know about you folks, but I want to see another iteration of the "blackbook" or maybe even a black anodized MBP. :apple:

I am really hoping to see what they do with the air, as I could use it in college for note taking/writing and general internet use, then sync up to a 27" iMac in the dorm for heavier work.

I know blackbook could be wishful thinking but the 😎 of it and making it a more advanced model like a macbook elite or something would be great
 
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