Chances of higher res MacBook Air?

[austinguy23]

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The absence of a retina display is the only factor why I have not yet bought a MacBook Air... I am very much looking forward to a new MacBook Air with an Ivy Bridge processor and a retina display (IPS, maybe?).

Same. Give me an Ivy Bridge MBA with a RETINA DISPLAY and I'll be downright giddy.

 

[PPFee]

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Same. Give me an Ivy Bridge MBA with a RETINA DISPLAY and I'll be downright giddy.

I third this motion, and the iPad's retina display having now materialized makes me feel this is much more plausible.

 

[gentlefury]

Won't a higher resolution screen just make things smaller? I understand it'll be sharper, and there'll be more space on the screen overall, but honestly, things are pretty small already on the 13" Air, no?

Or do I completely not understand what a higher resolution screen really means and entails? Enlighten, if so.

No, they just have to increase the resolution of graphical elements to compensate...which Mountain Lion does.

 

[dalen33]

If the iPad3 has 3M pixels in ~ a 10" format for $500. Then how difficult would it be to make a 12M pixel 20" display for $2000? Or a 27M pixel display in a 30" format for $4500. It would need a video card to drive it. But, for me, I would easily be willing to pay for that resolution.

 

[robotphood]

If the iPad3 has 3M pixels in ~ a 10" format for $500. Then how difficult would it be to make a 12M pixel 20" display for $2000? Or a 27M pixel display in a 30" format for $4500. It would need a video card to drive it. But, for me, I would easily be willing to pay for that resolution.

I don't think quadrupling the price of the current display is a good business decision no matter how nice it will look.

 

[dalen33]

Apple currently has the 27" thunderbolt for $999 with ~ 4M pixels. If an ipad 3 is $499, part of that is for the screen and part is for everything else. Even if 100% was for the screen, it seems that by putting 4 of them together you would have a 20" 9M pixel display for <$2000. if 4M pixels costs $999, then $2000 does not seem out of the question for 9M. If you assume that $300 of the $500 cost of the new iPad3 is for the screen and $200 for everything else, then maybe they could make a 20" version for $1200? I still think a video card that drives 9M pixels might be the real problem.

 

[robotphood]

But wouldn't the yields decrease when producing a 20-27" panel vs 9.7"?

 

[gentlefury]

If the iPad3 has 3M pixels in ~ a 10" format for $500. Then how difficult would it be to make a 12M pixel 20" display for $2000? Or a 27M pixel display in a 30" format for $4500. It would need a video card to drive it. But, for me, I would easily be willing to pay for that resolution.

Well you are forgetting that the $500 isn't only paying for the panel...there is a lot more to an iPad. So I don't think it would flex quite so incrementally.

Apple is a very price fixed company tho. The 27" display is $999....whatever replaces it will also be $999. The MacBook line starts at the same price it has for years. They replace a product but retain the price. That is how they have always done it. If they found someone that will produce high end panels for cheap, they will upgrade us. A flat panel needs only be cut bigger for a larger display...and the MBA 11" can already drive a 2560x1440 display.....so it wouldn't have a problem driving that on a smaller panel.

 

[blipmusic]

So is there anyone in the know who dares to estimate the cost of those optional 1920x1080 panels used in the new 11.6"/13" Zenbooks?

Would it even be possible to keep a $1000-1500 price point for the current crop of Airs using one of those or similar? Comparatively, the iPad gets away with low(er) cost components (cpu, flash etc) whereas the Air does not.