With speculation that Apple could be putting out an $800 laptop in the near future, we all need to step back and look at the big picture.
In the majority of the discussions, the MBA is the least referred to product when talking about MacBook. Most likely it is being ignored because the pictures are of a Macbook (It has an optical drive!). One of the MBAs biggest critics is the perfomance you get at the price you pay. Since the Macbook is about to go aluminum and has better specs, why not let it be the midrange product?
It would be a perfect compromise to wanting a bit more size/power than an MBA, while having near MBP specs (which the current Macbook does now, save for graphics card.
Once could easily feel that this new 13" Macbook be worth the $1300 Apple would sell it for. It would have near feature parity with the MBP; backlit keyboard, dedicated graphics, maybe even FW800.
Hopefully, just like the iPhone, Apple charged a high price for a new product for R/D and to see the initial market reaction. Then come out with an improved product that could be sold at a more mass market acceptable price to ignite sales.
In the majority of the discussions, the MBA is the least referred to product when talking about MacBook. Most likely it is being ignored because the pictures are of a Macbook (It has an optical drive!). One of the MBAs biggest critics is the perfomance you get at the price you pay. Since the Macbook is about to go aluminum and has better specs, why not let it be the midrange product?
It would be a perfect compromise to wanting a bit more size/power than an MBA, while having near MBP specs (which the current Macbook does now, save for graphics card.
Once could easily feel that this new 13" Macbook be worth the $1300 Apple would sell it for. It would have near feature parity with the MBP; backlit keyboard, dedicated graphics, maybe even FW800.
Hopefully, just like the iPhone, Apple charged a high price for a new product for R/D and to see the initial market reaction. Then come out with an improved product that could be sold at a more mass market acceptable price to ignite sales.
