Do you think the wedge design will ever return?

[HobeSoundDarryl]

"ever" is a LONG time. "Ever" is long enough to imagine a resurgence of dinosaurs using wedge-shaped laptops while wearing Dino-designer attire.

Ever is long enough that I'd bet on a wedge design returning... along with the whole computer becoming a brain implant overlaying what our biological eyes see with data and information much like Vpro is trying to do now with lenses & other external hardware.

The tech world has buried the Atari 2600 a number of times since approx. 1977... and yet, here it is again. Give about anything enough time and it comes back.

 

[speedyraf]

To replace our Intel MacBook Airs, we chose the M1 versus the M2 due to the former's wedge shape but would have preferred to purchase something similar in size to our old 11" MacBook Air. If Apple presents an ultraportable with decent tech specs in the future we'd consider it seriously.

 

[halledise]

To replace our Intel MacBook Airs, we chose the M1 versus the M2 due to the former's wedge shape but would have preferred to purchase something similar in size to our old 11" MacBook Air. If Apple presents an ultraportable with decent tech specs in the future we'd consider it seriously.

sadly, today’s version of the wonderful 11” Air is called an iPad and thus it ever shall be.
like you, i mourn the 11” passing.
if tech at the time had allowed for retina display rather than tft i’d still have mine

 

[halledise]

Agree that it is personal preference irrespective of gender, but, I am willing to wager that you will find that a great many women (who are not as prominent, nor as vocal, as men, on tech platforms), loved the (original) MBA for its power, portability, reliability and aesthetic, and bought it in large numbers.

Moreover, it should be clear from the volume of sales alone (of the classic MBA), that its market wasn't confined to simply college students.

And, anecdotally, on these threads, you will find a good many chaps writing that their wives, or significant others, had loved the MBA.

i owned a few of the wedgies over the years including the amazing 11” version …
and i’m a bloke

 

[Tagbert]

"ever" is a LONG time. "Ever" is long enough to imagine a resurgence of dinosaurs using wedge-shaped laptops while wearing Dino-designer attire.

Ever is long enough that I'd bet on a wedge design returning... along with the whole computer becoming a brain implant overlaying what our biological eyes see with data and information much like Vpro is trying to do now with lenses & other external hardware.

The tech world has buried the Atari 2600 a number of times since approx. 1977... and yet, here it is again. Give about anything enough time and it comes back.

I think, eventually “the wedge” will come back. Disco forever!

 

[Velli]

Agree that it is personal preference irrespective of gender, but, I am willing to wager that you will find that a great many women (who are not as prominent, nor as vocal, as men, on tech platforms), loved the (original) MBA for its power, portability, reliability and aesthetic, and bought it in large numbers.

Moreover, it should be clear from the volume of sales alone (of the classic MBA), that its market wasn't confined to simply college students.

And, anecdotally, on these threads, you will find a good many chaps writing that their wives, or significant others, had loved the MBA.

You'll also find a good many chaps writing that they love it themselves. I certainly do.

 

[Acronyc]

My first Mac was the 2010 11" Air. I loved that thing, and still hold on to a 2015 11" Air just for nostalgia and an emergency laptop. I turn it on every month to mess around with it and keep it as updated as possible.

After so many years of the wedge shape, and after getting an M1 Max 14" MBP just over two years ago, I have come to prefer the new design language. But I also have an M1 Air for travel and I still love that design too. I think they both have advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Moreplease]

I will say this. A few week ago I finally got my hands on the new generation of MacBook Airs and Pros (as exemplified by the M2 Air). I was surprised and disappointed to see that they did not feel as solid as the M1 Air and the old MacBook Pros like my 13-inch Retina from 2013.

Those old machines felt like they were hewn from a solid block of metal. The new ones feel flimsy and hollow by comparison. The chassis twists at the slightest torsional force.

I read nothing about this in any review, which is astounding to me because the difference is not subtle.

I’m not saying anything about actual durability. Twisting might even help them absorb energy in a fall, for example.

I do wonder why they’re so heavy. The 12-inch Retina MacBook was nearly a pound lighter while having a less efficient Intel chip. But that applies to the M1 Air too (slightly more, actually).

 

[halledise]

I will say this. A few week ago I finally got my hands on the new generation of MacBook Airs and Pros (as exemplified by the M2 Air). I was surprised and disappointed to see that they did not feel as solid as the M1 Air and the old MacBook Pros like my 13-inch Retina from 2013.

Those old machines felt like they were hewn from a solid block of metal. The new ones feel flimsy and hollow by comparison. The chassis twists at the slightest torsional force.

I read nothing about this in any review, which is astounding to me because the difference is not subtle.

I’m not saying anything about actual durability. Twisting might even help them absorb energy in a fall, for example.

I do wonder why they’re so heavy. The 12-inch Retina MacBook was nearly a pound lighter while having a less efficient Intel chip. But that applies to the M1 Air too (slightly more, actually).

wedge 1.29 kg - 2.8 lbs
non-wedge 1.24 kg - 2.7 lbs
retina MB 0.92 kg - 2.03 lbs

as for rigidity, i’d suggest that’s a subjective assessment for the individual.
for ex: i know the wedge is more fiddly to open than the non-wedge

the retina MB, whilst ticking all the boxes with form and weight, was hopelessly underpowered except for basic tasks (the 16GB memory version did make more complex tasks a tad faster).
the camera at 720p was pretty pathetic from Apple when higher-res cameras were available at the time, from memory.
all that said, i bought one and absolutely loved it 🤓