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Does the Air need such a big bezel?

I have a slightly different take on it, since I have both the 11" and 13" MBA's.

While I too would like a bezel that is a bit thinner, I do trust Apple engineers and the design team completely. My 2011 11" MBA has the widest bezel of the two. On the 13" it's not too bad. But I'm sure there is a reason each of them is the way it is.

That said I would much rather have them as they are and enjoy the rigidity they offer, as opposed to a weaker arrangement.

As far as the clear glass covers that Apple implemented on the glossy MBP's of late, I strongly dislike those. They add weight, glare, and even with the attractive black border, they simply are not appealing to me.

The natural LCD display with it's anti-glare, flexible front panel is time tested and featured on virtually all top of the line professional and workstation class laptops. While it's nice to have an attractive design, it's secondary to functionality on my list of priorities.

I don't sit and stare, or admire my computers, I use them.

For work, for personal, for everything since I am 88% paperless. Therefore the bezel is not what I'm looking at, I prefer looking at the display so I can see what I'm doing..... LOL.

At the end of the day I find the MBA series in it's current iteration, a wonderful laptop.
 
The MacBook air's bezel was designed in a certain way. Because of the way it tapers on the side, the actual display itself can be but so thin. Enlarging the display in the same display chassis would require some reengineering. For example, look at the 17 inch MacBook pro. It has the narrowest bezel of all MacBooks but it also has the thickest display lid. It is slightly thicker than the display lid on the 13 and 15 MacBook pro. You can look at pics on apple's websit for proof. Of the MacBook pro's, the bottom keyboard part of the 13,15, and 17 is the same thickness, the added thickness of the 17 MBP comes from the display and its necessarily narrow bezel to reduce the footprint of the laptop.

I know this is the MBA forum, but I spoke more of the MacBook pros as I know a little more about their bezels.
 
simple. tapered edges = thicker bezels. This is why edges on the unibody macbook pro are even thicker than those on previous generations.
 
Andras5soul said:
simple. tapered edges = thicker bezels. This is why edges on the unibody macbook pro are even thicker than those on previous generations.
Click to expand...

I agree. Looking from the side, you can see the optical illusion that Jony Ive created. The actual thickness of the MBA lid is not actually that thin... but it tapers down to make it look as thin as a razor blade. The wide bezel creates the distance required to taper the lid and create the industrial design magic that Ive is so good at providing.

Personally... I like it.

/Jim
 
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