Does the MacBook Air need a refresh?

[Lukewarmwinner]

So what you guys are saying is that the MBA is a second-tier laptop, while the rMBP is the premium offering? After all, they are both thin and light, but the rMBP is more powerful and has a higher screen resolution than the MBA - for a higher price. That makes the MBA a lesser laptop than the rMBP, and that justifies the price difference.

You got it. Exactly. The "pro" really is Apples premium laptop. Although the rMBP 13" really needs a spec bumb soon to justify the price.

But yeah. Apple has always had to linies - for consumers (iBook, Macbook, Air) and pro (Powerbook, Pro, Retina).

Air needs to stay below the retina, so Apple can charge a premium for their retina.

"Lesser laptop" is not really possible - either it's a laptop or not . But essentiel yeah.

I had to pay 500 $ in difference from a upgraded Air to rMBP13", and I'm a student who uses CS and Office a lot, and that difference didn't justify the display for me, so I didn't bought it. The MBA also uses turbo boost cpu's which makes it close to the rMBP13". Retina 15" is another story (and much more powerfull). So if you got the dough and want a nice display then go for the rMBP 13. But keep in mind that 1 revs is a dangerous game (see the numerous threads on IR, lag and whatnot). I'll plunge for retina once it's tested and might be in the all laptop-line in 2-3 years.

I'm not neglecting the "niceness" of rMBP13, I'm just poor and can't afford to pay a premium price for a not premium-spec'd laptop.

The 500$ saved could be used on a iPad Mini, external display, iPhone and so on.

 

[JeffiJers]

no refresh needed. nothing wrong with it and not many improvement can be made untill new tech is avail

 

[entatlrg]

The MacBook Air is an amazing laptop. Great design. Thin and light. Powerful enough for most tasks.

A few months ago, ultrabooks didn't hold a candle to the MacBook Air. And they struggled to sell just a few units.

However, ultrabooks are catching up. Asus Zenbook Prime, Samsung Series 9 and Lenovo X1 Carbon are also great laptops and serious contenders to the MacBook Air. We have ultrabooks which have better screens, better keyboards and that are even lighter than the MacBook Air. And they are also becoming cheaper.

A new wave of ultrabooks is coming, especially after the release of Windows 8, such as Acer Aspire S7.

With so many new releases, the MacBook Air feels less and less unique. Is it time for Apple to refresh the line and blow every ultrabook away?

Totally incorrect. For proof hop over to the notebook review forum and read the owners threads of each notebook you mentioned.

People are extremely disappointed and there are hundreds of posts with people complaining and wondering why no PC manufacturer seems to be able to make a good ultrabook. Screen, trackpad, keyboard, build quality are the common complaints.

They wonder why Apple can and everyone else can't seem to get it right, quite a few mention they've bought MBA's just to run windows.

So your opinion isn't the same opinion as many people who actually own the products.

 

[Liquinn]

Is my cMBP 13" still a Macbook Pro?

 

[iSee]

...With so many new releases, the MacBook Air feels less and less unique. Is it time for Apple to refresh the line and blow every ultrabook away?

The fact that everyone is trying to copy the MBA isn't a very good reason to change direction. They created a nice niche and I don't think they should abandon it just because some competitors show up.

I guess that Apple will continue to refresh the MBA roughly annually, making improvements as technology allows. The changes will be mainly incremental because if Apple sees an opportunity for a new kind of device they'll make a new product to fill it and keep the MBA too.

 

[SenorVvangIstMoi]

After the recent keynote, I really curious about the retina MBA update from Apple since they release the latest MBP 13" retina.
I also purchased the 13" MBA 2012 model like you guys. I was in a dilemma of 15" rMBP. But I was also thinking since the retina technology is quite new, so wanted to wait for it to mature first before paying a premium price for a top tier laptop. Therefore I brought the latest Air and use it for a couple of years and upgrade to MPA retina in the distant future. So.. What do you guys think of a possible release year for a possibility of retina MBA?

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

After the recent keynote, I really curious about the retina MBA update from Apple since they release the latest MBP 13" retina.
I also purchased the 13" MBA 2012 model like you guys. I was in a dilemma of 15" rMBP. But I was also thinking since the retina technology is quite new, so wanted to wait for it to mature first before paying a premium price for a top tier laptop. Therefore I brought the latest Air and use it for a couple of years and upgrade to MPA retina in the distant future. So.. What do you guys think of a possible release year for a possibility of retina MBA?

If it'll happen I'd say 2 years. But on the other hand I don't think they ever will

 

[Miat]

So.. What do you guys think of a possible release year for a possibility of retina MBA?

Not before 2014.

I expect next year there will be a big step up in screen quality (at the same res), for a year or so, before going to full retina.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Not before 2014.

I expect next year there will be a big step up in screen quality (at the same res), for a year or so, before going to full retina.

How would they increase screen quality with same res? Don't think they'll touch the screen before going for retina.

 

[skaertus]

The fact that everyone is trying to copy the MBA isn't a very good reason to change direction. They created a nice niche and I don't think they should abandon it just because some competitors show up.

I guess that Apple will continue to refresh the MBA roughly annually, making improvements as technology allows. The changes will be mainly incremental because if Apple sees an opportunity for a new kind of device they'll make a new product to fill it and keep the MBA too.

Not to change direction. I would say to enhance the MBA.

There was a clear difference between the MBP and the MBA. Now that Apple released the rMBP, then the difference became blurred. They're both thin and light, and they both get SSD. The main difference is that the rMBP is more powerful and has a retina display. But to make the MBA a lower-end offering doesn't sound like Apple. They could make the MBA even thinner and lighter, and the technology is there to make it.

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Not before 2014.

I expect next year there will be a big step up in screen quality (at the same res), for a year or so, before going to full retina.

I think Apple will redesign the MBA in 2013 or 2014 (depending on the pace ultrabooks evolve, I think). A redesigned MBA may get a retina display.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Not to change direction. I would say to enhance the MBA.

There was a clear difference between the MBP and the MBA. Now that Apple released the rMBP, then the difference became blurred. They're both thin and light, and they both get SSD. The main difference is that the rMBP is more powerful and has a retina display. But to make the MBA a lower-end offering doesn't sound like Apple. They could make the MBA even thinner and lighter, and the technology is there to make it.

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I think Apple will redesign the MBA in 2013 or 2014 (depending on the pace ultrabooks evolve, I think). A redesigned MBA may get a retina display.

What would the point of a rMBP 13" then?

 

[skaertus]

What would the point of a rMBP 13" then?

The rMBP will still be more powerful than the MBA.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

The rMBP will still be more powerful than the MBA.

Take a look at the benchmarks

 

[Abazigal]

I think apple may have to look at consolidating their laptop line as well. We now have 3 distinct lines - air, pro and retina pro, and some offerings like 13” MacBook Pro don't seem unique enough anymore.

Maybe next year, might we see apple dropping the pro line altogether?

 

[Miat]

How would they increase screen quality with same res?

Screen quality = resolution + colour gamut, contrast, response time, viewing angles, etc.

The viewing quality of the Air screen could be improved substantially without increasing the res just by switching to IPS panels.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Screen quality = resolution + colour gamut, contrast, response time, viewing angles, etc.

The viewing quality of the Air screen could be improved substantially without increasing the res just by switching to IPS panels.

True. Don't know if its gonna happen though. I really liked the screens on my previous Air

 

[SenorVvangIstMoi]

If it'll happen I'd say 2 years. But on the other hand I don't think they ever will

What makes you so confident that they will never ever integrate their popular "retina display" term into MBA? You never know the next couple of years, how the battery tech will evolved. Ya, the current form of design which is insanely thin and don't have sufficient juice to fuel the retina, I would expect a redesign within two years from now.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

What makes you so confident that they will never ever integrate their popular "retina display" term into MBA? You never know the next couple of years, how the battery tech will evolved. Ya, the current form of design which is insanely thin and don't have sufficient juice to fuel the retina, I would expect a redesign within two years from now.

Simple to differ the Air from Retina Pro - that's my thought

 

[talk]

What about having the retina as an upgrade option for a future mac.

For users that want portability and price -> regular air 13"
For users that want portability and retina -> retina air 13"
For those that want just the retina -> retina macbook pro 13"

And yes, the retina air 13" would cost more than the retina pro 13".

 

[skaertus]

What would the point of a rMBP 13" then?

What should be the point of the MBA? To be a lesser laptop than the rMBP?

 

[Abazigal]

What about having the retina as an upgrade option for a future mac.

For users that want portability and price -> regular air 13"
For users that want portability and retina -> retina air 13"
For those that want just the retina -> retina macbook pro 13"

And yes, the retina air 13" would cost more than the retina pro 13".

I see 2 choices - air for price and portability, and retina pro for display and power. A retina air would make no sense - there would be no space for the battery.

 

[skaertus]

I see 2 choices - air for price and portability, and retina pro for display and power. A retina air would make no sense - there would be no space for the battery.

The Air will have to get a retina display sooner or later. Samsung has already showed a 2560x1440 Series 9 laptop, and these laptops are even lighter than the MBA.

I think Apple may redesign the MBA in 2013 or 2014, making it thinner and lighter, and putting a retina display on it; the MBP will probably get a quad-core processor when Haswell comes out, and Apple may also increase the SSD capacity to further differentiate it from the MBA without having to dramatically reduce the price of the MBP.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

What should be the point of the MBA? To be a lesser laptop than the rMBP?

A more portable laptop noticeable lighter

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The Air will have to get a retina display sooner or later. Samsung has already showed a 2560x1440 Series 9 laptop, and these laptops are even lighter than the MBA.

I think Apple may redesign the MBA in 2013 or 2014, making it thinner and lighter, and putting a retina display on it; the MBP will probably get a quad-core processor when Haswell comes out, and Apple may also increase the SSD capacity to further differentiate it from the MBA without having to dramatically reduce the price of the MBP.

Thinner might be a problem.

Maybe you should go with a Samsung then ..

They could've put a quad-core CPU in the 13" but didn't, to make more profit from it. Get the 15" rMBP if you want value, or the 13 rMBP if you can afford paying extra for nothing.

Or as said; go with a windows-brand. It's not only about the hardware, but OSX. I've always used OSX and that's pretty much my only reason to buy macs.

 

[theuserjohnny]

Not before 2014.

I expect next year there will be a big step up in screen quality (at the same res), for a year or so, before going to full retina.

I think they can make it now if they wanted to but I think battery life is what has prevented them from doing it right now. Because if they were to slap retina right now on a MBA the battery life would suck.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

I think they can make it now if they wanted to but I think battery life is what has prevented them from doing it right now. Because if they were to slap retina right now on a MBA the battery life would suck.

Exactly. They air is too thin to power a retina. It could (look a the terrible performance of rMBP 13) although it could run a better display is would make the difference between rMBP and Air too small