Does the MacBook Air need a refresh?

[skaertus]

A more portable laptop noticeable lighter

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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.

I am not getting any of them. Not before Haswell comes out. I am not even talking about my own laptop wishlist.

From a business perspective, though, it is a hard call for Apple to justify a non-retina display on the MBA when the premium ultrabooks are getting high-resolution IPS displays. The MBA may be considered a lower-end ultrabook in a few years if it fails to evolve to leave room to the rMBP.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

I am not getting any of them. Not before Haswell comes out. I am not even talking about my own laptop wishlist.

From a business perspective, though, it is a hard call for Apple to justify a non-retina display on the MBA when the premium ultrabooks are getting high-resolution IPS displays. The MBA may be considered a lower-end ultrabook in a few years if it fails to evolve to leave room to the rMBP.

You're really expecting too much. Focus on doing your job, education or whatever and use your Mac for it, and not too much on the specs. It really would make your life more easy

 

[LYFK]

What would the point of a rMBP 13" then?

THIS.

I think the Air will go thinner & lighter before it gets retina-class glass.

I'm not saying I think it's a good idea, I'm saying it's easier for Apple to define the air as being light and the pro as being sharp.

 

[skaertus]

You're really expecting too much. Focus on doing your job, education or whatever and use your Mac for it, and not too much on the specs. It really would make your life more easy

Actually, I was talking about Apple positioning its products against the rival products. I don't think that's too much if Apple's archrival Samsung can do it.

As for my productivity, I am not sure if OS X is the better option. Somehow I feel more productive under Windows, and a high resolution display is a requirement for me being productive anyway. Plus, I just can't stand the blurryness of fonts under OS X running on a non-retina display.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Actually, I was talking about Apple positioning its products against the rival products. I don't think that's too much if Apple's archrival Samsung can do it.

As for my productivity, I am not sure if OS X is the better option. Somehow I feel more productive under Windows, and a high resolution display is a requirement for me being productive anyway. Plus, I just can't stand the blurryness of fonts under OS X running on a non-retina display.

Apple has OSX and in my opinion, doesn't really care too much of rivals. They need to keep up with technology and they do - being expensive however.

Without knowing your line of work, you really got a problem if you think non-retinas look blurry. I do a lot of graphic design and don't have a problem with it. Actually the retina is too dark for me and kinda disguise the true colors.

Or you might sit too close to your screen

 

[skaertus]

Apple has OSX and in my opinion, doesn't really care too much of rivals. They need to keep up with technology and they do - being expensive however.

Keeping up with technology would require the MBA to have a retina display, wouldn't it?

Without knowing your line of work, you really got a problem if you think non-retinas look blurry. I do a lot of graphic design and don't have a problem with it. Actually the retina is too dark for me and kinda disguise the true colors.

Or you might sit too close to your screen

In fact, I do write a lot. Apple's sub-pixel rendering technology is atrocious for looking at fonts on the screen (although good for printing). Microsoft's ClearType provides a much more comfortable experience on this respect. I use small fonts to keep several documents opened side-by-side. This is why I always need a high resolution display and a non-retina Mac is unproductive for me. In fact, I wouldn't consider any resolution lower than 1920x1080 even if I were to buy a Windows machine.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Keeping up with technology would require the MBA to have a retina display, wouldn't it?

Not really. Retina is Apples innovation and other laptop uses the same and lower resolution as the air. It's a budget laptop versus a prosumer laptop. Can't see why it's hard to understand?

In fact, I do write a lot. Apple's sub-pixel rendering technology is atrocious for looking at fonts on the screen (although good for printing). Microsoft's ClearType provides a much more comfortable experience on this respect. I use small fonts to keep several documents opened side-by-side. This is why I always need a high resolution display and a non-retina Mac is unproductive for me. In fact, I wouldn't consider any resolution lower than 1920x1080 even if I were to buy a Windows machine.

I see. Why don't you get the rMBP then? You seem very dedicated on the retina, why the Air must be out of the question. I wouldn't trade the portability for lagging UI

 

[skaertus]

Not really. Retina is Apples innovation and other laptop uses the same and lower resolution as the air. It's a budget laptop versus a prosumer laptop. Can't see why it's hard to understand?

I am thinking about the future. In a few years, high-resolution laptops will be much more common. For today's standards, the MBA still qualifies as having a good display, although some competitors have already superseded it. But in a few years, Apple will have to update it somehow.

I see. Why don't you get the rMBP then? You seem very dedicated on the retina, why the Air must be out of the question. I wouldn't trade the portability for lagging UI

In fact, I don't buy it now for some reasons. I intend to buy a new laptop in mid-2013, not now.
Here are the reasons why:

1. Intel will release Haswell. And it is supposedly the promised land in terms of battery life. That's a very important thing to me. And I won't buy another laptop in 6 months.

2. Haswell will have better integrated graphics to support higher resolutions. I don't really want dedicated graphics because they drain battery.

3. Windows 8 has just been released. I want to see how it will be. And if it's worth it.

4. I want to see which new laptops are going to be released with Haswell and Windows 8. There may be some quite interesting offerings and I want to see them before deciding.

5. Office 2013 for Windows will be released soon. No word yet on Office 2014 for Mac. I want to see what Microsoft will bring here (and if it will do it). No Office 2014 for Mac will make the Mac a not so compelling platform for me.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

I am thinking about the future. In a few years, high-resolution laptops will be much more common. For today's standards, the MBA still qualifies as having a good display, although some competitors have already superseded it. But in a few years, Apple will have to update it somehow.

Totally agreed. The display is really nice for now, and of course they'll have to update it in a few years to keep up - I don't see it coming soon though.

In fact, I don't buy it now for some reasons. I intend to buy a new laptop in mid-2013, not now.
Here are the reasons why:

1. Intel will release Haswell. And it is supposedly the promised land in terms of battery life. That's a very important thing to me. And I won't buy another laptop in 6 months.

2. Haswell will have better integrated graphics to support higher resolutions. I don't really want dedicated graphics because they drain battery.

3. Windows 8 has just been released. I want to see how it will be. And if it's worth it.

4. I want to see which new laptops are going to be released with Haswell and Windows 8. There may be some quite interesting offerings and I want to see them before deciding.

5. Office 2013 for Windows will be released soon. No word yet on Office 2014 for Mac. I want to see what Microsoft will bring here (and if it will do it). No Office 2014 for Mac will make the Mac a not so compelling platform for me.

Okay. Haswell will definitely improve the CPU and graphics which seems to be a problem for the rMBP. But Broadwell should also be improving this

Yeah, if windows is a option then I follow your thoughts. Never had windows and intend to keep it that way

 

[skaertus]

Totally agreed. The display is really nice for now, and of course they'll have to update it in a few years to keep up - I don't see it coming soon though.

Definitely not this year. A chance in 2013. But more probably in 2014. And no later than 2015, I guess.

Okay. Haswell will definitely improve the CPU and graphics which seems to be a problem for the rMBP. But Broadwell should also be improving this

Yes, I know that. But Haswell is a new architecture, while Broadwell will be its die shrink (just as Ivy Bridge was the die shrink of Sandy Bridge). The transition from Ivy Bridge to Haswell will probably have more improvement in terms of performance than both the transition from Sandy Bridge to Ivy Bridge and from Haswell to Broadwell.

Yeah, if windows is a option then I follow your thoughts. Never had windows and intend to keep it that way

Windows is definitely an option! I grew up using Windows and my first attempt of using a Mac was in 2008. While OS X is good, it lacks in several areas; integration with Apple software and hardware is indeed great, but as soon as I had to use third party software, then problems started to appear and I could find many limitations. Then, even if a get a Mac, I won't be able to get rid of Windows.

 

[pgiguere1]

Nope, it doesn't need to be the best in every category to be a good seller, it just needs to be a good laptop overall, which it still is.

See, the 13" cMBP was (is?) the best-selling Mac, even though it has no spec that's really impressive for its price. But it still fulfills what a lot of people expect from a laptop and has no usability flaw. It's a balanced basic laptop that feels good to use, has no major flaw and gets the job done.

The MBA is coming to be the same thing. It's no longer the niche market laptop with almost experimental hardware it was in 2008. It's just a good everyday laptop and that's fine with me. It still scores better than other ultrabooks in reviews because there's no major flaw with it, it's very well balanced, from input to display, performance, form factor and battery life, there's just nothing that feels wrong with it.

 

[skaertus]

Nope, it doesn't need to be the best in every category to be a good seller, it just needs to be a good laptop overall, which it still is.

See, the 13" cMBP was (is?) the best-selling Mac, even though it has no spec that's really impressive for its price. But it still fulfills what a lot of people expect from a laptop and has no usability flaw. It's a balanced basic laptop that feels good to use, has no major flaw and gets the job done.

The best-selling Mac is the 13" cMBP because it is a well-balanced machine and also because it is the most affordable Mac laptop for general purpose usage.

The MBA is coming to be the same thing. It's no longer the niche market laptop with almost experimental hardware it was in 2008. It's just a good everyday laptop and that's fine with me. It still scores better than other ultrabooks in reviews because there's no major flaw with it, it's very well balanced, from input to display, performance, form factor and battery life, there's just nothing that feels wrong with it.

Yes, it is a good overall laptop.

But I must add something.

Although I live in Brazil, I am currently in the US for a week and today I went to an Apple Store and also to a Microsoft Store.

I have to say that I am impressed by the quality of the Windows 8 devices that I've seen. The Acer Aspire S7 looks really nice, and the Sony Vaio Duo 11 is a neat machine. What most impressed me, however, was the Microsoft Surface. While it doesn't have a high resolution screen and it runs Windows RT on an ARM processor, I saw lots of potential there when the Pro version comes out in December. I feel that Apple will have to update the MBA very soon because the competition is fierce.

 

[sak2013]

So, an MBA in the spring? An early 2013 MBA?

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

So, an MBA in the spring? An early 2013 MBA?

June at WWDC

 

[skaertus]

June at WWDC

Do you think so? I don't think Apple would refresh the MBA during the WWDC unless it releases a brand-new, redesigned, MBA... which might be the case, after all.

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Do you think so? I don't think Apple would refresh the MBA during the WWDC unless it releases a brand-new, redesigned, MBA... which might be the case, after all.

Even spec bumps gets released during WWDC. Doesn't have to be a redesign. But they always update some time around June/July

 

[skaertus]

Even spec bumps gets released during WWDC. Doesn't have to be a redesign. But they always update some time around June/July

Although Intel has not yet released the Haswell schedule, this seems likely...

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Although Intel has not yet released the Haswell schedule, this seems likely...

Haswell is actually due in August, but Apple will most likely get their hands on early. But an update in June/July is pretty much certain. At least not before - maybe later

 

[bartzilla]

Keeping up with technology would require the MBA to have a retina display, wouldn't it?

Why is it a requirement? If you think screen improvements are key then there are maybe some improvements that could be made without going all out for retina.

It comes down to the fundamental nature of what a MBA is. If its meant to be the flagship for small, lightweight computing, and going retina right now would compromise that then it probably won't get a retina display. You talk about well balanced machines in one of your posts - would moving to retina "unbalance" the Air in some way? Compromise the design principles? Price it out of its target market? etc?

 

[Lukewarmwinner]

Why is it a requirement? If you think screen improvements are key then there are maybe some improvements that could be made without going all out for retina.

It comes down to the fundamental nature of what a MBA is. If its meant to be the flagship for small, lightweight computing, and going retina right now would compromise that then it probably won't get a retina display.

Couldn't agree more. When I work I barely notice the screen. I just focus on my job and appreciate doing it on a small and light laptop. Those gimmicks (retina) are for kids

 

[sak2013]

The problem is, once you had a Retina display and used it, is very hard to go back to a non Retina Display. At least for me . If the rMBP 13 inch would be as thick and light as the MBA, I had no doubt. I would pay even more...

 

[skaertus]

Haswell is actually due in August, but Apple will most likely get their hands on early. But an update in June/July is pretty much certain. At least not before - maybe later

Is it August? As far as I am aware of, Haswell is due somewhere between March and June (and I suspect that Intel may even release it in March due to declining sales of Ivy Bridge laptops).

 

[skaertus]

Why is it a requirement? If you think screen improvements are key then there are maybe some improvements that could be made without going all out for retina.

Well, Apple's font rendering technology (Quartz) makes fonts less sharp on the screen than Microsoft's rendering technology (ClearType). This lack of sharpness is much more noticeable on low resolution screens. The only way for Apple to make text more readable on the screen without changing its rendering technology is to adopt retina displays. So, a retina display is more important on Macs than on Windows computers.

Putting an IPS screen on a MacBook Air, therefore, won't solve the problems related to the blurriness of the fonts.

That's why retina displays are so important for Apple and that's why they are a requirement for Apple computers (but not necessarily for Windows computers).

It comes down to the fundamental nature of what a MBA is. If its meant to be the flagship for small, lightweight computing, and going retina right now would compromise that then it probably won't get a retina display. You talk about well balanced machines in one of your posts - would moving to retina "unbalance" the Air in some way? Compromise the design principles? Price it out of its target market? etc?

I agree that it should be a well-balanced machine. But I don't think the retina display would unbalance it. The iPad has a retina display and it is even thinner and lighter than the MBA. In fact, the weight and thickness gained by the iPad when the retina display was added was almost negligible. And Samsung has already showcased a 2560x1440 resolution ultrabook, showing that this is perfectly possible.

I don't see why a retina display would compromise the design principles. Retina displays are becoming even thinner and more energy efficient. Battery life will be much improved with Haswell processors, so more room for battery. The prices of retina displays will come down too; they are probably not too expensive at this point, since Apple has managed to put a retina display on a US$ 499 iPad in the beginning of the year.

I am not saying that the MBA should get a retina display right now. But it will definitely get one soon, within a year, perhaps.

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Couldn't agree more. When I work I barely notice the screen. I just focus on my job and appreciate doing it on a small and light laptop. Those gimmicks (retina) are for kids

Really? I get seriously annoyed by Apple's rendering technology. I can't just zoom out text as much as I do under Windows due to the lack of sharpness of fonts. This problem would be gone with a retina display.

 

[wisty]

Well, Apple's font rendering technology (Quartz) makes fonts less sharp on the screen than Microsoft's rendering technology (ClearType). This lack of sharpness is much more noticeable on low resolution screens. The only way for Apple to make text more readable on the screen without changing its rendering technology is to adopt retina displays. So, a retina display is more important on Macs than on Windows computers.

Putting an IPS screen on a MacBook Air, therefore, won't solve the problems related to the blurriness of the fonts.

That's why retina displays are so important for Apple and that's why they are a requirement for Apple computers (but not necessarily for Windows computers).



I agree that it should be a well-balanced machine. But I don't think the retina display would unbalance it. The iPad has a retina display and it is even thinner and lighter than the MBA. In fact, the weight and thickness gained by the iPad when the retina display was added was almost negligible. And Samsung has already showcased a 2560x1440 resolution ultrabook, showing that this is perfectly possible.

I don't see why a retina display would compromise the design principles. Retina displays are becoming even thinner and more energy efficient. Battery life will be much improved with Haswell processors, so more room for battery. The prices of retina displays will come down too; they are probably not too expensive at this point, since Apple has managed to put a retina display on a US$ 499 iPad in the beginning of the year.

I am not saying that the MBA should get a retina display right now. But it will definitely get one soon, within a year, perhaps.

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Really? I get seriously annoyed by Apple's rendering technology. I can't just zoom out text as much as I do under Windows due to the lack of sharpness of fonts. This problem would be gone with a retina display.

Rendering is a compromise. Apple doesn't distort the fonts, but blurs them. Microsoft distorts the fonts, but makes them crisp. I greatly prefer Apple's way, but I'm a bit short-sighted, so maybe blurry fonts don't bother me as I'm used to them

I think it's a safe bet that Apple will put a retina display in the next MBA, probably next update. Maybe as a rMBA model, but they'll almost certainly kill the non-retina MBA by 2014. The real challenge for retina is Intel's crappy GPU, which just isn't that crappy with Ivy Bridge, and will be fine by Haswell.

 

[skaertus]

Rendering is a compromise. Apple doesn't distort the fonts, but blurs them. Microsoft distorts the fonts, but makes them crisp. I greatly prefer Apple's way, but I'm a bit short-sighted, so maybe blurry fonts don't bother me as I'm used to them

Well, actually fonts do look better on the OS X because they are not distorted as they are under Windows. But it's just not practical... Not for reading tiny text on the screen at least. I have to say I prefer ClearType over Quartz except if there is a retina display.

I think it's a safe bet that Apple will put a retina display in the next MBA, probably next update. Maybe as a rMBA model, but they'll almost certainly kill the non-retina MBA by 2014. The real challenge for retina is Intel's crappy GPU, which just isn't that crappy with Ivy Bridge, and will be fine by Haswell.

Perhaps.

Do you know what I probably most hate about Apple?

Apple doesn't do incremental updates to its machines like the other companies. It's an all-or-nothing approach. Apple will keep the same basic design elements unchanged over years until they get totally outdated and it gets a chance of blowing everyone's mind with a brand-new incredible machine. I just hate it and other companies don't do that. It's certainly part of Apple's hype, but consumers are the most affected by this approach.