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How could Apple improve the Macbook Air?

Doublea6 said:
The thing is that the 13 Air and the 13 pro are getting very similar. If they get any closer in portability there will be no reason for the air.
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The only way you can make the 13" rMBP more portable is to remove features that rMBP buyers want. The only way you add features to the 13" MBA to bring its specs in line with the rMBP is to compromise the portability that MBA buyers want. I just don't see it. On paper the specs seem very close, but holding them in your hands they're a chasm apart. And that's as much a function of design goals as it is technical limitations.

And, failing that, even if there is the possibility of convergence for the 13" MBA and rMBP at some point between now and 2016, you have to completely ignore all the other portable offerings from 11" MBA up to 15" rMBP to draw the (imho flawed) conclusion that Apple is working towards unification. Heck, I don't think it's out of the question that we'll see the return of a 17" MBP offering as soon as the technology allows Apple to build a 17" rMBP realistically. I think they dropped the 17" because GPU/battery/panel cost made a 17" rMBP impractical and they didn't want to have their "flagship" largest laptop not be Retina when the 15" was.

You just can't make a MBP as svelte as a MBA without removing the "P" from what it is. You will have had to ditch user-upgradable RAM, storage flexibility, and external connectivity options. And, similarly, if you stuff a lot more cabaility into a MBA, then you've stepped far away from the portability profile that attracts MBA buyers. Some other vendor will be happy to make a smaller, lighter, more battery efficient product that doesn't have burden of trying to satisfy both markets.

It just doesn't make any sense to me. Apple would just be left with a compromised middle-ground product that doesn't satisfy its current market. There's room and need for both "airs" and "pros" in Apple's product line and the steady march of technical progress doesn't seem like it will change that reality any time soon.

MBA and MBP serve two different markets. Ignoring that doesn't help anyone.
 
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Nugget,

While I agree with most of what you said, I don't agree with your conclusion. I think that the Air and Pro lines will remain separate for the foreseeable future, but I think that 2013 may be the last revision for the classic Pro line (user-upgradability be damned).

The Air is more or less the entry model laptop right now anyway (whereas it used to be the MacBook and later the 13" Pro). I could even see Apple selling both the 11 and 13" at the same base price of $999. Also, i think that while we might get a better display tech in the Air, I'm not sure retina is going to happen any time soon.

On the top end, the Retina Pros will remain as the higher-spec machines.
 
jdechko said:
While I agree with most of what you said, I don't agree with your conclusion. I think that the Air and Pro lines will remain separate for the foreseeable future, but I think that 2013 may be the last revision for the classic Pro line (user-upgradability be damned).
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Not sure how this disagrees with my conclusion. I agree that the non-retina Pro is just an artifact of pricing and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see another non-retina Pro release ever.
 
Only trackpad that works well

Aylan said:
And room for the awesome trackpad!
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They so got this right. Every other laptop I use a mouse instead of the trackpad. This trackpad just feels responsive and works great. You rarely miss having a mouse.
 
This is really an elegant machine. Of course, as others have already said, the obvious improvements could be made. Retina Display, larger base SSD, more powerful processors, more durable and lighter construction etc.

Perhaps a black/dark-grey/slate-colored version would look nice and sleek? I know that the MacBooks in black used to attract fingerprints and other marks, but maybe Apple could innovate on the material they use.
 
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Nugget said:
Not sure how this disagrees with my conclusion. I agree that the non-retina Pro is just an artifact of pricing and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see another non-retina Pro release ever.
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Sorry, I misread your 3rd paragraph. That changed a lot of what I read after that.
 
Nugget said:
The only way you can make the 13" rMBP more portable is to remove features that rMBP buyers want. The only way you add features to the 13" MBA to bring its specs in line with the rMBP is to compromise the portability that MBA buyers want. I just don't see it. On paper the specs seem very close, but holding them in your hands they're a chasm apart. And that's as much a function of design goals as it is technical limitations.

And, failing that, even if there is the possibility of convergence for the 13" MBA and rMBP at some point between now and 2016, you have to completely ignore all the other portable offerings from 11" MBA up to 15" rMBP to draw the (imho flawed) conclusion that Apple is working towards unification. Heck, I don't think it's out of the question that we'll see the return of a 17" MBP offering as soon as the technology allows Apple to build a 17" rMBP realistically. I think they dropped the 17" because GPU/battery/panel cost made a 17" rMBP impractical and they didn't want to have their "flagship" largest laptop not be Retina when the 15" was.

You just can't make a MBP as svelte as a MBA without removing the "P" from what it is. You will have had to ditch user-upgradable RAM, storage flexibility, and external connectivity options. And, similarly, if you stuff a lot more cabaility into a MBA, then you've stepped far away from the portability profile that attracts MBA buyers. Some other vendor will be happy to make a smaller, lighter, more battery efficient product that doesn't have burden of trying to satisfy both markets.

It just doesn't make any sense to me. Apple would just be left with a compromised middle-ground product that doesn't satisfy its current market. There's room and need for both "airs" and "pros" in Apple's product line and the steady march of technical progress doesn't seem like it will change that reality any time soon.

MBA and MBP serve two different markets. Ignoring that doesn't help anyone.
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Well to be fair I was talking about the rMBP, because I don't see the CMBP staying around any longer. I think as technology improves it will converge into one line serving all purposes, who knows maybe it would be like 11inch, 13inch, 15inch, and 17inch. The bigger screens you go you get more "Pro".

Oh and a lot of people would tell you that there's nothing "Pro" about the macbook pro's.

Good write up though.
 
Not really cosmetic - but software based: I wish OS X could have an Anti-Troll option in the near future, where all trolls will be invisible to me and any other mac user.

TrollBlock 1.0! Make it happen
 
Giuly said:
You can upgrade the SSD (and replace it in case it breaks), the rMBP comes with the maximum amount of RAM technically possible today and the CPU hasn't been replaceable for a long, long time.

For that, you got a significant reduction in size and a bigger battery.
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Personally, I'm not complaining. I think the trade-offs were worth it. But there will always be people who lament the losses. Starting with the second-generation unibody Pro, and the original Air before it, the writing was on the wall that user upgrades were about to become a thing of the past. And I wouldn't be surprised if the SSD gets soldered in for a future revision.

Like I said, other than future spec bumps, I think the Air is perfect (a same-res IPS display, ie non-retina would fall into that as well).
 
Atomic Walrus said:
I disagree about the form factor, but I agree with the core concept. The MBP is going to get smaller, lighter and thinner, but I don't think the tapered form factor is going to go forward in the main line. I have to be honest... I have the Haswell MBA right now and compared to my time with the rMBP (at the store) this Air is the chassis that feels outdated.
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Alright, now after having the Air for a week or so and after consistently switching between that and my rMBP'15 I actually agree about the form factor with the rMBP. It just feels more sturdy to have when it's on my lap and it doesn't feel flimsy when compared to the Air. When typing I just feel more comfortable on the rMBP and with the Air it feels rather awkward.

Now if I was just using the Air I doubt I would have noticed this difference but since I'm also using the rMBP I feel a difference.

I mean it's not a deal breaker but the feel of the rMBP just feels better.
 
theuserjohnny said:
Alright, now after having the Air for a week or so and after consistently switching between that and my rMBP'15 I actually agree about the form factor with the rMBP. It just feels more sturdy to have when it's on my lap and it doesn't feel flimsy when compared to the Air. When typing I just feel more comfortable on the rMBP and with the Air it feels rather awkward.

Now if I was just using the Air I doubt I would have noticed this difference but since I'm also using the rMBP I feel a difference.

I mean it's not a deal breaker but the feel of the rMBP just feels better.
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I also have both laptops and of course I prefer the rMBP, but this is normal. The rMBP is a premium laptop, and the MBA is meant for a totally different usage. I have no issues typing on my 11" MBA and I like the form factor, even If I prefer the rMBP.
 
The only improvement I would like is a clear crisp display. The dull, pixelated display that brings down the pleasure of using my MBA could easily be remedied by Apple.

However, I think they have backed themselves into a corner again. If they gave us a really great display on the MBA, then the MBP w/retina would suffer a slump in sales.
 
Spacial said:
The only improvement I would like is a clear crisp display. The dull, pixelated display that brings down the pleasure of using my MBA could easily be remedied by Apple.

However, I think they have backed themselves into a corner again. If they gave us a really great display on the MBA, then the MBP w/retina would suffer a slump in sales.
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And the Air would suffer in battery life.
 
petvas said:
For the moment, yes. In 1-2 years maybe not. I am sure this is something that will happen, but of course we don't know exactly when.
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Agree completely. Eventually they'll be able to increase quality without sacrificing the battery life, but I don't think it'll be with Retina. An IPS panel shouldn't be out of the question, and I think most of us expect it.

Spacial said:
I don't care.... that's why they ship with a charger :D
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LOL, I don't disagree, but the rMBP has to keep it's market share and screen quality and performance power is what helps it keep that. The Air has it's purpose, but Apple is marketing it as an ultra-portable that you can "take to the coffee shop for a whole day (ugh, how awful a thought :() without needing the charger"..eventually the screen quality and battery life will hit the sweetspot, but the 2013 Haswell's are a step in the right direction IMO.
 
Figure eventually all portables will have retina screens, like all newer laptops have been redesigned with styling cues from the original air.

Macbook Airs will become Macbooks: Lower standard RAM, more expensive to upgrade storage and/or smaller storage options than Pro, dual core processors and on board graphics.

Macbook pros will be slightly chunkier, but be uniform in having quad core processors, higher ram standard and/or ability to upgrade to more ram than the MB's, ditto with storage, and will continue to have discrete graphics cards.

How could Apple improve the airs if they don't or can't add retina screens? How bout a nicer quality IPS panel rather than a TN?
 
I ordered an 11" today to replace my 13" MBP but I think Apple can technically reduce the bezel a little and fit a 12" screen in the 11" body. That would be ideal!
 
Mrbobb said:
I have a theory about the thick bezel, is made that way to give the lid a razor edge and enhances the illusion of thinness. If they take the LCD all the way to the edge then the lid's edge will have to have the same thickness as the LCD panel and will make the lid look fat.
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Suppose the bezel as well is a sort of protection if it's drop and lands on a corner, it will bend the casing rather than the casing and mess the screen up! :) Personally I'd just want a black bezel like the MBP rather than a silver one!

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nepalisherpa said:
I ordered an 11" today to replace my 13" MBP but I think Apple can technically reduce the bezel a little and fit a 12" screen in the 11" body. That would be ideal!
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My opinion to this would be Apple if they did this would be very close if they did a 12" with the 11" and 13.3" screens and I suppose if you want a bigger screen they want you to buy the 13.3". Although I do see your point if they reduce the bezel seems everyone wants a smaller bezel must be a reason behind why they do them so big.
 
LOL at the guy wishing for more battery life. This thing could last a week on a charge and you'd ask for a month.
 
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