This laptop, like other Mac laptops still retains a wide bezel from the past. For all the chest pounding & bragging Jobs does, Apple rarely introduces something truly new. They could easily reduce bezel width to thin, give us a 16:10 aspect ratio display. That would give it a very modern look while increasing the usable display size. The MBP line would also benefit from a change like this.
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How would you change the Macbook Air 11"?
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i'm sure i'm alone in this but the reason i didnt buy the new Air is because they omitted the IRS sensor which i don't think will take much space right?
Don't have much need for a backlit keyboard - but obviously a demand is there so it'd be nice to have that included. As for my personal wants: SD card slot on the 11" would be nice.
It might have something to do with how thin the screens are on the new models. The Powerbook screens were almost as thick as the 11" MacBook Air in its entirety.
I agree. From a mechanical strength point of view, the extra bezel might be necessary to strengthen the very thin display. I don't think Apple would release a notebook that would allow the screen to be easily twisted / warped. It is very sturdy yet light.
I like how the 11" inch seems to have all the right things in it, and is a step beyond the netbooks because MBA 11" has a full version of OS X.
To make this already great computer better would be to reduce the price and perhaps lure people on the fence with that and mid-high end PC ultraportables from Sony or Lenovo or other major makers which can be in the $700 dollar range. I saw a pretty decently configured Sony for $999 in a very small form factor but it offered more in terms of RAM, HDD space, ports, and processing power. It was slightly heavier but still an ultraportable laptop.
I think Apple would see a pretty big jump in sales if they could offer the MBA 11" with a price of something in the neighborhood of $929 or so, and with whatever Sandy Bridge processor would reasonably fit into it in that price range.
This recession has affected everybody, even the traditionally deep pocketed, hardcore Mac user who is willing to pay a third to a half more to get a Mac. To stay competitive, have an idea what the public is putting at the top of their list, whether it's quality and speed, or more of something that is still good but is affordable.
Apple Inc. is now a big enough company to reach into the moderate price range and compete head to head against the Sonys and Lenovos of the computer world in that very competitive arena.
To make this already great computer better would be to reduce the price and perhaps lure people on the fence with that and mid-high end PC ultraportables from Sony or Lenovo or other major makers which can be in the $700 dollar range. I saw a pretty decently configured Sony for $999 in a very small form factor but it offered more in terms of RAM, HDD space, ports, and processing power. It was slightly heavier but still an ultraportable laptop.
I think Apple would see a pretty big jump in sales if they could offer the MBA 11" with a price of something in the neighborhood of $929 or so, and with whatever Sandy Bridge processor would reasonably fit into it in that price range.
This recession has affected everybody, even the traditionally deep pocketed, hardcore Mac user who is willing to pay a third to a half more to get a Mac. To stay competitive, have an idea what the public is putting at the top of their list, whether it's quality and speed, or more of something that is still good but is affordable.
Apple Inc. is now a big enough company to reach into the moderate price range and compete head to head against the Sonys and Lenovos of the computer world in that very competitive arena.
Apple has already drastically reduced the price of the MBA. Before you had to pay a lot more for a MBA with a SSD. $999 for a MBA would have been shocking just a few year's ago.
It's not a few years ago, and we are now in the recession in many markets (even if it's on the recovery upswing).
Give this thing battery life like the iPad and I have no complaints whatsoever. Performance is more than enough for me. Very snappy machine, great screen, great keyboard. It's just the battery life that still makes me feel like I need to be tethered to a power cord all of the time.
Actually, the "16" refers to the width and 10 or 9 the height. Therefore, a 16:10 would be the same width but would be one unit taller. This would eliminate the thicker bezel widths on top and bottom than on the sides. My problem with the design is the look. It also sucks to lose space just to be filled by bezel.
Apparently what happened is that the 11.6 inch screens were/are the only widely available "off the shelf" screens and in order to keep costs in line they had to go with them (as opposed to sourcing some special proprietary screens with a more ideal size which would've driven up Apple's costs).
Thus, in order to accommodate a full-size keyboard and hit the $999 price point we end up with an 11.6 inch screen with a larger than normal bezel—there is no usable screen real estate hidden behind the bezel, it is mostly all bezel.
I think that the bezels are there so that the lid can be beveled at an angle that Mr. Ive likes. I doubt that the displays are as thin as the thinnest point of the lid.
They were also thicker, heavier and more expensive. I prefer the MBA 11's size, weight and price, which couldn't be done with a narrower bezel.
Why not ask for the price to be $0.99? And have them include a bonus magic unicorn in the box!
With the multiple-billion net profit Apple made last year, I totally think the Air should come down to this price.
I have not seen anybody mention this alternative yet. I love my 11.6" MBA, I have accepted the bezel size, but I also would like to see it thinner. Assuming that Apple had to use this standard screen size, then why not make the notebook smaller which would make the bezel thinner, and the Air smaller and lighter at the same time, which are the most important aspects to me. Lying in bed sending this at the moment.
I realise that the keys may have to be slightly smaller, but we are only talking about a reduction of around an inch in the width, and again that would not bother me. Not likely to happen, but then we are discussing what we would like to see, and it would be interesting to speak to an Apple designer to see if it was actually possible.
tut
I realise that the keys may have to be slightly smaller, but we are only talking about a reduction of around an inch in the width, and again that would not bother me. Not likely to happen, but then we are discussing what we would like to see, and it would be interesting to speak to an Apple designer to see if it was actually possible.
tut
That would be awesome! Can I fly around in the unicorn too? Maybe I can use the unicorn to hunt down and impale douchebags I meet on the internet!
That would be awesome! Can I fly around in the unicorn too? Maybe I can use the unicorn to hunt down and impale douchebags I meet on the internet!
Fly around in it? I think you confuse unicorns with pegasi.
That would be awesome! Can I fly around in the unicorn too? Maybe I can use the unicorn to hunt down and impale douchebags I meet on the internet!
I wouldn't ever bet on a pricedrop below 1000$/