I don't get it

[cynics]

The tech specs say the Air only has 300 nts verses the 500 nts the Pro has

A particular luminance (nits) isn't better compared to another especially since we are comparing different color gamuts. The Airs sRGB screen would be noticeably and obviously brighter (as perceived by your eye) at 500 nits then the Pros P3 screen at 500 nits.

EDIT: Obviously the Pro having a wider color depth makes it better though. Should have added that above...

 

[brofkand]

Is it just me, or was an outright lie told during the keynote when she said they had quadrupled every pixel? The Tech Specs page states the new MacBook Air's resolution is 2560x1600, not 2880x1800, which would be exactly 4x the pixels of the 1440x900 2010-2017 13" MacBook Air.

Apparently nobody on the stage knew the outgoing Air's display resolution. Phil would have known but he's the old guard.

 

[Pugly]

It's very strange that Apple didn't update either the MacBook or the nonTB Pro. The new Air gets the form correct, but the internals and ports aren't that exciting. It's almost as thick as the old Air... but gets a CPU from the MacBook side of things. The MacBook which is designed around the Y CPUs doesn't get updated. And the nonTB Pro could easily get the quad core 15w CPUs... but that hasn't happened. Either of those updates would be more compelling than this Air.

The Air seems acceptable if you can deal with 128GB of storage... but upgrading it to 256GB for $200 is ridiculous. I'm really curious where this computer slots in performance wise compared to old Air, MacBook and nTB MacBook Pro. It really won't matter to most users, since we are well past the point where extra performance means anything for writing documents, browsing, media and light content creation... but I could always use more performance for the least amount of money.

 

[iObama]

Look guys, the hardware announced today was a diddle. Not much going on.
Want to see something? Take a look at the clothing and jewels on Angela Ahrendts.

That's where Apple is right now. Get It?

Oh, stop it. Angela Ahrendts' fabulous taste in fashion does not mean she's not fantastic at her job... and she is. Apple Stores are the best I've ever seen them.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

What's the point of the new MacBook Air 2018?

Is it really much different than the MacBook? It just has an additional USB-C port and TouchID.

It's not enough different to justify its existence when the MacBook's are already so thin.

I'm actually getting the new MBA. I still have a 2011 MBA and it's been enough to get me by based on my computer needs. The MacBook is definitely out of the question - 12" screen is too small. And the MBP is way too much computing power for my needs, so the new MBA fills the void. Hope this answers what you don't get. There's a market for the MBA and it's for those that just need a basic computer to do everyday tasks.

 

[Ma2k5]

A particular luminance (nits) isn't better compared to another especially since we are comparing different color gamuts. The Airs sRGB screen would be noticeably and obviously brighter (as perceived by your eye) at 500 nits then the Pros P3 screen at 500 nits.

EDIT: Obviously the Pro having a wider color depth makes it better though. Should have added that above...

The 12” MacBook (which has same screen as the new Air) is noticeably dimmer than the P3 screens - try them in a store side by side. So it doesn’t really help the fact that if it was 500 nits it would be as bright/brighter, when it already is more dull than a 2 year old nTB.

 

[IG88]

Not really. They provided a 13 inch retina MacBook.

They missed a lot of the notes about what people liked about the existing Air and its flexibility and value.

The CPU line downgrade alone is a big miss

I completely don't understand the new Air. It's only $100 less than a nTB MBP. Why the **** would anyone not spend $100 more for the Pro, especially considering how gimped the CPU in the new Air is.

The product line is getting ridiculously fragmented, just like what happened without Steve the first time.
[doublepost=1541063689][/doublepost]

Woah what the heck. You guys are right it’s $100 less than the base pro. Should I just pay for the pro?

You would be nuts to get the Air.

 

[zhenya]

This seems to be the result of a mis-step at Apple with the release of the original nTB MacBook Pro. That was clearly the logical successor to the MacBook Air - yet for some reason Apple branded it as a Pro.

This new model is interesting and I think that a fanless CPU is actually a great choice for the vast majority of users, but it makes for a seriously confusing product line for the average consumer. Given that this is happening across all product lines (ie. the current iPhone naming schemes, the current iPad lineup where they have incompatibilities of accessories across otherwise very similar devices and so on) Apple badly needs someone with the vision and the ability to simplify the entire lineup again. This is what has historically made Apple so successful. Simple product offerings that are easy for even the tech illiterate to understand.

 

[Ma2k5]

This seems to be the result of a mis-step at Apple with the release of the original nTB MacBook Pro. That was clearly the logical successor to the MacBook Air - yet for some reason Apple branded it as a Pro.

This new model is interesting and I think that a fanless CPU is actually a great choice for the vast majority of users, but it makes for a seriously confusing product line for the average consumer. Given that this is happening across all product lines (ie. the current iPhone naming schemes, the current iPad lineup where they have incompatibilities of accessories across otherwise very similar devices and so on) Apple badly needs someone with the vision and the ability to simplify the entire lineup again. This is what has historically made Apple so successful. Simple product offerings that are easy for even the tech illiterate to understand.

This new Air actually has a fan (uses a 7W custom CPU rather than the 4.5W/5W CPU's).

 

[zhenya]

This new Air actually has a fan (uses a 7W custom CPU rather than the 4.5W/5W CPU's).

Do we know it has a fan? (I presume there are no tear-downs yet). The 5w CPU's have allowed for a tdp-up to 7w before - I would suspect that something similar is what's happening now.

 

[Ma2k5]

Do we know it has a fan? (I presume there are no tear-downs yet). The 5w CPU's have allowed for a tdp-up to 7w before - I would suspect that something similar is what's happening now.

Yes we do from the keynote. They showed the internals, which included a fan in one of the corners of the base.

This one isn't a 5W that goes up to 7W, this is a 7W: https://ark.intel.com/products/189912/Intel-Core-i5-8210Y-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3-60-GHz-

The 5W Amber Lakes have worse specs and cannot handle 2133mhz RAM.

 

[Viper-FFM]

Cant wait for the for Cinebench Scores. This processor will be on par with 5 year old MacBook Pro specs....

The only way I can see this new MacBook line up in whole making sense would be the update of the nTB 13'' Pro to Whiskey Lake chips with upping the price a bit, making it maybe 5-10% cheaper then the TB 13'' Pro.

One could argue that the WhiskeyLake, compared to the AmberLake processor, is the more "Pro" version of an ultra-efficient mobile processor. Fingers crossed

 

[lowkey]

Because it’s lighter and more compact than the nTB MBP that’s why.

I’ve got a 2015 MacBook that I love. My partner has a 2017 13”MBP. There’s no way I’d go for the nTB MBP even if it was cheaper. ...I’d consider a MacBook Air though. I’d rather portability.

I completely don't understand the new Air. It's only $100 less than a nTB MBP. Why the **** would anyone not spend $100 more for the Pro, especially considering how gimped the CPU in the new Air is.
[doublepost=1541063689][/doublepost]
You would be nuts to get the Air.

[doublepost=1541078236][/doublepost]I think you answered your own question.
For most users, we have gone past the point where the processor matters.

They replaced the non-Retina screen with a retina one. To offset the increased power draw from the screen they went with a lower power CPU, rather than adding more battery and making it heavier.

There’s been plenty of calls for a 13” MacBook. There’s been plenty of calls for another port on the MacBook.

The MacBook Air is basically that 13” MacBook. Whether it’s called a MacBook Air or a 13” MacBook only matters to OCD MR forum members

It's very strange that Apple didn't update either the MacBook or the nonTB Pro. The new Air gets the form correct, but the internals and ports aren't that exciting. It's almost as thick as the old Air... but gets a CPU from the MacBook side of things. The MacBook which is designed around the Y CPUs doesn't get updated. And the nonTB Pro could easily get the quad core 15w CPUs... but that hasn't happened. Either of those updates would be more compelling than this Air.

The Air seems acceptable if you can deal with 128GB of storage... but upgrading it to 256GB for $200 is ridiculous. I'm really curious where this computer slots in performance wise compared to old Air, MacBook and nTB MacBook Pro. It really won't matter to most users, since we are well past the point where extra performance means anything for writing documents, browsing, media and light content creation... but I could always use more performance for the least amount of money.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

There's two ways to look at things I think.
#1
Is the new MacBook Air an exciting product? Does it have it's advantages, and will people be willing to pay what Apple is charging? I think the answer to all of those is yes, and I think this machine will do well.
#2
Does the MacBook Air clarify Apple's strategy at the bottom of their market? Is it clear which computer those who don't have demanding needs should buy? Absolutely not, and I think that's the thrust of this thread. In that sense the Air is a bit of a let down.

Now I think the situation with #2 will change in a few months when Apple updates the MacBook. Apple is changing direction here, and it's going to take them a bit of time to get all the pieces in place. I'm guessing we're either going to see a redesign or something else that makes it stand apart from the Air. My guess is that we'll see an even thinner MacBook, with CPUs that are at the very bottom of Intel's offering in terms of performance. This will become the machine where Apple will try to shave every measurement possible to get the smallest, thinnest, lightest machine they can. And with that will come compromises that may not be for most people. In other words, the MacBook will be come the niche ultra-thin. MacBook Nano anyone? Finally, I bet once that happens we will see the MacBook Pro w/o touch bar discontinued.

What makes you think they will update the MacBook? They already did by updating the gold color to match this years gold. It’s clear Apple doesn’t care about it, they have axed it in the past, they might do it again. Wait ten years and they will reintroduce it again for the third time.

 

[KGB7]

Double post

 

[Mainsail]

When I replace my beloved 2014 MBA (probably in a year or so), it will probably be with this new MBA. The low power CPU will not be a problem for me (iWork, Mail, Safari, Notes, Photos, Messages, and an occasional simple iMovie). I suspect the vast majority of laptop users are in the same boat. Here is how Apple is selling it on their site:

Performance. Your all‑purpose, all‑day notebook.

Even though it weighs just 2.75 pounds, the new MacBook Air packs quite a punch. An eighth-generation Intel Core i5 processor helps you power through daily activities, from reading email and browsing the web to creating Keynote presentations and editing in iMovie. Up to 16GB of memory lets you work seamlessly even with multiple apps open, while up to 1.5TB of SSD storage lets you launch apps in a flash and provides plenty of room for all your documents, photos, and videos.

So, for the traditional MBA customer this is the right computer. Long battery life. Touch ID. 13 inch Retina Display. Lighter weight. Lower price point than the rMB or ntb MBP. The name "Air" is irrelevant with respect to its size compared to the rMB. "Air" is significant because Apple has built an incredible loyalty around the MBA model with consumers of all-purpose all-day notebooks. They would be nuts to throw that away just to be more precise with naming convention.

The rMB is an ultra ultra portable for a niche market of people that travel a lot with their computer. The ntb MBP is for people how want more power, but can't afford the tb MBP. This is also a bit of a niche, and I think it is likely to be discontinued in the not to distant future. The MBA is the all-purpose all-day notebook.

Finally, how about the pricing? The MBA is still Apple's lowest priced new laptop. Introductory prices of new Apple products are almost always higher than their predecessors. The prior MBA was Apple's most popular laptop, and it had an 8 year production run. That is plenty of time and opportunity to minimize tooling and product cost. A new model is going to cost more. When the 2010 MBA was introduced 8 years ago, it was $1299. With time, the product got better (e.g. keyboard backlighting, thunderbolt 2, etc..) and the price dropped to $999. But, that took several years. We will probably see the price drift downward with this model as well....but it will take some time.

 

[KGB7]

What's the point of the new MacBook Air 2018?

Is it really much different than the MacBook? It just has an additional USB-C port and TouchID.

It's not enough different to justify its existence when the MacBook's are already so thin.

Same reason every laptop maker has so many various laptops.

 

[blairh]

Because it’s lighter and more compact than the nTB MBP that’s why.

I’ve got a 2015 MacBook that I love. My partner has a 2017 13”MBP. There’s no way I’d go for the nTB MBP even if it was cheaper. ...I’d consider a MacBook Air though. I’d rather portability.

The footprint is essentially identical and you really won't feel that .25 lbs difference very much. It's foolish to pass on the nTB for the new Air.

 

[Ma2k5]

The footprint is essentially identical and you really won't feel that .25 lbs difference very much. It's foolish to pass on the nTB for the new Air.

I would have agreed with you if they updated the nTB to 3rd gen butterfly - and ideally added the Whiskey Lake 8th gen to it (which would mean integrated WiFi controller for better speeds). I truly think, in it's current state, despite being more powerful and having a better screen, the keyboard alone means it's not worth purchasing.

 

[blairh]

I would have agreed with you if they updated the nTB to 3rd gen butterfly - and ideally added the Whiskey Lake 8th gen to it (which would mean integrated WiFi controller for better speeds). I truly think, in it's current state, despite being more powerful and having a better screen, the keyboard alone means it's not worth purchasing.

I'd hold off until reviews to declare anything about keyboards.

 

[Ma2k5]

I'd hold off until reviews to declare anything about keyboards.

It's the same 3rd gen keyboard as the new TB Pro's. It isn't without faults, but it's definitely better than being stuck with 2nd gen keyboard of the 2016/17 nTB. It does't help that even I had to return my nTB due to keyboard issues (I read the forum, took a chance, backfired - I am not interested in a repair programme which replaces my keyboard with another gen 2 and wasting week+ of my time).

 

[ET iPhone Home]

I completely don't understand the new Air. It's only $100 less than a nTB MBP. Why the **** would anyone not spend $100 more for the Pro, especially considering how gimped the CPU in the new Air is.

The product line is getting ridiculously fragmented, just like what happened without Steve the first time.
[doublepost=1541063689][/doublepost]
You would be nuts to get the Air.

Because by spending $100 more on a nTB MBP, you loose storage. Look at the pricing of both MBP and MBA, Apple gets you on Storage, this is where the increments in price takes place. You could get more CPU on a MBP but with loose out on storage. You can then opt for more storage, but lack in CPU on the MBA. As I've said, it's the needs of an average persons computing needs who don't need a powerful computer. There's a lot of people out there who will use a MBA for basic tasks, because they find doing these tasks on a smartphone is in cumbersome.

 

[Dave245]

It's the same 3rd gen keyboard as the new TB Pro's. It isn't without faults, but it's definitely better than being stuck with 2nd gen keyboard of the 2016/17 nTB. It does't help that even I had to return my nTB due to keyboard issues (I read the forum, took a chance, backfired - I am not interested in a repair programme which replaces my keyboard with another gen 2 and wasting week+ of my time).

Also they mentioned on stage that it’s 4x more stable.

 

[Ma2k5]

Also they mentioned on stage that it’s 4x more stable.

By stable, they are talking about key wobble, a phenomenom no one cared about but suddenly became a thing when butterfly keys were introduced. That wobble is just a characteristic of scissor/dome keys.

 

[jjjoseph]

What's the point of the new MacBook Air 2018?

Is it really much different than the MacBook? It just has an additional USB-C port and TouchID.

It's not enough different to justify its existence when the MacBook's are already so thin.

I would give anything to exchange my USB-C for Thunderbolt 3, that alone is worth it. You also get 2 ports.. eGPU's and TB3 peripherals are finally worth the investment. USB-C is so very limited.

Also if you get the 2018 Air with Retina you can tell the diff, my Macbook looks fuzzy in comparison.