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KGI: Apple to Launch Cheaper MacBook Air in 2Q 2018
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Agreed. It needs a price drop. It also needs a second USB-C port. It doesn't need Thunderbolt 3 in 2018. The main issue is charging the MacBook while using a peripheral. It can be done with a dongle that has a pass-through for power, but... dongle.
I have an 11" Air. I bought it not because of affordability, but because I wanted a tiny yet versatile laptop to travel with and use on location. Work would continue on my 27" iMac, but if they do release a new Air, it'd need more than the one port option currently found on the 12"
Exactly my point, a lot of the comments seem to be asking why Apple wouldn't just reduce the MB/MBP price instead, which makes little sense in the context of this article. As for the lineup, I think a refreshed Air, no matter how small, could indicate Apple won't extend their upgrade tactics and make the non-TB MBP a dual-core only machine, while the TB model receives the quad-core 8th gen quad-core chips. Personally I'd like to see them become the same machine with the Touch Bar being an option for each model, and a 13" MacBook would serve well as the replacement.
Because everyone's needs don't match yours?
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Yes I know that, but either way, same argument can be made for USB-C.
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Exceptions to the rule, but I agree.
Hopefully they ‘SE’ the chassis with a retina (or even 1920x1200 IPS) display, 8th gen chips and a thunderbolt 3 rather than 2. A cheaper price might be to help position it to take up part of the Mac mini’s audience when that gets discontinued?
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The air has a 54 watt hour battery, the non touch bar pro has a 54.5 WH battery and the touch bar pro has a 49.2 WH battery. I guess the retina accounts for the 2 hour drop, but 12-10 is a worthy trade off for retina.
This makes complete sense rationally, but then it’s Apple we’re talking about. If they wanted to sell products cheaper they could, easily, but profit trumps all else. They’re addicted to very high margins on their products. I agree the retina MacBook is a poor value compared to the base MacBook Pro.
I think it’s worth mentioning, but back in the day under Steve he wanted all the products to be relevant and to stand on their own with regular updates, each occupying a specific niche and doing well in it. He would not have allowed the Air or Mini or Pro to be so neglected and with legacy products like the Air to pollute the lineup.
The MacBook was supposed to be the entry-level laptop, but these days the MacBooks look and are priced more like an Air and the Air more like a MacBook.
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It almost feel like the Mac lineup of the early 90's. Just confusion with models having a little bit of this over the lower models i.e. IIci vs. IIsi vs. IIcx vs. IIfx etc. etc.
We might look back in June and be stunned by how true your vision actually is!
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Still plenty of time between June and Sept for that.
[doublepost=1520113656][/doublepost]People wondering about the ARM MBA not being able to run Windows are not thinking of the wider picture. Remember that the Second Amendment of Microsoft is to fully ARM Windows 10.
Agreed.
,,, and I'm looking forward to the massive price increase of the MacBook Pro, because if you want "cheap", take the Air.
Apple and its margins ...
I don’t see the point either as many have stated. It’s pretty terrible if they don’t make it a retina screen at least, but then it’s basically a MacBook. Wouldn’t a $999 MacBook be enough to satisfy this type of user?
I bet it's simply a price drop with negligible changes in order to retake some of the market lost to the MBA copycats. The thing about laptops these days is that the average consumer doesn't give a flick about processor or memory. Any reputable laptop made over the past 8-9 years is more than sufficient for internet and office/school work. Price, looks (including screen), and battery life are all that matter.
Boggles my mind even further that Apple still offers options on MBAs. It should just be one build to take-or-leave.
Anyhow, I agree with the widespread sentiment that Apple's product lineups are a fine mess right now. Unless it's a deliberate decision to remain messy in order to prevent pent up demand and maintain steady sales, it seems like Apple lacks vision for its legacy product lines.
Boggles my mind even further that Apple still offers options on MBAs. It should just be one build to take-or-leave.
Anyhow, I agree with the widespread sentiment that Apple's product lineups are a fine mess right now. Unless it's a deliberate decision to remain messy in order to prevent pent up demand and maintain steady sales, it seems like Apple lacks vision for its legacy product lines.
If you’ve seen the two side by side, you’d know the overlap is surprisingly small. The MacBook was effectively the replacement for the 11” MacBook Air; the ntb Pro was supposed to succeed the 13” air but it’s too pricey, you only get two ports, one of which is used up by power, and it has the divisive keyboard.
An updated MacBook Air would be most welcome.
Give it a Retina display, update the CPU, increase SSD capacity, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.0, reintroduce MagSafe. Of course such an update is unlikely to be released as it would no doubt affect sales of the MacBook.
The MacBook Air is often referred to as being old and outdated but such an update would silence many of the critics most notably if it were to have a Retina display.
Give it a Retina display, update the CPU, increase SSD capacity, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.0, reintroduce MagSafe. Of course such an update is unlikely to be released as it would no doubt affect sales of the MacBook.
The MacBook Air is often referred to as being old and outdated but such an update would silence many of the critics most notably if it were to have a Retina display.
With Apple, that would be 128Gigs of storage.
Gotta push folks to those more expensive machines, with higher margins!!!
Bear in mind that the MBA probably sells plenty enough to justify putting some investment into a replacement product, and further down the line the 5w MacBook CPUs could be in danger as the 15w U class CPUs become even more powerful for less wattage. Cannon Lake U dual core isn't far off and it appears that Cannon Lake Y isn't on the road map at the moment which could be a factor in Apple's thinking.
Microsoft are already managing to use an i5-7300U without a fan on the surface pro, so I’d not be surprised to see the Y series go sooner than you might think. I understand Y series are more or less TDP down U series chips anyway...