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If Apple update the MacBook Air (Retina display, thinner bezels) will you buy?

  • Yes it’s what I’ve wanted them to do for years

    Votes: 187 83.9%
  • No the MacBook Air is dead I want something else

    Votes: 36 16.1%

  • Total voters
    223
My current MBA 11" is doing pretty much everything I need, though a little more slowly sometimes than I'd like (dearly wish I'd spec'ed it with 4GB of RAM instead of the sad 2GB it has). I also just popped a new battery into it which I was able to do because it's not glued together, thank god.

That said, would I buy a new MacBook Air? Only if it had a good keyboard. I'd probably take the hit on MagSafe and USB-A ports, but if they butter**** the keyboard, I'm not interested and will just nurse my MBA along until it finally becomes unusable -- then probably buy a PC begrudgingly if Jony still hasn't deigned to put a real keyboard back into a Mac laptop.
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If they did then that would put a real monkey wrench into my planned departure from AppleWorld. :D If I knew how terrific the 11" MBA was going to be for me, I would've bought a maxed out version back when I bought my 2014 11"MBA.
Amen to this. I'm sure a gently used one is out there in the wild, though and given how easy it is to replace the battery and SSD...
 
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I think Apple is committed to the butterfly keyboard. It will be on all of their new models. They can’t backaway now. So, unless they finally figure out a way to make it reliable, I am done buying Apple laptops.
 
If there's really a "new Air" laptop, I do expect a divergence from current models.

I say that mainly because the non-touch bar 13" already essentially was a modern interpretation on the air, including lower end guts like an air...but that was unsatisfying to those of us who truly love the mix of features, price point, usability and durability that the Air really embodied.

My great hope is that they took that to heart and are using this opportunity to really chart a different course here.

It's possible that what they do here could be a harbinger of things to come to the rest of the laptop lineup over time, much as the current 12" was the first showing of what became the direction of all the laptops for 2016-present.
 
If there's really a "new Air" laptop, I do expect a divergence from current models.

I say that mainly because the non-touch bar 13" already essentially was a modern interpretation on the air, including lower end guts like an air...but that was unsatisfying to those of us who truly love the mix of features, price point, usability and durability that the Air really embodied.

My great hope is that they took that to heart and are using this opportunity to really chart a different course here.

It's possible that what they do here could be a harbinger of things to come to the rest of the laptop lineup over time, much as the current 12" was the first showing of what became the direction of all the laptops for 2016-present.

I am hoping the innovation shown by the Window manufacturers will have pushed Apple to really do something unique. Who knows, maybe they even skip butterfly to just do a slightly revised scissor mechanism (dreaming, I know).
 
Also 2xUSB-C is what I am certain of.

If this 13 inch is positioned above the current 12 inch MacBook, we could possibly see two USB–C ports. Then again that would put it up against the low-end MacBook Pro.

Part of what made the MacBook Air so popular was the abundance of ports and connectivity. I get what Apple is trying to achieve by simplifying connections, but USB-C hasn’t really taken off. So at the very least, give us two ports.
 
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Okay, so the large bezels stay.

I can live with that, as long as they don't remove the ports.

Hard to imagine any redesigned laptop from Apple with either large bezels or the ports of the current Air. Apple has consistently thinned out the bezels on most of their products over the last decade, so not doing so on an Air redesign would be anachronistic at this point. Same with the ports, given what's on the MB and MBP. Seems that Apple is very committed to USB-C.
 
I’d love a reboot of the 11” with a retina screen and smaller bezels. Obviously, capable CPU required. I wouldn’t complain if they replaced a connector or two w/USB-C. Needs to have clamshell design and original keyboard.

Sadly, it won’t happen. Apple never admits to mistakes in their designs and instead doubles down. New model will have the new style keyboard which will effectively mean they’ve killed the Air.
 
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Sadly, it won’t happen. Apple never admits to mistakes in their designs and instead doubles down. New model will have the new style keyboard which will effectively mean they’ve killed the Air.

Wait what? How does it mean that lol. They brought the new keyboard on MBP and it's still the "MacBook Pro". It's gonna be a MacBook Air. It will be called the MacBook Air and it will have the new keyboard.
 
Wait what? How does it mean that lol. They brought the new keyboard on MBP and it's still the "MacBook Pro". It's gonna be a MacBook Air. It will be called the MacBook Air and it will have the new keyboard.
My point is that one of the things most of us love most about the MacBook Air is the older style keyboard. The Air is the only model that still has it. If they release a new Air that uses the newer keyboard design, then that old keyboard design is gone for good. A more minor point, perhaps, but I'm also a fan of the clamshell design where the laptop is thinner near the front. It accentuates the thin feeling of the laptop, overall.

If they just come out with a slightly larger version of the 12" MacBook, then IMO, that's all that is. It's not really an Air anymore, even if they call it that.
 
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My point is that one of the things most of us love most about the MacBook Air is the older style keyboard. The Air is the only model that still has it. If they release a new Air that uses the newer keyboard design, then that old keyboard design is gone for good. A more minor point, perhaps, but I'm also a fan of the clamshell design where the laptop is thinner near the front. It accentuates the thin feeling of the laptop, overall.

If they just come out with a slightly larger version of the 12" MacBook, then IMO, that's all that is. It's not really an Air anymore, even if they call it that.

The tapering is the difference to your wrist getting stabbed or not. Just compare an Air and a 13” rMBP. So here’s hoping at least the tapering remains!
 
My point is that one of the things most of us love most about the MacBook Air is the older style keyboard. The Air is the only model that still has it. If they release a new Air that uses the newer keyboard design, then that old keyboard design is gone for good. A more minor point, perhaps, but I'm also a fan of the clamshell design where the laptop is thinner near the front. It accentuates the thin feeling of the laptop, overall.

If they just come out with a slightly larger version of the 12" MacBook, then IMO, that's all that is. It's not really an Air anymore, even if they call it that.

It will be a larger version of the MacBook with 2 USB-C ports and thinner bezels and a butter fly keyboard. There is a chance that they might share the same keyboard as the 12 inch MacBook and have speakers on the sides. It is going to be called a MacBook Air , I am just not certain where they will position it. But my guess would be between the 12 rMB and the MBP unless they plan on discontinuing the 12 inch rMB and yes it will be tapered.
 
The tapering is the difference to your wrist getting stabbed or not. Just compare an Air and a 13” rMBP. So here’s hoping at least the tapering remains!
Agreed. I own an older 13” rMBP (old keyboard) and newer 15” rMBP (work) and the sharp front edge frequently jabs at my wrists.
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It will be a larger version of the MacBook with 2 USB-C ports and thinner bezels and a butter fly keyboard. There is a chance that they might share the same keyboard as the 12 inch MacBook and have speakers on the sides. It is going to be called a MacBook Air , I am just not certain where they will position it. But my guess would be between the 12 rMB and the MBP unless they plan on discontinuing the 12 inch rMB and yes it will be tapered.
You speak confidently about something that hasn’t been announced yet. Hopefully you’re wrong.
 
The nTB macbook pro has not been updated recently... I guess sales were not that great.

Apple might just add some new features (touch id, new processor, several colors) to make it more appealing to the masses, and call it a day.
All for the same price of the current Air... maximize profits with minimum r&d.

It’s not what I’d like, but imho it’s the most probable option.
 
The nTB macbook pro has not been updated recently... I guess sales were not that great.

Apple might just add some new features (touch id, new processor, several colors) to make it more appealing to the masses, and call it a day.
All for the same price of the current Air... maximize profits with minimum r&d.

It’s not what I’d like, but imho it’s the most probable option.

It could very well be that Apple do that, however it would be disappointing, personally i would prefer either an update to the MacBook Air OR a 13" version of the MacBook with the 12" dropping down to the $999 entry level price. After keeping people waiting for most of this year i think Apple need to do some great things for the Mac, a lot of people are starting to feel like Apple are not interested in or are leaving the Mac to become stagnant.
 
Well if that's the case, then that would mean a complete redesign, so good bye ports and good keyboard.

It's what Mark Gurman is saying, he's said it again in this latest report form a few days ago

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ll-two-devices-out-from-under-iphone-s-shadow

"A new entry level laptop to replace the aging MacBook Air, the company's entry level laptop that Steve Jobs originally pulled out of a manila envelope a decade ago. It will have a higher-resolution 13-inch screen, as well as slimmer bezels around the display"

Sounds to me like a new machine.
 
Yeah I'll believe you / him.

I just figured we were getting one of two things:

1.) The old design, just with a new screen
2.) a redesign, smaller and lighter, but also without any ports, the butterfly keyboard etc.

Honestly I was just hoping for the former.
 
Yeah I'll believe you / him.

I just figured we were getting one of two things:

1.) The old design, just with a new screen
2.) a redesign, smaller and lighter, but also without any ports, the butterfly keyboard etc.

Honestly I was just hoping for the former.

we will know for sure 100% tomorrow, but its not just Mark Gurman who has said it, Ming Chi Kuo as well so i do tend to believe it more when both have said the same thing. It looks like it will be a new 13" MacBook that will replace the Air, the only thing we don't know is pricing and are they keeping the 12" MacBook around? this time tomorrow we will find out.
 
Some thoughts by John Gruber back in August around the new MacBook (Air): https://daringfireball.net/2018/08/new_low-cost_laptop_to_succeed_macbook_air (for those who haven't read it yet)

It will be interesting to see what they do with the MacBook Air and this new 13” MacBook at tomorrow’s event, there are so many rumours and opinions on it that at this point it’s confusing.

I like the fact that nothing has leaked so far, even for the iPad Pro there are no actual photo leaks (just CAD and iOS code) the same for any other Mac updates we get. This one seems to have a lot less leaks, which makes it more exciting but also more mysterious as to what they will actually announce.
 
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It will be interesting to see what they do with the MacBook Air and this new 13” MacBook at tomorrow’s event, there are so many rumours and opinions on it that at this point it’s confusing.
Yes, it will be interesting. And because those who are fans of the current Macbook Air have different reasons for loving it, if what is announced tomorrow departs from the current MBA (beyond faster processor, retina display) it will result in some fans being former-fans. I'll be in that category if they simply enlarge the current retina Macbook and call it an Air.
 
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Yes, it will be interesting. And because those who are fans of the current Macbook Air have different reasons for loving it, if what is announced tomorrow departs from the current MBA (beyond faster processor, retina display) it will result in some fans being former-fans. I'll be in that category if they simply enlarge the current retina Macbook and call it an Air.

Well they didn't seem to care for the former "Pro" MacBook fans, when they removed the magsafe, the keyboard, the ports etc - so I wouldn't be surprised if they changed the machine radically again. I'd like to think it being the Air (a more consumer level laptop) that they may be more cautious, but then I remember they removed the headphone jack, the button/TouchID, added a notch etc on the iPhone - so yeah...
 
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