MacBook Air With USB-C Again Rumored, Launch Timeframe Unclear

[pat500000]

Tim Cook 'welcome... Thank you....thank you...thank you. Today we got wonderful things to show you. I introduce you......another iPad.....another watch band....and Apple Music. By the way, don't expect anything else from us other than announcing that we are establishing relationship with India. No more China! ''

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Isn't it obvious? USB Type C (with Thunderbolt 3 capability). The whole industry is headed that way and it's absolutely the only way that makes sense - to finally unify all the different ports.

So iDevices go with that same port instead of Lightning?

 

[sammcj]

Apple's entire Mac lineup has stagnated - so true and so sad. Pathetic even. Thanks for everything, Tim!

I couldn't disagree more, the latest gen iMac 5K machines are really, damn brilliant and the Macbook as an ultraportable, while underpowered is easily the most useful laptop I've ever owned (and I've owned a lot).
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So iDevices go with that same port instead of Lightning?

I'd be fully in favour of this.

 

[mainstreetmark]

Said not one single owner of a current Mac.

What! If i replaced my 2 year old mac mini, the machine i buy would be the identical mac mini. Same thing if i replaced this year old MBA. The Mac Pro users are extra ****ed. Can you imagine some office somewhere, where people's mac pros are up for a 3 year replacement, and have to but the exact same MP?!

I think you meant to say "there is one single owner of a current mac who has said this"

 

[Sandstorm]

So iDevices go with that same port instead of Lightning?

Yes. And I have always thought Apple creating their own proprietary Lightning port was a dick move. They collaborated with Intel before (on USB etc.). If Apple wasn't so selfish and arrogant, in the name of convenience for all the users they should have worked with Intel and together created Lightning/USB-C, and made it totally open format for entire industry. Everyone would win, especially all the users. Right now we have fragmented solutions, proprietary ports, and the biggest losers are Apple users - because everyone else will have this single port, but Apple users will have to live with fragmented solution (USB-C on Macs, Lightning on iOS).

 

[avanpelt]

this makes no sense. drop the air, improve the macbook

You're correct. There's no reason to keep the Air. That moniker served them well for several years but I think it is on the way out. Let's face it...all the mobile products Apple makes these days are fairly light.

I don't think there will be a new iPad Air, either. There may be a new iPad that doesn't have the "Pro" specs of the iPad Pro models, but I suspect they'll just call it "iPad".

 

[keysofanxiety]

Say for a 16GB w/ 2TB NVMe SSD, i7 or high end i5 or similar - I'd say around the $2100 USD mark

Your avatar pounds fear into my heart. I used to frequently play SkiFree on my Win 95 laptop and that monster terrified me as a child.

It was part of BOWEP (Best of Windows entertainment package). It had other gems like Chips Challenge, Tetris (which was split-screen 2 player!!), Pipe Dream and so many others.

Basically thanks for the smile. You've brought back a few good memories.

 

[sofila]

Let's welcome a Mac rumor

 

[peterh988]

I'm getting so desperate to update from this 2007 MBP, that right now I'd be happy if the new models only new features were upsized ram and SSD.

Please release something soon, Apple!

 

[magicschoolbus]

Said not one single owner of a current Mac.

Lmao are you serious?

Apples laptops died in 2012. The only thing worth purchasing has been the iMacs.

 

[QCassidy352]

Alternatively, it is possible that DigiTimes is misinterpreting a thinner MacBook Pro with USB-C ports as a MacBook Air.

This. For sure.

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

But is it thin enough?

 

[merkinmuffley]

I just have to find a way to get my work done on a rumored machine. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[iamgalt]

Get rid of the Macbook Air. It served apple well, but the new Macbook is thinner and lighter, with a better display. Focus on updating and improving the Macbook and Macbook Pro models.

 

[smacrumon]

Which port is the right (one) port (to use for everything) from that list?

Apple gets paid handsomely to make that decision. Pick one, only one, make it work.

 

[9081094]

Yes. And I have always thought Apple creating their own proprietary Lightning port was a dick move. They collaborated with Intel before (on USB etc.). If Apple wasn't so selfish and arrogant, in the name of convenience for all the users they should have worked with Intel and together created Lightning/USB-C, and made it totally open format for entire industry. Everyone would win, especially all the users. Right now we have fragmented solutions, proprietary ports, and the biggest losers are Apple users - because everyone else will have this single port, but Apple users will have to live with fragmented solution (USB-C on Macs, Lightning on iOS).

It's Apples new way squeezing the last €€€ $$$ drops out of customers. You've to buy an adapter for that and it will only cost you 99,99. Be sure to buy only the Apple adapters or you might break your device and break your warranty with it. The adapters are designed by Ive and we've posted a really nice video of it on how it is made

 

[keysofanxiety]

It's Apples new way squeezing the last €€€ $$$ drops out of customers. You've to buy an adapter for that and it will only cost you 99,99. Be sure to buy only the Apple adapters or you might break your device and break your warranty with it. The adapters are designed by Ive and we've posted a really nice video of it on how it is made

You've been a member for 2 days. May I ask if there's anything positive about Apple that brought you here?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apple gets paid handsomely to make that decision. Pick one, only one, make it work.

It's the "handsome payments" that is most likely behind why they don't want to make such a decision. There's more profit for Apple in using (and licensing) Lightning than embracing USB3. There's more cost savings in using tech built into intel chips in Macs than also building in Lightning in Macs. There's lots of profit in selling port-expanding accessories that deliver ports that used to be built INSIDE Mac hardware devices.

I agree how great it would be to have a single UNIVERSAL port get embraced in all tech. Unfortunately profit-chasing, patents, licensing, etc all conspire against that idea.

 

[Jakexb]

Apple's entire Mac lineup has stagnated - so true and so sad. Pathetic even. Thanks for everything, Tim!

And yet Macs are the only brand of laptop/desktop that is increasing sales. Most companies would love to be so sad.

Bleeding edge specs aren't as important anymore as the other aspects anymore like design/build quality, battery life, overall performance. There are only a few applications that could use more power. I edit photos and build Xcode all day on my 2 year old Air and it basically never hangs.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Apples laptops died in 2012. The only thing worth purchasing has been the iMacs.

Absolute horse-hockey of ballistic proportions.

Apple's 15" rMBP line, graphics aside, completely blow the competition out of the water. The CPUs are still unmatched in terms of performance (that's partly why they haven't updated them) and the SSDs have R/W speeds of 2GB/s.

You won't find another Wintel laptop close to that performance and thinness/lightness/battery life anywhere on the market right now.

 

[Shirasaki]

I use a MacBook Air 11", which is an extremely versatile and portable machine for me to show someone something. It doesn't have good display, battery is decent, but portability is unmatched even comparing with MacBook retina. Oh, keyboard is excelellent, much better than MacBook retina crap.

Surely it will be sad to see MacBook Air lineup go but we also miss the day when we didnt need to confuse which size iPhone should we choose for this purchase.

USB-C would be great but this is a no-go for me right now.
MagSafe....I will miss you.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Call me a klutz, BUT... surely a thinner, USB-C equipped MBA is essentially a rMB? Okay it's an inch larger and may not have a Retina display, but do those differences really warrant a separate product?

 

[camnchar]

It's not a rumor. It's a fact. I've seen the pictures. There's even a price decrease.

Man, Xiaomi is going to be furious that Apple copied its product!

 

[smacrumon]

It's the "handsome payments" that is most likely behind why they don't want to make such a decision. There's more profit for Apple in using (and licensing) Lightning than embracing USB3. There's more cost savings in using tech built into intel chips in Macs than also building in Lightning in Macs. There's lots of profit in selling port-expanding accessories that deliver ports that used to be built INSIDE Mac hardware devices.

I agree how great it would be to have a single UNIVERSAL port get embraced in all tech. Unfortunately profit-chasing, patents, licensing, etc all conspire against that idea.

Yes, I get that approach, but is Apple really into that kind of business model? Are the profits really that incredible enough to chase rather than chasing the profits of pleasing the customer and reducing frustration? It would seem with Apple's current position, it would benefit from choosing one standard for all its devices, and chasing the "frustrate the customer the least" business model.

 

[citysnaps]

I want this very much.

I see what I think most people would see happening - the Macbook and Macbook Air becoming one product.

I have a Macbook Retina - the first of the two models, upgraded as much as you can - It's a fantastic ultraportable with an amazing screen, crazy long battery life, a great keyboard once you get used to it and it's the perfect size.

All it (badly) needs is:

• A much faster CPU & integrated GPU (or non-integrated I guess but that probably wouldn't make sense).
• 16GB of RAM as a minimum & maybe a 32GB option.
• A NVMe SSD option somewhere between 512GB-2.5TB.
• A second (thunderbolt enabled) USB-C port.

And then it'd be hands down the perfect laptop for me & at least 3 other people I know would immediately spec it out and buy it right away.

It will come. It took three years for the original MacBook Air to become the mainstream laptop that it is today.
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Apple's entire Mac lineup has stagnated - so true and so sad. Pathetic even. Thanks for everything, Tim!

Like my 5k iMac? Really.