MBA Kaby Lake m5 m7 future??

[AllIT]

With the release of the new Macbook Pro the MBA could get squeezed.

The new MacBook Pro is much lighter, but still heavier than a MBA. Most people will not go up in weight.

The 12" MacBook is too small for many people, and not enough power.

There needs to be a lighter weight 13", but with current technology it will be difficult to bring out a lighter version of the Pro in 15w cpus.

One thought is with Kaby Lake in m5 and m7.

A m7 13" Macbook will:-

1. Be much faster than a MBA i5, but similar to a MBA i7.
2. Be a lot lighter than the MBA, probably about 1.1 kg
3. Have a retina display
4. Have 15 or more hours of battery life, meaning you can leave the charger at home even when going away for business.

Unfortunately with being squeezed out there will be casualties, and the casualty will be those wanting faster than a MBA i7 but not wanting to go up in weight. Those wanting faster will have to go pro, with the small weight penalty.

 

[Pugly]

This is such a weird transitional time that it's hard to tell what happens next in the lineup. Do the MacBooks go down in price to become mass-market? Will the $1499 MacBook Pro eventually become a high battery life product.

Just by the naming scheme alone, you can tell that the MacBook Air is done as updated product. I think the retina macbook line will get expanded in a couple of years since the screen is a just a tad too small for a 'conventional' laptop for everyone. Maybe a 14" version is on the way next year.

 

[AllIT]

I think having just the two product streams of MacBook and MacBook Pro makes a lot of sense. This would give an overlap at the 13" size, the most popular size. Finally the range would be rationalised.

Gives a light and convenient product range, and a powerful and a bit heavier product range.

The wait for powerful Gen 7 4.5W cpus may be the reason for this current hiatus. If you analyse possible scenarios for this hiatus, waiting for these cpus comes out on top. Remember Apple would be on the "in" with Intel cpu development. They know what is coming years ahead.

One thing is for sure, Gen 7 4.5W cpus are going to change the laptop landscape in a way not seen before.

 

[pika2000]

I think it is obvious that the Macbook Air will be phased out.
When Steve Jobs announced the Macbook Air, he stated that the Macbook Air will be the standard consumer laptop. And it does. We have MBA for consumer, and MBP for pro. Apple simply continues the trend with the retina Macbook. Of course, Apple is also waiting for technology and cost to catch up with their product segmentation, so in the meantime, we have the Macbook Air filling the gaps.

 

[Boyd01]

I think it is obvious that the Macbook Air will be phased out.

I agree. This talk of a "new MBA" reminds me of a guy whose girlfriend has left, but he still thinks she's coming back.

 

[Rok73]

The Air is done. Finished. Finito. Buy one as long as you can or get an alternative.

 

[Spink10]

With the release of the new Macbook Pro the MBA could get squeezed.

The new MacBook Pro is much lighter, but still heavier than a MBA. Most people will not go up in weight.

The 12" MacBook is too small for many people, and not enough power.

There needs to be a lighter weight 13", but with current technology it will be difficult to bring out a lighter version of the Pro in 15w cpus.

One thought is with Kaby Lake in m5 and m7.

A m7 13" Macbook will:-

1. Be much faster than a MBA i5, but similar to a MBA i7.
2. Be a lot lighter than the MBA, probably about 1.1 kg
3. Have a retina display
4. Have 15 or more hours of battery life, meaning you can leave the charger at home even when going away for business.

Unfortunately with being squeezed out there will be casualties, and the casualty will be those wanting faster than a MBA i7 but not wanting to go up in weight. Those wanting faster will have to go pro, with the small weight penalty.

The MacBook Pro is now 3lbs just like the 13" Air

 

[sracer]

I agree. This talk of a "new MBA" reminds me of a guy whose girlfriend has left, but he still thinks she's coming back.

You mean she's not?!

The MacBook Pro is now 3lbs just like the 13" Air

That is where the similarities end. The new MBP lacks all of the ports that the MBA has. May not matter for many, but for the rest of us, it is an important difference.

 

[bbzzz]

You mean she's not?!


That is where the similarities end. The new MBP lacks all of the ports that the MBA has. May not matter for many, but for the rest of us, it is an important difference.

Like they will really carry on with a lesser machine having a more useful set of ports

If the new 13" MBP had 12 hour battery life we'd be done already.

 

[Spink10]

That is where the similarities end. The new MBP lacks all of the ports that the MBA has. May not matter for many, but for the rest of us, it is an important difference.

Thread I responded to said they were different weights. My only point was to correct that information.