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MBA survived 4 refreshes with no body change.

K

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
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I know anyone's guess is as good as mine but is there a chance that the next MBA will have the appearance changed up? The version we see today debuted in November 2010 and has been refreshed every year until 2013. That makes 4 models using this body style.

I'm interested in picking up a new Air soon (I have a 2011) but would like to buy one with hopefully a new design, something along the lines of a smaller footprint due to a thinner bezel.
 
Kendo said:
I know anyone's guess is as good as mine but is there a chance that the next MBA will have the appearance changed up? The version we see today debuted in November 2010 and has been refreshed every year until 2013. That makes 4 models using this body style.

I'm interested in picking up a new Air soon (I have a 2011) but would like to buy one with hopefully a new design, something along the lines of a smaller footprint due to a thinner bezel.
Click to expand...

They have no need to improve the MBA IMO. It's probably one of the best chassis I've used.
 
Maybe tweaks but I wouldn't expect any major changes. Nor are any major changes needed!
 
Design changes cost money. After years of convincing customers only Apple knows best, they are now free to exercise endless periods of profit taking.

It's a brilliant strategy from the masters of spin. This is no time for fresh designs and creative changes. :)
 
Smaller is always better. 13" MBPr has a smaller footprint, which is nice. Lots of bezel on the Airs.
 
If the mba gets any thinner is because they decided to drop the keyboard
 
I think 2014 we'll see a tweak to the chassis-- perhaps smaller bezels and an IGZO or IPS screen. I'm holding on to my 2010 Air till the next redesign!
 
My guess is the 2014 MBA might get a very slight redesign in terms of tightening up the chassis and having a smaller bezel. I'd expect the overall shape to be the same, just fitting in the footprint of the 13" rMBP.

aziatiklover said:
Didnt apple just patent a flexible design for macbooks?
Click to expand...

Apple probably already patented flexibility in general. Looks like gymnasts are going to start being sued.
 
Kendo said:
I know anyone's guess is as good as mine but is there a chance that the next MBA will have the appearance changed up? The version we see today debuted in November 2010 and has been refreshed every year until 2013. That makes 4 models using this body style.

I'm interested in picking up a new Air soon (I have a 2011) but would like to buy one with hopefully a new design, something along the lines of a smaller footprint due to a thinner bezel.
Click to expand...

I love my maxed-out 13" Air as is. However, if they could somehow put a ~14" IGZO retina screen in that same 13" footprint, reducing those rather large bezels, without affecting weight or battery life too much, that would be icing on the cake.

Perhaps these wide bezels are required for rigidity, due to it's overall thinness.
 
calvol said:
I think 2014 we'll see a tweak to the chassis-- perhaps smaller bezels and an IGZO or IPS screen. I'm holding on to my 2010 Air till the next redesign!
Click to expand...

I agree. I think IGZO (and retina) along with a tweak to the chassis will be what's in store for 2014. In some dimensions it can't get significantly smaller due to the full sized keyboard, especially for the 11" model.
 
ValSalva said:
I agree. I think IGZO (and retina) along with a tweak to the chassis will be what's in store for 2014. In some dimensions it can't get significantly smaller due to the full sized keyboard, especially for the 11" model.
Click to expand...

Well there is a bit of "wasted" space on the sides of the keyboard on the 13" MBA that they can trim down along with the bezel.

With the 11" they can't trim it much further but by reducing the bezel size may allow a bigger screen, perhaps the return of the 12" screen.

I just feel a body change has to come because if they don't, that will be 5 generations that have used the same style. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Besides the Mac Pro, I don't think any Mac has lasted that many generations without a change to the body.
 
Kendo said:
Well there is a bit of "wasted" space on the sides of the keyboard on the 13" MBA that they can trim down along with the bezel.

With the 11" they can't trim it much further but by reducing the bezel size may allow a bigger screen, perhaps the return of the 12" screen.

I just feel a body change has to come because if they don't, that will be 5 generations that have used the same style. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Besides the Mac Pro, I don't think any Mac has lasted that many generations without a change to the body.
Click to expand...

I don't know if the space on the bezels of the MacBook Airs is wasted. It may have to do with how thin the display is. Some extra bezel may be necessary.

The current unibody MacBook Pro has been with us for many generations. It had some minor changes to the bottom due to the non-replaceable battery but overall it's been the same in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

The MBA chassis may change next year but to me it still looks modern.
 
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