Dude, a lot of the market barely knows what processor and RAM do, let alone has preferences about them. But everyone knows what $200 in the pocket is.
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New 12.9-Inch MacBook Could Launch This Year Starting at $599
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I've never wanted an iPad, as I see it as a handicapped laptop (in my user case). But a very light-weight laptop for media consumption and some work while on the sofa and traveling would be great. Price must be well below an M3 or M4 MBA with the same RAM/Drive size of course.
For some reason the first generation of a new machine usually isn't the most attractive in specs. So I expect to buy such a Macbook not earlier than when the 2nd generation has arrived.
For some reason the first generation of a new machine usually isn't the most attractive in specs. So I expect to buy such a Macbook not earlier than when the 2nd generation has arrived.
You misunderstand me - I'm not a fan of iPadOS. I just don't see how Apple can offer something cheaper than an Air, which already has a 60hz non-miniLED display and subpar speakers compared to a Macbook Pro. So, what exactly is this new machine going to be? What features will it lack so it doesn't cannibalize Air sales? I'm not seeing the market they're trying to address. The only thing that makes sense is that they're going to move the Air upmarket by giving it more features along with a price hike.
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I feel like this cheaper MacBook could be what Apple needs to make further inroads into enterprise. A cheaper Mac with long battery life? Sounds good on paper.
Ah, but it would evidently be another product vehicle for iPad Air screens (the larger screens). The ones without touchscreens anyway. (Unless…) And a vehicle for Apple’s rumored upcoming Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip, just in case “Version 1.0” isn’t that great.
We’ve had parts bin “frankenphones” in the iPhone lineup for nearly 10 years. Why not a “frankenMac”?
Knocking $300-$400 off the list price is a whole new market by itself.
I’ll bet money this will have Apple’s C1 modem in it and be the first MacBook with cellular. They’re going to need to sell these somehow so it will literally be an iPhone 16 SE internally if it has a A18 and 8gb ram.
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If it comes in pink, my wife will definitely buy it. 256gb storage and 16gb RAM is MUST!
Could be a great laptop for a very large number of people - people who want a "proper" laptop for web browsing, e-mails, office-type documents whilst being able to stream video/music in the background and manage their files. Playing games, rendering video or batch editing photos are alien topics to these people - perhaps they would do some light photo editing, but likely using Apple Photos rather than Photoshop. An A18 would easily give enough horsepower for those kinds of tasks.
It does raise the questions though, how does Apple not loose revenue & margin compared to selling these people a MBA? Recycling the iPhone chip (with 8 GB Ram), likely an iPad Air 12.9" screen (with reduced brightness?), only 1 USB-C port with no thunderbolt that can only drive 1 display, lower quality speakers, slower SSD (or single chip storage like the M2 MBA)...
With the size of MacOS these days, surely it has to be 256 GB storage?
It does raise the questions though, how does Apple not loose revenue & margin compared to selling these people a MBA? Recycling the iPhone chip (with 8 GB Ram), likely an iPad Air 12.9" screen (with reduced brightness?), only 1 USB-C port with no thunderbolt that can only drive 1 display, lower quality speakers, slower SSD (or single chip storage like the M2 MBA)...
With the size of MacOS these days, surely it has to be 256 GB storage?
Sounds good just don't cripple it like the first butterfly keyboard MacBook that had a total of one USB-C port and a terraced battery that could not be replaced and a crappy keyboard that would constantly fail. And was still very expensive despite all these limitations.
How unlike Apple to add confusion to their product lineup.
Checks out: 599.- for 8/128. Plus 100 for 16, plus 100 for 256. 799.- for 16/256 with no thunderbolt, worse screen, and probably various other cuts (no MagSafe? One USB-C plus MagSafe), vs an M4 16/256. That makes for a pretty logical step-up ramp, plus it gives pundits something to whine about now that the base Air has become too good.
Why do you think it adds confusion?
For the hundredth time: iPad OS does not have Mac apps, which is a significant disadvantage! Why do you think many users wanted an iPad with MacOS? This is now the solution: a device with MacOS that is small and light (under 1000 grams) and runs apps like Excel, Word, Lightroom, Photoshop and FCPX, rather than the limited nonsense on iPad OS.
I'm also sure that many users will get it as an additional Mac despite having a desktop Mac and iPad, just like me.
I'm a light to moderate user who could get by on an M1. All I ever hope for is that it has 120hz and 16GB memory, I feel like the rest (performance / build quality) is a given with Apple.
I assume that Apple will use this new device to set higher prices for future MacBook Airs, thereby creating a price gap.
Sounds like a big junk failure. Apple can use a current nm process M1 chip or M2. Junk.
Why don’t they just let you run straight-up MacOS on an iPad? You put an iPad in one of those keyboard+trackpad cases, let it run MacOS and now you have a MacBook with a touchscreen.
A18 pro beats M1 in every benchmark test!
Nevermind "dude" with today social media and AI...even the average people will know everything about anything...$200 is too small...facts will show if this will be real for 256+8gb ram, even the supply chain rumours says 599
not sure since Macbook Air will dont have a new design inside out for the next 2 years
