New Slim 12" MacBook and MacBook Air Updates Soon

[Gudi]

The air has dual mics and a few other things the mini doesn't.

The tec spec page says the iPad mini has dual microphones as well. There are minor differences, the A7 in the Air runs 100 MHz faster and color gamut of the mini is worse, but that's a production issue. Despite their different brand names, the iPad mini and iPad Air are feature-equal in this generation and differ only in size and $100 in prize. Apple wants to test the market, see what size people prefer all other factors aside.

It's not general change people don't like, it's when the change feels like a step back that they get bothered.

But it isn't a step back, its a step forward. You're feeling it wrong. Retina allows to pack more pixels in a smaller more portable notebook. 17" monsters are no longer necessary to provide high resolutions and Apple decided to no longer offer them. All this happened back in Mid 2012. It's a little late to still be stuck in the second stage of grief. People need to hurry up and reach acceptance.

Denial – Anger – Bargaining – Depression – Acceptance.

Any need for name calling? I haven't called people blindly justifying Apple's removing the 17" model blind fanboys.

It was necessary to wake you up. „You have a taste, one taste of the real world, where people have important things taken from them, and you whine, and cry, and quit.“ – Jaime & Brienne

You are suffering hard on your #1st-world-problems. Now you have to sit closer to the display to see the same image size. I can absolutely see, how this renders all your yearslong software investment worthless. You're right, I was blind and you should never have switched to the Mac.

Ever heard of the ToughBook with its 19", 4K, ruggerized screen?

No, but I heard about a ruggedized Panasonic Toughpad 4K 20" and its no match for the Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon 27".

 

[Banyan Bruce]

Increase memory size !

Until the memory size is increased to over 500Gb at a reasonable price, the Macbook Pro will still be an inferior form of its previous self.

 

[0000757]

If Apple dumps a physical click/push on their trackpad and moves to a tap only, their trackpads will go from being the best in the business to being the worst in the business.

I absolutely HATE tap to click because when I'm using a trackpad normally my thumb is ALWAYS sitting in the lower corner to click; I almost always have 2+ fingers on my trackpad. Tap to click literally ruins all of this.

 

[satchmo]

I've pondered an idea in the past of a MacBook Cloud. Perhaps this rumour may bear this out.

Strip practically everything from a MacBook Air and simply provide it with a 32gb drive. Everything else is done via iCloud and iWorks...yes, just like a Chromebook.

You heard it here first.

 

[HurryKayne]

And so 13 inches Mac Book Pro will go quad finally.

 

[iPhysicist]

You are suffering hard on your #1st-world-problems. Now you have to sit closer to the display to see the same image size. I can absolutely see, how this renders all your yearslong software investment worthless. You're right, I was blind and you should never have switched to the Mac.

Quoted just to see you come here and read this - "Berlin stinkt". Your post is truly Berlin style. Nicely done with that little blue and nice hashtag and so... nice

 

[furi0usbee]

14", edge to edge, non retina, 16:10 screen please.

NON RETINA??? You are kidding right? Who in the world would want to look at a non-retina screen? No way I could ever go back to non retina.

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Would love a completely noiseless notebook without any moving parts...

My rMBP for all intents is completely noiseless. I only hear fan noise may 1% of the time when I'm encoding a video or doing something very CPU intensive. All the rest of the time (image editing/web design/illustration) its silent.

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17" MBP please!

We'll see it again when retina is cheaper. There is no reason NOT to have a 17" and call it the PRO.

 

[KPOM]

If Apple dumps a physical click/push on their trackpad and moves to a tap only, their trackpads will go from being the best in the business to being the worst in the business.

I absolutely HATE tap to click because when I'm using a trackpad normally my thumb is ALWAYS sitting in the lower corner to click; I almost always have 2+ fingers on my trackpad. Tap to click literally ruins all of this.

My guess is that they'd come up with a way that works much like a physical click, except that it won't actually move (i.e. some sort of pressure sensor).

 

[Menneisyys2]

But it isn't a step back, its a step forward. You're feeling it wrong. Retina allows to pack more pixels in a smaller more portable notebook. 17" monsters are no longer necessary to provide high resolutions and Apple decided to no longer offer them. All this happened back in Mid 2012. It's a little late to still be stuck in the second stage of grief. People need to hurry up and reach acceptance.

I'm not (only) talking about resolution - also about screen estate. A larger-screen device / notebook will always be better on the eyes. If you have both an rMini and a 9.7"-screen iPad (3/4/Air), you surely know how it's easier to read stuff / play on the latter.

In my practice, the larger screen estate offered by the 17" models have proved to be very useful. It lets for opening another pane in Eclipse / Xcode or even displaying two source files (e.g., SVN compare / direct XIB wiring-in) next to each other.

While it's certainly possible to do the same on a 15" screen, a 17" one will always have a definite advantage over the 15" one. No wonder coders / programmers have always preferred as large screens as possible. Also it's mostly them (us) that mourn the loss of the 17" line also here at the MR forums, not the usual "let's show off my MacBook and pick up some girls in the local cafe" hipster folks not doing anything serious on their notebooks.

I'm just pissed off by Apple's abandoning the 17" line. When I abandoned Windows and, as the primary OS I use, switched to OS X as a full-time and (for both HW and apps) paying user, I wouldn't have thought Apple would, in some years, stop offering the 17" line - a model that can directly be compared to the best of the PC notebooks. Now I'm pretty much stranded with a system that is more of a fashion item for the above-mentioned cafe hipsters than a serious, large-screen work tool.

 

[KPOM]

a 12' Macbook ?

Seriously Apple..... I thought the who this is what separates Apple from the rest..

Apple only has a few models...

Now, the more products Apple "fits" in later on just because users want it or for some other reason, this has just made it more difficult choosing a mac ...

My guess is that the 12" version is in the current 11.6" form factor, but with a Retina screen. In other words, there won't be separate 11.6" 12.x" and 13.3" versions, unless Apple markets the 12" version as a MacBook Pro rather than an Air. If it's an Air, then the 12" version would replace the 11.6" version, and the 13.3" Air would likely be dropped (as they already have a Retina 13.3" model).

If they market the 12" model as a MacBook Pro, they may carry over the existing MacBook Air line without Retina displays for another year or two, but with minimal or no upgrades (sort of like what they did with the 13" and 15" cMBP).

 

[Menneisyys2]

No, but I heard about a ruggedized Panasonic Toughpad 4K 20" and its no match for the Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon 27".

Well, for development / art / mapping / drawing (see Wacom support) work, it's still great. I'd get it in a heartbeat if it ran OS X.

 

[KPOM]

Nice.

Steve implemented the 3 on 3 setup I am referring to. Forgot the good, better, best configurations for Power Macs? PowerBook 12", 15", 17"? 21", 24", 30" Cinema Displays? iPod, iPod Nano, iPod shuffle? MBP 13", 15", 17"?

I just want it back instead of the two on two they have now. John wanted too much stuff. Now Apple's whitling it down to not enough. The 3 on 3 was the sweet spot, in my opinion.

Steve Jobs also advocated a 2x2 setup (essentially creating a quadrant - consumer and pro, 2 models each - portable and desktop).

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The question to answer is: Are the Airs primary meant to be a line of subnotebooks or do they represent the whole consumer notebook market for Apple. In the latter case at least one 13" or bigger model is mandatory in my opinion. 12" and 14" rMBA would be perfect to cover all needs. Only the 17" crowd will cry forever.
Another customer for my imaginary 14" rMBA.

The Air started out as a typical expensive underpowered ultraportable (like the original Sony Vaio or Toshiba Libretto) but since October 2010 has been positioned as a consumer notebook, along with the 13" MacBook Pro, which has long been Apple's best selling Mac. They have kept the 2013 13" MacBook Pro around for one last year, but I think they see the 13" rMBP as their top-of-the-line consumer model (despite the "Pro" designation).

 

[KPOM]

Intel has been "working on improving efficiency" since Netburst nearly melted the planet. They seem to be culturally inhibited from sacrificing any performance for efficiency. ARM on the other hand has been working on improving performance and has been much more successful-- particularly in multicore architectures.

I always thought an ARM based Mac was a bad idea, but after reading all of this I can kind of see it. Maybe it's just my mood and I'll change my mind tomorrow...

Intel finally got serious about improving efficiency when they realized how they had ceded the mobile space to ARM. Apple has also pushed them in that direction, along with improving the GPU. The Iris Pro basically exists because Apple told Intel what they wanted in an integrated GPU. They are Intel's biggest customer for those products.

If you look at Intel's processor road map, you'll notice that CPU performance hasn't really increased much since Sandy Bridge (itself only a moderate step up from Nehalem). Ivy Bridge, Haswell, and Broadwell have all been about improving power consumption and graphics performance.

 

[TallManNY]

Yeah, Apple spends hardly anything when designing new models. They're so tight with their R&D budget!!

Imagine what could be achieved if Apple actually invested in their products like other technology companies do, instead of giving it all back to shareholders and squandering it on an outlandish spaceship-shaped ivory tower for their lazy executives.

For one thing, new Mac Pro would not have been years late if Apple spent properly on R&D. We'd probably have had the iPhone in, like, 2004; the iPad in 2006, and the iWatch would already be on its 2nd or 3rd iteration.

Hell, we might even have the PowerBook G5 by now.

I meant that Apple probably could justify the 12 inch design and tooling expenses because they sell such a high volume of computers. And the extra expense would presumably be fairly minimal in addition to what they are spending on the 11 inch Air and the 13 Inch Air and Pro. There is clearly a market for 12 inch laptops, so I'm not sure why Apple doesn't meet that market.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

If Apple dumps a physical click/push on their trackpad and moves to a tap only, their trackpads will go from being the best in the business to being the worst in the business.

I absolutely HATE tap to click because when I'm using a trackpad normally my thumb is ALWAYS sitting in the lower corner to click; I almost always have 2+ fingers on my trackpad. Tap to click literally ruins all of this.

You are aware that the physical actuator is the only thing that would be missing, this to reduce the space needed in the enclosure? The new design simulates the same thing and for the end user there is no discernible difference in function or feel whatsoever.

 

[Gudi]

the fans don't work when they are not needed. but on current models, once the computer hits a certain temp. then they kick in.

The fans always run at 2000 rpm, whether you hear them or not. Only when that speed isn't enough, the fans run faster and louder.

Until the memory size is increased to over 500Gb at a reasonable price, the Macbook Pro will still be an inferior form of its previous self.

Gosh, people complain about everything. Ten times the storage speed are ignored over storage size/prize. Four times the pixels are ignored over two inches maximum screen diagonal. Progress has no friends.

While it's certainly possible to do the same on a 15" screen, a 17" one will always have a definite advantage over the 15" one.

A screen size advantage and a device size disadvantage. While the display gets better with size, the weight gets worse with size. Every design is a compromise. And while it is certainly possible to do the same on a 15", it is certainly impossible to make a 17" as light as a 15".

I'm just pissed off by Apple's abandoning the 17" line.

Two years ago. Now what?

 

[octothorpe8]

The fan on my 11" 2013 Air is so quiet I honestly forget it has one.

 

[iRun26.2]

My guess is that they'd come up with a way that works much like a physical click, except that it won't actually move (i.e. some sort of pressure sensor).

I wouldn't be surprised if the new touch sensor is something revolutionary (first seen on the new MBA). There have been other innovations first seen with the MBAs in the past (all SSD storage, LED backlit screen, etc).

 

[Eric5273]

A undesirable development if true. iOS and iOS applications are toys compared to OSX and OSX applications. Who will want to spend $1,000 for a 12" notebook that is nothing more than an iPad Air with a physical keyboard?

Yes, but things have been gradually changing for some time. With every new version of iOS and OSX they both continue to move closer together. So add a USB port with the ability to access files from a stick drive to iOS8, add the ability to run 2 apps side by side as is possible on the new Android tablets, and add mouse support, and now you have a very usable machine.

No, this is not going to be your primary machine. But if you are one of the many people who bought a keyboard case for your previous iPad, then this may be the machine for you. Perhaps it has a removable screen so you can use it in iPad format, and you can also attach it to the keyboard for extended battery life and use with the trackpad.

As for whether people will pay $1,000 for it, people are already paying $700-800 for the top iPad Air model, and then they are spending $100 on a keyboard case, so no reason they would not pay another couple hundred dollars to have that included along with a slightly larger screen. I know I would.

I have a full desktop machine for my "heavy lifting" and business stuff. My laptop is for my more casual use and iOS with a few extra features would do just fine and would actually make life a bit easier.

 

[octothorpe8]

I have a full desktop machine for my "heavy lifting" and business stuff. My laptop is for my more casual use and iOS with a few extra features would do just fine and would actually make life a bit easier.

I had kind of the same approach, but recently had a need to install Photoshop CS6 on my Air and found that it performed beautifully. I would never want an OS as limiting as iOS on a real computer.

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The fans always run at 2000 rpm, whether you hear them or not. Only when that speed isn't enough, the fans run faster and louder.

Not even that fast. The fans on my 2013 11" MBA are running at 1200 currently.

 

[bigpics]

No touchscreen laptop in sight? Not surprised since Apple never wanted to take that route for the most part. But messing with my Asus Q501LA touchscreen laptop on Mavericks (hackintosh), the launchpad is so nice going through the app menu, feels just like an iPad or iPhone.

edit: I'm just saying, it feels too good swiping through the Launchpad for me to think Apple isn't working on something here. I'm open to being wrong though.

But, as for real applicable use, who knows...

OK, I'm confused...

You wanna explain how running an OS without any touch API's on touch-enabled hardware turns mouse-clickable bits into touchable targets??

 

[Thunderhawks]

If Apple dumps a physical click/push on their trackpad and moves to a tap only, their trackpads will go from being the best in the business to being the worst in the business.

I absolutely HATE tap to click because when I'm using a trackpad normally my thumb is ALWAYS sitting in the lower corner to click; I almost always have 2+ fingers on my trackpad. Tap to click literally ruins all of this.

There are many times that Apple is right dropping things (floppy, superdrive)

But clicking isn't one of them. What is wrong with giving the option in the software like we have now.

Let us click!

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Heck, a 17" MacBook Air would be great if it had a Retina display and 16GB of RAM.

My 2008 MBP is my main computer and not to big to lug around.

When at a desk I connect it to a 27" screen and everything is great.

The bigger the screen, the better for watching. Retina in smaller sizes doesn't
compensate. Especially evident or sports and other wide screen events.

 

[afsnyder]

Awwwwwsome. I'm happy with my rMBP but still interested to see.
Disappointing about the iWatch though, apple is slow to the plate these days it seems..

When have they ever been fast?

It took them a few years after the first smartphones to come out with their own. Took them a few years to come out with the iPod before all the MP3 players came around. iPhones are still 4" while the competition boasts 5"+ Heck, the only thing they come out with ahead of or with the competition is their MacBooks and they are already behind on the Air's retina display.

I actually want Google to ride the smart watches through this year competition free so Apple can take notes. Would rather have them come out with it late than too early...

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The fan on my 11" 2013 Air is so quiet I honestly forget it has one.

Same on my MBP Retina... and they reduced the number of fans in half in 2013.

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I've pondered an idea in the past of a MacBook Cloud. Perhaps this rumour may bear this out.

Strip practically everything from a MacBook Air and simply provide it with a 32gb drive. Everything else is done via iCloud and iWorks...yes, just like a Chromebook.

You heard it here first.

iPad maybe? Honestly, I store everything on iCloud that is document based. I still have the 5gb free plan and I haven't even reached a half a gig yet.

The only information I store locally is my software, pictures, videos and everything too large to store in the cloud.

 

[jvmxtra]

This cannot be true.. Or at least do 12 / 14/ 17 w/ thinner bezel...

I am using 13 mba as my development machine and I would like more room without getting bigger and current 13 incher is perfect size to carryer 14 inch screen.

What will I do w/ 12 inch mba???

 

[Menneisyys2]

A screen size advantage and a device size disadvantage. While the display gets better with size, the weight gets worse with size. Every design is a compromise. And while it is certainly possible to do the same on a 15", it is certainly impossible to make a 17" as light as a 15".

We 17" fans have absolutely no problems with that. It has always been a good compromise, given that the 17" model has only weighed in 0.5kg more than the 15" of the same generation, which is tolerable, particularly if you take your MBP with you with car or in a backpack.