Opinion on a new "MacBook"

[AltecX]

I have seen a couple rumors that there will be a 14in MacBook Pro coming. In light of this how would people feel if they dropped the Air name and just made their 13.3in line "Air" the "MacBook"?

Personally I have not seen reason for why there is a MacBook Pro, and Air but no MacBook. Maybe its nostalgia but I have always loved MacBooks more than the Pros or Airs as they are a great compromise on price portability and performance(well, IMO that last 12in MacBooks were a let down).

In my Mind a great lineup would be a
$799 13in MacBook with M1(limited to 8GB RAM, perhaps a lower clock speed)
$1,199 14in MBP w/ M1, entry level dedicated GPU
$X,XXX 16in MBP w/ M1(or perhaps M2?) and higher end dGPU


Just spitting ideas, but either way I'd love to see the MacBook name return. To me when I think of laptops that built technology and enabled many people to grow in it as we know it I think "ThinkPad" and "MacBook". Both are names that have endured times and transitions and I'd hate to see either name vanish completely.

 

[0128672]

For one thing, there is still a MacBook, and new ones are still being sold by Apple resellers. Here's an example from Best Buy:

Best Buy: Apple MacBook 12" Retina Display Intel Core i5 8GB Memory 512GB Flash Storage Rose Gold MRQP2LL/A

Shop Apple MacBook 12" Retina Display Intel Core i5 8GB Memory 512GB Flash Storage Rose Gold at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

The Air branding was to market its lightness. Why are you opposed to the name Macbook Air? Would you also propose renaming the iPad lineup too?

 

[AltecX]

For one thing, there is still a MacBook, and new ones are still being sold by Apple resellers. Here's an example from Best Buy:

Best Buy: Apple MacBook 12" Retina Display Intel Core i5 8GB Memory 512GB Flash Storage Rose Gold MRQP2LL/A

Shop Apple MacBook 12" Retina Display Intel Core i5 8GB Memory 512GB Flash Storage Rose Gold at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

The Air branding was to market its lightness. Why are you opposed to the name Macbook Air? Would you also propose renaming the iPad lineup too?

But aren't they left overs? There is no "MacBook" on Apples site.

Also why use Air when the last macbook was lighter? that to me seems silly. It made sense when it was lighter than the MB and MBP. The iPad Air is the lightest of the 10+in iPads. If you want to go by iPad branding than the last MacBook should be called the MacBook Mini.

 

[Hieveryone]

If you ask me, I say Apple should re-introduce the MacBook line up.

Just make the screen edge to edge and add another port on the other side.

Maybe a bigger trackpad.

That to me would be amazing.

 

[KPOM]

If you ask me, I say Apple should re-introduce the MacBook line up.

Just make the screen edge to edge and add another port on the other side.

Maybe a bigger trackpad.

That to me would be amazing.

IMO the 12” MacBook (with a “Magic” Keyboard) would have been the perfect platform to showcase the M1. A 2 lb. fanless Mac that runs as fast as the top of the line 13” MacBook Pro. However the 12” design had a TDP of only 5W, and it seems Apple wanted the 10W TDP of the larger Air design to enable even bigger performance claims.

 

[Hieveryone]

IMO the 12” MacBook (with a “Magic” Keyboard) would have been the perfect platform to showcase the M1. A 2 lb. fanless Mac that runs as fast as the top of the line 13” MacBook Pro. However the 12” design had a TDP of only 5W, and it seems Apple wanted the 10W TDP of the larger Air design to enable even bigger performance claims.

A Macbook with the M1 would be GREAT. Apple should do it!!!!!

Regarding the keyboard, I'm not sure about what apple could do. It seems like they need the butterfly keyboard to keep the computer thin. The newer ones may be too thick.

I personally like the keyboard a lot. I know it can break and all that, but my luck has been fine so far (knock on wood)

But yeah may be that's why apple is holding back. They don't want to make it thicker but don't know how to implement the newer keyboard then 🤷‍♂️

 

[SO8]

A Macbook with the M1 would be GREAT. Apple should do it!!!!!

Regarding the keyboard, I'm not sure about what apple could do. It seems like they need the butterfly keyboard to keep the computer thin. The newer ones may be too thick.

I personally like the keyboard a lot. I know it can break and all that, but my luck has been fine so far (knock on wood)

But yeah may be that's why apple is holding back. They don't want to make it thicker but don't know how to implement the newer keyboard then 🤷‍♂️

I have had no issues with my Macbook keyboard for the 3 years I've had it ... unlike my 2017 MBP which went back twice for the keyboard. Both used the same but MB no issues at all !

I am just parting with my MB and feel a bit sad but need to free up the money as have bought M1 MBA and MBP ... the new MBA is great but still massive IMO compared to the little MB which you could cart about without even noticing. An updated one would certainly get interest but I am unsure Apple are looking at it.

 

[TotalMacMove]

Maybe they will add a 1080p facetime camera to the 2021 pro, LOL. Still can’t understand why they still put a potato in these expensive machines instead of a camera. My 2013 MBP had the same camera and thought for sure they would have made it 1080 by now, NOPE!

But apple certainly makes the camera BIGGER and better on iPads each year though! The only people I see use the back camera on iPads are tourists at national parks.

/rant

 

[Blueberry123]

I would expect Apple has plans to use the 'Macbook' name again, but I do not see them dropping the 'Macbook air'. I hope they bring back a new smaller form factor in 2021. Probably a smaller market, but I would pay more. They could even include a sim card slot for mobile data use, a useful feature for it's increased price. And preferably one USB4 port either side.

However the 12” design had a TDP of only 5W

I returned the M1 Air as I found it too big and I love using an ultraportable, having used a 11 Air the last 7 years. The TDP of only 5W of the 12 Macbook design is limited, maybe it could run at 6W like the ipads, but may need to be redesigned slightly bigger to fit the magic keyboard and to also allow a higher TDP.

A new 12 Macbook does not need the same incredible performance of the M1 Air at 10W.

Apple needs to differentiate it's line up in 2021. The M1 Air is too close to the M1 Pro.

Macbook Pro 14 and 16.
Macbook Air 13
Macbook 12 ultraportable