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Photos of 12-Inch MacBook Air Display Show Black Glass Cover, Polished Apple Logo

I' hoping the lack of a thunderbolt port stays what it now is - a rumor. Without it the device would be quite crippled (at least for me).

Also with the XPS now boasting an impressive 3200x1800 resolution the rumor of the 2304x1440 pixel "Retina" Display gets off-putting too.

We'll see. I was looking forward to a Retina MBA but with all the rumors now I might stick with an MBP - at least if the new MBA is not VERY VERY competitively priced.
 
chrisdazzo said:
Buy an iPad and a 3rd party keyboard. It might eventually make sense for Apple to sell a keyboard of their own for the iPad, but then you could argue (incorrectly, I think) that it would eat into MBA profits... :rolleyes:
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Apple produced a keyboard dock for the iPad 1/2. I have one and it worked well. I found the portrait mode orientation to be very helpful. Aftermarket iPad keyboards are perhaps 2nd only in number and variety to iPad cases. There is great demand.

I doubt it is eating into MBA profits. On the contrary, iPad sales have leveled off. And the user experience is quite different between an iPad+keyboard and an MBA. I have both and sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't. :)



HenryDJP said:
The Apple wireless keyboard works perfectly with the iPad.
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Yes it does. The only minor irritation is the lack of iPad-specific keys.

I have the Origami case for it. The Apple BT keyboard+Origami+iPad4+smartcover was a killer combination for me. Especially during 10 hour days at a week-long bootcamp seminar. After a full 10 hour day of typing notes, I ended the day with about 45% battery left... contrasted with others who had Windows notebooks that had to recharge every 4 hours.
 
Just one USB port for charging..un-acceptable..there is no way to defend such stupid compromise..
Big fail.
So much compromise on functionality..
 
What is really interesting is the side profile picture of this display compared to the iPad Air. It's on the ifanr website where these photos are originally posted. It's as thick as the tablet. I think this certainly hints to major redesign with a significant chunk of hardware in the display. The displays on the current MacBook Airs, and even the MacBook Pros, are much much thinner by comparison. This can't just be a high resolution display. There is more to it.

Makes you wonder if there will be a conventional "base" at all, a-la-Surface.

Of course, just conjecture.......
 

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MacRumors said:
Additionally, the display lacks the grey bezels current MacBook Air models have, instead opting for an apparently all-glass edge-to-edge cover for the display as seen on Retina MacBook Pro models. Paired with black bezels underneath, it is difficult to see where the display ends and the bezels begin unless the screen is turned on.
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So based on this, it may be edge-to-edge glass, but still has an underlying thick black bezel.

Was hoping for more of the Dell XPS thin bezel, but perhaps impossible if the guts of the motherboard is part of the display thus allowing for a thinner keyboard.
 
macintologist said:
No Thunderbolt. Less SD card slots than a Macbook Air. Lame.
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Where did you get that from the picture of the screen?

The 'claim' about ports and sots USB C and charging is ENTIRELY based on some dudes 3d Render. It's not even a rumour. It's some 3d monkey trying to get noticed.
 
dipan said:
What is really interesting is the side profile picture of this display compared to the iPad Air. It's on the ifanr website where these photos are originally posted. It's as thick as the tablet.
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I originally thought the same thing, but you are looking at the picture wrong. You're looking at the display from the bottom with the extra width added to give the hinge some swing room. I have annotated the original picture to highlight the actual display depth.

MBP12%22%20display.png
 
nagromme said:
(The rumored move of Power over by Esc is what would annoy me--but I've heard the theory that a lot more people hit Power by accident when Deleting, then use the Esc key. If so, I'm in the minority--never happens to me, and I do use Esc.)
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i thought that was just one artist/image-renderer's (idiotic) idea. please tell me this wasn't actually rumored anywhere else...
 
If all the tech and with it the weight moves into the display the times when you could open your Laptop one-handed are most likely over. I just hope the Keyboard usability doesn't suffer much from the smaller design.
 
ColdShadow said:
Just one USB port for charging..un-acceptable..there is no way to defend such stupid compromise..
Big fail.
So much compromise on functionality..
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Let's see the actual device before commenting. If they incorporate USB ports and mDP into the power brick then it could be very useful. Remember, Apple tends to push the envelope when it comes to new ports (they dropped all the legacy ports with the first iMac even before USB had become ubiquitous).

If this device is as thin or thinner than the original iPad and packs a decent amount of power, then I'm getting one. I don't have lots of devices plugged into USB ports when I travel. Heck, if they can get this under the 2lbs limit so that it can be used gate-to-gate on an airplane, all the better.
 
Ferazel said:
I originally thought the same thing, but you are looking at the picture wrong. You're looking at the display from the bottom with the extra width added to give the hinge some swing room. I have annotated the original picture to highlight the actual display depth.

Image
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Not sure I understand your thoughts on this. The hinge I agree is on the bottom of that picture. That makes the view a side profile, doesn't it? He bottom edge of the display that you pointed out does look thin but look at the rest of the casing!
 
MattXDA said:
The display isn't thicker at all, it just uses a metal hinge. It's clearly shown in the photos that the display is thinner than the iPad Air 2 next to it.
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Elbon said:
MBA
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
Intel HD Graphics 5000
4GB memory
128GB PCIe-based flash storage

MBP
2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz
16GB 1600MHz memory
512GB PCIe-based flash storage
Intel Iris Pro Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M

I would say there is quite a difference.
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There is very little difference in price or specs between a maxed MBA and a similarly spec'd 13" rMBP. That's the argument. The fact that you listed a maxed 15" rMBP's specs and a base model MBA's shows that you are stretching your argument.

You can't get the graphics card or the quad core processor on the 13" model. The main diff between a maxed MBA and a similar rMBP is the Retina display and the higher TDP processor (you get a lower TDP dual core i7 in the MBA, and a higher TDP dual core i5 with better graphics in the 13" MBP). RAM is the same, storage is the same, the price diff is $50 in favor of the MBA, $1,749 vs $1,799.

The comparison is similar when comparing mid-range BTO MBA's with the base model 13" rMBP.

That's the point. The point isn't that you can spec out a BTO rMBP higher than the a base MBA.

But I think the argument that they are too overlapping is a weak one in any case. I think the models should be overlapping. I think a maxed out BTO MBA should be the equivalent of a mid-range standard MBP.

I hope that continues with the new 12" model. I expect an 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD option available BTO, along with dual core i7, but probably not 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD, even though it would be nice to have the RAM option.
 
Mr Fusion said:
I'm still using my 2011 13" MBA it's the best laptop I've ever owned. This 12" Air will be its replacement IF the keyboard is stretched edge to edge like the display. I've tried typing on the 11" MBA keyboard and the keys are way too crammed together. It's frustrating. I'll also have to see the 12" display in person and see if it's too small, again the 11" is far too small this 13" is just right. I'm also leery of buying revision A Apple products...

I'm hoping for the best! :)
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I am also still using my 13'' 2011 Macbook Air. For a while it was my main computer, and it still does just fine. I even do a significant amount of Photoshop work on it, and it's never really failed. Would love to upgrade, but not sure I'd want to lose any screen size. Definitely interested in this though.
 
I wonder when rumours says it will be described as "Ultra thin", if thats based on it being thinner than the current Air, or if thats what they define thin as with a "fatter" display with Retina compared to a thinner display that is not retina. If that made any sense.

To clear it up, they could just say "The thinnest notebook with a high resolution display" when they reveal it. I don't think Apple would make it even thinner as it is, but rather keeping it in the MacBook Pro Retina shape, without the thinner edges as thicker back, which will then be a much more thinner version of the MacBook Pro Retina.

But thats just my speculation, they made the iPhone 6 too thin, would not surprise me if the Air could come out too thin as well, making costumers scared of breaking it or bending it.

*sigh*.. Wish Apple would realize that sometimes, thinner is worse. Especially when it becomes too thin. Improve the internals instead and keep it as it is. I think nobody thinks "The Macbook Air could be thinner". Atleast not people I know of which has it.

Just my opinion and speculation.
 
campingsk8er said:
What if the iPad Pro and the 12" MacBook Air are the same thing o.0
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I mentioned this a few days ago on here. I think the price squeeze between the two is to small.

Besides, is it me or does these picture just look like they will strap an iPad 1 onto a keyboard lol
 
mgb1120 said:
How can you ditch the light up Apple logo? That's almost iconic when you see a apple notebook, that sucks if true, not very innovative on ditching the light up Apple
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When you see a bunch of people with MacBooks, can you tell from a distance or even closeup if it's a MacBook purchased recently or 3-4 years ago? It's possible that Apple marketing wanted something visually to differentiate the new 12" MBA and possibly other future models from the old, lit-up models. Maybe to push many users who have to have the latest & greatest to upgrade faster when their lit-up Apple logo instantly identifies their MacBook as "old". Personally, I have no problem with Apple ditching it as it looked a little cheesy compared to other laptops. I'm sure some vain and smug users will miss it, but I think it will look better without the "Apple Advertising". Now, maybe a LED band on the edge of the Apple logo that could used as a notification light would be helpful. Something for Apple to consider.
 
Erastopic said:
I wonder when rumours says it will be described as "Ultra thin", if thats based on it being thinner than the current Air, or if thats what they define thin as with a "fatter" display with Retina compared to a thinner display that is not retina. If that made any sense.

To clear it up, they could just say "The thinnest notebook with a high resolution display" when they reveal it. I don't think Apple would make it even thinner as it is, but rather keeping it in the MacBook Pro Retina shape, without the thinner edges as thicker back, which will then be a much more thinner version of the MacBook Pro Retina.
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2q9f09x.png


When you look at the iPad Air 2, the MacBook Air seems unnecessarily thick, and the iPad has a much better display.

If you had to remove the battery from the iPad Air 2 to fit all the Mac parts inside, you could still fill another iPad Air 2 with battery and it be thinner than the current Air.

So, I expect the Retina MacBook Air will be at least a little thinner, with a Retina display.
 
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