Reliable information about the rMBA

[motrek]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/05/wsj-talks-up-retina-display-macbook-air/

The WSJ is rarely wrong about Apple's upcoming plans, if ever. I think it's considered common knowledge by now that Apple does strategic leaks to them.

So now we know that there will be a 12" MBA with a high-res screen that ships in the 2nd quarter (April, May, June).

Based on the leaked photos of the rMBA lid, the dimensions look to be 88-89% of the MBP in terms of width and depth, so, 11" wide and 7.67" deep.

In other words, it will actually be about 5% smaller than the current 11" MBA. Mostly more narrow. So expect a keyboard with less overhang on the sides. I'm interested to see how they do this because with the current design it doesn't seem possible to have USB ports on the sides without keyboard overhang.

 

[nutjob]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/05/wsj-talks-up-retina-display-macbook-air/

The WSJ is rarely wrong about Apple's upcoming plans, if ever. I think it's considered common knowledge by now that Apple does strategic leaks to them.

So now we know that there will be a 12" MBA with a high-res screen that ships in the 2nd quarter (April, May, June).

Based on the leaked photos of the rMBA lid, the dimensions look to be 88-89% of the MBP in terms of width and depth, so, 11" wide and 7.67" deep.

In other words, it will actually be about 5% smaller than the current 11" MBA. Mostly more narrow. So expect a keyboard with less overhang on the sides. I'm interested to see how they do this because with the current design it doesn't seem possible to have USB ports on the sides without keyboard overhang.

Strategic leaks? LOL! Yeah, they go to great lengths to keep things secret, then leak. Of course.

What USB ports? Where are the rumors suggesting it has so many ports that it has to use the space under the keyboard?

 

[motrek]

Strategic leaks? LOL! Yeah, they go to great lengths to keep things secret, then leak. Of course.

What USB ports? Where are the rumors suggesting it has so many ports that it has to use the space under the keyboard?

I don't know what Apple's motivations are for leaks to the WSJ and they might be different for each product. But it seems almost impossible that they don't leak to the WSJ. There have been many instances of the WSJ making 100% accurate "predictions" about what Apple will do in the near future.

Maybe in some cases they want to get people talking and excited about whatever announcement they're going to do, or "pre-spin" it in a particular way.

As for the ports, just take a look at the 11" MBA. Look at how long a USB connector is and imagine the space it must take up in the side of the laptop. Now look at the keyboard and observe the height and key travel of the delete key and tilde key.

If you moved the USB ports in by half an inch on each side, you obviously wouldn't be able to press down on these keys, they'd just bang into the top of the USB connectors.

 

[flowrider]

And then we have this:

http://www.powerpage.org/rumor-apple-to-delay-production-of-larger-12-9-inch-pro-ipad-until-q2/

Lou

 

[objektør]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/05/wsj-talks-up-retina-display-macbook-air/

The WSJ is rarely wrong about Apple's upcoming plans, if ever. I think it's considered common knowledge by now that Apple does strategic leaks to them.

So now we know that there will be a 12" MBA with a high-res screen that ships in the 2nd quarter (April, May, June).

So still possible to be announced at WWDC in june and shipped later that month.
Or do they 'normally' announce well in advance for new product? Like announced march 9th, shipped end of april f.e.?

 

[dmccloud]

So still possible to be announced at WWDC in june and shipped later that month.
Or do they 'normally' announce well in advance for new product? Like announced march 9th, shipped end of april f.e.?

The only product that was announced with significant lead time in the last couple of years was the new Mac Pro. Most of the new devices (iPhone 6/6+, iPads, MBAs, etc.) were shipping within 1-2 weeks of the announcements.

 

[nutjob]

I don't know what Apple's motivations are for leaks to the WSJ and they might be different for each product. But it seems almost impossible that they don't leak to the WSJ. There have been many instances of the WSJ making 100% accurate "predictions" about what Apple will do in the near future.

Maybe in some cases they want to get people talking and excited about whatever announcement they're going to do, or "pre-spin" it in a particular way.

As for the ports, just take a look at the 11" MBA. Look at how long a USB connector is and imagine the space it must take up in the side of the laptop. Now look at the keyboard and observe the height and key travel of the delete key and tilde key.

If you moved the USB ports in by half an inch on each side, you obviously wouldn't be able to press down on these keys, they'd just bang into the top of the USB connectors.

WSJ gets scoops because an individual knows something and tells them. Even if that individual is employed by Apple it doesn't mean the company sanctions it. There us no evidence of, or logic to, it.

Have a look at the mockups, they make perfect sense, the one port on either side, above the keyboard. That's why there are so few.

 

[motrek]

WSJ gets scoops because an individual knows something and tells them. Even if that individual is employed by Apple it doesn't mean the company sanctions it. There us no evidence of, or logic to, it.

I told you what the logic might be, i.e., to drum up interest and excitement for the announcement. You're right that I don't have any evidence, but you also don't have any evidence about individual independent leakers to the WSJ.

Have a look at the mockups, they make perfect sense, the one port on either side, above the keyboard. That's why there are so few.

Great, some fanboys made some mockups. That doesn't make me any less interested in how Apple will actually execute this form factor.

 

[sracer]

I told you what the logic might be, i.e., to drum up interest and excitement for the announcement. You're right that I don't have any evidence, but you also don't have any evidence about individual independent leakers to the WSJ.

Exactly.

Absent concrete evidence, the theory that the leaks are controlled by Apple is as likely as an unplanned leak by an employee with inside info.

You're spot on regarding, the "managing expectations" aspects of controlled leaks.

 

[nutjob]

I told you what the logic might be, i.e., to drum up interest and excitement for the announcement. You're right that I don't have any evidence, but you also don't have any evidence about individual independent leakers to the WSJ.



Great, some fanboys made some mockups. That doesn't make me any less interested in how Apple will actually execute this form factor.

LOL, the mockups were pretty much exactly right. Duh!

As for the leaks, as I said, they defy logic. If they want to 'drum up interest' the make an official announcement. Forget evidence, try giving me some logic behind such a stupid idea.

 

[SmOgER]

I'm interested to see how they do this because with the current design it doesn't seem possible to have USB ports on the sides without keyboard overhang.

Spot on!
That's exactly why we are stuck with USB C. But it's a shame they couldn't (or didn't want to) figure out a way to make at least 2 of them.

EDIT: After closer look, that port is squeezed above the keyboard, which means that keyboard overhang is needed even for the smaller ports. So with new form factor I don't see any available space to possibly fit a second usb port.

 

[motrek]

LOL, the mockups were pretty much exactly right. Duh!

As for the leaks, as I said, they defy logic. If they want to 'drum up interest' the make an official announcement. Forget evidence, try giving me some logic behind such a stupid idea.

Oh wow, I wonder what kind of work you do that you can be so completely ignorant of how marketing works?

Are you seriously trying to argue that a leak won't add interest to an announcement?

Of course if you're a regular reader of this forum, you might assume everybody in the world has Apple's event dates memorized and tunes in to the live blogs.

But there are a tremendous number of people who have no idea when Apple events are or what's rumored to be announced.

Doing a controlled leak to the WSJ means you get tens of thousands of people (maybe millions) talking about it before it happens. "Hey did you know that Apple might be releasing a new laptop on Monday? I just read about it in the WSJ!" "Hey no, that sounds cool, maybe I'll tell my friends and watch the event! Thanks!"

Maybe you want me to explain how TV commercials work to you too?