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The Argument for an 11.88-Inch Retina MacBook Air

solipsism said:
I agree that the iPad's 264 PPI being right between the 260 to 270 PPI of what doubling of the current MBA resolutions would probably be more ideal for usability, but from the standpoint of economics of scale I'd think being able to use more of their MBP sheets would save them more money.
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I doubt that. Apple sells tens of millions of iPads per quarter, it'd take 2-3 quarters of Mac sales to match that kind of numbers. In the last quarterly report, Apple sold 14.1 million iPads versus 4.6 million Macs. It's not known what's the breakdown on those MBA vs. MBP but MBA is generally their top selling model.

It makes all the logical and financial sense for Apple to reuse the same known and reliable technologies in the iPad for the MBA retina model rather than the more expensive MBP screens, especially as they need to make the 999$ price target.

They already have at least two different screen suppliers for their iOS devices, they just have to expand the contract to include the MBA screens, which would include the same amount of bulk discounts they already have now.
 
Maintaining that the merging of the two OSs makes little sense, does not preclude shipping a device with both, and selling an iPad, MBA hybrid. However, I doubt this will happen. It is more likely we will see lighter and thinner rMBPs and a 11.8 inch rMBA, with the nonretina MBA discontinued.
 
A MBA screen isn't touch, an iPad's is... totally different kinds of screens. Unless apple can add the touch capabilities to a 'standard fab', this sin't going to work.
 
no way they use a resolution higher than 13" retina mbp. I think 2304x1440 is the right res. 12" will be the new macbookair, it can replace both 11,6" (with similar size) and 13,3" air (because of higher res). I hope they use the same simmetric design of rMBP, I never liked the air design.
 
OS X Dude said:
Apple only yesterday said that they wouldn't merge iOS and OS X. I highly doubt they'd run the two in parallel on the same system either. Why would they, when plenty of users will happily buy both an iPad and a Mac?
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What Apple says and what they do a couple of years later can often be two different things.;) The iPad needs to evolve to remain relevant in the next few years and the only way that be accomplished is to get OS X and iOS together in some way. How do you think the iPad/iOS will evolve in the next couple of years? More to the point, would you buy a sleek rMBA/iPad hybrid? I have a feeling the answer will be yes for most users who are currently critical of such a device.
 
The 13" RetinaBook Pro is narrower than the 13" MacBook Air.

A 12" 16x9 display is just wide enough to exactly fit Apple's standard mobile keyboard.

Thus an 11.88" MacBook Air, with thin bezel, should be the perfect size to fit Apple's standard mobile keyboard. I've been waiting for this size for some time. (Since the Air came out, I thought it should have been 12" instead of 13".)

I would buy one in a heartbeat. Give it single Thunderbolt, 2 x USB 3.0, the combo audio in/out port, and an SD slot, double the current 11" Air's resolution each direction, and I'm sold.
 
dampfnudel said:
What Apple says and what they do a couple of years later can often be two different things.;) The iPad needs to evolve to remain relevant in the next few years and the only way that be accomplished is to get OS X and iOS together in some way. How do you think the iPad/iOS will evolve in the next couple of years? More to the point, would you buy a sleek rMBA/iPad hybrid? I have a feeling the answer will be yes for most users who are currently critical of such a device.
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I don't think Apple thinks this way. Apple makes somewhere around 80% of its revenue with iPhone and iPad sales. Even if iPad sales cannibalize Mac Sales, they're still selling iPads. Even if people just have iPhones, iPads and cheap-a** windows laptop for those rare instances when iOS devices will not suffice. Apple knows iOS is the future. Even if iOS devices don't become more powerful, they make their majority of their revenue and profits from these devices.
 
can we plz make 13 inch mba form factor w/ thinner bezel(and therefore whatever screen size that comes out to? 14+ inch would be nice in current form factor).

Don't really care too much for retina version of mba. Current mba is superb for what i do.(mostly programming & reading & browsing).
 
Yes!

Please releases this!

My 12" PowerBook was (and still is) my favourite laptop. Perfect size for me.
 
MikhailT said:
I doubt that. Apple sells tens of millions of iPads per quarter, it'd take 2-3 quarters of Mac sales to match that kind of numbers. In the last quarterly report, Apple sold 14.1 million iPads versus 4.6 million Macs. It's not known what's the breakdown on those MBA vs. MBP but MBA is generally their top selling model.

It makes all the logical and financial sense for Apple to reuse the same known and reliable technologies in the iPad for the MBA retina model rather than the more expensive MBP screens, especially as they need to make the 999$ price target.

They already have at least two different screen suppliers for their iOS devices, they just have to expand the contract to include the MBA screens, which would include the same amount of bulk discounts they already have now.
Click to expand...


That is my precise point but you have incorrectly asserted how economy of scale works. With HW there is no model for infinity so you need to consider component costs per unit could rise by not only needing more 264 PPI "material" but needing larger sheets that are become harder to produce at a certain quality level. IOW, if the 9.7" iPad display is already maxing out production adding a harder to produce 11.88" display could increase costs along two vectors.

At least with the MBPs there appears to be room to grow and would be going to a smaller size. Have you seen any reports that Apple can't make the 13" or 15" displays fast enough? I haven't and yet we see such article for the iPad every year.

This is not say they won't use the 264 PPI diapaly and as noted the smaller UI elements might be more ideal for this size from a usability standpoint but that is different argument.
 
dampfnudel said:
What Apple says and what they do a couple of years later can often be two different things.;) The iPad needs to evolve to remain relevant in the next few years and the only way that be accomplished is to get OS X and iOS together in some way. How do you think the iPad/iOS will evolve in the next couple of years? More to the point, would you buy a sleek rMBA/iPad hybrid? I have a feeling the answer will be yes for most users who are currently critical of such a device.
Click to expand...


As another poster replied, I disagree with this. If it does ever happen, it'll be after a major OS X revision that lays the foundation for such a transition.

In other words: way off.
 
MikhailT said:
I doubt that. Apple sells tens of millions of iPads per quarter, it'd take 2-3 quarters of Mac sales to match that kind of numbers. In the last quarterly report, Apple sold 14.1 million iPads versus 4.6 million Macs. It's not known what's the breakdown on those MBA vs. MBP but MBA is generally their top selling model.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure apple said the 13 Macbook has always been their best selling mac.

OS X Dude said:
Apple only yesterday said that they wouldn't merge iOS and OS X. I highly doubt they'd run the two in parallel on the same system either. Why would they, when plenty of users will happily buy both an iPad and a Mac?
Click to expand...

Because instead of just buying a Mac or an iPad they would buy a bit more expensive hybrid that would also result in more software sold and developed for their os's which makes them more money.
 
osx11 said:
Ever heard of manufacturing?

They could literally use THE SAME display panels as the iPad Air, but just a little larger. They just cut the sheets differently........and if you'd actually read the article you would understand this.
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if you read my post you would have understood the point i made. the point was not that there are no savings in manufacturing.

the point was that possibly customer demand for a 13" MBA could the driving factor for design decisions and not manufacturing costs. cheap manufacturing doesn't help you if the customers don't want your product. and my guess is that apple decides more likely on their market research results than on cost factors. this could mean that consumers prefer the 11.8, the 13 or both sizes.
 
imageWIS said:
A MBA screen isn't touch, an iPad's is... totally different kinds of screens. Unless apple can add the touch capabilities to a 'standard fab', this sin't going to work.
Click to expand...

What are you trying to say? What makes a touch-screen a "touch" screen has nothing to do with the actual LCD panel. It's the layers above the screen that enable Apple's multi-Touch technology.
 
I think this is good - simplify the Macbook lineup again. 12" MBA, 13" rMBP and 15" rMBP.

The only thing I don't like is the display being 16:9. I own a 13" rMBP and used to own an 11" Air. The one thing I hated about the Air was the lack of vertical screen space.

With retina it wouldn't be as bad as you can probably run it at a higher scaled resolution like the current rMBPs.

They can easily have their full size keyboard/trackpad and the Air will finally be the small computer that it is supposed to be (The current 13" Air has a larger footprint than the 13" rMBP)
 
andiwm2003 said:
if you read my post you would have understood the point i made. the point was not that there are no savings in manufacturing.

the point was that possibly customer demand for a 13" MBA could the driving factor for design decisions and not manufacturing costs. cheap manufacturing doesn't help you if the customers don't want your product. and my guess is that apple decides more likely on their market research results than on cost factors. this could mean that consumers prefer the 11.8, the 13 or both sizes.
Click to expand...

Well it's all in the marketing.

If they market this as the "worlds thinnest, lightest, most powerful Ultra-book" then people will probably buy the 11.8" MBA even if they would actually prefer a 13.3" display. They'll tell us that this is the best Mac ever made and it's revolutionary...... and people will buy it. You can't forget Apple's extremely successful marketing campaigns.
 
Battery Life

So maybe they'll announce this in February ?

As much as I'd love to have a 13" MBA Retina or display equal to that, the battery life is going to be poor.

rMBP's have the poor battery life because of all the drivers and extra hardware now your going to bring this to the Air and screw that up? Or make an 11, 12, & 13" MBA's ?

Even if it does happen what's the cost? Battery life ? Also the OS will be bloated because of additional drivers.
 
I doubt they can use the iPads sheets since it uses in-cell touch technology, no overlaying here.
 
I'd really like to see Apple just merge the MBA & MBP into one single line. Sure, the MBA is thinner, & the MBP has a higher resolution screen, but that's not enough of a differentiation for me.
 
My warranty ends this week on my air and I've pretty much decided not to buy applecare. So I hope it lasts until this comes out.
 
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