the end of macbook air

[Yebubbleman]

Let me fix that for you:
$899 MBA11 that we all know and love. Core M.
$999 MBA 13 that some of us like. Core M.
$1199 MBA r12. This will be the premium ultrabook to compete with the similar priced Dell XPS 13. Broadwell i5.

Entry Level MBP: say goodbye. This laptop has not been updated since June 2012. That is almost 3 years ago. Which is 16 years in computer years.

There is an entire generation of laptops that were born after the MBP was last updated who are now computer teenagers and are calling you grandpa when you reminisce about the "good ole days" of the MBP. Face the music: the non-retina MBP is dead. Time to start dating again.

I figured it went without saying that the non-retina 13" MBP would be discontinued. That said, I disagree about the Core M going into the 11" and 13" MBA if Apple is going to continue doing a 13" and 11" MBA. Personally, I think it makes much more sense for them to do their rumored machine and just add what would've been on the next 11" and 13" machines onto new low-end models of the 13" retina MBP. It's not like Apple hasn't spread those CPUs out to other non-MBA Macs already anyway.

 

[tmarks11]

That said, I disagree about the Core M going into the 11" and 13" MBA if Apple is going to continue doing a 13" and 11" MBA.

Probably right. The only reason to go to Core M is to (shudder) get rid of the fan. And the only reason to do that is to make the MBA thinner (shudder).

I would predict that just like the rMBP quickly knocked the non-retina MBP out of the lineup, the same thing will happen to the non-retina MBA within a year of two. If that is part of Apple's master plan, than making a significant hardware change to the non-retina MBA would be a waste of time at this point. Keep the same physical dimensions, with the only change this year being an upgrade to Broadwell.

The MBA r12 will become their ultrabook killer, and will continue the Apple trend of shrinking in thickness every year until it is as flat as a piece of paper...

I figured it went without saying that the non-retina 13" MBP would be discontinued.

I misread your post. When you said "Entry Level MBP 13 $999", I thought you were talking about the current non-retina MBP.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Probably right. The only reason to go to Core M is to (shudder) get rid of the fan. And the only reason to do that is to make the MBA thinner (shudder).

I would predict that just like the rMBP quickly knocked the non-retina MBP out of the lineup, the same thing will happen to the non-retina MBA within a year of two. If that is part of Apple's master plan, than making a significant hardware change to the non-retina MBA would be a waste of time at this point. Keep the same physical dimensions, with the only change this year being an upgrade to Broadwell.

If they just add the processor options to the low-end of the 13" MacBook Pro (with Retina) line, then they sort of remove the need for a non-retina 13" Air, save for those that have software that isn't retina-ready yet. Otherwise, the 13" Air is effectively cannibalized in the line-up. Otherwise, use is casual enough and the percentage of sales aren't as crucial as the 13" MacBook Pro is (to the point where they need almost three years to comfortably transition the target market audience to the new design) so that they can nix the 13" Air as it is today with minimal issue. The 12" machine, while lacking ports, would otherwise be an apt replacement for the 11" Air which is already too small to be viably used for most of the things that you'd need the ports for. Boom!

12" Retina Air replaces 11" Air, and new low-end 13" retina Pros replace the 13" Air and then there isn't so much overlap in the two lines. While the MacBook Air is free to do what it has historically done for the Mac line as a whole; be the unfortunate harbinger of portable computing changes to come.

The MBA r12 will become their ultrabook killer, and will continue the Apple trend of shrinking in thickness every year until it is as flat as a piece of paper...

Honestly, I think it's more likely that it'll be positioned as a Google Chromebook killer. With the hardware that it will supposedly have and minus the ports, it would make sense for this machine to either be a thin client where it is running a heavily modified version of OS X that leverages iCloud for very specific storage tasks (such as maintaining and running supported OS X apps) OR just a really thin and lightweight OS X machine. It only having one port would be consistent with a goal to take on Chromebooks (the ports of which are more or less needless).

Either way, if the 13" rMBP is positioned to cannibalize the 13" Air and if the 12" rMBA is set to replace the 11" Air while also being something totally new; it would free Apple to position the MacBook Air as "the future of MacBooks" once again. Though, as someone whose Mac of choice is a 15" MacBook Pro, I'm really hoping they don't look to make any of the MacBook Pro machines into Google Chromebook wannabes.

I misread your post. When you said "Entry Level MBP 13 $999", I thought you were talking about the current non-retina MBP.

Ah! Yeah, meant that it would THEN be the new Entry level machine. I assumed in labeling all that out there that the whole laptop line-up would be retina (as the non-retina 13" MBP would naturally have exited the line-up by that point as would the 11" and 13" MBAs).

 

[tmarks11]

Well this time last year we were saying "Wait until June! The MBA r12 will be released at WWDC...."

hmmm...

 

[kelon111]

If they eliminate the MBA 13 and make the new MB Airs thinner, removing the conventional ports, I will move on. I am tired of thinner. Wish they would make it twice a thick and give me a 24hr battery in its place.

Maybe you should be looking at Windows based laptops then.

I'm still waiting for Apple to introduce notebooks with hot swappable batteries but that isn't going to happen.

 

[sracer]

Honestly, I think it's more likely that it'll be positioned as a Google Chromebook killer. With the hardware that it will supposedly have and minus the ports, it would make sense for this machine to either be a thin client where it is running a heavily modified version of OS X that leverages iCloud for very specific storage tasks (such as maintaining and running supported OS X apps) OR just a really thin and lightweight OS X machine. It only having one port would be consistent with a goal to take on Chromebooks (the ports of which are more or less needless).

Apple is incapable of nor has a desire to produce a Chromebook killer.

 

[tmarks11]

I'm still waiting for Apple to introduce notebooks with hot swappable batteries but that isn't going to happen.

You can hot swap the MBA battery.

Step one: remove 10 screws from the bottom....

Apple is incapable of nor has a desire to produce a Chromebook killer.

Agreed. Apple is in the business of making an alternative OS and pairing it with premium hardware.

Aiming to "kill" a product line designed around cobbling the cheapest imaginable hardware together with a freeware OS doesn't really match their business model. They didn't get the cash reserves they have by offering a product with a razor thin profit margin.

 

[Boyd01]

A front page article here says that new "speed bump" 11" and 13" MBA models are coming soon, possibly on Monday…

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/03/04/macbook-air-refresh-appears-imminent/

A chart suggests that the 13-inch MacBook will come in three iterations. The first two will use the 1.6GHz Core-i5 processor and will ship with either 128 or 256GB of storage. The higher-end model will use the Intel Core i7-5650U 2.2GHz chip and will ship with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of flash storage. There will be a variety of upgrade options as well.

There is no information available on the 11-inch MacBook Air, but it will use the same Broadwell chips and will offer many of the same upgrade options.

As for when the MacBook Air refresh will come, that's unknown. It appears the machines are ready to go, so it's very possible that Apple will announce the refresh during its upcoming March 9 event.

 

[Gav2k]

The new core m wouldn't be a shock if it did happen to be honest

 

[ygys]

so since today we know that the Air line is doomed

it is not going to take a long time for rMB to be cheaper and take over the 11" and 13" macbook air

right now the core M processor does not represent a competitor for the Pro line so the differentiation between the two is awesome

 

[motrek]

so since today we know that the Air line is doomed

it is not going to take a long time for rMB to be cheaper and take over the 11" and 13" macbook air

right now the core M processor does not represent a competitor for the Pro line so the differentiation between the two is awesome

It took ~4 years for Apple to lower the price of the MBAs by $100. What makes you think Apple will quickly lower the price of the new MacBook from $1300 to $900?

 

[newellj]

so since today we know that the Air line is doomed

it is not going to take a long time for rMB to be cheaper and take over the 11" and 13" macbook air

right now the core M processor does not represent a competitor for the Pro line so the differentiation between the two is awesome

Price, power, ports...it may be doomed but that day is several years away.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Apple is incapable of nor has a desire to produce a Chromebook killer.

I think they just did.

 

[sracer]

I think they just did.

Think again.

If you think that the new Macbook just announced is a chromebook killer, then it doesn't appear that you have an understanding of what a Chromebook is, the purposes it serves, nor the pricepoints.

Unless of course you think that Chromebook = thin/light.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Think again.

If you think that the new Macbook just announced is a chromebook killer, then it doesn't appear that you have an understanding of what a Chromebook is, the purposes it serves, nor the pricepoints.

Unless of course you think that Chromebook = thin/light.

Compare the MacBook to the ChromeBook Pixel. In terms of price, the two machines are fairly comparable. In terms of specs, the two machines are fairly comparable (though I think the MacBook wins on local storage). The only difference is that ChromeOS is based on the principle of data and apps being located server-side and OS X still uses the more traditional model of having apps and a majority of data live client-side. Both are not meant to replace the MacBook Pro, and both are meant to do the essentials with a high level of portability. Chromebooks come in all kinds, and yes, in terms of price, this new MacBook doesn't compare to lower-end Chromebooks as it's not in Apple's nature to design a machine with a low-end design. But to say that this machine doesn't at all come close to trying to address Chromebooks in any fashion is naive and short-sighted.

 

[sracer]

Compare the MacBook to the ChromeBook Pixel. In terms of price, the two machines are fairly comparable. In terms of specs, the two machines are fairly comparable (though I think the MacBook wins on local storage).

The Chromebook Pixel is NOT the typical chromebook. It is a reference platform used to showcase ChromeOS. Although CPU, base RAM/storage may be comparable between the two that's where the similarities end.

The only difference is that ChromeOS is based on the principle of data and apps being located server-side and OS X still uses the more traditional model of having apps and a majority of data live client-side. Both are not meant to replace the MacBook Pro, and both are meant to do the essentials with a high level of portability. Chromebooks come in all kinds, and yes, in terms of price, this new MacBook doesn't compare to lower-end Chromebooks as it's not in Apple's nature to design a machine with a low-end design. But to say that this machine doesn't at all come close to trying to address Chromebooks in any fashion is naive and short-sighted.

You are free to believe what you want to. It is clear to most that the target audience for the new Macbook is NOT the same audience as the Chromebook... not even the Pixel. An portable internet appliance (even a premium one) is not the same as an ultralight full function premium notebook. And so it goes.

 

[Yebubbleman]

The Chromebook Pixel is NOT the typical chromebook. It is a reference platform used to showcase ChromeOS. Although CPU, base RAM/storage may be comparable between the two that's where the similarities end.

The Pixel is positioned as a premium Chromebook. Apple would never make a Core M based laptop that wasn't premium in design and engineering at least. However, that's where the "premium-ness" of it ends.

You are free to believe what you want to. It is clear to most that the target audience for the new Macbook is NOT the same audience as the Chromebook... not even the Pixel.

What does the average Chromebook user use their Chromebook to do? Internet, e-mail, basic word processing, and maybe listen to music. What are the only things that the new MacBook is equipped to do well? Internet, e-mail, basic word processing, and maybe listen to music.

Obviously, yes, your average Chromebook is $1000 cheaper. But are they targeting the same types of users for the same types of tasks? You betcha.

Apple bills this as a fully-functional Mac, but it's not. You get one port and no adapters out of the box. Apple at least provides a means to get Gigabit Ethernet on the retina MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs (as well as the option to bundle it with the purchase of the computer at the time of purchase); you do not get this luxury on this new MacBook. Similarly, you can swap out the storage device on the Airs and the retina Pros. It's proprietary and insanely expensive, but you have that option. You do not get this option with the new MacBook. Yes, you get 8GB of RAM, and that would be awesome if you had a capable processor to go along with it; you don't. Try doing anything even remotely more intensive on this machine than the functions I just listed; best of luck. Users of this machine are only going to do the same exact things on it that one would do on a Chromebook.

Consider the following logic:

- No one would buy both this machine and a Chromebook.

- Apple doesn't cater to those who are unwilling to spend more money than the competition.

- Therefore, this is the closest thing that they've ever introduced to a Chromebook killer and I think they assume that they will take those sales away, despite a price tag that is $1000 more.

You're welcomed to disagree with me, though I'm confident in the soundness of my logic here.

An portable internet appliance (even a premium one) is not the same as an ultralight full function premium notebook. And so it goes.

The correctness of your use of the phrase "full function premium notebook" is debatable. The price-tag is premium as is the level of precision and craftsmanship in design and engineering. But that's where the word "premium ends" and there's certainly not a "full function" about it; at least not with this incarnation. It's about where the MacBook Air was in January 2008 in those terms (and there was nothing premium about that machine save for its light weight and ultra portability relative to the rest of the Mac notebook line at the time).

 

[Rachel Faith]

The macbook pro line is getting so thin and light that it is very hard to differentiate from macbook air

do you guys think that the 12" retina air might replace not even the entire air line up but also the 13" retina macbook pro ?

most definitely they would have to put there some more powerful CPU (not the core M series)

that way we would have only macbook 12" and macbook 15"

it would make consumer decision-making so much easier and apple could just concentrate on 2 products rather than 5

what are your thought on this ?

YES! I said this the other day. They do not need 3 or 4 MB lines. By going ultra light on the MB they can drop the AIR label and just have a LIGHT and the PRO version.

 

[zaphod64]

New MacBook is no option. USB3 and SDXC slot - both of course down compatible - are the minimum interfaces.

I do not want to buy a super chique New MB for the need to carry a crappy load of adapter cables with me. This is absurd, nonsense and makes no sense.

The only thing Apple had to do is to update MBA 13" with Retina.

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH......!!!!

The macbook pro line is getting so thin and light that it is very hard to differentiate from macbook air

do you guys think that the 12" retina air might replace not even the entire air line up but also the 13" retina macbook pro ?

most definitely they would have to put there some more powerful CPU (not the core M series)

that way we would have only macbook 12" and macbook 15"

it would make consumer decision-making so much easier and apple could just concentrate on 2 products rather than 5

what are your thought on this ?

 

[newellj]

New MacBook is no option. USB3 and SDXC slot - both of course down compatible - are the minimum interfaces.

I do not want to buy a super chique New MB for the need to carry a crappy load of adapter cables with me. This is absurd, nonsense and makes no sense.

The only thing Apple had to do is to update MBA 13" with Retina.

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH......!!!!

Where does that leave the 11" MBA?