Warming-up for the all-new redesigned retina 2014 (2015?) MacBook Air

[satchmo]

What if this rumored retina 12" thing is a whole new product. A hybrid: ipad on OS X and iOS with usb3, A8 cpu, fanless, thin bluetooth keyboard as cover/stand. Something like this MS Surface but without the flaws.
That's why the current MBA's get this minor specbumb now and maybe another one with Broadwell next year before they are fased out when this hybrid gets more powerful and can replace todays mba? No new mba models anymore?

I don't know...Apple would have to eat a lot of crow and admit the Surface had it right, flaws and all.

Apple's philosophy has always been about having a product do one or two things really well. Not cramming a multitude of features simply because you can. I suspect they'd rather leave it up to third parties to come up with add-on keyboards and stands to address any perceived 'shortcomings'.

 

[leonw]

I don't know...Apple would have to eat a lot of crow and admit the Surface had it right, flaws and all.

Apple's philosophy has always been about having a product do one or two things really well. Not cramming a multitude of features simply because you can. I suspect they'd rather leave it up to third parties to come up with add-on keyboards and stands to address any perceived 'shortcomings'.

Maybe you're right but they might just as well come up with something really smart.
Many said there was never going to be an ipad mini. 'Everybody' was laughing when Samsung came with the Note. Now there are rumors of a phablet iphone 5,5". Apple doesn't need to be first, they want to be best.

 

[iRun26.2]

What if this rumored retina 12" thing is a whole new product. A hybrid: ipad on OS X and iOS with usb3, A8 cpu, fanless, thin bluetooth keyboard as cover/stand. Something like this MS Surface but without the flaws.
That's why the current MBA's get this minor specbumb now and maybe another one with Broadwell next year before they are fased out when this hybrid gets more powerful and can replace todays mba? No new mba models anymore?

One MS Surface flaw was its use of an ARM processor.

Loss of x86 code means I won't buy it. (In the same way that many people returned their MS Surface when they learned they couldn't run their old software). .

 

[iRun26.2]

I think one of the main things the latest rumor about new MBAs (with minor specification improvements) says is that the new 12" MBA will not replace the 11" and 13" (at least not for a while).

That is what I what I expected and wanted. It means that the new 12" MBA could be 'special'...it will likely cost more because it is much thinner and lighter. I don't want it to be an entry level computer. I want to pay for advanced technology in a small package.

It also means its much more likely to be waiting for Broadwell. Then maybe it will fan-less after all. Awesome!

Now, the only worry is that it might be ARM based (and a whole lot cheaper). Without a doubt, if its ARM based, it will be announced at WWDC. WWDC will almost certainly tell us what processor will be in the new 12" MBA (and if no mention is made about an A8 notebook computer, the new 12' MBA will almost certainly be waiting for Intel's Broadwell to be available).

It is still surprising that Apple hasn't improved the current MBA screen since its release in 2010.

 

[skaertus]

Well that answers my question above. Could this be the final update for the current MBA before it is relegated to cMBP status?

The upgraded parts will give a couple percentage points boost in performance. It might be time to upgrade my 2012 MBA and hold off on any of the new stuff (rMBA and rMBP) until its been thoroughly tested/reviewed, which could be as late as October/November.

Well, we don't know if it is true. It's just a rumor. And, to be honest, this particular rumor is not consistent with the other rumors.

Anyway, if Apple releases an update to the current MBA, it would be just a minor spec bump. I don't see it raising significantly the RAM or the SSD storage space. Just a slight processor bump. Apple did that with the rMBP in early 2013, but it also dropped the prices of the 13" models significantly, so it had a sense.

If Apple does this with the MBA, then it won't have any significant update at least until October or November. It could mean one of the following:

1) Intel won't deliver the new Broadwell chips in time, so Apple will adopt the strategy of releasing a small spec bump now and saving the rMBA for a later time (it will need Broadwell for retina).

2) Apple can't deliver the rMBA now for another reason: chassis, materials, retina display, or something else. Perhaps there was some sort of issue in the production chain that delayed the rMBA and Apple had to go with Plan B.

Either way, it's not a good sign. The MBA is not able to compete with high-end products. I don't know which kind of innovation Apple will bring this time, but it will be harder and harder to top what is already there.

 

[citivolus]

Well, we don't know if it is true. It's just a rumor. And, to be honest, this particular rumor is not consistent with the other rumors.

Anyway, if Apple releases an update to the current MBA, it would be just a minor spec bump. I don't see it raising significantly the RAM or the SSD storage space. Just a slight processor bump. Apple did that with the rMBP in early 2013, but it also dropped the prices of the 13" models significantly, so it had a sense.

If Apple does this with the MBA, then it won't have any significant update at least until October or November. It could mean one of the following:

1) Intel won't deliver the new Broadwell chips in time, so Apple will adopt the strategy of releasing a small spec bump now and saving the rMBA for a later time (it will need Broadwell for retina).

2) Apple can't deliver the rMBA now for another reason: chassis, materials, retina display, or something else. Perhaps there was some sort of issue in the production chain that delayed the rMBA and Apple had to go with Plan B.

Either way, it's not a good sign. The MBA is not able to compete with high-end products. I don't know which kind of innovation Apple will bring this time, but it will be harder and harder to top what is already there.

I think you're spot on. When I saw this rumor, my heart sank as I am holding out to get the rMBA. If they do in fact release any update at all to the MBA, I think I'm going to have to cave and get it and then sell/re-buy if/when the 12" is ever released. I went the 13" rMBP route once and while the screen is fantastic, I desire the portability of the MBA even more.

 

[skaertus]

I think you're spot on. When I saw this rumor, my heart sank as I am holding out to get the rMBA. If they do in fact release any update at all to the MBA, I think I'm going to have to cave and get it and then sell/re-buy if/when the 12" is ever released. I went the 13" rMBP route once and while the screen is fantastic, I desire the portability of the MBA even more.

So are you getting the current MBA just to sell it later in the year and get the rMBA when it (hopefully) gets released?

----------

I think one of the main things the latest rumor about new MBAs (with minor specification improvements) says is that the new 12" MBA will not replace the 11" and 13" (at least not for a while).

That is what I what I expected and wanted. It means that the new 12" MBA could be 'special'...it will likely cost more because it is much thinner and lighter. I don't want it to be an entry level computer. I want to pay for advanced technology in a small package.

It also means its much more likely to be waiting for Broadwell. Then maybe it will fan-less after all. Awesome!

Now, the only worry is that it might be ARM based (and a whole lot cheaper). Without a doubt, if its ARM based, it will be announced at WWDC. WWDC will almost certainly tell us what processor will be in the new 12" MBA (and if no mention is made about an A8 notebook computer, the new 12' MBA will almost certainly be waiting for Intel's Broadwell to be available).

It is still surprising that Apple hasn't improved the current MBA screen since its release in 2010.

Honestly, I do not think Apple will release an ARM 12-inch Air processor this time. Plus, if Apple updates the current 11-inch and 13-inch now, then it will wait until the next release for unveiling the revamped 12-inch Air. I do not think the three models will co-exist. While the retina Pro coexisted with the non-retina Pro during some time, I do not think this will happen to the Air. The new Air is supposed to have a different size, and be something intermediate (in size) between the two sizes of the current Air. So, I think it would be really awkward to have all these models available at once, considering Apple's way of doing things. However, I can be completely wrong.

 

[Clix Pix]

Earlier this month I made the decision to go with the 13" rMBP to take the place of my first-generation MBA. The weight was just a bit more, the new machine offered the retina screen and also various ports and all the way around it seemed like a better solution for me than either picking up a current MBA or waiting for the next iteration.....

Am I happy? YES! The new rMBP does what I need and want and has most of the advantages of my older machine plus a lot of advantages that the older machine does not have. Although I could have waited a while longer to see what the next MBA would offer, I decided that in the long run the current line of MBPs more suited my needs. When I want super-thin, super-light, I pick up one of my iPads. This 13" retina screen is gorgeous on the MBP and I'm loving the great battery life on this thing, too. Wow! It's a little speed demon with the 256 SSD and 8 GB RAM -- gives me more speed AND more storage than my first-generation MBA does! I am in love.....

It will be interesting to see in which directions Apple takes the MBA but for me at this point in time the rMBP fills my needs more than adequately.

 

[iRun26.2]

So are you getting the current MBA just to sell it later in the year and get the rMBA when it (hopefully) gets released?

----------



Honestly, I do not think Apple will release an ARM 12-inch Air processor this time. Plus, if Apple updates the current 11-inch and 13-inch now, then it will wait until the next release for unveiling the revamped 12-inch Air. I do not think the three models will co-exist. While the retina Pro coexisted with the non-retina Pro during some time, I do not think this will happen to the Air. The new Air is supposed to have a different size, and be something intermediate (in size) between the two sizes of the current Air. So, I think it would be really awkward to have all these models available at once, considering Apple's way of doing things. However, I can be completely wrong.

I think you are failing to accept the possibility that the new 12" MBA could be very special...again.

Suppppse it is incredibly thin and light (maybe from new materials) yet is decked out with lots of RAM and a large SSD. There are rumors that it may sport a new trackpad. Who knows what else it may have.

If it really has special stuff it may cost more and no longer be in the entry level conputrer category. Apple may still sell a slightly improved MBA for a while and people who want the absolutely most advanced ultra-book will be willing to spend the extra money for the new 12" MBA.

I guess I am just imagining what I hope for, but it is a possibility (and your expectations clearly were incorrect while mine were met...at least so far). You seem very stuck on the idea that the new 12" MBA will be 'inexpensive'. I think the only way it will be less expensive is if it sports an A8 processor. I definitely think that is a possibility but that will be know after WWDC.

 

[skaertus]

Earlier this month I made the decision to go with the 13" rMBP to take the place of my first-generation MBA. The weight was just a bit more, the new machine offered the retina screen and also various ports and all the way around it seemed like a better solution for me than either picking up a current MBA or waiting for the next iteration.....

Am I happy? YES! The new rMBP does what I need and want and has most of the advantages of my older machine plus a lot of advantages that the older machine does not have. Although I could have waited a while longer to see what the next MBA would offer, I decided that in the long run the current line of MBPs more suited my needs. When I want super-thin, super-light, I pick up one of my iPads. This 13" retina screen is gorgeous on the MBP and I'm loving the great battery life on this thing, too. Wow! It's a little speed demon with the 256 SSD and 8 GB RAM -- gives me more speed AND more storage than my first-generation MBA does! I am in love.....

It will be interesting to see in which directions Apple takes the MBA but for me at this point in time the rMBP fills my needs more than adequately.

The rMBP is indeed a very nice machine. I ended up buying a 15-inch rMBP, but I almost went with the 13-inch model. Both are absolutely amazing. I guess the 12-inch rMBA will be in the same level of greatness.

 

[skaertus]

I think you are failing to accept the possibility that the new 12" MBA could be very special...again.

Suppppse it is incredibly thin and light (maybe from new materials) yet is decked out with lots of RAM and a large SSD. There are rumors that it may sport a new trackpad. Who knows what else it may have.

If it really has special stuff it may cost more and no longer be in the entry level conputrer category. Apple may still sell a slightly improved MBA for a while and people who want the absolutely most advanced ultra-book will be willing to spend the extra money for the new 12" MBA.

I guess I am just imagining what I hope for, but it is a possibility (and your expectations clearly were incorrect while mine were met...at least so far). You seem very stuck on the idea that the new 12" MBA will be 'inexpensive'. I think the only way it will be less expensive is if it sports an A8 processor. I definitely think that is a possibility but that will be know after WWDC.

No, I am not failing to accept that the next MBA is great.

I think the next MBA will be great. Yes, it will. However, as far as innovation goes, I don't think there's to much to add. What can the rMBA add that is not already there? An IPS screen? An ultra-high resolution screen? LTE? Carbon fiber shell? Thinner? Lighter? Well, there are lots of laptops with these qualities now, and the MBA will not be the first one. But it will indeed be great, and may become superior to anything else in the market, as the implementation of these already existing categories will certainly be top-notch.

Incredibly thin and light? How thin and light can it be? The current 13-inch MBA is 2.96 lbs and the 11-inch is 2.38 lbs. The 13-inch Sony Vaio Pro is 2.34 lbs and the 13-inch NEC LaVie is 1.9 lbs. I don't think the 12-inch MBA will weigh less than 2 lbs. If I were to guess, I would say that the 12-inch MBA will weigh 2.2 lbs, which is 1kg. It just won't weigh less than that. Why?

(1) Because it has an aluminum chassis. Yes, Apple could change the materials. But I don't think Apple will change it, because aluminum looks much better than carbon fiber (which would be the obvious choice). Apple won't use new materials on the Air; new revolutionary materials would probably debut in the iPhone, which is Apple's flagship product. And

(2) Because the retina display needs a big battery to keep battery life on par with the 2013 Haswell MBA (which lasts up to 12 hours). Even if the screen is IGZO, Apple will need a big battery in order to keep up with the last generation, given the high resolution display.

The iPad Air has 1 lbs, and, besides not even having a keyboard, it also uses an ARM processor which consumes much less battery. So, don't expect the MBA to be impossibly thin and light. Because being impossibly thin and light is, well, impossible.

Large amounts of RAM and a larger SSD will not happen. Of course these things will be available as options, but not standard. Just look at how Apple works. Look at Apple's product line. Smaller products are cheaper than larger products. That is how it works. The MBA will have a smaller display than the rMBP (12-inch vs. 13-inch), a lower resolution (2304x1440 vs. 2560x1600), a slower processor (an Intel low-voltage processor vs. an Intel standard dual-core processor), a slower video card, and so on. In Apple's way of doing things, it would also mean a cheaper laptop. And I guess it will be so. I expect 4 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD on the lower-end model. I don't expect it to be inexpensive, but I think it will be the cheapest of all the retina laptops.

I could expect it to be something out of this world, but will it be? Realistically, and given current technology, there is so much even Apple can do.

 

[petvas]

I wouldn't expect a Retina MBA this year. We will probably get a refresh with updated cpu and ssd options. I believe that the Retina MBA will come next year. Of course this is just an assumption.

 

[skaertus]

I wouldn't expect a Retina MBA this year. We will probably get a refresh with updated cpu and ssd options. I believe that the Retina MBA will come next year. Of course this is just an assumption.

Why don't you expect that? The current form factor of the MBA is almost 4 years old now. And everybody else has already got a retina-like display in their ultrabooks. Why Apple will be the only one not to get one?

 

[leonw]

IF there is a minor specbumb, next week or later this spring/summer (at wwdc) then I don't expect a new rMBA at all but rather a whole new product: a retina 12" something (ipad pro?).Not beyond our wildest imagination but just innovative. Is it possible to have Broadwell and Arm in one product? Not merging iOS and OS X but a kind of bootcamp? Or does iOS run on Broadwell too? I don't know.
Personally I'd like to see a new rMBA. Now I use an old ipad1 and a 2009 mbp. They are running out on me. A new 12" rMBA just under 1kg, 10hours battery life would fit my needs perfectly. The current one is good enough for me apart from the screen. Retina would be nice. I can do without iOS but absolutely want OSX.

 

[petvas]

Why don't you expect that? The current form factor of the MBA is almost 4 years old now. And everybody else has already got a retina-like display in their ultrabooks. Why Apple will be the only one not to get one?

Because there were rumors last week that Apple is going to bring a small update to the line soon. That means for me that Apple isn't planning any more updates this year.

 

[mortenandersen]

Better screen?

Because there were rumors last week that Apple is going to bring a small update to the line soon. That means for me that Apple isn't planning any more updates this year.

If this turns out to be right, I hope that a screen upgrade is among the improvements that Apple is going to implement.

What's the chance for this going to happen?

 

[skaertus]

Because there were rumors last week that Apple is going to bring a small update to the line soon. That means for me that Apple isn't planning any more updates this year.

Yes, I saw that. The rumors may simply not be true. These rumors are coming from just one source which is contradicting other sources.

Anyway, even if these rumors are true, they will represent a minor spec bump. Apple may still release a redesigned 12-inch rMBA, but it will be later in the year. Perhaps October or November. We are still in April, so there is time for another update.

----------

If this turns out to be right, I hope that a screen upgrade is among the improvements that Apple is going to implement.

What's the chance for this going to happen?

Close to zero, I would say. Apple would not keep the same form factor and improve the screen. A retina screen would consume more power and thus reduce battery life of the current models. A retina screen would call for a whole redesign of the product. Rumors are of a 12-inch 2304x1440 screen which does not fit current form factors.

----------

IF there is a minor specbumb, next week or later this spring/summer (at wwdc) then I don't expect a new rMBA at all but rather a whole new product: a retina 12" something (ipad pro?).Not beyond our wildest imagination but just innovative. Is it possible to have Broadwell and Arm in one product? Not merging iOS and OS X but a kind of bootcamp? Or does iOS run on Broadwell too? I don't know.
Personally I'd like to see a new rMBA. Now I use an old ipad1 and a 2009 mbp. They are running out on me. A new 12" rMBA just under 1kg, 10hours battery life would fit my needs perfectly. The current one is good enough for me apart from the screen. Retina would be nice. I can do without iOS but absolutely want OSX.

I don't expect a minor spec bump at WWDC. It would be underwhelming. I expect either a silent minor spec bump now or a whole redesign at WWDC.

I don't think Apple will ever release one single product with both Broadwell and ARM processors. Apple designs each product for one purpose only. No toast-refrigerators, Tim Cook said. As much as you may want it, it is not going to happen. No iOS and OS X on the same device. Not happening. Sorry.

And I don't think a 12-inch rMBA will weigh less than 1 kg. Apple raised the bar too high with the battery life of the Haswell MBA, and now it can't go back. Battery life must be kept at 12 hours, and that means that a somewhat big battery (which has some weigh) which is able to power a retina screen (even an IGZO one) will have to be included somehow in the new form factor. Current laptop technology is not up to that yet and I don't expect it to be even with the release of Broadwell.

 

[animatedude]

Because there were rumors last week that Apple is going to bring a small update to the line soon. That means for me that Apple isn't planning any more updates this year.

even if the rumors of the next week update are true, rest assured we will get a retina Macbook Air this year....why? 1) it's the only Mac rumors we've been getting since last fall.2) i believe anything that analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says.

 

[skaertus]

even if the rumors of the next week update are true, rest assured we will get a retina Macbook Air this year....why? 1) it's the only Mac rumors we've been getting since last fall.2) i believe anything that analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says.

I also think we will get a retina Air this year, sooner or later. The latest Intel chart on the release timeframe of Broadwell is not very encouraging. We would only get Broadwell in the end of the year, and this would be consistent with a minor update to the MacBook Air right now and a complete overhaul later in the year.

As for your comments:

1) Yes, it is the only rumors attributed to the Mac we've been consistently getting. It seems pretty clear now that the next MacBook Air will get a 12-inch 2304x1440 screen, as more than one source already reported such screens are in production.

2) I don't believe everything analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says. I don't know how much insider information he has access to. However, I think most of his predictions are based on rumors which are already circulating on the media and also on Apple's history of doing things. They are educated guesses more than anything else. Sometimes he is right, because he plays well with the cards he have. However, sometimes he is completely wrong.

 

[leonw]

I don't think Apple will ever release one single product with both Broadwell and ARM processors. Apple designs each product for one purpose only. No toast-refrigerators, Tim Cook said. As much as you may want it, it is not going to happen. No iOS and OS X on the same device. Not happening. Sorry.

I liked the 'toast-refrigerators' comment! And it's ok for me. Rather a rMBA that does a real good job for the heavy stuff, portable, os x, great battery life (10h+) and finally a great screen. Good enough substitute for my 2009 mbp + ipad1.

But would they really give the MBA a minor specbump (whenever) and than release a new rMBA in autumn? Interesting to see if they keep all three of them with the 11" as 'cheap' entry model and the new rMBA for a premium price like the first rMBP or stop the 11" and 13" models with the new 12" rMBA as 'cheap' entry model.
Probably not the last option. Unfortunately!

 

[Dave245]

I'm hoping they do a retina screen with a just as thin if not thinner and lighter than the 2013 MBA. I currently own a 2011 MBP, so in order to upgrade I would need a good enough reason such as retina display and a really thin and light body (portable to carry around university).

 

[skaertus]

I liked the 'toast-refrigerators' comment! And it's ok for me. Rather a rMBA that does a real good job for the heavy stuff, portable, os x, great battery life (10h+) and finally a great screen. Good enough substitute for my 2009 mbp + ipad1.

But would they really give the MBA a minor specbump (whenever) and than release a new rMBA in autumn? Interesting to see if they keep all three of them with the 11" as 'cheap' entry model and the new rMBA for a premium price like the first rMBP or stop the 11" and 13" models with the new 12" rMBA as 'cheap' entry model.
Probably not the last option. Unfortunately!

If I were to predict something, after seeing the rumors and thinking for a while, I would say we would get this:

Right now, in the end of April or beginning of May, we may get a spec bump of the current Air. The new model would get an Intel "Haswell" Core i5-4260U running at 1.4 GHz, replacing the current Core i5-4250U at 1.3 GHz. This would be in line with the latest Haswell refresh planned by Intel (http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2014/2014041601_Intel_launches_Haswell_Refresh_mobile_CPUs.html) and considering that Broadwell will not hit the market so soon. I don't think any other changes are on the table. Perhaps the high-end models get 8 GB RAM instead of 4 GB. I don't believe there would be any price drops (but I might be wrong on this one).

Broadwell is not supposed to hit the market before Q4 2014. According to the latest Intel roadmap I have access to (https://www.macrumors.com/2014/02/21/intel-chip-roadmap-2014/), the Broadwell processor that will replace the processor currently used in the MacBook Air (the i5-4250U) will only be available in Q1 2015. Apple may choose to go with a different processor, or Intel may decide to allow Apple use this particular Broadwell chip before it becomes generally available. However, as availabilty of Broadwell has been delayed, and unless Apple has some access to unavailable chips (which is unlikely, since Apple hasn't been granted such access in a few years), then it will only release a Broadwell laptop in Q4 2014/Q1 2015. Therefore, I would expect Apple to release the redesigned MacBook Air in Q4 2014 or, more likely, Q1 2015. Very underwhelming, but that is what I would expect considering Intel's timetable.

That puts a Q1 2015 release date for the next MacBook Air. My guess is that it will come with the Broadwell processor that replaces the i5-4250U/i5-4260U. So, an ultra-low voltage Intel processor with about 15W. As Intel is moving towards a new process, Apple could make the Air fanless, but I seriously don't have an idea if it will do that.

As for the form factor, I expect the redesigned MacBook Air to have a 12-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 2304x1440 resolution. It may use IGZO technology to help improve battery life. The screen resolution and aspect ratio is in line with the latest rumors (and it seems like to be a given at this point):

• https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/1...inch-macbook-with-retina-display-in-mid-2014/
  
• https://www.macrumors.com/2014/03/26/retina-macbook-air-supply-chain-sources/
  
• https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/0...n-on-apples-display-plans-for-future-devices/

I expect the new MacBook Air to come in aluminum, just like the latest versions. It will have a form factor that resembles the 11-inch Macbook Air, but will be taller. That would allow for a reduced bezel (not so large as in the 11-inch Air) and also more room for a standard-sized trackpad (the current 11-inch Air has a reduced trackpad).

I expect it to weigh between 2.2 and 2.4 lbs. Apple will want to make it as thin and light as it can. The screen is smaller than the 13-inch Air, so the weigh will be less than the current 2.96 lbs. The new Air will resemble the current 11-inch model, and it may weigh more or less the same. The aluminum chassis weighs more than materials such as carbon fiber or magnesium alloy (and I don't think Apple will change materials as the aluminum has a more premium feel) and the new Air will require a big battery to power the retina display and not reduce current outstanding battery life (even if the screen is IGZO).

I think Apple will replace the current models with the new Air, and the prices will be very much similar. I would expect Apple to release two or three versions of the new Air. I would guess the configurations would be like this:

Low-end model
Broadwell ultra-low voltage processor
4 GB RAM
128 GB SSD
US$ 999.00

Mid-range model
Broadwell ultra-low voltage processor
8 GB RAM
256 GB SSD
US$ 1,299.00

High-end model
Broadwell ultra-low voltage processor
8 GB RAM
512 GB SSD
US$ 1,599.00

Apple may decide to raise the prices of the Air and go with a US$ 100 or US$ 200 premium. However, given the fiasco of the 13-inch retina MacBook Pro when it was released at a US$ 1,699.00 price point, then Apple may think again before using the same strategy. In addition, current Mac sales are in decline and Apple will need sufficient low price points to keep up with the shrinking market.

 

[leonw]

@skærtus: thanks for all the info links. You're a bit of a Ming-Kuo yourself;-( (no offence). But I can agree with most of your guesses.
Just one more thing: when is this rMBA unveiled? At WWDC I hope even when it is not for sale before 2015? It's ok for me to wait another half a year++ for it but I rather wait for something I know is in the pipeline and not just an illusion because then I go for the Haswell 2014.
If unveiled at wwcd, do they use to say anything about the prices or will it be only a presentation?

 

[skaertus]

@skærtus: thanks for all the info links. You're a bit of a Ming-Kuo yourself;-( (no offence). But I can agree with most of your guesses.
Just one more thing: when is this rMBA unveiled? At WWDC I hope even when it is not for sale before 2015? It's ok for me to wait another half a year++ for it but I rather wait for something I know is in the pipeline and not just an illusion because then I go for the Haswell 2014.
If unveiled at wwcd, do they use to say anything about the prices or will it be only a presentation?

Thank you for the compliment, but it is just an educated guess. Anyone could do it just by reading the news and following the rumors on Mac.

The retina MacBook Air will be unveiled shortly before it is available for sale. That is how Apple works. Take a look at all the MacBook releases in the last two years. Every time Apple unveiled a new MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, either a redesign or a spec bump, these laptops were available for sale on the very same day:

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/1...and-macbook-air-models-with-minor-spec-bumps/
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/1...-pro-with-15-4-retina-display-starts-at-2199/
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/02/1...ricing-drops-pricing-on-high-end-macbook-air/
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/06/10/apple-announces-new-macbook-airs-with-haswell-processors/
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/2...ell-processors-and-faster-pcie-flash-storage/

Just look at how they are always "available today" or "shipping today". It's how Apple does things. The Apple online store goes down, then it comes up with the new models replacing the old ones.

In some cases, however, Apple announced a product and the availability was delayed. It usually does not happen with laptops, as you can figure out from reading those articles.

For instance, Apple gave a "sneak peek" of the Mac Pro in June 2013 during WWDC, and the desktop only became available in December 2013. The current generation iMac was unveiled on October 2012, but the 21.5-inch only became available in November and the 27-inch in December that year.

It happened with the iPhone as well. The iPhone 5s was unveiled on September 10, 2013, but Apple only started taking orders for it on September 20, 2013. Similarly, the iPad Air was announced on October 22, 2013, and became available for pre-order on November 1, 2013.

In any case, do not expect a huge gap between announcement and availability. Apple keeps its secrets well. Part of the magic is the "right now" factor. If Apple unveils a brand-new redesigned MacBook Air during WWDC in June and it is available in October or November, sales of current MacBook Air models will of course suffer. Lots of people will refrain from buying the old models expecting the new ones arrive. Remember that Apple never drops its prices, so a MacBook Air will still cost the same after the announcement of a new model, even though such announcement will makes such MacBook Air obsolete. That is why Apple always make its products available right after the announcement.

The Mac Pro was unveiled months earlier probably because Apple does not count much on its sales. Mac Pro sales had already taken a hit as it was not updated in ages. So, Apple unveiled the new model in June probably to show Mac Pro users some love and prevent them from migrating to a Windows environment.

The iMac was unveiled in late October 2012 and the 21.5-inch model became available in November. The 27-inch took longer to become available, only in December, and it was the largest gap I can remember between an announcement and the availability of such product in Apple's recent history. But then, Apple was not counting so much on desktop sales, and it had yield problems.

As for the iPhone and the iPad, orders began about a week after the announcement. Apple cannot afford to wait a long time for these flagship products to become readily available as sales could be stalled.

So, expect the new MacBook Air, whenever released, to be "shipped today" or "available today". Do not expect a gap of months between announcement and availability.

The current MacBook Air was released 321 days ago (https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//#MacBook_Air). Something is going to come shortly. It may be a spec bump next week, meaning that we probably will not see a 12-inch retina model before the end of the year. Even if it happens, be sure that it will be the last spec bump of the current Air, and the next one will be a redesigned model, as the current design dates back from late 2010 and is almost four years old.

If you are going to buy a new MacBook Air, I would recommend you to wait to see what happens. Two things could happen:

(1) Apple releases a spec bump now and delay the release of the redesigned model. In this case, Apple could take 6 months to one year to release the next model. You may decide to buy it right now as it is or wait until the redesigned model to arrive (bearing in mind it may come only in 2015).

(2) Apple does not release a spec bump now. In this case, Apple may unveil something during WWDC 2014 or any time during the second half of 2014. And it will probably be the redesigned 12-inch model. In this case, you will probably want to wait until it is released to buy one.

 

[iRun26.2]

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Look at Apple's product line. Smaller products are cheaper than larger products. That is how it works.
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There was a time when the MBA commanded a higher price than Apple's other larger laptops. This was contrary to your argument (and what I meant when I suggested that 'Apple could make the MBA special...again').

I was in these same forums then and I remember several posts being critical of people who favored the MBA. To paraphrase,"They are getting so much less computer and paying more more money just so it could be a little thinner and maybe a pound lighter!" This was said as if people who paid the additional costs and made the performance sacrifice were idiots.

I am an electrical engineer and I work in an industry where smaller size wins (contracts). There is no doubt in the electronics world that smaller sized components often demands a higher price tag. For example, one can always choose to go with 'chip-scale' packaging where the silicon plastic packaging is replaced with circuits not much bigger than the silicon die itself (more expensive to make the chips and to place them on the PC board). This is just one example where you can pay more to make things smaller. They may have other options that can make it smaller for a higher price that are available. We have no clue what Apple could do if they spent the extra cash.

It was a long time ago when you had to pay a premium for a MBA and maybe Apple won't go there again. I just don't think you can make blanket statements thinking that smaller MBA will automatically mean it will be their cheapest computer.

It very well may turn out to be that the new 12" MBA is an entry level machine as you suggest (and I am setting myself up to be disappointed) but, at this point, we really don't know.