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

[skaertus]

I am happy that Apple is pricing the MBA a bit lower. People that need a great laptop can get one for under a thousand dollars, and yes, the difference to the iPad is not that big anymore, especially if you consider the additional storage you get with an MBA..
I think that Apple has also seen the negative trend that tablets have on the market...
I believe that tablets won't replace laptops, at least not for the next 50 years...
Sales are dropping and even big analyst companies believe that tablets growth is slowing down. I think that people start to understand how limiting tablets really are..
The MBA on the other side is great and I love it!

Yes, the iPad has declining sales. While this may not be a trend, I suppose the iPad will meet declining interest. I bought myself an iPad in early 2012, when the retina model had just come out. It is a beautiful gadget. However, I rarely use it. Because it does not have the same power as a true computer. Yes, the iPad and all this tablet-frenzy may be just short-lived. The iPad is big business, and I doubt the whole tablet industry is a big business of its own. Now, if Apple just makes the MacBook Air more affordable, it may kill the iPad. And you know what? Perhaps it is the way to go, since we already have full-featured convertible thin-and-light laptops selling for the price of an iPad.

The iPad and the tablets may just end up becoming the new netbooks.

 

[walkthruwalls]

People that need a great laptop can get one for under a thousand dollars...
I think that people start to understand how limiting tablets really are.

Yes. Plus the fact that an average Joe doesn't need to replace a tablet and a laptop in 3+ years. Apple has considered this and knows that somehow, iPad sales fluctuate depending on the season. I think this might be a reason why new iPads are launched to prep for the holiday shopping months. If not for Intel's timeframes, Apple could do this to the notebooks sales too (which I would hate since I love staggered releases across a year).

Now we know that Apple's vision is to have two distinct separate products with their iPad and Notebook lines. Perfecting the user experiences on these and slowly streamlining the number of models. But Intel's evolution of having slimmer and more power efficient machines could shove Apple's Macbook Air line into this direction. Case in point, this rumored 12 inch baby we're anticipating. A few years from now, somewhere down the line, we WILL have another evolution of this product. What could it be? Convertible? Removable keyboards? When the keyboard is detached from your OSX machine, you have an iOS running device? As for now, I'd hate to think that my beloved OSX will have touch support. That's now. But I have a feeling it's where things are headed years down the line. Perhaps only a few months. I'm loving Anand's thoughts on these evolutions.

 

[skaertus]

Yes. Plus the fact that an average Joe doesn't need to replace a tablet and a laptop in 3+ years. Apple has considered this and knows that somehow, iPad sales fluctuate depending on the season. I think this might be a reason why new iPads are launched to prep for the holiday shopping months. If not for Intel's timeframes, Apple could do this to the notebooks sales too (which I would hate since I love staggered releases across a year).

Now we know that Apple's vision is to have two distinct separate products with their iPad and Notebook lines. Perfecting the user experiences on these and slowly streamlining the number of models. But Intel's evolution of having slimmer and more power efficient machines could shove Apple's Macbook Air line into this direction. Case in point, this rumored 12 inch baby we're anticipating. A few years from now, somewhere down the line, we WILL have another evolution of this product. What could it be? Convertible? Removable keyboards? When the keyboard is detached from your OSX machine, you have an iOS running device? As for now, I'd hate to think that my beloved OSX will have touch support. That's now. But I have a feeling it's where things are headed years down the line. Perhaps only a few months. I'm loving Anand's thoughts on these evolutions.

Well, I think it is impossible to predict at this point where things are going. The iPad still seems to me a work in progress, even though it is a perfectly made product. It was launched to replace netbooks, and it was successful at it. Netbooks were slow, had very small screens and cramped keyboards. The iPad was fast, had a big screen and a virtual keyboard. But it also had compromises. Now, you can get a convertible for US$ 500 or less, and it may be capable of running Windows without as many compromises as a netbook. Intel Atom came a long way since those times and is a much better processor. Can the iPad stand against these new contenders? Or will Apple have to come up with something else?

 

[flowrider]

This thread seems to have changed it's focus. This thread covers it's new direction:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1730304/

My Post in that thread:

I used an iPad for three years (when traveling only). I grew to hate the darn thing. To me, it's a toy, not a computer. Last August I sold it on Craig's List and picked up an 11" MBA. I couldn't be happier. The form factor couldn't be better, IMHO. I luv it.

However, I made a BIG mistake. I bought it with only a 64GB SSD. My idea was to use a 500GB Hybrid drive when I was in a hotel room or visiting someone and to use the small SSD only for internet use while moving about. Didn't work. I bought a 480 GB internal SSD, first from OWC, but had problems with it, so it's being RMAd and I have a Transend 480GB SSD that should be here next week. Being able to put all my files on the internal drive and use it anywhere is GREAT!!!!

My home computer is a souped up Mac Pro. But the MBA is a GREAT little machine. iPads =BAH HUMBUG - IMHO.

Lou

 

[mortenandersen]

The iPad with its virtual keyboard is not a (good) replacement of a netbook

skaertus wrote earlier today:

"The iPad still seems to me a work in progress, even though it is a perfectly made product. It was launched to replace netbooks, and it was successful at it. Netbooks were slow, had very small screens and cramped keyboards. The iPad was fast, had a big screen and a virtual keyboard."

You're perhaps correct saying that iPads were successful at replacing netbooks only in the specific sense of taking huge market shares from netbook sales. But I disagree with what you so imply in your post: that the iPad's virtual keyboards are better than the "cramped keyboards" of the netbooks.

IMO, even a slightly cramped hardware keyboard is way better than the virtual, on-screen, keyboards, especially for longer text-input tasks.

This is IMO one of the major reasons why the iPad never will replace a netbook or a notebook. A little laptop can (also - as the iPad) be very portable, even almost pocketable - and it will still give you the benefits of having a decent hardware keyboard, a very good viewing angle between keyboard and screen and a robust mechanism to link the keyboard and the screen. All these last three benefits the iPad lacks.

Please disregard this post - as it is off-topic.

 

[walkthruwalls]

Topic derailed. Back to the Airs, please.

 

[mortenandersen]

Agree! Sorry!

Topic derailed. Back to the Airs, please.

I agree with you - sorry!

 

[skaertus]

Topic derailed. Back to the Airs, please.

Yes, definitely!

Just out of curiosity, I have researched the price history of the MacBook Air to see how it declined over the years in every release:

• January 2008: US$ 1,799 for the 13-inch
  
  
• October 2008: US$ 1,799 and US$ 2,499 for the 13-inch
  
  
• June 2009: US$ 1,499 and US$ 1,799 for the 13-inch
  
  
• October 2010 (redesign): US$ 999 and US$ 1,199 for the 11-inch, US$ 1,299 and US$ 1,599 for the 13-inch
  
  
• July 2011: US$ 999 and US$ 1,199 for 11-inch, US$ 1,299 and US$ 1,599 for the 13-inch
  
  
• June 2012: US$ 999 and US$ 1,099 for 11-inch, US$ 1,199 and US$ 1,499 (US$ 1,399 from February 2013) for the 13-inch
  
  
• June 2013: US$ 999 and US$ 1,199 for the 11-inch, US$ 1,099 and US$ 1,299 for the 13-inch
  
  
• April 2014: US$ 899 and US$ 1,099 for the 11-inch, US$ 999 and US$ 1,199 for the 13-inch

How do you think prices will be for the next generation?

 

[skaertus]

What do you think the features of the forthcoming MacBook Air will be? I bet the following:

Broadwell processor: very likely
12-inch: very likely
2304x1440 resolution: very likely
IGZO display: likely
ultra-slim: likely
ultra-light: likely
butomless trackpad: possible
fanless design: possible
touch-screen: unlikely
hybrid design: unlikely

What do you think?

 

[buyzz]

I want Air less than 2.2lbs and shrunken, this two ultrabooks oponents definately show where they can save weight. I want that

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwxEcXSV-fg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMWcgztx7vk

 

[nksk]

What do you think the features of the forthcoming MacBook Air will be?

USB type C ports: possible

It would make a lot of sense to get rid of the old USB ports as part of the redesign. It lets them make it even slimmer, and a portable platform is perfect for pushing through a change that drops compatibility with old connectors.

The spec should be finalized in Q2. It doesn't leave much time, but it's doable if most components can already enter production (especially considering the Broadwell delay).

12-inch: very likely
2304x1440 resolution: very likely
fanless design: possible

I think these three rumors all support each other. Apple may have determined that a fanless Broadwell CPU performs well enough for a retina display on the smaller Air, but not the bigger one. I don't entirely buy the argument that they want to simplify the product line vs. the Pro, since the markets for both are very large and distinct, and consumers can easily understand heavier=more power.

This would also mean that we might eventually get a larger model with Skylake or Cannonlake. I'll be buying the 12" model if it's the only one, but I also think it's going to be a bit too small for my taste.

 

[egy195]

any new news about the new 12inch model ?
i read some posts here but it was about the air in general not the new one

 

[psik]

any new news about the new 12inch model ?
i read some posts here but it was about the air in general not the new one

Wait until mid June to hear from apple

 

[buyzz]

If they want make fanless Air they don't need wait for Broadwell-y, they already can do this with Haswell-Y. I think Apple give answer to Chromebooks, and in June we see first ARM Macbook for 599$. Air's propably next year will be discontinued. They solve two problems, cannibalization of Pro's and fight with Google with full 128GB disk, aluminium body, retina, full offline system, +10 hours on battery. What you think?

 

[psik]

If they want make fanless Air they don't need wait for Broadwell-y, they already can do this with Haswell-Y. I think Apple give answer to Chromebooks, and in June we see first ARM Macbook for 599$. Air's propably next year will be discontinued. They solve two problems, cannibalization of Pro's and fight with Google with full 128GB disk, aluminium body, retina, full offline system, +10 hours on battery. What you think?

Chromebooks are ****. Only work online for the rich man who cab afford data and another laptop for more hardcore work. Apple will never do such a thing.

 

[skaertus]

Wait until mid June to hear from apple

I think we will have to wait a little longer. If I were to bet, I would say that Apple will not unveil anything new about the Air during WWDC in June.

----------

If they want make fanless Air they don't need wait for Broadwell-y, they already can do this with Haswell-Y. I think Apple give answer to Chromebooks, and in June we see first ARM Macbook for 599$. Air's propably next year will be discontinued. They solve two problems, cannibalization of Pro's and fight with Google with full 128GB disk, aluminium body, retina, full offline system, +10 hours on battery. What you think?

Where did you take this from? I don't think Apple will release an ARM-based MacBook and, if it ever does, it is not going to be this year. Apple's answer to Chromebooks is the iPad, not the Mac. Apple is not willing to compete in the low-end market that Chromebooks play.

----------

Chromebooks are ****. Only work online for the rich man who cab afford data and another laptop for more hardcore work. Apple will never do such a thing.

Quite honestly, I don't think Chromebooks work for anybody. It's just a good idea bad implemented.

 

[octothorpe8]

I'm quite pleased with my 2013 11" MBA, but if one came out with a retina display I would consider ebaying my current one and upgrading — provided the new one still had that amazing battery life and lightness.

 

[nksk]

If they want make fanless Air they don't need wait for Broadwell-y, they already can do this with Haswell-Y

I don't think Haswell-Y would offer enough performance for a retina display.

And it's not going to be ARM-based. When Intel is offering a 4,5 W TDP Core-series product, it would be insane to throw everything else away chasing those last few watts. It doesn't make any sense.

 

[Elwe]

Anyone know what the actual video capability of the Lightning connector is?

Given the rumors on the thinness of the newly designed Macbook Air (whenever it will come, and on whichever cpu platform on which it will be based), I am thinking that TB2 and/or HDMI might be too thick of a connector. Of course, I am just thinking/guessing. Apply could go Lightining, right? On the iPad mini with Retina, at least, I know mirroring a 1080p is possible. I have no idea if that is a limit with the hardware in the iPad or if there is a limit based on the connector/cable.

I guess I could also imagine this discussion having to happen around USB3.0. Do/can you go with a mini USB connector, do you you also go with some kind of lightening adapter?

I was an old-fogy who grumbled about the need for a RJ45/Ethernet port on laptops. The market clearly proved me wrong, given the way most Ultrabooks are configured. With Bluetooth, high speed/greater bands of wireless, maybe Apple goes really think and only uses Lighthing connectors. If you can get the power requirements really low, you could probably even do power over it. So maybe two or three lightening connectors covers you, and that helps the cost of Lighting cables to go down over time.

Just thinking out loud . . .

 

[buyzz]

I don't think Haswell-Y would offer enough performance for a retina display.

2 core Cortex A15 + Mali t-604 offer 24bit 2560X1600@60fps it's not enough?

 

[skaertus]

I'm quite pleased with my 2013 11" MBA, but if one came out with a retina display I would consider ebaying my current one and upgrading — provided the new one still had that amazing battery life and lightness.

Apple will keep the lightness and the battery life. There will be no trade-offs here, be sure of it.

 

[mayuka]

Chromebooks are ****. Only work online for the rich man who cab afford data and another laptop for more hardcore work.

You can dump the google stuff and install linux on it. This way, you have a really cheap machine for what you get. That's what most people do with it anyway.

 

[nksk]

2 core Cortex A15 + Mali t-604 offer 24bit 2560X1600@60fps it's not enough?

For tablet apps it is. I think it might have some trouble with OS X and desktop apps.

 

[skaertus]

You can dump the google stuff and install linux on it. This way, you have a really cheap machine for what you get. That's what most people do with it anyway.

It's definitely a cheap machine, but not a very good one. I don't know if most people install Linux on it, as I have no data on this (and I doubt anyone has). But the fact is that Apple is not competing against Chromebooks. Not with the MacBook Air, at least. You cannot sell a MacBook Air, made of aluminum, for less than US$ 500 and still have a profit.

----------

For tablet apps it is. I think it might have some trouble with OS X and desktop apps.

Yes. You won't be able to run OS X and desktop applications at a reasonable speed with an iPad-class processor.

 

[leonw]

If this rumored rMBA gets a 12" screen, will it be a 16:10 or 16:9 ratio? Will the form factor be more like the 11"mba with smaller bezel?
I really like the 11" formfactor (size and weight) but it would be a great improvement with a 2304x1440 resolution. Does this mean that compared to the 11" mba (1366x768) one could go for more real screen estate when not on 'best for retina' but on the highest resolution? Things would get smaller I presume but in some cases I don't need the retina sharpness, just more space. As for now the 11" screen is just too small for some tasks. Will the retina real screen estate(2304x1440) be comparible with the 13"mba (1440x900)? Or even more better?? It would be worth the wait for me. Anybody good at maths here?