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

[skaertus]

What do people think about this? It runs contrary to rumors that the iPad was delayed for the sake of the retina...this article says the opposite..
christiantoday.com/article/macbook.air.2014.retina.release.date.12.inch.notebook.ipad.pro/38462.htm

What? Is this article suggesting that the 12-inch retina MacBook Air and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (none of which are even confirmed) are the same product? Where did they get this from?

I had no access to the DigiTimes article. However, the IBT article cited mentions the retina MacBook Air and the iPad Pro as two different products, and not the same one. So, I guess they were just confused.

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I wish we'd get some more rumors about it being thinner and having no fan assembly.

Me too. More rumors are probably coming in the next weeks... or months. Who knows? The Air is getting older and older...

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How much thinner can it possibly get?

I just got mine last week and this device is amazing and wished I hadnt wasted my time on all those iPad versions when I could have gotten real work done on this thing.

The portability is top notch and yes I can use a more vibrant/clear screen but it isnt terrible and for what I use it for its an amazing device. When BB had their deal and I picked up mine for less than $650, I couldnt pass the opportunity to try it.

Perhaps not too much thinner. But keeping the same weight (or making it just slightly lighter) and adding a 12-inch 16:10 retina screen instead of a the 11-inch 16:9 one would be just great.

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^^^^I guess we agree on the iPad. I hated the damn thing. My post from another thread:

Yes. I don't hate the iPad. I just wish it was useful. But it is not. Perhaps in the coming years it gets better. But Apple is being so slow at implementing this...

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Maybe hate is too strong a word. But, I certainly didn't like it. The MBA is a real computer, the iPad is a toy IMHO.

Lou

 

[psik]

It's all confusing...

 

[psik]

This can simply mean that apple will keep the 11 & 13 inch airs but release them in retina... Hopefully some clearer sources come to earth by august

 

[skaertus]

This can simply mean that apple will keep the 11 & 13 inch airs but release them in retina... Hopefully some clearer sources come to earth by august

Or maybe Apple will release a 12-inch retina model while keeping the old non-retina 11 and 13-inch models before they are discontinued...

 

[psik]

Or maybe Apple will release a 12-inch retina model while keeping the old non-retina 11 and 13-inch models before they are discontinued...

what will they do the iPad then? keep it as is?

 

[skaertus]

what will they do the iPad then? keep it as is?

I was under the impression that Apple would keep the iPad as it is. An iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch screen makes no sense (at least to me) if Apple is going to keep the same screen resolution and no real side-by-side multi-tasking.

However, iOS 8 is pointing out to some changes in this respect. We are yet to see if iOS 8 will allow side-by-side multi-tasking and higher screen resolutions.

I don't know if Apple will or will not release an iPad Pro. All I know is that it will probably be a different product from the MacBook Air.

 

[Ronnoco]

Well, Steve DID say when introducing the first iPad and iCloud, that it is the beginning of "the post pc era"...I don't doubt Apple is on it's ways to releasing a "Pro-Style" iPad that is dock able with a workstation/display and reducing production of it's desktop and portable PC line in the foreseeable future.

 

[skaertus]

Well, Steve DID say when introducing the first iPad and iCloud, that it is the beginning of "the post pc era"...I don't doubt Apple is on it's ways to releasing a "Pro-Style" iPad that is dock able with a workstation/display and reducing production of it's desktop and portable PC line in the foreseeable future.

Well, first the iPad should be able to do everything a Mac can, right? But the thing is, the iPad is seriously handicapped and cannot perform the same tasks. So, regardless of all this "post-PC" speech, a real computer is still a real computer and cannot be replaced by a simpler and more mobile device such as a tablet (perhaps by a Surface Pro, which is a real computer after all, but not by an iPad).

 

[Ronnoco]

Well, first the iPad should be able to do everything a Mac can, right? But the thing is, the iPad is seriously handicapped and cannot perform the same tasks. So, regardless of all this "post-PC" speech, a real computer is still a real computer and cannot be replaced by a simpler and more mobile device such as a tablet (perhaps by a Surface Pro, which is a real computer after all, but not by an iPad).

We haven't see a "iPad Pro" yet then have we?
I think they are heading in that direction with ports (or at least a port) that will allow more connectivity with other devices and certainly connection to some type of work station interface that will allow one to work with the iPad Pro on a large monitor with keyboard and mouse if desired. Hopefully as iCloud improves it will be a factor in this as well.

 

[skaertus]

We haven't see a "iPad Pro" yet then have we?
I think they are heading in that direction with ports (or at least a port) that will allow more connectivity with other devices and certainly connection to some type of work station interface that will allow one to work with the iPad Pro on a large monitor with keyboard and mouse if desired. Hopefully as iCloud improves it will be a factor in this as well.

We have not yet seen an iPad Pro. But an iPad Pro would have to introduce many new features to be able to replace a MacBook Air. And iOS still does not have these features. This is why I think it is a little premature for an iPad to replace a Mac.

You said you think Apple will introduce ports. I hope so, but I am yet to see something that proves the point.

In addition, the iPad does not support a mouse, which would be crucial for applications that require precision.

And the iPad does not support side-by-side multitasking yet. iOS 8 may be heading into this direction, but I don't know if this feature will be ready by the end of the year.

And, on top of all of it, there is no software available supporting these features. And complex software takes a long time to be developed. Simple apps are easy and quick to write, but the ones which make the difference are the complex and fully-featured apps. And these ones are not available for the iPad, nor they will be just a few weeks or months after the release of an iPad Pro.

It would take time...

 

[Ronnoco]

We have not yet seen an iPad Pro. But an iPad Pro would have to introduce many new features to be able to replace a MacBook Air. And iOS still does not have these features. This is why I think it is a little premature for an iPad to replace a Mac.

You said you think Apple will introduce ports. I hope so, but I am yet to see something that proves the point.

In addition, the iPad does not support a mouse, which would be crucial for applications that require precision.

And the iPad does not support side-by-side multitasking yet. iOS 8 may be heading into this direction, but I don't know if this feature will be ready by the end of the year.

And, on top of all of it, there is no software available supporting these features. And complex software takes a long time to be developed. Simple apps are easy and quick to write, but the ones which make the difference are the complex and fully-featured apps. And these ones are not available for the iPad, nor they will be just a few weeks or months after the release of an iPad Pro.

It would take time...

From what I know of Apple (I know many people who work/worked there, especially when Steve was running it), when they introduced the original iPad, they had already been at work designing a "long term plan" for the company's tablet/cloud future. It would be very surprising to me if they just started thinking and working on the future of tablet/cloud computing replacing (or at least beginning to replace) PC computing. I would bet internally, they are FAR ahead of where they are with their current product line devices and OS's. I would expect these new devices to begin rolling out in the next few years along with a shrinking of iMac and MacBook models available at retail (although I DO expect some type of "base" iPad Pro to be released near future to compete with the Surface Pro).

That's my guess, we'll see what happens. Since most of Apple's revenue (and more importantly profit) comes from the iPhone and iPad, it makes sense that they will continue in that direction and scale down the much less profitable PC products.

 

[psik]

From what I know of Apple (I know many people who work/worked there, especially when Steve was running it), when they introduced the original iPad, they had already been at work designing a "long term plan" for the company's tablet/cloud future. It would be very surprising to me if they just started thinking and working on the future of tablet/cloud computing replacing (or at least beginning to replace) PC computing. I would bet internally, they are FAR ahead of where they are with their current product line devices and OS's. I would expect these new devices to begin rolling out in the next few years along with a shrinking of iMac and MacBook models available at retail (although I DO expect some type of "base" iPad Pro to be released near future to compete with the Surface Pro).

That's my guess, we'll see what happens. Since most of Apple's revenue (and more importantly profit) comes from the iPhone and iPad, it makes sense that they will continue in that direction and scale down the much less profitable PC products.

I think with all this news I have to put my trust more info chrome os improving its offline functionality.... I have to say bye bye to apple if not light high res laptop is released by September October

 

[Ronnoco]

I think with all this news I have to put my trust more info chrome os improving its offline functionality.... I have to say bye bye to apple if not light high res laptop is released by September October

I think it's a pretty safe bet that there will very soon be a retina MacBook Air.

 

[Serban]

http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/design/
if you drag to middle of the page there is a macbook air with the icons and i think its a retina display...its identical like apple in 2012 present on site the difference between retina and normal

 

[skaertus]

http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/design/
if you drag to middle of the page there is a macbook air with the icons and i think its a retina display...its identical like apple in 2012 present on site the difference between retina and normal

I think it is a regular MacBook Air, despite the fact that the zoom could give the impression of a retina display. I think Apple will drop the "MacBook Air" wording below the screen when it releases the redesigned Air, just like it did when it released the retina Pro. Just my guess.

 

[Uliman]

http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/design/
if you drag to middle of the page there is a macbook air with the icons and i think its a retina display...its identical like apple in 2012 present on site the difference between retina and normal

how are you able to ascertain this is a Retina display?

 

[iOSaddict]

Whatever happens there will not be: a touch screen and cheaper price tag.

 

[skaertus]

Whatever happens there will not be: a touch screen and cheaper price tag.

I am pretty sure that there will be no touch screen. As for the price tag, it is still a wild card for me. While I do not believe Apple is willing to make the MacBook Air any cheaper, it is under pressure as competitors are driving prices down. Microsoft released the Surface Pro 3 for US$ 799, and prices of "retina" ultrabooks have gone down substantially in the last 6 months. Given that the new Air is expected to be released in about 6 months from now, prices will probably be even lower, and Apple will be pushed to release an Air with a not-so-expensive price tag, perhaps keeping the current prices or even making them a little lower. Or Apple may simply ignore the competition, but that is increasingly more difficult to do.

 

[iOSaddict]

I am pretty sure that there will be no touch screen. As for the price tag, it is still a wild card for me. While I do not believe Apple is willing to make the MacBook Air any cheaper, it is under pressure as competitors are driving prices down. Microsoft released the Surface Pro 3 for US$ 799, and prices of "retina" ultrabooks have gone down substantially in the last 6 months. Given that the new Air is expected to be released in about 6 months from now, prices will probably be even lower, and Apple will be pushed to release an Air with a not-so-expensive price tag, perhaps keeping the current prices or even making them a little lower. Or Apple may simply ignore the competition, but that is increasingly more difficult to do.

Apple's laptops have always cost more than competitors. That didn't stop them from outselling the majority of the competition.

 

[sracer]

Apple's laptops have always cost more than competitors. That didn't stop them from outselling the majority of the competition.

This.

Generally speaking, consumers in the market for a Windows device are very price sensitive. Windows notebooks are essentially commodity-priced. This mindset is not as prevalent for those consumers looking to purchase an Apple notebook.

What I believe that Apple needs to focus on is making sure that the ownership experience from day-1 is as excellent as it can be.... contrasting that with Windows notebooks, tablets, ultrabooks that typically require system & driver updates out-of-the-box.

That's (excellent ownership experience) what got Apple where they are, it's what's going to be what keeps them there. IMO

 

[Cnasty]

I agree with you.

My new MBA is my first Apple laptop, not device though. I have an iMac and have been blown away with how fast, efficient, and clean everything operates without ever a hiccup.

I am not sure how the new windows 8 is as I have never used it but in the past versions the amounts of issues I have had just got so frustrating.

I am at a point in my life where I am willing to pay a little more to know this iMac and MBA can last me 5-7 years easily if not more with the reliability and track record of Apple devices.

 

[chleuasme]

Apple's laptops have always cost more than competitors. That didn't stop them from outselling the majority of the competition.

Apple don't really look after outselling other vendors (Lenovo or hp aren't likely to be outsold, with hp at least until recently making larger revenues on its PC division than Apple on Macs, and Dell or Acer are probably not bad either), what's they are good at is extract important profits with large margins rather than chasing only for revenue.
And they can justify the bigger price with a great hardware and a better integration with software (and in the first place OS X), and services. And that's where part of their big profits is reinvested in engineering and R&D, Apple isn't only playing the offshore bank with all their gold.
That's not discounting the importance of the user base and market share, they need to maintain devs attraction for example. But they won't generate big profits with low margins and big volume. No one does.

A question is, can they continue to make the same profits (or more) in a market where consumers don't seem to be willing to pay big for one device and rather now tend to dispatch spending on different devices smartphone/tablet/PC. Is there really more value to extract in a market they already dominate (on the whole PC market, close to 50% of overall profits, and maybe even more on laptops only)?

That won't happen at least with cheaper entry price points. They can't make any cheaper but better OS X laptops without losing in margins. They won't sell hardware offering a crappy OS X experience.

That's why an iOS laptop could be more interesting for Apple to work on, while not abandoning the OS X lines of products both necessary and profitable.
iOS 8 has been a big upgrade, it's built to offer a much more versatile experience to users, and will offer a much more productive environment. I wonder if Apple will wait one more year for apps devs to adapt and update their products, or if 2014 is the year to create this third category of iOS product, as intel is lagging and is so expensive.

 

[skaertus]

Apple's laptops have always cost more than competitors. That didn't stop them from outselling the majority of the competition.

Not really outselling. While the MacBook Air has historically sold more than ultrabooks, that is in great part because ultrabooks were expensive and there were cheaper alternatives on the PC market. PCs are cheaper than Macs, and that is why more than 90% of computers are running Windows right now. If high-end ultrabooks become substantially cheaper than the MacBook Air, then Apple will have to either drop the price or accept losing market share.

 

[chleuasme]

If high-end ultrabooks become substantially cheaper than the MacBook Air, then Apple will have to either drop the price or accept losing market share.

Losing market share wouldn't be a problem in a growing market if they still managed to both maintain a large enough user base and a growth of profits.
I'd invite you to read such article for example. It's almost one year old, though.
Since then, PC sales continued to slip (quarter and 4 trailing quarters views), while Mac sales market share maintained growth (4 trailing quarters view).
Now, it's not telling in detail about the particular case of ultrabook sales that probably are in better shape than desktop sales in comparison, for example.
But with the current tendency, I wonder how you expect Apple to lower prices and sell high-end products with lower margins, with at best same profits or possibly less as the market continues shrinking. How much more value is there to extract in that market?
Check my previous post, too.