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

[pasadena]

no thunderbolt means apple is saying, "Hey professionals, don't buy this laptop."

Or "hey professionals, forget thunderbolt 3, get USB stuff"

The usual professional Apple customers don't use a MBA as their main machine. That's what the MBP is for. The MBA is a consumer laptop. That being said, forgoing the TB port would really set it appart in the whole Apple computer ecosystem. But then they're not afraid of that kind of moves.

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I don't know what they will do, but all I really want is a retina screen and better battery life (than my mid-2012 one, the 2013 and 2014 are fine). Smaller bezels to make it prettier (and fit a 12" screen without changing the footprint - I'd rather a 11" with the current footprint than a 12" in a bigger casing).

Everything else can stay the same as far as I'm concerned, as long as there is no performance degradation. They can even remove all the ports and the trackpad click.

The only thing that would make me rethink upgrading would be a bigger size and a heavier machine. But I don't think that will happen.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

The usual professional Apple customers don't use a MBA as their main machine. That's what the MBP is for. The MBA is a consumer laptop. That being said, forgoing the TB port would really set it appart in the whole Apple computer ecosystem. But then they're not afraid of that kind of moves.

----------

I don't know what they will do, but all I really want is a retina screen and better battery life (than my mid-2012 one, the 2013 and 2014 are fine). Smaller bezels to make it prettier (and fit a 12" screen without changing the footprint - I'd rather a 11" with the current footprint than a 12" in a bigger casing).

Everything else can stay the same as far as I'm concerned, as long as there is no performance degradation. They can even remove all the ports and the trackpad click.

The only thing that would make me rethink upgrading would be a bigger size and a heavier machine. But I don't think that will happen.

I'm not saying the MBA is a professional laptop, I just meant I'd be surprised if Apple would completely eliminate it from any interest of prosumers who Apple has been telling to invest in a thunderbolt ecosystem. That'd be shocking to me. Apple alienating their own customers is shocking to me.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I disagree with the comment regarding a professional laptop. My i7 8GB 512GB 13" MBA is plenty enough for what I need to do. And when I'm in the office I plug the thunderbolt in to get my screen etc as well. Battery life and a smaller package makes it preferable over a MBP.

 

[pasadena]

I disagree with the comment regarding a professional laptop. My i7 8GB 512GB 13" MBA is plenty enough for what I need to do. And when I'm in the office I plug the thunderbolt in to get my screen etc as well. Battery life and a smaller package makes it preferable over a MBP.

What I really meant to say is, professionals are not Apple's target customers for the MBA, so their needs are probably lower in the priority list than they are for the MBP.

Basically, they would be telling pros "don't buy this laptop, buy a MBP".

I'm not saying the MBA is a professional laptop, I just meant I'd be surprised if Apple would completely eliminate it from any interest of prosumers who Apple has been telling to invest in a thunderbolt ecosystem. That'd be shocking to me. Apple alienating their own customers is shocking to me.

I agree, but I wouldn't put it past them.

 

[mutsaers-vr.nl]

A second camera on the backside of the screen would be nice so you can make pictures at presentations of the overhead sheets shown.

 

[copa]

A second camera on the backside of the screen would be nice so you can make pictures at presentations of the overhead sheets shown.

isn't iPad photography silly enough?

 

[iamthecondenser]

Any idea when this thing will finally be announced/released? We kept hearing first quarter 2015, now we're hearing this summer.

I find it weird that it wasn't mentioned on the conference call earlier this week, yet the watch was mentioned a lot. I get that the watch is a new product and will get more attention than a refresh, but come on. I still have a 2007 MacBook and am waiting for the new MBA to be released. Getting frustrated here.

 

[dmbadict04]

Any idea when this thing will finally be announced/released? We kept hearing first quarter 2015, now we're hearing this summer.



I found it weird that it wasn't mentioned on the conference call earlier this week, yet the watch was mentioned a lot. I get that the watch is a new product and will get more attention than a refresh, but come on. I still have a 2007 MacBook and am waiting for the new MBA to be released. Getting frustrated here.

Pure speculation here but it's possible that they are waiting to get Broadwell into both families (MBA and rMBP).

I just got a rMBP for work but I too have an early-2008 MacBook that I'm wanting to replace with the next MBA. It is a bit frustrating having to wait but it might be for the better over the long-term.

We'll see...

 

[motrek]

Pure speculation here but it's possible that they are waiting to get Broadwell into both families (MBA and rMBP).

I just got a rMBP for work but I too have an early-2008 MacBook that I'm wanting to replace with the next MBA. It is a bit frustrating having to wait but it might be for the better over the long-term.

We'll see...

Pick up an older (~2011) used MBA for around $500 and use that while you're waiting.

When the new laptop comes up, you will be able to sell the used MBA for roughly the same amount you paid for it. The market value shouldn't drop much since the people selling and buying $500 laptops are a different market than the ones buying $1000 laptops.

 

[qcmacmini]

I caved in and ordered an 11" Air with 8GB Ram, but with the i5 processor.

It was too risky for me to wait until the 12" retina comes out with potentially no Thunderbolt, less processing power and less battery life.

I already got bitten with the 2012 Mac mini downgrade to the 2014 model and nearly missed out on the machine I wanted. It may not be the case with the Macbook Air retina, but to me it wasn't worth the risk.

 

[copa]

I caved in and ordered an 11" Air with 8GB Ram, but with the i5 processor.

It was too risky for me to wait until the 12" retina comes out with potentially no Thunderbolt, less processing power and less battery life.

I already got bitten with the 2012 Mac mini downgrade to the 2014 model and nearly missed out on the machine I wanted. It may not be the case with the Macbook Air retina, but to me it wasn't worth the risk.

I know a few people now who have done this, seems to be reasonable. I know I won't get an MBA again if it turns out like what has been leaked so far.

 

[qcmacmini]

I know a few people now who have done this, seems to be reasonable. I know I won't get an MBA again if it turns out like what has been leaked so far.

Apple could surprise us and make an awesome machine in the new retina air, but it seems their processor choice is a no-mans land right now. I have a feeling that the retina could get good in future versions. The current shape Airs were quite average in performance when first released but Haswell really stepped things up in terms of performance and efficiency/battery life.

I also managed to get a $100 Apple store voucher as part of a promo they just released in Australia, so it brought the price down to less than a refurb. Heading home next week to get it, will collect my tax back when I go through the airport so it's a very good price indeed.

 

[mutsaers-vr.nl]

no serious R&D engineer will use an iPad !!!!

isn't iPad photography silly enough?

 

[tmarks11]

I caved in and ordered an 11" Air with 8GB Ram, but with the i5 processor.

You do know that the next generation MBA11 and MBA13 (and maybe the rumored MBA r12) will probably be released in two months? It would be worth waiting; at that point you could probably buy the last generation for a considerable discount if you didn't want the new offerings.

 

[qcmacmini]

You do know that the next generation MBA11 and MBA13 (and maybe the rumored MBA r12) will probably be released in two months? It would be worth waiting; at that point you could probably buy the last generation for a considerable discount if you didn't want the new offerings.

A few factors came into play for me.

Considerable discount probably won't apply to the 8GB CTO version.

I got this machine at a ridiculously cheap price, even though it's a CTO. I'm traveling home next week and getting it tax free makes this machine half the price of buying it here in Europe.

Apparently most Airs sold are 13", and the 11" isn't so popular. There is a chance Apple will kill off the 11" model, and have the 12" retina and 13" non-retina available.

For those of us who have Mac desktops, the 11" is perfect as a portable machine. The only downside is the TN display, but it is a little brighter than the 13" and has slightly higher pixel density.

 

[tmarks11]

There is a chance Apple will kill off the 11" model, and have the 12" retina and 13" non-retina available.

My bet is that won't happen this year, but probably next year. The MBA r12 will be the premium model, the MBA11 will continue to be the low cost leader. It will be like the non-retina MBP, hanging out by its lonesome in an icy wasteland for a couple years before disappearing with a whimper.

I can see why you made your move; by all accounts the next step up from haswell to broadwell gives you some battery improvements, and no real performance improvement. This is the CPU improvement year that was worth skipping.

The MBA line already has a kick-ass battery, and performance is good.

 

[qcmacmini]

My bet is that won't happen this year, but probably next year. The MBA r12 will be the premium model, the MBA11 will continue to be the low cost leader. It will be like the non-retina MBP, hanging out by its lonesome in an icy wasteland for a couple years before disappearing with a whimper.

Low cost leader with what specs? Right now I can customise the machine to the specs I want. I missed out on a 2.6 Mac mini because I 'waited' for the 2014 model.

There is a big difference between the 11" Air and the MBP, the 11" Air is a unique product in it's segment. Not a mainstream, popular model with outdated specs. All sources tell me they don't sell many 11" compared to the 13".

At least if I'm wrong and the 12" rMBA has Thunderbolt, a fan and proper Broadwell (not Core M), then I can sell this for a profit here in Europe and buy a 12" retina. I have a desktop Mac, no need to hang onto it if it I don't like it anymore.

Also if they keep the current Airs at a low price point why would Apple upgrade them to Broadwell? That would mean the battery life would be significantly better in the non-retina Airs compared to the retina.

 

[mutsaers-vr.nl]

what screen resolution will the 12" rMBA have ? I hope at least full HD 1920*1080.

 

[iRun26.2]

I bet the new 12" MBA will no longer have a backlit keyboard. That will really be disappointing. It might even hold me back from buying it.

I hate to say it but I bet that they will have to remove the backlit keyboard to make it so thin. They may also want it to be an inexpensive machine and, thus, remove the backlit keyboard.

 

[Keniutek]

No backlit logo, no backlit keyboard, no ports... but hey, they made it thinner .

 

[motrek]

I bet the new 12" MBA will no longer have a backlit keyboard. That will really be disappointing. It might even hold me back from buying it.

I hate to say it but I bet that they will have to remove the backlit keyboard to make it so thin. They may also want it to be an inexpensive machine and, thus, remove the backlit keyboard.

They added a backlit keyboard to the MBA in 2011 and that didn't make it any thicker. What makes you think it's any thicker or thinner?

 

[mutsaers-vr.nl]

This is what i would like to have :


- physical shape same as current MBA 11" (so NOT Thinner)
- 12 inch retina display (by reducing the bezel size)
- please put a fan in it so we can use broadwell core U processors
- at least 2 ports (1 USB3 and 1 thunderbolt)
- magnasafe power port
- backlite keyboard (with same space between keys and layout of present MBA 11")
- standard 8 GB Ram
- standard 512 GB SSD
- battery life at least 9 hours

I will buy this configuration immediately even if it is a little more expensive than the current version.

I even think it will be cheaper to produce than a complete redesign of the form factor.

 

[ctyrider]

I find it weird that it wasn't mentioned on the conference call earlier this week, yet the watch was mentioned a lot.

Nothing weird about this. Apple does not announce new products on Quarterly earnings calls.

Yes, they mentioned Apple Watch, but it's an already announced product not a new product intro. 12" MacBook air will be announced at an Apple event (be it WWDC or a different event).. But it won't be announced on an earnings call.

 

[iRun26.2]

They added a backlit keyboard to the MBA in 2011 and that didn't make it any thicker. What makes you think it's any thicker or thinner?

Nothing. It's just last time they removed it. I'm afraid they'll do it again.

 

[Keniutek]

This is what i would like to have :


- physical shape same as current MBA 11" (so NOT Thinner)
- 12 inch retina display (by reducing the bezel size)
- please put a fan in it so we can use broadwell core U processors
- at least 2 ports (1 USB3 and 1 thunderbolt)
- magnasafe power port
- backlite keyboard (with same space between keys and layout of present MBA 11")
- standard 8 GB Ram
- standard 512 GB SSD
- battery life at least 9 hours

I will buy this configuration immediately even if it is a little more expensive than the current version.

I even think it will be cheaper to produce than a complete redesign of the form factor.

I'm afraid you'll be sorely disappointed.