The volume of the old design was actually 25% larger. We know that because they said at the keynote that the volume of the new design is 20% less.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Which MacBook Air Design Do You Prefer? (Purely Aesthetic Perspective)
- Thread starter imdog
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think the old design was more elegant. But: The new design has 20% less volume, and we don't know whether they could have kept the old design and thinned it out by 20%. It may be the case that, to shrink the volume by 20%, they needed to go with the boxier design to fit everything in and get the thermals they wanted.
Thus if they could have kept the old design and just thinned it out by 20%, they should have done that (maybe with some updates to the design to keep it modern, but still keeping that iconic wedge). OTOH, if the boxy design was needed to achieve the 20% reduction in volume, then I think they made the right decision.
Thus if they could have kept the old design and just thinned it out by 20%, they should have done that (maybe with some updates to the design to keep it modern, but still keeping that iconic wedge). OTOH, if the boxy design was needed to achieve the 20% reduction in volume, then I think they made the right decision.
Last edited:
jav6454
macrumors Core
AltecX
macrumors 6502a
Thats not unusual at all. If the design doesn't account for physics, it's a poor design. Also, if that design is putting an undo strain on what the engineers are currently capable of. The two must work hand in hand, if one is purely in a dictating position the other WILL suffer.
navaira
macrumors 601
Ohhh. I remember the senior manager of my team back then bringing a Macbook Air in. My eyes nearly fell out from popping out so hard. It looked impossible. I had the white Macbook at that point and this thing looked like future. It would take until the 2015 rMB for me to feel this way again. (Until I found out about the keyboard… funnily enough I still have the 12" 2016 8/512, it still looks incredible minus the bezels, and also it's literally worthless because of the battery capacity. I can't sell it. So it's my "in case of" Macbook – I can only imagine what it would be like with M1, a battery that doesn't die after two years, and a real keyboard inside. TAPERED.)
The new ones had a chance to look cool with the iMac colours. Instead they look like step back in time towards something… blocky. Which is not to say that I wouldn't like Magsafe on my M1.
jav6454
macrumors Core
A friend also bought one and I was completely taken back how it all worked. As per the MBA's new design, it's ugly and too boxy. Color selection is fine tbh.
redheeler
macrumors G3
I liked this design, with thinner bezels and a few of the innovations from newer models it’d be perfect.The OG Air, with the pop-out ports.
I'm only half kidding.
theMarble
macrumors 65816
I personally like the second-gen 11" models (2010-2015), it was a good size for the Air, they got increasingly more powerful alongside the 13" model and had a good array of ports including MagSafe in a proper spot (not on a angle on the bottom like the first Air) and Thunderbolt 1/2.
The only part I don't like is the horrible 16:9 aspect ratio, on 11" it feels cramped and with how big the bezels were they could of (if the technology existed?) put in a much better 16:10 panel.
The only part I don't like is the horrible 16:9 aspect ratio, on 11" it feels cramped and with how big the bezels were they could of (if the technology existed?) put in a much better 16:10 panel.
dogface1956
macrumors regular
For me the best form over function example is the round mouse, that was all Ivy because he thought it looked cool, but it sucked in use. To me that is the perfect example of Ivyism.
No My Friend, firstly the Engineering Team, provides an outline of components and spacing, thermal limits and gaps, etc. Then finally, The Design Team at Apple designs and enclosure that encloses these requirements
theMarble
macrumors 65816
Well, sometimes it felt like Design was before Engineering eg: Power Mac G4 MDD. The case was re-designed but the rest was a faster QS, so the thermals were abysmal. The Puck Mouse and Magic Mouse are more examples, the design is beautiful but they suck to use and need additional pieces of plastic attached to feel better in terms of ergonomics.
Were they, cause I never had one? Also heard that it's performance was good in its class at that time
Well the design team, can't be blamed, cause they quite often change design if thermals don't work, also check this:
Apple’s Product Development Process – Inside the World’s Greatest Design Organization
How do you give designers the freedom to design and ensure that the products they produce fulfil their visions? Well, at Apple they put design at the forefront.
www.interaction-design.org
theMarble
macrumors 65816
Performance on the MDD was way ahead of it's immediate predecessor, the QuickSilver, these were the big changes;Were they, cause I never had one? Also heard that it's performance was good in its class at that time
Well the design team, can't be blamed, cause they quite often change design if thermals don't work, also check this:
Apple’s Product Development Process – Inside the World’s Greatest Design Organization
How do you give designers the freedom to design and ensure that the products they produce fulfil their visions? Well, at Apple they put design at the forefront.
QS: 1GHz CPU, 1.5GB RAM, 133MHz Bus
MDD: 1.42GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 167MHz Bus
While it was faster, heat was a challenge since the case didn't properly account for the thermal envelope of the faster G4 (All GHz G4 models had cooling issues but MDD was especially bad). There was nowhere near enough airflow so it used obnoxiously loud fans, so it gained the nickname "Windtunnel". There were 4 holes for intake and lots of tiny exhaust holes.
It would be like shoving an 8-core i9 into a case meant for a 4-core i7. (Does this sound familiar? Intel 16")
Traverse
macrumors 604
I really liked the wedge design and I think really came to represent the MacBook Air (like the 'chin' on the iMac) and I feel like Apple simply flattening the MacBook Pro design was very "meh." I would have liked to have seen a modernized MacBook Air the blended the two designs.
Apple Knowledge Navigator
macrumors 601
Im not sure which I prefer more actually. The wedge design is iconic, but I also really like the new MBP design.
Most the people saying they prefer the aesthetics of the new design are saying they prefer the function over form or the better thermals, battery, etc. So I am pretty certain most people actually prefer the wedge design.
thedocbwarren
macrumors 6502
hugo_necst
macrumors newbie
As a pilot, the old MBA always looked to me as if it were floating on a cushion of air, the "wedge" as some of you call it evocative of an airfoil. Anything you call "air" ought to look aerodynamic which it does. Sorry, but new one does not. No lift and too much drag.
