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.
Will the MacBook Air be discontinued?
- Thread starter JKAussieSkater
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
While I get what you mean, that's just not true; it all depends on the needs of the user.
Actually, the core m7 on the Macbook is equivalent to the core i5 from the Macbook Air. So, it's as powerful. Also, the display on the Macbook is zillion times better than the MBA one. Even 400 $ Windows laptops have much better screens than the Air. The only "cons" of the Macbook are:
-Single USB-C port: buying the USB-C dongle is a workaround for it
-New shallow keyboard: you either love it or hate it
The MacbookAir will almost certainly be updated this year, but it is becoming similar in form and function to the MacBook. I believe that circa 2018 they could divide off the Air from the MacBooks, and morph it into an A12x-powered laptop that is meant to trial balloon a transition to Apple ARM computers with an enclosed system and store, similar to iPads/Phones.
It is at least 2 years away, but it is coming.
It is at least 2 years away, but it is coming.
The last part is not what I wrote at all, so you are misquoting me @Caisteff01 .
[doublepost=1474677585][/doublepost]
Wrong, it is significantly less powerful than core i5, which is why the core M processors are only 4.5 watts, not 15 watts like the core i5 and i7 U processors.
[doublepost=1474678079][/doublepost]
Apple will not release a laptop as underpowered as the iPad, as it would have no compatibility with intel programs.
As an ARM mac would need a translation chip just to hope to be remotely capable for running document creation apps, it would be a few times slower than the current macbook, and it would have the unsatisfactory experience of running like tar. Additional problems with an ARM mac would be the redirection of production of iPhones and iPads CPUs to mac.
@kiwipeso1 Sorry that was me! Newbie, I do not know what I'm doing. Sorry for any inconvenience I caused for you.
[doublepost=1474706078][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1474706078][/doublepost]
Tried to reply
Remember when Steve Jobs first introduced the Macbook Air. At that time, we have the plastic Macbook and the Macbook Pro. But Steve Jobs said that the future of consumer laptop will be like the Macbook Air (which he was right). The plastic Macbook lingered around as transition.
The same thing is happening today, with the Macbook Air in the plastic Macbook's position, and the retina Macbook in the Macbook Air's position. Again, it's a transition. The Macbook Air got people used to having a laptop without the legacy ports and optical drive. Now the retina Macbook is getting people used to having everything wirelessly.
So yeah, considering so far the Macbook Air only received a RAM upgrade, I can see it being less of the focus. It won't be discontinued right away, just like the non-retina Macbook Pro. But I don't expect any significant upgrades. I just hope that the Apple can boost the battery life of the retina Macbook even more. I want something to be even better than the 13" Macbook Air's battery life.
The same thing is happening today, with the Macbook Air in the plastic Macbook's position, and the retina Macbook in the Macbook Air's position. Again, it's a transition. The Macbook Air got people used to having a laptop without the legacy ports and optical drive. Now the retina Macbook is getting people used to having everything wirelessly.
So yeah, considering so far the Macbook Air only received a RAM upgrade, I can see it being less of the focus. It won't be discontinued right away, just like the non-retina Macbook Pro. But I don't expect any significant upgrades. I just hope that the Apple can boost the battery life of the retina Macbook even more. I want something to be even better than the 13" Macbook Air's battery life.
Difference: The MBA removed the CD/DVD drive that not everyone used, but kept a great keyboard design and common USB ports that everyone still used/valued. Whereas the rMB has removed the USB, and removed a great keyboard. Two major strikes. That's a problem, for me and a whole lot of other people. Look at the iPhone 7. Can't even plug in a headphone jack. They're now a flashy popular consumer driven business catering to cool and casual users. Unfortunately, they're the market with all the big money, so Apple is focusing on them, while ignoring the older Apple customers who have professional and legacy requirements.
False. When the Macbook Air was introduced, people are still using optical drives. I know I did. Most software are still distributed via CD/DVDs at that point in time. I even bought Apple's external drive. It's not until I upgraded my Macbook Air twice until the things that I did really didn't involve the optical drive anymore, and the infrastructure supported it (faster broadband, more proliferation of digital distribution, cloud storage more commonplace, etc).
I am not saying you must stop using USB. Neither does Apple. Just like the external optical drive, Apple provided dongles. This is a transition period. Things don't happen overnight.
Most people have a distorted sense of time. Yes, you think at that time people don't use optical drives, but back then, people are whining like you did now about removing optical drive is the dumbest thing to do. Same thing with floppy disks. We can now look back and laugh, but back then, people were complaining as well.
I understand your point, but I guess I must have been an anomaly then. I didn't use my external drive much. Mostly just used thumb drives.
You think I'm whining? I'm just stating observation/criticism.
The two things that almost all computers had back in 2011 was a CD drive and a USB drive. So taking away CD wasn't that bad, at least for me, because USB was a better mode of transfer anyways. Fast forward to today. They're taking away USB and replacing it with USBC. I'm not saying I'm against USBC, in fact from what I understand it's a lot better. But the majority of equipment at any given home/office will not have USBC. Apple is trying to force a whole industry to change the one common mode of transfer common among computers. Wouldn't you agree?
The first Macbook Air was released in 2008. The current form factor was introduced in 2011. So I stayed with my statement, back then, most software were still distributed via CD/DVDs. People are still using CD-Rs/DVDs/blu-rays for personal storage/backup/etc. USB drives are mostly used for smaller things as large USB flash drives were still expensive, and USB3 was not too mainstream either.
USB-C is a standard. It's not Apple forcing it. Many Android phones are using USB-C now (how would Apple have anything to do with them?), and more and more laptops are also witching to USB-C. It's just a better connector. And considering it also supports Thunderbolt, why not have a versatile connector? Unlike popular beliefs, Apple is not forcing itself when it sees a better option. Apple only wants the best for their products. Eg. Firewire. When USB 1 and 2 were too slow, Apple had Firewire. But came USB3 and Apple didn't hesitate to drop Firewire.
I understand why folks think the MBA will be discontinued. It is kind of the odd stepchild between the MBPr and the new MacBook. The problem for Apple is the the MBA is really Apple's only entry level laptop. The rMB and rMBP are just too expensive, and the rMB is kind of a niche product. Also, the MBA is popular with high school and college students. It is powerful enough to get stuff done, but light and potable enough to carry around campus, and has extremely long battery life. Most importantly, the MBA is priced under $1,000, and I have bought them for my kids for as low as $750 (13in base MBA), on sale less student discount at a big box store.
So, the MBA is the gateway Mac for young people. I don't think Apple wants to give this up. They might be able to revitalize the MBA line and maintain the price point:
Of course, I have no idea what these changes would cost.....but, if Apple could make them and maintain the price point, I think the MBA would continue to be a very popular entry level laptop that would attract students and young people, with the goal of making them loyal long term Mac customers.
So, the MBA is the gateway Mac for young people. I don't think Apple wants to give this up. They might be able to revitalize the MBA line and maintain the price point:
- Continue routine processor upgrades
- Shrink the bezel
- Go to an IPS display (not necessarily Retina)
- Offer some color choices for the case
- Update to force touch track pad (now that the new track pad is in full production, it might not cost Apple much to unify under one standard rather than have two types of track pad designs to maintain and produce)
Of course, I have no idea what these changes would cost.....but, if Apple could make them and maintain the price point, I think the MBA would continue to be a very popular entry level laptop that would attract students and young people, with the goal of making them loyal long term Mac customers.
