Could this new refresh include a 15" MBA?

[BostonBrawler]

I know that it has been rumored that the next MBP refresh might have some of the MBA qualities, but does anyone think that they could introduce a 15" MBA model?

Other than competition to its MBP line, are there logistical reasons this would not work?

Personally, having that ultra portability, with a 15" screen would be an immediate sell....

 

[falcor87]

Personally I don't really see the use of this. But that is from someone who thinks laptops bigger than 13.3" are goofy.

Yes a 15" mba would be more portable than a 15" mbp, but by how much? The mbp is a relatively slim notebook, I'm not sure exactly what the difference of the two would be but maybe < 1 cm at the back and around 1.5 cm at the front. Also both of those differences become unimportant as soon as the computers are in a case. They will both share the same awkwardly large footprint of a 15" laptop, which is not well suited to the average briefcase or shoulder bag.

I have similar thoughts about the 13.3" mba, but not as strong.

If it was my call (maybe it's good that it's not lol) I would ditch the 13 while moving the mbp line closer and closer to the mba in looks and functionality, without sacrificing power. And leave the 11 as the only pure mba, then when the tech allows, cut down on the bezel and move to a 12.1 mba with the same case size as the 11.

 

[Psilocybin]

No it won't. I don't really call a 15" ultra portable

 

[bp1000]

I still think, even in 2011 the MBA, with Sandybridge is an amazing achievement in design

Some other manufacturers are catching up and i think a 15" MBA would be an instant hit and hopefully pave the way for the next gen MBP's, although i wouldn't class a 15" MBA as ultraportable, just portable.

I would like to see the pro's housed in a MBA body within the next 5 years. How they would cool a quad core in that small space with a battery is a mystery.


I think the MBA's time is limited and i reckon we might start seeing more flavours of iPad with MBA type hardware and front projection keyboards and trackpads. That would be very nice!

It is clear iPad form factors and functionality are a massive hit. It is only a question of time before they ship with integrated ports and light projected keyboards and trackpads.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

No it won't. I don't really call a 15" ultra portable

Neither do I.

In fact, if anything, I'd see it going the other way, with Apple gearing the Pro line towards the 15" and giving more attention to the 11" MBA as that has been Apple's runaway success in the past year. Here, I'm more with falcor87 and suspect that, down the line, some sort of resurrection of the 12.1" (remember the old iconic Powerbook?) might well be under consideration.

 

[hcho3]

15 inch isn't portable device.

15 inch MBP will lose optical Drive and Hard drive in the future. There is your 15 MBA.