i want the 11.6'' MacBook Air right now!

[L0s7man]

It is shocking for me to hear my version of the MBA being refered to as a 'POS'. That is good, though, I guess, since then I ought to be really pleased when I purchase my new one when Sandy Bridge is finally released.

Heh, that depends on your use-case; With Intel graphics, there isn't hell lot of stuff you can do; But if you just browse the net, write docs and never watch x264 encoded 720p movies then you shd be fine ;-)

I'm writing this on Panasonic Y5; It can still serve "some" purpose with its 1.5Ghz processor and Intel 945. But nothing more than reading blogs, writing some code and watching 480p Youtube videos (God forbid 720p or more).

When Air got 9400M things have gotten much better; you have to admit that. Even my Panasonic would fly if it wasn't for this Intel abomination they call graphics card.

 

[bloodycape]

So, 11.6in isn't a real seller for Apple, but 12in iBook, and Powerbook was/is?

 

[applebook]

So, 11.6in isn't a real seller for Apple, but 12in iBook, and Powerbook was/is?

PRICES might have had something to do with the iBook's success. The 12" PB was never an enormous seller either, even in an economy that was not in the gutter.

 

[bloodycape]

Maybe it was just where I am located but back before the intel days, but every time I saw someone with an Apple machine it was the 12in Powerbook.

 

[Scottsdale]

So, 11.6in isn't a real seller for Apple, but 12in iBook, and Powerbook was/is?

True, but whatever happens to one of the three 13" Mac notebooks WILL happen to all, in my opinion. If Apple goes with a 12" display, it will go 12" display in all three models, MBP, MB, and MBA. It makes sense to make one basic size and differentiate NOT on the user's visual or input experience but on performance, weight, thinness, and capabilities... that way Apple can sell the right 13" (12") Mac and NOT have the focus be display size.

We have the separation ONLY in the MBP line, because they're a segment that requires MORE from their Macs. The rest of us will buy a 12" or 13" or 14" Mac without focusing on a small difference in display size.

I believe it is better to expand ALL of the Mac segments, but I don't have to worry about COSTS. Bottom line, it's easier to make three 13" Macs than one 11.6" and one 13" and one 14."

Let's face it, ALL of us will buy an MBA whether Jobs decides to use 12,13,14" displays, but we all might start changing our minds if we hear 11.6" or smaller. It may be a minor difference, but I believe it would have a HUGE impact. People will start thinking their experience is being compromised, and they will want radically discounted prices.

Apple isn't going to cut the prices further. It would be much smarter to raise the prices, and I believe that is what's coming. Apple might use the 128 GB SSD and a 5430 ATI GPU in the low-end MBA and price it at $1699 (GPU counts as $100 upgrade by Apple's standards)... and then add 256 GB SSD version with slightly faster CPU or maybe more RAM for $1999.

If anyone is looking for price cuts or a 128 GB SSD, 4 GB RAM, and more in a low-end MBA for <$1499, they will be disappointed for certain.

I don't believe it would be wise for Apple to introduce an 11.6" and 13" MBAs. This would force Apple to charge less for the smaller display model, and the costs would not be any lower... the customer loses in the end. Now a 15" MBA makes a world of sense to me. I believe a lot of users don't wish to carry around an ancient optical disk and 1.5 lb. 10-hour battery, and they don't need the MBP level of performance, and a thinner, lightweight, 15" display makes a lot of sense.

However, Apple knows what the market bears for it. We are all WISHING for crap because we have niche focused needs/wishes. We are NOT the norm, but we're an exception to the norm. Apple always focuses on COSTS and ensuring the greatest needs fulfillment to the most users who would buy the products.

 

[headset]

I think the ipad and 12" pb show that people will use a smaller than 13" screen. I think what's holding apple back is the size of the keyboard. They're using the exact same size physical keyboard in every product. My friend and I calculated that the smallest screen apple could do, keeping the same size keyboard, would be 11.6".

It's the footprint which counts, I'm crossing my fingers for this update.

 

[L0s7man]

I fondly remember my IBM (yes, IBM, not Lenovo) Thinkpad X41. Awesome 12" laptop. However, as much as I love 12" laptops, I find it uncomfortable to keep them on my laps - to narrow to place on both laps and if you place it on one lap, a bit unstable ;-)

That's why I relaly like 13" form factor, especially if its 16:9.

 

[L0s7man]

Scottsdale: Apple has no consistency when it comes to their hardware lineup. iMacs are now 16:9 while they were 16:10. Laptops are 16:10; will we see a 16:9 Macbook Pro? Who knows. So why not 12", 13" or whatever. 11.6" isn't too bad - I've seen recently Lenovo X100e and I was surprised how nice it actually is.

Or take the iMac screen sizes - they were also changed from revision to revision.

 

[craigc_]

I would gladly welcome an 11.6" MBA. It can be possible while maintaing the full size keyboard, it would be more like the 12" PB where the keys went all the way to the edge. Sure its a very niche market for such a computer, but the MBA is a niche market computer in general. With the cost of low power processors coming down, I think Apple can make this happen and bring the cost down.

Though they said they are not getting into the netbook business, this in my opinion is possibles since they can still retain the full size keyboard. Thats what differentiates Apple's smaller laptop from netbooks. Netbooks don't have full size keyboards. The screen size in my opinion has to be at most 10" to be considered a netbook. There are windows laptop that are 11" and aren't netbooks. Dell XPS for example.

 

[animatedude]

but i want it now

 

[racer1441]

I still want a 17 inch air!

 

[Marx55]

Sign the petition the the MacBook Air mini:

http://macbookair10.net

 

[iPhysicist]

yes 13'' is the minimal acceptable size for most people but then again since when "acceptable" and "Air " are on the same sentence? it's all about being ultraportable,not happy with that? get a Pro.

better you ...get your pubes first

13" is smallest any working business men will accept. The only thing possible to happen is a fusion of MBP13 and Air with MORE MBP than Air in it. Air and MBP as we know it now will be discontinued then. White MB then is back as the "student's first choice"

The new MBP13/Air:

- abolish the Air's shape in favor for the MBP's form.
- slightly smaller and just a little thinner but with same screen, same resolution its enough, glossy or matte optional
- external superdrive
- no soldered RAM, two slots as usual
- no decent GPU but it should be on par with the 9400 at least
- same Battery Capacity or better if technology moves on
- same ports or the next generation of it
- 2.5" HHD/SSD
- i3, i5 maybe but i don't care at all
- if i5 then cooling will have to be changed

It is a pragmatic decision to fuse them and Jobs is a pragmatic.

The air is enough for most of us but its wasteful shape puts an end to it. A fusion will be the best of both worlds.

 

[drjsway]

How about something like this?

 

[iPhysicist]

why?

 

[drjsway]

why?

1. More than half of iPad owners have macs. This way, they won't need to carry around two devices.
2. You can choose to boot into iOS for light tasks and enjoy more than double battery life, yet still use OSX when you need it. i7 shuts off in iOS mode, running off A4 entirely.
3. You get full size keyboard (edge to edge), trackpad, and multi-touch input if you need it.

Best of both worlds.

 

[iPhysicist]

It is not

Sent from my iSteve

 

[bloodycape]

That is a bit Lenovo Ideapad U1 imho, and I doubt apple would do it specially with an i7, ulv or not.

 

[fyrefly]

I agree that the 12" PBG4 was a Popular machine (I had two of them at different times) and in many ways the Air replaced it as the "most portable" of the laptop lineup.

And 11.6" screen would be similar to the 12" and still support a full keyboard (just as the 12" PB did). The only issue I could see is fitting an i3/i5/i7 ULV and a discrete graphics chip in the smaller enclosure... but if Sandy Bridge = Intel's first non-crap IGP (which I'm still on the fence about) then maybe it works.

I don't see how the 11.6" Screen "compromises the experience" when the 12" screen never did.

 

[iPhysicist]

I still disagree with the 11,6" screen. It is not the same because the Powerbook's screen was 4:3 and nowadays screens are 16:10 if not 16:9. While I love my 13" 16:10 ratio I would not like a 13" 16:9 or any smaller. In fact the 13" already is smaller in relation to height than the 12" PB was.

 

[L0s7man]

I still disagree with the 11,6" screen. It is not the same because the Powerbook's screen was 4:3 and nowadays screens are 16:10 if not 16:9. While I love my 13" 16:10 ratio I would not like a 13" 16:9 or any smaller. In fact the 13" already is smaller in relation to height than the 12" PB was.

I personally love 16:9, but I might be in minority. This is simply because I like to have two terminal windows side-by-side and 16:9 is simply the best in this setting.

Why do you need all this height for?

 

[iPhysicist]

Ever read a PDF?

I have a lot of digital Paperwork and its important to overlook more than just one paragraph and it is not possible (at acceptable readability due to screen size) to display tow A4 sites next to each other. In Math and Physics we have formulae you have see as a whole for this kind of work the old 4:3 screens were a lot more comfortable as you can imagine. 16:9 is nice on discrete screens though but I do not like them on notebooks.

 

[Gaelic2]

I want a new BMW 700 series right now, sport.

 

[L0s7man]

Ever read a PDF?

I have a lot of digital Paperwork and its important to overlook more than just one paragraph and it is not possible (at acceptable readability due to screen size) to display tow A4 sites next to each other. In Math and Physics we have formulae you have see as a whole for this kind of work the old 4:3 screens were a lot more comfortable as you can imagine. 16:9 is nice on discrete screens though but I do not like them on notebooks.

Heh... I print all the papers I read ;-) Hate doing maths on a computer. Need pen+paper.

Was wondering how to approach digital reading. Tried iPad, it sux. Kindle is to small. Kindle DX perhaps? Can't see myself using e-readers. Need to wait to long to turn page.

Maybe something like Samsung Galaxy Tab? 7" doesn't make it much bigger than Kindle but LCD is much more responsive.

And it seems to be light enough to keep it with one hand easily - something you can't really do with iPad.

Anyway, paper FTW ;-)

 

[iPhysicist]

Heh... I print all the papers I read ;-) Hate doing maths on a computer. Need pen+paper.

Was wondering how to approach digital reading. Tried iPad, it sux. Kindle is to small. Kindle DX perhaps? Can't see myself using e-readers. Need to wait to long to turn page.

Maybe something like Samsung Galaxy Tab? 7" doesn't make it much bigger than Kindle but LCD is much more responsive.

And it seems to be light enough to keep it with one hand easily - something you can't really do with iPad.

Anyway, paper FTW ;-)

This would be tooooo much to lug around. I do math on a paper, physics too. But its way more relaxing to read them digital. I use the "note" feature to write down notes etc. works better for me. When i am done i LaTeX everything i need

I would have killed al lot of woods by just using paper.