Huh? Have you seen the benchmarks on the A10? It's an absolute beast.
To quote the famous Tui Beer ad, "Yeah, right."
Huh? Have you seen the benchmarks on the A10? It's an absolute beast.
My predictions for the MBA replacement is:
1. Called 13" MacBook
2. 13-17 watts for CPU
3. 3 USB-C ports, headphone jack
4. Retina screen
5. Sadly still only 8GB ram
6. 256GB to 1TB SSD option
7. Drops 11" model
I'm hoping a decent upgrade to the 13 MBA. I have a maxed out 2015 rMBP 15", and just tired of the weight and size. Also I only use maybe 30-40% of its power on a daily basis. I severely over bought based on my needs. If this MBA replacement does not have a retina screen, I'll have to go to the 13" rMBP. There would be no excuse if Apple put a non retina screen on a 2016 redesigned laptop.
My fingers are crossed.
Here's my take:
Apple will eliminate the 11" MBA. The 13" will function as an entry level experiment - and it will be the first Mac to feature an A series Apple chip, along with TB3, USB-C, and a couple of existing ports to ease the pain.
My predictions for the MBA replacement is:
1. Called 13" MacBook
Unfortunately the most recent rumors do imply that Apple will kill the MacBook Air and replace it with a larger MacBook. Also looking like they could kill the Mac Mini.
Great, these are my two favorite Macs.
I just don't think they can sell "old" airs with that screen in 2016. I really think their line up is going to be pricey.
$1299 MacBook
$1599 Air
$1799+ pros
The only other option is the MacBook slides into the $999 price and the air goes to $1299, but this is apple. I fully expect my first prediction. 15" pros will be right at $2300 for a base model.
Apple must have a laptop option at $899 or $999, or even less. For the education market and to compete with Google Chromebooks, they must have at least one low-cost model. This wouldn't be the first time Apple has kept a last-gen model around for the education market. Education purchasers don't really care about screen quality anyway.
For this reason alone, I think the current 13" Air, or something similar to it, will stick around for a while, at least until they can get the new retina Macbook down to the same price-point.
That is a really good point, but they may also realize they can push the price point of the entry level up without hurting sales. I really believe a person looking at a $999 mac will stretch the budget to whatever the entry level model is. Oddly enough, you see more pros in higher education.
Apple must have a laptop option at $899 or $999, or even less.
Perhaps that true in higher education, where budgets for both students and institutions tend to be higher.
I'm talking about K-12 public schools though. They are very cost-conscious. While sales of Apple computers there are down, and sales of Chromebooks there are way up, this has been historically an important and strong market for Apple. Arguably, the reason Macs are so popular among college students is precisely because Macs were so popular in public K-12 schools during the 1990s and 2000s. Surely there are other reasons for the college student popularity (iPod/iPhone tie-in, fashion, etc.). Nevertheless, the "get 'em while they're young" strategy is a valid one.
In 2005, Apple sold the eMac for $799 targetted at education customers.
In 2013, Apple sold an education-only iMac for $1099.
I believe the "current" 2012 Macbook Pro 13" non-retina is targeted at the education market for $1099. However, from what I have read, those schools still buying Macs have prefered the $999 13" Macbook Air base model instead. As I mentioned above, Google is really taking over this market though with <$500 Chromebooks. While Macbooks can certainly offer more value, Apple needs to hit the lowest price-point possible for this market.
It's professionally very productive for me thanks but not in a notebook style.
I think that they drop the 11" because they have the 12" MacBook. Sorry if you love the 11" MacBook Air. I am really, really hoping they keep the 13" i5 model with the basic model, 128 gb, 8 gb ram, same display, same ports, etc... and then come out with a brand new retina version for all the people that want it. I just don't want to see the i5 and i7 go away as I do not want the M processor or whatever it is called. It's just a mind thing with me as I feel the i5 and i7 are better.
I use my MacBook Air for coding, and basic things. Maybe an occasional Mac game, (American Trucking anyone) but not often at all. When they hit the under $1,000 price point, think Best Buy sales at $849.00 one in awhile, family members began to look at them and purchase them. And when I tell them it doesn't have retina, most don't know what i mean. Think just normal family member users, me being one as I don't care about retina myself.
But sadly I think it may not make it past October 27th, but hope I am wrong. But won't be surprised if they completely drop the MacBook Air line, but I hope not!
Hey I just looked at the Mac laptop lineup and they still have the MacBook Pro with the 5400 rpm hard drive, which I expect to be dropped. Now I feel I have a .000000001% chance the old 13" MBA will slide into the 11" MBA slot on the page....NOT!
They'll keep it around as the entry level MacBook, with terrible specs for 2016/2017. They'll kill it late 2017 or 2018 when people finally stop buying it.
I hate the MacBook keyboard that is why I haven't upgraded my 2013 Macbook Air
For me its either a new MacBook Air or Pro.
The Wirecutter still lists the 13" MBA as the best Mac Laptop (subject to tomorrow's announcements). The MBA performs every task at a high level except for maybe some processes on pro apps. It's the one laptop anyone who wants to use a Mac can purchase at a reasonable price and have it last for years. Every rumor I've ever heard is that it's still Apple's best selling laptop. Why in the hell would they kill it?