MacBook Air Late 2016

[in2tech]

So first of all IS the MacBook Air their number selling laptop for sure? I think it is, mainly because of the fact that sometime you can find them for $849.00 on sale which is still a ton of money for most people. But for me it has latest through longer than any PC machines I ever had. And my computers are on a stationary desk 98% of the time. But thats just my case only!

I don't think this would happen but what if they took the lowest end MacBook Pro ( the one without the Touch Bar), and made a new MacBook Air since it is physically thinner, and the current slightly update i5 and i7 model with the intel graphics? In other words it would be a little slower that the $1499 MacBook Pro and I would want the same ports but do not think that will happen as everything is USB-C?

Is there a .00001% chance that Apple would keep the MacBook Air name or is it gone for good next go round? I just don't think people want the M chip in the MacBook or am I wrong?

Once again isn't it their number one selling laptop? Of course if the MacBook gets a price reduction for the next few announcements, it might change everything.

Just wondering. We know eventually it is going to go away, it's just a matter of time! Heck it might be next Spring

 

[Boyd01]

Is there a .00001% chance that Apple would keep the MacBook Air name or is it gone for good

Seems to me they made a point of NOT calling it the MacBook Air. There has been a feeling (in the minds of some people) that a "Pro" is better because of the name. So, since they were raising the price they wanted to make you feel good about it. And they intentionally made it clear that the MacBook Air was yesterday's news, a cheap computer with old technology for students and people who can't afford a "Pro".

 

[in2tech]

Seems to me they made a point of NOT calling it the MacBook Air. There has been a feeling (in the minds of some people) that a "Pro" is better because of the name. So, since they were raising the price they wanted to make you feel good about it. And they intentionally made it clear that the MacBook Air was yesterday's news, a cheap computer with old technology for students and people who can't afford a "Pro".

Yeah originally I thought the MacBook was going to replace the MacBook Air but now I think I agree with you that the MacBook Pro 13" ( and a little bit smaller and same weight) without the Touch Bar will be the new entry level 13" laptop, and replace the MacBook Air as it does have the i5 configuration, ports (although different), I think 256 SSD standard, etc... And with the pro names being used more often, iPad Pro, etc....you just might be right...time will tell. So at some point, MacBook 12', MacBook Pro 13"( no touch bar), MacBook Pro 13" (with touch bar), and MacBook Pro 15" (with touch bar)....makes sense...and of course all the extra options in each line!

So next Spring. They drop the 13" MacBook Air and reduce the MacBook Pro 13" (No Touch Bar) $100.00 maybe...

We would have:

MacBook Air (discontinued)

MacBook 12 " - $1199 (Maybe just maybe reduce by $100.00 in it's third year)

MacBook Pro 13" 256 SSD ( No Touch Bar) - $1399 (-$100 off $1499 originally, but I doubt it that soon!)

MacBook Pro 13" (with Touch bar) - $1799

MacBook Pro 15" (with Touch bar) - $2399

Maybe....or NOT? Of course this would leave them with no under $1,000 laptop! Which is a bummer!

 

[user74246]

So next Spring. They drop the 13" MacBook Air and reduce the MacBook Pro 13" (No Touch Bar) $100.00 maybe...

I totally expect the price for the base 13" MBP to come down to $1299 in a year or two.
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For us in the eurozone it, however, just seems like apple is jacking up the prices with gimmicks. Here, the MBA is priced at about 920-1020 Euros. This model, as I was corrected earlier, will still be sold. The new model will be priced at 1749 euros.

In my part of the eurozone the MBA with 256 GB costs 1.350,- EUR
Where as the new base MBP costs 1.700,- EUR

http://www.apple.com/de/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air
http://www.apple.com/de/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro

Sure, you can get the MBA 256 GB for less elsewhere, but retailer prices will come down for the MBP as well. I would also want the new MBP to cost less, 1.400,- EUR would be nice. But they are brand new models and the first generation is often a bit more expensive at Apple. Don’t you think prices will come down to that price point again?

I ordered the base model as soon as the shop went online again on Thursday. For me, coming from a 13" MBA mid 2011 this will be a very nice upgrade and the 350,- over a 256 GB MBA buys me a lot.

 

[Snappers]

That new base MBP is the "retina-version of the macbook air".

That's the thing. It is not. It lacks all the existing ports of the 13" MBA. When I first heard about the 2016 base 13" rMBP, I thought, ok, this is the new Air, but when I stop to think about all the native functionality I would be losing compared to the existing Air, then I realize it is a bad decision for me. I feel the retirement of the 11" MBA and the stagnation of the 13" model is sad, as it is a great lightweight portable device with the perfect amount of connectivity options.

I am not blown away by any of the current offerings like I have been in the past. A lot of the posts in regards to the new rMBP, both pros and cons, are very thought provoking though. This is the first time I ever needed to deliberate so much on any of Apple's products. It has always been a clear, concise "Yes", this is what I want/need or "No", that is definitely not for me. Not this time. I will just have to accept that there will never be a rMBA, and if I want something remotely close to what I want, I will have to deal with adapters, docks and dongles, which kind of defeats the purpose, imo.

I have a feeling that if I bought the new base 2016 rMBP, I would be resentful of it. Just envisioning a USB-C to USB-A adapter protruding from this shiny new device just to use a thumb drive is really what puts the brakes on any serious thoughts about purchasing. I know... it's quibbling, but that's where I am at right now.

Thankfully, my current 11" MBA is working great and I'm sure will get me through until I am ready to transition to a USB-C future. Until then, I will just have to live with the non-retina screen. The end. What? You're still here? It's over. Go home!

 

[user74246]

I want something remotely close to what I want, I will have to deal with adapters, docks and dongles, which kind of defeats the purpose, imo.

Yeah, totally understand your point. I also hate dongles with a passion. What I decided to do though is that I’m not going to buy any adapter. I will buy a USB-C to USB-B cable to connect my camera when I am on the go and a USB-C to Lightning for iOS devices. And for my desks I will have one nice USB-C cable that connects to some type of dock for the monitor, external storage, printer and network.

Sure, that’s another $100,- just for the new cables, but I am actually looking forward to that transition. USB-C is a very nice connector, so much better than USB-A or DiplayPort and I expect it to stay with us for a long time.

 

[Komiidian]

I totally expect the price for the base 13" MBP to come down to $1299 in a year or two.
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In my part of the eurozone the MBA with 256 GB costs 1.350,- EUR
Where as the new base MBP costs 1.700,- EUR

http://www.apple.com/de/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air
http://www.apple.com/de/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro

Sure, you can get the MBA 256 GB for less elsewhere, but retailer prices will come down for the MBP as well. I would also want the new MBP to cost less, 1.400,- EUR would be nice. But they are brand new models and the first generation is often a bit more expensive at Apple. Don’t you think prices will come down to that price point again?

.

I would love that they did, but apple rarely drops the price of any of their products. They might drop the price like a 100 money (whatever currency), but usually that's it. I mean did the price of mbas or mbps drop more than that about 100 money after the announcement of the new model? No. They'll just sell the rest of the stock away at the about same price. That's also a strategy. Why buy last years MBP when the price difference to new one is just 200. I would still settle for a 128 ssd in the newer models of there was a card reader option. I'm still disappointed that there no new machines at that 1000 euro pricepoint. I was waiting to upgrade as well, but consider those jacked up prices I think I might go pc again. Maybe try linux mint.

 

[theriddler]

The Macbook Air might probably go down as the best laptop ever made for its time. It had a 12 hour battery life, and some people can even push it to 14 hours. These new laptops won't ever sniff that number, and if I just want a light laptop, for normal tasks, it is the MBA that is still the best laptop for most people, retina or not.

The MBA battery life was that good. RIP.

Was perfectly happy with my 2013 13" Air as at last, Macs affordable, not underpowered and had a 12 hour battery life. Sold it for 80% of the price 2.5 years later and it still had a 12 hour battery life! It effectively cost me only £ 200 to own it for 3 years.

Keep the non-retina screen res and update it to an IPS panel with better colour. Keep the $ 999 price point as it removes the cost barrier of entry to owning a Mac.

Own a 256/8 2015 13" MBP now and it also has brilliant 10 hours of battery life. Seems too expensive to upgrade to the 2016 MBPs.

 

[asoksevil]

The MBA will stick around for a while just like the cMBP stuck with us for another 4 years. There's a huge educational sector that just want the cheapest and most affordable Macs. And honestly speaking with the EDU discount/corporate discount the MBA with 128 GB and 8 of RAM run as low as $900.