MacBook air speculation about future...

[maclaptop]

Does anyone think thunderbolt and 4gb memory as a start will be on the next update in MacBook Air?

ANY Question about Apple's future models, is IMPOSSIBLE to answer, period.

Especially during this transitional period.

Apple is working feverishly to reshape personal computing to their liking, and shoving it down everyone elses throat.

They are super obsessed about forcing their "Post PC" kool-aid on everyone.

Furthermore, they're hell bent on accelerating this to completion, before anyone outside of their "Walled Garden" realizes what hit them.

Apple... What a group

 

[revelated]

Jobs definitely said it when he introduced it. What he meant exactly is up for debate.

I sincerely do not believe he did. I recall the Keynote you're referring to, and I'm about 85% certain he said that he FEELS that the Air's form factor is the way notebooks are going to go in the future. Nothing specifically about MacBook Pro, nor was it a definitive.

If someone can point me back to that Keynote (as I don't remember the specific date) where he said it, I'd be happy to retract.

EDIT: Nevermind, Thank you ZDNet:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/macbook-air-and-the-future-of-notebooks/8511

At the rollout event, Jobs said: ‘We asked ourselves, “What would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up?’ Well, this is the result. … We think it’s the future of notebooks.”

 

[torbjoern]

My Alu MB, has a backlit keyboard, and whilst I understand that it's not essential, it's one of those features that, once you have it, you don't want to do without it. I understand that may impact battery life, but in poor lighting conditions, it does make a difference.

I know very well what you mean. I had the Alu MB (w/backlit KB), same as yours and got used to the beauty of it. I was very reluctant to buy the Air which I have now - for that very same reason: No backlit keyboard - WTF? It has to be mentioned that I have been a habile touch-typist for more than 15 years, but still I wanted the backlit keyboard so much when I had gotten used to it.

But when I tried typing on the keyboard of the Air, the tactile feedback was so much better than with the MB... which feels like a plastic-rubber-mat in comparison. You should try it, too. Right then, I was convinced - and I decided to buy the Air anyway. Never looked back.

 

[Project]

I sincerely do not believe he did. I recall the Keynote you're referring to, and I'm about 85% certain he said that he FEELS that the Air's form factor is the way notebooks are going to go in the future. Nothing specifically about MacBook Pro, nor was it a definitive.

If someone can point me back to that Keynote (as I don't remember the specific date) where he said it, I'd be happy to retract.

EDIT: Nevermind, Thank you ZDNet:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/macbook-air-and-the-future-of-notebooks/8511

You are confirming what the OP said - that future MBPs are likely to be more MBA-like than not, as Apple feel that the form factor is the future of notebooks. The tapering, the lack of optical drive, SSD etc. And last time I checked, the MBP is a notebook.

I can totally see the lines merging at some point. I think the MBP will ship with SSD as standard sooner rather than later. Once 256 and 512gb become compatible with their margins.

With Lion shipping predominantly in the App Store, that optical drive will soon become optional. And with the MBA likely to get Thunderbolt one of the big "Pro" differentiators of expandability is wiped out.

Let's not forget the Air already has a higher resolution @ the same screen size.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Batteries are heavy, so the bigger the battery, the less portable the computer. Compromises have to be made as battery technology slowly improves. Apple's charger weighs about 6.5 ounces. I'm not sure how I would want to compromise, with a heavier computer, or by carrying the charger occasionally.

I get that. And I know that with time, the battery life will improve, as the science improves. In the interim, I don't need to trade one 5 hour life MacBook for another.

 

[zer0tails]

I would love to see the black border glass screens on the new macbook airs!

 

[Undo Redo]

I would love to see the black border glass screens on the new macbook airs!

Please no! Apple has sensibly made a half step away from glassy screens with the Air.

 

[mayhone1]

I was also wondering does anyone think we'll see a SDXC card slot in the next macbook airs instead of just SD ?

 

[JusChexin]

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I would love to see the black border glass screens on the new macbook airs!

I totally agree with you -- those screens are super sexy. I hate the white border on my 2007 MacBook. Edge-to-edge glass is sexy!

 

[josh2012]

I was also wondering does anyone think we'll see a SDXC card slot in the next macbook airs instead of just SD ?

They already are SDHC not just SD, but will likely follow suit with the MBP's and iMac's to SDXC.

 

[striker33]

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I totally agree with you -- those screens are super sexy. I hate the white border on my 2007 MacBook. Edge-to-edge glass is sexy!

Why are people so attracted to shiny crap? Everything that is released that is super shiny either scratches, damages, gets dirty, or is completely unpractical to the extreme.

The sooner matte screens become the standard across laptops again the better.

 

[alexandero]

The sooner matte screens become the standard across laptops again the better.

Not only across laptops - the iMac has the same problem of a highly irritating screen.

 

[Undo Redo]

I totally agree with you -- those screens are super sexy. I hate the white border on my 2007 MacBook. Edge-to-edge glass is sexy!

I take it you've never seen an attractive woman (or man) before.

Edge to edge glass is also heavy, and highly reflective. Ugh. But I'm really tired of the gloss/matte debate.

 

[striker33]

not only across laptops - the imac has the same problem of a highly irritating screen.

+1

Plus I think the Imac / ACD would look awesome with silver borders, like the older ACDs.

 

[striker33]

I take it you've never seen an attractive woman (or man) before.

Edge to edge glass is also heavy, and highly reflective. Ugh. But I'm really tired of the gloss/matte debate.

The weight is one of the primary reasons Apple will NEVER add it to the MBA.

 

[JusChexin]

sheesh!

Calm down everyone; I'm just saying I think the MacBook Pro screen is highly attractive. I understand the practicality of and the arguments for a matte screen. My personal opinion is that the glossy edge-to-edge glass screen just looks really "snazzy". I understand because of a glass screen's weight that it probably won't get put into the MacBook Air. I'm just saying I like it, you totally can disagree, relax!

 

[Undo Redo]

Calm down everyone; I'm just saying I think the MacBook Pro screen is highly attractive... I'm just saying I like it, you totally can disagree, relax!

I guess I like the way it looks too, when the computer is turned off.

 

[revelated]

You are confirming what the OP said - that future MBPs are likely to be more MBA-like than not, as Apple feel that the form factor is the future of notebooks.

No, that is NOT what Apple said. Stop misreading things. You're leaping to conclusions based on an iffy statement. This is the problem with Apple and their fans - you hinge on every single damn word they say even if the words are said in passing (which is why they don't do press releases of new upcoming things, because they know you people do that crap). You also take released products as an indicator of things to come JUST because of the MacBook's evolution. STOP DOING THAT.

If Barack Obama said "you know, I think we're seeing the possible future of travel, with high speed rail" - oh wait, he DID say that. Guess what? It'll never happen in the US.

Just because someone says they think something is the future, doesn't mean it is. Nor is it definitive confirmation that anything is going to change with respect to any given product.

People are pissy about the MBA and backlighting - why? Because the previous revision had backlighting so people ASSUME every MacBook should have it and get pissy when one comes out that doesn't.

People are pissy about the iPod Nano - why? Because the previous revision had physical keys AND the screen so people ASSUME that every new Nano should add more and not take away.

People are pissy about the Ipad 2 - why? Because of some off-the-wall rumor that it would have a USB 2.0 port. Came out of someone's rear end yet people are hell-to-fire about it not being there.

If you people want your slim machine buy the Air. If you want a power machine buy the Pro. The Pro's thickness is pushing it for a machine with as much horsepower as it has. Can you imagine having a quad core i7 in a machine with NO ventilation like the Air? Makes no sense. People have reported temperatures pushing degrees Celsius and that's with chassis room to breathe. Putting that kind of power in the Air is asking for a McDonalds Hot Coffee-ish lawsuit.

I'm waiting for a DEFINITIVE STATEMENT of Steve Jobs or another authorized Apple representative saying, without fluff, "THE MACBOOK PRO WILL BE SLIM GOING FORWARD". You won't find it, because it'll never be said, because it wouldn't make sense to do that.

 

[Undo Redo]

Jobs said: "It is our new MacBook Air. And we think it is the future of notebooks." Read into that what you will. I take it to mean lighter, thinner and able to slice bread.

 

[revelated]

Jobs said: "It is our new MacBook Air. And we think it is the future of notebooks." Read into that what you will. I take it to mean lighter, thinner and able to slice bread.

"Think" is not definitive. "Notebooks" is not specific. For all we know, he meant he's going to discontinue the regular MacBook in favor of the Air.

 

[Undo Redo]

"Think" is not definitive. "Notebooks" is not specific. For all we know, he meant he's going to discontinue the regular MacBook in favor of the Air.

...which may well happen soon.

You are correct. Nothing definitive was said. But just because Jobs said "we think" doesn't mean they don't have plans. I think it's logical that it means Apple notebooks will take a sleeker form and that they will be lighter. What else might the statement mean? That notebooks will all be named MacBook Air? That they will all have 11" and 13" screens? Not likely.

I agree with you that Apple isn't going to be able to put a processor like the quad core i7 into the current MacBook Air case. But I bet in the next couple of years, they're going to try. And that by the end of 2012 all MacBooks including the high end models will be much thinner and lighter. And that they'll all lose the optical drive and spinning hard drive. After all, isn't the company called Apple Thin, Inc?

 

[Project]

No, that is NOT what Apple said. Stop misreading things. You're leaping to conclusions based on an iffy statement. This is the problem with Apple and their fans - you hinge on every single damn word they say even if the words are said in passing (which is why they don't do press releases of new upcoming things, because they know you people do that crap). You also take released products as an indicator of things to come JUST because of the MacBook's evolution. STOP DOING THAT.

If Barack Obama said "you know, I think we're seeing the possible future of travel, with high speed rail" - oh wait, he DID say that. Guess what? It'll never happen in the US.

Just because someone says they think something is the future, doesn't mean it is. Nor is it definitive confirmation that anything is going to change with respect to any given product.

People are pissy about the MBA and backlighting - why? Because the previous revision had backlighting so people ASSUME every MacBook should have it and get pissy when one comes out that doesn't.

People are pissy about the iPod Nano - why? Because the previous revision had physical keys AND the screen so people ASSUME that every new Nano should add more and not take away.

People are pissy about the Ipad 2 - why? Because of some off-the-wall rumor that it would have a USB 2.0 port. Came out of someone's rear end yet people are hell-to-fire about it not being there.

If you people want your slim machine buy the Air. If you want a power machine buy the Pro. The Pro's thickness is pushing it for a machine with as much horsepower as it has. Can you imagine having a quad core i7 in a machine with NO ventilation like the Air? Makes no sense. People have reported temperatures pushing degrees Celsius and that's with chassis room to breathe. Putting that kind of power in the Air is asking for a McDonalds Hot Coffee-ish lawsuit.

I'm waiting for a DEFINITIVE STATEMENT of Steve Jobs or another authorized Apple representative saying, without fluff, "THE MACBOOK PRO WILL BE SLIM GOING FORWARD". You won't find it, because it'll never be said, because it wouldn't make sense to do that.

Haha, calm down. It is you who is misreading things. Absolutely nowhere in my post did I imply anything was definite. All I said was "more likely". Given the way the industry is moving, I'd argue that it is a fairly safe bet. But of course nothing is definite, and I never said it was.

And I suggest you look further than 12 months down the line, if your only argument against this is that the i7 will run too hot for the MBA. Unless of course you assume that there will be no improvements to power consumption and chassis design ever.

Looking at how Apple operate I'd say that three distinct laptop lines makes little sense in the coming years, with so little in the way of spec to separate them. I'm not saying that the Pro moniker will cease - clearly there needs to be an upsell. But my view is that the upsell will move increasingly towards the likes of storage, processor and memory rather than form factor and missing functionality. Kind of how there is only one iPhone 4 form factor, only one iPad or iPod touch, but differentiated by storage.

Or how there is only one Mac Pro, iMac and Mac Mini.... The laptop line is unnecessarily convoluted.

 

[LeftyHogan]

Ram

What are the odds the new MBA will have the option to upgrade to 8 gigs of memory? As a MBP user who wants to switch to the Air, 4 gigs doesnt seem like enough.

 

[revelated]

Haha, calm down. It is you who is misreading things. Absolutely nowhere in my post did I imply anything was definite. All I said was "more likely". Given the way the industry is moving, I'd argue that it is a fairly safe bet. But of course nothing is definite, and I never said it was.

And I suggest you look further than 12 months down the line, if your only argument against this is that the i7 will run too hot for the MBA. Unless of course you assume that there will be no improvements to power consumption and chassis design ever.

Looking at how Apple operate I'd say that three distinct laptop lines makes little sense in the coming years, with so little in the way of spec to separate them. I'm not saying that the Pro moniker will cease - clearly there needs to be an upsell. But my view is that the upsell will move increasingly towards the likes of storage, processor and memory rather than form factor and missing functionality. Kind of how there is only one iPhone 4 form factor, only one iPad or iPod touch, but differentiated by storage.

Or how there is only one Mac Pro, iMac and Mac Mini.... The laptop line is unnecessarily convoluted.

The only "convolution" is the poly MacBook, which has long since been made redundant. But there is nothing convoluted about having two form factors for laptops. Choice is NOT a bad thing.

Having the Air for those people who don't do hardcore work, and the Pro for people like me that think faster than their computer can render windows and screens, is the best thing Apple could have done. They need to leave it that way. No, quad core processor cooling isn't going to get much better than what we've got going on right now which is why there are rumors about Apple going to ARM, which I find to be a smart bet for the MacBook Air especially due to its slim size. To me that just makes sense to do. But the powerhouse processors? No, there needs to be room to breathe, period. The Pro's size is just about thin enough not to be clunky, but not so thin that it's a turnoff for power users.

All it takes is for Apple to kill off backlighting in the Pro, and I swear i'll be headed back to Windows laptops. Too much change isn't good. Choice is always good.

 

[MBABuyer]

If Barack Obama said "you know, I think we're seeing the possible future of travel, with high speed rail" - oh wait, he DID say that. Guess what? It'll never happen in the US.

What about the high speed rail systems already under construction in California, and in the late stages of planning for the Northeast....bad example you gave.

Here are 2 links:

http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/newsfacts.aspx

http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/project_vision.aspx