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Show us your/someone else's next-gen Macbook Air Mockups!
- Thread starter Jobsian
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How can you type on a keyboard with a machine that is non-existant? I wasn't refering to the one on the air now (which I do love) but the one on the mock up which looks smaller more (netbook) sized.
Do you think it would be possible to put aluminium behind the glass instead of black? That would be more in keeping with the current Air. Failing that they could go with anti-glare or offer it as an option.
Personally I'd like it wider than that mock-up, like the current Air. Leaving more room for more things inside and a screen that went further to the edge making it a 14 inch screen, ideally with higher resolution too.
The glass trackpad would be a welcome addition, but my biggest turn-off other than possible fan and heat issues is the screen. I just find it too grainy. The white MacBook I'm using at the moment has noticeably better whites IMHO. However other than that it's a better display.
Lol, that mockup is hilarious. I have to admit that I am looking forward to the new MBA. Hopefully they have realized their mistakes and correct them with the new version.
i used to like the black bezel on the MBP.
but now i would prefer silver keys on the MBA. it would make much more sense, as it would make it resemble the classic macbook pro/powerbook look and feel.
one thing they need to address is the inconsistent black keys + silver hinge + white apple logo. 2 colors is not a problem (white apple logo + black/silver keys AND hinge), but 3 is a mess.
but now i would prefer silver keys on the MBA. it would make much more sense, as it would make it resemble the classic macbook pro/powerbook look and feel.
one thing they need to address is the inconsistent black keys + silver hinge + white apple logo. 2 colors is not a problem (white apple logo + black/silver keys AND hinge), but 3 is a mess.
I absolutely love the Air, this forum and all the speculation, I think it has to be my all-time favorite computer.
I haven't seen that many mockups of what a next-gen one could look like, so post your impressions or any good ones you've seen. I don't care about quality, do it in paint! Or even ascii
Out of the ones I've seen, this one has to rank as one of my favorites so far:
Ok my impression:
omg!
I've been wondering about the new tablet and whether it will work with the wireless keyboard and your mock-up reminds me of it more so than what the new Air will look like. I wander, if not Apple, a third party might offer a keyboard to work with it, like your mock-up with the trackpad. If it was hinged somehow you wouldn't have to hold it up constantly too.
I can understand you analogy perfectly, but it is flawed in one fundamental way. In the second half of your post, it does sound like you at least grasp this concept. I think it comes down to the fact that the 2 machines fill the need for 95% of the buyers. To add features for that remaining 5% would raise the cost unnecessarily for the 95%. It's the way Apple has always been: Offer a good mix of products that cater to the mass of the population. Where it's practical, offer BTO options (for stuff that can easily be changed out).
I don't know if it's still this way, but Dell can offer so many configurations because it doesn't actually have any stock. Dell operates on a Just-in-time manufacturing process; it just so happens that it's suppliers have their warehouses in the same facility as Dell. Dell doesn't pay for what it doesn't use and therefore carries less of a risk in it's operations. If something new comes out, Dell doesn't have to worry about selling off too much obsolete stock because it's still the supplier's stuff and it's the supplier's problem to deal with.
Not to be a jerk, but if someone really wants lots of options, go buy a Dell.
No you're right to be fair, I never claimed my analogy was perfect. Very few are.
It just grates a little that (and I'm not ashamed to admit this) I feel I'm lumped in with the 95%, and I think that's psychological more than anything else. No-one wants to feel predictable or restricted about expressing or specifying individual wants or needs.
The car thing, it's funny because I know for a fact that regardless of the myriad options available, the great majority of buyers come down with almost the same spec anyway for any given model, give or take the odd substitution here and there. Have a look on any German car forum...."take it you got the X, Y with Z-pack? Of course. Yeah me too, worth every penny."
It's about having the freedom, or at least the delusion of freedom to specify exactly what you need. I like to think I'm discerning, but am realistic enough to know (as evidenced by common themes on threads like this asking what we want on a rev.D MBA) that for the most part, what I want isn't much different from you, or anyone else really, even Scottsdale (depending on what day of the week it is
). Aside from the aesthetically-challenged weirdos who want that mausoleum-grade slab of black-backed glass of course Your point about the cost of being completely BTO is an interesting one, as that's how certain car manufacturers operate. That said, the successful dealerships often take a punt and pre-order build slots in the manufacturing process, essentially ordering and speccing cars for customers they've not yet secured. But they feel safe (less so in the current climate) in the knowledge that by the time the order is confirmed and the car goes to build, that customer will have walked in through their door and asked for almost exactly the identical car. Even if they haven't matched exactly, they still have time to change the odd feature here or there anyway. And of course, the huge added benefits of being able to offer them a delivery within a few weeks instead of a few months, something which very often clinches the sale in the first place.
I had no real idea Dell operated like that as a purely BTO manufacturer, but then I'd rather deep fry my own testicles in sesame oil than ever consider buying a PC, much less a Dell.
I'd switch to an MBA from my 13" MBP if they did this, took a 13" MBP (can underclock a bit and lose a few ports and the superdrive), made it thinner/lighter but kept battery life. In essence, I want the black bezel and the glass screen and trackpad Also think the base model CPU is too slow and the upgrade cost too big So a speedbump and change of looks = I buy
In essence, I want the black bezel and the glass screen and trackpad Also think the base model CPU is too slow and the upgrade cost too big So a speedbump and change of looks = I buy Let's not go that far overboard...
At one point, Dell was more or less a BTO-only manufacturer. That's how the company was started anyway. Michael Dell built computers for people in his college dorm room. He'd pay for components on credit and then repay the loan. Essentially, he was on net/30 terms with his suppliers, and only had a paper liability for 30 days. Now that Dell is much bigger (and has gotten into retail) there are a lot of pre-built configurations that are most likely going to be sold, like you said with the car thing.
I'll also agree that being lumped in can be psychologically grating, but not having too many choices (or having the illusion of choice) is something that we all pretty much accept when we buy from Apple.