That's an interesting theory. Although I find it unlikely Apple would switch to such a form factor for a computer called the MacBook "Air" considering the current MBA is already not much more portable than the Retina MacBook.
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The next MacBook Pro redesign (merged)
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Yeah, I don't see the MBA getting updated either, rather replaced by the rMB. I could see them going a 12" & 14" rMB and a 13"&15" rMBP as their consumer/pro lineup.
There are recent rumours about 3 laptops being announced on the Oct-27, so MBA 13" could be one of those. And such a lineup makes sense:
12" rMB (1x USB-C, totally stripped down netbook)
13.3" rMBA (1x TB3, 3x USB-C, low voltage processor and iGPU)
13.3" rMBP (2x TB3, 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, full-power dual core and iGPU)
15.4" rMBP (2x TB3, 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, full-power quad core and iGPU/dGPU)
I'm not sure if it's feasible to have 4x TB3 ports without using a dedicated TB controller.
12" rMB (1x USB-C, totally stripped down netbook)
13.3" rMBA (1x TB3, 3x USB-C, low voltage processor and iGPU)
13.3" rMBP (2x TB3, 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, full-power dual core and iGPU)
15.4" rMBP (2x TB3, 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, full-power quad core and iGPU/dGPU)
I'm not sure if it's feasible to have 4x TB3 ports without using a dedicated TB controller.
I think the 13" MBP and MBA will become one product, just with options to spec it up to be a 'bit more' pro. This allows the 12" MB to stay as even though screen size is similar, usage will be quite different.
I'm just hoping the 15" MBP is a bit of a powerhouse personally, although I don't think I could go for one right now financially, for the gains it would give me.
I'm just hoping the 15" MBP is a bit of a powerhouse personally, although I don't think I could go for one right now financially, for the gains it would give me.
I hate to disappoint, but i don't see Apple putting a retina display in the MacBook Air, the 12" MacBook has the retina display and Apple won't want the Air to have the same specs otherwise what is the point of having both? the Air is Apple's entry level into the Mac, basically it's the cheapest for people like students. I can see Apple keeping the 13" MacBook Air and maybe upping he specs but not giving it a retina display.
I agree with @Dave245. There were reports from Ming Chi-Kuo about 13" rMB. Perhaps the new Air is actually that beast? My idea, which probably won't happen, was that they could re-release the 2015 model of rMB and price it at $999, cancelling Air. Because if they give Air retina and replace all ports by USB-C, we're going to have three almost identical laptops. While the Mac line-up is a mess, I can't imagine they would make it THAT random.
What I would love to buy would be a tapered rMBP. I almost learned by now how to type "properly" (I'm holding it wrong!) without accidentally slitting my wrists, but if indeed we got a rMBA with similar specs (except, probably, battery life and Magic Toolbar) to rMBP, I'd buy that in a flash.
What I would love to buy would be a tapered rMBP. I almost learned by now how to type "properly" (I'm holding it wrong!) without accidentally slitting my wrists, but if indeed we got a rMBA with similar specs (except, probably, battery life and Magic Toolbar) to rMBP, I'd buy that in a flash.
I always thought the Air would be unpopular based on my own feelings about its specs until I started my grad course last month and was proven wrong. Most people have MacBook Airs (mainly 13"), then after that it is the 13" rMBP however the ratio is at least 2:1. I am the only person with a 15" rMBP on my course that has 100+ people (or at least the only one that uses it in class). The Air is clearly a huge seller for Apple, most likely driven by price and until they can get the MacBook down to a similar price it's not going anywhere, the most they will do at this stage is get rid of the 11".
I don't think we'll see a rMBA, especially if such a device were desired to undercut the price of the rMB. It would be a fair bit more powerful, not much thicker, but cheaper (assuming they still used it as the entry-level laptop). It would make the value proposition of the rMB very nebulous.
I could see a Skylake/Kaby Lake bump come to the MBA, but not much else. Then in another year, the rMB slides down and the MBA fades away.
But who knows, it is Apple after all. They could go a dozen different ways. Just based on how the MBA has been treated as an afterthought the last couple years tells the tale, IMHO.
I could see a Skylake/Kaby Lake bump come to the MBA, but not much else. Then in another year, the rMB slides down and the MBA fades away.
But who knows, it is Apple after all. They could go a dozen different ways. Just based on how the MBA has been treated as an afterthought the last couple years tells the tale, IMHO.
Yeah, anyone who thinks the Air is getting axed has never visited a college campus lately.
I don't think the MBA will ever go away. It is a unique balance of thinness and power. The MacBook can't replace it because of its ports and much weaker CPU. I can see this happening:
13" Air, USB C, no retina. (starts at $999)
rMB, $1299
rMBP, 1399
So, same as current prices.
And when they can get a rMB below $1000:
legacy 13" air (like the cMBP they sell now): $899
rMB, $999+
rMBA, $1299+
RMBP, $1399+
Maybe we'll get lucky and Apple will go with #2 on Thursday, but I think it'll take another revision or two.
I think the option for MBA users is going to be the rMB. The base is $1,299, if they get it down to $999 then it's all over for the MBA, but I think for now what they are going to do is knock $100-$200 off the price of rMB and keep the MBA around for another year or 2, but once the rMB can be sold for less then a thousand then that's it for the MBA. IMO.
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So while i wait i thought i share some features I want, and don't want for Thrusdays new MacBook.
I want a:
1.4K display with wider screen (who knows Apple might surprise us).
2. The choice of colours, we are not living in the dark ages anymore give me a faux gold MacBook Pro.
3. Longer battery life, more memory, more graphics memory, and a greater hard drive capacity right out of the box.
4. An USB C adapter included in box.
5. No headphone jack.
I don't want:
1. To charge my MacBook on a USB C port, the 'magsafe port' was unique and had plenty room to improve its a shame to see it go.
2. The so called Magic touch oled bar as it might be full of bugs and glitches.
3. An AMD dedicated graphics card bring back Nvidia.
4. Ultrathin and the bendgate issue.
I want a:
1.4K display with wider screen (who knows Apple might surprise us).
2. The choice of colours, we are not living in the dark ages anymore give me a faux gold MacBook Pro.
3. Longer battery life, more memory, more graphics memory, and a greater hard drive capacity right out of the box.
4. An USB C adapter included in box.
5. No headphone jack.
I don't want:
1. To charge my MacBook on a USB C port, the 'magsafe port' was unique and had plenty room to improve its a shame to see it go.
2. The so called Magic touch oled bar as it might be full of bugs and glitches.
3. An AMD dedicated graphics card bring back Nvidia.
4. Ultrathin and the bendgate issue.
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i want you to use some punctuation, damn it.So while i wait i thought i share some features I want and don't want for thrusdays new MacBook:
I want a:
1. 4K display with wider screen who knows Apple might surprise us
2. The choice of colours we are not living in the dark ages anymore give me a faux gold MacBook Pro.
3. Longer battery life more memory and graphics memory and a greater hard drive capacity right out of the box.
4. An USB C adapter included in box
5. No headphone jack
I don't want
1. To charge my MacBook on a USB C port, the magsafe port was unique and had plenty room to improve its a shame to see it go.
2. The so called Magic touch oled bar as it might be full of bugs and glitches, (I can see many future updates for this feature)
3. An AMD dedicated graphics card bring back Nvidia.
4. Ultrathin and the bendgate issue
No one offers more battery life, more memory and SSD capacity right out of the box than Apple.
Some people still buy the MBA because it has decent processing power, and still very light, and for that market, the new MBP could be very good. But for price, as you say, the MB would be good providing they actually reduce the price.
I was joking, however I hardly use my headphone jack. So should it go I can live without it.
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/22/kuo-october-2016-mac-predictions/
Looks like I was correct, we'll have a new MBA/MB 13" with its recently leaked enclosure packed with USB-C ports and a pair of rMBPs which design is still a mystery. I'm so excited to see the redesign!
Oh sure, why not? It's either 1050m or a comparable AMD card, right? haha
Looks like I was correct, we'll have a new MBA/MB 13" with its recently leaked enclosure packed with USB-C ports and a pair of rMBPs which design is still a mystery. I'm so excited to see the redesign!
Oh sure, why not? It's either 1050m or a comparable AMD card, right? haha
Unfortunately not anymore
The dell xps 15" high end model is £200 less and offers
1tb SSD
32gb RAM
Out of the box on their higher end model.
It's also got a skylake quad core, 4K screen and an nvidia 960m in a slim form factor.
Since dell aimed this model squarely at the 15" Apple MacBook Pro I am hoping Apple match these specs on their higher end model. This is the first time I have ever seen this. Normally it's just Apple haters saying you get more for your money with a PC. As of right now with the dell xps 15" they are right. But hopefully that will all change next thursday. Come on Apple 32gb and 1tb SSD you can do it, I believe in you.
Yes, but that's their top model, not base model. It's cheaper, yes. As you said, let's wait for thursday, price has to go down or specs have to go up drastically
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