What I'd like to see in a new ultra-portable MacBook

[FreakinEurekan]

What I want, basically, is an 11" iPad that runs macOS. There are Mac apps that I can't do without, that have no equivalent on iPad... but I also like the ultra-portability of my iPad for the VAST majority of tasks that it's suitable for. However I'm stuck having two devices; an iPad Air and a MacBook due to the software limitations.

Imagine an iPad, running macOS, with "trackpad" managed via touch-screen and a keyboard you can pop up when necessary. Of course since it's Apple Silicon it STILL runs most iPad apps. Sure, some Mac software really won't handle a software keyboard quite properly - that's fine, pop it on a Magic Keyboard if you run into those issues.

Sure, it's not for everyone. But I can't be the only person it'd be convenient for. My iPad Air already has a M2 processor, how difficult can it be?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, what I want is an updated, and very modern take on the superb 11" MBA, or the wonderful 12" MacBook.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Laptops in general have gotten thinner, smaller, and more powerful. The current 13.3” Air is just about the size and weight of the old 11”, and the current 15” Air is the size & weight of 13” from that era. And of course the bigger displays are a benefit!

But they can’t replace the convenience of an iPad.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Laptops in general have gotten thinner, smaller, and more powerful. The current 13.3” Air is just about the size and weight of the old 11”, and the current 15” Air is the size & weight of 13” from that era. And of course the bigger displays are a benefit!

But they can’t replace the convenience of an iPad.

As someone that regularly uses both a modern 13" Air and my trusty 11" Air, there is still a notable difference in size. And the 11" is nearly half a pound lighter (2.7lb vs 2.3lb). I'd love essentially a 12" rMB with an A-series chip and a modern keyboard. I'd be thrilled with that, but just something smaller and lighter than the 13" Air. It's a fantastic laptop, don't get me wrong, but there's a reason that I keep using my 2016 12" rMB regularly, and that's that it is just so darn portable.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

As someone that regularly uses both a modern 13" Air and my trusty 11" Air, there is still a notable difference in size. And the 11" is nearly half a pound lighter (2.7lb vs 2.3lb). I'd love essentially a 12" rMB with an A-series chip and a modern keyboard. I'd be thrilled with that, but just something smaller and lighter than the 13" Air. It's a fantastic laptop, don't get me wrong, but there's a reason that I keep using my 2016 12" rMB regularly, and that's that it is just so darn portable.

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Just look at the extra screen real estate you get, for only 0.4lb and less than an inch of case size!

Yeah the 12” was great, if the USB-C port hadn’t given out I might still have mine. But even that, in the great scheme of things it’s just… a slightly smaller computer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I want to literally cut the weight in HALF, and eliminate the required keyboard & fold. Let me run macOS on an iPad and I’ll be a happy guy.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just look at the extra screen real estate you get, for only 0.4lb and less than an inch of case size!

Portability matters more to me.

Yeah the 12” was great, if the USB-C port hadn’t given out I might still have mine. But even that, in the great scheme of things it’s just… a slightly smaller computer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I want to literally cut the weight in HALF, and eliminate the required keyboard & fold. Let me run macOS on an iPad and I’ll be a happy guy.

Well, as it happens, I'm a middle aged woman, and I can tell you that "only" a difference of 0.4lb in weight makes a considerable difference to me, especially when I am dashing through a large airport in an attempt to make a flight connection. To me, this "difference" is not negligible.

In any case,I love the portability (and power) of my 11" MBA, and would love to see an updated version of the 12" MacBook produced.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Laptops in general have gotten thinner, smaller, and more powerful. The current 13.3” Air is just about the size and weight of the old 11”, and the current 15” Air is the size & weight of 13” from that era. And of course the bigger displays are a benefit!

I beg to differ.

But they can’t replace the convenience of an iPad.

Not for writing; personally, I found the iPad a nightmare for anything other than consumption of data.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

In any case,I love the portability (and power) of my 11" MBA, and would love to see an updated version of the 12" MacBook produced.

You do you, boo.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

You do you, boo.

I confess that I am at something of a loss to understand exactly what you mean by this.

 

[dmr727]

As a road warrior I'd absolutely love a new 11" MBA. That was an amazing machine. Today's iPad Pro and keyboard is essentially the same size and weight as a 13" MBA. I'd love something smaller, and a 11" Air with thin bezels would fit the bill perfectly. Apple Silicon was made for this sort of thing.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I confess that I am at something of a loss to understand exactly what you mean by this.

Shorthand for “you haven’t convinced me, but that’s no more necessary than me convincing you. You believe what’s best for you, and I’ll believe what’s best for me.”

 

[Fallforward]

Just look at the extra screen real estate you get, for only 0.4lb and less than an inch of case size!

Yeah the 12” was great, if the USB-C port hadn’t given out I might still have mine. But even that, in the great scheme of things it’s just… a slightly smaller computer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I want to literally cut the weight in HALF, and eliminate the required keyboard & fold. Let me run macOS on an iPad and I’ll be a happy guy.

The MacBook was 2.03 not 2.3, so the current smallest Mac is 1/3 heavier. It is also 25% larger, with wasted bezel space.

As a former very frequent flyer, using tiime otherwise wasted on the plane, in airports or between meetings wherever, to get work done was a priority. MacBook was singularly exceptional. Both lighter and smaller mattered. From leaving the hotel in the morning, it was with me all day. Particularly on flights in economy, it was a better fit.

The interesting thing was most airlines let me keep using it on my lap when others had to stow their computers for landing. I always had an isle seat and one day a stewardess on Southwest said, "You don't have to close that." I thought the cutoff was 2 pounds and the MacBook is more at 2.03 pounds, but didn't argue with her. Didn't do it on every flight and normally closed it the last few minutes, but from that point, never had a problem using it. Perhaps it was the small size.