Apple working on 15-inch MacBook Air, says blog

[AppleInsider]

A Chinese-language blog with a debatable track record claims Apple is working on a 15-inch MacBook Air with more information to come in the "second half" of this year.

Translated from Chinese by Google Translate, the recent*entry*on Apple.pro said, "It is understood that Apple is producing more than the current MBA size MacBook Air (15-inch?)." *(Apple's current MacBook Air, of course, ships with a 13.3-inch display.)

"Core architecture will use Intel processors, the latest...from the current ultra-low voltage processor 'Core 2'," the report claims.* "[This will] make a stunning ultra-portable suitable for the older poor eyesight."

Apple.pro's track record in Apple rumors is mixed. *Photos*it posted in August*billed as the new MacBook turned out to be false, while*its July photos*of the new MacBook Pro turned out to be quite revealing of the actual product. *

Also turning out to be fake was a video*it claimed*in October to be of the new aluminum MacBook. *On the other hand, despite the video, still images it posted of the same product that same month did turn out to be accurate (last item).



The site claims more information will be published in the future.

While there is a subset of Apple's customer base that would welcome a larger-screened MacBook Air, it is unclear if there would be enough overall demand to sustain such a product.

Apple does not provide breakdowns of notebook sales by model, but a quick glance at the Apple Store's Mac Top Sellers column lists the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac ahead of the fourth-place MacBook Air. *

It is unknown whether the average customer, for whom travel and portability are not major factors, would forgo the added performance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro in favor of a 15-inch MacBook Air. *

While such a product is possible, Apple's product line-up tends to very well-defined with a clear hierarchical difference between each model. Thus, it is difficult to judge where a 15-inch MacBook Air would fit in with the other portables, since the current 13.3-inch version trails behind as it is.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[amac4me]

I have to question this report as it would have the potential to disrupt the portable lineup.

- If one needs a very portable laptop, opt for the MacBook Air.
- If one needs a consumer level laptop, opt for the MacBook.
- If one needs a larger screen than what's available in either the MB or MBA, opt for the MacBook Pro.

The addition of a 15-inch MBA would simply disrupt the advantage of both the larger screen and features of the MBP and could undermine the 13-inch MBA. I think the MBA as it exists today is a strategic product that is able to meet the ultra portable requirement. A 15-inch simply wouldn't make sense in my view.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by amac4me

I have to question this report as it would have the potential to disrupt the portable lineup.

Their reliability is questionable because it's not clear which pieces of information they publish come from their reliable sources and which do not. They've been just as wrong as they've been right.

Best,

K

[1984]

Originally Posted by Kasper

Their reliability is questionable because it's not clear which pieces of information they publish come from their reliable sources and which do not. They've been just as wrong as they've been right.

Best,

K

They post anything and everything that comes their way so they're bound to be right once in a while. I doubt this is one of those times.

[akf2000]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

A Chinese-language blog with a debatable track record

I burst out laughing at this line - I love the Apple rumour lifecycle.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by amac4me

I have to question this report as it would have the potential to disrupt the portable lineup.

- If one needs a very portable laptop, opt for the MacBook Air.
- If one needs a consumer level laptop, opt for the MacBook.
- If one needs a larger screen than what's available in either the MB or MBA, opt for the MacBook Pro.

The addition of a 15-inch MBA would simply disrupt the advantage of both the larger screen and features of the MBP and could undermine the 13-inch MBA. I think the MBA as it exists today is a strategic product that is able to meet the ultra portable requirement. A 15-inch simply wouldn't make sense in my view.

I'm a bit unsure whether this is true also, but since my partner is a MacBook Air user I know that many people's assumptions about who buys the MacBook Air and for what reason are often wrong.

A lot of people buy the MacBook Air because it's a cool laptop that simply meets their needs. As was pointed out by it's defenders when it arrived on the scene, the majority of people using a computer just use it to surf the web and write a few documents. The MacBook Air might be chosen by users for it's "portability" in the same way that any laptop is portable, but the same laptop with a 15" screen would be just as "portable" in that sense.

I don't get the feeling that the Air is chosen over other laptops because it is *more* portable (by reason of being a touch lighter and thinner). I think people in the market for a laptop simply look at the array of laptops before them and pick which one is "the coolest" and which suits their needs.

IMO the MacBook Air is not some freakish thing that only people with a strong need for portability would choose, it's just a laptop like any other with a set of features.

[Tummy]

I have an Air, new Macbook, and older Macbook Pros. If anything I wanted an Air because it was the smallest/lightest. They need to make a smaller Air. Smaller screen, maybe make the keyboard go all the way to the edge like they did to the 12" powerbook. Remove the screen bezel. My Air is practically the same size as my Macbook, just thinner.

I'm really thinking of getting a MSI Wind and making a hackintosh.

[pk22901]

The new 13" MBA is a lot faster than the original because of the new GPGPU nvda chip integration.

A new 15" MBA would be plenty fast and they'll hopefully use the extra volume to ship another 8 hr battery.

With an 8hr battery,

extra vivid (and HD proportioned) LG LED screen,

it would sell like hotcakes.

Game, Set, Match, Apple and Jobs.

Enjoy your rest and strong recovery, Mr Jobs.

[paxman]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

I'm a bit unsure whether this is true also, but since my partner is a MacBook Air user I know that many people's assumptions about who buys the MacBook Air and for what reason are often wrong.

A lot of people buy the MacBook Air because it's a cool laptop that simply meets their needs. As was pointed out by it's defenders when it arrived on the scene, the majority of people using a computer just use it to surf the web and write a few documents. The MacBook Air might be chosen by users for it's "portability" in the same way that any laptop is portable, but the same laptop with a 15" screen would be just as "portable" in that sense.

I don't get the feeling that the Air is chosen over other laptops because it is *more* portable (by reason of being a touch lighter and thinner). I think people in the market for a laptop simply look at the array of laptops before them and pick which one is "the coolest" and which suits their needs.

IMO the MacBook Air is not some freakish thing that only people with a strong need for portability would choose, it's just a laptop like any other with a set of features.

All of which supports the idea is that this is a bogus rumour. If you want a 15" get the still very thin, light and lovely MBP. I am sure there is a market for an even thinner and sexier 15" MBA but that MUST be a small market indeed. Specially at the premium price the MBA commands. Unless we are all wrong and the Air is in fact Apple's best selling laptop! I am much more inclined to believe in a 10" MBA (read netbook - no idea about specs). Only a few weeks ago I thought the idea totally unlikely but given the recent obsession with the netbooks, and Amazon's sales figures it now seems like it may happen.

[Phizz]

I call false. There are many ideas that would be much more worthwhile of Apple's time then trying to sell a 15" Air. I mean, what's the point? Who is crying out for a 15" Air? As @amac4me points out, it doesn't fill any gaps in their product line, and as @Virgil-TB2 points out, many people choose the Air because it just works for them, not because it has a particular size screen.

Things I would like to see in 2009:

The rumoured 28" iMac - with a high enough resolution, it may even rid the need for the second monitor I use with my 24". Actually, that made me just think of something cool - they should release a super wide screen 28" (or higher) iMac - keep vertical size same as 24" and extend out the side only. Would make cinema aspect movies look awesome and allow Apps side by side. I would sooo buy that.

Mac nano (new Mac mini, but smaller with low power components)

Snow Leopard - I hope it doesn't get delayed like Leopard, but in saying that I'd rather it wasn't rushed.

New mouse - I HATE the mighty mouse and my Microsoft mouse is starting to double-click-when-single-clicking

Product (RED) iPhone - how cool would it be to have a red phone (and my 1st gen iPhone has been dropped too many times and it coming apart at the seams (though working fine still!))

Pro apps updates

Apple TV version 3.0 - with offical support for third party content providers and all the annoying little things fixed (i.e. widespread lack of subtitles, having to exit movie and go to settings just to change something trivial that should be possible via remote or quick pop up interface, a real standby mode, larger HDD, more screensavers, etc, etc, etc)

Apple Home Server - painless centralisation of common mac data across all macs in house, i.e. Contacts, Calendars, Music, Photos, Videos, Documents, Data backup, Software updates, etc. API for devs to offer their own sharing features in their apps...

Anything else innovative they wish to share

[SpamSandwich]

Sounds like more speculation. I'd be more inclined to believe in an upscale Kindle-killer from Apple than this story.

[Kolchak]

Originally Posted by Tummy

I'm really thinking of getting a MSI Wind and making a hackintosh.

Been there, done that. Typing this in Safari 3.2.1 on 10.5.6 on my Wind at work. (They can make me use Windows for work stuff, but they can't force me to suffer it for personal use.)

The 13" Air isn't even an ultraportable (except maybe in Steve's mind), so I don't see how a 15" could be considered that.

[sausage&Onion]

Even in their report they just GUESS a 15" dimension, and make no attempt to hide that:
"It is understood that Apple is producing more than the current MBA size MacBook Air (15-inch?)."

15-Inch, question mark? hahahahaha
As expensive as the MBA is, there is no WAY that they will introduce a MORE expensive version. It could be a smaller version of the MBA, but there is no way a 15" MBA is coming.

[alansky]

A 15-inch MacBook Air makes no sense to me. Super thin or not, the larger form factor would be totally contrary to the MBA's sole reason for being. Now a MacBook Air with a smaller screen... That would really be interesting!

[zunx]

THAT IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO!

What is need is a much smaller MacBook Air to be LIGHTER. 300 to 400 g or so would be great.

And then, make it right: with TRUE VGA-out port for videoprojectors, Firewire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet ports, besides two USB 2 ports at least.

[zunx]

Originally Posted by Tummy

I'm really thinking of getting a MSI Wind and making a hackintosh.

If you want a light hackinntosh, try this:

OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com
JUST 454 g - AWESOME!

Sony AIO P Series Lifestyle PC
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...tegoryId=16154
635 g

Apple, are you listening? WE NEED THOUSANDS FOR OUR UNIVERSITY. The lighter, the better (more OQO than Sony).

[iReality85]

There may be some truth to this, although a refresh would come more as a cosmetic change and not necessarily a size change, IMO. As it stands now, the MBA is the only remaining "ugly duckling" amid Apple's lineup, so a glossy screen and black bezel are surely in the cards for the MBA in '09.

my $.02

[jackthemac]

Apple, are you listening? WE NEED THOUSANDS FOR OUR UNIVERSITY. The lighter, the better (more OQO than Sony).

Whether the rumour is true or not, what Apple should be producing is not a 15-inch Air but a 10-inch or 8-inch netbook akin to the Vaio P. It doesn't need to be lighter: it needs to be smaller.

The Air, beautiful though it is, is just an anorexic MBP. There's a huge gap in Apple's line up that needs filling with a netbook. It doesn't need to be fast (an Atom would suffice), it doesn't need powerful graphics, and it doesn't need an optical drive. It needs a small footprint (unlike the Air) and should fit into an overcoat pocket. It should cost around £500, but no more than £600.

If it had a touch-sensitive screen (ideally foldable to give tablet functionality, like the Intel Classmate Convertible), then all those Windows users who bought an iPhone or Touch would join the queue to buy one. If Apple made a device along these lines I think they would clean up the market niche in the same way that the iPod re-imagined and then defined the mp3 player. I'll bet there are prototypes in Cupertino; maybe Steve is reading this on one, with his feet up in front of a nice fire, chez Jobs.

I wait for my Mac netbook in the knowledge that when Apple do release their take on the device it will be the most beautiful and coveted object in the history of mobile computing, and will make everything else look ugly and obsolete.

Go on Apple - make an old man happy...

[Lorre]

So they're saying they got intel on Apple making a second MBA with a different screen size? Or are they just saying "Apple makes more then the MBA", which is true anyway :-p

If they mean to say the first, and the 15inch is just their own random guess, I think it'd make more sense for them to make a 10 inch MBA, or 12 inch, since 12 will probably be JUST wide enough for a full size keyboard, which Jobs adores so much. Then again, Jobs isn't the man in charge anymore...

[Johnny Mozzarella]

Originally Posted by Tummy

I have an Air, new Macbook, and older Macbook Pros. If anything I wanted an Air because it was the smallest/lightest. They need to make a smaller Air. Smaller screen, maybe make the keyboard go all the way to the edge like they did to the 12" powerbook. Remove the screen bezel. My Air is practically the same size as my Macbook, just thinner.

I'm really thinking of getting a MSI Wind and making a hackintosh.

I think an 11" MBA makes more sense.
The MBA's major feature is portability going smaller would play to that strength.
Also as we saw recently, Acer's marketshare grew at 55% compared to Apple's 8% primarily due to NetBooks.
If Apple wanted to introduce OLED screens, smaller screens are much more affordable.

[rdas7]

Apple aren't working on a 15" MacBook Air. They're dropping the optical drive from all their laptops. By next year, optical drives will be an optional extra and the "Air" model will be absorbed back into the MacBook line.

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by rdas7

Apple aren't working on a 15" MacBook Air. They're dropping the optical drive from all their laptops. By next year, optical drives will be an optional extra and the "Air" model will be absorbed back into the MacBook line.

I think you are on the right track....imagine this laptop lineup:- 2 Aluminum MacBooks (current config's), 3 MBA's (10" or 11", 13" and 15"-no drives) and 3 MacBook pro's (current config's-with drives)

Steve would love us to get rid of CD's and DVD's....I never use them! The complete MBA line would move a lot of people to Steve's way of thinking.

Best wishes, Mr. Jobs!

[AppleEater]

<< A Chinese-language blog with a debatable track record claims Apple is working on a 15-inch MacBook Air with more information to come in the "second half" of this year. >>

It's not a future MacBook Air 15-inch....it is the upcoming iTablet with touch-screen and audible command technologies that Apple has been experimenting with for 3 years. It will be coming out in the summer of 2009. It is also Steve Job's "swan-song" presentation for when he returns after his health break for an official passing of the torch to Mr. Cook in late 2009. With at least 12 products in the pipe waiting to come put (5 hardware and 7 software) Apple looks good...post-Jobs. BEsides he will still sit as the Chairman of the Board.

[Expat]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mozzarella

I think an 11" MBA makes more sense.

Agreed. If they made a 10" or 11" version, I'd likely buy one. Definitely sounds better than the new Vaio ultraportable.

[spikeme]

no way, who would buy a MBA 15" which would cost a million times more than a mbp and has less ports and less usability :S there is hardly any difference between the MB and the MBA in portability already, cause weight really isnt much of an issue with laptops now a days, its basically the same as carrying another file or text book

the perfect setup would be something like, a MBP 15' or 17' running as a main computer, (i would say imac but a MBP has more/similar processing power than an imac and isnt desktop bound) and then some sort of tablet/small notebook that i could carry to classes and lectures which would run a sort of stripped down version of OS X. then you could link it to your main set up and sync notes, files, pictures seemlessly and then following that it could be also used as a graphics tablet is it was touchscreen ..... maybe that is too much to ask for but really i dont think anyone needs a 15" MBA with less usability than a MBP

[bokuwaomar]

Apple aren't working on a 15" MacBook Air. They're dropping the optical drive from all their laptops. By next year, optical drives will be an optional extra and the "Air" model will be absorbed back into the MacBook line.

Now that is plausible, although I doubt it will happen by next year. Flash is going to be really cheap next year, and it will probably wipe out HDDs and optical drives in a couple years. And for all those "What about Blu-Ray" people out there, why buy a Blu-Ray disk if you get a smaller flash drive with the same data? The content industry just needs to standardize on a card format that can be added to computers and DVD players.

[Ireland]

I simply don't believe this.

[hillstones]

They all start the same...According to a Chinese-Language Blog....which is about as reliable and believable as, "Dear Penthouse Forum..."

[teckstud]

Thin, without power and no matte = who cares?

[iVlad]

DO some people there just sit and write random rumors. This is so not what Air is about. I can never see Air being any bigger.

[bigdaddyp]

I suspect that we could soon see a 15" Mb it would be a logical extension to the line.
To those of you looking to make a hacintosh I would recommend a Dell Mini9. I just threw up in my mouth a little at recomending a dell. Check out this forum http://mydellmini.com/forum/mac-os-x-f23.html they have created a simple reliable install method that uses a retail leopard disk. Everything works and works well including the built in card reader. Due to the nature of the install you can even do updates just like on a real mac. So for around 550 dollars I got a 9 inch led screen 64 gb ssd and 2gb ram with bluetooth and a 1.3mp camera. Although there are cheaper versions with less specs available. And this little baby flies when doing all the basic stuff. Is this machine good for Photoshop? I doubt it but I bought mine as a 3rd machine but like it so much I always take it with me and use it almost exclusively.
Jim

[BronxRed]

I would absolutely LOVE to have a 15" Air. If they boost the processor, introduce it at the current price point and drop the price of the smaller current model, they'd sell a lot MORE Airs.

Signed,
Old Fart Used To Larger Monitors & Trying To Avoid Eye Strain

[nagromme]

I'll take one 15" Air, one iPhone Nano, and one sasquatch egg please.

(And anything else you have that doesn't exist and wouldn't make sense if it did.)

[wobegon]

Originally Posted by nagromme

I'll take one 15" Air, one iPhone Nano, and one sasquatch egg please.

(And anything else you have that doesn't exist and wouldn't make sense if it did.)

Hah, true, though a 15" MacBook Pro sans internal disc drive (in addition to a nearly as likely long lasting non-removable battery like the 17" MBP) is inevitable.

When that happens they certainly would resemble 15" Airs, even if they kept all their ports, expansion slot, and name.

I don't see Apple dropping internal disc drives from their laptops for at least another year or so.

[ktappe]

Originally Posted by spikeme

no way, who would buy a MBA 15" which would cost a million times more than a mbp and has less ports and less usability :S

I would, assuming it is not "a million times" more expensive. Sure there's a premium for thinness and I'll pay it, within reason. I want an Air but its screen is too small. A 15" Air? I'm there. Not sure why all of you are putting this great idea down.

[columbus]

On the basis this sounds a slightly unlikely, puzzling and difficult to comprehend addition to the Mac Family then I'd say this pretty likely.

It's also an addition which people on Mac forums are the hardly demanding or clamouring for (unlike the NetBook and the cheap mini tower. This makes it all the more likely.

For Apple ultra-portable means thin and light, not small. Because in Apple's eyes means unusable keyboard and unusable screen. When they said the MacBook AIr was a no-compromise ultra portable, they weren't talking about the ports and the battery, they were talking about the screen and keyboard.

I could imagine for photographers on location it would be really useful to have such a compact machine with a beautiful big, high definition screen and an generous battery. If Snow Leopard paired with the next Final Cut Studio make a big difference to performance then it might start to appeal of those into digital video as well. There's nothing to say a 15" Air couldn't have Firewire 800/3200 (as there would be room for a bigger flap).

If people want a 15" MacBook but don't want to pay for the Pro then (provided it is priced in between the two) the 15" Air may also be tempting. Of course a 15" Air earns Apple bigger margins than a 15" MacBook, so it's another win for Cupertino.

So yes, now it makes no sense, but it would be typical Apple. A lot depends on the execution as well.

Originally Posted by ktappe

I would, assuming it is not "a million times" more expensive. Sure there's a premium for thinness and I'll pay it, within reason. I want an Air but its screen is too small. A 15" Air? I'm there. Not sure why all of you are putting this great idea down.

To further back up your arguement, the 13" Air sits firmly between the MacBook and the Pro.

Originally Posted by bigdaddyp

I suspect that we could soon see a 15" Mb it would be a logical extension to the line.
To those of you looking to make a hacintosh I would recommend a Dell Mini9. I just threw up in my mouth a little at recomending a dell. Check out this forum http://mydellmini.com/forum/mac-os-x-f23.html they have created a simple reliable install method that uses a retail leopard disk. Everything works and works well

From aforementioned forum:

- MemoryStick support (completely lacking)
(porting from linux might be the right way)
- Bluetooth not activated upon startup
- false keyboard input on wakeup from sleep
(adding resume code to ApplePS2Controller.kext?)
- Fn+8 causes a blank screen (or a corrupt display on external display)
(simply disabling the function might just be fine)

Sounds like a dream.

Personal Sidenote:
I'd rather Apple scrapped the MacBook/MacBook Pro division and offered a variety of screen sizes in a variety of configurations. Making consumers stump up for the Pro just for the screen size is less than ideal. Similarly professionals may want a powerful package (with a good screen) in a smaller footprint than that provided by the 15" MacBook Pro. The Air would still have its place of course, as it does today.

[wobegon]

Originally Posted by spikeme

no way, who would buy a MBA 15" which would cost a million times more than a mbp and has less ports and less usability :S there is hardly any difference between the MB and the MBA in portability already, cause weight really isnt much of an issue with laptops now a days, its basically the same as carrying another file or text book

A good portion of the 13" MacBook Air's expensive is due to its use of custom, miniaturized processors from Intel and 1.8" HDDs/SSDs, none of which benefit from the economies of scale full-size parts do.

With a 15" model, they could probably use a full-size processor and perhaps a 2.5" HDD. With no need to include an internal SuperDrive or removable battery, the end result could very well be less expensive than the 15" MacBook Pro.

But I'm not suggesting Apple will release such a thing alongside the current 15" MacBook Pro. It'd make more sense to replace it than compete against it.

[federmoose]

Originally Posted by paxman

All of which supports the idea is that this is a bogus rumour. If you want a 15" get the still very thin, light and lovely MBP. I am sure there is a market for an even thinner and sexier 15" MBA but that MUST be a small market indeed. Specially at the premium price the MBA commands. Unless we are all wrong and the Air is in fact Apple's best selling laptop! I am much more inclined to believe in a 10" MBA (read netbook - no idea about specs). Only a few weeks ago I thought the idea totally unlikely but given the recent obsession with the netbooks, and Amazon's sales figures it now seems like it may happen.

Lies. MBP is expensive and WAAAAY too powerful if all you are doing is checking email/surfing the web but want a 15" screen. I know plenty of people who would buy a 15" mbp.

[Alonso Perez]

Originally Posted by wobegon

A good portion of the 13" MacBook Air's expensive is due to its use of custom, miniaturized processors from Intel and 1.8" HDDs/SSDs, none of which benefit from the economies of scale full-size parts do.

The Air no longer uses a custom part. That was temporary, for the first model.

1.8" drives are mass produced; they are used in iPod classics, for example.

The Air could actually be a bit cheaper now. It's probably a very profitable model.

As I've mentioned here before, you can fit a 14.1" OLED screen on the Air and change nothing except the width of the bezel. It would look awesome.

There is no way to fit a 15" screen with any technology. The machine would need to be slightly bigger (about 0.6" wider). I wouldn't rule this out; I don't know why people are so sure it's a bad idea.

I have an Air and I did not buy it for the portability. I just love the design, and I don't need Firewire or a DVD drive on the road. Also, I like the non-glass bezel.

[wobegon]

Originally Posted by Alonso Perez

The Air no longer uses a custom part. That was temporary, for the first model.

Not according to Apple:
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/features.html

1.8" drives are mass produced; they are used in iPod classics, for example.

Even so, from what I understand, you're going to pay more per GB for 1.8" drives compared to the far more widespread 2.5" drives.