A better move might have been to create a 12' MBA with enough additional new features to call it a MBA Pro. It'd have a Retina display, at least 8 Gig of RAM standard, perhaps even cellular data and GPS built in and more USB ports. At the same time (meaning not now) Apple could release these revised MBAs with merely a chip upgrade and at a lower price to make them more competitive.
I suspect the 12 inch device will likely have some unique angle that will necessitate a new name. Maybe a hybrid device?
Apple wasn't the first company to release a machine with Broadwell chips so I now have to say I'm waiting for Apple to release Macs with Skylake.
Probably because the "special relationship" with Intel is no more? They'd better be quiet about that "update" - otherwise it's gonna get the same backlash as that non-update with Mac Pros before the 2013 models came.
Off topic, but I saw "Still Alice" last night and it was not only a tour de force of Apple product placement, but MacBooks and iPhones were practically characters in the story. Even the OS was prominently demonstrated. The only off-note: Skype instead of FaceTime.
I love this! Hopefully it will help speed things up or contribute to a stronger battery life. My MacBook battery improved by about 2 hours using http://www.detoxmymac.org but I don't understand why this is still such an issue. I think perhaps it's all the aesthetics like screen resolution that are contributing to poor battery life.
There is a precedent for Apple to update a current product line with new and improved technology with only an accompanying press release on the date of 24th of February...
I think it will be: 12" rMBA 13"cMBA <-- possibly updated to retina at somepoint but remain at the same form factor 13 15" rMBP
Intel has 3 (4 if you count larger notebook sizes) laptop categories. And Apple should try to make the best notebook they can at every category.
There is the new ultra-ultra thin fanless category: Y-series, Core M, Intel HD 5300, 4.5W, This category is most portable, lowest energy consumption, lowest performance. The new 12" rMBA will fall into this category.
Then there is the original ultra-book category: U-series, corei3-i7, intel HD 6000, 11.5W, This category has average portability, middle range energy consumption, and medium performance. The current MacBook Airs are in this category. And when they get updated they will stay in this category. Who knows if apple will put a retina display in this MacBook Air series... I really hope they do.
Finally, there is the performance category: also U/M-series technically, corei3-i7, intel iris 6100, 28W, this category has lower portability, higher power consumption, and high performance. The Current and future rMBPs are in this category.
Personally, I am stoked for all three notebook categories. One could argue that apple is going to phase out the current MacBook Air line, and not have a 11.5W ultra book category. But I believe they will keep this category as there are plenty of people that want something more portable than a MacBook Pro, but something more powerful than Core M. And I hope they do keep this line.
I suppose one could count the 47W extreme/power category for larger notebooks.
So this could put the product lineup like this:
13" current non-retina MBA(hope it does get retina) - $999 12" new fanless 12" rMBA - $1199 13" rMBP - $1299 15" rMBP - $1999 (yikes that's a lot still)
Or I suppose it could also look like this:
12" rMBA(new fanless) - $999 13" rMBA(old form factor, updates with retina display) - $1099-$1199 13" rMBP - $1299.
What do you guys think? I am genuinely interested in y'alls opinions.
13"cMBA <-- possibly updated to retina at somepoint but remain at the same form factor
13+15" rMBP
Intel has 3 (4 if you count larger notebook sizes) laptop categories. And Apple should try to make the best notebook they can at every category.
There is the new ultra-ultra thin fanless category: Y-series, Core M, Intel HD 5300, 4.5W, This category is most portable, lowest energy consumption, lowest performance. The new 12" rMBA will fall into this category.
Then there is the original ultra-book category: U-series, corei3-i7, intel HD 6000, 11.5W, This category has average portability, middle range energy consumption, and medium performance. The current MacBook Airs are in this category. And when they get updated they will stay in this category. Who knows if apple will put a retina display in this MacBook Air series... I really hope they do.
Finally, there is the performance category: also U/M-series technically, corei3-i7, intel iris 6100, 28W, this category has lower portability, higher power consumption, and high performance. The Current and future rMBPs are in this category.
Personally, I am stoked for all three notebook categories. One could argue that apple is going to phase out the current MacBook Air line, and not have a 11.5W ultra book category. But I believe they will keep this category as there are plenty of people that want something more portable than a MacBook Pro, but something more powerful than Core M. And I hope they do keep this line.
I suppose one could count the 47W extreme/power category for larger notebooks.
So this could put the product lineup like this:
13" current non-retina MBA(hope it does get retina) - $999
12" new fanless 12" rMBA - $1199
13" rMBP - $1299
15" rMBP - $1999 (yikes that's a lot still)
Or I suppose it could also look like this:
12" rMBA(new fanless) - $999
13" rMBA(old form factor, updates with retina display) - $1099-$1199
13" rMBP - $1299.
What do you guys think? I am genuinely interested in y'alls opinions.
13" current non-retina MBA(hope it does get retina) - $999
12" new fanless 12" rMBA - $1199
13" rMBP - $1299
15" rMBP - $1999 (yikes that's a lot still)
I'd guess:
11" non-Retina Air $899
12" Retina Air $1099
14"/15" Retina Air $1299
15" rMBP $1999
The 13" Air and 13" rMBP would be replaced by the 14" or 15" Air.
This means maintaining the low $899 entry price but with an upsell to a cheaper Retina laptop than before (cheapest Retina was 13" rMBP at $1299). The current 13" Air and 13" rMBP are around the same speed so just have the larger Retina Air at $1299. This makes Apple a little more competitive with 15" PC laptops, which can start below $300, not sure what high resolution ones start at.
As SSD and RAM prices fall, they can eventually drop the non-Retina Air.
I'm running a mid-2012 MBA that is still going very strong. I have absolutely no issues with the hardware, and it will continue to have a good life when I give it to my wife. But a spec bump isn't what I'm waiting for in terms of an upgrade. A 13" rMBP is on my short list, but if there really is a new 12" MBA coming, then that's what I'm going to buy.
Old man here so the 11" doesn't mean much at all. However the price would likely be clipped considerably with the new line up, I could see $750.
12" Retina Air $1099
If they go with the extremely stripped down model rumored, I suspect that they will be more aggressive with pricing. I could see this coming in at the $899 level.
14"/15" Retina Air $1299
I would love to see a 14" Retina MBA especially if it maintains the ports the current Airs have! I'm thinking $1100 here.
15" rMBP $1999
The 13" Air and 13" rMBP would be replaced by the 14" or 15" Air.
You do seem to be down on the 13" rMBP. This is still an excellent alternative to the MBA's and with a refresh to quad core would maintain that distinction. In fact I likw where the 13" Pro is currently place in the line up.
This means maintaining the low $899 entry price but with an upsell to a cheaper Retina laptop than before (cheapest Retina was 13" rMBP at $1299). The current 13" Air and 13" rMBP are around the same speed so just have the larger Retina Air at $1299. This makes Apple a little more competitive with 15" PC laptops, which can start below $300, not sure what high resolution ones start at.
Competition is a real problem which is why I believe Apple restructured the pricing of the Airs. The Airs at one time where an excellent value and I believe Apple will want to maintain that. That means pricing that keeps them attractive to the core markets; education, travel computers (seconds), highly mobile business users and whatever else they target.
As SSD and RAM prices fall, they can eventually drop the non-Retina Air.
Actually SSD prices have dropped like a rock which allowed them to cut prices on the Airs. I could actually see them continuing to clip the price on the 11" Air until it stops selling. It would be that low price option to draw customers in.
Same here! I'm replacing my MBP and was all set to order the same one as you. Guess I'll be waiting 2 wks to see what the pricing will be like.
When you are this close to a rumored release date waiting a couple of weeks, even a month makes sense. Even if the new machines don't rock your boat you can usually pick up an older model cheap.
Beyond that, for many users Broadwell should be an excellent update. I see much in the way of people suggesting waiting for SkyLake which is fine if half a year isn't a problem. We don't know exactly how Apple will leverage Broadwell in the Airs, I'm still thinking that even this "minor" update could go retina, but it is hard to deny the GPU improvements and the potential for more than a trivial bump in CPU performance.
At this point with a 2-4 week window you have nothing to loose by waiting.
Excuse my noob-ness, but most people are laser-focused on the display and the CPU updates to the new MacBook Air. I'm wondering if they might be getting a storage upgrade too? One thing that caught my attention is the Samsung SM951 M.2 NVMe SSD. These devices were announced about 8 months ago and mass production started about two months ago. They are available only to OEMs, and I can recall finding only one device that was scheduled to ship with it.
Comments
A better move might have been to create a 12' MBA with enough additional new features to call it a MBA Pro. It'd have a Retina display, at least 8 Gig of RAM standard, perhaps even cellular data and GPS built in and more USB ports. At the same time (meaning not now) Apple could release these revised MBAs with merely a chip upgrade and at a lower price to make them more competitive.
I suspect the 12 inch device will likely have some unique angle that will necessitate a new name. Maybe a hybrid device?
Apple wasn't the first company to release a machine with Broadwell chips so I now have to say I'm waiting for Apple to release Macs with Skylake.
Probably because the "special relationship" with Intel is no more? They'd better be quiet about that "update" - otherwise it's gonna get the same backlash as that non-update with Mac Pros before the 2013 models came.
Why jump to such a negative conclusion? It's because of volume.
Why jump to such a negative conclusion? It's because of volume.
Which volumes?
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/02/24Apple-Updates-MacBook-Pro-with-Next-Generation-Processors-Graphics-Thunderbolt-I-O-Technology.html
This day also happens to be Steve Jobs Birthday.
12" rMBA
13"cMBA <-- possibly updated to retina at somepoint but remain at the same form factor
13 15" rMBP
Intel has 3 (4 if you count larger notebook sizes) laptop categories. And Apple should try to make the best notebook they can at every category.
There is the new ultra-ultra thin fanless category: Y-series, Core M, Intel HD 5300, 4.5W, This category is most portable, lowest energy consumption, lowest performance. The new 12" rMBA will fall into this category.
Then there is the original ultra-book category: U-series, corei3-i7, intel HD 6000, 11.5W, This category has average portability, middle range energy consumption, and medium performance. The current MacBook Airs are in this category. And when they get updated they will stay in this category. Who knows if apple will put a retina display in this MacBook Air series... I really hope they do.
Finally, there is the performance category: also U/M-series technically, corei3-i7, intel iris 6100, 28W, this category has lower portability, higher power consumption, and high performance. The Current and future rMBPs are in this category.
Personally, I am stoked for all three notebook categories. One could argue that apple is going to phase out the current MacBook Air line, and not have a 11.5W ultra book category. But I believe they will keep this category as there are plenty of people that want something more portable than a MacBook Pro, but something more powerful than Core M. And I hope they do keep this line.
I suppose one could count the 47W extreme/power category for larger notebooks.
So this could put the product lineup like this:
13" current non-retina MBA(hope it does get retina) - $999
12" new fanless 12" rMBA - $1199
13" rMBP - $1299
15" rMBP - $1999 (yikes that's a lot still)
Or I suppose it could also look like this:
12" rMBA(new fanless) - $999
13" rMBA(old form factor, updates with retina display) - $1099-$1199
13" rMBP - $1299.
What do you guys think? I am genuinely interested in y'alls opinions.
I think it will be:
12" rMBA
13"cMBA <-- possibly updated to retina at somepoint but remain at the same form factor
13+15" rMBP
Intel has 3 (4 if you count larger notebook sizes) laptop categories. And Apple should try to make the best notebook they can at every category.
There is the new ultra-ultra thin fanless category: Y-series, Core M, Intel HD 5300, 4.5W, This category is most portable, lowest energy consumption, lowest performance. The new 12" rMBA will fall into this category.
Then there is the original ultra-book category: U-series, corei3-i7, intel HD 6000, 11.5W, This category has average portability, middle range energy consumption, and medium performance. The current MacBook Airs are in this category. And when they get updated they will stay in this category. Who knows if apple will put a retina display in this MacBook Air series... I really hope they do.
Finally, there is the performance category: also U/M-series technically, corei3-i7, intel iris 6100, 28W, this category has lower portability, higher power consumption, and high performance. The Current and future rMBPs are in this category.
Personally, I am stoked for all three notebook categories. One could argue that apple is going to phase out the current MacBook Air line, and not have a 11.5W ultra book category. But I believe they will keep this category as there are plenty of people that want something more portable than a MacBook Pro, but something more powerful than Core M. And I hope they do keep this line.
I suppose one could count the 47W extreme/power category for larger notebooks.
So this could put the product lineup like this:
13" current non-retina MBA(hope it does get retina) - $999
12" new fanless 12" rMBA - $1199
13" rMBP - $1299
15" rMBP - $1999 (yikes that's a lot still)
Or I suppose it could also look like this:
12" rMBA(new fanless) - $999
13" rMBA(old form factor, updates with retina display) - $1099-$1199
13" rMBP - $1299.
What do you guys think? I am genuinely interested in y'alls opinions.
I'd guess:
11" non-Retina Air $899
12" Retina Air $1099
14"/15" Retina Air $1299
15" rMBP $1999
The 13" Air and 13" rMBP would be replaced by the 14" or 15" Air.
This means maintaining the low $899 entry price but with an upsell to a cheaper Retina laptop than before (cheapest Retina was 13" rMBP at $1299). The current 13" Air and 13" rMBP are around the same speed so just have the larger Retina Air at $1299. This makes Apple a little more competitive with 15" PC laptops, which can start below $300, not sure what high resolution ones start at.
As SSD and RAM prices fall, they can eventually drop the non-Retina Air.
Good to see you dutifully contributing your click. ????
I'm running a mid-2012 MBA that is still going very strong. I have absolutely no issues with the hardware, and it will continue to have a good life when I give it to my wife. But a spec bump isn't what I'm waiting for in terms of an upgrade. A 13" rMBP is on my short list, but if there really is a new 12" MBA coming, then that's what I'm going to buy.
You still can, as far as I know.
Yes they are atull definitely available, just wondering if I should wait two weeks.
Actually SSD prices have dropped like a rock which allowed them to cut prices on the Airs. I could actually see them continuing to clip the price on the 11" Air until it stops selling. It would be that low price option to draw customers in.
When you are this close to a rumored release date waiting a couple of weeks, even a month makes sense. Even if the new machines don't rock your boat you can usually pick up an older model cheap.
Beyond that, for many users Broadwell should be an excellent update. I see much in the way of people suggesting waiting for SkyLake which is fine if half a year isn't a problem. We don't know exactly how Apple will leverage Broadwell in the Airs, I'm still thinking that even this "minor" update could go retina, but it is hard to deny the GPU improvements and the potential for more than a trivial bump in CPU performance.
At this point with a 2-4 week window you have nothing to loose by waiting.
Excuse my noob-ness, but most people are laser-focused on the display and the CPU updates to the new MacBook Air. I'm wondering if they might be getting a storage upgrade too? One thing that caught my attention is the Samsung SM951 M.2 NVMe SSD. These devices were announced about 8 months ago and mass production started about two months ago. They are available only to OEMs, and I can recall finding only one device that was scheduled to ship with it.