Comments on: Smaller MacBook Air Would Reassure Us of Apple’s Commitment to Laptops

By: Glen

Glen — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:57:09 +0000

I’m really looking forward to an 11 inch MBA. I’ll bet the price will range anywhere from $1500.00 $1700.00

By: J Yap

J Yap — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:32:03 +0000

What would be a killer addition to the MacAir would be 3G … Apple has already shoehorned the radio connection into the iPad … what would it take to add it to the MacAir also?

By: Russ

Russ — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:04:37 +0000

If Apple can currently sell the plain-jane 13″ MacBook (with a Core 2 Duo CPU) for $999 why could they sell a 11.6″ MacBook Air with no DVD-RW and a far less costly CPU for well under $999 without eating into their current profit margin?

By: Sky

Sky — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:37:38 +0000

I would like to see Macbook Air morph into iPad Pro:

* 11.6″ screen
* i3 processor
* OS X + iOS evolution (full OS with touch addded)
* Single and dual SSD configs
* Pad only with full keyboard + mouse support via Bluetooth (no clamshell)
* I/O options: wifi, 4G, ethernet, mini displayport, USB3, eSata, maybe FW or emerging standards?
* OS Server + Apple Remote Desktop option

Such a device could function as a laptop or touch control surface; replace a mini, media server or AppleTV, etc.

By: Hamranhansenhansen

Hamranhansenhansen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:57:25 +0000

The idea that Apple is not committed to notebooks or to Mac OS is crazy. Something like 9 out of 10 high-end laptops that are sold are Macs. I have an iPad and love it, but it doesn’t run Logic Pro or Final Cut Pro, it doesn’t run Apache or BBEdit, it doesn’t run Photoshop and AppleScript, it doesn’t run Xcode, which is used not only to create all iOS apps, but also iOS itself. What are we going to use? Windows? Apple does not deploy Windows internally, and neither does Google, or Genentech, and many others. The Mac will get touch, but there will always need to be a pro system and consumer system because iOS has no programming and that is a feature. You can’t get to the Unix core, and that is a feature. The core of Mac OS and iOS is already the same OS X, there’s no reason to kill either of the interfaces or programming interfaces. Same as there is no reason to kill either Final Cut Pro or iMovie, which are both video editors. It makes sense for iMovie to move to iOS, but not for Final Cut Pro to move there.

Even the idea that iPad replaces MacBook Air is crazy. MacBook Air is not a netbook, it’s a full-size notebook in the smallest possible size. Netbooks have cramped keyboards and a single-core Atom, while MacBook Air has a full-size keyboard and dual-core Core 2 Duo. I carry an iPad and a MacBook Air everywhere, and together they weigh less than a typical notebook, and fit into a case that looks like it should not hold even one computer, let alone two.

I’m a little skeptical of a 12-inch MacBook Air. I found the 12-inch PowerBook cramped and it didn’t fit on my lap well because it couldn’t reach the middle of both legs. But the 13-inch MacBook Air does not feel cramped at all. The low thickness and low weight are positives with no negatives. But you certainly never know what Apple may do. I would be happy to see the same form factor just with more memory, battery life, and possibly even lower price. It’s a keyboard with a computer built-in, and a very capable workstation. With the displays, I would like to see Retina displays come in across the line with touch and Mac OS 11 in a year or two.

By: Charles Moore

Charles Moore — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:46:13 +0000

Hi ICYFOG;

Editing error (mine, sorry). Now fixed.

By: IcyFog

IcyFog — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:44:13 +0000

I’m curious to see how Apple handles the MBA. For myself I would’ve been more inclined to buy one had it a smaller screen, even if it was priced slightly above the 13-inch MBP.

Also, the first paragraph, second sentence under “At What Price?” is jacked up is it not?
“For example, you can buy a white, 2.4 GHz MacBook and a base model iPad for exactly the same money as one base MacBook Air both for the same money as one base MacBook Air.”

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:12:52 +0000

So the author believes if Apple does not produce a smaller Macbook Air, they will not be committed to laptops? Sorry to ask, but what planet does the author come from?

By: Twist

Twist — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:58:38 +0000

I still wish they would make a netbook. Was in the Apple Store just a few hours ago and after seeing the iPad my mom still went “I wish they would make one like this (pointing at the white MacBook) only smaller.” A 10 inch screen would probably be perfect.

By: pobrian

pobrian — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:30:12 +0000

The smaller form factor is a negative. A small keyboard and screen negate the two things that I like best about my MBA. This is a great machine for writing as is.