Electricpig reports that it has heard from a Mac accessory manufacturer that Apple is planning to launch a 15-inch MacBook Air as soon as April.
And what is coming? If you take our source’s word for it, a 15-inch MacBook Air with ports on both sides, no optical drive and no ethernet cable.
While our source wasn’t certain that this would completely destroy the Pro (he also stated that Apple might hold on to the 17-inch model, which would make sense for the sizeable audience of professional editors out there), he was fairly sure that the shakeup will happen in April. To that end, our source’s company’s got its manufacturers on standby to be able to make and ship a new product lineup inside of 90 days.
The source is reportedly involved in "MacBook docking solutions", and while Apple almost certainly hasn't shared any specific information with the source, he does obviously have a strong interest in acquiring such information and may even have access to sources who could provide estimates of Apple's plans. That said, the source may simply be reiterating a previous rumor that had claimed new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with thinner MacBook Air-like form factors would be launching in April.
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One other question still remaining is chip availability from Intel. With delays in the launch of the chip manufacturer's new Ivy Bridge platform and uncertainty about whether these thinner MacBook Pro or larger MacBook Air products would run traditional mobile chips as found in the current MacBook Pro or ultra low voltage chips as found in the MacBook Air, it is not entirely clear when chips for the new machines will become available.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)I guess if it's thinner that's fine too, but for me it wouldn't be worth it to trade features (processing power, ethernet port) for thinness.
These updates can't come soon enough. My 2008 Rev. A MBA is on its very last legs and I'm going to upgrade to the larger screen the moment I can. I'm crossing every finger that the Digitimes was, as usual, off base about their Ivy Bridge delay rumors.
Last legs already? My late 2007 MBP is still going strong. What's wrong with the MBA?
If they do drop the 13/15" pros, I guess i'm going to be replacing my works laptop with a Windows device. :(
I can (sort of) understand leaving the ethernet out of the Air, although there are still plenty of hotels with in room ethernet only. Dropping the smaller form factor Pros though would be a big mistake, IMHO.
I don't doubt Apple would, mind you. A simplified line-up with the 17" holding out on the 'Pro' label, and getting increasingly less updates and love, is what Apple are all about.
These updates can't come soon enough. My 2008 Rev. A MBA is on its very last legs
How do you mean? Is there smoke coming out the back? Rust on the underside?
The Airs are all dual-core i5s.
They'll probably ditch the optical drive at some point for all of their laptops. But the difference between the Air and Pro would be the processor and graphics. And the use of a HDD instead of an SSD.