Apple working on a 15-inch MacBook Air?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jan 18th 2009 5:11PM
posted Jan 18th 2009 5:11PM
[Via AppleInsider]
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Since it'd be wider, it'd be possible for them to make it even thinner, right?
They probably wouldn't be able to make it much thinner, but they could add the ports that the original is missing.
They probably wouldn't be able to make it much thinner, but they could add the ports that the original is missing
no. chips and motherboards aren't ductile.
wtf. my reply below was supposed to be here.
no. chips and motherboards aren't ductile.
GOD DAMN. I AM REPLYING TO ILOVEAPPLE.
WTF engadget, fix your comment system.
but why?
They gonna add another $1000 on the pricetag for those precious inches they add?
Maybe take out USB and put in super-duper-mini-USB and tell us all how behind we are with technology.
No, their main goal is to cut a 15" cake this time, since everybody left the last party hungry.
If they REALLY wanna shock the masses, they should give it a touchscreen and allow you to move widgets ala iPhone OS.
The original MBA was a failure - I don't think its possible to argue that it wasn't.
Apple, you need to get out a netbook real fast now.
I believe that's how plasticine works too.
No wonder why Mr Job decided to take a break...
Comment system fails. AGAIN.
NO
ONE
CARES
I love how noones makin apple fan boy comments cuz they no they get low ranked,,,
no
Everything is possible, however this is not everything, this is "Something", so this makes it impossible. Besides, despite Apple's lameness many would think, it certainly is not lame enough to stack things up inside the original Air, so there is hardly any room left to shave off its thickness. so a 15-inch book may be faster, battery may lasts longer, but no, I don't think the internal organs will get any thinner, maybe they can achieve some 1 to 2 mm by updating Apple Brick to version 1.1.
Everything is possible, however this is not everything, this is "Something", so this makes it impossible. Besides, despite Apple's lameness many would think, it certainly is not lame enough to stack things up inside the original Air, and there's no significant breakthrough in IC packaging since Air, so there is hardly any room left to shave off its thickness. so a 15-inch book may be faster, battery may last longer, but no, I don't think the internal organs will get any thinner, maybe they can achieve some 1 to 2 mm by updating Apple Brick to version 1.1.
It's a lie!!!!!
^ DOUBLE FAIL!
It could be a 10 inch Netbook version.
A3 size envelope?
Nah, they will just invent a new envelope size that is now a "industry standard", patent the new size, declare it to be the most environmentally friendly envelope ever made, charge $50/envelope, and I will start getting postcards shipped in the new envelope size from Apple-adoring fans.
A year later Engadget will have rumors of a new version fixing the problem where the old version did not actually have an opening. You had to cut one end off, insert the contents, then use Apple branded tape with pictures of Dear Leader's face printed on it because any other tape is incompatible to seal it shut. Apple fans will declare the new version revolutionary, wait in line for hours to get iEnvelope 3G, and deny the existance of the previous version and its shortcomings. The usual crew will spam any article about Windows with only the word "iEnvelope", and yell that Microsoft is blatantly copying Apple when they send mail contained in cheap knockoff non-Apple envelopes, which were created as a response to Apple (because envelopes did not exist before Apple invented them).
@ nohone: you sure type a lot to ultimately say nothing at all.
So a heavier and larger Air? What's the point of the "Air" branding then? So much for the idea of Apple's ultra portable.
They keep the word air, but add the words "heavier than" in front of it
Fail...
The MacBook Air is a homerun but now you will be adding a.....Let me see....
1. more fragile MBP
2. Underpowered MBP
3. Incredibly expensive
4. Less storage
5. no optical drive....?
this would be, in my opinion, a HUGE mistake.
The Apple consumer would be better served by a smaller Netbook type tablet..? possibly the MB Air Mini...?
lot of O3 and N3 then?
MacBook Hormone Imbalance
Macbook Wind
I'd prefer a 12" Macbook Air. 4lbs does not make a modern ultraportable no matter how thin it is. In fact that number is extremely disappointing when the Lenovo x200s is 2.4lbs and the Dell E4200 is 2.2 lbs. Both are smaller, superior machines.
Sorry that's 3lbs for the Macbook Air. Still, too heavy to compete in the ultraportable space with that pathetic battery life to boot. Despite its thinness it is a large machine in dimension.
But will the dell or lenovo get you laid?
^^^ If you think you will get laid because of the laptop you bought, you are a sad loser. But hey keep trying with your stupid Macbook Air, I see your types flashing their stupid Apple logo at every coffee shop I go to. They only go there to show off their stupid laptop. Retards every last one of them.
@Oil D
If you need a macbook air to get laid then I think you're compensating for something else
But will Dell or Lenovo cut your birthday cake?
@sr...
There is a distinct possibility that Oli D was joking...
^^^ Well if he was then, I guess we agree about Macbook air types.
"hey baby, check this out!" (Thrusts macbook air her way)
"umm eww, that thing totally weighs 0.8Lbs more than the Dell E4200!"
Your omnibook may be good, but I think the intel classmate beats them all...
@sr: You sound jealous.
Anyway, making a 15" version would defeat the whole "Air" suffix attached. They could call it the "Thin". but that sounds really stupid.
"And by the way, i never said i have a macbook air.
I have a 1997 HP Omnibook 800 with a pentium 1 166Mhz and 32Mb RAM.
Now that thing pulls pussy in like catnip"
possibly the best comment ever. i'm gonna clear my private data like ten times just to uprank you.
They removed my omnibook comment, obviously Engadget don't like old school computing :(
@sr someone needs to explain sarcasm to you for that will a lenovo get you laid comment.
I was thinking about switching to a MacBook Air, but I'm still worried about the capability of the machine. Hopefully upgrades will come with the big brother. Anyone with a MacBook Air have any comments about it's performance and overall functionality?
Most of what I do as a designer isn't incredibly complicated resource-wise. I am beginning to use my Air as my primary machine, although as it is the first generation, it would be better to wait for a 256 SSD option and better graphic capabilities. Wait for the next update, but don't worry about it...
In terms of size, I prefer the thin profile to the smaller screen. Apple sells to a different market than that which would buy most ultra-portables, so I think the compromise was good. Attach it to a monitor when you need more... But, I barely notice the thing in my messenger bag, and the power adapter is small enough to not be a nuisance. It's a touch slow, but that’s compared to a desktop. Again, most of my work is actually client service, and revisions and such. I hop on a larger machine when necessary, that is increasingly less often.
My only concern with the Air was screen real estate. When that's taken care of, and when there is a blistering fast SSD installed, it will be perfect for my programming work.
Oh - battery life too. If it has 8h, I am sold. The only problem now is that I was going to get the 17" MBP. But a 15" MBA with long battery life would be even better.... damn.
@Nikster
I now use my MacBook as my primary machine for Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver. It has the same screen as the Air (i think)
It felt a bit constricting at first, but I quickly got used to it, plus as an added bonus I can do my dev work on the couch while watching BSG and Hogan's Heroes.
Personally, I'd get the MB over the Air, or the MBP over this rumored Air. I put 4GB of RAM and a WD Scorpio Black 7200 RPM drive in the MB and it smokes. (as in its really fast and yes, it does get a little warm)
If the rumored 15" Air has 4GB of RAM and that super duper battery from the 17" MBP, and a 256GB SSD I'd reconsider. Then again my rig cost about $1,800 with all the upgrades and taxes. A 15" MBA with 4GB RAM and a 256GB SSD is going to be a lot more than $1,800.
Hmm, an underpowered Macbook Pro? I think they hit the nail on the head with the 13" air, if anything I would have guessed theyd go to 11 or something.
An 11-inch Air would be interesting. A 15-inch Air would be rather pointless.
Clearly a shop...
/seriousness
Hahaha.
yeah, the reflections are all wonky...
Am I the only one waiting for a higher res macbook pro screen?
I guess u are referring to 15" MBP. Well there is a formula for size / detail / viewing distance. Regardless many HD tv's are sold too small to see the 1080p detail at the likely viewing distance.
A 17" screen @ 1080p is about 70cm for eye from screen which is probably close to real distance. I'd say 15" is on the edge of viewable detail now, a 1080p 15" screen unless u wanted to sit no further than 50cm from it is basically pointless.
Regardless I am aware some 15" laptops do offer potentially pointless specs.
1080p at 15" is only about 150 ppi. That's higher than most computer monitors, but you can *definitely* see higher resolutions. Most printers print somewhere from 300 to 2400 ppi. My Archos 605 has a 216 ppi screen, and I can distinguish the pixels from a foot or two away. They are small, but you can still see them. Not a waste at all.
wtf???amazing how apple will still manage to get people to buy that. price will easily go up by about $500.possibly $3200.,wowsers,,,,,,
Apple's MBA, Version 3. Now with more room to fail!
An extremely portable laptop that I can actually use efficiently, great idea! In all seriousness, how can someone work on a 13" screen?
Wait, are you being serious? 15-inches is extremely portable?
How can people carry around their cheap plastic 5+lb monsters? At home there's a thing called an external monitor. Check it out sometime.
I use Photoshop and Illustrator CS4 exclusively on a 13" MacBook. It's just fine. I rarely hook up my external monitor anymore.
Just what the country needs, another $2800+ laptop. Good thinking apple
Being thin and light myself I can appreciate this.
Yeah but it's wide so I guess you appreciate that too.
Don't you mean thin and WHITE?
hmm... but this is heavy and wide....
That's what Steve said.
Will It Have A Removable Battery?!
Probably Not.
Jeez, I'm So Smart. Lol.
not if it's $3500.
More likely that they are revising the 15" MBP to include the battery technology, enclosed design and matte display option from the new 17" MBP.
agreed. i have a feeling a 15 incher without an optical drive and with 1 usb port wouldn't fly too well. not that the 13 incher did...
Make it 3 USB ports and who the hell needs an optical drive? I haven't used mine since 2002.
There would be a greater opportunity for a unibody macbook with a 15" screen than an air.
And how am i supposed to cut cake with sumthing this big?
One question and one question only comes to mind:
Why?
No, wait, I take that back, another question arises:
Who?
Why would anyone think these Air's are a good buy/idea, and Who in the hell would ever actually buy one?
I bought one. It is a beautiful machine, yet useless. It is a concept machine. I sold it to some other sucker and got an MSI Wind, the best portable mac out there!
I actually might. There's a refurbished one for $999, the same price as the old white one.
The only problem I have with it is the lack of an optical drive and 1 USB port, but if the 15" costs less than $1500 i'm sold.
Make it 10 - 11", price it at around 800 - 1000$ and you will have tons of buyers. Will be in the same market as the Vaio P!
Apple is not in the same market as anyone.
Well an 11" "netbook" would. In the overpriced range with the Vaio P.
who wants a 15" without a optical drive? Its like a mega netbook, useless
It's a rumor people. Take it easy.
It will sell! Perhaps not to me, but I bet they go over quite well. I want a tablet!
Doesn't anyone think that if Apple were to produce a 15inch MacBook Air that no1 would buy the 13 inch Macbooks anymore?
I mean if I had a choice between a thinner laptop, bigger screen, longer battery life, cooler design and a MacBook, I'd definately choose the 15" MacBook Air.
I don't think Apple would be so stupid to shoot themselves in the foot.
Replies awaited!
You're right.
On the other hand, if I had the choice between "a thinner laptop, bigger screen, longer battery life, cooler design" and saving a thousand dollars, guess what?
Hamidxa:
The people on these boards just aren't terribly swift. If no one is buying the 13 inch MB Air, then there won't be a 15 inch. Conversely, if Apple builds a 15 inch, then that is itself indicative that the 13 inch model has been successful. Now two years ago, I remember people on this same site saying they'd never buy an iPhone without a physical keyboard and or copy and paste. Two years later, it still lacks both of these features, yet its been a huge success. Get it through your heads. . .tech geeks (meaning the people that even know this site exists, myself included) do not matter to companies like Apple, because most of you are broke and/or work at Verizon. So while you are correct in that the questions are "why" and "who," you goofed on the questions themselves, which are more like these:
Why do I post on gadget sites instead of going on dates?
Who would be interested in spending time with me anyway?
Once you answer these questions, your life will change. That has to be a good thing, because as the old saying goes, "you can't fall of the floor."
More like 'Off the floor'. Thanks.
Funny. Those two questions apply to you. You seriously need to get over yourself.
Oh and this is not a forum.
I think you meant "off".
And ouch sounds like I hit a nerve.
And so long as we are throwing aphorisms around, another one comes to mind:
"A sucker is born every minute"...
Or wait, how about this one:
"A fool and his money are soon parted"...
I'll leave the interpretations up to you.
Oh, and by the way, I am happily engaged.
"Why do I post on gadget sites instead of going on dates?
Who would be interested in spending time with me anyway?"
What happens if I answered no-one for both? Does that mean my life is bad outside the geek world? :(
"Why do I post on gadget sites instead of going on dates?"
Because I am married and my wife will kill me if I go on dates. Good enough?
;)
You could still cruise the park : )
Aside from being insulting, rude, and crude, that was actually a(n?) hilarious comment.
I was on 14th street in NYC and in the apple store there was a poster saying "The New 15" Macbook Pro" and a subtitle saying that it uses NVIDIA chips.
I think a 15, 13, and 10 would be good for this line. WHORE it for as much as you can APPLE ! ! !
I think a 10" would probably be received a bit better than a 15. That said, a 10" regular macbook might be more interesting if it had similar power to the 13".
I love my (1st gen) MacBook Air. I find it very capable. However, I would not want it any bigger. If I'm going to carry a computer with a bigger footprint, then it might as well be heavier and have all the capabilities of my MacBook Pro.
If this is the direction of Apple's product lines once Steve Jobs is gone permanently, I think Apple is really screwed. If you're looking for portability, then 15" isn't likely to be your goal.