MacBook Air To Be Revamped, Will Compete With Microsoft Surface Book And Surface Pro 4
Many people thought that Apple would phase out the MacBook Air and concentrate on the 12-inch MacBook for their ultra-thin and light flagship device. However, according to MacRumors, a thinner MacBook Air is coming.
“The new MacBook Air is said to take on a slimmer design and arrive in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, but it is unclear whether an 11-inch model will also be included. The slimmer design will be enabled by ‘fully redesigned’ internal components across the board, and Apple is reportedly currently working with its suppliers to develop these new components.”
There were many people in the comments section after the article who aren’t too impressed.
“Because SO MANY people have complained that the MacBook Airs are too thick… :rolleyes: C’mon Apple, that’s the only thing you have going nowadays is how thin your devices are?? So much for innovation,” says L-U-R-C-H.
“Jeez, all these MacBooks are getting confusing. I’m surprised the Air line is staying since the MacBook and MacBook Pro are thin,” says nfl46.
However, there seems to be a lot more excitement on Twitter.
A redesigned MacBook Air could be coming in 2016. Please make this be true. I've been holding off replacing my Air. https://t.co/D4iUthR9M1
— Patrick O'Rourke (@Patrick_ORourke) November 30, 2015
WANT
Thinner MacBook Air in 13" and 15" Sizes Coming at WWDC 2016? – Mac Rumors https://t.co/iS0JZmlFBZ
— Dmitry (@dmishe89) November 30, 2015
There are a lot of people who hope Apple will increase the screen resolution on the new MacBook Air units as well. The current 13-inch MacBook Air has a 1,440 x 1900 pixel resolution screen that might have been great in 2010 but is way behind the times. The competing Surface Pro 4 has a 12.3-inch screen with a 2,736 x 1,824 pixel resolution. The 13.5-inch Surface Book has a 3,000 x 2,000 pixel resolution screen.
Microsoft’s latest laptops not only outshine the MacBook Air in terms of screen resolution but in overall performance as well. IGN notes how the Surface Pro 4 operates not only as a laptop, but a tablet as well.
“What sets the Pro 4 apart though? As a tablet, it’s got a built-in kickstand, good front-facing speakers, a USB and mini-DP port, and it’s magnetic so the stylus sticks to it. No other tablet does all that. The 12.3-inch display is stunning, I could look at it all day, and happily have, and not just because it’s sharp.”
The Surface Book is seen as more of a MacBook Pro competitor, but the lightweight laptop, which has a screen that separates from the keyboard, is a great MacBook Air alternative as well. TechRadar gave the device four-and-a-half stars.
“While the Surface Book brings many technological innovations to the laptop space, it’s greatest strength is that it’s just an all-around terrific device,” reads the summary of the review.
The review goes on to praise the Book’s design, screen, and the fact that it contains a discreet graphics GPU. Like other reviewers, TechRadar notes that the Surface Book does have some first generation bugs that need to be worked out.
It’s surprising that Apple still has yet to release an OS X tablet or touchscreen device. They just released the iPad Pro, which is a huge tablet, but only runs a mobile operating system (iOS). Perhaps in the future, we will at least see a MacBook Air that has a touchscreen — this could put Apple back in the game and give the Microsoft Surface devices a run for their money.
[Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images]
