Are Mac users going to have the option of buying a new, low-priced, lightweight laptop from Apple someday soon? A recent report from Bloomberg says yes – probably.
For cam work, a small, light laptop like the existing MacBook Air is a very convenient, manageable device. Camming via a desktop PC is a serious pain in the butt. They tie you down to a fixed spot, and it’s just not practical to lug your desktop around from one part a room to another or to set it on the foot of your bed.
I’m mostly kidding about desktop lugging (or, am I?!), but there is something real to be said about the benefits of super light, mobile gear.
A Lighter than Air (which is already light) Laptop
Between its (relative) low cost and small size, the MacBook Air is a very cam-friendly machine, but Apple has been kinda neglecting the Air for the last few years. True, they did put out a 12-inch retina MacBook not long ago, but as TechCrunch points out, the retina MacBook is way more expensive than the MacBook Air and has only a single Type-C USB port.
According to the anonymous sources who tipped off Bloomberg to the possibility of a new MacBook Air coming out, the new laptop will “look similar to the current MacBook Air, but will include thinner bezels around the screen.” They also said the display will be about 13 inches and offers a higher resolution than the retina version used on other Apple products.
We should know by October whether this rumored new laptop is a real thing or just more — pardon the pun — hot air. (God, it’s so hot outside… Summer will never end!) As Bloomberg noted, Apple typically releases its new Mac models in the fall and “often does so in October, following the launch of new iPhones.”
While most of the buzz around Apple’s new product launches these days centers on the release of new iPhones, Macs still sell well. Last year, Macs accounted for over 11 percent of the company’s sales — this despite complaints from some customers that “recent updates haven’t met their professional needs,” as Bloomberg put it.
Between the complaints from loyal Apple consumers and increasing competition from the likes of Lenovo and HP, this may be the year that Apple finally steps up with a real upgrade to the Air line.
“HP and Lenovo have released products priced similarly to the MacBook Air, gaining share, and in order to remain competitive in that price point, we think a form-factor change is necessary,” said Shannon Cross, an analyst at Cross Research.
“It should help them rebound some of their Mac sales as things have been getting a bit long on the tooth in terms of their Mac line as they’ve clearly been very focused on the iPhone and services businesses,” Cross added.
Why Should You Care?
I’m cautiously optimistic that, later this year, I’ll be typing sentences like this one on a new, lightweight, higher-res-than-ever MacBook Air.
At the same time, I’ve become something of a rumored technology-skeptic lately because I’ve been bitten more than once by having my hopes raised by rumors, only to be dashed by the reality of another passing year with no significant MacBook upgrades.
Here’s hoping my tech-cynicism appears misdirected in retrospect, come October — which, incidentally is the unofficial start to gift-giving season.
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Arizona denizen Mila Ryan loves all things internet tech — almost as much as she loves her two rescue kitties, Jordan and Emmett.
Apple’s Insta is way uneven, but this snake is cool! (Also, light.)
Image via Susush.
