11.6-inch MacBook Airs Coming Before Year’s End?

[Wiley John Wright]

Before the arrival of the iPad, the MacBook Air was Apple’s answer to netbooks. Now it seems that the MacBook Air is about to be refreshed with a smaller 11.6-inch screen. If this rumor is true, it will be the smallest MacBook yet produced by Apple. Apple has shied away from the term “netbook” in the past because of the low-cost and low-quality nature of most netbooks. If this is a new MacBook Model, however, it will be difficult for Apple to call this anything but an Apple netbook.

DigiTimes reports “Quanta has reportedly landed orders for 11.6-inch MacBooks from Apple. Shipments of 11.6-inch MacBooks are expected to top 400,000-500,000 units in 2010.”

Although this statement does not specifically point to MacBook Airs, it is reasonable to assume that Apple will update the MacBook Air line in the near future. They were last updated about a year ago, and Apple has historically made MacBook update announcements in September or October.

I for one would love to see a smaller MacBook. Apple might be readying this new model for the holiday season. If this is the case Apple might want to call it the MacNetBook, but then Apple would never admit to making a netbook.

Source: MacRumors

[Cowboy]

yay sign me up for one

[domthebigbomb]

call it a the new inetbook

[mortopher]

I get frustrated enough with my 13" monitor when it's not hooked up to my desktop monitor, I can't imagine dealing with an 11" one.

[nerdyperdy]

Sweet. I'm hoping for the Christmas season. I don't even use optical drives. All my media is on flash drives and external drives.

Hoping for an i3 or maybe an i5 with 4 USB ports..no FireWire tho. Add 3G and it would be hella good.

[Poseidon79]

11.6"? I'll stick with my iPad kthankx

[nerdyperdy]

11.6"? I'll stick with my iPad kthankx

Id rather have the use of a laptop..besides optical drive of course. I'm still waiting on the day a full OS will be available for a smartphone..SL on a phone..sweetness!!



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[sziklassy]

More than the size I think the price is what is going to be important. You can't really sell a "netbook" for $1000. At least not to me...
If it ends up in the $500 price range (yes pigs will probably fly before this happens) then I am in.

Id rather have the use of a laptop..besides optical drive of course. I'm still waiting on the day a full OS will be available for a smartphone..SL on a phone..sweetness!!

I completely agree. I don't even find myself ever using an optical drive anymore except to install software.

call it a the new inetbook

It's too bad the iBook is already a product of theirs
Would have sounded really nice IMO. Maybe they can refresh it somehow

Apple might want to call it the MacNetBook, but then Apple would never admit to making a netbook.

I don't think Apple really has an aversion to making something and deeming it a netbook. All I am really aware they have said is that all netbooks currently on the market are terrible based on their standards (why their most current answer to this predicament was an iPad, which does less than many netbooks can do, is a mystery to me)

[nerdyperdy]

I totally agree with the iBook name. I was thinking he same thing. As well as the price. Knowing apple, there prolly gonna have it priced between 750&1k and that's just not gonna fly if it's a netbook.Now,if it's 500-750...with good specs,then yea..I'm all for it.

Hope to hear more about it.


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[ShredNasty]

Reasonably priced Apple? The only time that happens is when AT&T covers 2/3rds of the cost. I love my iStuff, but d*mm it's expensive!

[nerdyperdy]

Reasonably priced Apple? The only time that happens is when AT&T covers 2/3rds of the cost. I love my iStuff, but d*mm it's expensive!

Isn't that the truth. Wish I could get a MBP with a 2 year contract...lol

I love my iPhone but at least the stuff holds it's value. Hell,hold it better then vehicles..lol





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[timbrook]

Just put a full os on the ipad and make it open

[dale2]

Sweet. I'm hoping for the Christmas season. I don't even use optical drives. All my media is on flash drives and external drives.

Hoping for an i3 or maybe an i5 with 4 USB ports..no FireWire tho. Add 3G and it would be hella good.

netbook with an i5?
lol

[nerdyperdy]

netbook with an i5?
lol

Isn't the new Corei series supposed to be low power consumption?? The i7 runs to hot for my taste and the i5 aint nothing to shake a stick at if it's done right and hopefully Apple can do it right.

I'm still thinking of updating from my hack-pro to a MBP, but I'm starting to like the Air..Especially with the right upgrades. Maybe a Fermi card now wouldnt that be sweet..lol

[CZroe]

The Alienware M11x's 11.6" display has too much bezel around it to fit comfortably in my motorcycle tank bag (LCD chassis could easily fit a 12.1" display in the same area). It looks strange, so surely Apple would never do that. If this Mac has a decent GPU, I'll be all over it!

More than the size I think the price is what is going to be important. You can't really sell a "netbook" for $1000. At least not to me...
If it ends up in the $500 price range (yes pigs will probably fly before this happens) then I am in.

I don't think Apple really has an aversion to making something and deeming it a netbook. All I am really aware they have said is that all netbooks currently on the market are terrible based on their standards (why their most current answer to this predicament was an iPad, which does less than many netbooks can do, is a mystery to me)

"We don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk." -Steve Jobs, 2008 in response to people asking about a Mac netbook.

[MindGem]

I'm buying the 17" MacBook pro so f•ck this.

[Apple.]

Basic examination can tell u how much this MBA will be

The highest end iPad sells for 829.99
The Lowest end Macbook sells for 999.99

This macbook being 11.6 main focus will be portability..
Meaning power consumption will be a main focus..Therefore apple will choose to use a low power consumption processor..Which its best option would be the i3 processor

Compared to the Macbook Pro low end model
it sports a Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
and it sells for $1199

That means Apple would sell this PC for more than $1199

OR

If they go the Core 2 Duo route and the typical 2GB ram

They could sell it for 1099..

I highly doubt it will sell less than the Based MacBook model, unless they stop selling it.

[pacmac]

I want a iTablet

[Darrius777]

I think they would call it a MacBook Lite.