12 inch Retina MacBook

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BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
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When would the October event be announced?

I'm thinking of getting a 13" Retina MBP but might as well wait until Apple announces their plans, right?
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,184
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Last year the iPad/MacBook/Mavericks Oct .22 event was announced Oct. 15, so if it's the same time this year, then it's about one month from today.

May as well wait.
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,449
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My 13" 2012 MBA still does fine... I have no real reason to upgrade since I removed Win7 for space (128gb version). But, I'll definitely consider it :)
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
52,461
7,688
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Reports hint of super-thinn design for new MacBook Air: edge to edge keyboard, USB Type C connector, new way of charging

...

The claim is for Retina and touch support. Sounds like an iPad Pro actually.

This definitely has my attention. Probably the biggest complaint I have about the current models is the craptastic screen. I ended up going with a Chromebook instead & don't regret it - Internet stuff on the Chromebook, projects on the desktop Hackintosh.

I'll hold out to see what they offer this time around, but right now I have my eye set on the $329 Toshiba Chromebook 2, which is 13" with a 1080p IPS screen. There are so many great web apps available now & the Chromebooks just work so well (crazy-awesome battery life & everything is "instant") that I'm going to have a hard time justifying spending $1,000+ on something that would be more of my second machine & net-surfer for my purposes.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,320
683
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My sister ended up getting a 13 inch retina pro. I'm thinking of buying one too later this month. I'm just unsure if the 256gb over 128gb flash hd is worth the almost $300 difference.
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
My sister ended up getting a 13 inch retina pro. I'm thinking of buying one too later this month. I'm just unsure if the 256gb over 128gb flash hd is worth the almost $300 difference.

It should only be a $200 difference ($1299 vs $1499), and I believe they are $100 cheaper if you can order from Amazon.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,320
683
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It should only be a $200 difference ($1299 vs $1499), and I believe they are $100 cheaper if you can order from Amazon.

Yea I'm going to look around. I wonder if it's too late to use my student discount from so many years ago. A friend of mine bought one at the Apple store and had been out of school for a while but the employee gave him the discount anyway.
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
Yea I'm going to look around. I wonder if it's too late to use my student discount from so many years ago. A friend of mine bought one at the Apple store and had been out of school for a while but the employee gave him the discount anyway.

I think you just need a .edu email address, if their student discounts work like any other place.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,320
683
126
I think you just need a .edu email address, if their student discounts work like any other place.

I have a .edu email address but Penn state closed our email accounts a year after graduation so I'm not sure if I need to use it to verify anything. Luckily for my sister my father paid for hers since she just started school.

Do you guys normally buy the extended warranty? I had it when I had a 15 inch MacBook pro in 2011 and it only helped me sell it for more on eBay. But to my knowledge Macs are pretty solid and reliable.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,184
1,825
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If you order online, nobody checks for student ID.

---

BTW, could the 12" Retina MacBook just be the 12" iPad with a new matching Apple keyboard?
 
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Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,184
1,825
126
Last edited:

Spicedaddy

Platinum Member
Apr 18, 2002
2,305
77
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Apple wants to sell you an iPad and a laptop, I don't see them merging the two. I think the 12" device will just be a retina MBA to replace the 11 and 13 models. Thinner, fanless, etc.
 

amyklai

Senior member
Nov 11, 2008
262
8
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Apple wants to sell you an iPad and a laptop, I don't see them merging the two. I think the 12" device will just be a retina MBA to replace the 11 and 13 models. Thinner, fanless, etc.

This.

Microsoft's trying the 2 in 1 angle, because they see it as their best chance to translate Windows market share into tablet relevance.

For Apple, it's different. They'd just risk losing oerall revenue if they offered a good 2 in 1 that replaced your MBA / MBP and your iPad.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Theres also the question of whether or not anyone actually wants something like Surface.
 

amyklai

Senior member
Nov 11, 2008
262
8
81
Theres also the question of whether or not anyone actually wants something like Surface.

Done well, it'll certainly appeal to some people. Won't be quite as popular as an iPad though, because it lacks the overall simplicity.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,184
1,825
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Apple doesn't have to market it as a hybrid. It would still be sold as an iPad, but the new size gives them the option of having a decent full-size keyboard and trackpad. This is something that Apple hasn't been able to do before, even as an option, since the 9.7 inch iPads do not viably support this option.

This would allow Apple to test the waters in this market space while continuing to improve the OS for keyboard support.

Truthfully though, I said in the other thread that I don't actually expect Apple to do this. I just think it is a reasonable option if they do actually release a 12 or 12.9" inch MaxiPad.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,184
1,825
126
I trust re/code more than DigiTimes, but nonetheless, DigiTimes disagrees with re/code and says that a new Retina MacBook Air is coming soon.

Volume shipments of new MacBook Air to begin in November, say Taiwan makers

Shipments of a new MacBook Air model, reportedly equipped with a 12-inch Retina screen, have begun in small volumes and large-volume shipments will begin in November, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

It also says the Apple logo is going to change a bit.

Apple is also planning to upgrade the technologies used for printing its logo onto devices and will use laser cutting and unique embedded technologies to make the logo 3D-like and shine at the edges. All Apple's products will feature the new logo in 2015, starting with the next-generation iMac, the sources detailed.