Apple MacBook Air with Retina Display Release and Rumors: Apple Insider Says 12” Model on the Way
The MacBook Air is Apple's best laptop, but continual calls for a screen resolution bump, as well as other minor tweaks, have gone unanswered. Will 2014 be the year that the Northern California tech powerhouse finally brings a Retina display to the MacBook Air? But irregardless of screen resolution, the biggest change to the rumored 2014 MacBook Air will be tied to its physical size.
Currently Apple ships custom and ready to order 11.6- and 13.3-inch MacBook Airs. Obviously the 11-inch model is desired for its absurd portability, but unless you have an external monitor it's probably hard to get actual work done when you have to crowd over a tiny screen for long periods of time. Some would say that's why the 13-inch model exists, to better serve MacBook Air customers that want more screen real estate. Yet, if recurring rumor is to be believed, neither model will be available for much longer.
That's where the heavily rumored 12-inch model comes in. Such a size will aim to please everyone. Plus, with the much sharper Retina display, users will experience much less eye-strain. And manufacturing a single laptop would be much easier on Apple's manufacturing partners.
The other new additions, or more accurately put subtractions, to the 2014 MacBook Air may include a fan-free design and the removal of the mechanically clicking trackpad function. Both of these moves are directly tied to making the macbook air thinner, lighter and quieter. If you're wondering how the trackpad would work without the ubiquitous clicky-button fear not. Force feedback and optical sensors will intelligently pick up how hard or soft your clicks are.
KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that all these innovations would come together to "redefine laptop computing once again following the milestone created by the MacBook Air."
Would you buy a 12-inch MacBook Air? If so, what tasks would you be primarily using the laptop for? Word processing perhaps? Or light photo and video editing? Maybe even as a media player? Let us know in the comments section below.