Rumor: Apple to introduce a new, different type of Mac

By Jeffrey Van Camp August 22, 2011

macbook-air-13-3-display-angle — Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’ve heard rumblings that the MacBook Air is where Apple is taking its lineup of Macs. Today’s rumor seems to verify this. Macatakara.jp claims that Apple is preparing to unveil a new line of MacBooks that are different from anything currently on the market. They are so different that they may get a new name or brand identity all together. Unfortunately, the rumor is extremely vague on details, but does note that the new Macs may debut before the “end of this year.”

AppleInsider claims that Macatakara.jp is somewhat hit or miss with rumors. The brief and vague nature of the report also lends itself to a lot of criticism. The new product, if there is one, could be a line of MacBook Pros that are taking on a MacBook Air design philosophy, meaning they’re much thinner, have no disc drives, and have a solid state drive instead of a moving hard drive. This makes sense, as laptop PCs seem to be moving in the direction of solid state drives.

If this is the case, however, it seems likely that the source would have mentioned the MacBook Air as these would essentially look a lot like it, just bigger. We’ll keep you posted, but until we hear more, take this rumor lightly.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Jeffrey Van Camp

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

Computing

The case for buying the M2 MacBook Air over the M3 model

The screen of the MacBook Air M2.

Apple's MacBook Air M2 recently stood at the top of our list of best laptops, and for good reason. It's incredibly well-built, exuding an elegance that few laptops can match. It's also plenty fast for productivity users, and its GPU is optimized for creators. Its keyboard, touchpad, and display are all top-notch.

Enter the MacBook Air M3, which (hint) took over the MacBook Air's place on that list. The upgraded chipset offers even faster performance, particularly in GPU-intensive apps, and the M3 model supports an additional external display (with the display closed). It's $100 more, but is that uptick in price justified? Let's dig in.
Specs and configurations

Computing

Why you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air

The 14-inch MacBook Pro on a window sill.

There are plenty of reasons to buy a MacBook Air instead of a MacBook Pro. If you want a MacBook on a budget, you don't necessarily need the goodies that come with upgrading to the MacBook Pro.

That being said, I'm going to argue for spending a little more. In my experience, the MacBook Pro offers several distinct advantages that help justify a higher price, especially with the introduction of the more affordable MacBook Pro 14 with the base M3. If you can stretch your budget a bit, here's why I think you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air.
Setting the stage: pricing

Computing

How to find a lost or stolen MacBook

The MacBook Air on a table in front of a window.

Whether you accidentally left your laptop on a plane, or it was stolen out of its sleeve when you weren’t looking, losing your MacBook is a horrible feeling. Luckily, Apple’s Find My network has provided macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devotees with a safe and reliable way to recover these missing devices. And unlike certain brands that place advanced surveillance features behind paywalls, the Find My network is completely free — you’ll just need to do a few things to get it set up.