“9to5 Mac has an article presenting a new 12″ MacBook Air, with photos and detailed information about what this new laptop will be like,” Kirk McElhearn writes for Kirksville. “According to the website: ‘Sources within Apple, who have used internal prototype versions of the upcoming computer, have provided in-depth details about the machine, and our exclusive artist renditions of the revamped MacBook Air provide the first close look…'”
“Well, I’m going to be a bit skeptical. First, all of the renditions of the MacBook Air in the article are, as they say, ‘exclusive artist renditions.’ And this information is based on sources ‘who have used internal prototypes,'” McElhearn writes. “The most striking information in the article is not so much the size or shape – thinner, with a narrower keyboard – but the number of ports on the side of the computer.”
“I can’t accept that Apple would have a single USB port,” McElhearn writes. “Apple famously ditched floppy drives, back with the first iMac, and optical drives more recently, but a single port on a computer is too regressive. So I’ll call it BS for now.”
Read more in the full article here.
John gruber writes for Daring Fireball, “I have numerous questions regarding Mark Gurman’s report that the upcoming next-generation MacBook Air does away with all ports other than two: a USB Type-C and a headphone jack. But one that I keep thinking about is MagSafe. I can definitely see getting rid of classic USB — it’s old and thick. Thunderbolt, sort of. But MagSafe?”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: MagSafe offers too much utility to ditch. Losing a power cable that detaches when yanked would be a big step backwards. However, on the other hand, the extremely light weight of the latest MacBook Airs sort of negates MagSafe. We’ve had 11-inch MacBook Air (Early 2014) units pulled nearly halfway across a desk before MagSafe detached, saving them from a nasty fall. Plus, if Apple could do away with all ports, you just know they would.
Related articles:
Why Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook Air can abandon almost all ports – January 6, 2015
Apple’s next major Mac revealed: Meet the radically new 12-inch MacBook Air – January 6, 2015