“A fresh report says that, indeed, the new MacBook Pros and MacBook Air are imminent,” Brooke Crothers reports for Forbes. “Japanese-language site Macotakara – considered a reliable purveyor of Apple rumors – is reporting that the new MacBook Pros and 13-inch version of the MacBook Air are slated to be announced this month.”
“This jibes with both Bloomberg reports and with what Rhoda Alexander, Director Tablet and Notebook PCs at IHS Markit Technology, told me last month,” Crothers reports. “Alexander told me: ‘Production started in the second calendar quarter on refreshes of the 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch MacBook Pro [and] the 13.3-inch MacBook Air.'”
“Macotakara says that the 11-inch version of the MacBook Air will be discontinued. Possibly because that market need is already met by the super-svelte 12-inch MacBook,” Crothers reports. “The Japanese site adds that there will be USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 port ‘support,’ thereby eliminating the traditional USB-A connector. ”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Depending on how much the MacBook Pro tempts – and we expect it to be nearly irresistible – with out beloved 11-inch MacBook Airs biting the dust, it’s looking like 12-inch MacBooks are going into our backpacks along with our 12.9-inch MacBook Pro units. Both together weigh less than the 17-inch MacBook Pros we used to carry (one computer on the road and on the desktop) before we bifurcated to small and light on the road (11-inch MacBook Airs / 9.7-inch iPad Airs) and big and brawny on the desktop (27-inch iMacs, loaded). We’ll wait to see just how much we’re tempted by the MacBook Pros first, though.
SEE ALSO:
Apple still plans all-new MacBook Pro this month, new USB-C MacBook Air also in the works, sources say – October 18, 2016
As new MacBook Pro models loom, Apple issues fourth beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.1 – October 11, 2016
Thoughts on Apple’s MacBook Pro OLED touch strip – August 11, 2016
Apple preps all-new MacBook Pro line with OLED touch strip and more – August 10, 2016
Apple’s new MacBook Pro expected to feature OLED touch-panel, Touch ID power button – August 8, 2016
Next-gen MacBook Pro could feature Touch ID power button – June 28, 2016
Leaked photos pretty much confirm 2016 MacBook Pro’s OLED touchpad – June 1, 2016
Thinner, lighter 2016 MacBook Pro may feature OLED display touch bar and Touch ID – May 24, 2016
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Tom R.” for the heads up.]