Today, Apple announced a new MacBook Air, which is more of an attempted realignment and a renaming, than it is a whole new design of the popular notebook.
Apple was in full spin mode on this “new” MacBook Air announcement. The focus was on how this new Air was such a vast improvement over the old MacBook Air. Smaller footprint, lighter, thinner, retina display, butterfly keyboard, better trackpad, small bezels, etc. Sound familiar? These specs are nothing new, when you consider this is just a newer 12-inch MacBook. Apple has just finally decided to name the MacBook, the MacBook Air, but with a few notable upgrades. 13-inch display, 2 USB-C ports and Touch ID to name a few. It’s essentially, the all new MacBook, but rebranded MacBook Air. The odd thing is, Apple is still selling the 12-inch MacBook for $1299 with no refresh. Apple, why?! It doesn’t make any sense to sell the smaller, lower spec MacBook for $100 more. The 12-inch MacBook shouldn’t even exist, or at the very least, drop the price to $1099. And, that’s the other thing I am a little disappointed with. The new Air’s price point not being $999 and Apple’s decision to keep the older MacBook Air model around to fill that price point. I’m guessing the retina display demanded the higher price tag, but this decision just muddies the waters.
Despite the $200 premium over the older MacBook Air, I think the new MacBook Air is a great notebook and is the full realization of the 12-inch MacBook. However, Apple has just made their MacBook line-up even more convoluted. After all this time, we had hoped Apple would simplify and tidy up the MacBook family. Instead, it’s as confusing as ever.
