Report: Apple to update laptops at WWDC


Bloomberg:

Apple is planning three new laptops, according to people familiar with the matter. The MacBook Pro will get a faster Kaby Lake processor from Intel Corp., said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss internal planning. Apple is also working on a new version of the 12-inch MacBook with a faster Intel chip. The company has also considered updating the aging 13-inch MacBook Air with a new processor as sales of the laptop, Apple's cheapest, remain surprisingly strong, one of the people said.

Two points here.. The MacBook Pro with Touchbar really turned higher end users off with its limited RAM. Other things bugged them like exclusive USB-C ports that require more dongles, but the memory situation seem to really make people unhappy. A primary reason for this was the Intel processor Apple chose for the slim, power sipping laptop. An upcoming Intel CPU promised to allow for once again memory capacities pros preferred. So, I'm guessing Apple is rushing this update to market to satisfy those customers.

Second, is how customers may be still resisting moving away from the MacBook Air. I love my 11-inch MacBook Air and have been using it for years because what I really want is an 11-inch Retina MacBook Air. Apple never gave us that, in fact, they killed the 11-inch model. I'll guess that cost-wise a Retina MacBook Air doesn't make sense against a Retina MacBook, so that's probably why it never happened. But for me, and I suspect many, the new MacBooks with lower-powered Intel Core M processors have yet to resonate for those wanting a slim laptop.

It's worth noting, however, when the MacBook Air came out it was panned. While it looked cool, I recall many ridiculing its lightweight specs and disproportionate price tag. People loved the design, just not the specs and price. The MacBooks seem in similar territory, but it would be nice to still have solid old school offerings to bridge the gap.