15-inch MacBook Air / Pro Release Date Scheduled for March 2012?
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Apple is currently the most important Ultrabook maker out there, although the company isn’t using this newly invented synonym for ultra-portable, ultra-thin notebooks to describe its MacBook Air product line.
But that’s the reality, at least so far, as no other rival can compete with the Air when it comes to sales. And considering the popularity of the Air models, we’re not surprised to hear that Apple may launch a 15-inch MacBook Air (ultra-thin MacBook Pro) at some point next year.
This isn’t the first time the company has been rumored to be working on a 15-inch ultra-slim notebook, but this time around DigiTimes is suggesting a launch may be a lot closer than expected:
Upstream suppliers of Apple have recently started shipping a small volume of components for a 15-inch ultra-thin notebook model from Apple in November and the device could be either MacBook Air or just a thinner MacBook Pro. […]
Estimated by the product planning, mass shipments of the notebook device will start in March and could be cataloged in either the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro line.
The publication is not always right when it comes to Apple-related rumors but that doesn’t mean we’re not hoping to see such a product hit stores soon especially since the competition is also expected to launch 15-inch Ultrabook models in the near future. Acer wants to launch its 15-inch Ultrabook in the second quarter of next year while Asus is yet to mention a release date for its own 15-inch ultra-portable model.
I personally can’t wait for an ultra-portable 15-inch MacBook Air/Pro laptop. I’m not an Air buyer and I won’t get one as I fancy larger displays that come in handy with this line of work. But a 15-inch MacBook Air/Pro model would certainly replace my current 15-inch Pro laptop.
Let’s hear it from you, MacBook Pro owners, do you still need the optical drive, or are you ready to dump it in favor of a slimmed-down design?
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The TFTS Team
My two cents worth…Dump the optical. I have not used mine once in the last 10 months. Thin is in, baby!
I totally agree with daniel – the last time I used my optical drive was probably last year! Can’t wait for the new pro/air to come out!
Apple recently filed a patent for an ultrathin optical drive. My guess is that the new Pro-Air 15″ will have an optical drive.
Since it is an Apple patent, Intel’s Ultrabooks will not be able to do the optical drive thing.
AND…. doesn’t it seem odd that Intel is basically attacking Apple’s Air with Ultrabooks? Given Intel’s history of finding ways to punish manufacturers for breaking exclusivity, do you think Apple broke out of Intel’s exclusionary contract?
Not having the DVD drive is not a big issue ( I use mine maybe once a month, and one can buy a external drive)