4 ms·

I never understood what was(is) the point of going so thin for our laptops and phones. There are so many compromises to make in order to get there. I am almost

I never understood what was(is) the point of going so thin for our laptops and phones. There are so many compromises to make in order to get there. I am almost sure it's done to satisfy tech reviewers that set trends for consumers rather than a consumer's need (need/choice/wish/desire/etc.).

toomuchtodo 11y ago
I do DevOps. I don't need a powerful rig, but it does need to be light as I'm married to my macbook air (it does not leave my side when I'm on my on-call rotations). If the air is truly being killed off, I'd probably go buy another one or two refurbed to keep as spares for the next 5-10 years.
- twoodfin 11y ago
  What would make that setup superior for you to a Skylake MacBook with another USB-C port or two?
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    I have dual Thunderbolt displays at home for my MBA. Is there a proper USB-C->Thunderbolt adapter yet?
    - bergie 11y ago
      Apple sells an adapter, I believe. The latest version of Thunderbolt is using the USB-C connector (and is compatible with it), so I assume next generation of Apple laptops will only have these ports. https://thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-does-it-all https://thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-d...
      - toomuchtodo 11y ago
        TILd! Thank you!
rconti 11y ago
I've got a 2011 Air and it's the best machine I've ever owned. I'm not saying making it thinner would make it better, but I DEFINITELY get a huge amount of enjoyment from having a machine that thin vs, say, a 13" or 15" MBP. I often travel with both the Air and the 15" MBP Retina, and despite the 15" being much faster in every way, and having a vastly better screen, I never use the MBP unless I have to for work. The Air is just so much more convenient to deal with. The size and weight make a HUGE difference.
- vinhboy 11y ago
  The fact that I can easily move my MBA around with one hand is the most life changing part of it for me. I can easily put it on my nightstand, corner table, etc...
eva1984 11y ago
For marketing purpose. This is the only thing I can think of.

toomuchtodo 11y ago

I do DevOps. I don't need a powerful rig, but it does need to be light as I'm married to my macbook air (it does not leave my side when I'm on my on-call rotations). If the air is truly being killed off, I'd probably go buy another one or two refurbed to keep as spares for the next 5-10 years.

twoodfin 11y ago
What would make that setup superior for you to a Skylake MacBook with another USB-C port or two?
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  I have dual Thunderbolt displays at home for my MBA. Is there a proper USB-C->Thunderbolt adapter yet?
  - bergie 11y ago
    Apple sells an adapter, I believe. The latest version of Thunderbolt is using the USB-C connector (and is compatible with it), so I assume next generation of Apple laptops will only have these ports. https://thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-does-it-all https://thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-d...
    - toomuchtodo 11y ago
      TILd! Thank you!

rconti 11y ago

I've got a 2011 Air and it's the best machine I've ever owned. I'm not saying making it thinner would make it better, but I DEFINITELY get a huge amount of enjoyment from having a machine that thin vs, say, a 13" or 15" MBP. I often travel with both the Air and the 15" MBP Retina, and despite the 15" being much faster in every way, and having a vastly better screen, I never use the MBP unless I have to for work. The Air is just so much more convenient to deal with. The size and weight make a HUGE difference.

vinhboy 11y ago
The fact that I can easily move my MBA around with one hand is the most life changing part of it for me. I can easily put it on my nightstand, corner table, etc...

eva1984 11y ago

For marketing purpose. This is the only thing I can think of.