New iPad Pro and MacBook Air unveiled - LiDAR, floating display, and trackpads, OH MY!

[rcmaehl]

Thread in progress. I will be adding media and other content throughout the day

Sources:

Apple (iPad Pro)
Apple (Macbook Air)

CNBC (Quote Source)

 

Summary:
The new iPad Pro has been announced with a myriad of new features and support.

Media:


Quotes/Excerpts:

1 hour ago, CNBC said:

Apple announced a new iPad Pro and MacBook Air. The product launches came through a press release instead of Apple’s typical spring in-person event as companies work to increase social distancing. Apple Stores around the world are closed until March 27, and are closed indefinitely in the U.S. They recently reopened in China. The iPad Pro will ship in two sizes,...an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch model, beginning next week. The 11-inch iPad Pro will start at $799 while the 12.9-inch model will start at $999. The new iPads feature a lidar scanner that can be used to measure the distance to objects. Apple says this will allow for “a whole new class” of augmented reality experiences on the iPad. There are additional cameras, too, including a wide-angle lens that captures in 4K and an ultra wide angle lens with zoom. Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will be available in May for $299 for the 11-inch model and $349 for the 12.9-inch model. It includes a trackpad for the first time.

1 hour ago, CNBC said:

Apple’s new MacBook Air has a redesigned Magic Keyboard using the same style keyboard design that was introduced in the 16-inch MacBook Pro. It finally fixes lots of the issues people experienced with the keyboard. It starts at $999 and is available to order beginning Wednesday. Apple is doubling the storage from 128GB to 256GB on the entry-level models. Other features include improved microphones. It also includes support for up to a 6K external display with new Thunderbolt 3 ports, new stereo speakers and support for up to 2TB of storage. It uses a Touch ID fingerprint pad, just like the other MacBook Air products.

 

My Thoughts:

LiDAR is pretty neat and same with the floating display hinge. I really doubt the keyboard is finally fixed. They've said it has been several times and it never was. Regardless, I have to admit the new apple devices look really nice.

Edited March 18, 2020 by rcmaehl
Restored second quote. Thanks @VegetableStu

[Ashley MLP Fangirl]

YESSSS FINALLY

 

i'm upgrading to that macbook air within this year if the plans i have in terms of money don't get ruined by covid-19

[SeraphicWings]

We need to see the internal of the MBA, if Apple finally ditch that stupid thermal design from older gen MBA then it will sparks my interest

 

Also that new keyboard looks dope, but for $300, err...

[rcmaehl]

7 minutes ago, VegetableStu said:

oh right oof, they better have fixed that critical failure in design

I'm sure we'll know within the next few days

[williamcll]

>quad core i7

pass

[Blademaster91]

$999 for a dual core,lmao.

[Sauron]

36 minutes ago, SeraphicWings said:

We need to see the internal of the MBA, if Apple finally ditch that stupid thermal design from older gen MBA then it will sparks my interest

Also the CPU lineup is pathetic, maxing out at a quad core ULP i7 (presumably the starter model still has a dual core).

 

If anyone is considering this I strongly encourage you to check out ASUS' UX line.

[Commodus]

26 minutes ago, Blademaster91 said:

$999 for a dual core,lmao.

That's the main failing.  The quad-core chips are appreciated, but they really should be standard on the base model.  At least you can custom-order with quad-core if you don't want to pay for 512GB of storage at the same time.

[rcmaehl]

QUICK. ANYONE STILL IN THE THREAD. DON'T REFRESH. I NEED A COPY OF MY SECOND QUOTE. IT GOT DELETED

 

Thanks @VegetableStu 

[SeraphicWings]

16 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Also the CPU lineup is pathetic, maxing out at a quad core ULP i7 (presumably the starter model still has a dual core).

 

If anyone is considering this I strongly encourage you to check out ASUS' UX line.

The i3 model is a joke, but quad-core i5 I think makes sense, no point putting a six-core in that thin chassis just to get throttle to hell

[DrMacintosh]

4 hours ago, rcmaehl said:

I really doubt the keyboard is finally fixed. They've said it has been several times and it never was.

The Magic Keyboard is the same scissor switch design as the keyboards used on the 2015 MBP, just with reduced travel. 

[DrMacintosh]

3 hours ago, Commodus said:

That's the main failing. 

Is it though? For the majority of MBA owners the heaviest workload they are going to be doing is a animated power point. Don’t need more than 2C/4T for that. What really matters is the GPU improvements which accelerate everything in macOS and makes up for CPU deficiencies. 

[Techstorm970]

*falls out of chair*
*starts running around and flailing arms like an idiot*
THEY UPGRADED THE MACBOOK AIR PROCESSOR!!!!!!

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[rawrdaysgoby]

There is nothing worth noting with the new tablet besides the camera upgrade. THE KEYBOARD is where it is at that 300$ keyboard btw they also have new smart keyboards as well but those suck.

 

The new KEYBOARD has "USB-C "charging pass through with support for external drives/cameras etc etc It is also a "Floating HINGE"<--- That is quite a big deal. The trackpad seems lame? Looks super small.  

[suicidalfranco]

well i might have lost complete interest on the Mac, but the iPad is the only device left from Apple that intrigues me. This might be the one I might end up picking, if I don't splurge all my fun money on a new phone this year.

[Commodus]

1 hour ago, DrMacintosh said:

Is it though? For the majority of MBA owners the heaviest workload they are going to be doing is a animated power point. Don’t need more than 2C/4T for that. What really matters is the GPU improvements which accelerate everything in macOS and makes up for CPU deficiencies. 

I'd maintain that it is.  It's not so much specific tasks as that the earlier Air wheezed a bit in general, that it felt like a step back in some areas compared to the last non-Retina Air's processing power.  And the faster GPU will only do so much, especially if you're juggling more than one app at a time.

 

Thankfully, the price cut also means you don't have to pay a significant premium over the old model to get that leap in performance... but if it had been available in the $999 model, I'd have been happier.

[hishnash]

1 hour ago, Techstorm970 said:

*falls out of chair*
*starts running around and flailing arms like an idiot*
THEY UPGRADED THE MACBOOK AIR PROCESSOR!!!!!!

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

It did take intel a long time to release a new cpu in that thermal bracket yes.

[Jet_ski]

The new iPad Pro isn’t that different from the one the one released in 2018. Most iPad Pro users don't buy it for the camera.

 

Since the new iPad Pro uses Apple Pencil (2nd gen) I think the 2018 model will be compatible with the new magic keyboard too. There’s no way Apple’s trackpad isn’t better than sufficient. That’s one thing they are great at making.

 

There’s a lot of criticism of the MacBook Air refresh here and elsewhere but they are missing the point. Majority of the people don’t need or want the latest maxed out hardware. What they need is a very reliable system that runs smoothly even 5 years later without much maintenance. My sister still uses her old MacBook Air from 5 years ago, it gets software updates, battery hold charge, and most apps run smoothly. That’s a very different experience from every other laptop I’ve owned. My Surface Book has issues recognizing audio outputs constantly. It thermal throttles frequently... My Lenovo holds a shameful 3 hours of charge after only 18 months of use.

 

So yea the MacBook Air refresh isn’t gonna run Doom or Crisis but it will work great for non-gamers and designers for years. And Apple will keep making a killing off of it.

[Yeroh]

The MacBook finally getting to a reasonable price point is much appreciated, especially since they've made the base spec more bearable. Granted, the Dual Core is a turn off, but at least they've finally ditched the 128 GB base storage. And, in fairness, 50€ extra nets you a Quad Core i5, so I think this might just be the most sensible MacBook in a while.

 

Couldn't really care less about the iPad to be honest. It won't ever really be able to replace a computer, and at that price it's just straight up unreasonable. For standard tablet duty, the cheaper models are just fine.

[GoodBytes]

So after laughing at Microsoft, Apple admit that Microsoft was right with the new iPad cover.

Well, well, well, maybe next time, don't laugh at others before seeing... something that Microsoft learned in the past.

[Soppro]

Now time to update the 13” MBP, Apple! It’s the only one without the new Magic Keyboard

[Jet_ski]

3 hours ago, Soppro said:

Now time to update the 13” MBP, Apple! It’s the only one without the new Magic Keyboard

Maybe make it a 14” in the same 13” frame too?! Upgrade the damn webcam! And get micro-LED display.

[hishnash]

1 hour ago, Jet_ski said:

Maybe make it a 14” in the same 13” frame too?! Upgrade the damn webcam! And get micro-LED display.

Damb that would be a nice laptop

 

 

[RedRound2]

On 3/19/2020 at 6:48 AM, GoodBytes said:

So after laughing at Microsoft, Apple admit that Microsoft was right with the new iPad cover.

Well, well, well, maybe next time, don't laugh at others before seeing... something that Microsoft learned in the past.

Did they say anything against mouse support on the iPad? They've always been agains macOS in iPad and how the user interface would just not suite well at all for iPad like device, which is the case with Windows on Surface (and not mentioning the slew of issues Surface devices usally have during their lifetimes)

[Commodus]

12 hours ago, RedRound2 said:

Did they say anything against mouse support on the iPad? They've always been agains macOS in iPad and how the user interface would just not suite well at all for iPad like device, which is the case with Windows on Surface (and not mentioning the slew of issues Surface devices usally have during their lifetimes)

I don't think Apple has said much of anything against mice on iPads, it just wasn't a priority for a touch device.  Its main beefs against touch on Macs was both optimization and the ergonomics (it doesn't think you should have to constantly lift your arm when you're at a desk).

 

The iPad Pro sits in this odd limbo zone because, with the Magic Keyboard, it's effectively a touchscreen Apple laptop.