Rumored new MacBook Air design could be a doubly smart move from Apple

Apple Separates Business Laptops from Consumer Laptops

Early Apple laptops were expensive and aimed primarily at business and professional users. This started with the Macintosh Portable (although "luggable" is a more accurate term) in 1989, before we even got the PowerBook line. The first of these was the 1991 PowerBook 100, and the last was the PowerBook G4 (aluminum) sold between 2001 and 2006.

The first Apple laptop aimed specifically at consumers was the iBook, launched in 1999 as the iBook G3. The design is clearly inspired by the iMac G3, and despite looking a lot like a toy now, it manages to turn the laptop into a fashionable item.

Looking at the PowerBook G3 aimed at professional users here, it couldn’t be clearer that the two machines are aimed at completely different markets:

Apple PowerBook G3 500 Pismo

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This separation continued, with the softer white iBook joining the PowerBook, followed closely by the MacBook Pro and MacBook.

Apple did briefly bring back the regular MacBook name for a cute (and expensive) 12-inch model, but since then it's been mostly MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Today’s Design Positioning

The wedge design has always been a key design differentiator between the Air and Pro, but with the laptop open, There's not much difference between them when viewed from the front or back. In its latest iteration, the Air is branded below the screen while the Pro doesn't, but both have the same aluminum casing and black bezels.

To the casual observer, there isn't much visual difference between the two machines. That's great if you want a professional-looking machine without paying for pro-grade performance you don't need, but not necessarily that great for Apple's bottom line. The MacBook Air has always been the default Mac, and the rumored 15-inch model could even make that possible for those who prefer a larger screen for everyday tasks.

In addition, apart from some color options, there are not many differences between different generations of MacBook Air. Those who care about looking cool in the local coffee shop can do so with a very old model.

Potential Impact of New MacBook Air Design

We're expecting big design changes for the upcoming models: they're said to be available in a variety of colors, echoing those of the latest iMacs. This is expected to include white bezels in place of black.

This will go a long way in convincing existing MacBook Air users to upgrade.

For the first time since the launch of the Air, they're getting a new look. Not just space gray or gold, but some new pastel shades. Many people will upgrade because they like one of the new colors, and the cool kids will do it to be seen to be using the latest model instead of the older model.

Between the excellent battery life of the M1 (and M2) chips and the new design, new machines will be flying off the shelves.

But there's an additional factor that I think could also improve Apple's bottom line: those white borders.

Many people don’t care. White or black, it's all the same to them. But a small percentage of people do care, either because they find the white borders distracting or simply because they don't like the aesthetic. Some of these people are willing to pay a premium for a base model MacBook Pro, even if they don't need the extra power supply. Apple has more money in its coffers.

There is also a potential additional factor: mainstream business users. The Air might give them all the functionality they need to run spreadsheets and present PowerPoint presentations, but they might not want to show up to client meetings with a green laptop. They might be willing to spend the extra money to have a softer-looking MacBook Pro. However, the iMac precedent suggests they could choose to buy a standard-looking silver model.

While most reports suggest we'll have to wait until next year to find out what Apple's plans are, we could see the launch of the new MacBook Air at WWDC in June.

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