New MacBook Pro/Air Release This Fall Could Be Hybrid: Detachable Screen, Desktop Capabilities And More
Apple's Spring event brought a number of new products under the company with the latest 12-inch Retina MacBook somehow stealing the spotlight from the Apple Watch. Whereas the device received mixed reactions, it can also be considered a good glimpse of what the tech giant may be targeting soon. In fact, combining the design of the laptop with the performance of the tablet may also imply the company's interest in producing hybrids. Will Apple step into such industry? Can it make hybrid MacBooks work?
Apple's latest MacBook have appealed and displeased several parts of the market. There has been a general consensus that it is not as powerful as the previous models or as expected from a laptop refresh. Nonetheless, it appears the company is targeting another segment of the market. According to Patently Apple, the company's switch to Intel's Core-M processor may suggest its interest on 2-in-1 designs. This set of Intel processors have been heavily linked on such uses that Apple may want to offer an interesting twist to its computer line.
The report, however, also notes Tim Cook's statement about notebook-tablet hybrids before: "But the problem is that products are about trade-offs, and you begin to make trade-offs to the point where what you have left at the end of the day doesn't please anyone." This though does not mean that the company is not entirely interested in exploring products similar to hybrids. As Apple seems keen on exploring product combinations, there may come a time the company may also look into putting other Mac capabilities on its laptop series but that remains debatable.
As if the design and performance were not enough, The Verge further points out another flaw on the new device: the USB Type C port may present a security risk. According to the site, the new port is powerful but still based on the USB standard. This makes the laptop still at risk of firmware attacks. Many are concerned that such plug can give direct memory access and make the system entirely vulnerable. Apple's newest laptop series will not ship until April but has started receiving negative feedback. The final verdict should arrive once the market has full access to the product.
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