MacBook Air wafts around the rumorscape

Of our predictions about Macworld this year, the subnotebook likely topped the list for most mentioned, and though the name MacBook Air sounded strange to me when I first heard it (come to think of it, it still sounds weird, unless this is actually a product made out of hardened atmosphere), it looks like the evidence is mounting. Over the weekend, the name appeared in an Adium X usage log, and now we've got news that search engine ads and domain name lookups all point to Apple as the owner of macbookair.com (even if the site itself doesn't).

So is this the name of Apple's new subnotebook? Of course, we won't know for sure until Steve says it on stage, but while it's not, on the surface, Apple's best naming choice, it could work, in an "Airport" and "Air Tunes" kind of way. It could be worse-- the thing could be called the MacPod. Or the PodBook. Or the PodMac. Or the Lisa.

Update: macbookair.com isn't owned by Apple, but by some merry prankster. Let the speculation continue!

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/14/more-macbook-air-evidence…

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Macworld Analysis / Opinion Hardware Rumors Airport

Of our predictions about Macworld this year, the subnotebook likely topped the list for most mentioned, and though the name MacBook Air...

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sirsteven

Consumers need to know what they are NOT getting if they purchase a MacBook Air. I had 3 clients tell me yesterday they were going to buy one...so i made a short film and posted it on youtube.

http://youtube.com/profile?user=stevesperandeo

January 16 2008 at 2:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jpt

Even MacBook.com isn't owned by Apple, no reason for them to own MacBookAir.com

January 14 2008 at 11:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

walkerjs

You just described a Macbook.

I still have a Toshiba Libretto (with a cracked screen) so something that size is entirely possible, and usable. Well, VHS tape sized, perhaps not iPod sized at any rate.

A smaller Macbook with an iTouch screen on it? Perhaps. I have to wait until some time after noon my time (eastern) but I'm looking forward to it.

January 14 2008 at 8:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

roobois

No, that picture is a fake.

For the new ultra-portable, think Apple's new bluetooth keyboard, but with a screen attached.

January 14 2008 at 7:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Andrew

That looks like a photoshopped iPod. It's about the same shape and size, and you can see the port on the right-hand side. The screen is definitely shopped: there's no glare or reflection, and it's running Tiger, but there's no Spotlight or battery indicator.

Also, that's a damn ugly piece of hardware. It doesn't go with Apple's new style -- no anodized aluminum.

January 14 2008 at 7:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Andrew's comment

Andrew

Oh, and check out how small it is relative to the keyboard in the background. It's gotta be a photoshopped iPod.

January 14 2008 at 7:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Where did the story that Apple owns macbookair.com come from? All WHOIS searches I run come up with a blocked registrant, not Apple.

Also, you can plug anything into http://www.apple.com/? and come up with the Apple front page. Try these:

http://www.apple.com/?I+love+you

or

http://www.apple.com/?There+will+be+no+MacBook+Air

My guess is that this is a hoax. Somebody bought the domain and set it up to autoforward to that URL, with the hope that people would think it was legit. Guess it worked...

January 14 2008 at 6:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Uncle Mac

It's probably something to do with Nike. :-(

January 14 2008 at 5:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

nick

Apple launches a nation wide wireless network?

January 14 2008 at 5:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cooper

You know that the www.macbookair.com is now going to the apple site?

January 14 2008 at 5:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Robert

The picture is from an old "What would Jobs do" contest on Engadget I think.

http://www.mac-air.com/