13-inch

Apple Byte: Has Apple lost some of its magic?

Apple's iPad Mini event was received by onlookers with mixed reviews, so has the company lost its edge? We'll break down everything Apple didn't tell you at the iPad Mini keynote presentation.

There were plenty of exciting hardware releases, including all-new iMacs, Mac Minis, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, but it was the updated, fourth-generation iPad that caused the most controversy. Just seven months after the "new iPad," we're getting another? I'm throwing out the Bad Apple.

Did Apple reignite your passion for technology with its latest keynote address? Or … Read more

Apple launches ad for 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro

Want to get a better look at all of the gorgeous angles of Apple's new 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro? A new Apple "Colors" ad does just that.

With "for the pro in all of us" as the tagline for the ad, it appeared during ABC's "Modern Family," as well as other shows earlier.

In the ad, Apple does a 90-degree pan and seems keen on showing the display from all angles to underscore the wide viewing-angle attributes of its IPS tech.

As a quick refresher, the just-announced 13.3-inch MBP has … Read more

Is Apple trying to bury Microsoft under a product avalanche?

Can Microsoft crawl out from under the stack of Apple products announced today?

I don't think I'm the only one stunned by the crush of new Apple products. What, a fourth-generation iPad already? New Mac Minis? Then the new iMacs on top of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro?

Apple seemed to throw everything but the kitchen sink out there today. But that's only because the rest of the kitchen sink -- the new iPhone and iPod -- was already out there.

Maybe Apple just felt it was time to do a mega-upload of new products. Or maybe, … Read more

Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro rumored to start at $1,699

The rumored 13-inch version of Apple's MacBook Pro with a Retina Display will cost some $500 more than Apple's existing, non-Retina 13-inch model, according to a new report.

Citing "wholesale prices," 9to5Mac says the 13-inch model of the notebook will start at $1,699 when it goes on sale next week. That's $500 less than the entry-level version of Apple's 15-inch model with a Retina Display, but also $500 more than the entry-level 13-incher on the non-Retina side.

Apple, of course, has not announced the smaller version of the Retina-equipped Pro, but its arrival … Read more

How about a 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina with that iPhone 5?

The iPhone 5 and iPad Mini buzz dominates headlines, but signs point to Apple also coming out with a new MacBook Pro that's nothing to sniff at.

DisplaySearch has been telling CNET for a few weeks now that a 13.3-inch Retina version of the MacBook Pro (MBP) is slated for production this quarter.

An Asia-based report followed suit today, saying that "mass production" has begun of the 13.3-inch Retina Pro. An Apple announcement is expected in either September or October, according to the DigiTimes report, citing "supply chain" sources.

That MBP 13-incher will … Read more

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro displays in production

Production is under way for a Retina display targeted at a more mainstream MacBook Pro, CNET has learned.

Production has begun of a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display that will land on a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro, NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim told CNET.

"The supply chain indications are that it's for a MacBook Pro 13.3 -- not a MacBook Air," said Shim.

Displays are being made by Samsung, LGD, and Sharp, he said.

Shim said that production volume is expected to be substantially higher out of the gate compared to the current 15.4-inch … Read more

Best MacBook Air cases and covers

When a hot Apple product hits the market, it has a tendency to spur a cottage industry of accessories. The MacBook Air is no exception, with several companies making MacBook Air cases and covers.

Since the Air's design hasn't really changed in the last couple of years, most of the cases, covers, and sleeves that worked for the older 11- and 13-inch 2010 and 2011 models should work with the updated 2012 MacBook Air versions.

As always, feel free to make your own suggestions for cases and covers you like and we'll consider adding them in the next update.

Click on any image to start slideshow. Cases are listed in alphabetical order.

Updated August 8, 2012 with four new cases.… Read more

MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 2012 roundup

Editors' note: This post was updated October 26, 2012, with all 2012 MacBook Air and Pro reviews, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

As 2012 draws to a close, we've seen the death of one MacBook, the 17-inch Pro, and the addition of two new models -- 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros with thinner bodies and high-resolution Retina displays. All now have third-generation Intel Core i-series processors, Thunderbolt ports, and USB 3.0, while the two new Retina models even have HDMI outputs, a long-requested feature.

The Retina models are impressive reboots, walking the line between slim … Read more

13-inch MacBook Air vs. 13-inch MacBook Pro: Which should you buy?

MacBook Air. MacBook Pro. Once upon a time, these two products were significantly different from each other, two totally different products. That dividing line's been blurring, especially when it comes to the world of 13-inch MacBooks.

The MacBook Air used to be an underperforming, expensive laptop with stellar design, while the 13-inch Pro was a full-featured, far more robust machine. The truth is, these systems are closer in performance and price than ever before. … Read more

The Toshiba Excite 13 sports the largest tablet screen yet

Tablet screens are evolving. So far in 2012, we've seen the iPad double its resolution to 2048x1536 and the AMOLED-based Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 reach black-level depths that were previously unheard of (but, thankfully becoming more common) on a tablet. So where do we go from here? If Toshiba has its say, we go big.

Today Toshiba introduced the first tablet to break the 10.1-inch barrier. Its new Excite 13 sports a 13.3-inch IPS screen, running at a 1,600x900-pixel resolution and comes installed with Android 4.0.

I got a chance to briefly play around with the tablet a few weeks ago. One might expect a tablet with a 3-inch larger screen to feel a bit light but somewhat heavier than conventional 10-inchers and that's exactly what I found here.… Read more