https://medium.com/@parismarx/with-the-macbook-air-apple-repeats-the-mistakes-it-made-on-the-macbook-de4bc2fba058

After years of being ignored, the MacBook Air finally got a refresh on October 30, cofounding analysts who long believe it would be phased out once the 12" MacBook (hereafter referred to simply as the “MacBook”) got a price cut. But with the new computer hitting shelves (or doorsteps) on November 7, it’s clear that Apple couldn’t drop it’s beloved MacBook Air brand — largely because the MacBook required customers to make far too many compromises.

The MacBook seemed like it was going to be the future of Apple’s ultra-portable laptops, but to take that step Apple demanded too much. First and foremost: the price. When the MacBook was introduced in 2015, there were two base configurations: $1,299 and $1,599. Three and a half years later, those prices haven’t come down, and while the MacBook did have the Retina screen that the MacBook Air did not, it wasn’t enough to justify the extra cost, especially when there were other tradeoffs to consider.