Hey, I'm considering picking up a 13" Ultimate MBA to replace my early 2008 MB Pro. My CPU uses are quite minimal, and I plan to use this machine for basic tasks (word-processing, web browsing, listening to music). With Sandybridge release around the corner, my only worry is that the C2D will become obsolete soon and will diminish the longevity of the MBA, which I would like to last for at least 1-2 years. Is it better to buy now, or wait a few months for the refresh? Thanks!
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Advice: Wait For Better Processor?
- Thread starter John25
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It is very simple. If you have no use for a MBA now, wait. Otherwise get one and enjoy it.
First of all, the last refresh was 2 months ago. I'd be very surprised if the next refresh comes before July, even with the Sandy Bridge debut in January. Expect the MacBook (if it's being continued) and the MacBook Pro line to get those chips first.
Second, the Core 2 Duo-based current version should have ample power for the next 2 years for the tasks that you describe. It's still far more powerful than the Atom chips that Intel will be selling to manufacturers of netbooks for the next few years.
The Core Duo Nvidia graphics combo in the current MBA is very powerful and won't be easily topped by the new Sandy Bridge chip. What will go into the next upgrade, rumored to be 4th QTR 2011, is a Sandy Bridge i3 (read relabeled Celeron) using Intel integrated graphics. First, it will be questionable that the new chip alone will be much more powerful than the current one. But whatever is gained by the newer processor will be lost with the crappy Intel graphics.
Statements like that that really get my goat!
The C2D in today's MBA will be just as fast in 2 years time it won't slow down. What you're concerned about is there being something better on the market in 6 months time... Well of course there will be, in fact i'd put my house on the fact that there will be a faster processor in the MBA in 12 months time, but so what?? How on earth would that make it obselete!? I have a 5 year old MacMini with a CD processor, but it's still my main home computuer, runs latest OSX, CS5 Master Suite and everything else needed, but just not as quick as a new one, hardly obselete is it!
As long as the MBA you buy today performs the tasks you need it to, then whats the problem?
Definitely wait...
- for bigger battery..
- for bigger processor..
- for bigger memory..
- for bigger video card..
- for bigger BUS speed..
- for bigger storage drive..
- for bigger price tag..
- for bigger apple store to buy from..
- for bigger fear of commitment..
hehe, all kidding aside, like others have said... if you buy on the day something comes out it still means something better will soon be released, so the bottom line is this:
Do you think it's sexi?
Do you have the $ to pay for it?
Will it do what you want?
If YES to all of the above, then buy it.
- for bigger battery..
- for bigger processor..
- for bigger memory..
- for bigger video card..
- for bigger BUS speed..
- for bigger storage drive..
- for bigger price tag..
- for bigger apple store to buy from..
- for bigger fear of commitment..
hehe, all kidding aside, like others have said... if you buy on the day something comes out it still means something better will soon be released, so the bottom line is this:
Do you think it's sexi?
Do you have the $ to pay for it?
Will it do what you want?
If YES to all of the above, then buy it.
I'm in the exact same boat with my Early 2008 MBP. I was going to SSD swap the SuperDrive to make it feel a little snappier, but I'm attracted to the 13 MBA because it has the same resolution and isn't weighing down my mobile lifestyle with a massive 5.4lbs in my bag. I am considering selling the MBP now to get the most money for it and just using a desktop/iPad combo and wait for the move away from core 2 duo.
You live just fine now with a C2D, why not buy the sexi light new system and live with it for 2 years since it obviously suits your needs.
Not sure why people don't actually research what a processor does and actually realize that a C2D is by no means a "crippled" processor. If you want to burry your head in the sand and just listen to marketing, buy a PC. You can buy the same specs in a super-lightweight netbook from Acer for about $299.
The MBA Ultimate will seem a lot faster anyway with the SSD. I replaced a late 2008 MB Alu 2.4/4/250 with the 2010 MBA Ultimate and aside from the MBA starting up much faster, being 2/3rds the weight, and having a much nicer screen I hardly notice a difference 
Same here. I can tell no difference between the way my 13 inch Ultimate MBA performs and the way my 2.4GHZ Santa Rosa MBD was running the same setup.The MBA Ultimate will seem a lot faster anyway with the SSD. I replaced a late 2008 MB Alu 2.4/4/250 with the 2010 MBA Ultimate and aside from the MBA starting up much faster, being 2/3rds the weight, and having a much nicer screen I hardly notice a difference
honestly the MBA has felt extremely quick for me in my uses, which include HD video viewing, microsoft office 11 suite, lots of forum browsing, and the likes.
the SSD makes it feel incredibly quick, go play with one in an apple store and see for yourself.
the SSD makes it feel incredibly quick, go play with one in an apple store and see for yourself.
Ivy Bridge is the code name for the next upgrade of the Core i-series chips after "Sandy Bridge." Sandy Bridge is coming next month. Ivy Bridge is coming at the end of next year. Both will provide graphics processor updates.
Where are you getting this info? There is no i3 processor (at least in Arrandale, and therefore probably not in Sandy Bridge) that can get the thermals right for a MBA without sacrificing HUGE CPU Speeds. The only Lower-Voltage (18W or lower) i3 chip is the i3-680UM - it runs at 1.33Ghz and now turbo boost. Even if Sandy Bridge bumps that to 1.4 or 1.6Ghz, there's no way Apple's using that in a MBA.
Same with the i5-UM processors - they only go to 1.33Ghz, with a turbo to 2.13Ghz. That might work for an updated MBA.
The best bet (though by no means a sure thing) would be the successor to the current i7-680UM (which runs at 1.42Ghz and turbos to 2.53Ghz). If they can bump that clock speed a little, and keep the TDP at 18W, that part is the same $$ as the current SL9400/9600 being used in the 13" MBA.
And regarding Graphics, they've already benchmarked the higher-end Sandy Bridge i7 mobile chips and found they handily beat other IGPs, and matched even the 330M currently in the 15"/17" MBP. It's surprising to me too, but it looks like Intel *finally* got graphics chips right with Sandy Bridge.
I am waiting for the first spec bump update, at least.
Hoping the CPU gets bumped to 2.0Ghz+ on the base model 13". And who knows, maybe 4GB RAM will be standard by then too!
Also, it's a good way to avoid the issues that always arise in early adopter units of newly redesigned products. I've been there before (when the Macbook first went aluminum), and it's not fun.
Just my 2 cents!
Hoping the CPU gets bumped to 2.0Ghz+ on the base model 13". And who knows, maybe 4GB RAM will be standard by then too!
Also, it's a good way to avoid the issues that always arise in early adopter units of newly redesigned products. I've been there before (when the Macbook first went aluminum), and it's not fun.
Just my 2 cents!
I'm also waiting, although since I already have a MBP, I can wait it out. The Core2Duo is a solid, venerable architecture, but it's very old and far behind current technology. The speed is adequate, but newer machines, and particularly the 11" MBA with its severe size and weight constraints, will really benefit from the better power efficiency of today's architectures. Currently it gets 5 hours of battery, that's not horrible, but it's not that great either.
Ideally I would like an i7-class CPU (but downclocked), a little better graphics than the 320 (which are not bad), an SD slot, 256 GB SSD HD option, and a return of the backlit keyboard. And a pony. If they can get that into the 11" MBA form factor with a 7 hour battery life, that would be one awesome machine.
Ideally I would like an i7-class CPU (but downclocked), a little better graphics than the 320 (which are not bad), an SD slot, 256 GB SSD HD option, and a return of the backlit keyboard. And a pony. If they can get that into the 11" MBA form factor with a 7 hour battery life, that would be one awesome machine.