I have:
- v 2,1 MBA
- 2.13 GHz
- 128 GB Runcore SSD
- OS X Snow Leopard
If Apple releases an MBA with the following I will upgrade:
- 4 GB RAM OR/I prefer Two RAM Slots for up to 8 GB (I will gladly pay $1000 extra for 8 GB RAM)
- Penryn Core 2 Duo SL9x00 or Arrandale without IGP
- Nvidia or ATI Graphics
If the new MBA has only 2 GB RAM OR has only Intel integrated graphics, I will keep my current MBA. This would spell DISASTER for the MBA. This is what I fear most when I think about a real rev C MBA. What if Apple sticks with Intel's integrated graphics? It would be at least a 50% decline in graphics power from the 9400m. Nvidia is almost guaranteed not to be used UNLESS Apple sticks with the Penryn CPU. In fact, I don't even care about Arrandale at this point... I care far more for a nice GPU and 4 GB of RAM or more.
Also, if Apple changes the form factor and the result is a ULV CPU, I will pass on the MBA. I don't want to go backwards and lose CPU power to reduce the thickness to compete with the Adamo and all of the other ultraportables that are much thinner than the MBA.
I hope the new drive is 256 GB, but I think that I would swap over to the Runcore even if it's only half the size as I am used to the performance gains by it in my current MBA. Although a switch from LIF and Samsung over to an Intel drive would change my mind but I doubt Apple changes that.
I think we will be blown away by some new technology used in the next MBA. I don't know what it will be, but I suspect something not currently in any other Mac notebook...
Finally, I have to think that Apple has made its decision on how to move forward with the MBA. We don't know whether that means a new MBA in January or later in the year or an EOL of the once thinnest notebook in the world. I hate to think of trying to compete with the Dell Adamo XPS on thinness... I don't want that thin of an MBA nor one with the limited CPU power of a ULV CPU required in such an MBA. I don't think that Apple will make us wait until September/October of 2010 as others have suggested in the past three months, but I also don't think we're going to see a January update to the MBA. I am looking towards Spring for a rev C (v 3,1) MBA, with a new form factor, and something really amazing!
Happy New Year everyone!