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MacBook Air rev C, "Everything we know, and everything we want." (orig. desperate)
- Thread starter Scottsdale
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I may not have been clear in my thinking and therefore my posting (it was pretty early local time), but I see your point. I guess I was simply thinking that as a consumer, if I have $2,000 that I am willing to spend on a computer, I am sure that Apple would much rather have me buy a Mac than a Dell. I was also drawing a correlation between the computer industry and the auto industry, who literally are desperate for you to buy their cars. That correlation may or may not apply, but like I said, I posted it pretty early in the morning and I was, and still am, tired.
I have been incredibly interested in an Air for a while. My only problem is one that has already been stated. I refuse to spend more than $900 on a laptop that has a 2GB limitation on RAM. I think I am going to get a 12" Powerbook for the time being, as it is also ultra portable and still a stylish computer, and wait for the refresh to go on the refurbished list.
Actually I hope your dead right. I think you were misunderstanding me. I would love to get a Rev C MBA with those specs. My Rev B/SSD is great but it would be great to have more ram.
My take on your concern about buying a Mac that's been out for so many months is not the same concern for the masses. We at MR at not the masses, we are just uber geeks and Apple is not going to cater to us alone. If the average customer wants to buy a new computer they generally go into a retail store and walk out with one. Most people are not going to even ask if Apple or Lenovo or Sony or HP is coming out with a new model as they might wanna hold off so they can get a faster processor or more ram or the glass trackpad.
Apple removed the 3G job posting. I believed they just post it recently.
It's gonna take at least 6 months before they actually come up with the final product right?
Say if Rev C comes out this summer, do u suppose it'll already have the 3G built in? I'm thinking more like Rev D.
What are your thought?
It's gonna take at least 6 months before they actually come up with the final product right?
Say if Rev C comes out this summer, do u suppose it'll already have the 3G built in? I'm thinking more like Rev D.
What are your thought?
As I remember it, Apple were seeking a quality assurance engineer, not a designer. That means that there were prototypes needing investigation before starting the production run.
Almost certainly the listing's removal implies that suitable candidates have been identified and possibly the job has been filled.
Almost certainly the listing's removal implies that suitable candidates have been identified and possibly the job has been filled.
I don't know that the job posting means that 3G will not come for six months. Apple may have very well done the integration without a job for it, or with outside assistance like via a 3G hardware provider. And let's all remember that we are using 3G (at least I am) right now.
I think today's release of the White MB could be bad news for us. I don't know what Apple thinks about the White MB??? It has been updated a few times now on a completely different schedule. Part of me just wonders why Apple wouldn't update it at the same time the other Mac notebooks get updated... UNLESS IT'S GOING TO BE AWHILE???
When I first saw the 2.13 GHz CPU, AND THE ADDED BATTERY LIFE, in the White MB, I immediately thought SL9600. However, the White MB specs show 3 MB L2 Cache. And do not mention a LV CPU. I actually think that would've been a great selection for the White MB.
So the 3G card in the rev C MBA or rev D MBA??? I suspect rev C MBA. BUT, with today's release, it could be bad news for the rev C MBA. It could be the rev C MBA we don't want??? What if Apple decides to make it a more portable rev C MBA with 3G? Or, that could be overanalyzing it, as all the Mac notebooks could possibly get 3G cards with ATT. Remember last Fall, the rumor was ATT was working on deal to get data services in Mac notebooks. Everyone thought it would be the netbook... but maybe it will be the MBA or maybe even all of the Mac notebooks. Could be a great deal if it subsidizes the cost of the MBA. Heck, I pay $60 per month without getting a discount on my MBA, so a discount would be nice. Maybe this is all wishful thinking.
BUT, at least there is a rumor of a MACBOOK AIR on the horizon. Whatever it is, it isn't EOL!
I think today's release of the White MB could be bad news for us. I don't know what Apple thinks about the White MB??? It has been updated a few times now on a completely different schedule. Part of me just wonders why Apple wouldn't update it at the same time the other Mac notebooks get updated... UNLESS IT'S GOING TO BE AWHILE???
When I first saw the 2.13 GHz CPU, AND THE ADDED BATTERY LIFE, in the White MB, I immediately thought SL9600. However, the White MB specs show 3 MB L2 Cache. And do not mention a LV CPU. I actually think that would've been a great selection for the White MB.
So the 3G card in the rev C MBA or rev D MBA??? I suspect rev C MBA. BUT, with today's release, it could be bad news for the rev C MBA. It could be the rev C MBA we don't want??? What if Apple decides to make it a more portable rev C MBA with 3G? Or, that could be overanalyzing it, as all the Mac notebooks could possibly get 3G cards with ATT. Remember last Fall, the rumor was ATT was working on deal to get data services in Mac notebooks. Everyone thought it would be the netbook... but maybe it will be the MBA or maybe even all of the Mac notebooks. Could be a great deal if it subsidizes the cost of the MBA. Heck, I pay $60 per month without getting a discount on my MBA, so a discount would be nice. Maybe this is all wishful thinking.
BUT, at least there is a rumor of a MACBOOK AIR on the horizon. Whatever it is, it isn't EOL!
Do you remember the "final PowerBook" with the larger panel but without the iSight that was released literally two months before the announcement of the first MacBookPro? Maybe this is much the same situation: a final release of the White MacBook before it is axed from the lineup. (Please note that the MacBook Air and the White Macbook are the only two portable machines in Apple's lineup that do not feature the complete "unibody" features with glass trackpads, black bezels and solid aluminium construction.
As for AT&T, keep in mind that Apple will probably not lock their laptops' 3G chipset because that would deeply upset customers worldwide who are absolutely unwilling to purchase crippled hardware. Hopefully they won't partner with anyone on this.
In a sense, it's reasonable. The updates appear to alternate.
October 2008: Aluminum notebooks (including MacBook Air)
January 2009: White MacBook
March 2009: Aluminum notebooks (small update though)
May 2009: White MacBook
Extrapolating the 2/3-month cycle gives:
July/August 2009?: Aluminum notebooks
Then the cycle is compatible with the "Mobile Computing" device's out of stock date of November 1:
November 2009?: White MacBook
And if I go one more cycle (risky and most likely inaccurate), then it fits with Arrandale:
Early 2010?: Aluminum notebooks
I definitely agree. The other possibility is a custom cache-disabled SL9600 but I HIGHLY doubt it.
I guess it's possible for an alternative SL9600 build... but I think Apple would have mentioned LV CPU in the WhiteBook Specs???
I think your cycles are off. However, a lot of people agree that March was the real Mac notebook update... however, the only update was to high end MBP. In the last three plus years, Apple has updated the MB and MBP every six months (give or take a few). I think June makes the most sense. Because, the next update will come in Q1-2010 with Arrandale, which could really SUCK if Nvidia and Intel don't work out their differences. I cannot imagine going back to Intel CRAPgraphics after having the awesome Nvidia GPU!
Any way we look at it, today seems to be a wrench thrown into our plans! My plans anyways... I was certain the Mac notebooks would all get updated in June. But the rumor about the MBA at least gives it certain rumored life.
Maybe the MBA will really become the MacBook with this next update. And the current MBs all become MBPs. That would be fine, as I don't care what it's called as long as it looks like a current MBA with an SL9600, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and etc.
Maybe you're right about the WhiteBook getting its last update before being AXED. I know we all thought it would be gone with the next MacBook update. What happened to the much cheaper MB???
Sorry to reply in backwards order to everything.
Maybe you're right about the WhiteBook getting its last update before being AXED. I know we all thought it would be gone with the next MacBook update. What happened to the much cheaper MB???
The white MacBook could possibly slip into the education only sector, similar to the 17" white iMac. Not for sale to the general public, but viable enough for educational markets.
Did you all see the homepage of MacRumors.com? Apparently, in April Apple started shipping uMBs with the same display as the MBA???
I have posted a question there asking if the uMBs are plagued with lines as the MBA is. Waiting for some replies.
Anyways, I think it would be a great thing for so many people if the uMB had the same quality display as the MBA, especially less the lines.
This would really make the uMB more enticing in value versus the MBA. In my opinion, it would be a good thing but would gray the line as to which Mac people should buy. I mean, the uMB accepts 4 GB RAM (6 actually), and has very similar components... EXCEPT a full 2.5" SATA-II drive which means a real SATA-II SSD could be used in it.
I think a 2.4 GHz uMB with 4 GB of RAM, an 256 GB SSD, and AWESOME DISPLAY could be really amazing...
I personally will go buy one today if it's true. I am sick of this uMB I have been using for several weeks. The display is awful! I don't want to buy an MBA as I don't want the problem of lines I have read so much about especially in the low end MBA.
Anyone here have a late April or newer uMB?
All of us MBA rev B users understand just how fun the MBA is compared to a MB, but a beautiful display on top of the extra features would blur the decision between the ultra fun MBA and the bulkier but more powerful uMB.
I have posted a question there asking if the uMBs are plagued with lines as the MBA is. Waiting for some replies.
Anyways, I think it would be a great thing for so many people if the uMB had the same quality display as the MBA, especially less the lines.
This would really make the uMB more enticing in value versus the MBA. In my opinion, it would be a good thing but would gray the line as to which Mac people should buy. I mean, the uMB accepts 4 GB RAM (6 actually), and has very similar components... EXCEPT a full 2.5" SATA-II drive which means a real SATA-II SSD could be used in it.
I think a 2.4 GHz uMB with 4 GB of RAM, an 256 GB SSD, and AWESOME DISPLAY could be really amazing...
I personally will go buy one today if it's true. I am sick of this uMB I have been using for several weeks. The display is awful! I don't want to buy an MBA as I don't want the problem of lines I have read so much about especially in the low end MBA.
Anyone here have a late April or newer uMB?
All of us MBA rev B users understand just how fun the MBA is compared to a MB, but a beautiful display on top of the extra features would blur the decision between the ultra fun MBA and the bulkier but more powerful uMB.
I have difficulty placing the MacBook and the MacBookAir on the same plane. They really aren't comparable in my view. The Air embodies an entirely different approach to pervasively portable computing and it's form-factor is the key to it's efficacy: a computer so small and so light that it can be taken almost everywere almost always, hugely increasing the situations in which it can be used.
Besides, why do you consider an eight-month-old tech MacBook less of a tehnological insult than a seven-and-a-half-month-old tech MacBookAir? As I see it, they're both equally scandalous in terms of obsolescence.
Of course, if you decide the MacBook-with-new-screen is the machine for you, I wish you all the best. Myself? I'll be hanging in here in hope that something new comes down the river sooner rather than later. I might even be content with a dual-core Ion-powered iTablet if it features a non-crippled OS... though I definitely covet a revised Air, because it's a laptop I want. With a keyboard for writing stuff.i
Besides, why do you consider an eight-month-old tech MacBook less of a tehnological insult than a seven-and-a-half-month-old tech MacBookAir? As I see it, they're both equally scandalous in terms of obsolescence.
Of course, if you decide the MacBook-with-new-screen is the machine for you, I wish you all the best. Myself? I'll be hanging in here in hope that something new comes down the river sooner rather than later. I might even be content with a dual-core Ion-powered iTablet if it features a non-crippled OS... though I definitely covet a revised Air, because it's a laptop I want. With a keyboard for writing stuff.i
I have difficulty placing the MacBook and the MacBookAir on the same plane. They really aren't comparable in my view. The Air embodies an entirely different approach to pervasively portable computing and it's form-factor is the key to it's efficacy: a computer so small and so light that it can be taken almost everywere almost always, hugely increasing the situations in which it can be used.
Besides, why do you consider an eight-month-old tech MacBook less of a tehnological insult than a seven-and-a-half-month-old tech MacBookAir? As I see it, they're both equally scandalous in terms of obsolescence.
Of course, if you decide the MacBook-with-new-screen is the machine for you, I wish you all the best. Myself? I'll be hanging in here in hope that something new comes down the river sooner rather than later. I might even be content with a dual-core Ion-powered iTablet if it features a non-crippled OS... though I definitely covet a revised Air, because it's a laptop I want. With a keyboard for writing stuff.i
I definitely am a MacBook Air. But the only Air I can live with is a Primary Mac capable Air. That means a $2499 + tax purchase for seven plus month old tech. If there were definitely no rev C in sight, I would have already pulled the trigger. But being that the rev B is ready for an overhaul, I cannot spend the $2499 when waiting for a rev C that will hopefully give me a 2.13 GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, new battery tech, and more could be weeks away. If my rev B was stolen four months ago, when a rev C didn't seem obvious, I would have already replaced it.
My situation is that my three Macs, and LED ACD, were stolen a month ago. My kids shared a v2,2 MBP which was one of the three. So, I need to replace my kids Mac and mine. I decided to use a cheapie uMB until the rev C MBA is released. Then, I will give the uMB to kids. But now could buy a second uMB with a better display, and give kids each their own uMB once a rev C MBA is released.
Going to value, as far as power to performace for cost, the uMB is an excellent buy. For certain people, not the majority of MBA buyer's market, they see the display as a key reason to upgrade from the MB to MBA. For those buyers, the MBA offers no advantage. Some people see the MBA as an overpriced Mac that offers no performance gains over the MB. Those people look at performance to dollar and do not see benefit of lightweight MBA. Our whole point, other than weight/small form which is obvious is the MBA display is far superior - that is another mute argument now if true.
So if true the only advantage of MBA is thinner/lightweight. There are many advantages of the MB for price conservative buyers.
The MBA really is a LUXURY item now as there are no performance benefits of buying the MBA as the display is now used in MB.
So there will be fewer MB buyers upgrading to the MBA, and that is my ONLY point.
I am definitely a MacBook Air, but I feel that I am fortunate to be a MacBook Air as it's a luxury not needed. And if I didn't use my MBA for my job, I would probably just use a MacBook if the displays are truly the same.
I have to agree that now the MB has a better screen it is really swaying my opinion from the MBA but I will have to wait to see what comes out. Of course the lack of glass on the MBA is nice. The rumor of a 13in 'MBP' also makes me wonder what's going to happen with all the 13in MBs. Maybe we will see a dedicated GPU in a 13in MBP, but is there enough room without the removal of the disc drive.
I'm so sick of speculation, I should just stop coming on these fourms. lol
I'm so sick of speculation, I should just stop coming on these fourms. lol
what I want to see in the rev C is a new GeForce G110M or if I am wishing maybe a GeForce GT 130M
I want it to feature a fusion reactor and a quantum syndev processor. I guess I can dream, right?
yeah fusion would be good too
but with nvidias new mobile cards GeForce G110M is the same level as the old GeForce 9400M G and who else but apple are going to buy nvidia since dell seems to be snubbed
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1137463/nvidia-dell
but with nvidias new mobile cards GeForce G110M is the same level as the old GeForce 9400M G and who else but apple are going to buy nvidia since dell seems to be snubbed
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1137463/nvidia-dell
I think the MBs could really be migrating to 13" MBPs. All that is missing is some dedicated RAM for the GPUs... especially with the MBs getting updated displays. Maybe this was the obvious next step for the current MBs. I always thought the marketing was ridiculous as there is only a consumer 13" and only a Pro 15."
So, what happens to the MBA, MAYBE it truly becomes the MB! It would make a lot of sense. The components of the MBA cost less or similar to the price of the MB components. This could be the next step... and Apple jumped the gun with the crappy line plagued displays on the MBAs.
I guess that is all probably crazy thinking... but I don't care what the name is. And a lower price could be great.
Going back to standard evolution of the MBA, I sure would think the MBA could be considered a "Pro" as in "business" Pro type computer. Could be called the executive too. And, throw in some RAM for the GPU in the GT120, and you got a real Pro MBA.
Lots of ways Apple could take this... as long as the following is one of the upcoming options in June/July, I will be happy:
2.13 GHz SL9600 CPU
4 GB RAM (or 2 slots up to 8 GB RAM - dreaming)
256 GB SSD
Better Battery tech
Glass Trackpad
Perfect Display
Minimal Bezel
9400m or better GPU
in SAME form factor of rev B MBA
WHATEVER BRAND Apple wants to call it!
So, what happens to the MBA, MAYBE it truly becomes the MB! It would make a lot of sense. The components of the MBA cost less or similar to the price of the MB components. This could be the next step... and Apple jumped the gun with the crappy line plagued displays on the MBAs.
I guess that is all probably crazy thinking... but I don't care what the name is. And a lower price could be great.
Going back to standard evolution of the MBA, I sure would think the MBA could be considered a "Pro" as in "business" Pro type computer. Could be called the executive too. And, throw in some RAM for the GPU in the GT120, and you got a real Pro MBA.
Lots of ways Apple could take this... as long as the following is one of the upcoming options in June/July, I will be happy:
2.13 GHz SL9600 CPU
4 GB RAM (or 2 slots up to 8 GB RAM - dreaming)
256 GB SSD
Better Battery tech
Glass Trackpad
Perfect Display
Minimal Bezel
9400m or better GPU
in SAME form factor of rev B MBA
WHATEVER BRAND Apple wants to call it!
I've been chomping on my fingernails for months now. Meanwhile the current model has been getting older and older. Based on a conversation with a well-regarded local (Milan, Italy)Apple retailer it appears that sales of the Air have indeed slowed considerably over the course of the past three months, especially the high-end SSD model. I take that as implying the more sophisticated customers at whom the Air is aimed are holding back on purchases in anticipation of a new model sometime soon. This may be irrelevant were it not for the fact that (by mechanisms outlined above) diminishing sales are just about the only mechanism by which we can collectively stimulate Apple to refresh the machine.
Contrary to reports indicting otherwise, I'm currently thinking that if reports of inbuilt 3G are true, Apple will probably wish to introduce a new Air alongside the new iPhone and make a "networking" hoopala. It just makes sense.
There should be no further holdups on the technical aspects of the machine: all the expected components are currently available (excluding an enlarged SSD but one presumes it would not pose an insurmountable technical challenge to the likes of Samsung and Apple) and it is fairly clear that Ive & Co. have been tinkering existing models behind the scenes. Hopefully the Air has been similarly revisited and is simply awaiting anouncememt.
Eight days to go before WWDC09. I hope it is worth the long wait.
Contrary to reports indicting otherwise, I'm currently thinking that if reports of inbuilt 3G are true, Apple will probably wish to introduce a new Air alongside the new iPhone and make a "networking" hoopala. It just makes sense.
There should be no further holdups on the technical aspects of the machine: all the expected components are currently available (excluding an enlarged SSD but one presumes it would not pose an insurmountable technical challenge to the likes of Samsung and Apple) and it is fairly clear that Ive & Co. have been tinkering existing models behind the scenes. Hopefully the Air has been similarly revisited and is simply awaiting anouncememt.
Eight days to go before WWDC09. I hope it is worth the long wait.
I'm taking it to mean we're in a global financial meltdown and people are cutting backing on spending on all luxury items. Don't forget: your average shopper doesn't know the components of the Air or possible upgrades, doesn't go to macrumors.com, and hasn't even heard of WWDC. Of course none of those things apply to anyone in this forum, but most people still don't know the difference between RAM and hard drive space-- it's all just "storage" to them. What they know is it's slim and looks cool and fits in their bag.
That is precisely the argument I was attempting to convey when drawing a distinction between "sophisticated" customers and their complement (i.e. the unclouth masses): the SSD model is aimed at those who can tell the difference between RAM and storage capacity - because otherwise they'd have no reason to opt for the high-end model versus the entry-level unit. However, I've drawn fire for my vocabulary before in this very thread (viz. affluent) so I won't press the point. Suffice it to say I agree with you.
As for the effect of the "global financial meltdown", you have a point. However, the key observation was that sales of the Air had dropped markedly in the past few months, whereas sales of other Macs, though depressed, had not fallen so markedly. Furthermore, I am referring to Italy: though definitely in crisis, the situation here is completely different from that in the US. The temporal onset of the credit crunch has been delayed and in any case consumers are not dependent on credit (and thus susceptible to it's restriction) to the same extent as in the US and anglosaxon economies generally. To wit, small-ticket discretionary items are predominantly purchased by equity thayer than by debt. MacBookPro sales have not decreased with anything close to the same intensity; nor has the demand for high-end smartphones (whose sales I was analysing last week). Flat-screen TV (plasma, LCD) sales correlate closely with home purchases, and both are down.
Anyway, based on my completely anecdotal investigation, it seems Apple may be indeed noticing the pinch on the Air - particularly as the proprietor of the store mentioned he only orders Airs from Apple if a customer wants one specifically, meaning orders will closely track diminished rates of sell-out. This, if true, is good news for us because it ensures Apple is well aware of general dissatisfaction with the present offering. Hopefully this will translate into a shortened refresh cycle rather than profiteering from falling component costs.
As for the effect of the "global financial meltdown", you have a point. However, the key observation was that sales of the Air had dropped markedly in the past few months, whereas sales of other Macs, though depressed, had not fallen so markedly. Furthermore, I am referring to Italy: though definitely in crisis, the situation here is completely different from that in the US. The temporal onset of the credit crunch has been delayed and in any case consumers are not dependent on credit (and thus susceptible to it's restriction) to the same extent as in the US and anglosaxon economies generally. To wit, small-ticket discretionary items are predominantly purchased by equity thayer than by debt. MacBookPro sales have not decreased with anything close to the same intensity; nor has the demand for high-end smartphones (whose sales I was analysing last week). Flat-screen TV (plasma, LCD) sales correlate closely with home purchases, and both are down.
Anyway, based on my completely anecdotal investigation, it seems Apple may be indeed noticing the pinch on the Air - particularly as the proprietor of the store mentioned he only orders Airs from Apple if a customer wants one specifically, meaning orders will closely track diminished rates of sell-out. This, if true, is good news for us because it ensures Apple is well aware of general dissatisfaction with the present offering. Hopefully this will translate into a shortened refresh cycle rather than profiteering from falling component costs.
OR they could just decide to kill off the Air. I mean, if it's the only one whose sales have plummeted-- not only because of the economy but also because it's getting squeezed out of the marketplace by cheapo netbooks-- they could also draw the conclusion that it's not a truly viable product. Or just drop the price $100-200 to stimulate more sales. Or let it sit in limbo for a while like the mini did. I'm not saying any of things will happen, but I think it's a big mistake to go from "poor sales in Italy" --> "Apple must update the air soon!". There's many ways Apple could act on that information and I think too many in this forum are making assumptions from any tidbit of information because they desperately want a Rev C.
I think that even though the economy of Italy was used, it is indicative of the worldwide economy right now. Premium or luxury items don't do well in economic times like these. Although the Apple brand sure does do wonders even when the economy suffers.
I would guess that the 3G rumors could happen in a new rev C MBA soon, or it could be much later. I would be surprised for an MBA update at WWDC, but maybe an AT&T 3G offering would be the way Apple actually releases the new MBA at WWDC with a real presentation of the new tech. Although, I still suspect Mac notebook updates together sometime this Summer. June still seems obvious to me??? And a quiet spec update is the norm for the MB and MBPs, but I guess the MBA could be on its own schedule.
I would guess that the 3G rumors could happen in a new rev C MBA soon, or it could be much later. I would be surprised for an MBA update at WWDC, but maybe an AT&T 3G offering would be the way Apple actually releases the new MBA at WWDC with a real presentation of the new tech. Although, I still suspect Mac notebook updates together sometime this Summer. June still seems obvious to me??? And a quiet spec update is the norm for the MB and MBPs, but I guess the MBA could be on its own schedule.