MacBook Air rev C, "Everything we know, and everything we want." (orig. desperate)

[kar1181]

To me, the weight difference between MB and MBA is night and day. MBA can be easily picked up just using two fingers of one hand.. while 13" MB feels like a brick in comparison.

But if you've successfully convinced yourself that 50% weight difference b/w MB and MBA is insignificant - by all means go for MB

Oh certainly the weight difference is noticeable, but as you get lighter, you start getting diminishing returns. Carrying 2 kilos compared to 1, is more acceptable when compared to carrying 3 kilos compared to 2. But everyone has difference preferences that is for sure.

Basically what I want from my notebook is performance in as light a weight packaging as possible. I sincerely hope for a kind of MBA update inline with what Scottsdale has described (cpu bump, 4gb ram, bigger ssd). If we can get that in a 1.something kg package then bring it on. If not then with the updated screen the UMB is now something to seriously consider.

 

[qubex]

I always carry around paper notepads to keep notes. What I'm looking for is a laptop whose mass is comparable to those notepads. That way, I can swap my paper for a light laptop and cause no additional back strain.

 

[efegue]

I am completely happy with the ports. The only change I would welcome would be a digital audio port out instead of the analog one in the rev B.

I really don't see a need for ethernet or extra USB ports... it defeats the point of the MBA being futuristic and wireless connectivity is perfect for me. The AirPort Extreme Base Station with attached backup drive and printers is a definite must! The LED ACD is a perfect docking station.

I just see no point in additional ports???

Well, that's you. I don't have a LED ACD, neither I have a AirPort Extreme Base Station, so a ethernet port would be perfect, wireless speed vs ethernet are sucky also..

 

[enfanteribl]

Nah, not happening.. Most people will argue that if Apple should add any more ports to the Air, it should be second USB 2.0. I am one of those "mobile techs" who uses wired Ethernet in the office on a rare occasion - USB dongle is just a minor inconvenience.

I'd love to see a FW port - esp FW 800. Seems unlikely however. Sigh...

 

[Prenvo]

I'd love to see a FW port - esp FW 800. Seems unlikely however. Sigh...

I don't see what the big deal is with firewire :/

I've only needed it once in my years using computers: for a MiniDV camcorder - but I'll be getting USB video recorders from now on.

 

[Veinticinco]

I don't see what the big deal is with firewire :/

I've only needed it once in my years using computers: for a MiniDV camcorder - but I'll be getting USB video recorders from now on.

Big deal with FW, aside from its use in mobile HDs, is Target Disk Mode - a very handy feature that's saved my bacon numerous times.

FW is not however for the MBA - why they took it out of the uMB was a purely cynical marketing decsion, nothing to do with USB video hardware.

Whilst 2 USBs would be nice, I'd prefer a creative solution to making the existing USB port utilise magnetic tech - starting with the Superdrive (which could also do with a longer and/or detachable cord).

I'm probably being a bit anal here but I really find it a pain trying to locate the USB port by 'feel', usually ends up a scratchy frustrating process. The usual alternative involves rotating the MBA about 90 degrees in your left hand, then through 45 degrees in the vertical plane, flipping down the hatch (which on all my MBAs had a tendency to snap shut at the merest feather-touch), and plugging the sucker in. Not the most comfortable or ergonomic of processes.

Of course, if they pull their fingers out of their derrieres and actually release a rev.C with at least 50% of the combined wishlist upgrades listed in this thread, I'll overlook it

 

[Prenvo]

Whilst 2 USBs would be nice, I'd prefer a creative solution to making the existing USB port utilise magnetic tech

Hah, yeah that would be awesome if it worked okay. The only issue I see would be the fact the ports are so close you might end up having Mini DisplayPort plugs jumping for the USB port

 

[qubex]

One USB port is perfectly sufficient. Don't you remember you can daisy-chain devices or use hubs?

 

[jdechko]

One USB port is perfectly sufficient. Don't you remember you can daisy-chain devices or use hubs?

Unless of course, you have an Apple Superdrive and need to use it? Plus, I think bandwidth/CPU overhead would be a nightmare running an optical drive, ethernet and downloading video/pictures from a camera to a USB-attached external hard drive (yes, I know I picked some of the most demanding USB devices I could think of).

Of course, the only thing I ever connect via usb anymore is my iPhone and occasionally the digital camera. My printer and external HD that I rarely use are wirelessly shared over my network.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but USB devices themselves don't support daisy-chaining, although you can daisy-chain multiple hubs together.

 

[qubex]

I haven't used an optical disk in close to three years. I make sure that all the devices I need to have semipermanently attached have USB passthrough ports.

 

[HLdan]

Big deal with FW, aside from its use in mobile HDs, is Target Disk Mode - a very handy feature that's saved my bacon numerous times.

While Target Disk Mode is a little easier to set up you can do the same thing with very good speeds by connecting 2 Macs via ethernet using a crossover cable.

 

[qubex]

While Target Disk Mode is a little easier to set up you can do the same thing with very good speeds by connecting 2 Macs via ethernet using a crossover cable.

Not if you've trashed the OS on the MacBookAir.

 

[jdechko]

I haven't used an optical disk in close to three years. I make sure that all the devices I need to have semipermanently attached have USB passthrough ports.

Interesting, I did not know that there were pass-through USB devices.

I agree on the optical drive, though. I have an older VAIO with a docking station, and I rarely use my optical drive as well for things like ripping cd's & dvds, and installing windows and misc programs that aren't downloaded or haven't been converted to ISOs. For those of us who can largely do without, the AIR is a great machine and a USB hub (or the new 24" ACD) is appropriate. My initial comment, however, wasn't necessarily directed to you. It was intended more for people who simply cant give up their optical drive-- where a MacBook would be a better choice--but still want an Air.

Also, in regards to target disk mode, I have been thinking that if you had a USB drive with a leopard install and the Ethernet adapter hooked to a hub which was hooked to the usb port, you could achieve some of TDM's functionality (though certainly not all) in case of a corrupt install.

 

[qubex]

I wonder if it's possible to implement a Target Mode analogue over USB by implementing the USB Mass Storage protocol on EFI. Target Mode is certainly too precious to loose, and I would argue it's become even more precious on a MacBookAir without a bootable CD/DVD drive.

 

[Scottsdale]

Well, that's you. I don't have a LED ACD, neither I have a AirPort Extreme Base Station, so a ethernet port would be perfect, wireless speed vs ethernet are sucky also..

Get a MacBook if you want to stay connected and be "old school." Seriously, that is against the whole purpose of the MBA being a wireless futuristic "ultra PORTABLE!"

And speed differences are minimal between N and 100 wired ethernet.

If you don't want to spend money on things like an AirPort Extreme Base Station, or other wireless network, what really is the point of owning the MBA... to plug it into a wired ethernet connection... I will never get that. Ten years ago, yes, three years ago maybe... now, definitely wireless N.

Get a MacBook to save money if you just want to plug into ethernet.

PLEASE APPLE, don't RUIN the MBA with an Ethernet port or additional USB ports and etc.

 

[Scottsdale]

Unless of course, you have an Apple Superdrive and need to use it? Plus, I think bandwidth/CPU overhead would be a nightmare running an optical drive, ethernet and downloading video/pictures from a camera to a USB-attached external hard drive (yes, I know I picked some of the most demanding USB devices I could think of).

Of course, the only thing I ever connect via usb anymore is my iPhone and occasionally the digital camera. My printer and external HD that I rarely use are wirelessly shared over my network.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but USB devices themselves don't support daisy-chaining, although you can daisy-chain multiple hubs together.

Get a $10 USB hub, don't waste ports on the tiny MBA case. It would destroy the MBA.

What would be nice/and worth extra money, is if Apple would build a three port USB hub into the USB optical drive. I don't understand why wireless tech hasn't been used for things like an optical drive or any USB device. BT works great for my KB, mouse, and keypad... how about developing high-speed BT to transfer signal from optical drive or from MBA to external display???

 

[Scottsdale]

I don't understand why Apple and other computer companies haven't developed a docking cable.

Picture this, a single cable with multiple connectors through it. One could connect it to side of let's say an MBA or MB. It could have FireWire, USB ports, display, and etc all in one cable. When you leave the desk, unplug one cable... of course all of the cables from those devices plug into the one cable. It seems like such a great way to save space from the side of the MBA or MB and yet to allow several cables plugged into the device.

Some might complain, but to me it makes much more sense than the current mess of cables to peripheral devices on computers like MB or MBP with multiple cables.

Seems like a simple solution. Perhaps I should include a diagram to explain further.

 

[qubex]

how about developing high-speed BT to transfer signal from optical drive or from MBA to external display???

Bluetooth is a low-bandwidth, high-latency transmission medium. It would be worse than useless for linking a DVD drive.

There exists a wireless USB standard. I don't think it's been implemented in any device yet.

But seriously, have you any idea how much power that would consume? How much noise it would spew across the spectrum?

Definitely not an option yet.

 

[Scottsdale]

Bluetooth is a low-bandwidth, high-latency transmission medium. It would be worse than useless for linking a DVD drive.

There exists a wireless USB standard. I don't think it's been implemented in any device yet.

But seriously, have you any idea how much power that would consume? How much noise it would spew across the spectrum?

Definitely not an option yet.

My point is these things should be an option. No, it shouldn't take a lot of power, in the theory in my head anyways (LOL), to send a video signal from an MBA to an external display. So, how about from wireless USB optical drive plugged into a wall outlet and wirelessly transfers data to MBA.

These seem like obvious things that SHOULD BE developed by now. I guess we will see them down the road, but my point is if we can think it, it should be there.

I think there is a high-speed BT signal too... I know it isn't used yet, but hey let's get these things going. I don't care about power for my optical drive sending signal to an MBA. The optical drive can stay plugged in at desk, and get power from wall socket there (NOT MY MBA), which is preferred anyways.

I know I request a lot, but it is a $2499 MBA!

 

[qubex]

No, it shouldn't take a lot of power, in the theory in my head anyways (LOL), to send a video signal from an MBA to an external display

There are no wireless HDMI/DisplayPort analogues yet precisely because it is such a bandwidth-intensive proposition. It is barely within the reach of wired connections.

 

[hitekalex]

Bluetooth is a low-bandwidth, high-latency transmission medium. It would be worse than useless for linking a DVD drive.

Not the case with Bluetooth 3.0. It should support data rates similar to USB 2.0 over short distances, and it's low-power.

However, I really don't see the point of wireless Superdrive for Air.. The current Air Superdrive uses a single USB cable for power.. a wireless version would need to have a battery (yikes) or an AC cord (double yikes)

 

[Scottsdale]

Not the case with Bluetooth 3.0. It should support data rates similar to USB 2.0 over short distances, and it's low-power.

However, I really don't see the point of wireless Superdrive for Air.. The current Air Superdrive uses a single USB cable for power.. a wireless version would need to have a battery (yikes) or an AC cord (double yikes)

I would like to think of an option where either way is possible. My SuperDrive has never left the desk. For leaving at the desk, I would take a power cord over a USB cable. For people that like to take SuperDrive with them, the USB cable is a nice option... but I am just thinking futuristic and what SHOULD be possible on a $2499 Mac. Not saying any of it is possible currently, just SHOULD be for the price tag.

 

[hitekalex]

For people that like to take SuperDrive with them, the USB cable is a nice option... but I am just thinking futuristic and what SHOULD be possible on a $2499 Mac. Not saying any of it is possible currently, just SHOULD be for the price tag.

Maybe some day they will invent wireless power

 

[Scottsdale]

Maybe some day they will invent wireless power

Should be here. Actually, I think it is under works... truely! Someone has to be working on it somewhere. I know I have seen shows on Discovery Channel or TLC that showed how to transfer power via some sort of microwave signal... probably not coming to our Macs anytime soon.

Let's get back to reality, or what we want it to be in a rev C MBA!

Anyone excited about WWDC next week? I am excited for a new iPhone too. I hope to have a new 30+" LED Backlit ACD, with rev C MBA (fitting earlier specified desires), and a WHITE iPhone v3 with video recording and video communications all before Quarter THREE 2009. Then, during the third quarter, I hope to add Snow Leopard, and maybe even a new AppleTV (should one be introduced).

Has seemed pretty odd to me that yet again we got no rumors of a new Apple Cinema Display (bigger), and no news of the supposed ION AppleTV. I keep waiting for those. Lots of iPhone rumors and speculation though.

I know we typically don't see Mac updates at WWDC itself, but would like to have a change and SPLIT the time between the iPhone and the MBA (ah, I guess I mean between the iPhone and the Macs).

I guess I am most excited for Tuesday/Wednesday June 23/24, because that is my guesstimated date for a new MBA rev C.

 

[Scottsdale]

SOME POTENTIALLY EXCELLENT NEWS!!!

Did you all read the home page stating that Steve Jobs is expected back to work at the end of June... in time to provide the keynote for a MEDIA EVENT!!!

Could the media event be new pro apps? Could the media event be the release of Snow Leopard? Could the media event be the release of new ACDs? Could the media event be a new AppleTV? Could the media event be a new iTablet (to compete with NETBOOKS)? Could the media event be some new software? Could the media event be a new iPod with camera/video? Could the media event be a new Apple Video Camera???

Could the media event be a new series of Mac notebooks, with a black MBA case, 3G wireless cards in all, OLED displays, new Nvidia GPU, and something else really radical and NEW! AND MOST POSSIBLE FOR A MEDIA EVENT A 15" MACBOOK AIR branded MACBOOK!!! And a complete brand shakeup between the Mac Notebooks!!!

Maybe it will be the last day of the month June update to the Mac notebooks at a live media event. Although, to be honest, the idea of a media event and an MBA scares the HELL out of me. Could it be a different, thinner, ULV CPU, carbon fiber, and far less powerful but more portable MBA??? NIGHTMARES... but I guess at least equally possible is the 15" MBA which is actually rumored.