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MacBook Air Revisions This Summer?
- Thread starter mattingly
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I suspect the upgrade will be in the fall at the earliest, earlier January at the latest. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a SDD bump in the fall.
I own the SSD MBA, and I can't wait for the upgrade.
My dream list:
1. The new Intel integrated 5x faster GPU. (Sure, I'd love a dedicated chip, but I am not hopeful.)
2. 4 gigs of memory
3. Fix the minor quality issues.
Sure, throw in longer battery life. Faster CPU too if Apple feels like it.
I own the SSD MBA, and I can't wait for the upgrade.
My dream list:
1. The new Intel integrated 5x faster GPU. (Sure, I'd love a dedicated chip, but I am not hopeful.)
2. 4 gigs of memory
3. Fix the minor quality issues.
Sure, throw in longer battery life. Faster CPU too if Apple feels like it.
The ULV Penryn is a very interesting processor. At only 10W TDP, we could see a pretty significant boost to the battery life, maybe pushing the 7 hour mark.
It's a shame Apple is so committed to the full-size screen and keyboard. They could very easily introduce a 11-inch version that consumes even less battery.
MacBook Air 1.0
13" screen
65nm Merom
5-hour battery life
3.0 lbs
Jan. 2008
MacBook Air 1.5
13" screen
45nm LV Penryn
6-hour battery life
3.0 lbs
Aug. 2008
MacBook Air 2.0
11" screen
45nm ULV Penryn
8-hour battery life
2.5 lbs
Jan. 2009
It's a shame Apple is so committed to the full-size screen and keyboard. They could very easily introduce a 11-inch version that consumes even less battery.
MacBook Air 1.0
13" screen
65nm Merom
5-hour battery life
3.0 lbs
Jan. 2008
MacBook Air 1.5
13" screen
45nm LV Penryn
6-hour battery life
3.0 lbs
Aug. 2008
MacBook Air 2.0
11" screen
45nm ULV Penryn
8-hour battery life
2.5 lbs
Jan. 2009
Apple updates Macbooks on average after circa 200days, it's been already more than 100~ since MBA release and Intel is just about to throw a new mobile platform on the market - so let's hope for a sweet 45nm Montenova upgrade around August (which is highly probable). That being said I would not recommend getting one now...
Wikipedia now says September again for the low and ultra low voltage cpu's. First it said September, then May, and now September again...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_future_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_future_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors
I just want them to do away with the flimsy ports-latch. I don't know what the solution should be, though. It's just a bit cheap and uninspired. Other than that, I'm thinking about replacing my 12 inch PowerBook so I'm waiting to see what happens. My PB died when I spilled a Shiner Bock and it never came on ever since. 
Best lappy ever.
Best lappy ever.
10 W Processor
Core 2 Duo SU9400 10W vs 17W
I think the Air cannot dissipate the 17W of the current processor. Go to the 10W processor. Get the same performance as Air 1.0 but finally cool enough to keep the fans down.
Thanks to Mackan for listing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_future_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Core_2_Duo_2 above. Very helpful.
Core 2 Duo SU9400 10W vs 17W
I think the Air cannot dissipate the 17W of the current processor. Go to the 10W processor. Get the same performance as Air 1.0 but finally cool enough to keep the fans down.
Thanks to Mackan for listing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_future_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Core_2_Duo_2 above. Very helpful.
I could be mistaken, but I believe the TDP for the current processor in the Air is 20W. at least according to this article. The 17W was the new 45nm penryn we were guessing was the target CPU for the next gen Air.
i also would love to see an update in june, but i don't believe it will happen. but does people recommend buying the air now though? would it be updated before macworld?
If there was a chassis re-design i would like too see if they will trim down the bezels around the screen.
the MBP can have a thin bezel why not the air? surely that would further help to differentiate it from the macbook. its achievable without sacrificing much.
I admit that isn't so apparent a problem in person, but seeing apple's pictures of it makes the bezel seem inconceivably huge for a 'ultaportable'
Practically i don't really think it needs to be faster (some would even argue going slower would be beneficial), but smaller, cooler processors will be appreciated along with more ram. SSDs are rapidly decreasing in price maybe in the next 6 months 128 gigs will become the standard drive, with 256/512 gig drives for higher end model.
GPU wise i don't think much change is needed, of course the updated chipset with the x4500 would be nice, depends on the heat dissipation, gaming would really push the thermal envelope that the air is capable of...
And a price drop is always appreciated
the MBP can have a thin bezel why not the air? surely that would further help to differentiate it from the macbook. its achievable without sacrificing much.
I admit that isn't so apparent a problem in person, but seeing apple's pictures of it makes the bezel seem inconceivably huge for a 'ultaportable'
Practically i don't really think it needs to be faster (some would even argue going slower would be beneficial), but smaller, cooler processors will be appreciated along with more ram. SSDs are rapidly decreasing in price maybe in the next 6 months 128 gigs will become the standard drive, with 256/512 gig drives for higher end model.
GPU wise i don't think much change is needed, of course the updated chipset with the x4500 would be nice, depends on the heat dissipation, gaming would really push the thermal envelope that the air is capable of...
And a price drop is always appreciated
I think Apple need to upgrade the Air this year.
The opposition is stepping up, and fringe stuff like the EeePC are coming in.
So, maybe even cheaper.
3-4GB RAM or toss in a real graphics card.
Give me a second USB and an ethernet port in a minor resigned chassis. Oh, and an Audio in.
Try and drop the price.
The opposition is stepping up, and fringe stuff like the EeePC are coming in.
So, maybe even cheaper.
3-4GB RAM or toss in a real graphics card.
Give me a second USB and an ethernet port in a minor resigned chassis. Oh, and an Audio in.
Try and drop the price.
Yeah I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying. I'm looking at getting a new laptop to replace my aging macbook in January, it's either going to be a MBP or a MBA.
At current specs I would have to get the MBP, but I don't do any particularly heavy computing. If the MBA had a 2ghz processor, 120gb 5400rpm HDD or 128gb SSD, and 4gb RAM it would be perfect for me and I'd get it over the MBP.
Hopefully it will get updated before or in January, and I'm hoping the specs above are realistic.
edit- The only particularly heavy requirement I have is that I need to be able to run Starcraft 2 when it comes out early next year. Blizzard tend to have well optimised code to run on a wide variety of hardware, and it looks to be running on a modified WC3 engine, so I'm hoping that even the integrated video card that will be used in the next revision of the MBA/MB will be enough to run the game pretty well... *i hope*
At current specs I would have to get the MBP, but I don't do any particularly heavy computing. If the MBA had a 2ghz processor, 120gb 5400rpm HDD or 128gb SSD, and 4gb RAM it would be perfect for me and I'd get it over the MBP.
Hopefully it will get updated before or in January, and I'm hoping the specs above are realistic.
edit- The only particularly heavy requirement I have is that I need to be able to run Starcraft 2 when it comes out early next year. Blizzard tend to have well optimised code to run on a wide variety of hardware, and it looks to be running on a modified WC3 engine, so I'm hoping that even the integrated video card that will be used in the next revision of the MBA/MB will be enough to run the game pretty well... *i hope*
All I really want from Apple in the next revision is an "affordable" 128GB SSD and another USB port... ditching the flip down port door wouldn't hurt either. X4500 would be nice but seems a bit too far down the road. Other than that, 2GB of ram and a 1.8GHz processor is fine for me.
Wish they will
1)Upgrade the HD (120 or 160) Non SSD is ok with me.
2) Optical Drive
3) Price reduction
heheheheheheheheheh..
Just some silly wishes which I know wont come true.
1)Upgrade the HD (120 or 160) Non SSD is ok with me.
2) Optical Drive
3) Price reduction
heheheheheheheheheh..
Just some silly wishes which I know wont come true.
Wish they will
1)Upgrade the HD (120 or 160) Non SSD is ok with me.
2) Optical Drive
3) Price reduction
heheheheheheheheheh..
Just some silly wishes which I know wont come true.
As soon as you add an optical drive that totally kills what the air is. I imagine that everything that is on CD's/DVD's now will eventually be on memory sticks or will all be online.
Also, I think that to make the Air a truely "ultra portable" device they need to add an ethernet port and have a built-in 3G chip (it can't take up that much room).
The ULVs are only in available in 1.2 and 1.4Ghz. There's no chance that Apple is going to replace the current 1.6-1.8Ghz model with seemingly slower C2Ds. Notwithstanding the fact that Penryn has slightly higher IPC than Merom, it just won't work from a marketing POV.
definately!
I just wish that 64GB SSD came in the next low end model, I'd be all over it!
I might pay the current ~$1k premium for a 128GB SSD, but I don't think we'll see that before this fall at the earliest.
1000 bones for SSD is just not something I can wrap my mind around... too much I can do with that G.