+1. There is absolutely no reason for the MBA to be updated on Sep 1, since there are no new components available now that weren't available earlier this year. Hence, IF the Air will be updated before the unavoidable Air-Pro merge, it will happen with Sandy Bridge, which is scheduled for early 2011.
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New Air speculation...next month?
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+1. There is absolutely no reason for the MBA to be updated on Sep 1, since there are no new components available now that weren't available earlier this year. Hence, IF the Air will be updated before the unavoidable Air-Pro merge, it will happen with Sandy Bridge, which is scheduled for early 2011.
+2. Apple have rarely launched Mac revisions at an event over the past few years, instead just updating the Apple store on a Tuesday and sending out press releases.
On the 1st I'm expecting that it will just be the new iPods, a demonstration of the new AppleTV but perhaps not yet shipping (Given its nature as a kind of iPod for the TV it would be strange not to have it included) and the new iLife and iWork to be released with perhaps one more thing.
A new iLife will be interesting, in respect of the optical drive debate, as if iDVD disappears then it will probably result in Apple explaining why optical drives are no longer relevant.
If this happens I'd say that Mac updates next year will include the deletion of the optical drive, after people have had chance for this message to sink in. If you do need an optical drive to do something then the Mac you already have should be perfectly capable and if you really want to get a more powerful machine that does include one you have a bit of time to do that.
I do hope however that when the MB Pros lose their optical drive it does not result in the Air disappearing as a Pro without an optical drive is far from being an Air.
Thoughts on the Upcoming MBA
I'm new to the Mac Rumors forum and I'm looking forward to upgrading my Rev. A MBA to the new, more advanced model that many people have been speculating about. I will list what I am hoping (or expecting) to see.
RAM: 4G minimum (8G would be awesome, I would love it!...but it is probably not very realistic).
Hard Drive: I predict SSD as the only option with 128G standard (and 256G optional). *I suspect that they could save space if the SSD (flash & control logic) could be soldered directly to the main PC board using discrete parts.
Processor: ULV Intel, Sandy Bridge variation, please! Both Apple and Intel will greatly benefit from being shown in each other's flagship product. In any case, I will wait for the SB version but I do expect the notebook version to be released soon (SB is now listed at 'Q4' 2010).
I'm willing to live with a less processing power if it produces less heat and keeps the overall system thin and light (hopefully even thinner and lighter than the current version). My main complaint about my current MBA is the heat that it generates. I also hate the noise from the fan. But, don't get me wrong! My MBA is the most useful computer I have ever owned simply because it is so portable yet still capable.
GPU: I suspect that Intel's integrated graphics (in SB) will be good enough for my needs (writing Xcode and MATLAB software, as well as watching video). Maybe I would be disappointed if they don't incorporate the ATI graphics (as 'Scottsdale' predicts/hopes for)... I don't know. Do we really know that the integrated SB graphics are still going to be that bad???
Display: This is the single most important area where I want to see innovation. I want the highest resolution screen Cupertino can provide for us. The iPhone 4's screen is stunning and on it I can comfortably read text and graphics that are much smaller than I could previously. Eventually, all displays will look this good. Apple should recognize this fact and be the first to bring it to their notebook lineup, beginning with the MBA. I also hope for a Mac OS update that will allow system fonts to be scaled for the higher resolution screen (sort of like what iOS4 does on the iPhone 4 = 'pixel doubling').
Naturally, I assume the new MBA will use a IPS screen. I hope it is even brighter with improved contrast. Again, to me, this is the main selling point that would surely get me to buy a new MBA.
Ports: A second USB port would be nice, but I could live with just one (although I'm sure many people would be angry if we still only get one). I'm happy with the current set up. I do hope that they keep the video output port. Stereo speakers would also be cool, but probably not worth the added weight.
iOS: I have to laugh whenever I read about people excitedly speculating that the new MBA will run the iPad / iPhone OS. IMO, that defeats the whole purpose of the MBA which is to provide a fully operational computer capable of running MS Windows and/or the Mac OS. The iPad is NOT competition for the MBA (and I'll take my small and pocketable iPhone 4 over an iPad any day)!
Price: The original rumor was that the price of the new MBA would be reduced to sell to a larger customer base. To me, that would be very bad thing since it would then imply that Apple would not be using premium components that reduce size and weight. Apple certainly won't be reducing it's sales's margins so I think if the new MBA goes for under $1k I can't see how it could be radically better than the current model. I am willing to pay top dollar for miniature components (as an engineer who is always designing a smaller product for my specific field, I understand how the smallest system components command a premium price).
I hope that Apple at least puts out a high-end model for people like me who are willing to pay extra for our fancy 'toys' (that we also do 'work' on).
Models: I'm guessing that the new MBA will be released with both a 11.5" and 13.3" screen. I think I might opt for the 13.3" version. I'm hoping that they squeeze the 13.3" screen into a smaller MBA (can the bezel be removed and still be strong enough to support the screen?). I want them to 'Wow!' me with their new MBA, for surely then I will fork out the cash and buy a new one.
I'm new to the Mac Rumors forum and I'm looking forward to upgrading my Rev. A MBA to the new, more advanced model that many people have been speculating about. I will list what I am hoping (or expecting) to see.
RAM: 4G minimum (8G would be awesome, I would love it!...but it is probably not very realistic).
Hard Drive: I predict SSD as the only option with 128G standard (and 256G optional). *I suspect that they could save space if the SSD (flash & control logic) could be soldered directly to the main PC board using discrete parts.
Processor: ULV Intel, Sandy Bridge variation, please! Both Apple and Intel will greatly benefit from being shown in each other's flagship product. In any case, I will wait for the SB version but I do expect the notebook version to be released soon (SB is now listed at 'Q4' 2010).
I'm willing to live with a less processing power if it produces less heat and keeps the overall system thin and light (hopefully even thinner and lighter than the current version). My main complaint about my current MBA is the heat that it generates. I also hate the noise from the fan. But, don't get me wrong! My MBA is the most useful computer I have ever owned simply because it is so portable yet still capable.
GPU: I suspect that Intel's integrated graphics (in SB) will be good enough for my needs (writing Xcode and MATLAB software, as well as watching video). Maybe I would be disappointed if they don't incorporate the ATI graphics (as 'Scottsdale' predicts/hopes for)... I don't know. Do we really know that the integrated SB graphics are still going to be that bad???
Display: This is the single most important area where I want to see innovation. I want the highest resolution screen Cupertino can provide for us. The iPhone 4's screen is stunning and on it I can comfortably read text and graphics that are much smaller than I could previously. Eventually, all displays will look this good. Apple should recognize this fact and be the first to bring it to their notebook lineup, beginning with the MBA. I also hope for a Mac OS update that will allow system fonts to be scaled for the higher resolution screen (sort of like what iOS4 does on the iPhone 4 = 'pixel doubling').
Naturally, I assume the new MBA will use a IPS screen. I hope it is even brighter with improved contrast. Again, to me, this is the main selling point that would surely get me to buy a new MBA.
Ports: A second USB port would be nice, but I could live with just one (although I'm sure many people would be angry if we still only get one). I'm happy with the current set up. I do hope that they keep the video output port. Stereo speakers would also be cool, but probably not worth the added weight.
iOS: I have to laugh whenever I read about people excitedly speculating that the new MBA will run the iPad / iPhone OS. IMO, that defeats the whole purpose of the MBA which is to provide a fully operational computer capable of running MS Windows and/or the Mac OS. The iPad is NOT competition for the MBA (and I'll take my small and pocketable iPhone 4 over an iPad any day)!
Price: The original rumor was that the price of the new MBA would be reduced to sell to a larger customer base. To me, that would be very bad thing since it would then imply that Apple would not be using premium components that reduce size and weight. Apple certainly won't be reducing it's sales's margins so I think if the new MBA goes for under $1k I can't see how it could be radically better than the current model. I am willing to pay top dollar for miniature components (as an engineer who is always designing a smaller product for my specific field, I understand how the smallest system components command a premium price).
I hope that Apple at least puts out a high-end model for people like me who are willing to pay extra for our fancy 'toys' (that we also do 'work' on).
Models: I'm guessing that the new MBA will be released with both a 11.5" and 13.3" screen. I think I might opt for the 13.3" version. I'm hoping that they squeeze the 13.3" screen into a smaller MBA (can the bezel be removed and still be strong enough to support the screen?). I want them to 'Wow!' me with their new MBA, for surely then I will fork out the cash and buy a new one.
Although there is virtually zero chance that September's event will have anything whatsoever to do with a new Air, it seems plausible that an event before, or early in, the new year (perhaps with a mobility theme) will intro the long-rumored 7 inch iPad and an updated MBA. I just hope it's a 13 inch and not the rumored 11.6 inch.
While I predicted a long time ago no new Air in 2010 but early 2011 with the EOL of C2D - it is a bit suspicious for me that Samsung has a teaser webpage for an event in Berlin on Spetember 2 regarding a tablet device based on Android, and than suddenly the rumored mid-September Apple event surfaces for September 1st, one day before Samsung's event. Stealing the show...? Maybe yet one more thing...? Oh the sweet hope.
This is a very well written post, with an understanding that every choice has resulting compromises. Like you, I am overall quite satisfied with the optimizations/compromises made to date with the MBA.
I am convinced that I could live with integrated GFX, especially if there is specific support for media playback. I simply do not need high performance 3D GFX as I am not a gamer. Basic 3D, plus good video streaming (better than the current MBA) is all I really want. I would rather save the watts than have more 3D.
In general, I would want Apple to make design optimizations that keep weight/bulk to a minimum, rather than adding new features.
I am torn on the smaller 11.6" screen. My gut tells me that 13.3" is a lot better. I have an HP laptop with a 12.1" screen and I am quite disappointed compared to my MBA. I do not know if it is simply size... or if it is a result of lower overall screen quality.
Regarding "retina display" for the MBA. I agree that a high quality crisp display is one of the nicest features that can be included. I would be shocked if they used the same pixel density as the iPhone 4. I think Apple went to great lengths to double the pixel density of the iPhone 4 for application scaling reasons. The density of the iP4 is higher than perceivable, hence, a lower density would be indistinguishable. I think they might still use the term "retina display", but they wouldn't overshoot the density like they chose to do with the iPhone 4.
/Jim
Christ...get a server yo
2 GB of RAM is a freakin' joke in this class of machines. 4 or 8 GB is common, not server level by any stretch.
You're kidding, surely?
In a machine that's packing baby graphics and a baby CPU, 2GB of RAM is more than enough for anything users will actually do with it.
I wonder if the MacBook Air isn't on hold waiting for components that Apple's happy with, or just flat out on hiatus like the Apple TV was. It might not get bumped for 6 months, at which point it'll blow us all away.
Personally, I think they're wonderful little machines so long as they fit your use-case. Though the port-door arrangement leaves a lot to be desired - plugging something in while you've got the machine open and working is cumbersome and distinctly un-Apple.