Thank you Scottsdale for bringing the new technology and possibilities for the MBA to our attention.
Reading this thread got me thinking about what could actually be possible for the next MBA. Here are a few of my thoughts:
1. integrate flash memory chips in the logic board, just like the current RAM configuration.
This would allow a completely different form factor by removing the 1.8" drive. The memory controller would also have to be engineered into the board, but that wouldn't be THAT difficult either. Imagine an MBA that is basically the size of two iPads face-to-face with a hinge, or possibly thinner on the screen side. Is that thinness even possible? perhaps.
2. new, thinner keyboard.
looking at the current keyboard, you lose about a quarter of an inch in total thickness due to the depth of the keys and the mechanism under them. This could mean just a new conventional style keyboard with thinner keys and less movement, or it could possibly mean a virtual keyboard using e-Ink and haptic feedback... this would be cool, as you could actually change what the keys say on them, when the function key is pressed, for example... this would also alleviate the need for different language versions of the keyboard.
3. Apple-designed CPU and GPU.
We have already seen that Apple can create it's own CPUs, but what if Apple designed it's own GPUs too? This would be ideal if apple doesn't want to build to the constraints of existing chips.
If all of these things were utilized in the next MBA (I'm not even considering they will be... but maybe on the Rev. E... eh, maybe M or N) imagine what apple could create for the MBA. Believe it or not, they need to make people want an MBA over an iPad (I know, they're totally different, but some don't see it that way).
Imagine a Macbook Air with uniform thinness, and hinges that would allow the screen to flip 360 degrees, thus making it fold up for easy reading of electronic content (with touch controls a la iPad). This MBA would also have an e-Ink keyboard that would simply clear the letters and disable typing once the screen was flipped past 180 degrees, leaving an aluminum-looking flat surface on the back of the machine when in tablet mode.
When the screen is flipped back into a more normal position, the e-Ink keys would appear and operate as normal... the trackpad would simply be outlined in e-ink, and be touch sensitive just like the keys with haptic feedback so you would feel an artificial 'click'.
Of course all of these features are simply musings based on what could possibly be done in the future. I am supremely sorry for going off topic, but this thread just got the gears turning and they wouldn't stop.
Now some questions for you:
Would you actually buy the proposed machine?... assuming it had something equivalent to an i7, discrete GPU, and at least 4gb of ram?
If so, how much would you be willing to pay, realistically?
Thanks for reading my rant, and I can't wait for the Rev. D!
