Reasons why I think there will be a refresh in June...

[KPOM]

I guess I'm confused as to why you guys are so fixated on graphics performance of the ULV Sandy Bridge CPU when you freely admit that general performance will be better. I thought the MBA transcended specs and was more about the experience? If the experience is going to be better, what is the hang up? The target audience isn't expecting a graphics powerhouse. HD3000 will be fine.

The difference, though, is that the current MacBook Air is actually capable of light gaming. If it gets a slower version of the chip that's in the 13" MacBook Pro, it likely won't be capable of gaming. It isn't that specs aren't important. It's that the current MacBook Air was the best compromise available in October 2010. A switch to Core i5/i7 just for the sake of keeping up with the "specs" of the competition would in some respects be a step backward.

I think that by the time we get to Ivy Bridge, the IBP will equal or better the 320m, and thus be the best compromise available at the time. That isn't entirely clear at all with the Sandy Bridge chips. They are fine in the 13" Pro which uses the regular voltage chips, but if the graphics in the ULV Sandy Bridge are a step back to the 2008 Air it is a legitimate question. It isn't about being a graphics powerhouse. The 320m isn't a powerhouse chip. It's adequate for the tasks given to it.

 

[Scottsdale]

The difference, though, is that the current MacBook Air is actually capable of light gaming. If it gets a slower version of the chip that's in the 13" MacBook Pro, it likely won't be capable of gaming. It isn't that specs aren't important. It's that the current MacBook Air was the best compromise available in October 2010. A switch to Core i5/i7 just for the sake of keeping up with the "specs" of the competition would in some respects be a step backward.

I think that by the time we get to Ivy Bridge, the IBP will equal or better the 320m, and thus be the best compromise available at the time. That isn't entirely clear at all with the Sandy Bridge chips. They are fine in the 13" Pro which uses the regular voltage chips, but if the graphics in the ULV Sandy Bridge are a step back to the 2008 Air it is a legitimate question. It isn't about being a graphics powerhouse. The 320m isn't a powerhouse chip. It's adequate for the tasks given to it.

This is a great post. The MBA is a consumer Mac meant to be well rounded. The 13" MBP is meant for the pro who needs CPU intensive app running capabilities. If the pro needs graphics, they move to the 15" or 17" MBP. Right now, the Nvidia GPU is more important for a well rounded Mac experience. The Intel IGP is a serious setback especially in low and ultra low voltage variants. When Ivy Bridge can at least catch up with the 320m, it makes some sense. I still like the idea of over clocking the CPU, disabling the IGP, going AMD discrete, and getting Thunderbolt too!

 

[peskaa]

This is a great post. The MBA is a consumer Mac meant to be well rounded. The 13" MBP is meant for the pro who needs CPU intensive app running capabilities. If the pro needs graphics, they move to the 15" or 17" MBP. Right now, the Nvidia GPU is more important for a well rounded Mac experience. The Intel IGP is a serious setback especially in low and ultra low voltage variants. When Ivy Bridge can at least catch up with the 320m, it makes some sense. I still like the idea of over clocking the CPU, disabling the IGP, going AMD discrete, and getting Thunderbolt too!

No, the MBA is designed for ultimate portability. The MacBook is the consumer Mac.

 

[Scottsdale]

No, the MBA is designed for ultimate portability. The MacBook is the consumer Mac.

And what will you say when the WhiteBook is discontinued? The 11" MBA is the new entry level consumer standard MacBook. The MBA while ultraportable is focused at consumers willing to pay a little more for a well rounded and completely capable Mac for light gaming, iWork type apps, Internet, email, entertainment, and etc. The MBA is a better light gaming Mac than the 13" MBP thanks to the GPU. The 13" MBP is better at CPU intensive apps some pros need thanks to the SB. Real pros know they need a 15" or 17" MBP as the IGP in the 13" is a joke and the low Res display makes the MBA seem more Pro than it.

 

[peskaa]

And what will you say when the WhiteBook is discontinued? The 11" MBA is the new entry level consumer standard MacBook. The MBA while ultraportable is focused at consumers willing to pay a little more for a well rounded and completely capable Mac for light gaming, iWork type apps, Internet, email, entertainment, and etc. The MBA is a better light gaming Mac than the 13" MBP thanks to the GPU. The 13" MBP is better at CPU intensive apps some pros need thanks to the SB. Real pros know they need a 15" or 17" MBP as the IGP in the 13" is a joke and the low Res display makes the MBA seem more Pro than it.

Who is to say the MacBook will be discontinued?

The 11" MBA may be the cheapest, but your average consumer is put off by the smaller screen and "weaker" specs. There's a reason Apple sell such a large number of those machines, and continue to do so.

Don't get me wrong, the MBA is a fantastic computer and I'm buying one in a few months, but in terms of positioning within Apple's lineup, it's marketed as the ultra-portable with the accompanying sacrifices. This will mean that Apple won't skip a CPU upgrade this time round, and will sacrifice the 3D performance - after all, it's marketed at people who have very little interest in games (as long as it play video then it's golden). The fact that the current MBA can actually do some 'light' gaming is more by chance than design.

 

[57004]

Who is to say the MacBook will be discontinued?

The 11" MBA may be the cheapest, but your average consumer is put off by the smaller screen and "weaker" specs. There's a reason Apple sell such a large number of those machines, and continue to do so.

Don't get me wrong, the MBA is a fantastic computer and I'm buying one in a few months, but in terms of positioning within Apple's lineup, it's marketed as the ultra-portable with the accompanying sacrifices. This will mean that Apple won't skip a CPU upgrade this time round, and will sacrifice the 3D performance - after all, it's marketed at people who have very little interest in games (as long as it play video then it's golden). The fact that the current MBA can actually do some 'light' gaming is more by chance than design.

+1 on this.

The MBA is not an allrounder. Even though it does what it does amazingly well. I don't think Apple will skip the Sandy Bridge platform either, especially now the benchmark gap with the Samsung 9 series will make them look bad.

I'm a pretty fanatic gamer but the last thing I'd want to do is game on my Air. Maybe a really casual game sometimes. If it's roughly on par with the 9400m that's totally fine.

 

[duggram]

The MBA is not an allrounder.

Really? Maybe you are referring to gaming?

IMO the 13" MBA is the best laptop computer available today.

I'm a programmer that travels cross country each week for work. I watch movies on the Super Drive on the 3 1/2 hour flight I make each Monday and Friday. Great picture, long battery life. After each movie I listen to iTunes and read from my Kindle app.

When working I sometimes have to use the database SQL Server and Visual Studio. So I run Win7 in Bookcamp and manage it through Fusion. I also run an interface engine called Mirth (java app). At the same time I'll be running iTunes and Kindle, Adobe or MS Office (manuals and specs).

If I'm not running Visual Studio then I've got Netbeans on (either on the Win7 or Mac side). The MBA never shows a sign of slowing down. The truely amazing thing to me is that Win7 and it's apps run faster on the Mac than on the company's new Lenovo which has an i5 processor.

Then on Friday night I get on the plane to go home. When we get to altitude I put the MBA on top of the Super Drive with a small piece of that kitchen rubber mat between them, and the whole mess on the tray table. The MBA is so easy to use because it's so light.

When the next MBA comes out I'll get one immediately and pass this one on to one of the grand kids, just like I did with the MBP last year.

Thanks for the OP.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

No, the MBA is designed for ultimate portability. The MacBook is the consumer Mac.

Erm, you do realize that (excluding the fact that the MBP gets the speed bumb before the MB) the MB and MBP are the same exact computer, only one comes with a backlit keyboard and SD card reader, right?

 

[57004]

Really? Maybe you are referring to gaming?

I mean it's not really an allround consumer laptop. So yes, gaming, but also stuff lots of consumers do like watching standard DVD's etc, copying discs, which it obviously can't do. I don't see anyone buying the Air just to leave it on their desk all the time like a lot of consumers do with their laptops, it is really focused on portability.

In terms of a super-portable laptop I just don't think GPU performance is such a big element of the usage pattern for many people. For example, if I look at the uses you have for it, I don't see anything that needs a fast GPU. The only thing that you do that could possibly benefit from any GPU is watching HD videos but the HD3000 would be totally fine for that as it has H.264 acceleration. SD (DVD's) would be totally fine even without any kind of acceleration.

 

[steadysignal]

+1 on this.

The MBA is not an allrounder. Even though it does what it does amazingly well. I don't think Apple will skip the Sandy Bridge platform either, especially now the benchmark gap with the Samsung 9 series will make them look bad.

I'm a pretty fanatic gamer but the last thing I'd want to do is game on my Air. Maybe a really casual game sometimes. If it's roughly on par with the 9400m that's totally fine.

My work MBA is always with me. I consider it my "allrounder" but do miss some of the more powerful things I can do on my personal MBP.

Thats why I love screen sharing/LogMeIn. While its not a solution for gaming, it gets most other things done for me.

 

[duggram]

In terms of a super-portable laptop I just don't think GPU performance is such a big element of the usage pattern. For example, if I look at the uses you have for it, I don't see anything that needs a fast GPU.

Agreed. I think it's the solid stateness and UNIX memory management that makes the MBA so fast. Instant on and no waiting.

 

[peskaa]

Erm, you do realize that (excluding the fact that the MBP gets the speed bumb before the MB) the MB and MBP are the same exact computer, only one comes with a backlit keyboard and SD card reader, right?

Yes?
However the MacBook is significantly cheaper, which is usually quite an impact upon purchasers. The 13" MBP isn't a true "Pro" machine anyway, simply a slightly spec'd up MacBook (no discrete graphics etc). Apple sell more MacBooks than 13" MacBook Pros, although the 13" MBP is probably the second best seller.

 

[KPOM]

The Intel IGP is a serious setback especially in low and ultra low voltage variants. When Ivy Bridge can at least catch up with the 320m, it makes some sense. I still like the idea of over clocking the CPU, disabling the IGP, going AMD discrete, and getting Thunderbolt too!

I doubt that there is room for a discrete GPU and Thunderbolt in even the 13" MacBook Air logic board. If there were, then Apple would have put a discrete GPU in the 13" MacBook Pro. Thunderbolt required a big chip, so I think it's only 50/50 that the Rev E actually gets it, and if it does, they'll need to make room for it. Switching to 25nm NAND flash and soldering the SSD might give them a few millimeters, but I just don't see how they'd cram a GPU and Thunderbolt when the Sandy Bridge chip includes an IGP.

 

[vader_slri]

I doubt that there is room for a discrete GPU and Thunderbolt in even the 13" MacBook Air logic board. If there were, then Apple would have put a discrete GPU in the 13" MacBook Pro. Thunderbolt required a big chip, so I think it's only 50/50 that the Rev E actually gets it, and if it does, they'll need to make room for it. Switching to 25nm NAND flash and soldering the SSD might give them a few millimeters, but I just don't see how they'd cram a GPU and Thunderbolt when the Sandy Bridge chip includes an IGP.

Completely agree. If Apple was serious about a discrete GPU, the 13" MBP would have received it. Instead, they went with integrated graphics. There is no hope for discrete graphics in the MBA, and IMO, no need. Apple's main priorities are battery life and thinness. Discrete graphics would run counter to both of those priorities.

What I do expect to see in the MBA refresh is ULV Sandy Bridge and maybe Thunderbolt. I actually think Thunderbolt makes a lot of sense in the MBA since it can functionally replace a variety of ports (via adapters), ports that the MBA may presently be missing due to space constraints. Hopefully Apple can find space on the logic board for the TB chip without resorting to a soldered SSD.

 

[KPOM]

What I do expect to see in the MBA refresh is ULV Sandy Bridge and maybe Thunderbolt. I actually think Thunderbolt makes a lot of sense in the MBA since it can functionally replace a variety of ports (via adapters), ports that the MBA may presently be missing due to space constraints. Hopefully Apple can find space on the logic board for the TB chip without resorting to a soldered SSD.

I think Thunderbolt makes sense, but it's also possible Apple will conclude there is simply no room for it, or that it's a "pro" feature the way Firewire was. They seem to be pushing it, though, and Thunderbolt would mute some of the criticism that the Air doesn't support USB 3.0.

As for soldering the SSD, it is something Apple hasn't done to date with the line, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. It isn't as though they intend it to be opened up. While it makes for expensive repairs (just about everything requires a new logic board), that seems to be the direction Apple's moving in.

 

[Hellhammer]

As for soldering the SSD, it is something Apple hasn't done to date with the line, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. It isn't as though they intend it to be opened up. While it makes for expensive repairs (just about everything requires a new logic board), that seems to be the direction Apple's moving in.

mSATA SSD like in MBA wouldn't take much, if any, extra space compared to a soldered solution.

 

[57004]

mSATA SSD like in MBA wouldn't take much, if any, extra space compared to a soldered solution.

I think it would even decrease the board space available. Currently the SSD board is sandwiched on top of the RAM memory chips. If it was going to be soldered on-board it would need more space because everything needs to fit side by side.

 

[caonimadebi]

And what will you say when the WhiteBook is discontinued? The 11" MBA is the new entry level consumer standard MacBook. The MBA while ultraportable is focused at consumers willing to pay a little more for a well rounded and completely capable Mac for light gaming, iWork type apps, Internet, email, entertainment, and etc. The MBA is a better light gaming Mac than the 13" MBP thanks to the GPU. The 13" MBP is better at CPU intensive apps some pros need thanks to the SB. Real pros know they need a 15" or 17" MBP as the IGP in the 13" is a joke and the low Res display makes the MBA seem more Pro than it.

You've got to be kidding.

MBA is $1799 (so-called "ultimate") for the configuration that is the closest to "consumer-ready", i.e. used as the only computer (13" screen, 250GB+ of storage, 4GB of RAM). This is a whopping $700 premium over a similarly configured MacBook (MacBook still has the 320M, too), and you're telling us MBA is for the general consumers?
You really think the average consumer will pick 64GB of storage and a puny screen over the fully capable MacBook?

 

[KPOM]

You've got to be kidding.

MBA is $1799 (so-called "ultimate") for the configuration that is the closest to "consumer-ready", i.e. used as the only computer (13" screen, 250GB+ of storage, 4GB of RAM). This is a whopping $700 premium over a similarly configured MacBook (MacBook still has the 320M, too), and you're telling us MBA is for the general consumers?
You really think the average consumer will pick 64GB of storage and a puny screen over the fully capable MacBook?

Apple supposedly sold 1 million over the holiday quarter and 700,000 this past quarter. They sell about 4 million Macs each quarter.

Anyway, the $1399 MacBook Air with 4GB and a 13" screen is consumer-ready, as well. External storage is cheap, and many people can make do with 128GB for all their applications and iTunes content.

 

[DarwinOSX]

Maybe they will update it and maybe they won't. Apple has not updated Macs to new procs for lengthy time periods before.

 

[jamesryanbell]

I still say no updates till either right before Christmas or early next year.

 

[radiohead14]

as long as the battery life gets extended while bumping the real world use performance, and it's able to play HD videos smoothly.. then i don't mind a sacrifice on the gpu department, as portability is what i want from the MBA. i assume that an underclocked HD3000 is capable of playing HD videos fine?

 

[jdechko]

I think there are going to definitely be some tradeoffs with the next Air. If I were a bettin' man, I'd say we would see Sandy Bridge, the return of the Backlit Keyboard and Thunderbolt. I'm hoping for 4GB standard as well.

The addition of Thunderbolt could also bring about an interesting proposition. Since it's based on PCI-E, we could see some sort of Docking Station with an external GPU.

 

[Hellhammer]

i assume that an underclocked HD3000 is capable of playing HD videos fine?

More than fine. If QuickSync is supported by the software, then it will be more capable of playing HD videos than the high-end desktop GPUs are.

 

[Scottsdale]

Completely agree. If Apple was serious about a discrete GPU, the 13" MBP would have received it. Instead, they went with integrated graphics. There is no hope for discrete graphics in the MBA, and IMO, no need. Apple's main priorities are battery life and thinness. Discrete graphics would run counter to both of those priorities.

What I do expect to see in the MBA refresh is ULV Sandy Bridge and maybe Thunderbolt. I actually think Thunderbolt makes a lot of sense in the MBA since it can functionally replace a variety of ports (via adapters), ports that the MBA may presently be missing due to space constraints. Hopefully Apple can find space on the logic board for the TB chip without resorting to a soldered SSD.

Oh, I don't feel Apple will positively go that route and definitely realize the problems. However, I love the idea, and I wish it could happen.

What I believe will happen is Apple will wait until 2012 to update the MBA to Ivy Bridge or AMD when it makes sense. Just to upgrade to SB now to make less than 5% who care about the CPU happy will making the overall MBA capabilities worse is senseless. I really don't believe a SB MBA makes sense anytime due to the losses of graphics performance.

I do like the ideas of Thunderbolt, but it's basically irrelevant right now. It doesn't matter if Apple introduces it now or waits a year when the MBA can get a better IGP from Intel as the accessories that will run on TB will not be out for a year. The vast majority of MBA buyers are smart enough to know it just works and feels faster than any Mac ever... C2D + Nvidia or SB - real graphics doesn't make a difference to those people as long as it works and is fast... Apple isn't about updating components just to have the latest branding, so I believe Ivy Bridge is the natural update cycle. Whatever CPU or graphics they use, it isn't going to happen before October 2011 and likely later.

Apple has so much to actually worry about that the MBA has to be on the back burner. It's far more important to update the iPhone, iPods, and other Macs that are actually due for updates first. It is looking like Apple is delaying a lot of products, so the trend is going opposite of a June or even October MBA update....