Refresh wish-list, any suggestions?

[yanksrock100]

Wish-list for the refresh

ALL MBA
Core i5 or i7 sandy bridge processors.
Bigger storage
Backlit keyboard
Lion

11 inch
-Standard 128 gb flash storage
-4 gb memory!
-Standard 1.6 ghz intel core i5

13 inch
-Standard 256 gb Flash Storage (512 option)
-Standard 4 gb of memory
-Standard 2.13 ghz intel i5 or i7

Although it would be nice, I dont think there will be a price change. Its possible that the high end will have $100 decrease, and/or the low end 13 will have an $1199 price tag. (same as MBP)


Any suggestions?

 

[iRun26.2]

Wish-list for the refresh

ALL MBA
Core i5 or i7 sandy bridge processors.
Bigger storage
Lion

11 inch
-Standard 128 gb flash storage
-4 gb memory!
-Standard 1.6 ghz intel core i5

13 inch
-Standard 256 gb Flash Storage (512 option)
-Standard 4 gb of memory
-Standard 2.13 ghz intel i5 or i7

Although it would be nice, I dont think there will be a price change. Its possible that the high end will have $100 decrease, and/or the low end 13 will have an $1199 price tag. (same as MBP)


Any suggestions?

The 11.6" model needs to have a 256G option (and both need to have the backlit keyboard). I'd like it as an option: I'd be willing to pay $300 to have my backlit keyboard back.

 

[epicshredder]

Could care less about backlit keyboard.
Want:
Better Battery (I know, generic)
Maybe larger screen/less bezel? Would look pretty sweet, but i guess durability/fingerprints while opening could be issue.
3G/4G option- Though i wouldn't use it, I'm sure many would.
Sandybridge
256 gb option on 11" 512 on 13"
8 gb memory option on both, especially 13"

Basically everything in MBP, but smaller size! haha, this is a wish-list

 

[ReelAction]

and both need to have the backlit keyboard). I'd like it as an option.

+1

 

[Sheet]

I would like to see a 3G option and perhaps bigger SSDs, but only if there is a significant decrease in SSD prices. Most of my data will not be stored on the MBA anyway..

Hm.. I don't think that the next refresh needs an 8 GB RAM opinion. What for?

 

[KohPhiPhi]

Let's not forget that the MBA is mostly a mobility device and thus I dont think we should ask only for performance upgrades (for example: 8gb Ram or an i7 processor). I think it should be a wise mix of performance AND mobility, which is what the MBA is all about.

With that in mind, I'd like to request:

- A better processor. It doesnt have to be an i7 Quad Core, but perhaps an ULV i5 would be cool. (performance)

- 4gb RAM standard (performance)

- Bigger SSDs (performance)

- Better battery life (mobility)

- Matte screen (mobility)

- backlit keyboard (mobility)

- Integrated 3G (mobility)


Quite frankly, I think the MBAs are pretty good as they are (alas a bit overpriced IMO). I would say that with a better processor and a few mobility upgrades (3G, battery, etc), they would be totally perfect.

 

[jmazzamj]

Hi everyone.

Both the processors the OP suggested do not exist and I think never will.

Don't get me wrong, I mean there are no iCores that match those speeds.

As I stated in this thread I started but that no one has bothered to answer to:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1104869/

These are my predictions:

Thunderbot (I take this for granted) with Target Disk Mode and backlit keyboard.

11": i5 1.4 GHz with an i7 1.6 GHz option for the 128 GB version, both are 17 W
13": i7 2.1 GHz with an i7 2.3 GHz option for the 256 GB version, both are 25 W

AND I'd be the happiest person in the world IF 4 GB came standard (even only on the upgraded 128 and 256 GB versions) with a 8 GB option, but this is very very unlikely.

I'd like the base model to gain the 128 GB HD, but I don't see that coming this time around...

 

[KPOM]

I definitely would upgrade to a Rev E if it includes the following (at the same or comparable price points as the current line):

• Thunderbolt Port
• 1.5 or 1.6GHz Sandy Bridge Core i7 ULV (17w) in the 13", 1.4GHz Sandy Bridge Core i5 ULV (17w) in the 11"
• 256GB SSD option in the 11"
• No drop in screen resolution or other significant feature loss

My only qualm about the ULV Core i7s is that the graphics processor operates at 350MHz compared with 650MHz on the new MacBook Pro. Given the hand-wringing among some in the MB Pro forums (despite the significantly faster CPU), I'd prefer if Apple found a way to get the 25w 2.1GHz Core i7 into the MacBook Air.

Otherwise, I'll wait for the Rev F.

 

[iDisk]

I couldn't resist so I had to chime in:

• Backlit keys
• 512SSD option and 750SSD option and 1TBSSD option
• 8GB ram option
• matte screen option
• 1920x1200 screen resolution option and a 1680x1050 resolution option
• Thunderport
• 3 usb ports and firewire 800
• Quad-Core processors i5 or i7's
• AMD HD radeon 6570M with 1GB DDR5 memory
• 1.5lbs weight
• All this priced at $1500
• 3G built in with a furture proof 4G worldwide chip as well
• 1080p HD quality isight/facetime camera

That should shut everybody up forever. No will will ever complain about the MBA again.

 

[ranjitb]

My wish list

4 GB RAM standard (Please make the memory RAM upgrades user serviceable)
Back-lit keyboard
A bit better battery life (with flash videos, sorry I watch a lot of youtube vids and was spoiled by iPad battery life!)

A bit better spec processor would do (I love my MBA its really fast) but I don't want any more heat with the new faster processors don't know if they can do that (Sandy bridge).

 

[Sheet]

I couldn't resist so I had to chime in:

• Backlit keys
• 512SSD option and 750SSD option and 1TBSSD option
• 8GB ram option
• matte screen option
• 1920x1200 screen resolution option and a 1680x1050 resolution option
• Thunderport
• 3 usb ports and firewire 800
• Quad-Core processors i5 or i7's
• AMD HD radeon 6570M with 1GB DDR5 memory
• 1.5lbs weight
• All this priced at $1500
• 3G built in with a furture proof 4G worldwide chip as well
• 1080p HD quality isight/facetime camera

That should shut everybody up forever. No will will ever complain about the MBA again.

Nice one

Not even any God would be able to build that one! ^^

 

[iDisk]

Nice one

Not even any God would be able to build that one! ^^

Lol God can, but Apple?? Not in anybody's lifetime, especially when Jobs kick the bucket and even more if the Ive rumors are true.....

but like I said I couldn't resist, every time a new product comes out, on that same day everyone puts up these types of post until an hour before the new product comes out.

lol

 

[Funkymonk]

I couldn't resist so I had to chime in:

• Backlit keys
• 512SSD option and 750SSD option and 1TBSSD option
• 8GB ram option
• matte screen option
• 1920x1200 screen resolution option and a 1680x1050 resolution option
• Thunderport
• 3 usb ports and firewire 800
• Quad-Core processors i5 or i7's
• AMD HD radeon 6570M with 1GB DDR5 memory
• 1.5lbs weight
• All this priced at $1500
• 3G built in with a furture proof 4G worldwide chip as well
• 1080p HD quality isight/facetime camera

That should shut everybody up forever. No will will ever complain about the MBA again.

X2.
+ liquid metal body

 

[Scottsdale]

I think people are dreaming to expect double storage space and June Sandy Bridge updates and it is possible it will be Ivy Bridge in early 2012 before the MBA gets an update. Many of us long time MBA users realize the updates come a lot farther apart and are far less dramatic than people hope.

I think the 4GB RAM might be the only hope at an upgrade for same base price, but I doubt 8GB would be an option even then. Unless Apple can find a way to put RAM slots in there I think we will be stuck at 4GB for a few years until another major refresh. Us original MBA fans, like myself, bought three MBAs with 2GB of RAM each time hopeful for double upgrade... it took a redesign to make it happen, and time. Yes, we all want 8GB but I believe it is unrealistic to expect.

I don't think Apple could keep the price $999 in the 11" and double the storage space as NAND Flash is expensive stuff and it isn't going to happen with less than eight month update. If the update comes in early 2012 it is a lot more likely to have the larger options and double current size as standard.

I do fear the update could come faster this time, but unfortunately I believe it is just because the C2D production situation and that Apple is being forced to stick us with Sandy Bridge and their lackluster IGP. The Intel IGP is a step backwards from the 320m, so I really don't get why people are so proud of Intel and Sandy Bridge??? I think most are better off with C2D and Nvidia or at least waiting for Ivy Bridge.

I think the Thunderbolt will make it into the MBA update, but I have read it requires a large chip. The opportunities are so great for this new technology that it seems like it is Apple's future so it should make it into every Mac and probably even iOS products.

I don't believe the backlit keyboard will make it into the next update as Apple can use it as bait for the following update while the next one will feature Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge faster CPUs. I also think the FaceTime HD camera helps Apple along with Thunderbolt to improve the MBA enough to get many people to update... When considering the speed boost in Core i7 CPUs, that is a huge selling feature that most will jump at ignoring the fact that the MBA is so great currently without a fast CPU proving the CPU isn't the only factor of computer performance like Intel would have its sheep believe.

I doubt that I would update with a mid 2011 Sandy Bridge "upgrade." I would prefer Apple just make a better update in early 2012. It would be great if Apple could do two updates, but us MBA faithful have learned to bet against those updates when it comes to the MBA.

If there is a Sandy Bridge update I would almost guarantee Core i7 CPUs in the 13" MBA. The current C2D used in the MBA is a top of the line CPU and the replacement is the Core i7 series, and that is where it will stay. I always laugh at the people saying it will get a Core i3 at least not really realizing the history of the MBA processors. In addition, the speed boost technologies are only available in Core i5/i7 and Apple wants to be a part of that too as evidenced in even the low-end 13" MBP.

Finally, I know I am dreaming now that Apple has stuck its 13" MBP users with Intel's IGP but why cannot we just get an AMD CPU/GPU solution or a discrete efficient AMD discrete GPU paired with Core i7 CPU? I know space concerns, but with the CPUs shrinking and everything being nanoscale, hopefully it is a possibility sooner than we think.

Even then probably costly, but I remember a day when the MBA was $3099 with a 1.8GHz CPU, 64GB PATA SSD, and 2GB DDR2 RAM. That wasn't that long ago. Even before the June 2009 update it was $2499 for a 1.86GHz 13" MBA with 1.86GHz C2D, 128GB SSD, and 2GB RAM. Now a high resolution display along with 4GB RAM, 2.13GHz C2D, and 256GB NAND Flash drive is only $1799 or low end is only $1299 and the new low end plus 4GB RAM is only $1189 refurbished. These are amazing deals, and it really makes me wonder why people are so cheap to do the RAM upgrade.

Happy waiting for the update...

 

[KPOM]

I couldn't resist so I had to chime in:

• Backlit keys
• 512SSD option and 750SSD option and 1TBSSD option
• 8GB ram option
• matte screen option
• 1920x1200 screen resolution option and a 1680x1050 resolution option
• Thunderport
• 3 usb ports and firewire 800
• Quad-Core processors i5 or i7's
• AMD HD radeon 6570M with 1GB DDR5 memory
• 1.5lbs weight
• All this priced at $1500
• 3G built in with a furture proof 4G worldwide chip as well
• 1080p HD quality isight/facetime camera

That should shut everybody up forever. No will will ever complain about the MBA again.

Only if I get the SSD that writes at 300MB/s instead of 275MB/s.

 

[hcho3]

Is this more like a dream list?

512 and 1TB SSD with 8 GB RAM?

I doubt backlit keyboard will come back.

You can expect better battery life with faster sandy bridge processor and intel HD 3000 graphic card.

That's all I expect.


11.6 MBA is more like a secondary machine. Will apple throw in 256GB SSD? Doubt it unless it will ask for another 300 dollars.

MBA is beating the MBP to the ground with the better screens and SSD.

I am not sure how much more apple will be willing to go on MBA this year.

 

[KPOM]

Is this more like a dream list?

512 and 1TB SSD with 8 GB RAM?

He was being facetious.

You can expect better battery life with faster sandy bridge processor and intel HD 3000 graphic card.

That's all I expect.


11.6 MBA is more like a secondary machine. Will apple throw in 256GB SSD? Doubt it unless it will ask for another 300 dollars.

MBA is beating the MBP to the ground with the better screens and SSD.

I am not sure how much more apple will be willing to go on MBA this year.

The Core 2 Duo has been discontinued so at some point Apple will run out of them. Expect the MacBook and the Mac Mini to be updated with similar specs to the new 13" Pro soon. At some point the Air will be updated. I am skeptical it will be as early as June, since the current version is selling so well, but I do think it will get more regular updates (i.e. annual) now that it is a mainstream product. The 11" is capable of being someone's only computer. If it gets a 256GB SSD, even if the cost goes up another $300, there will be buyers for it.

 

[jb1280]

I doubt that I would update with a mid 2011 Sandy Bridge "upgrade." I would prefer Apple just make a better update in early 2012. It would be great if Apple could do two updates, but us MBA faithful have learned to bet against those updates when it comes to the MBA.



Happy waiting for the update...

I am going to bet that Apple is going to do two updates. The obvious reason you alluded to earlier in that at some point the C2D will simply be unavailable. Being cautious about upgrades is usually wise, but I think that the gap from October 2008 through October 2010 was an isolated incident based on the gpu issue and working on the entirely due design.

Over the course of 4 months, the role of the Macbook Air and the 13" Macbook Pro have completely swapped. Before October, potential customers had to have a very compelling reason to purchase the Macbook Air instead of the Macbook Pro. I think now your average consumer really has to have a compelling reason to buy the Macbook Pro over the Macbook Air.

I think Apple really wants to make the Air their new mainstream notebook and will do everything to keep it updated.

 

[akatsuki]

My wish list:

1. Thunderbolt
2. Backlit Keyboard
3. Higher res screen

I don't care about anything else.

 

[Mr. Savage]

I just hope it has a backlit keyboard, a backlit keyboard and a backlit keyboard.
Beyond the backlit keyboard the only other thing I'd like to see is perhaps a backlit keyboard...and maybe a backlit keyboard if that isn't too much to ask.

 

[hanausagi]

I think ..

Intel Sandy Bridge Processor
Thunderbolt Port
Better Graphics (hope it not intel hd 3000)
Standard 128 GB flash storage
Backlit keyboard
FaceTime-HD Camera
GPS/3G for Find my Mac
Better Battery
Come with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

 

[lythium]

15" MBA
i5s/7s
built in 4G/3G

Id prefer they remain backlit keyboard free, its a waist of precious battery life in my ultra mobile mac.

Thunderbolt is cool, but i don't think it'll be required for a couple more years, if at all. Like firewire, I don't miss it... usb gets the job done just fine.

 

[Sheet]

I don't think that there will be a 15" MBA in the future. It just doesn't fit in the air's philosophy.
And 4G?! Hm, doubt it. Even LTE isn't launched and distributed by now, so it will take its time before we get 4G.

 

[lshirase]

I think ..

Intel Sandy Bridge Processor
Thunderbolt Port
Better Graphics (hope it not intel hd 3000)
Standard 128 GB flash storage
Backlit keyboard
FaceTime-HD Camera
GPS/3G for Find my Mac
Better Battery
Come with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

are you delusional?....or is this an extremely far-fetched list? if the current MBP has an intel HD 3000 GPU...why would the air have something more powerful?

 

[ReelAction]

Id prefer they remain backlit keyboard free, its a waist of precious battery life in my ultra mobile mac.

I understand your concern, but why not make this an user option, then the user pays the battery life consequences....?
I for one would like this option, provided it is a selectable user parameter.