To those with 2010 Macbook Airs - Will you automatically buy the Sandy Bridge update?

[Jobsian]

As per title. I love these things so much that unless there is some horrific issue on release, I'll almost certainly get whatever incremental update we'll see.

Though of course not ideal, I'm also factoring that graphics capability might be reduced a little.

 

[Hellhammer]

Unless the update includes something that would really benefit my usage, I'm not going to buy. To be honest, the 2010 MBA does everything I want it to do so no matter what the update includes, I most likely end up sticking with my 2010 model.

I don't like the "shiniest and latest" mentality. If you want to have the latest all the time, you must buy new stuff several times a year. My wallet does not like that.

 

[Jobsian]

I hear you, mine also does everything I want it to do. However the one (relative) weakness for my own use that I would value an improvement on would be battery. Also wouldn't say no to slightly snappier performance

 

[Oppressed]

Agreed it must include that killer feature. For me personally that would NOT be a backlit keyboard, IG3000, or thunderbolt port. Now an Ivy Bridge design with either nVidia or AMD card would probably do it.

 

[C64]

Nope; I never run into anything the C2D CPU can't handle. And the few times I do need it to do something that's really CPU intensive I'll just wait a few minutes more. No need for a SB upgrade. Thunderbolt might be nice, but at this point I don't really have a use for that either, and USB 2.0 is sufficient for now.

 

[Moccasin]

I'm being a pedant here but if you intend to automatically buy it it can't then depend on anything. You'll either automatically buy it (not caring about the specs or cost) or you won't (where won't includes not buying it at all or buying it if there's enough reason to).

Having bought a 2010 11" last month I doubt very much that I'll buy the new one. I love what I have and can't justify any additional expense on computing for months now.

 

[Oli3000]

If it has Sandy Bridge plus an AMD or Nvidia GPU, then I will be hard pushed to not buy it. Thunderbolt, HD3000 alone don't interest me at all. If it is an amazing bump in Sandy Bridge that results in the same net graphics power, then I may consider it, but I will wait for extensive testing with the HD3000 before I buy it.

 

[TheXFactor]

Nope. Perfectly happy with my current 13" MBA. I am keeping to my 3 year cycle for Macs. Plus, I have other toys to buy.

 

[Onimusha370]

Nope. Perfectly happy with my current 13" MBA. I am keeping to my 3 year cycle for Macs. Plus, I have other toys to buy.

i have the same 3 year cycles for my macs, it serves me well
i'm thinking of a 2 year cycle for the ipad and iphone though.
my poor wallet

 

[Jobsian]

I'm being a pedant here but if you intend to automatically buy it it can't then depend on anything. You'll either automatically buy it (not caring about the specs or cost) or you won't (where won't includes not buying it at all or buying it if there's enough reason to

You are correct. I included "Depends" last minute to offer scope for those who want to view the question hyperbolically and not entirely literally

Barring a major flaw, I'll almost certainly get an update.

 

[Haribokart]

i've had an 11" Air since launch.. if the update has a backlight keyboard and longer battery I'm selling it and getting a new 13".

 

[fyrefly]

Now an Ivy Bridge design with either nVidia or AMD card would probably do it.

If it has Sandy Bridge plus an AMD or Nvidia GPU, then I will be hard pushed to not buy it.

Where exactly on here:

(13" MacBook Air 2010 Logic Board)

Do you think they're gonna fit a discrete Graphics Chip when they couldn't fit it (or wouldn't fit it) on here:

(13" MacBook Pro Logic Board)

 

[juanangosto]

Sure nope. This machine is the best one I've ever had, and I expect to be better with Lion.

 

[Moccasin]

You are correct. I included "Depends" last minute to offer scope for those who want to view the question hyperbolically and not entirely literally

Barring a major flaw, I'll almost certainly get an update.

Apologies... am in a strange mood this afternoon.

The way things are going I may end up selling my MBA and getting something cheaper to raise some cash during redundancy..

 

[2IS]

I will not be automatically buying it. Nor will I be manually buying it either.

 

[2IS]

Where exactly on here:

Image
(13" MacBook Air 2010 Logic Board)

Do you think they're gonna fit a discrete Graphics Chip when they couldn't fit it (or wouldn't fit it) on here:

Image
(13" MacBook Pro Logic Board)

That big orange thing would not exist in an Ivy Bridge machine.

 

[Christopher387A]

Nope, I'm fine with my 2010 MBA. Will probably buy the update after this coming one though.

 

[mayhone1]

Considering I just ordered a 2010 macbook air probably not, but if it's a great update maybe i'll sell my 2010 model in a year an buy the other one...

 

[Oli3000]

Where exactly on here:

Image
(13" MacBook Air 2010 Logic Board)

Do you think they're gonna fit a discrete Graphics Chip when they couldn't fit it (or wouldn't fit it) on here:

Image
(13" MacBook Pro Logic Board)

I didn't say discrete! Not that daft! But yes, it seems unlikely, but they can manage it if they want to! It is all about whether Apple wants to or not!

 

[gwsat]

Unless the update includes something that would really benefit my usage, I'm not going to buy. To be honest, the 2010 MBA does everything I want it to do so no matter what the update includes, I most likely end up sticking with my 2010 model.

I don't like the "shiniest and latest" mentality. If you want to have the latest all the time, you must buy new stuff several times a year. My wallet does not like that.

+1! I bought my 13 inch MBA Ultimate last October and planned to keep it as my primary computer for at least three years. I can't imagine that an incremental upgrade to Sandy Bridge would convince me to change my mind. To paraphrase an old truism, as long as my MBA ain't broke, I'm not going to fix it.

 

[KPOM]

Depends, so I guess, pedantically, no.

I'll buy it if it comes with Thunderbolt and doesn't lose any existing features. I don't game, but I do use Windows 7 in Parallels, so I can use the 4 virtual cores and faster microarchitecture of the Sandy Bridge Core i5/i7.

 

[KnightWRX]

I didn't say discrete! Not that daft!

But daft enough to not realise that an IGP by ATI/nVidia is impossible on the Core iX series of processors ?

So either it's discrete or it's Intel IGP. There are no chipsets by 3rd parties for the Core iX series because Intel refuses to license the required tech/specifications.

As for this topic : I upgrade my computers when they stop being useful to me in certain aspects. I am not part of the crowd who simply wastes money away on computers.

 

[Help Please]

I agree with many of the other posters. Only way I'm upgrading is if they keep a discrete GPU, instead of the Intel 3000 graphics. Otherwise, I plan on upgrading from my base 1.86GHz, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD to an Ultimate 13", 2010 model.

IMO, the 2010 Air is a great machine for my uses and upgrading to the new 2011 model (if it has Intel 3000), would only hurt performance for what I use my computer for.

 

[calvol]

My next upgrade will be from this 13-UMBA to the ARM-based Air in 2013/14, probably will have 15+ hours of battery life.

 

[gwsat]

But daft enough to not realise that an IGP by ATI/nVidia is impossible on the Core iX series of processors ?

So either it's discrete or it's Intel IGP. There are no chipsets by 3rd parties for the Core iX series because Intel refuses to license the required tech/specifications.

As for this topic : I upgrade my computers when they stop being useful to me in certain aspects. I am not part of the crowd who simply wastes money away on computers.

You make a good point. Until and unless Intel manages to make available an integrated GPU that is better than the NVIDIA GPU Apple uses with the C2D chip, an upgrade to one of the next generation iX chips is inevitably going to result in a deterioration in graphics power.

I also agree that upgrading only because something new has come along is a waste of money if one's current computer still does the job. My 2010 MBA does that, so I suspect I won't upgrade it until at least two or three refreshes down the road.