Wait for Ivy Bridge due to Lion?

[racketeer71]

So, according to the latest rumors (rumours, for those on the right side of the Atlantic ;-)), the new MBAs are being "delayed" until Lion is ready, as to avoid users having to upgrade a month or so after getting their new fancy MBAs.

Now, I presume that the MBA team is not actually partying and going on holiday for the next month or so, until Lion is launched. In other words: The Ivy Bridge MBA have been in development for 1-2 months, when the Sandy Bridge MBAs are launched in July.

Could the result of this be, that the time frame between the SB MBAs and the IB MBAs will be perhaps as small as 8 months? If the SB MBAs are launched in one months time, the average refresh rate is 320 days or about 10 months. That would mean IB MBAs in March 2011.

Or is this speculation about as stupid as most other threads on this forum? ;-)

 

[alust2013]

Not sure where you're getting the Ivy Bridge being in development, those CPUs are several months out, Apple doesn't get that kind of early access to them, so no, they're not developing the Ivy Bridge models yet.

 

[KylePowers]

Or is this speculation about as stupid as most other threads on this forum? ;-)

This.

No, just kidding... sort of. I mean, no one even knows when the SB MBAs are going to hit, so to realistically make an educated guess to when IB MBAs are to launch... that's just silly.

But yes, I would certainly assume that IB MBAs are in very early stages of development (maybe not the particular CPUs, but any other sort of hardware/case modifications). Will we see them launch in March 2011? I highly doubt it. I'd say 10 months from the SB launch date is when we'll start to see any decent rumors that hold any sort of relevance or truth.

 

[Umbriel]

Why don't you just wait for Haswell? Or even better, wait for Broadwell ... oh no no.. better: wait for Skylane ... wait a minute .. I got it: definately wait for Skymont ....

New technologie is coming out faster and faster. If you have a NEED and the current generation can satisfy that need: BUY ... waiting won't make you happy. Just BUY and don't care about new stuff coming out until there is a need for something new.
Or just buy and sell regularly if you want to be on the bleeding edge all the time.

 

[Bear]

...
Or is this speculation about as stupid as most other threads on this forum? ;-)

Probably.

Product release cycles are not 100% fixed ever. There could be reasons for shorter and longer spans between product revisions.

Buy a system when you need it. Maybe waiting if an update is imminent. However, 8 months is about as long as 10 months and maybe you just don't need a system now if you're asking.

 

[reputationZed]

Now, I presume that the MBA team is not actually partying and going on holiday for the next month or so, until Lion is launched. In other words: The Ivy Bridge MBA have been in development for 1-2 months, when the Sandy Bridge MBAs are launched in July.

From what I've read or heard in the past Apple doesn't lock engineers or developers to a particular team. Some of the team might be working on concepts for the MBA's next revision but I would guess that most have been moved to other projects.

Or is this speculation about as stupid as most other threads on this forum? ;-)

It's up there, but certainly not the stupidest

 

[racketeer71]

Not sure where you're getting the Ivy Bridge being in development, those CPUs are several months out, Apple doesn't get that kind of early access to them, so no, they're not developing the Ivy Bridge models yet.

Even though the CPU itself it not ready at the moment, Apple might make "cosmetic" changes to the design of the MBA for the first Ivy Bridge generation.

 

[Tootles]

If you can just get by, wait for the SB one (all but scheduled for an introduction with OSx Lion, very soon). If your current machine is sufficient, wait for Ivy.

 

[calvol]

Wait for Ivy if you can. SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D, and graphics are worse. I predict SB will have the shortest reign of any CPU on a Mac platform.

 

[drewyboy]

Wait for Ivy if you can. SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D, and graphics are worse. I predict SB will have the shortest reign of any CPU on a Mac platform.

I sir, will wait to see some benchmarks to be making a comparison like that.

 

[Panch0]

Wait for Ivy if you can. SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D, and graphics are worse. I predict SB will have the shortest reign of any CPU on a Mac platform.

You're only thinking of CPU/GPU. With SB comes Thunderbolt, which will be an important upgrade for the port constrained Air. Still, I'll be waiting for Ivy Bridge as my current MBP is still more than capable and I think that IB is going to be more compelling on the performance/watt front.

 

[neteng101]

Thunderbolt isn't significant yet, and IB brings with it USB 3.0 too. I can see waiting for SB if you don't have an Air currently, but not upgrading to SB from the current gen Airs - it just doesn't make any sense.

 

[jamesryanbell]

Wait for Ivy if you can. SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D, and graphics are worse. I predict SB will have the shortest reign of any CPU on a Mac platform.

I've heard that EXACT same comment on LOTS of other forums, and after a lot of thinking and reading about it, I think you're exactly right.

 

[Umbriel]

According to latest benchmarks of low end SB ULV CPUs, the overall performance of the SB Macbook Air will at least double! The Air is not meant for heavy gaming. For many other tasks HD3000 is powerful enough.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

According to latest benchmarks of low end SB ULV CPUs, the overall performance of the SB Macbook Air will at least double! The Air is not meant for heavy gaming. For many other tasks HD3000 is powerful enough.

But with that attitiude, you could get a late 2006 Macbook Pro (the very first Core 2 Duo models), swap out the hard drive for an SSD, and you'd have yourself the same specs as a Macbook Air. It's so anemic, and relies on the SSD for 100% of its speed.

And no that's not an exaduration. The low-end 'Late 2006 15" Macbook Pro' actually out-performs the 11" Air in CPU benchmarks!

 

[TC25]

And no that's not an exaduration.

What's an 'exaduration'?

 

[striker33]

Wait for Ivy if you can. SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D, and graphics are worse. I predict SB will have the shortest reign of any CPU on a Mac platform.

The SB Air will be far superior to the C2D performance wise. Yes the gamers will bitch and moan, but they are few and far between anyway, and tbh, an M11X is a far better choice for people who actually care about gaming on a petite screen.

And not just on performance. Battery life is almost guarenteed to improve, meaning a little less gaming power via bootcamp is a worthy sacrifice for a machine like this.

 

[Umbriel]

But with that attitiude, you could get a late 2006 Macbook Pro (the very first Core 2 Duo models), swap out the hard drive for an SSD, and you'd have yourself the same specs as a Macbook Air. It's so anemic, and relies on the SSD for 100% of its speed.

And no that's not an exaduration. The low-end 'Late 2006 15" Macbook Pro' actually out-performs the 11" Air in CPU benchmarks!

I don't get why you are quoting me. What attitude are you talking about? There are huge differences between a '06 Pro and the Macbook Air.

 

[2IS]

C2D cannot compare to SB. This nonsense needs to stop. And no, the Air isn't being prepared for a cpu that doesn't even exist either. Considering there has never been an official press release from Apple as to the release date, there is no "delay" to speak of.

 

[endhalf]

The SB Air will be far superior to the C2D performance wise. Yes the gamers will bitch and moan, but they are few and far between anyway, and tbh, an M11X is a far better choice for people who actually care about gaming on a petite screen.

And not just on performance. Battery life is almost guarenteed to improve, meaning a little less gaming power via bootcamp is a worthy sacrifice for a machine like this.

Prove it. There are benchmarks already of CPUs that should be in new MBA. I myself was comparing them and it looks like new ULV SB is about 25% faster than ultimate C2D (2.1Ghz I belive?). 25% add in CPU in comparison with about 40-50% loss on GPU is pathetic... I myself was convinced that SB CPU will be worth it, but now I'm thinking about nice 13" C2D from someone who wants to upgrade to SB.

 

[Esquire1]

C2D cannot compare to SB. This nonsense needs to stop.

Those comments always give me a chuckle. Yes, your 6+ year old processor is just as fast as the latest processors.

I get the GPU stuff, fair enough. But "SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D" is just ridiculous.

 

[Ach111es]

Wait for Ivy if you can. SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D, and graphics are worse. I predict SB will have the shortest reign of any CPU on a Mac platform.

Someone sounds a little sore. I can guarantee that each subsequent CPU will last shorter and shorter...

 

[Hellhammer]

Recent reports suggest that Ivy Bridge won't be out until March-April 2012, and that is for quad core CPUs. Dual core CPUs (and thus U/LV chips) will be released later so we should be looking at late Q2 release at the earliest for the IB MBA.

 

[Bear]

Those comments always give me a chuckle. Yes, your 6+ year old processor is just as fast as the latest processors.

I get the GPU stuff, fair enough. But "SB-ULV is not that much of an upgrade over C2D" is just ridiculous.

Some people barely use Safari and email on their systems - for them this would be true.

For the rest of us, SB-ULV would be a noticeable upgrade over C2D mobile.

 

[orfeas0]

Some people barely use Safari and email on their systems - for them this would be true.

For the rest of us, SB-ULV would be a noticeable upgrade over C2D mobile.

yea i wonder why people who only need the PC to surf and email ask if "the specs will be enough"
You need a dual 1ghz with even 2gb ram to surf the internet , people.
People asking "is c2d air good enough or wait for sandy bridge?"
They get asked "what for?"
And answer "email , surfing, typing documents".
It's obviously enough!