I couldn't agree more! That would be the most shocking thing they could do with the next MBA update. I am amazed that so many people really think it is a possibility (and that it would be a positive selling point).
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Waiting for a MBA update? what will you do if it's discontinued?
- Thread starter colinthejanitor
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I couldn't agree more! That would be the most shocking thing they could do with the next MBA update. I am amazed that so many people really think it is a possibility (and that it would be a positive selling point).
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"Exclusivity" may have less of an edge if we shift the term a bit to "rarity". I would also think that status in relation to purchases could be entirely about information: like, the friend who knows who has the best average-priced pizza slice in town.
I guess Apple's never had a limited edition anything. There won't be a Philipe Starck limited edition Air. But if you can find an anodizer willing to bother with a tiny job, maybe you could take the bottom half case off, get it anodised to a grey twice as dark, and have it reassembled. Very Gibsonesque... especially if you have it done to match your dark grey sweatshirt.
"Exclusivity" may have less of an edge if we shift the term a bit to "rarity". I would also think that status in relation to purchases could be entirely about information: like, the friend who knows who has the best average-priced pizza slice in town.
I guess Apple's never had a limited edition anything. There won't be a Philipe Starck limited edition Air. But if you can find an anodizer willing to bother with a tiny job, maybe you could take the bottom half case off, get it anodised to a grey twice as dark, and have it reassembled. Very Gibsonesque... especially if you have it done to match your dark grey sweatshirt.
+1.
I also agree that they won't EOL it. They would have gotten rid of it already if that were the case.
They'll update it when they update it. I have a 13 inch MBP that's awesome in the meantime. When they update it, I'll sell it and upgrade if they make substantial gains. Not a big deal.
Bri
I doubt that the MacBook Air will be updated; it'll most likely be discontinued because I doubt Apple was able to break even on it. Here's what I don't understand, though: for everyone who wants portability, what's wrong with the 13" MacBook Pro? I've used the a 12" PowerBook, a 15" MacBook Pro and now a 13" MacBook Pro. The latter definitely has great portability and retains nearly all of the major features. In any case, to each his own, I guess.
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Bri... Who knows? Maybe they have a stockpile of chips and they want to sell them all, so before that even if they have a "D", it would wait. They can drew from such a stockpile as far into 2011 as the stockpile's size allows, they just can't buy more of those chips after this year.
If logic were all it took to predict... they might reshuffle the deck in way that might make some of this forum's folks unhappy. A cheaper little Air even more related to the MB than now (plastic case). (How fast can Consumer Reports put that model, through hinge-testing equal to 5 years of use?)
But a cheapo smaller one doesn't preclude a vastly improved upper model being offered, too An 11.6" skimpily-spec'ed plastic one for $1k to move some volume.... plus a well-spec'ed 13.3" liquimetal one for $2k to keep the cogniscenti happy. The former sooner than the latter. Making it even more useful than otherwise, to not call the little one "Air".
Bri... Who knows? Maybe they have a stockpile of chips and they want to sell them all, so before that even if they have a "D", it would wait. They can drew from such a stockpile as far into 2011 as the stockpile's size allows, they just can't buy more of those chips after this year.
If logic were all it took to predict... they might reshuffle the deck in way that might make some of this forum's folks unhappy. A cheaper little Air even more related to the MB than now (plastic case). (How fast can Consumer Reports put that model, through hinge-testing equal to 5 years of use?)
But a cheapo smaller one doesn't preclude a vastly improved upper model being offered, too
An 11.6" skimpily-spec'ed plastic one for $1k to move some volume.... plus a well-spec'ed 13.3" liquimetal one for $2k to keep the cogniscenti happy. The former sooner than the latter. Making it even more useful than otherwise, to not call the little one "Air".Really? THAT'S the most shocking thing you can imagine? You're amazed that people think it's a POSSIBILITY. You, my friend, are easily startled.
I certainly don't have an opinion on whether integration in their product line (a Macbook Touch or iPad Pro) would be a good thing or a bad thing. As I stated, the Air simply appears to be filling a narrow niche. For most people, the 13" Macbook Pro or the iPad represent good alternatives.
Apple clearly is pushing touch as a feature. For goodness sake, they've crammed it into the iPod Nano. My guess is that the next iMacs may have touch as well.
How could anyone think Apple hasn't made money on the MacBook Air?
They sell +/- one million units annually and look at the price of the thing.
They sell +/- one million units annually and look at the price of the thing.
Buy Rev C
I've owned many Macs since 1984. I love the original 1.8GHz 64GB SSD MBA I'm using on the road now. It's not the same as my 8-core Pro but it gets every job done that I have to do in a pinch.
My primary concerns are weight (no more than current), display (definitely no smaller than current but IPS would be nice), and memory (4 GB and I could take seldom-used Windows emulation with me).
I've owned many Macs since 1984. I love the original 1.8GHz 64GB SSD MBA I'm using on the road now. It's not the same as my 8-core Pro but it gets every job done that I have to do in a pinch.
My primary concerns are weight (no more than current), display (definitely no smaller than current but IPS would be nice), and memory (4 GB and I could take seldom-used Windows emulation with me).
The 13" MBP is a great machine, but it weighs 1.5lbs more than the MacBook Air and it has a glass panel screen (glossy as hell -- way more glossy than even the MBA screen). Those are the only two reasons I don't love the 13" MBP - 'cause I really want to... if only Apple offered the Matte Screen option on the 13". :S
I couldn't agree more. Windows has many problems: drivers, startup programs, trialware/bloatware/crapware (by whatever name you like), counter-intuitive UI, registry files that you can never get rid of & do all manner of harm, and the tyranny of options. Not to mention, IE on a Windows PC is like a roving bulls-eye for every manner of virus, Trojan horse, spyware, malware, and hacker on the web. "Please, come infect me. Modify my registry files as you like." Says the Windows PC. And, why do Microsoft and the PC makers put bloatware on PC's? To subsidize the cost, so PC Fanboys can talk about how stupid we Apple Fanboys are for paying so much for a computer. My Macbook wasn't subsidized by Symantec.
However, this is a bit off-topic. The OP was asking what we would do if the MBA was discontinued. Whether or not Apple released 'airized' Macbook Pros (I am absolutely certain given what Steve Jobs has said on the matter that they intend to do so in the next 1-2 years), that is Macbook Pros sans the integrated superdrive and all the bulk and weight of it, I would be getting the 13" Macbook Pro and a gen2 10" iPad. I think it is most likely that if the current MBA is EOL'd, it will be replaced by the 12" MBA simultaneously with the removal of integrated superdrives from the Macbook Pros.
Buy now!
Anyone who wants an Air and either does not have one or has a rev A should buy one now. I have no idea if Apple will discontinue the MBA, but it really is now the last mac that has not been updated in the last year, and the current MBA is an excellent machine. The main objection I've seen is that it is overpriced for the components you are getting. But if you put that aside, and make a decision based on whether it will do what you want it to, it's a great mac for the features it has if it does what you want.
I have a rev A and bought the current rev C with the newest SSD a month ago. It's really fast and serves all my needs. This was an update well worth the price for me.
I also bought an iPad recently. It's a pretty amazing little device. IMHO, it would give any mac a run for its money for "light" computing if it had a real file system in the OS, and more full featured apps. I don't know if Apple is going to solve the first one, but the second one will be solved sooner or later as the number and sophistication of the apps available gets better and better. For my needs I could get by replacing the MBA with an iPad, but it would be a struggle and it would mean some things would just have to be done at the office on my iMac.
If I were guessing, I think Apple may be waiting to see where things go with the iPad before deciding to put a lot of effort into updating the MBA. I suspect by now they've made that decision, we just don't know what it is.
Anyone who wants an Air and either does not have one or has a rev A should buy one now. I have no idea if Apple will discontinue the MBA, but it really is now the last mac that has not been updated in the last year, and the current MBA is an excellent machine. The main objection I've seen is that it is overpriced for the components you are getting. But if you put that aside, and make a decision based on whether it will do what you want it to, it's a great mac for the features it has if it does what you want.
I have a rev A and bought the current rev C with the newest SSD a month ago. It's really fast and serves all my needs. This was an update well worth the price for me.
I also bought an iPad recently. It's a pretty amazing little device. IMHO, it would give any mac a run for its money for "light" computing if it had a real file system in the OS, and more full featured apps. I don't know if Apple is going to solve the first one, but the second one will be solved sooner or later as the number and sophistication of the apps available gets better and better. For my needs I could get by replacing the MBA with an iPad, but it would be a struggle and it would mean some things would just have to be done at the office on my iMac.
If I were guessing, I think Apple may be waiting to see where things go with the iPad before deciding to put a lot of effort into updating the MBA. I suspect by now they've made that decision, we just don't know what it is.
Nice post.
For most of it I agree. I think though that an Android tablet, which has a full file system, may solve both of your tablet issues.
For me, the MBA is my office away from the office and as such, if I have to resort to an iMac, then it defeats the whole purpose of mobility!
I can see in 4 years that tablets will become powerful enough to replace laptops, but they are still too weak at this stage or for the next several years. Voice processing needs to be faster and much more ram needs to be integrated before tablets will even come close.
For smart phone carriers, I still do not see the reasoning behind owning a current tablet. It provides no functionality that a smart phone can't do.
If...
I will be just happy with my decision to have bought a refurbished 1.86/SSD, which is sufficient (but not mind-boggling any more due to limited RAM and drive capacity). But I would also buy a new one if it ever comes out with the appropriate specs...
I will be just happy with my decision to have bought a refurbished 1.86/SSD, which is sufficient (but not mind-boggling any more due to limited RAM and drive capacity). But I would also buy a new one if it ever comes out with the appropriate specs...
Actually, the MBA uses a LV CPU NOT a ULV CPU. In addition, I have always said the MBA uses a high-end CPU. It does cost Apple about 75% more than a CPU for an MB. I agree, Apple would need to lower the price, but if Apple were to commit to buying MB level sales for the more expensive CPU, it would become nearly the same price for Apple.
And you constantly try to prove on this forum that you are not a an Apple hater. Its get tiring after a while of you hiding your true identity on this forum. We're not allowed to use the "T" word here as it's considered a personal attack, but I can assure you I as well as others are thinking it when we see your posts. Rather than waiting for an Air that you're just gonna trash upside down, left, right and sideways along with spewing your Apple hatred, why not get a Dell Adamo or an HP Envy and allow the people on this forum that actually LIKE Apple and it's products to have a fair discussion without someone constantly deterring them just because you have a beef with Apple.
Wait a minute, did I say one BAD thing about Apple? All I was doing is saying that the Windows game is currently NO WORSE than the OS X game. Both OSes seem to have the same rate of errors for me, nearly none. I don't believe that is trashing Apple.
I do get pissed At Apple, but the truth is I hate the game of waiting for years for an update. I am an Apple fan through and through. However, I hate the games Apple plays with its users.
The original MBA was a complete fail in my eyes. It cost Apple the MBA brand name. Perhaps if Apple changes the case of the MBA it can change the name and finally get past the original flap. As far as the v 2,1 MBA, I believe it is the BEST COMPUTING PRODUCT EVER MADE. I don't know how that statement can come from an Apple hater? Not only that, I believe it's got a heck of an OS on it... better than Windows 7, nope but the same.
No, you have me wrong. What is important is the component set. When the v 2,1 MBA was introduced, it had a 128 GB SSD standard. That is by far the highest end component I have seen in an Apple product standard. I want that level of components in the next MBA. To do that, Apple will need to raise the price to pre June 2009 levels. I want high-end products that have high-end components. The v 2,1 MBA, when introduced, met those standards, perfectly.
I don't understand why people, LIKE YOU, have to pick on people. I usually don't pick on people here, I pick on products, companies, and situations. There is a big difference. But to say the competitor is trash, doesn't mean the company you love is great. Neither does saying the competitor is excellent... it doesn't mean the company, Apple, is trash. It just means excellent competition drives more excellent products. We should ALL hope Microsoft keeps getting better, as that will drive Apple to further its Mac OSes.
At least it added to the debate. +1 isn't much of an attention grabber other than to put down a person. YOU continue to play that game... why don't you add to the forum by taking positions against products, companies, and situations? That would mean a lot more for the entire forum.
After my previous post I can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with you 100%. You made a good point and I'll take it and learn from it.
Although sadly, I will have to say IMO, the Air isn't coming back.People, wake up, the MBA is dead, I have two of them, one rev A and a second rev C. The company that I work for gave me a MBP 13, I love my MBA, but I hate the MBP, it is heavy and clunky when compared to my air. I think Apple will discontinue it, and next year I am getting a Vaio Z for lack of alternative. Don't kid yourself that you can replace an Air with a MBP, they are two different animals. One is a Jaguar, the other is an elephant.
The MBA uses a CPU 40% the size of a normal one.
So you want a low LV i5 or i7 as part of a high end MBA?
And if an MBA comes out beofre March?People, wake up, the MBA is dead, I have two of them, one rev A and a second rev C. The company that I work for gave me a MBP 13, I love my MBA, but I hate the MBP, it is heavy and clunky when compared to my air. I think Apple will discontinue it, and next year I am getting a Vaio Z for lack of alternative. Don't kid yourself that you can replace an Air with a MBP, they are two different animals. One is a Jaguar, the other is an elephant.
HLdan -- That was graciously put. You have reminded of what is good about this forum. On to the topic at hand, though.After my previous post I can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with you 100%. You made a good point and I'll take it and learn from it.
I have no idea whether the MBA will be EOLed or retained in some form. If something like Scottsdale's dream high end MBA with 8Gb of RAM becomes available, I'll buy one. On the other hand, if it ends up with 4Gb of hardwired RAM I probably will just get a 13 inch MBP instead, up its RAM to 8Gb and its hard drive to a 256Gb SSD. I hope, of course, that in the event the MBA is discontinued, the 13 inch MBP will be redesigned to make it lighter.
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The comment that if they drop the Air, I hope they lighten the MB Pro, brings theory #163 to mind: Maybe those two product changes are related in terms of timing. I.e., maybe they don't EOL the Air UNTIL the 13" Pro (or all Pros) have had weight reduction. By at least losing the superdrive.
I don't know what Liquimetal saves, but that weight saving could be added to the losing of the disc drive (2 little savings add up to one bigger weight reduction... yay!).... or, the current mbPs could just change the one way, switching case metals.
Maybe all Jobs & Ive care about is eventually putting the "dinosaurs on a diet", to quote Phil Ochs.
The comment that if they drop the Air, I hope they lighten the MB Pro, brings theory #163 to mind: Maybe those two product changes are related in terms of timing. I.e., maybe they don't EOL the Air UNTIL the 13" Pro (or all Pros) have had weight reduction. By at least losing the superdrive.
I don't know what Liquimetal saves, but that weight saving could be added to the losing of the disc drive (2 little savings add up to one bigger weight reduction... yay!).... or, the current mbPs could just change the one way, switching case metals.
Maybe all Jobs & Ive care about is eventually putting the "dinosaurs on a diet", to quote Phil Ochs.
I just don't get this. The Air is no more "portable" than the MB or MBP just because it's a pound or two lighter, or thinner. This is the argument of someone who has not used either MB or MBP for more than one day.
In my mind the Air is a nice feeling device. But there's just no chance of Apple making it a stronger machine with the size it's at. A better option: Slim up the 13" MBP a little - NOT like the current Air - and have it take the Air's place as the lighter option.