What if the MBA only gets a spec bump? Would you be happy? Ecstatic? Disappointed?

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

I don't care how Apple does it, but I'd like to see the price come down and battery life go up. Honestly, even if it's $100 less and gets an hour extra I'm sold. I reckon in this day and age, 4GB of RAM is a given-- but it's Apple, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

As a MB and MBP user, I wouldn't consider an MBA in its current form. It needs a plug-in ethernet, and, FireWire 800. Then it can be managed in a business environment. It is also too pricey. What it doesn't need is a super-high-performance CPU and graphics. Lower cost, lower heat, longer battery life, not extra performance. Performance equivalent to C2D with 8600M GT is plenty. I would give it no options:

1) Small screen (~12") with anti-glare coating (who doesn't mostly use in an office environment with lots of glare from fluorescent lights?)
2) 4 GB memory
3) 128 GB SSD
4) Wireless and 10/100/1000 ethernet
5) FireWire 800

 

[hcho3]

As a MB and MBP user, I wouldn't consider an MBA in its current form. It needs a plug-in ethernet, and, FireWire 800. Then it can be managed in a business environment. It is also too pricey. What it doesn't need is a super-high-performance CPU and graphics. Lower cost, lower heat, longer battery life, not extra performance. Performance equivalent to C2D with 8600M GT is plenty. I would give it no options:

1) Small screen (~12") with anti-glare coating (who doesn't mostly use in an office environment with lots of glare from fluorescent lights?)
2) 4 GB memory
3) 128 GB SSD
4) Wireless and 10/100/1000 ethernet
5) FireWire 800

For what price....?

128GB SSD will already push the price to go over 1500 dollars.

 

[hcho3]

-Custom AMD APU
-4 GBs of RAM (8 GBs RAM +$299) - expensive upgrade is always typical of Apple
-128 GB SSD (256 GB SSD +$299) - forces people to go for the MacBook/Pro if they desire more space
-11.6", 1366x768 LED display (1600x900 display +$299) - 1600x900 resolution has been done at 11.6" I believe and the upgrade is equally expensive
-Mini Displayport, 2x USB, 1x SD Card slot, x1 Microphone/Mic combo - Typical Apple skimpy on ports, but needs to atleast add a couple since there is competition in this niche market now
-Full sized, edge-to-edge backlit keyboard - Edge-to-Edge = from one edge of laptop to the other, no extra room.
-7 Hour Battery life (4-5 realistic) - AMD's new processor line has been getting 5 1/2 hours, no reason why it shouldn't hit alteast 4
-2.9 lbs, .80 inches at deepest point - Slightly thicker, slightly smaller footprint and lighter.

Base Price: $999

What are you smoking....

128GB SSD alone will push this laptop forward to go over 1499 dollars. Expect to see HDD only and SSD has like 500 dollars extra. 256 GB SSD? Keep dreaming.

 

[halledise]

What are you smoking....

128GB SSD alone will push this laptop forward to go over 1499 dollars. Expect to see HDD only and SSD has like 500 dollars extra. 256 GB SSD? Keep dreaming.

SSD cards are much cheaper than the 'old' SSD hard drive

 

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

For what price....?

128GB SSD will already push the price to go over 1500 dollars.

Maybe, maybe not. The 128 GB "drive" could be soldered on. That should save a few bucks. Also, it doesn't have to be ultra-fast.

 

[TSE]

The problem with saying you want a 1280x800 resolution is that 11.6" form factor has a 16:9 ratio.

 

[MartiNZ]

The problem with saying you want a 1280x800 resolution is that 11.6" form factor has a 16:9 ratio.

Really!? That's really cool, maybe a sign of things to come? The iMac and the displays made the switch, would be cool to see it across the board. Of course the best ever resolution Apple did was the 1440x960 on PowerBooks before they put the camera on - cool because it hit the perfect vertical for the 4:3 1280x960.

Even more interested in the idea of this 11.6" ... whatever it is we might see now .

 

[Jaro65]

Must have 4+ GB of RAM. Running both OS X and Win 7 VM would be nice on 6 or 8 GB or RAM.

 

[.summerfree]

As a MB and MBP user, I wouldn't consider an MBA in its current form.

Solution: Stick with the MB/MBP, then.

 

[zap2]

I'm hoping we see an 11'' MacBook Air. For 13'' its just so close to the MB/MBP, so niche that needs the 13'' Air is small. I think a 11'' model would do a lot of good for the line.

 

[retroneo]

The lightest 15" ATM is 5.2lb.

There is the 15" MSI X600 at 4.8 pounds. It has discrete graphics too. So it can be done.

 

[CaoCao]

There is the 15" MSI X600 at 4.8 pounds. It has discrete graphics too. So it can be done.

Err you do realize it has a 1.4GHz single core right? and the "discrete" is barely more powerful than the 9400M...