What things will we realistically see in the refresh?

[arctic]

What good is 3G support when Apple will once again force you to use MicroSIMs instead of the normal ones. Then that'll put people to go for another AT&T data plan. The only people that won't be inconvenient with this are those that are already using these Micro SIMs in their iPads. Just remove them from your iPads and slot them in the MBA. But do you really see iPad owners using their micro SIMs in their MBA just so they can use 3G speeds to do whatever it is that their iPads can already do? I know its cool to have this rather than nothing at all but if Apple will use precious space just for a micro SIM, I'd rather they use the space for something else.

 

[tbobmccoy]

What good is 3G support when Apple will once again force you to use MicroSIMs instead of the normal ones. Then that'll put people to go for another AT&T data plan. The only people that won't be inconvenient with this are those that are already using these Micro SIMs in their iPads. Just remove them from your iPads and slot them in the MBA. But do you really see iPad owners using their micro SIMs in their MBA just so they can use 3G speeds to do whatever it is that their iPads can already do? I know its cool to have this rather than nothing at all but if Apple will use precious space just for a micro SIM, I'd rather they use the space for something else.

Micro SIMs aren't hard to deal with... Just cut your normal SIM. Make a holder for it in your normal phone. Plus, I have an iPhone 4 so i don't have a normal SIM anyway. That being said, I don't want a 3G MBA and doubt they'll make one. Apple seems to be content with 3G on iPads and iPhones only.

 

[arctic]

Micro SIMs aren't hard to deal with... Just cut your normal SIM. Make a holder for it in your normal phone. Plus, I have an iPhone 4 so i don't have a normal SIM anyway. That being said, I don't want a 3G MBA and doubt they'll make one. Apple seems to be content with 3G on iPads and iPhones only.

Yes, you can cut your SIM. That's old knowledge. But that's still another inconvenient. It'll be a joy using that back to the device it came from (play with tape, cardboard, blah blah). If you don't want to use it back, why not just purchase a micro SIM in the first place. And yes I have an iPhone 4 as well. Can you imagine iPhone owners wanting to miss phone calls just so they can use their micro SIM in the MBA? Bottom line, a 3G is only fine if you want to buy another AT&T data plan or if you have one from your iPad. Not for iPhone owners. So yeah, you don't want a 3G MBA like you stated.

 

[paulyras]

All I want is a 15" version. Desperately. Ideally with a black bezel, but it could be neon green and I'd still take it.

I'd also like to point out that a 15 inch version would leave space for multiple blade SSDs, allowing higher capacity (striped) without jacking the price up dramatically.

 

[Kyllle]

All I want is a 15" version. Desperately. Ideally with a black bezel, but it could be neon green and I'd still take it.

I'd also like to point out that a 15 inch version would leave space for multiple blade SSDs, allowing higher capacity (striped) without jacking the price up dramatically.

Depending on the price (has to be cheaper than mbp 15), I'd definitely get this too instead of the 13" air. Unfortunately, Apple would never do this. oh well..

If only they offered the 15" without the quad core for a few hundred cheaper.

 

[2IS]

Depending on the price (has to be cheaper than mbp 15), I'd definitely get this too instead of the 13" air. Unfortunately, Apple would never do this. oh well..

If only they offered the 15" without the quad core for a few hundred cheaper.

Why does it have to be cheaper than the MBP?

 

[57004]

Bottom line, a 3G is only fine if you want to buy another AT&T data plan or if you have one from your iPad. Not for iPhone owners. So yeah, you don't want a 3G MBA like you stated.

You don't always need another data plan. I use a prepay sim card in my iPad, and my provider charges 1 euro a day for internet access (only charged if you use it at any time during this day). Works out great, I just leave the 3G switched off at home where I've got my own wifi, and have it on when I go on trips etc, much cheaper than the hotel wifi.

I even transfer credit from my iPhone (also on prepay), they offer a facility to transfer credits to your friends so you can loan them a tenner. So I don't have to top it up on its own.

Of course this is Ireland but I seem similarly cheap options in the Netherlands. There's always options available that don't involve a long-term commitment and another plan. Just look around for the offers on prepay.

 

[shurcooL]

- My own wishful thinking, but improved screenspace use (particularly a larger screen while maintaining the same enclosure, or slightly smaller enclosure in the 11.6-inch version which has quite a thick border around the screen)

The 11.6 MBA can't get any smaller because of the full-size keyboard and the necessary small border around it so you can pick it up (without hitting keys). Its screen can of course get a little larger, decreasing the bezel size and keeping the overall dimensions the same.

 

[shurcooL]

Also, you forgot the upgrade from SD to SDXC card slot.

 

[57004]

The 11.6 MBA can't get any smaller because of the full-size keyboard and the necessary small border around it so you can pick it up (without hitting keys). Its screen can of course get a little larger, decreasing the bezel size and keeping the overall dimensions the same.

The 12" Powerbook keys went right up to the side edges of the enclosure, save for a millimetre's worth of plastic edge, while the 11" MBA has about a centimetre to the edge. So they've done it before.

I don't think it fits well with the the unibody look though, and it would probably reduce the strength too much (the 12" PB had an internal magnesium frame to compensate). So I agree that it's very unlikely to happen.

 

[Monkeychemist]

To all of you who doubted me early in the thread... I just wanted to tell you... I was right!!

My theory is true whenever there is a refresh there is always the minimum update of the 3... Proc, RAM, storage

 

[iPadPhone]

To all of you who doubted me early in the thread... I just wanted to tell you... I was right!!

My theory is true whenever there is a refresh there is always the minimum update of the 3... Proc, RAM, storage

Until Apple announces the new airs it is all speculation. Bear that in mind before you start dishing out the I told you so's to everyone who disagreed with you.

 

[Oppressed]

Macbook Air 13 inch: Starts at $1299.
- Core i7-2637M: 2 cores, 1.7 GHz (turbos to 2.8 GHz), 4 MB cache
- (Optional) Core i7-2677M: 2 cores, 1.8 GHz (turbo boost to 2.9 GHz), 4 MB cache
- 4 Gigs of RAM standard upgradable to 6 Gigs.
- 128 GB SSD standard upgradable to 256 GB.
- Backlit Keyboard
- Thunderbolt Port
- 2 USB 2.0 Ports

Macbook Air 11.6 inch: Starts at $999.
- Core i5-2557M: 2 cores, 1.7 GHz (turbos to 2.7 GHz), 3 MB
- (Optional) Core i7-2637M: 2 cores, 1.7 GHz (turbos to 2.8 GHz), 4 MB cache
- 4 Gigs of RAM standard upgradable to 6 Gigs.
- 128 GB SSD standard upgradable to 256 GB.
- Backlit Keyboard
- Thunderbolt Port
- 2 USB 2.0 Ports

Just my opinion based on rumors gathered from the web.

 

[hcho3]

While I see 4GB ram going standard on 13 inch MBA, the 11 inch MBA is a very different story.

Based on what people are saying, apple should add these following things...

1. HD Face time Camera
2. 4GB ram Standard
3. 128GB SSD standard
4. Backlit Keyboard
5. Sandy Bridge Processor
6. Thunderbolt Port

If 13 inch MBA gets all of that, then 13 inch MBP serves no freaking purpose. Also 13 inch MB serves no freaking purpose.

Realistically...

1. HD face time Camera
2. 4GB ram Standard on 13 inch only and no 6GB ram is not happening.
3. You won't see more Storage on SSD. It will be faster SSD. These SSD costs so much money to upgrade.
4. Backlit Keyboard=Doubtful
5. Sandy Bridge processor= Yes
6. Thunderbolt Port= Yes

 

[clyde2801]

You forgot HD facetime cameras.

Whoops. Was responding to two posts before this one.

 

[Oppressed]

1. Hd face time camera
2. 4gb ram standard on 13 inch only and no 6gb ram is not happening.
3. You won't see more storage on ssd. It will be faster ssd. These ssd costs so much money to upgrade.
4. Backlit keyboard=doubtful
5. Sandy bridge processor= yes
6. Thunderbolt port= yes

2.

in a communication to appleinsider on thursday, concord securities analyst ming-chi kuo said his industry checks suggest apple is no longer placing orders macbook airs with 2gb of ram. Instead, those checks indicate that all new 11.6- and 13.3-inch models will include 4gb of ram as standard

3.

similarly, kuo cited the same checks in suggesting that airs with just 64gb solid-state-drives may go away in favor of apple shipping only 128gb and 256gb models as standard, given that the bulk of apple's shipments have been for models containing those larger drives.

4.

according to people familiar with the matter, backlit keyboards will join the string of hardware enhancements planned for the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch notebooks

 

[hcho3]

2.


3.


4.

According to people familiar with the matter...
Can you describe to me who the hell that is?

That is just as ambiguous as it gets. These journalists don't work for apple.

 

[Monkeychemist]

Until Apple announces the new airs it is all speculation. Bear that in mind before you start dishing out the I told you so's to everyone who disagreed with you.

well let's not get ridiculous here... if Apple came out with new Airs that had 2GB ram or a 64GB SSD do you think anyone (with basic knowledge) would buy it? They have to update all 3 or it's just an obsolete update. Everyone would be mad and the computer would tank. So it's no just I told you so, but common sense

 

[Oppressed]

According to people familiar with the matter...
Can you describe to me who the hell that is?

That is just as ambiguous as it gets. These journalists don't work for apple.

True, but I trust their opinions more than that of online community forums members. Its the best one can get given the product is not out yet.

 

[orfeas0]

While I see 4GB ram going standard on 13 inch MBA, the 11 inch MBA is a very different story.

Based on what people are saying, apple should add these following things...

1. HD Face time Camera
2. 4GB ram Standard
3. 128GB SSD standard
4. Backlit Keyboard
5. Sandy Bridge Processor
6. Thunderbolt Port

If 13 inch MBA gets all of that, then 13 inch MBP serves no freaking purpose. Also 13 inch MB serves no freaking purpose.

1) the MBP has it too
2) the mbp has it too and can be upgraded to even more
3) the mbp has it too and can be upgraded even more
4) the mbp has it too
5) the mbp has it too, and it's a lot better
6) the mbp has it too, plus has more usb ports and ethernet port, and is also cheaper than the MBA. and guess what, the white macbook? same specs as the mbp and EVEN cheaper!

To buy the as-much-equivalent-as-you-can macbook air to the base 13"mbp you will need 1600$ instead of 1200. Oh and if they update the macbook to the same specs as the 13" mbp, it will be 1000$ vs 1600$ (and the 1000$ one will even be better).

YOU STILL PAY MORE FOR THE DESIGN AND WEIGHT! The macbook air will become quite powerful with the sandy bridges, but it still won't be that good a computer like the other macbooks!! Please try to understand that. If you can't, click here.

 

[Oppressed]

To buy the as-much-equivalent-as-you-can macbook air to the base 13"mbp you will need 1600$ instead of 1200. Oh and if they update the macbook to the same specs as the 13" mbp, it will be 1000$ vs 1600$ (and the 1000$ one will even be better).

Add a SSD to the MBP.

 

[Flagg]

Is it a 100% certainty that this refresh will see the HD3000 as the sole option? I'm not sure where people are getting this.

 

[orfeas0]

Is it a 100% certainty that this refresh will see the HD3000 as the sole option? I'm not sure where people are getting this.

The ONLY integrated graphics chip you can use with Sandy Bridge core i processors is the one provided by intel, called HD3000.
And since you can't fit a dedicated GPU in the small package the air offers (even the 13"), the only graphic chip the sandy bridge macbook air can have is this one.

Add a SSD to the MBP.

Even with an ssd, the mbp comes at the MBA's price. So you must either choose performance or design.
Oh and if you put an ssd in the white macbook, you get a better pc than the air and cheaper.

 

[hcho3]

1) the MBP has it too
2) the mbp has it too and can be upgraded to even more
3) the mbp has it too and can be upgraded even more
4) the mbp has it too
5) the mbp has it too, and it's a lot better
6) the mbp has it too, plus has more usb ports and ethernet port, and is also cheaper than the MBA. and guess what, the white macbook? same specs as the mbp and EVEN cheaper!

To buy the as-much-equivalent-as-you-can macbook air to the base 13"mbp you will need 1600$ instead of 1200. Oh and if they update the macbook to the same specs as the 13" mbp, it will be 1000$ vs 1600$ (and the 1000$ one will even be better).

YOU STILL PAY MORE FOR THE DESIGN AND WEIGHT! The macbook air will become quite powerful with the sandy bridges, but it still won't be that good a computer like the other macbooks!! Please try to understand that. If you can't, click here.

Show me a MBP that comes with 128SSD as standard at no additional cost from apple. It clearly tells me that you are just ignorant. Because none of macbook or macbook pros come with SSD as Standard. Or do you not know what Standard means? You pay more for the design and weight? Uhh.... What is this crap?

No one said anything about the price. Please keep it to the original discussion or go to the another topic.

 

[orfeas0]

Show me a MBP that comes with 128SSD as standard at no additional cost from apple. It clearly tells me that you are just ignorant. Because none of macbook or macbook pros come with SSD as Standard. Or do you not know what Standard means? You pay more for the design and weight? Uhh.... What is this crap?

No one said anything about the price. Please keep it to the original discussion or go to the another topic.

Are you serious? Noone said anything about the price but people keep saying "the macbook will be replaced by the mba" or even worse "the mbp 13" will be replaced by the mba".
And my answer to that was that the MBP (and the macbook) offers more than the air for reduced price. Got it now? If not, I won't keep explaining it, try to read and think more carefully if you're intersted. Otherwise just don't quote and reply to me.