The Thunderbolt port takes up no additional room. It replaces the miniDisplay port that is already on the machine.
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What Would You Like to See in Future MBAs?
- Thread starter webitorgal
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The Thunderbolt port takes up no additional room. It replaces the miniDisplay port that is already on the machine.
-I'd quite like a slot to attach a laptop security cable;
-SD card slot would be nice on the 11"
-I'm not fussed about the Backlit keyboard, i'd rather keep the slim form factor.
-SD card slot would be nice on the 11"
-I'm not fussed about the Backlit keyboard, i'd rather keep the slim form factor.
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sandy bridge processor
3g/4g card available input (just incase needed if no wifi in the area for traveling)
usb 3.0 maybe... in ivy bridge rofl..
better graphics card not going to get crippled with the intel HD3000
more ram
more battery life
3g/4g card available input (just incase needed if no wifi in the area for traveling)
usb 3.0 maybe... in ivy bridge rofl..
better graphics card not going to get crippled with the intel HD3000
more ram
more battery life
As mentioned, it'll take up a bit more space inside for the Thunderbolt controller but it'll simply replace the existing Mini DisplayPort so it becomes a 2-in-1 port on the outside.
I am very happy with my 13.3" MBA with 2 USB ports. But I have to admit, I am envious of the potential experience with the lightning fast Thunderbolt I/O in the latest MBP.
I started without Backlit Keyboard, and I am cool with that (although not as much elegant-looking, it saves unnecessary battery power).
And yes, I'd like to see a microfibre cloth included in the box! It's just too cheap yet important for any MBA users!
I started without Backlit Keyboard, and I am cool with that (although not as much elegant-looking, it saves unnecessary battery power).
And yes, I'd like to see a microfibre cloth included in the box! It's just too cheap yet important for any MBA users!
I'm interested in the 13in, so:
In no particular order:
I think that's it. But regardless of what comes out, I'll probably pick one up as I'm currently in the market anyway =P
In no particular order:
- i series CPU
- Thunderbolt
- 4GB RAM standard
- 256GB SSD standard (even though I already fill up my 300GB)
- Nvidia or AMD GPU (not happening, I know)
- Backlit keyboard (never had one, so I think it'd be neat)
- Less bezel
- HD Camera
- Ships with Mini Displayport to HDMI converter
I think that's it. But regardless of what comes out, I'll probably pick one up as I'm currently in the market anyway =P
I wonder if heating will be an issue with the Air's casing and Sandy Bridge processors. I've read/heard that they may cut the SB power in half (whatever that means; I apologize, my tech-knowledge is poor) to reduce heat, but what will that mean for the processing speed? Or might Apple have a solution by innovating the design/fans/whatever?
SD Slot
The only thing I'm missing on my 11" MBA is an SD card slot. I use my MBA 80% for pictures and video. I use a Wifi SD card now but away from home the SD slot would be great.
The only thing I'm missing on my 11" MBA is an SD card slot. I use my MBA 80% for pictures and video. I use a Wifi SD card now but away from home the SD slot would be great.
Not asking for much....
Must haves: Faster CPUs and Thunderbolt - not so important now but in 6-18 months anticipate widespread Thunderbolt equiped monitors with USB 3, SD, Firewire and ethernet ports built in. Your external monitor will be your hub and Thunderbolt means future proofing your MBA. Like to haves: me and my pretty mouth would like a backlit keyboard.
Must haves: Faster CPUs and Thunderbolt - not so important now but in 6-18 months anticipate widespread Thunderbolt equiped monitors with USB 3, SD, Firewire and ethernet ports built in. Your external monitor will be your hub and Thunderbolt means future proofing your MBA. Like to haves: me and my pretty mouth would like a backlit keyboard.
Lol!
Sorry, it should have been 'pretty face'. See post #6. Didn't mean to freak you out!
wtf?
Creepy.
Sorry, it should have been 'pretty face'. See post #6. Didn't mean to freak you out!
Why don't you enable internet sharing on your mac instead? You don't need to be actually connected to the internet if you only wanna gain access to your computer.
Backlit keyboard is a nice aesthetic feature for many. It's also extremely useful for those of us who type while looking at the keyboard and tend to do a lot of traveling at night/underground. Plus, since all iterations of the keyboard have user-controlled brightness levels, the argument against it as a power sink fail. In my opinion, and as someone who really wants a backlit keyboard, the best argument against the feature is that it has the potential to increase the price to maintain such a large margin.
The TDP of the C2D and 320M combined is about 25W, I believe. The i5 2357m is a 1.4GHz proc with the HD3000 core and a TDP of 18W. By including this as the base processor, the battery life would inherently improve (without increasing the size of the battery), but a little bit of internal space would open up where the 320M was. This could be used for an SDHC card on the 11", or increased battery, or maybe an additional USB port. My wish would be to bump the base speed of the i5 up to 1.6GHz or even 1.8GHz and maintain a TDP of 25W.
A larger screen and/or thinner bezel would be nice, but I'd settle for coloring the darn thing black (without the weight of the glass over the screen). The bezel on my MacBook Pro is fantastic in comparison; I find the silver distracting.
A 2lb 11" Air with an i5 proc at 1.8GHz, a 256GB SSD, backlighting, 8+ hour battery-life, and a starting price of $100 less (dream on, I know), and there is no way I could keep myself from buying one.
What would I like to see in the next gen MBA?
First it has to be shipped via royal unicorns and delivered by the Jobs himself?
Jeez. Just enjoy the thing you already bought. No use contemplating whats next. But ... a ULV SB and 3000 graphics is a decent trade off (for the 11"), the 13" can get ULV SB and 3000 graphics. (w/e its not like its that much of a difference, who plays hard core games on a machine like this and has space leftover), backlit keyboard, less bezel or a black border (not happening), HD facetime (why not), and a thiner body. Sure this is thin. Even thinner would be better
First it has to be shipped via royal unicorns and delivered by the Jobs himself?
Jeez. Just enjoy the thing you already bought. No use contemplating whats next. But ... a ULV SB and 3000 graphics is a decent trade off (for the 11"), the 13" can get ULV SB and 3000 graphics. (w/e its not like its that much of a difference, who plays hard core games on a machine like this and has space leftover), backlit keyboard, less bezel or a black border (not happening), HD facetime (why not), and a thiner body. Sure this is thin. Even thinner would be better
I will be buying an 11 this summer. I am assuming the SB i5 ULV is a given and the 3000 graphics will be more than enough for me so...
1) 128gb ssd standard (unlikely because ssd prices probably haven't fallen enough...yet)
2) 4gb ram standard
3) more battery life (maybe just to 6 hours, but hey its an improvement)
4) Backlit keyboard (for aesthetics more than functionality)
5) Thunderbolt (last because I don't really do much file transfer in the first place)
oh and include the 11 in the back to school free ipod touch deal.
1) 128gb ssd standard (unlikely because ssd prices probably haven't fallen enough...yet)
2) 4gb ram standard
3) more battery life (maybe just to 6 hours, but hey its an improvement)
4) Backlit keyboard (for aesthetics more than functionality)
5) Thunderbolt (last because I don't really do much file transfer in the first place)
oh and include the 11 in the back to school free ipod touch deal.
The only thing that will make me replace my current MBA is if the new model has a backlit keyboard. I greatly miss this feature.
Other than that, better battery life would be great.
Other than that, better battery life would be great.
You know if you were that worried about your precious battery life you could turn the keyboard lighting off.
Thunderbolt just moved up on my list when I saw some of the new products coming out.
Especially Gigabit Ethernet is a big plus for me, I was thinking Apple might be doing one but in case they're not then Sonnet seems to be working on one as well. Although the adapter pictured there is unfortunately very bulky so it's not a great choice to bring on the road. But it would be great for home to do backups quickly (I usually do a complete image once in a while and this would really help).
Also the external chassis in which you can just put PCI-e cards is really unprecedented for laptops. If the pricing eventually comes down to around $100 I'd definitely get one although I'm afraid it will be a lot more.
Especially Gigabit Ethernet is a big plus for me, I was thinking Apple might be doing one but in case they're not then Sonnet seems to be working on one as well. Although the adapter pictured there is unfortunately very bulky so it's not a great choice to bring on the road. But it would be great for home to do backups quickly (I usually do a complete image once in a while and this would really help).
Also the external chassis in which you can just put PCI-e cards is really unprecedented for laptops. If the pricing eventually comes down to around $100 I'd definitely get one although I'm afraid it will be a lot more.
>
Same resolution for the 13" > but these changes would be nice:
8GB ram option
larger SSD drive
Thunderbolt
longer battery life > closer to the iPad (iPad has really spoiled me as far as battery life).
and perhaps just a little lighter.
If the RAM/Battery life bumps are in I'll reconsider, especially since my wrists are okay with the magic mouse and an Apple laptop > (why I didn't use my Magic Mouse with the Airs/Pros I tested over the last month > duh).
Same resolution for the 13" > but these changes would be nice:
8GB ram option
larger SSD drive
Thunderbolt
longer battery life > closer to the iPad (iPad has really spoiled me as far as battery life).
and perhaps just a little lighter.
If the RAM/Battery life bumps are in I'll reconsider, especially since my wrists are okay with the magic mouse and an Apple laptop > (why I didn't use my Magic Mouse with the Airs/Pros I tested over the last month > duh).