Will the new refresh cost the same?

[DreamscapeRuins]

Heres my dilemma. Long story short. I'm having to return my new MBP due to payment issues through Apple - they charged it to the wrong account and aren't able to switch it over. They told me the easiest way to take care of this is just to return the MBP and repurchase it through a guest account.

I'm debating now getting the MBA, instead of the MBP, since its just a tad bit cheaper and seems to fit my needs just the same. However, I know the refresh is coming out in just a couple of days.

Should I wait on the refresh, and see whats new? Long shot, but do you guys think they'll be any chance for a disc drive on the new MBA's? Will they cost the same, or will the price hike up due to it being new? Is the refresh going to be worth the wait, or is it just going to be minor differences between the two?

Is it worth the wait and price, or should I just order the current MBA before the new one is released? I'd like to have it some time before the end of the week, but that also depends on when they release them.

*Edit* Due to being half awake and not actually opening my eyes to LOOK, I didn't notice a thread with similar issues to this one was posted about an hour before me. My bad.

 

[radiohead14]

Heres my dilemma. Long story short. I'm having to return my new MBP due to payment issues through Apple - they charged it to the wrong account and aren't able to switch it over. They told me the easiest way to take care of this is just to return the MBP and repurchase it through a guest account.

I'm debating now getting the MBA, instead of the MBP, since its just a tad bit cheaper and seems to fit my needs just the same. However, I know the refresh is coming out in just a couple of days.

Should I wait on the refresh, and see whats new? Long shot, but do you guys think they'll be any chance for a disc drive on the new MBA's? Will they cost the same, or will the price hike up due to it being new? Is the refresh going to be worth the wait, or is it just going to be minor differences between the two?

Is it worth the wait and price, or should I just order the current MBA before the new one is released? I'd like to have it some time before the end of the week, but that also depends on when they release them.

no chance for an optical drive. pricing will most likely be the same. i doubt they would hike the price. no one knows for sure the definites, but it's safe to say that the cpu will be the ultra low voltage core i5 or i7. the other rumors like thunderbolt port, 4gb base ram, and higher capacity ssd base are up in the air. either way, it's better to wait. see how the reviews are and decide if the refresh is right for you. if not, then at least the older MBA's will get discounted more. to me, battery life is the most important, so if the new ones have better battery due to sandy bridge.. then that's what i'll get.

 

[Patriot24]

...the other rumors like thunderbolt port, 4gb base ram, and higher capacity ssd base are up in the air.

I see what you did there

But in all seriousness, I don't think the price will go up. Apple likes to maintain their price points. They will simply address as many things as they can within the limit for margin that they have. If something is missing that we all want, it is likely that it just didn't fit within the budget. They will then make some of those options for build-to-order.

 

[sporadicMotion]

All I know is my gut says maybe

 

[Psilocybin]

If the rumors about ram and larger capacity ssd are correct you bet the price is going to go up. Ssd are far from cheap especially higher capacity ssds

 

[reclusive46]

If the rumors about ram and larger capacity ssd are correct you bet the price is going to go up. Ssd are far from cheap especially higher capacity ssds

Yes but they are saving money on the nvidia chipset and 320m and the processors are slightly cheaper

 

[Kyllle]

Absolutely no chance of an optical drive.

What you should expect is: Core i5, maybe i7 processors, thunderbolt port, 4gb ram standard is likely.

Possibly a backlit keyboard, I wouldn't really be surprised either way on this one.

Definitely wait and see, even if the refresh isn't worth it to you, you can always buy the current airs for a discounted price.

 

[Young Spade]

If the rumors about ram and larger capacity ssd are correct you bet the price is going to go up. Ssd are far from cheap especially higher capacity ssds

Why do you think the prices are going to go up? It's a refresh, have they ever raised prices on a refresh? (genuine question)

Anyways, if they do put 4 gigs ram standard and a higher ssd drive they might up it to 1100, but again, Apple makes a ton on each computer sold so they wouldn't lose any money if they kept the prices the same and raised the specs.

I'm hoping they keep it the same but I'm getting a 4gb model regardless.

 

[hcho3]

Why do you think the prices are going to go up? It's a refresh, have they ever raised prices on a refresh? (genuine question)

Anyways, if they do put 4 gigs ram standard and a higher ssd drive they might up it to 1100, but again, Apple makes a ton on each computer sold so they wouldn't lose any money if they kept the prices the same and raised the specs.

I'm hoping they keep it the same but I'm getting a 4gb model regardless.

Yes, they have raised the price before with MBP. They have raised the price with iPod touch. MBA will not be any different.

Apple makes tons of money on each computer, but they will make even more money by raising the prices around 50-100 dollars.

iPod touch used to be 199 dollars and apple raised it to 229 dollars. They are getting 30 dollars more.

MBP used to start at as low as 1699 dollars. They are now 1799 dollars to up to 2499 dollars. 17 inch Model received whopping 300 dollars increase. I was shocked.

 

[Samsumac]

You guys may be paying in dollars but the exchange into Euros is 1:1 , so Airs are quite expensive as they are. I am hoping for a small decrease in price actually. Apple makes too much money out of its hardware as it is....

 

[hcho3]

There is no way apple will lower the price with these kind of high demands. During Back to school, it will sell even more.

 

[scenemissing]

There is no way apple will lower the price with these kind of high demands. During Back to school, it will sell even more.

Sadly, the likely truth. I would be really surprised if they cut the price.

 

[urkel]

But in all seriousness, I don't think the price will go up. Apple likes to maintain their price points.

Didn't the Mac Mini price go up and that was a pretty small upgrade (thinner housing but still C2D and minimum ram). so I wouldn't rule it out since this upgrade is a significant jump if rumors come true (faster SSD, 4GB, TB, Sandy Bridge, Backlit KB, HD FaceTime Cam)

Honestly, if those specs show up then this goes from being "a good price for a thin Mac" to "The best price for any Mac". But I sure hope not though because I'm buying regardless of price.

 

[hcho3]

The Mac Mini price went up and that was a prett small upgrade (thinner housing but still C2D) so I wouldn't rule it out since this upgrade (if faster SSD, TB, Sandy Bridge, Backlit KB, HD FaceTime Cam) is a significant jump.

I sure hope not though because I'm buying regardless of price.

This is why apple would not lower the price.

 

[urkel]

This is why apple would not lower the price.

Dude, don't tell them.

Actually, despite Apple price criticisms from both users and non users, Apple has been a leading force in lowering prices on high end products. Prior to the iPhone then "high end" flip phones cost $500+ and before the latest Air the ultralights were near $2000. So apple can go either way on pricing. Raise it to cover increased parts cost or keep it the same to fend off competition.

 

[Scottsdale]

Yes but they are saving money on the nvidia chipset and 320m and the processors are slightly cheaper

I doubt they are saving much money there at all. Apple has a massive contract with Nvidia. They still have to buy Intel chipsets which are similar in pricing too.

I say the price is the same as before. Flash is the same price, but RAM is cheaper. But if one understands how Apple Stores only sell base or ultimate configurations, there is no way Apple will sell 4GB RAM standard as it makes too much money via the current policy and configuration upgrades. If it offered an 8GB ultimate configuration not nearly as many would be forced to make the upgrade as that is more of a luxury while 4GB is a necessity.

Faster CPU is a gain, much slower graphics is a loss... end result is slightly faster MBA but incapable for gaming and graphics operations compared to the Nvidia-based MBAs. Thunderbolt could be the difference maker if Apple brings about some serious technology and ACDs to take advantage of Thunderbolt due to the Intel IGP. I hope we end up with more capable MBAs even if it requires me to buy a new ACD to take advantage of them.

 

[KillerTree]

There's no way they would raise the price. $1300 is a lot as it is.

 

[KillerTree]

I doubt they are saving much money there at all. Apple has a massive contract with Nvidia. They still have to buy Intel chipsets which are similar in pricing too.

I say the price is the same as before. Flash is the same price, but RAM is cheaper. But if one understands how Apple Stores only sell base or ultimate configurations, there is no way Apple will sell 4GB RAM standard as it makes too much money via the current policy and configuration upgrades. If it offered an 8GB ultimate configuration not nearly as many would be forced to make the upgrade as that is more of a luxury while 4GB is a necessity.

Faster CPU is a gain, much slower graphics is a loss... end result is slightly faster MBA but incapable for gaming and graphics operations compared to the Nvidia-based MBAs. Thunderbolt could be the difference maker if Apple brings about some serious technology and ACDs to take advantage of Thunderbolt due to the Intel IGP. I hope we end up with more capable MBAs even if it requires me to buy a new ACD to take advantage of them.

The base 13" Macbook Pro has 4 gigs of RAM.

 

[Scottsdale]

The base 13" Macbook Pro has 4 gigs of RAM.

Hence the term "pro."

By the way, obviously I hope it includes 4GB standard and offers an 8GB upgrade, but for reasons I gave about money I don't believe Apple will include 4GB standard. I just think they sell way more ultimate confit MBAs when people otherwise would buy base model if it had 4GB RAM standard.

It is always about the money and we are not just talking about $99 but from $1299 to $1799.

 

[macjacky11]

There is no way apple will lower the price with these kind of high demands. During Back to school, it will sell even more.

I think the price should stay at the similar level. Also, an optical drive is not possible as having it may take away the air's portability.

 

[radiohead14]

Hence the term "pro."

By the way, obviously I hope it includes 4GB standard and offers an 8GB upgrade, but for reasons I gave about money I don't believe Apple will include 4GB standard. I just think they sell way more ultimate confit MBAs when people otherwise would buy base model if it had 4GB RAM standard.

It is always about the money and we are not just talking about $99 but from $1299 to $1799.

i'm hoping that 4GB is the new base standard.. wouldn't Apple want a smooth transition with Lion? from what i've read.. it seems like 4GB is needed for the new OS to run without hiccups.

 

[Young Spade]

i'm hoping that 4GB is the new base standard.. wouldn't Apple want a smooth transition with Lion? from what i've read.. it seems like 4GB is needed for the new OS to run without hiccups.

No. Do you think they would release their new OS with such a high RAM requirement? There are millions of laptops out there with only 2 gigs of ram.

People aren't thinking this through completely. It will work flawlessly on 2 gigs of RAM. The set that as the requirement.

 

[radiohead14]

No. Do you think they would release their new OS with such a high RAM requirement? There are millions of laptops out there with only 2 gigs of ram.

People aren't thinking this through completely. It will work flawlessly on 2 gigs of RAM. The set that as the requirement.

ok.. have you actually used the GM? not saying you're wrong, but i'd like to hear it from someone who has actually spent a good amount of time with it (no offense).

 

[Young Spade]

ok.. have you actually used the GM? not saying you're wrong, but i'd like to hear it from someone who has actually spent a good amount of time with it (no offense).

No I haven't, and none taken. I'm just stating that it would be completely stupid for them to do that. Apple is a very large, very powerful company... of course they slightly did that with the iOS 4 update but... you could argue user error in that case.

It's a 10.7 update, it isn't going to require vast amounts of RAM; heck if the OS took that much space that it required a machine with 4 gigs of RAM to run properly (including opening programs and whatnot) then I think there would seriously be something wrong.

Not trying to hammer a point down or anything, but when EVERY laptop beside the Pro has a 2 gig ram baseline, it's kind of a given that it's going to work with 2 gigs.

Also, seeing that they still sell the MB at 2 gigs of ram, it would be stupid to hinder the performance of a new machine. I could say the same about the Air, but the refresh hasn't come out yet, although I really, really hope it comes with 4 gigs standard.

 

[Oppressed]

There was a chance at a $100 price drop with the elimination of a third party discrete GPU, but with the implication of the backlit keyboard I would bet they will cost the same. Overall I would bet Apple is still making a few extra bucks per unit after production costs.