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Apple Updates MacBook Air Line With Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt and Backlit Keyboards

42streetsdown said:
The backlit keyboard's return is nice, but the processor choices are a bit saddening. I guess Apple chose to go with cheaper processors to increase their profit margin or maybe to offset the cost of SSDs.
Still only $50 off for education pricing. Kinda makes the MBP look more attractive.

Edit: so i just looked at the geekbench results in the laptop mag review, 5040 for the 11 inch ultimate, and 5860 for the 13 ultimate. Pretty darn good 🙂

Anyone know if the display is the same as the last generation viewing angle wise?
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What other CPU's could they have used?
 
With 2 USB ports and a thunderbolt port (so that I can multi task with it and hopefully use it for the backup hard drive and monitor), the MBA is getting closer to being able to be a contender for the MBP for me.

I still prefer the much larger hard drive, cheaper price, faster processor, easier to upgrade, and DVD drive but if I were in the market for a computer and could afford the 13" Air I'd be considering it (though not sure what the availability and price of hard drives that would connect to thunderbolt would be so that would be a strong consideration there). Maybe even the 11" (but I don't have much issue lugging my 13" MBP around and I'd prefer the bigger screen but the 11" is I think definitely has the large portability difference where the 13" isn't as big a difference on the advantage it has over the MBP).

But, I can't afford or need a computer now (I just got a 2010 model last year) but this means in the future the MBA might actually start being a contender (especially if thunderbolt hard drives get more available and cheaper as I think that and storage space are my hugest hang ups with the MBA though the processor speed bugs me a little).
 
Really, Apple?

You release a new display with MagSafe and Thunderbolt in one cable (sweet,) and on the same day, you release a new MacBook Air (also sweet, but...) with the MagSafe connector and Thunderbolt connectors on OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MACHINE.

Stethoscope?
 
Soldered SSD

Capt Underpants said:
Solid update... finally.

I wonder if they're soldering the SSD onboard this time.
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9to5mac:

RAM is soldered directly on the motherboard so configure your machine carefully because you won’t be able to upgrade RAM yourself later; the same goes for flash-based storage, which isn’t user-replaceable​
 
MacSince1990 said:
#1... You used floppy disks 10 years ago? In 2001? Damn.

#2... Many, many, many, many many people use CDs and DVDs. I enjoy watching a DVD on my computer sometimes. People like ripping their CD collection to their Mac. Some folk even-- get this-- install new software and games on CDs and DVDs. Some people even like to boot from an OS CD when their Mac OS installation is in trouble.

Yes, optical drives are still very useful. Many games even require CDs to be in the drive to play.

Have you even been using Macs for 10 years?
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Just making stuff up, I don't know when I last used a floppy. Windows 95 reinstall maybe.


I thought the first post was funny, that is why i responded.

Do you know that If GM stops selling cars with cd players yo will need to install you own after market cd player to play a cd?

You can complain to me when apple stops supporting external optical drives on a Mac untill that time, I don't care.
 
StealthGhost said:
Porsche Boxter vs Porsche Boxter with 20,000 dollar exhaust that gives 10 hp.

The base ones are fine. 5% or less gain for $135 is just throwing away money. The space issue, it's an 11 inch computer...unless it's going to be your main computer you don't need more than 128gb.
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Well, first of all, i AM going to replace my 15" MBP and use the MBA as my main and only computer. So specs are important. The MBA is smaller, lighter, faster. What's not to like? The tradeoffs aren't important to me, though someday i'd consider upgrading to a 13" for the larger screen. I think I'd do that when the 13" offers an SSD bigger than 256GB: Right now, I'll have to bisect my iPhoto library and keep the years-old archive on an external HD, in order to fit (the rest of) everything from my MBP on the MBA.

But to be fair, you've changed your argument some. And now we're more in agreement. Vis-a-vis a $20k exhaust update, I'll reserve judgement on whether the processor upgrade is worthwhile, making that decision based on data I've not seen yet. But you seemed to be condemning the whole "spruced up 11" MBA" as a value concept. That's what i disagreed with--and continue to disagree with.
 
I just ordered a 11-inch ultimate on my break at work. A little over 200 more than the old model, but Apple really went above and beyond. I never expected the 11 to have the same specs as the 13 processor-wise.

Can't wait. My first Mac.
 
Anyone here in London confirm if MBA's available anywhere today?

Regent St store said they didn't have any and didn't know when they'd be delivered either.

They seemed surprised they were available online and also told me Lion was dropping in 3 hours time (this was half an hour after it had gone online) 🙄
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

11inch 128gb 4gb + i7 upgrade = no brainer.

Paying the extra £250 for the 256SSD is frankly nuts.
 
Optimus Frag said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

11inch 128gb 4gb + i7 upgrade = no brainer.

Paying the extra £250 for the 256SSD is frankly nuts.
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I'm going for the opposite. 13", Slower CPU and more space.

Depends on your needs.
 
chen23 said:
Regent St store said they didn't have any and didn't know when they'd be delivered either.
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Same goes for the Apple Store in Frankfurt. I called them but they don't know when delivery is coming. I hope they will have stock tomorrow :apple:
 
I knew Apple left out the backlit keyboard on purpose so they could have a reason to sell you another MBA in a few months. Kind of a hustle if you ask me. Anyway, glad I didn't buy the first one! Definitely buying this one
 
Jaro65 said:
The difference for educational pricing between the 11" Ultimate MBA and a 13" Ultimate MBA is only $90. Hmm... The smaller footprint and lower weight vs larger screen and longer battery size. Not an easy decision.
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Light enough, gotta go with the 13
 
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