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2013 MacBook Air predictions
- Thread starter dmelgar
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Yet the integrated Intel HD4000 GPU drives the 15" rMBP most of the time. The discrete graphics chip only turns of for heavy duty tasks, not for rendering the OS. This is the same GPU in the MBAs.
+1
I'm not sure what all this talk of high end graphics requirements are about. Maybe to render something at that resolution, but for basic display functions graphics cards from 10 years ago could run at 2560*1600.
As far as window animations etc, integrated graphics keep getting better and better (hell they beat dedicated graphics from 5 years ago, good ones too).
It's the same chip yet they are not running the same frequency nor does the ULV part have the same frisky turbo policy due to the low TDP.
Also working the UI-elements won't quite cut it when it can't fall back onto a discrete chip once a third-party application demands more. Today's MBA can be used for more than surfing the net so I should hope that the next gen can too without introducing a "cut reso by half"-feature.
Furthermore the rMBP isn't really receiving standing ovations for its GPU performance with that resolution
Haswell should enhance GPU performance by quite a bit but I have my doubts that it will have enough power to hold its own for 2880x1800 in all scenarios. But hey, no data as of yet.
Bigger yes, faster...that will be a problem: The future of flash memory: tiny (and extremely tough to build).
Here's one... a Micro SD slot It would fit both 11 & 13 MBAs
Looking at the size of a Micro, regular SD cards are bound to disappear
Looking at the size of a Micro, regular SD cards are bound to disappear
Here's one... a Micro SD slot It would fit both 11 & 13 MBAs
Looking at the size of a Micro, regular SD cards are bound to disappear
SD cards aren't going anywhere. They're used in something like 70% of cameras today and there is no trend of switching to the tiny and less reliable microSD for cameras.
If anything, with more and more Android phones coming with built-in storage and no microSD slots, it's the microSD cards that are bound to disappear.
Here's one... a Micro SD slot It would fit both 11 & 13 MBAs
Looking at the size of a Micro, regular SD cards are bound to disappear
I doubt that will happen. These can get too small, and then they get hard to use and are often lost. Look how at how old and large compact flash is. It's still in use.
Furthermore the rMBP isn't really receiving standing ovations for its GPU performance with that resolution
Problems haven't been with the native 2880 X 1800. Problems have occurred with the scaled 1920 and 1050 resolutions. The GPU is doing a lot more work at those scaled resolutions than at native. Also, ML GM has seemed to help out quite a bit with some of the UI problems. The hardware is probably still a little behind the display tech, but someone has to push the envelope or we'd all have 720p screens on 15" laptops. I'd rather early adopters deal with some growing pains than be stuck with zero innovation. There are always trade offs.
I'm not sure where the innovation here is. I was at the Apple store yesterday and honestly I couldn't see the difference between a retina 13" MBP and a 13" MBA (aside of the glass panel of course). I guess there are quite a lot of people out there ho don't have the sharp eyes of 18 year olds and don't care. So would prefer to get a lighter, thinner, less power-hungry display with better color gamut.
Some don't care. And that is fine. I think if Apple put an IPS panel at the same resolution in the Air it would be a significant step in the right direction. I doubt the Air's body could hold a big enough battery to power a retina screen at this point. I do prefer my MBP screen to my buddy's Air, even though both are TN panels. I wish Apple would adopt IPS across the MacBook line.
I had planned on finally dumping my atom netbook for an MBA 11 in April. Then I started reading about the possible 50% improvement in the GPU and a possible drop in price.
Historically, when are the new specs/prices usually confirmed and how soon are the units actually available? June 1?
Hrmmm....for the sake of a month or so should I hold out....
Historically, when are the new specs/prices usually confirmed and how soon are the units actually available? June 1?
Hrmmm....for the sake of a month or so should I hold out....
I think it all really comes down to preference. I was able to tell the difference instantly between the screens on a 2012 MBA and my new rMBP!
The real difference here is with the sharpness and deep blacks on the rMBP. I'm a big fan of Super Amoled screens on phones, so the difference to me is like night and day. But with that said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the screen on the Air...Some just prefer the Retina display.
If a version of the Air is released later this year with a Retina screen, I will be selling my rMBP... Absolutely love the form factor of the Air...
I disagree on the Retina statement...
I definitely think we'll see a rMBA by the time 2013 comes to a close.
Think about it, the 2013 entry rMBP is priced at $1699 with 8GB of ram and 128GB of storage...To some thats really expensive
so wouldn't Apple bring a retina air into the equation priced at $1,499 with less ram and storage then the entry rMBP? This is what Apple does, everything is give or take a $200 difference.
Sooner or later Apple will be going all retina for all they're devices.
Rather later than sooner... It is not about pricing only, it is about differentiation - retina and stronger cpus are pros, that is what make people buy mbpros. Ob the other hand, key feature of airs is their thinnes, ad retina to air - either you kill them with little batery life or make them thick - you produce another rmbp with very similar pricing - non sense from apples and even from consumers point of view. My prediction (hope) for 2013 air: haswell, ips, pimped form factor (thinner bezel - bigger screen in same form factor), a bit higher resolutions and god please higher ssd capacity for todays price
That is what makes people buy Apple: differentiation. The faster they can get to all-retina the better they can sustain the air of superiority. With iPad having gone retina (with & despite severe constraints on battery & GPU), there's not much reason to not go there with MBAs. Waiting another product cycle puts them out well over a year before rMBA, at which point it's more of an embarrassing catch-up than leading the industry.
I agree and I think it's coming in this year's rev. The ASUS Zenbooks have IPS panels so I'm guessing the cost has gotten low enough for Apple to use them as well.
