13-Inch MacBook Air Models Now Have 8GB RAM Standard

[Shirasaki]

definitely got lucky by finding a touchscreen cheaper than a standard screen

Indeed. This is a promotion at Dell Australia.

Skylake is about to release so they cut down price for a few machines equipped with broadwill processor. Or other name similar to that? I don't remember.
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I don't hear the iPadPro dudes crying about ports, they'd kill for a single USB-C connector.

No. They don't cry because iPad is just a tablet so they have less expectation on more ports. But still, there ARE users saying if iPad Pro wants to compete traditional laptop, then there should be more ports to it. And the number of such user is not small.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

...Let's look at today's i7 upgrade price:

Are you having a laugh, Apple?

The price difference is 147 US$ between the two processors (tray (i.e. non-boxed) CPUs). The Apple asking price is 381,96 US$ or 2,6 times more.

 

[xylitol]

Can Air handle 3840x2160@60Hz (which is the normal 4k-tv, if you need to buy new tv)?

Yes.
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202856

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

snip

 

[toke lahti]

Yes.
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202856

Pretty amazing that even the new skylake mb does not support this.

 

[gnasher729]

In addition to releasing the next-generation 12-inch MacBook with faster specs and a Rose Gold color option, Apple has announced that its two 13-inch MacBook Air configurations now ship with 8GB of RAM as a standard option starting today.

Excuse me, but the 8GB RAM is either standard or an option. It's not a standard option.

 

[Shirasaki]

Excuse me, but the 8GB RAM is either standard or an option. It's not a standard option.

Or we can understand in this way: Apple computer is configurable. And now, instead of providing 4GB and 8GB as option to configure, Apple moves to 8GB as the default/standard configuration choice/option.
Many users would just buy the lowest end model due to budget anyway. So when Apple sets 8GB as default option, those users will get this bonus.

 

[tentales]

But just to show how much Apple is innovating these days, ROSE GOLD!

Ive will have a urine yellow version for the museum auction next.
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This suggests that the Air will not be discontinued, although "ultra thin" MacBooks are due at WWDC.

I think this suggest they WILL be discontinued.
Apple is gifting an extra 4GB so their inventory can deplete, but I now highly doubt there'll ever be Skylake MBAs or anything 2016. At best, we can hope they'll keep the MBAs on in their current config like the 2012 nMBP.

Now, how to Hackintosh an XPS 13 ? hmmm...

 

[UltimaKilo]

I'm quite disappointed Apple decided not to include a 16GB option and a Skylake CPU. Kaby Lake seems a natural fit for the MBA, let's see what happens in November.

Of course, Cannonlake may finally kill off the MBA in 2017.

 

[r6mile]

As has been said in this thread before, I think this once again signals that Apple is going to make the current-gen 13" MBA as the consumer-level cheap laptop for a while (and not upgrade it, like they still do with the cMBP). And it will still keep selling very well given that many consumers don't care about retina screens and just want a cheap laptop that has usable ports.

It will also finally kill-off the cMBP, and the 11" MBA (whose niche as the smallest ultra-portable has been occupied by the rMB). Of course some people will say they want a small-screen laptop that can also have an i7 and lots of ports, but with every redesign Apple has always disappointed some people (like those who still wanted a DVD player in their laptops, etc.)

 

[Three141]

I guess this is the death kneel for the MBA, only yhr MBP will get the significant redesign and update.

interesting to see if Apple update the Mac Mini

 

[geta]

Now that the fully loaded 11" & 13" MBA cost the same, there is no reason to keep the 11" in the lineup spacial since the new 12" MB can replace his place as ultra portable, as soon as they will cut the price down.

 

[atimot]

Shoot! I just bought a new 13" MBA less than 2 weeks ago with only 4gb RAM. (Our trusty 2008 MBP bricked trying to upgrade to El Capitan...). Since 8gb is the new standard, do you think I can return mine and get upgraded memory?

 

[r6mile]

Shoot! I just bought a new 13" MBA less than 2 weeks ago with only 4gb RAM. (Our trusty 2008 MBP bricked trying to upgrade to El Capitan...). Since 8gb is the new standard, do you think I can return mine and get upgraded memory?

Yes you should be able to as long as you are within 14 days of purchase (though this may vary depending on where you are).

 

[nick42983]

I wonder where the ultra-thin 13"+ MacBooks are going to fit into the lineup. I can't imagine they can make the current Pros much thinner without sacrificing battery life, but maybe using the new keyboard design will be enough to fit a bigger battery? Apple's laptop lineup is getting a bit crowded at 11", 12", 13" (x3) and 15". Obviously the 12" will be around for a while and I think the 11" and 13" Airs will stay as the sub $1000 options. I think they'll finally axe the 13" non-retina pro. Maybe they'll replace the the 13" and 15" retina pros with 14" and 16" models? I could sure go for a 14" and the 16" would satisfy those that miss the 17".

Any speculation on how the lineup will look by the end of the year?

 

[jlnr]

The Macbook Air I bought in 2012 had 8Gb RAM - the fact that you *could* get it with 8GB RAM was one of the main reasons I finally bought a MBA, that and the fact that it had USB 3.0.

Same here! It was and still is a fantastic machine. I use an external screen 90% of the time, so a Retina screen would've been wasted on me, but it's super portable when I do need to travel. USB3 accessories are awesome and dirt cheap, and it's pretty easy to service (for battery or SSD replacements). Best Mac I've ever owned.

I think my next laptop will be a MacBook Pro, though. From normal tech reviews I didn't expect them to be THAT much faster than the MBA for dev work:

https://github.com/ashfurrow/xcode-hardware-performance

But at least my 2012 MBA is still faster than the 12" hipster laptop

 

[atimot]

Yes you should be able to as long as you are within 14 days of purchase (though this may vary depending on where you are).

Easiest exchange ever - official reason: "Buyer's Remorse". Didn't even charge me a re-stocking fee. Pay a little more for an Apple, get a lot more good service.