So I currently have a MBA 13" Fall 2010 and I'm really looking forward to see how Apple is going to update the next 13" entry MBA.
Especially given the problematics of low voltage processors vs. power/graphic/games or the rumors about the 15" and how they are going to price it.
I couldn't wait so I made some researches on the state of the market of computer components and Apple strategy to know what the next MBA 13" is going to be, here is what I think:
1.7Ghz Dual-Core i5 > 1.8 Ghz Dual - Core ivy5
4Go memory 1333hz > 4Go memory 1600Hz
Intel HD 3000 > Intel HD 4000
128gb SSD > 256gb SSD
Two USB 2 ports > Two USB 3 ports
Battery 7 hours > Battery 9-10 hours
1440 x 900 resolution > Same or higher resolution ?
The rest (audio speaker, bluetooth 4.0, thunderbolt, SDXC car reader...) is going to be the same.
Now, for everything except for the battery and screen resolution, I'm pretty confident with theses specs. According to the leaked specs of the first laptop Ivy Bridge processors and based on past Sandy Bridge cards used by Apple, the 13" MBA can only be the 1.8Ghz dual-core ivy5 processor, other are either another kind of voltage setting or not compatible.
Then the use of Ivy bridge implies the use of 4go of 1600Mhz RAM, which is the usual update and the one that matches the new processor, also the use of Intel HD 4000 that goes with it, and the two USB 3 port because the processor is natively equiped and the market is ready.
Also, this of course means way more battery BUT I don't know if it's going to mean same or better performance for lower voltage, AND if Apple is going to take advantage of the low consumption to use a higher resolution screen which consume more battery but fits with the "All Retina" strategy of upcoming Apple product set.
Finally because the 13" has had 128 GB for two generations of MBA now, and because price of SSD has continue to decrease, it's likely they will bump the storage to 256GB (and maybe 512GB for the higher end 13" MBA)
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HOWEVER, even if these predictions are most likely to be true, and there is not a reason for Apple to innovate more than that since it sells (unfortunately todays Apple strategy), there is also the chance that they release a 15" Macbook Air.
What this would do is completely change the products set and prices to be more profitable for Apple, so even if the entry 13" MBA will have the 1.8Ghz ivy5, 4GB 1600Mhz Ram, Intel HD 4000, USB 3s and better battery IT WON'T HAVE 256GB. Instead it will stick with 128GB and the higher end with 256GB, as usual, but the 15" MBA will mark the difference with a 512GB SSD)
What do you think ?
Especially given the problematics of low voltage processors vs. power/graphic/games or the rumors about the 15" and how they are going to price it.
I couldn't wait so I made some researches on the state of the market of computer components and Apple strategy to know what the next MBA 13" is going to be, here is what I think:
1.7Ghz Dual-Core i5 > 1.8 Ghz Dual - Core ivy5
4Go memory 1333hz > 4Go memory 1600Hz
Intel HD 3000 > Intel HD 4000
128gb SSD > 256gb SSD
Two USB 2 ports > Two USB 3 ports
Battery 7 hours > Battery 9-10 hours
1440 x 900 resolution > Same or higher resolution ?
The rest (audio speaker, bluetooth 4.0, thunderbolt, SDXC car reader...) is going to be the same.
Now, for everything except for the battery and screen resolution, I'm pretty confident with theses specs. According to the leaked specs of the first laptop Ivy Bridge processors and based on past Sandy Bridge cards used by Apple, the 13" MBA can only be the 1.8Ghz dual-core ivy5 processor, other are either another kind of voltage setting or not compatible.
Then the use of Ivy bridge implies the use of 4go of 1600Mhz RAM, which is the usual update and the one that matches the new processor, also the use of Intel HD 4000 that goes with it, and the two USB 3 port because the processor is natively equiped and the market is ready.
Also, this of course means way more battery BUT I don't know if it's going to mean same or better performance for lower voltage, AND if Apple is going to take advantage of the low consumption to use a higher resolution screen which consume more battery but fits with the "All Retina" strategy of upcoming Apple product set.
Finally because the 13" has had 128 GB for two generations of MBA now, and because price of SSD has continue to decrease, it's likely they will bump the storage to 256GB (and maybe 512GB for the higher end 13" MBA)
________________
HOWEVER, even if these predictions are most likely to be true, and there is not a reason for Apple to innovate more than that since it sells (unfortunately todays Apple strategy), there is also the chance that they release a 15" Macbook Air.What this would do is completely change the products set and prices to be more profitable for Apple, so even if the entry 13" MBA will have the 1.8Ghz ivy5, 4GB 1600Mhz Ram, Intel HD 4000, USB 3s and better battery IT WON'T HAVE 256GB. Instead it will stick with 128GB and the higher end with 256GB, as usual, but the 15" MBA will mark the difference with a 512GB SSD)
What do you think ?
