Prediction: incremental upgrade
- won't happen until after the iPad 3G
- i3 with Intel GMA - worse graphics performance
- more RAM
- glass trackpad
that's it
I would like:
- SSD with TRIM. please, i'm begging you.
- better hinge. this won't happen until the design refresh, next year at minimum
- keep Nvidia graphics. maybe they will come to Arrandale someday.
- matte screen. i'm doubtful this will come to any 13" display
I'm going to revisit this list when the new MBAs come out to see how I did.
Well, is how you did a measurement of what you expect to happen or what you want from the next MBA?
I have said this in other threads, and I will say it here...
A Core i3 CPU in its current configurations will NOT, in any way, be even a remote possibility for the MBA. The Core i3 is a 35W TDP CPU. The current MBA uses a C2D Penryn SL9x00 Low Voltage CPU. The Core i3 would literally start a fire in the MBA, LOL!
This is Intel's terribly poor branding of its Nehalem Core i-series CPUs. People don't understand that Core i3 doesn't mean low power, and they don't understand that Core i7 could mean dual core or quad core.
What people also don't understand is that Apple uses a very expensive CPU in the MBA. It provides the same clock speed as a more powerful CPU using low voltage of 17W. It's an expensive chip with 6MB of L2 Cache, which is a huge advantage over the 3MB available in the MB or 13" MBP. People are getting a $300+ CPU in their MBA whether they know it or not.
Intel has listed the Core i7-6x0LM 25W Low Voltage (including IGP) as the replacement series for the Core 2 Duo Penryn 17W Low Voltage SL9x00 CPU series. The pricing of the Core i7-620LM and Core i7-640LM are a few bucks less than the SL9400 and SL9600 they're replacing. Also, the difference in TDP is 8W but that includes graphics. In the current MBA, 12W is used by the Nvidia GPU.
Core i7-620LM - 4MB L3 Cache, 2 GHz (boost to 2.8 GHz)
Core i7-640LM - 4MB L3 Cache, 2.13 GHz (boost to 2.93 GHz)
If Apple decided to change from a Low Voltage to an Ultra Low Voltage, it could use the Core i7-6x0UM at 18W or the Core i5-520UM at 18W.
Core i7-620UM - 4MB L3 Cache, 1.06 GHz (boost to 2.13 GHz)
Core i7-640UM - 4MB L3 Cache, 1.2 GHz (boost to 2.26 GHz)
Core i5-520UM - 3MB L3 Cache - 1.86 GHz (no boost and only 800MHz RAM supported)
A case could be made for the Ultra Low Voltage CPUs. Apple could have plenty of TDP available for a dedicated graphics solution if it only used 18W TDP for the Ultra Low Voltage CPUs. In addition, the Core i7-6x0UM CPUs actually aren't too different from the way Apple is currently using the SL9x00 CPUs. Apple throttles the CPUs so they run at lower speeds as most people who use CoolBook realize. In a sense, it's no different than the potential to boost up to 2.13 and 2.26 GHz respectively. The Core i5-520UM makes less sense, as it takes two steps backwards from the current CPUs... it loses clock speed potential and it lowers the RAM speed.
In my opinion, this is a no brainer. APPLE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY USES A Core i7 CPU WHEN/IF IT TRANSITIONS TO NEHALEM!
Moving onto your other predictions...
Only using Arrandale's IGP - I seriously doubt this given Apple's history of moving away from the Intel IGP and marketing not just the MBA, but also the MB, 13" al. MB/MBP, Mac mini, and OS X as taking advantage of the 5X performance of the 9400m over the GMA 3100. Apple has heavily marketed this transition and taking advantage of the GPU's processing capabilities.
The MBA does have less room to cool the graphics, but the Intel IGP can be turned off. In addition, there is Optimus by Nvidia which would work perfectly in the MBA with an Nvidia 310m. This setup would provide a 25% graphics performance gain, dedicated VRAM, and power savings when the 310m is not needed. In addition, Sony has a software solution to get hybrid use of Nvidia dedicated 330 GT and Intel IGP. ATI is also working on such a solution. All of these hybrid solutions reward the user by using only the Intel IGP when graphics performance isn't needed which can save a lot of power with basic tasks. When graphics performance is needed, the user has it. This is truly the best of both worlds, and it makes a lot of sense in the "Greenest Family of MacBooks Ever!"
We definitely agree on the RAM being bumped. It will probably be bumped to 4 GB. And hopefully the graphics will have 512 MB dedicated but could be as low as 256 MB.
I definitely hope it's a glass trackpad, but either way it does away with the single button to a buttonless design. The most important part is the buttonless design, and that will definitely happen.
With regards to what you want...
SSD trim... is that OS X support for the drive? I don't know much about that.
Hinge... sure, I wish I could open mine farther at times, but I don't know that it needs redesigning or just a better material used. For example, treat the steel hinge differently to make it stronger??? Just a thought, I am no expert on it.
Nvidia graphics... yes, I do believe we will get Nvidia graphics whether it's the successor to the 9400m or a dedicated version I just don't know. It's entirely possible Apple will give us one more Core 2 Duo update to give it time to solve the graphics problem. We all know if we get Core 2 Duo, we can keep the Nvidia GPU/chipset. I don't personally care about the CPU at all. A dedicated Nvidia card sounds better if it can all be done without a melting MBA.
Anti-glare graphics... I do believe you can buy an aftermarket anti-glare display and install it in your MBA. I found several from Chinese suppliers when I was researching line issues in MBA's display. I don't believe Apple will ever give us anti-glare in a non-"pro" Mac notebook.
I believe the MBA is an upgrade or two away from getting a new display technology. I don't know whether it will be IPS, IPS & HD, 3D, or OLED... but I believe the display will be the next evolutionary component change in the MBA.
Finally, I have some hope for an update next Tuesday. It has been rumored all over the Internet that the Mac Pro is getting an update Tuesday March 16th. Apple did update Macs right before original iPhone. There still is hope for an update.
