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Apple Prepping 11.6'' MacBook Air and New iPod Touch with 3MP Camera
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I will need to see what the specs of an 11.6 MBA are, if such a computer actually appears. To me, the most important weakness of the current MBA is that it has only 2Gb of non expandable RAM. The current MBA also has heat problems and, some have reported that it struggles with some graphics. It sounds, though, as if an 11.6 inch version of the MBA would be even more underpowered than the current MBA. Thus, even if the 11.6 inch version comes with OS X, it's likely that I won't be interested in it.
I'm really still just hoping that they will also update the existing MBA. A new and smaller model could be nice for some users, but I'm more interested in an update to the existing model. The 13" screen is already as small as I could tolerate for any productive purposes.
I hope for the same, but for some reason I don't know if they will offer a MBA style notebook in 2 different sizes.
2" wider, but thinner and the same weight, and this "drastically changes portability"?
Wow. Just. Wow. The 13.3" @ 4.6 pounds is very portable given the power capability and capacity of the MBP 13. It's a blessing to travel with, compared to my MBP15, as well as the tank of a Dell Latitude I use to carry at a prior employer.
For the haters - the MBA currently keeps shipping 150K units per quarter. Eat it.
Source?
I was waiting for this reply, but polaris beat me to it.
2" wider, but thinner and the same weight, and this "drastically changes portability"?
I agree 110% The Macbook Air nor an 11.6" Air would ever, nor should ever be considered a 12" replacement. I know some will attempt to call it that having never really had a need for the 12" Powerbook at all.
Remember:
- Dedicated GFX or at the very least GFX that can handle 3D gaming (Sims 3/Civ4)
- OPTICAL DRIVE BUILT IN
- User replaceable RAM
- PORTs, at least 2 USB and 1 FW800 (twas' 400 long ago)
Basically, a fully functioning, stand alone computer for the true road warrior.
Looking forward to it...
I have been drawn several times to the HP HD310 (especially since knowing its internals are basically NVidia).
A 11.6" MBA with SSD, 4GB (or more) RAM, cooler processor and, hopefully, better battery life is exactly what I've been waiting for from Apple.
Thinner? WTF?
I have been drawn several times to the HP HD310 (especially since knowing its internals are basically NVidia).
A 11.6" MBA with SSD, 4GB (or more) RAM, cooler processor and, hopefully, better battery life is exactly what I've been waiting for from Apple.
Thinner? WTF?
I was waiting for this reply, but polaris beat me to it.
I agree 110% The Macbook Air nor an 11.6" Air would ever, nor should ever be considered a 12" replacement. I know some will attempt to call it that having never really had a need for the 12" Powerbook at all.
Remember:
- Dedicated GFX or at the very least GFX that can handle 3D gaming (Sims 3/Civ4)
- OPTICAL DRIVE BUILT IN
- User replaceable RAM
- PORTs, at least 2 USB and 1 FW800 (twas' 400 long ago)
Basically, a fully functioning, stand alone computer for the true road warrior.
Yup. I've had the pleasure of using and working on a 12" PB (adding bigger drive, upgrading RAM) and it was a very capable, full-featured laptop in a small size. It was everything why I love my 13" MBP now. I take my 13 with me everywhere, because it IS so small and light.
The Air, on the otherhand, is so neutered that it's nearly useless running full OS X, at which point I'd sooner grab my iPad if I didn't feel like carrying my 13 or 15.
I remember I always gave my wife's 12" a funny look, then one day I needed a laptop to take with me to a convention, so I took the 12" and was amazed at how that tiny thing could handle CS2 apps with ease. It was tight, but I could also plug it into a 23" ACD on the fly, which I did on occasion.
When the wife gets her 13" MBP, I will be taking that 12" for sure.
I never used the Air extensively, but I've come to like it. It seems that it'd fit perfectly into the hands of the light, mobile pro. The only thing I KNOW Apple needs to do is make it lighter in some way. Three pounds just isn't too far off from 4.5
I have an iPad and like it less and less all the time. It's fine for listening to music and recorded books or watching video, such as Netflix streaming, but is crippled in most other ways. Although the MBA has its weaknesses, too, it at least can access Flash enabled sites, multitask, and use a broad variety of apps. In stark contrast, the iPad can use only those apps, which Apple deigns to make available for us at the App Store. The bottom line is that the MBA is a real computer but the iPad is not.
Yes, and I think the 11.6" screen Apple device should really just be the iPad with OSX w/ touch interface. Which was what many of us thought Apple had been spending all of its time and resources doing with the iPad.
Give that OSX Pad an SD card reader built in and an iPod connector. Save the USBs for the keyboard dock Pro and you've got yourself a Pad worthy of the Apple logo.
It feels like most of the MBA "haters" in this thread haven't really used one. The 12" PB was my fav apple computer ever. But my MBA is a close second. I have used a 13" MBP as well, but I find little/no need for the optical drive many of you are crowing about.
Literallly the only thing wrong with my MBA RevB right now is that it only has 2gb of ram. I'm a mobile freelance professional, so the light weight, full OSX, full keyboard etc... All does it for me.
Plus I always get cool looks and questions about it in Starbucks.
Literallly the only thing wrong with my MBA RevB right now is that it only has 2gb of ram. I'm a mobile freelance professional, so the light weight, full OSX, full keyboard etc... All does it for me.
Plus I always get cool looks and questions about it in Starbucks.
Amen to that! For those who create content for a variety of formats widescreen just sucks.
if you click here
http://www.apple.com/why-mac/compare/
you can't see a pic of the Macbook Air which means there will be a new update as soon as yesterday!
no seriously, i think now is a perfect time to release the Air seeing how many ppl travel a lot..
http://www.apple.com/why-mac/compare/
you can't see a pic of the Macbook Air which means there will be a new update as soon as yesterday!
no seriously, i think now is a perfect time to release the Air seeing how many ppl travel a lot..
a
Well I agree with you in most respects, but even though the 12" PB had a dedicated gfx card it was the same gfx card you could get integrated on pc side. It was also clocked slower than even some integrated versions of it. The 9400m and 320m that is in the 13 inch mbp is more capable compared to its siblings than the 440mx and 5200 series in the PB 12" was compared to theirs.
The user-replaceable RAM I will give you. That is important. The optical drive I almost never use. Only to install some software I cant buy and download. Ports... yeah I will give you that one as well. We really need at least 2 USB-ports and a FW would be nice as well.
Well I agree with you in most respects, but even though the 12" PB had a dedicated gfx card it was the same gfx card you could get integrated on pc side. It was also clocked slower than even some integrated versions of it. The 9400m and 320m that is in the 13 inch mbp is more capable compared to its siblings than the 440mx and 5200 series in the PB 12" was compared to theirs.
The user-replaceable RAM I will give you. That is important. The optical drive I almost never use. Only to install some software I cant buy and download. Ports... yeah I will give you that one as well. We really need at least 2 USB-ports and a FW would be nice as well.
I haven't measured it out exactly nor do I care to but there is enough space on the sides to remove on the current MBA, making it smaller and keeping the keyboard the same size.
I just hope they surprise us and make something worth updating for.
It's fast when compared to it's sibling the iPod. Also, 1024x768 is not high resolution.
It feels like most of the MBA "haters" in this thread haven't really used one. The 12" PB was my fav apple computer ever. But my MBA is a close second. I have used a 13" MBP as well, but I find little/no need for the optical drive many of you are crowing about.
Literallly the only thing wrong with my MBA RevB right now is that it only has 2gb of ram. I'm a mobile freelance professional, so the light weight, full OSX, full keyboard etc... All does it for me.
Plus I always get cool looks and questions about it in Starbucks.
The 2gb of ram isn't even that much of hamper for what its intended for it those of us that want to run vms and such. The ram is really what put the mbp ahead for performance though. Plus I think most of us feel like 4gb of ram really isn't that much to ask for these days.
I just have to say I don't see much point of upgrading to a core i3 if we have to downgrade the graphics unless the core i3 gives us substantially better battery life or something.
Some of the posts in this thread confuse me...just purchase/use whatever fits your particular needs. It's not like Apple is devoting a significant amount of time or resources towards keeping the MBA relevant or cutting edge, lol. Maybe that will change with an MBA/iPad hybrid that can run an iOS layer on top of OSX
i just sold my macbook air rev b 1,6 ssd cto
my experience with a macbook air it was
good
- very light
-must have ssd to be fast
-perfect in the lap
bad
-1 usb (horrible option ) bye bye usb hubs
- bad ventilation, fans allways kicking
- battery only 3 to 4 hours
-performance with 2gb
-apple superdrive sucks a lot
i had the air for almost 18 months , allways trying to make life easier to use, but the air is full of limitacions , bought acessories , superdrives, cables , adapters , a experience i dont want to repeat.
know i have a real mac mbp 13 2,53 refurbishead, great machine , great performance, great battery life , macbook airs with 1 usb ( NEVER AGAIN IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY)
if apple is really going to built an 11.6 air , if it comes with 1 USB DONT BUY IT , only 2GB RAM DONT BUY IT, NO SSD DONT BUY IT.
my experience with a macbook air it was
good
- very light
-must have ssd to be fast
-perfect in the lap
bad
-1 usb (horrible option ) bye bye usb hubs
- bad ventilation, fans allways kicking
- battery only 3 to 4 hours
-performance with 2gb
-apple superdrive sucks a lot
i had the air for almost 18 months , allways trying to make life easier to use, but the air is full of limitacions , bought acessories , superdrives, cables , adapters , a experience i dont want to repeat.
know i have a real mac mbp 13 2,53 refurbishead, great machine , great performance, great battery life , macbook airs with 1 usb ( NEVER AGAIN IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY)
if apple is really going to built an 11.6 air , if it comes with 1 USB DONT BUY IT , only 2GB RAM DONT BUY IT, NO SSD DONT BUY IT.
True, the GFX in the 12" weren't spectacular back then, neither were the 15" and 17" powerbooks to boot.
The cards we have in the 13" MBPs now are fantastic (when not being butchered by Apple's crap switch algorithms) so it'd be nice to see them in an Air update. The optical drive is a tough one for me. I will most likely take the one in my MBP out and put another HDD in it's place, but it needs to be included to have a full fledged, stand alone machine like the 12" PB was.
The Air is a full fledged machine, but for me and some other it was never meant to be stand alone, especially not with a PC. I always have and forever will see it as a secondary, mainly because of the storage space, processors, and 1 USB.
The Air is though, one of the best secondary machines I've ever dreamed of using.