Apple Reportedly Beginning Production of Next-Generation MacBook Air Models

[cvaldes]

for those wanting built in 3g - really??? Kinda seems like putting a CD player in a car. Sure some people might use it, but 3G is so darn slow I hope I never have to use it. I'd rather lug around a 4g hotspot or pay for personal hot spot service on the iphone until 4g service becomes more prevalent.

3G data comes in handy on my iPad. I have activated the monthly subscription twice in the past nine months.

Note that 3G isn't all the same. There's HSPA and the speedier HSPA+, as well as EV-DO (what Verizon and Sprint offer as 3G).

Some mobile operators run very speedy, reliable, and well deployed 3G networks, although admittedly, they are mostly in Europe and Southeast Asia.

So yes, there would be some benefit to having 3G on a notebook computer such as the MacBook Air.

Whether or not someone using it on a North American cellular network can exploit the full value of 3G data is a separate discussion.

 

[3bs]

Sandy Bridge CPUs are bult with the latest 32n technology, creating faster, smaller AND less power hungry chips. I.e. Faster CPUs with more battery life.

In the case of MBAs, because of the super fast SSDs, the CPU is the only bottleneck in performance (couped witj 2GB ram in the standard config). A base $999 model with Sandy bridge with 4GB ram will blow away the old model (probably +40% increase)

Sigh... I might just give this to my sister and get it then

 

[Adidas Addict]

The 13" MBP has a lower screen resolution than the 13" Air?

Slightly higher res on MBA 13, but lower quality and performance.

 

[flottenheimer]

Highly unlikely, but please have 3G connectivity built in!

3G and improved battery life are at the top of my priority list. Thunderbolt and a larger SSD are a close second.

3G built in? Why not just use your iPhone to set up a local wifi/3G network? I suppose you always bring it along with your MacBook anyway.

 

[cvaldes]

Not everyone who has a MacBook Air carries an iPhone (or other 3G tethering enabled smartphone).

I'm surprised this is not obvious to you.

 

[nebulos]

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So when would the new MBA come out? July?

If they are producing them now, when would they be released?

... exactly, WHEN???

A few intelligent guesses were made. Anybody else?

WHAT is mostly known. Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt. Backlit keys? We'll see. (Please don't ask for 4GB RAM; This is already an option!)

So, again, WHEN???

 

[jclardy]

It's called airplay I really hope they eventually push it out to osx.

Airplay already exists on OS X. In both iTunes and Quicktime.

There is no screen mirroring like they just added in iOS 5 but for the most part it is there.

 

[dacapo]

Matte display please!

 

[Mr Fusion]

In addition to a backlit keyboard, I'd like edge-to-edge glass covering the screen like the MBP. But it'd probably increase the weight too much..

 

[iansilv]

I want a 15" MacBook Air!

 

[RicoRich196]

Airplay already exists on OS X. In both iTunes and Quicktime.

There is no screen mirroring like they just added in iOS 5 but for the most part it is there.

I believe that wireless display mirroring will come to OSX when they put the A5 in the ATV3. My reasoning for that is the current ATV only outputs 720p, outputting that kind of resolution from a laptop to a screen will probably look crappy. And the A4 currently in the ATV probably wouldn't be able to handle the higher resolutions Apple's Notebooks/Desktops provide without seriously downscaling (eww than upscaling again through the television), however the A5 might just be cut out for that job!

 

[danielwsmithee]

Sandy bridge + Thunderbolt + Back-lit keyboard please

 

[KingCrimson]

What I want to know is when the fark is Apple going to refresh the Mini with Sandy Bridge?

 

[fjsiskilroy]

Normally 5-6 weeks

Anyone fancy making an educated guess at this?

If we assume that the suppliers already have raw material stock in place waiting for the order to kick them off. The the process normally would go as follows;

1.- PO, kick off this week.
2.- Start of actual production next Monday.
3.- First pallets ready to ship by Thursday.Friday of the following week.
4.- The main thing is the shipment. From China to US takes 3-4 weeks by sea.
5.- Allow an extra week for Customs clearance and then shipment by truck to each of the stores (3-4 days).

So normally it would take 5-6 weeks if everything is ready to get the first shipments in. The big variable is that Apple likes to air ship the first shipments to fill up the stores quickly and make a big splash. Also considering that around 80k of the current revisoin are still being built this month. My guess is that by the week June 27th they start building them and by the week of the 4th of July you start seeing them at the Stores.

 

[prowlmedia]

Actually annoyed me that the new air didn't have a back lit keyboard when it was the first Apple laptop to have one.

Almost like the the HA - Buy the first generation... I dare you!

You know they'll put it on the new model.

I am typing this on a 13" macbook (not pro) alum. So I know the pain.

Other than that.
Sandy Bridge.
Thunderbolt.
Cheese Cutting abilities.

 

[Coarseman]

My credit card just leapt out of my wallet like a salmon returning home to spawn.

+1

BRING

IT

NOW!

(Maxed out 13" that is, CAN'T WAIT)

 

[iNeedToDoHw]

What about the rumored IOS based Air with touch screen?

steven jobs said they tested out the touch screen air and it just didn't perform as well as they thought. So my best bet is that it's not coming out soon. Maybe when it's time for ipad and air to mingle 4 or 5 years down the line

2012 is the year to buy ..... ipad 3 - retina display(could well be late this yr)

ivy bridge based macs

mbas becoming more powerful - improved resolution?

mbp redesign ... imac as well ... woooh

the fruit of patience is sweet .. sweet like an apple i say.

unless ofcourse you "need an ipad or mac"

if you can wait .. wait .. like me.

Yup, I've waited for 2 years and it's time for me to get the june/july mba. Saying that 2012 is the time to buy all those product is like saying, wait for the next year's product every year. if you need it you buy it. obviously, it's going to "become more powerful" with every upgrade. don't surprise us

 

[weckart]

They need to implement the black bezel on the air like they do on the pro...the air's bezel now just looks a little outdated compared to the pros

Yuck. No tacky black bezel, thanks. Hoping this tragedy of fashion dies soon.

A 17" MBA would still be lighter than 17" Macbook Pro cause that's what I need, a large screen size and as light as possible.
A lot of professionals use the 17" Macbook Pro, which is why Apple still sell them, so making them lighter would surely be a welcome change.

Most of the weight is the battery, which would still be needed to keep that large LCD screen lit. Any space saving from ditching the optical drive and the expressport would be eaten up by spreading battery around the thinner case. Too thin a case and it wouldn't have "structural integrity".

 

[Beanoir]

About 98% of the rumors you read here or on other Apple rumor sites are false.

I'm glad to see there is another sane person on this forum.

 

[rpssfo]

leave my macbook alone

kill the plastic macbooks

call the new airs the macbooks


would make sense since jobs said the airs are the future

... Yeah lets kill of the machine that has a CD/DVD drive in it and an ethernet connection and a replaceable battery and ability to upgrade myself
but hey, I can just repurchase all my music from I Tunes right ?

 

[dawnrazor]

I predict that the new MBAs will be released to coincide with the release of Lion, it would make a hell of a lot of sense - especially seeing as the new MBAs aren't going to be a massive leap forward are they, at least in terms of hardware. I reckon all we can hope for is sandy bridge, and maybe a TB port, anything after that will be a bonus, but I don't see it happening this time round.

 

[Yaboze]

IMHO, eventually all of the Macbook's with be super thin with no optical drive and the Air name will be dropped.

My only issue with the SB MBA is the Intel graphics.

 

[Zmmyt]

... Yeah lets kill of the machine that has a CD/DVD drive in it and an ethernet connection and a replaceable battery and ability to upgrade myself
but hey, I can just repurchase all my music from I Tunes right ?

this doesn't make any sense at all.

but hence your join date and spelling of " I Tunes" i skip your post...

 

[rpssfo]

this doesn't make any sense at all.

but hence your join date and spelling of " I Tunes" i skip your post...

what doesn't make sense ? what I said makes perfect sense.
oh my, sorry for not having a lowercase "i"

 

[d$$$]

When? With release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion in July

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... exactly, WHEN???

A few intelligent guesses were made. Anybody else?

WHAT is mostly known. Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt. Backlit keys? We'll see. (Please don't ask for 4GB RAM; This is already an option!)

So, again, WHEN???

My guess would be it would ship on release date of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion as the first hardware to have the new OS baked in.