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Apple to Update MacBook Air to Penryn Soon?
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Intel doesn't bin processors like that since that's a crazy amount of work to validate every clock speed at a different TDP. They simply have a TDP say 25W, and ramp the clock speed on the CPU until it reaches that TDP. That is why in small form factor Penryns, both the 2.26GHz and 2.4GHz Penryns have a 25W TDP. The 2.26GHz ones are just lower quality in that it already hits the 25W TDP at 2.26GHz.
While this is true to a point i think the missing optical drive makes it unsuitable for most people as an mainstream laptop. Of course it all depends how many use a macbook as a primary machine and how many have a desktop as well. Certainly most switchers would be better suited to a macbook.
September.
I interpolated the TDPs to find out approximately how much TDP a 2.0/2.13 GHz CPU would take. I doubt Intel could clock the 17 W CPUs to 2+ GHz clocks unless they charged though the roof for them, and I don't think the Air can take a 25 W CPU.
That is the direction things are going, although its not clear if we get there in one leap.
I agree: it is a nice-looking computer. And cheaply-priced, too. But it has very modest specs (on the $500 unit, at least).
ya know, wasn't there a thread somewhere that indicated the new macbook design would resemble the air?
Could it be that the AIR will be the new macbook, and the current Air will be scrapped and redesigned to be a tablet?
Of course, now that I am almost totally switched from Windows to mac (with a few exceptions) - the way mac apps are packaged - I am beginning to see no need for a CD drive (other than permanate backups of my photos and home movies) - so with thumb drives hitting the capacity of 8 and 16 gb at reasonable prices, and time machine backups; really starting to look like external CD would be fine for me. just give me a big enough harddrive to rip a few DVD's while I am on the road. After all; VLC player plays the VOB files (so what if I have to load each segment separately into the player - when I am on the road, I don't have 2 hrs to watch a full movie at once anyway).
me - who once posted on this board that I hate external drives -rather have an all in one. But really, that was last year and well, things change. Yes, I would rather have everything built in, but I am see less of a need for it.
Minimum requirements:
2.0 or 2.4 ghz CPU
160 or 250 gb harddrive (I have a 250, but still running at a little less than 100 free)
2 or 4 gb ram (4 better due to new app requirements)
4 usb
mini dvi
audio in/out
Ethernet - for those times when you need more speed than wireless can provide.
Modem as a USB dongle ok, I have yet to use my USB modem - but in the business I am in, if we were on a mac base - then it becomes a necessity (connecting to older mainframes at hospitals).
I really do not use firewire as most peripherals are USB and not really much in the line of firewire anymore.
Apple can do it..
Oh, and keep the plastic case.. I hear too many complaints that the switch to aluminum is causing interfarence with the airport wireless (unless apple figures out how to make the entire laptop an antenna).
My point was that I don't think it's possible to interpolate the data since Intel doesn't intend the TDPs to be continuous. I believe TDP is more related to voltage than frequency, and a 2.26GHz and 2.4GHz chip have the same TDP because they have similar voltages. As in a 2.26GHz needs a certain voltage to reach 2.26GHz, while a 2.4GHz chip could get to 2.4GHz at the same voltage, they have the same TDP since they are dissipating the same amount of heat from their similar power draw. If Apple took a 2.4GHz chip and underclocked it at 2.26GHz with lower voltage, then it's TDP may be lower than an "official" Intel binned 2.26GHz chip because it can use less voltage to sustain the same clock speed. But, of course you are really using a 2.4GHz chip, just running it at lower speed, so the price is higher. Which is why 17W TDP chips are more expensive than their 25W or 35W counterparts, since 17W chips are really higher-binned, higher-clock speed 25W chips run at lower clock speed.
The tablet is rumored to have an optical drive, unlike the Air. Also a touchscreen would increase the cost of the notebook.
TDP increases linearly with frequency but increases quadratically with voltage.
I just seen those studio hydrids advertised. they just came out this week in a flyer sent to me.
problem - its a Dell, so expect it to break/die in a year if not sooner. and expect rotten customer service. Oh, and it runs Windows.
Other than that, I have seen a lot of advertisements lately with shrinking machines keeping the same number of ports as your larger desktops. thanks to smaller sized hard drives with large rstorage capacity - I think we are going to see machines continue to get smaller and smaller. I mean look at the new Sony Vaio UX micro PC - however, I do no think it is worth the $3000 price tag.
I like how the reviewers are writing about that new Dell Hybrid. They are really ripping Apple. So, the mini needs a revamp - here is where Apple needs to step up.
Here is the article. Posted at:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/pcs/news/2008/07/29/Dell-Details-Studio-Hybrid-Desktop/p1
Text incase link does not work:
A few weeks ago Dell made its studio laptop line-up official so it seemed like only a matter of time before the desktop equivalent, the previously-leaked (in a rather blurry fashion) Studio Hybrid, was given a similar treatment. As expected that has now happened, with Dell stumping up the full details of its 'eco-friendly' desktop PC, set to rival the Mac mini, rather than the Eee Box as I wrongly speculated.
That's borne out by the choice of processors Dell has made; Core 2 Duo options rather than an Intel Atom CPU. However, despite using a more powerful CPU, the Hybrid does still keep its power draw down below 65W. Judging from the specs, we suspect that the system uses Intel's Centrino 2 (a.k.a. Montevina) notebook platform, rather than desktop components. But when it helps keep the power draw and heat output to a minimum without sacrificing performance that's a hardly much of a sacrifice.
The Studio Hybrid also boasts features such as HDMI output (alongside as a DVI port), coupled with the options of both a Blu-ray drive option and a TV tuner - all three features Apple doesn't offer anywhere in its Mac range, let alone the Mini which Dell is attempting to rival with this machine. A slew of USB ports, Draft-N WiFi and a card-reader give the Studio decent connectivity credentials, too.
Stylistically Dell also seems to be competing with Apple, offering a range of interchangeable case covers, from Blue, through orange to green - there's even a bamboo option. Unlike the Eee Box and its ilk, the Studio Hybrid should be powerful enough to sit as a replacement as a desktop, just without the space and power requirements.
Price-wise the Studio Hybrid is much more friendly than many a desktop, sitting at $499 (~£250) for the base spec, offering a 1.73GHz dual-core CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB Vista-fitted hard drive. Obviously upping the spec will similarly raise the price.
Now if Dell can just get OSX running it might really have a Mac Mini rival in the making!
OUch - all those comparisons gotta hurt.
SSD Apple TV
What I would like to see is an SSD Apple TV so that it is smaller and runs cooler. Oh well, wishing... (Anyone know of anyone who has replaced the HDD with an SSD, while I'm writing?)
What I would like to see is an SSD Apple TV so that it is smaller and runs cooler. Oh well, wishing... (Anyone know of anyone who has replaced the HDD with an SSD, while I'm writing?)
I have a MBA and improvements from my prespectives are:
1. HD - 80GB is a bit to small. 120 or preferrably 160 GB would be perfect.
2. A second USB port would be very usable also.
RAM? well - i can run WMware without any problems. And i also run PS and Indesign and it works ok for work on the road. Not heavy stuff though. I have the 1.6 ghz version. If i was to choose between CPU and RAM I would prefer more RAM.
So basically bigger HD and second USB-port is on my wishlist.
1. HD - 80GB is a bit to small. 120 or preferrably 160 GB would be perfect.
2. A second USB port would be very usable also.
RAM? well - i can run WMware without any problems. And i also run PS and Indesign and it works ok for work on the road. Not heavy stuff though. I have the 1.6 ghz version. If i was to choose between CPU and RAM I would prefer more RAM.
So basically bigger HD and second USB-port is on my wishlist.
They already do that. 2.0 GHz chips idle at 1.0 GHz and occasionally go up a bit if required. It's rare to see the processor run at full speed at all in laptops. If you want software to control it yourself, google "Coolbook".
I see three processor types coming up from Intel, and three possible MacBook lines
a) 1.6+ GHz Atom processor (possibly Dual-Core) for lower power, long battery life subnotebook with 95% keyboard and 10-11" screen for $899-$1199 (Current Asus, MSI Wind, HP, Lenovo, and Dell are rumored as offering this.)
b) 2.0 Ghz+ Penryn for general computing (Air, MacBook/Pro)
c) Nahalem + GPU for MacBook Pro
I am not a big Tablet fan because I see it as too limited, gimmicky, and risky. Whereas I see a big push from Windows and Linux mini-laptops on the "upper low end" price range that could attack Apple. I don't think they're just going to let these guys have this market without some type of response. And I believe the response they DON'T want is just to drop the price of the MacBook (although this could be the "margin pressure" the analysts were talking about.)
I think it's a no brainer that Nahalem will go to MacBook Pros, and with Snow Leopard, will be outstanding, but pricy, machines.
Which then leaves the difference between the MacBook and the Air. I was never a big fan of the Air, but there was enough of a difference in performance and style to keep two different product lines. If the performance difference becomes less significant, however, the style of the Air will win out over the general MacBook.
So, the Macbook won't be as stylish as the Air, won't be as powerful as the Pro, and may not be as cheap, lightweight or have as long a battery life as a subnotebook. There may be a market for that type of laptop, but it won't be a big one, IMO.
To a degree, yes
That is what I think is going to happen.... to a degree, only I believe instead of a tablet, Apple offers a mini-laptop to compete directly with all the offerings coming out from Asus, MSI, Lenovo, and Dell (rumored), amongst others.
I see two product lines for consumers - smaller and lightweight or larger and lightweight. The current Air gives them the second. A mini-laptop gives them the first.
That is what I think is going to happen.... to a degree, only I believe instead of a tablet, Apple offers a mini-laptop to compete directly with all the offerings coming out from Asus, MSI, Lenovo, and Dell (rumored), amongst others.
I see two product lines for consumers - smaller and lightweight or larger and lightweight. The current Air gives them the second. A mini-laptop gives them the first.
I wonder how feasible it would be for the air to shrink to 12 inch since its an ultra portable. Or would the smaller design impact the keyboard layout too much?
Apple's response will be most likely a mini-tablet. The MacBook is in a different market, and the MacBook Air can't be shrunk and price dropped to any competitive price point without crippling Mac OS X.
Nehalem replaces Penryn, it doesn't augment it.
The performance difference won't get any smaller. The hard drive is 1/3 the size of the MacBook's. The CPU is 1/2 the TDP of the MacBook's. The price is considerably higher for less performance. There's no way the MacBook can be discontinued or replaced as things are now.
If Apple's going to replace the MacBook with the MacBook Air, they'd most likely have to lower the price of the MacBook Air steadily and push up the MacBook steadily. They will cross over without a problem because they are two different computers. Once the MacBook Air is at the low end and the MacBook is at the midrange to high-end, the MacBook can be replaced by the MacBook Pro (or they may just stay there).
Cheaper than a MacBook Pro, more powerful than a MacBook Air and a subnotebook the MacBook will have a significant market for the next few years at least. Beyond that who knows. It may be replaced by the MacBook Air as I explained above.
What I'd like to see is slightly more powerful processor, another USB port (2 total), built-in ethernet, larger SSD drive and a major price drop. I work in an elementary school district and these would be great for student use. They're small, light, not very much the kids can mess around with, and w/ the SSD option, no moving parts. When 6 year olds are handling laptops, they can get a little rambunctious. And so can the teachers. 
Just noticed, it is my 5th anniversary being a member of MacRumors this month! Yay!
Just noticed, it is my 5th anniversary being a member of MacRumors this month! Yay!
How imminent is imminent cause I'm thinking of buying the new macbook next month, but if I can get the 2nd gen macbook air, that would be great.