Apple Updates MacBook Airs with Faster Haswell Processors and $100 Price Drop [Updated]

[snprintf]

Hasn't anyone noticed that there is now a PCIe-based Flash instead of SATA -- THAT IS HUGE !!!

This is the most important upgrade then! Didn't know that. EDIT: We have been corrected. It already had that.

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4GB, seriously? This is 2014 not 2008.

Yeah, you need 8GB now with Mavericks. Stupid RAM-hogging software.

 

[michaelsviews]

I don't know about exchange, but I don't see why you couldn't return a five day old laptop. Apple Store (assuming you bought it there) has a 14 day return policy. You just wouldn't get any money back on any software you have purchased, opened and installed in addition to the laptop. All you would really have to tell them is that you are not happy with the product. Then you could turn right around and buy the new one. Places usually ask why you are returning it, but unless the thing is literally on fire, I don't see any reason for not accepting it. People will even return things to stores that they have opened and attempted to assemble, but failed due to their own fault or parts being defective or missing. The worst I have personally seen is people carefully opening up an Xbox 360 console, removing the defective innards, placing them in the case of a newly purchased Xbox 360, and the returning that machine to the store and keeping the one with the old case and new innards at their house. Stores also don't like serial returners, and most track your returns now. I try not to return things, though I do if I find it at a better price somewhere else, or find something comparable that I like better (I just did that with a digital clock/thermometer unit - I hadn't even removed the first one from the packaging). Or I buy a movie that I already had (did that a few times). Walmart will return even without a receipt - though they will give you a Walmart gift card instead of cash.

I like to err on the side of caution, so I probably would not mention the new purchase during the refund transaction. If it made you more comfortable, you could come back on a different day and see a different sales associate to make the new purchase. If you bought via credit card, and have a smaller limit, you would have to wait until the return credit was posted to your account (usually 2-3 days, maybe longer) before buying the new one, anyway.

Just make sure you have the original packaging and manuals and all that before you make the return. And wipe the hard drive of any personal data. Apple will just send it to one of their centers, check it out, and then put it up as a refurb model for sale, I'm guessing.

I'd return it for the lower price and the spec bump. It's a no brainer.

Yes they'll let you exchange it, if they refuse which they won't , return it in the morning and go back in the evening or the next day or go to another store

 

[satchmo]

This is the most important upgrade then! Didn't know that.

As someone already noted, the previous MBA already had PCIe-based SSD

http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...acbook-air-core-i5-1.3-13-mid-2013-specs.html

...As first reported by AnandTech, this model uses a PCIe-based SSD rather than a SATA-connected one. Specifically, it uses a custom Apple design with a "PCIe 2.0 x2 interface, capable of a theoretical maximum of 1 GB/s in each direction."

 

[michaelsviews]

I'm not at all impressed with this update or Apple lately which is why I've fallen off the bandwagon some and hardly ever come here anymore, unlike back when Steve was alive and I would check the site everyday.

I'll be sticking with my $199 Chromebook for mobile computing and my iMac for everything else, a $700 savings over getting the "new" and slightly cheaper MacBook Air

And that makes one more MBA for someone , just because you are not impressed. I mean come on WTH.

Steve left a plan for 10 years, do you really think that there just winging it and saying well Stevo's gone so lets see what we can whip up and rip the consumer off for.

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4GB, seriously? This is 2014 not 2008.

What do you use that you need more than 4GB for? It's the base model or model's. probably 98% of the people buying a MBA the 4GB would be more than enough.

 

[UltimaKilo]

How can people be excited about this? Intel's delay of Broadwell has really hurt Apple, especially if they won't be ready for the MBP.

The Haswell bump won't make any real world differences, and the MBA line not Iris Pro now that the battery life has been improved is bad.

The MBA is not worth the price at the moment.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

The 'new' MBA replacement will be Broadwell based and these chips will not be shipping in any serious volume until Q1 2015. So I would estimate that the MBA replacement will be due Q2 2015.

He does have a point, but Apple has the ability as a Customer to snap up the latest and greatest with INTEL, BEFORE anyone else, but I still lean to his point as well

 

[G4DP]

And that makes one more MBA for someone , just because you are not impressed. I mean come on WTH.

Steve left a plan for 10 years, do you really think that there just winging it and saying well Stevo's gone so lets see what we can whip up and rip the consumer off for.

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What do you use that you need more than 4GB for? It's the base model or model's. probably 98% of the people buying a MBA the 4GB would be more than enough.

Where did you get this idea Steve left a plan crap?

When some blogger started this crap it was 3 years, it then went to 5 years. Now it's magically lengthened to 10?

He wouldn't have known what was coming in three years on the technology front.

The sooner people stop quoting the fur the better.

The update is fair, it's not great but it's better than a kick in the nuts.

 

[Agent69]

What do you use that you need more than 4GB for? It's the base model or model's. probably 98% of the people buying a MBA the 4GB would be more than enough.

I have to agree with this. I tested Macbook Airs at both Best Buy and the Apple Store and was surprised at how fast they were. I custom ordered a 8GB unit but mainly because I intend to keep the computer for at least four years.

You also have to remember that most of the only people who are disappointed are Apple fanatics who wait breathlessly on every announcement.

 

[michaelsviews]

Where did you get this idea Steve left a plan crap?

When some blogger started this crap it was 3 years, it then went to 5 years. Now it's magically lengthened to 10?

He wouldn't have known what was coming in three years on the technology front.

The sooner people stop quoting the fur the better.

The update is fair, it's not great but it's better than a kick in the nuts.

Yahoo, BING, Google, Pick one , when your done with your crap

 

[JesperA]

but Apple has the ability as a Customer to snap up the latest and greatest with INTEL, BEFORE anyone else

It has been years and years since Apple has gotten Intels latest and greatest chip before anyone else, i can only remember 2 times, i think one of the time was the ULV chip in the MBA and the second time a Xeon chip (was it nehalem) in Mac Pro, but the last couple of years Apple has been far behind every other OEM, everything between several month after everyone else up to more than a year.

 

[michaelsviews]

I have to agree with this. I tested Macbook Airs at both Best Buy and the Apple Store and was surprised at how fast they were. I custom ordered a 8GB unit but mainly because I intend to keep the computer for at least four years.

You also have to remember that most of the only people who are disappointed are Apple fanatics who wait breathlessly on every announcement.

Well there's fanatics with anything and everything. You can't have everything. For a retina MBA I would think theres going to be a full redesign , if retina = less battery life it's not going to go over well. Allot of variables but no one knows so just have to sit back and wait.

 

[iBug2]

He wouldn't have known what was coming in three years on the technology front.

Of course he would, considering most things you actually see out there today have been in development for more than 3 years, being the CEO of Apple, he'd know what's gonna come in 3 years. He may not have known 10 years down the road but if he knew, I wouldn't be surprised. The only thing people do not know today is when the R&G that is purely theoretical today will be applicable in the future, like graphene processors. But it's quite easy to guess what we'll have in 5 years since most tech companies do have roadmaps that cover even longer than that, available today. We know what processors intel's gonna sell in 2017.

 

[MacSince1990]

the most prolific period of innovation at Apple

Every thing they do doesn't have to be groundbreaking. These prices are very attractive and affordable for many, especially with an education discount.

 

[Stella]

What do you use that you need more than 4GB for? It's the base model or model's. probably 98% of the people buying a MBA the 4GB would be more than enough.

All the MBA's have 4GB - 11" and 13" - across the board - look at the screenshot on the story, unless you BTO.

Seriously? What would you need more than 4GB for? I know Mavericks is good at memory management,but it doesn't work miracles! Many people buy Airs for the portability and connect it into an external monitor - and still wish to use it as a decent work machine.

Reminds me of the myth of the "640K is more memory than anyone will ever need on a computer" quote.

What do I use that needs more than 4GB? How about running multiple applications, or large processes at once that I require to use simultaneously.

 

[englishman]

I picked up a macbook air about a month ago, called apple today and they refunded the difference, no quibbles at all. Was really impressed to be honest.

Bought mine a month ago so will also try to get this refund - or of course would be happy with the newer model.

 

[michaelsviews]

All the MBA's have 4GB - 11" and 13" - across the board - look at the screenshot on the story, unless you BTO.

Seriously? What would you need more than 4GB for? I know Mavericks is good at memory management,but it doesn't work miracles! Many people buy Airs for the portability and connect it into an external monitor - and still wish to use it as a decent work machine.


Reminds me of the myth of the "640K is more memory than anyone will ever need on a computer" quote.

I agree with the 4 GB, not arguing the point at all. Keep in mind that some people want the top of the line and will never access the full potential of the computer but just have to have it. More money going into the spaceship

 

[RedRaven571]

In my abject ignorance, I will ask this question:

For the same approximate price point (edu price ~$1650 or so), you can have:

13" MBA
1.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage

or

13" rMBP
2.6GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage


What's the advantage of the MBA, other than thinner/lighter?

 

[scoobydoo99]

In my abject ignorance, I will ask this question:

For the same approximate price point (edu price ~$1650 or so), you can have:

13" MBA
1.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage

or

13" rMBP
2.6GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage


What's the advantage of the MBA, other than thinner/lighter?

Thinner/lighter IS the point. If you don't need that, get the Pro

 

[darkplanets]

Unless Apple improves their RAM management, they should come standard with 8, not 4.

I can force my computer into swap just by doing some light Internet browsing while listening to music with my email open, because OSX does a piss poor job of releasing RAM, even when it's needed.

Close everything and open a program that actually needs the RAM? That bad boy is going on VM, and it's swap city.

 

[ewils19]

I picked up a macbook air about a month ago, called apple today and they refunded the difference, no quibbles at all. Was really impressed to be honest.

What did you say to them?
I bought mine through Best Buy so it probably wouldn't make a difference, plus it was 2 months ago. Wishing I had waited because with the price drop I could've afforded 256 GB. But then I would've been stuck with a heavy PC laptop for another two months so I guess that's an okay trade off...

 

[ArmCortexA8]

I have the MacBook Air 2011 with i7 1.8GHz and 4GB of RAM (back then you could only get 2gb or 4gb of RAM - 4GB was CTO) and only using 50 GB on the drive, and it is still screaming along, no issues, no faults, no problems. The only thing that was replaced under Australian Consumer Law was the AC adapter as the sheath was separating. So I won't be updating till this current one has a major expensive hardware fault, or dies of un-natural causes

 

[Mattsasa]

Why would Apple invite members of the media and press to an event JUST to say that there's now a MacBook Air with a retina display? That would be the shortest press event in history.

Apple could easily spend 30 minutes or more talking about this new rMBA product. But what is more likely apple will have an event to talk about some other new product or software. i.e. iOS 8, Mac OSX 10.10, 8th gen iphone, etc. and throw in the new rMBA somewhere during the event for 5-10min

So.. If i upgrade the high end 13" model to 8 gbs of RAM, it comes to 1299 USD and for 200 USD more i get:

1) retina display
2) faster processor despite the processor updated Airs
3) better graphics although still shared gfx memory
4) more expandibility

Retina 13" MBP still looks like a no brainer to me tbh..

but -

-1) thicker form factor
-2) heavier
-3) less battery life
-4) $200 more expensive

It's a trade off, I feel majority of users are better off with an Air.

PS: I just bought a 13" rMBP for myself. I don't care about the faster processor or expandability, but I very much care about the graphics and the retina display.

^^
My personal priorities

Yeah, you need 8GB now with Mavericks. Stupid RAM-hogging software.

In my opinion, I strongly disagree.
4GB is plenty for majority of users... especially customers getting the air.

I currently have a rMBP with 8GB, but I tested 4GB machines, and if I could have gotten my rMBP for only 4GB and $100 less I would have.

In my abject ignorance, I will ask this question:

For the same approximate price point (edu price ~$1650 or so), you can have:

13" MBA
1.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage

or

13" rMBP
2.6GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage


What's the advantage of the MBA, other than thinner/lighter?

Like someone else said, Thinner and Lighter is a Huge game changer, I understand why this is so underminded. When you use a product everyday, and bring it with you places, IMO the design/weight/portability is far more important that CPU speed.

also the air has better battery life.

 

[G4DP]

Yahoo, BING, Google, Pick one , when your done with your crap

Find a creditable source that states it as fact. Not an un-named source.

And any searches on those show 4 years not 10.

 

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Don't they have these already? rMBP 13".

It seems that the extra half pound of weight is a deal breaker. I don't get it either.

 

[G4DP]

Apple could easily spend 30 minutes or more talking about this new rMBA product. But what is more likely apple will have an event to talk about some other new product or software. i.e. iOS 8, Mac OSX 10.10, 8th gen iphone, etc. and throw in the new rMBA somewhere during the event for 5-10min



but -

-1) thicker form factor
-2) heavier
-3) less battery life
-4) $200 more expensive

It's a trade off, I feel majority of users are better off with an Air.

PS: I just bought a 13" rMBP for myself. I don't care about the faster processor or expandability, but I very much care about the graphics and the retina display.

^^
My personal priorities



In my opinion, I strongly disagree.
4GB is plenty for majority of users... especially customers getting the air.

I currently have a rMBP with 8GB, but I tested 4GB machines, and if I could have gotten my rMBP for only 4GB and $100 less I would have.



Like someone else said, Thinner and Lighter is a Huge game changer, I understand why this is so underminded. When you use a product everyday, and bring it with you places, IMO the design/weight/portability is far more important that CPU speed.

also the air has better battery life.

Seriously, the weight of a full Pringles tube is a deal breaker? Seems a lot of Apple customers could spend 10 minutes in a gym instead of those 30 minutes exercising on red tube.