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Let's talk 2012 MacBook Air - what would you like to see?

Augure said:
What the 13" will be:

1. 1.8 Ghz Dual-core ivy5
This is the only processor compatible and relevant according to leaked specs by Intel

2. 4Go memory 1600Hz
Apple is already upgrading RAM from 1333Hz to 1600Hz compatible with Ivy bridge, 8go will only be an option

3. Intel HD 4000
Ivy bridge comes with this new card that is not much more powerful, just more energy efficient. And it's currently impossible to add a GPU to an ultrabook

4.128gb SSD or 256gb SSD if the 15" is released
It's been two generation that the entry Macbook Air 13" has add a 128GB SSD, and because the price as decreased (from 300$ to 500$ for a domestic external 256GB SSD) BUT there are chances Apple calibrates its product line with the 15" so they don't have to upgrade the storage.

5. Two USB 3 ports
It's about time and Ivy bridge is calibrated for usb 3

6. 8 - 10 hours
The battery is probably going to be longer up to 9 - 10 hours but it also depends on other energy consuming component Apple might use like...

(7. Higher resolution screen)
It would seem logical and possible that Apple update it's screen resolution, but because the market is not yet heading in that direction, and Apple has already bumped MBA resolution compared to MBP, it's unlikely.

That's about all we can expect.
Click to expand...

I 100% agree with these expectations. This is exactly what I have in mind myself. I also doubt they will change the current physical form, it's fine as it is other than the thick bezel (please apple, make it a bit thinner, or increase the screensize from 13" to 14" and from 11" to 12").
 
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Higher gamut display and improved GPU. I'd love if Apple could jam a lower end discrete GPU in the 13".
 
I'd buy one today if I could get it with 8GB of RAM. An anti-glare screen would be very desirable to me as well. If they offer a 15" MBA, I'd probably buy it as I am currently on my 3rd 15" PB/MBP and I like the size. The switch to Ivy Bridge should hopefully improve thermal characteristics and battery life, and I understand the on-board GPU is an improvement over the current GPU. A 256GB internal drive is adequate for my laptop needs, but then my other computer is a Mac Pro, and I have a NAS with 5.5TB of storage where I can park files. I carry a 4G wifi hotspot and don't plan to change that, so any internal cellular modem would be a waste for me.
 
Augure said:
People need to stop dreaming. We already know from simple studies and analysis of past updates and current component market what the next MBA can or cannot be.

What the 13" will be
1. 1.8 Ghz Dual-core ivy5
This is the only processor compatible and relevant according to leaked specs by Intel

2. 4Go memory 1600Hz
Apple is already upgrading RAM from 1333Hz to 1600Hz compatible with Ivy bridge, 8go will only be an option

3. Intel HD 4000
Ivy bridge comes with this new card that is not much more powerful, just more energy efficient. And it's currently impossible to add a GPU to an ultrabook

4.128gb SSD or 256gb SSD if the 15" is released
It's been two generation that the entry Macbook Air 13" has add a 128GB SSD, and because the price as decreased (from 300$ to 500$ for a domestic external 256GB SSD) BUT there are chances Apple calibrates its product line with the 15" so they don't have to upgrade the storage.

5. Two USB 3 ports
It's about time and Ivy bridge is calibrated for usb 3

6. 8 - 10 hours
The battery is probably going to be longer up to 9 - 10 hours but it also depends on other energy consuming component Apple might use like...

(7. Higher resolution screen)
It would seem logical and possible that Apple update it's screen resolution, but because the market is not yet heading in that direction, and Apple has already bumped MBA resolution compared to MBP, it's unlikely

That's about all we can expect. I personaly wish for a 256GB SSD, 4Go Ram is ok, more is better but unlikely, a better Wifi card because it's horrible on Macbooks, HD camera is possible and welcomed AND better graphic performance because I'm tired of not even being able to emulate a Playstation 2 or Gamecube released 10 years ago :/

Then there are crazy ideas, like 3G chip, smaller bezel, lighter material or touch screen, that Apple will never meet because they don't innovate or listen to trendsetters and smart customer anymore.
Click to expand...

This is just perfect.
 
couto27 said:
for 2012

mb air > ARM
mb air 11 > intel
mb air 13 > ARM
mb air 13 > intel

new mbp13 re-design with upgradable ram user. (similar to mb air design)
new mbp 15 re-design with a dedicated video card (similar to mb air design)
Click to expand...

The Intel processors would be far more powerful and would not require software to be rewritten. So it's hard to see the advantage of your proposed lineup.
 
2012 Macbook Air - What would you like to see?

Abysmal battery life, loose hinges, degraded screen quality and overheating/ underperforming processor. Oh, and exploding batteries would be an added bonus.

Why you ask? So that I feel even better about owning a recently purchased 2011 Air ;) Schadenfreude!!! :D
 
Love my 2011 MBA. But the battery life is a lot worse than my previous 2010 model. Of course it also has a lot more powerful hardware but I miss the plug free time I used to get. So definitely want better battery life! Preferably 6-8 hours.
 
jouster said:
The Intel processors would be far more powerful and would not require software to be rewritten. So it's hard to see the advantage of your proposed lineup.
Click to expand...

Agreed, ARM is fabulous for phones and tablets but nowhere near as powerful as i3/i5/i7 the question really is about several years into the future. It will be interesting to see if its easier to engineer x86 for super low power consumption or Make arm much more powerful while maintaining its power and thermal characteristics.
 
1) 512 GB SSD, option: 1 TB, baby !!!
2) Screen with better contrast
3) Longer battery life, an "honest to God" 8 hrs!

O yea, a revolutionary feature:

4) The ability to switch from Intel power-guzzling iCore chips
to ARM-like processing for long hours of Internet browsing.
12 hours of Internet browsing with 3G!
 
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I'd like to see.

1. 8gb memory option
2. 3g/LTE

Between the inevitable upgrades and this, I think it would be about perfect :) Maybe an sd card slot on the 11 but that's not that important and probably unlikely to happen.
 
11" to 13" and 13" to 15"

OK, so a lot of people are asking for lighter laptops with more battery life, and possible a smaller form factor.

I think reducing the form factor will make it harder to increase battery life. I also think that the battery on next MBA will be the same or better.

How about reducing the bezel size. The 11" is effectively discontinued, and becomes the 13"

The 13" screen is increased to 15". Form factor stays the same, battery improvements offset the increased drain from the 15" screen.

Feasible?
 
Assuming there will be a 15" model, i just hope that it will have an option for 8 GB of RAM. I'm not too concerned with SSD size options since I can upgrade that myself but since I cannot add more RAM myself and I plan on having this for several years as my main computer (senior year of college then med school), I would not want to risk the possibility of 4GB of RAM being too small and slowing me down in the future.
 
-Better quality screen
-Better GPU, CPU, battery
-4GB RAM and 128GB SSD standard
-Option for 512GB SSD, 8GB RAM

I'm sure Apple won't do all of it because they have to hold something for the next gen..(backlit keyboard for instance wasn't there in 2010 model):rolleyes:
 
..Might as well chime in..

I feel like I'm the only person who's really, really happy with the screen on the 11" even though I do wish it were higher-resolution yet... but... considering how much I hate glossy displays, I'm quite happy.

I've got the 2011, 11" with an i7. That said,

Battery life is my one fear .. If I'm doing anything powerful, I can run through the battery in around 2 hours or less. My 2010 15" Macbook Pro (2.66 i7) previously achieved about 3 hours under heavy load, but again, that was a much larger machine too.

I'd love to see the 11" achieve a 7 hour rating instead of 5. I know it's a tiny machine, but I'm sure apple could come up with something.

Oh, and the fan. It's quick to come on and it's really loud. Again, I know, I've got an i7 to cool, but I feel like it's really loud for a mac, having owned MANY apple laptops.

Final want is the obvious 512GB option. Granted I'm doing great with 256GB (considering my iMac has a 3TB external that's about full and a 1TB internal with >200 free....) .. but the 512 is a no-brainer.
 
jmpnop said:
-Better quality screen
-Better GPU, CPU, battery
-4GB RAM and 128GB SSD standard
-Option for 512GB SSD, 8GB RAM

I'm sure Apple won't do all of it because they have to hold something for the next gen..(backlit keyboard for instance wasn't there in 2010 model):rolleyes:
Click to expand...

lol if they can fit 14" 1050p into the 13MBA frame then great. It means my bookarc won't be useless when I hand it off to the wife -_-

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motorazr said:
I feel like I'm the only person who's really, really happy with the screen on the 11" even though I do wish it were higher-resolution yet... but... considering how much I hate glossy displays, I'm quite happy.

I've got the 2011, 11" with an i7. That said,

Battery life is my one fear .. If I'm doing anything powerful, I can run through the battery in around 2 hours or less. My 2010 15" Macbook Pro (2.66 i7) previously achieved about 3 hours under heavy load, but again, that was a much larger machine too.

I'd love to see the 11" achieve a 7 hour rating instead of 5. I know it's a tiny machine, but I'm sure apple could come up with something.

Oh, and the fan. It's quick to come on and it's really loud. Again, I know, I've got an i7 to cool, but I feel like it's really loud for a mac, having owned MANY apple laptops.

Final want is the obvious 512GB option. Granted I'm doing great with 256GB (considering my iMac has a 3TB external that's about full and a 1TB internal with >200 free....) .. but the 512 is a no-brainer.
Click to expand...

I want 512gb too..but at current costs, that upgrade alone is the price of a base 11 air.

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GezDaFez said:
OK, so a lot of people are asking for lighter laptops with more battery life, and possible a smaller form factor.

I think reducing the form factor will make it harder to increase battery life. I also think that the battery on next MBA will be the same or better.

How about reducing the bezel size. The 11" is effectively discontinued, and becomes the 13"

The 13" screen is increased to 15". Form factor stays the same, battery improvements offset the increased drain from the 15" screen.

Feasible?
Click to expand...

edge to edge screen using the current form factor would be problematic without adding protection to the screen. Maybe a special thin version of the corning glass?
 
325 GB SSD
A good bump in processor speed
15” display

That would make it perfect for me. But whatever the specs, if one comes out at 15” I’m going to pull the trigger.
 
Does a higher resolution screen mean things will be smaller, but sharper? ANd if so, how is this necessarily better for viewing? Besides obviously having more space to fit more stuff on the screen, does a higher resolution (but smaller text, etc) make things easier to read, see? Does it make the colors better?

I'm a little confused.
 
Give me 8GB of RAM. Please. And Sir Ive, do you think you could shrink this relatively massive border around my screen? How about a 12" MBA and a 14" MBA using the same chassis? It really is ok if the lid needs to be 1mm thicker to accommodate the larger panel.
 
CPU already powerful enough for what it is - add an A6 instead and have it be bth OSX and iOS.
 
Jaro65 said:
Give me 8GB of RAM. Please. And Sir Ive, do you think you could shrink this relatively massive border around my screen? How about a 12" MBA and a 14" MBA using the same chassis? It really is ok if the lid needs to be 1mm thicker to accommodate the larger panel.
Click to expand...

that is EXACTLY what I want myself too.
  • 8gb RAM
  • Either smaller screen border or increase the screen size (and resolution) to 12" and 14"
  • Better battery, specially for the 11" air
 
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