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MacBook Air 'Sandy Bridge' Update in June?
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This is good news. In my half drunken stupor last night I almost ordered an 11". Now I can wait until June. I don't really need this at all, so I might as well wait until the next upgrade.
Hmm. Maybe I was more than half drunk. I better check my account to make sure I didn't actually order this (and make sure Current Wife doesn't find out if I did).
Gotta go!
-anthony
Hmm. Maybe I was more than half drunk. I better check my account to make sure I didn't actually order this (and make sure Current Wife doesn't find out if I did).
Gotta go!
-anthony
Darn--now I guess I will have to wait and see what happens in June. I don't "need" an Air now--just want one, but now I think I will wait a bit. 
It is about time. I try to buy a new laptop every other year. I'm a year over due, because there have been no significant improvements in processor speed for three years. My current three year old MacBook has a 2.4 Core 2 Duo. Why upgrade to a new computer that is not faster or even slower? I want a MacBook Air but am not willing to go slower.
Not if Apple doesn't change it stance on pricing.
The $1199 and $1299 models can't take the place of the $999 model.
Just dropping the MB leaves a hole at $999 that they are filling with just an 11" model with substantially less storage and performance.
What you are simplifying is that people just primarily buy on inch dimensions. That's wrong. People primarily buy on cost. Then comes some features that include screens in the mix.
You can also have pixel density differences with the same physical diagonal measurement (e.g., the different 15" models ).
If Apple keep the C2D and 320M in the MBP 13" they probably could move it down to take the $999 spot. However, folks would howl. So likely going to add a discrete GPU to the mix (and drop the DVD drive). That's going to increase component costs so it is doubtful they will move the price point down. Likewise, it is doubut will chop $200 off the MBA to push it down into the slot that the the MBA 11" occupies. (would then have to push the 11" down into the iPad space and that's not going to happen. )
The MB will probably survive another round because the MBP 13" nor the MBA 13" can move down into the price point. The MB would not survive if a large segment of folks who were buying MB 13" really didn't need 13" of screen real estate (and the storage , extra sockets, CPU "horsepower", etc. ) and can settle for the MBA 11". The 'killer' would be the device at the same (or lower) price point. In contrast, Apple could reverse the bonehead move to take FW sockets off MB and that would be significant differentiator to MBA options for folks selecting at the $999 price point who have a stack of FW audio/video devices to work with.
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Tommylotto, I don't know you do with your Mac, but have you ever given those slim babies a try? You haven't, have you?
As you can see I have both (I use the Pro, my sys uses the Air) and call me crazy but I'd rather give her my 13" and take hers than keeping it for myself.
Bye
As you can see I have both (I use the Pro, my sys uses the Air) and call me crazy but I'd rather give her my 13" and take hers than keeping it for myself.
Bye
This air series is more mainstream and affordable. Apple will not wait as long.
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The Sandy Bridge update is not something minor to wait for in my opinion. If that's truly the direction they're going by June (IF that's the case), then it's an absolute no-brainer to wait. That's a BIG deal.
I see nearly zero value in upgrading the CPU for maybe 20% more CPU performance but lose at least 50% of the GPU capabilities going from Nvidia 320m to crapgraphics Intel forces upon us.
I would much prefer a low-end discrete ATI/AMD solution. They have such low power consumption that it's doable. Take out one of the many batteries. I want more performance. What happens to OpenCL? Apple built it right into the OS, but I don't think Intel's integrated would benefit from it even if it could do it because the CPU has boost when integrated graphics performance isn't needed.
God I wish the Nvidia chipsets could stay beyond C2D. Call me crazy, but I see C2D as a high-performing CPU and think we could benefit more from a real GPU, better software, faster SSD drive controllers, USB 3.0, and etc.
I just think this is Intel marketin hype winning an forcing terribly inferior graphics on us. It's too bad, as we all lose even though many think we win.
I would much prefer a low-end discrete ATI/AMD solution. They have such low power consumption that it's doable. Take out one of the many batteries. I want more performance. What happens to OpenCL? Apple built it right into the OS, but I don't think Intel's integrated would benefit from it even if it could do it because the CPU has boost when integrated graphics performance isn't needed.
God I wish the Nvidia chipsets could stay beyond C2D. Call me crazy, but I see C2D as a high-performing CPU and think we could benefit more from a real GPU, better software, faster SSD drive controllers, USB 3.0, and etc.
I just think this is Intel marketin hype winning an forcing terribly inferior graphics on us. It's too bad, as we all lose even though many think we win.
Production of C2D was already stopped in December but Intel will be shipping them until October 14th.
It should improve it nominally due to being a smaller (35nm) chipset and therefore more energy efficient. I don't know how much but maybe 5-10% (total guess but it shouldn't be far from that). It seems like a no-brainer Apple would put these in.
I'm betting if they are doing this, this is exactly it. They are running out of the core 2 duos since they are not in production and this is more a lateral step. Particularly since the Air is more aimed at people who want a travel computer, they're probably also less worried about it having a better graphics processor so they don't mind compromising on that one.
Question I have is, if this happens, where does this leave the MBP 13"? I realize that there is not a good graphics processor that goes with the i chips (and it seems questionable from what people are saying if Sandy Bridge's chip will be better than what is in the current MBP, seems likely it might at least be equal though which is good). But marketing wise, it does not look good to be using a chip that is years old in technology (even if the reasoning is sound, people don't always listen to logic
. They see old chip and go, "it must be outdated/bad, that chip is old." despite the good logic behind the move), especially when even your supposedly less powerful notebook has a newer chip. So despite the fact the MBP 13" may still be a great computer with what they did with it, people see "old chip" and go ewww. And it doesn't sell as well. Unfortunately, marketing and perception are very important when designing something you want to sell so it doesn't matter how good the product is if the perception of it is going to be "outdated" just cause it doesn't use the latest chip.Honestly, from my standpoint, I'm glad they went with the graphics card over the chip for my computer (taking for granted one had to be compromised). Yeah, would have been nice if my 2010 13" MBP was significantly faster than my 2007 MB, but it is far more capable with a much better graphics card (it can play even some games of today. Even when my 2007 MB was new it was not good with the games at the time!). I'll take more capable over speed if one has to be compromised. One is more convenient, the other one makes the computer more useful/flexible. And I was one of the ones that originally was disappointed it still had an old chip. I got convinced that it wasn't a huge deal, bought one, and was happy with the compromise as it really addressed the big reason I wanted to upgrade (so it's not faster, it's still more capable).
I hope if they do update the 13" MBP with a new chip they find a way to at least give is good a graphics card as it has now (and eventually a better graphics card of course). Otherwise I'm going to be super glad I bought last year rather than waited. Not that I plan on getting the new 13" either way, but I'd like to see it advance, not go backwards as eventually I'll want to buy another one.
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FAIL.....great job Apple..lets keep updating "toys" and iDevices and forget about the products that built the company. When I see an official release of MBP I will change my tune...but not until then. I am so sick of seeing "consumer devices" get update after update and those of us that pay 2K+ for a machine continue to flounder in the past.
I understand that these days thats where the dollars come from but lately the company keeps going against it's core values and is treading in the same waters as every other electronics manufacturer. I came back to Apple for powerful "professional" grade equipment...seems like those days are waning fast.
I understand that these days thats where the dollars come from but lately the company keeps going against it's core values and is treading in the same waters as every other electronics manufacturer. I came back to Apple for powerful "professional" grade equipment...seems like those days are waning fast.
I share that sentiment. Had one of the new 11" for a while and loved it.
I don't understand the statement. How can they EOL but still promise a hard last shipment date?
Hi Eidorian, thanks for your reply. I'm not sure what PCH implies (even though I googled it
). Are you saying the 11.6" does not contain this PCH but the 13" does? Effectively meaning the latter runs at a total TDP of 21Watts?
Platform Controller Hub, it is effectively the replacement of the South Bridge for I/O features (USB, SATA, FDI, etc.) not covered by the memory controller and PCIe lanes. The low voltage Intel 6 Series PCH draws a hair fewer watts than its counterparts. The entire platform would have a total draw of around 21 Watts as you mentioned.Hi Eidorian, thanks for your reply. I'm not sure what PCH implies (even though I googled it
Sadly, I do not remember off hand what the MCP89 draws. It is going to be much greater.
Aah I see now.. Thank you for clearing that up. I hope Apple will be able to keep heat and fans under control with these new SB based Air's. It's so nicely balanced on the current 11.6", it would be a shame to compromise on that.
Eh? In 2010, every single "Mac" product got an update. Just like every iOS product. The only thing that died was XServe (and it doesn't have "Mac" in its name.). If anything Apple is switching over to treating the Mac products the same as the iOS ones. Annual, mostly predictable, updates to the product each year. Mac OS X isn't going to be yearlly, but the hardware updates are moving in that direction. If anything that is equal treatment; not "second hand" , "back burner" treatment.
The "Mac" line up didn't get as many Steve dog and pony show to feed the media hype, but in the company delivered on every single Mac product. (excluding XServe which just could not keep up with growth of the Mac market. The iOS market was immaterial. ) The delusion that is rampant in this forum is about dog and pony shows; not updating products. Frankly, I don't use dog and pony shows to get my work done.
perhaps the update in june is simply the mbp's and that the air is being confused with this since the optical drive is being removed from mbp's.
i hope anyway as i'm in the market for a 13 or 15" i'd like something without optical drive since i rarely use it. I'd prefer the space for for something else.
depending on what mbp's come out i may go with the 13" air since it will be speedy enough and has the same res as my current 15" just in a smaller package.
if the 15's gets even higher res screens than you can get now though i might go that direction. if the 13" pro matches the 13 air screen, that might be the best bang for buck especially if they drop optical.
i cannot wait until this is refreshed. i rarely get new machines, my last was a ti powerbook so i cannot wait to get something. if the pro's only get integrated graphics i'll be very disappointed.
i hope anyway as i'm in the market for a 13 or 15" i'd like something without optical drive since i rarely use it. I'd prefer the space for for something else.
depending on what mbp's come out i may go with the 13" air since it will be speedy enough and has the same res as my current 15" just in a smaller package.
if the 15's gets even higher res screens than you can get now though i might go that direction. if the 13" pro matches the 13 air screen, that might be the best bang for buck especially if they drop optical.
i cannot wait until this is refreshed. i rarely get new machines, my last was a ti powerbook so i cannot wait to get something. if the pro's only get integrated graphics i'll be very disappointed.
30 Watts total supposedly. You would be able to pull off a step up to Low Voltage at 25 Watts on the CPU and another 3.5 Watts for the PCH