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MacBook Air to Update This Week?

Colman said:
Dell aren't all about profits? Better warn their shareholders.
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Let me rephrase....Apple is all about Margins...Dell is more about Volume...both lead to profits...

As long as Apple continues to make the margins on their products that they are....they have no reason to change...

If the consumers want change, they have to do so with their wallets...

Hickman
 
skate71290 said:
- Intel Core i7 @ 2.53GHZ
- 4GB DDR3 RAM
- nVidia 330M with 512MB DDR3 VRAM
- 500GB 7200RPM HDD or 512 SSD
- 3 USB Ports, MiniDisplay Port, Headphone Jack (Standard 3.5)
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So, you ask for stuff that did not fit into a 13" MBP to fit into a decidedly smaller (internally) MBA?
Putting aside the space for graphiccard and heat issues, the MBA only has space for a 1.8" disk but you want a 2.5" disk.
 
You would have thought replacing the SSD / HDD with NAND soldered right onto the board would save a lot of space. I mean, the iPod touch runs 64 gig at the moment and in all likelihood will run 128 gig this September!

Also I still contend that there is so much wasted space in the aluminium edges of this machine that you could easily snip off nearly 10mm from the front and both sides (assuming that the frame for the screen isn’t massive behind that bezel) Naturally the keyboard is the deciding factor on quite how small the machine can be, but that footprint was set by the glorious 12" Powerbook.
 
Scottsdale said:
The MacBook Air does everything I need a computer to do. I don't need the power of a MacBook Pro, and I will gladly pay extra for the extreme portability of the MacBook Air that is beautiful and the perfect portable Mac.

I hope I can give Apple about $3K this week for a fully loaded BTO MacBook Air.
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+1 Give me 4gb ram, 256 ssd, nvidia 320 and i will be happy, anything else would be icing.
 
AdamA9 said:
Ooooooh I don't know. Maybe someone that wants to carry a light laptop around, wants to fit a small laptop into a smaller bag, prefers the design (yes you are allowed to buy a laptop that's aesthetically pleasing)...

There are a number of reasons people would purchase an MBA over MBP ;)
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Indeed - for example the MBA is the only one left that has no glass screen mounted a couple of millimeters in front of the LCD (= less reflections), it lacks the black frame of the other current models (i prefer that design over the funereal appearance of MBP's) and still sporting a button below the trackpad is also a plus for me (maybe it's simply a question of getting used to it, but i like the trackpad lying flat in front of me instead of slanting on every "mouse"click, especially for "click-hold-move").

Not to forget the outer appearance without visible ports and a much thinner look than the numbers of maximum thickness may suggest. The power i need when using it is absolutely sufficient (1.6GHz, 120GB non-SSD harddrive) - for tasks that require more oomph i still got that trusty MacPro (which is still slightly superior to a(n) MBP ;)

So - as often - it's a question of individual usage whether to opt for either MBA or MBP.

btw: Regarding prepositions: When i'm writing "This is a MacBookPro" i'm using "a". But when i would write "This is a(n) MBP", the "M" when read is sounding like an "EM" - would i have to use "an MBP" or "a MBP"? For me it seems more fluent to use "an MBP". Serious question as i'm no native speaker and that bothers me for quite some time now...
 
Apple only needs to fix the screen line issue and I will likely go back to the Air from my Macbook Pro. I really miss it, but it still has too many hardware issues.

Plus, I would like a Glass Trackpad and 4 gigs of RAM. Anything on top of this in terms of specs and I will be even happier. I also would prefer more battery life in exchange for performance.
 
iZac said:
You would have thought replacing the SSD / HDD with NAND soldered right onto the board would save a lot of space. I mean, the iPod touch runs 64 gig at the moment and in all likelihood will run 128 gig this September!
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I would get me some popcorn and follow the uproar throughout the internet if Apple should dare to replace the harddrive with soldered-to-the-board NAND (remember the decision when it came to the new battery designs?).

But i think you're right - Apple is offering SSD's already (-> reliability should be no issue anymore these days) and volumewise they should get good prices on NAND anyway, so why not abandon the connectors and "bulky" HD housings for a couple of simple motherboard bugs...?! Some netbook makers are going this route for some time now...
 
wizard said:
An update is due of course so it is likely to be more modest than some would like. For me though the whole concept needs to be refactored into something mote acceptable. So I'm actually hoping for new displays as I might be interested there.


Dave
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Sadly, i agree with you.

It will probably still keep the same CPU but instead have the updated Nvidia chip in the 13" MBP as well as 4GB of RAM and bigger/faster SSD. I can hope for a higher res screen as well but i'm not getting my hopes up on that one.

There is no way in hell Apple will use the Core i3 CPU with the crappy Intel graphics.

Adi
 
iZac said:
Also I still contend that there is so much wasted space in the aluminium edges of this machine that you could easily snip off nearly 10mm from the front and both sides (assuming that the frame for the screen isn’t massive behind that bezel) Naturally the keyboard is the deciding factor on quite how small the machine can be, but that footprint was set by the glorious 12" Powerbook.
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Yes! Please, do away with the sharp edges, and get back to function over form, Apple. (And this also means: MOAR USB! No optical is fine.)

Furthermore, I think that 4GB is a little 2009 by now. Am I the only one who thinks that 8GB is more suitable for a machine that I am going to use as a primary for the next three years?
 
nutjob said:
Yawn. Who buys Airs other than pretentious people who think it looks good? Why would anyone spend more money for less power, less functionality and thickness that is 80% of the MacBook Pro at its thickest point, which is the critical benchmark.
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How about someone who travels five days a week and does not want to carry more weight than necessary, and it does everything we need? Perhaps you should think for a moment instead of trying to sound clever and insulting people who actually use the air.
 
I'd love for it to be an ACD 27" but I just don't see them releasing a new monitor model on its own. It's something they've always added on top of a bigger announcement, e.g. a new computer or two. I think the ACD 27" launch will coincide with new Mac Pros, but that's just a hunch....
 
The Samurai said:
Don't see how they would be able to put a Core i3 or better in the refreshed MBA's... the 13" MBP's didnt get it due to space right?
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I believe reason is the integrated Intel graphics are less capable than the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics in the previous model. Apple spent a lot of time developing OpenCL, which the NVIDIA GeForce 320M supports, and they were not about to go "backwards". I think the reason there is no dedicated GPU in the 13" MacBook Pro is because of no available space.
 
Erasmus said:
I admit, I have never used one.

I carry my 2.2 GHz 15" MBP to and from Uni (a ~2 hr commute each way) every day in my backpack, along with all the associated equipment I may need, and don't have a problem with its weight. I would be quite happy to buy a 17" in the future. Which is why I dispute the portability aspect.
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Who cares what you "dispute".. Obviously your priorities and needs in a laptop are different from those who want an ultra-portable like an MBA. Enjoy your 17" MBP and go troll in some other thread.

Dell, Sony (and soon Toshiba) are all shipping <3lbs ultraportables, which target certain segment of the market. Apple isn't the only one competing for this segment.
 
nutjob said:
Yawn. Who buys Airs other than pretentious people who think it looks good? Why would anyone spend more money for less power, less functionality and thickness that is 80% of the MacBook Pro at its thickest point, which is the critical benchmark.
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Pretentious? How about "mobility"...?

EDIT: Sorry to gang up on you, but it suits my needs pretty well.
 
Exciting - I'm a big fan of the idea of the MacBook Air: full size, light computing that supports the full OS and has a keyboard. I'm looking for what everyone on this board seems to be as well: more power and memory... and I'll add to that just a bit more connectivity (two USB 3 ports, and a little SATA port?), but I'd like to see the express card slot back on the 13 and 15" MacBook Pros too so I'm not holding my breath.
 
I don't understand why there are so many people who hate MacBook Air. Portability is the most important feature for some of us. I think in few years all the laptops are going to be as light and thin as MBA.

MBA is one of the most powerful ultra light laptops - eg. Lenovo X301 has much weaker CPU and GPU.
 
Gruber said:
Yes! Please, do away with the sharp edges, and get back to function over form, Apple. (And this also means: MOAR USB! No optical is fine.)

Furthermore, I think that 4GB is a little 2009 by now. Am I the only one who thinks that 8GB is more suitable for a machine that I am going to use as a primary for the next three years?
Click to expand...

Maybe not the only one but you're absolutely in the minority if you think the MBA needs 8GB to make it a more suitable machine. Give it a rest with the specs .................. this product is intended for road warriors who need long bat life and minimal size.

cheers
JohnG
 
New Macbook Air is here?

I'm seeing the word NEW being used in numerous places on Apple's website surrounding the MacBook Air.

Mainly in the heading here...

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

I don't know the old specs of the MBA, so I have no idea if the store indicates it is new. There is no NEW badge in the store right now.

Also saw this...
EDIT: Look at the bottom of this page....
http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/specs.html
 

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