More Claimed MacBook Air Specs: 8-10 Hour Battery, NVIDIA 320M, Upgradeable RAM and SSD

[deconstruct60]

Light Peak was pushed to 2012 by Intel

Well technically Intel is targeting 2011 for their contribution ( delivering parts ) and expect the system and peripheral vendors to really launch in significant way in 2012. Intel is still hoping that will turn out to be "late 2011".

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4207750/Intel-Light-Peak-switches-on-in-2012


The really isn't too much different than USB 3.0. NEC (now Renesas since they bought that product line) had controllers ready in May 2009. It wasn't till January 2010 till there were several peripheral announcements. Now there are 120 products on market. However, there were a relatively small number of USB 3.0 products shipped in 2009.

Fact is a good fraction of the stuff that is going to be released in 2011 is already in design freeze. If Intel doesn't pragmatically release until 2011 they won't be able to win slots in new designs until then. Those 2011 design freezes end up being mostly 2012 products.


It is still the case that there is little public support/commitment from peripheral vendors for short term future deployments. PLX doing a PCI-e v3.0 to PCI-e v3.0 demo isn't something that most folks are going to buy and indicative that aiming at Fall 2011. PCI-e v3.0 won't arrive till then.
The video has some products from AVID and maybe WD . The AVID product seems to be acting as a hub, not sure the topology, since it has 3 LP connectors plugged in. That should mean there is two Intel controllers inside ( unless they have added to their line up. Perviously shown controllers only took two connectors). The WD is a maybe because it was only a logo on the storage box. Unclear who really built that box. The drive vendor was only explicitly tagged and pitched drive specs. The monitor was likely still hooked into some external LP adapter. (hard to tell with the quick pan video work... but most likely true.)


I think Light Peak will be much more quickly adopted by the $1,000+ peripheral vendors. That means that the MBP 17" will likely get this first out of all the laptops.

For this iteration of MBA unlikely because requires another separate controller. Even if the controller was shipping that would be a problem.

As the EETimes article points out, by the time that Light Peak gets rolling, USB 3.0 will likely be shipping on 10's of millions of devices. And that's even before USB 3.0 gets weaved into the most mainstream chipsets.

 

[skellener]

10" or 11" MBA would be cool - but whatever it is, it will be less expensive than the current model, but more expensive than you expect it to be, it is Apple, don't forget.

 

[NinjaHERO]

Hurry up Wednesday. We want to know what's new for sale.

 

[Shanpdx]

there will be some hints at today's investor meeting ...

steve will say "we have few compelling products in the pipeline" and will stop there

 

[skellener]

For me, the air would need something more along the lines of the following specs to make it be worthwhile:

• i5 or i7 processor
• Minimum of 4GB RAM (DDR3)
• 2-4 USB 3 ports (again, futurerproof your damn hardware like everyone else!)
• changeable battery
• upgradable ram
• upgradable hard drive
• should ship with something like an option of say 250GB SATA or 64GB SSD (giving you a choice)
• Maybe an SD/memory card reader? I can see the Air being useful for family vacations and photographers on location.

-Highly doubt i5 or i7. It'll be Core2 or i3
-RAM just might be 4GB, but it's Apple, probably 2GB or 3GB
-Expect only 2 USB ports (2.0 not 3.0)
-There is absolutely NO WAY it will have a removable battery. Apple doesn't do those anymore.
-Upgradable RAM if it's less than 4GB
-Upgradeable HD at point of sale only.
-250GB SATA or 64GB SSD seems valid.
-SD slot, probably.
$1099.

 

[Shanpdx]

10" or 11" MBA would be cool - but whatever it is, it will be less expensive than the current model, but more expensive than you expect it to be, it is Apple, don't forget.

biggest problem is Intel's CPU prices which are costing anywhere $150 and up (and AMD is nowhere near the performance of what Intel offers currently)

 

[Yamcha]

If that is an actual pic of macbook air, looks really nice :]

 

[bobgorila]

i am thinking more like unannounced sandy bridge (CES 2011) Core i3 CPUs

I take it all back - Sandy Bridge seems to bottom-out at 35W TDP, while the current MacBooks Air use teeny weeny little SL9600 chips that run at 17W TDP. Even considering that Sandy Bridge removes the need for a ~12W GPU that's a step up.

So if they do go Sandy Bridge you're right, they'd either have to bust out an as-yet-unannounced custom(?) part or radically re-think how much battery they slip in there.

The latter seems feasible if they're moving away from the wedge as some rumours suggest. I'm picturing machine around half as thick but less tapered than the current MacBooks Pro.

 

[deconstruct60]

I cannot see the logic in continuing to have 3 different 13" models in Apple's laptop range. If this rumour is correct and we see an 11" & 13" MBA with significantly lower prices, I suspect they may discontinue the 13" MBP.

Why? The MBA is the lowest selling Mac product line. Lower even than the Mac Pro which costs twice as much . (For the last 10-12 months the MBA has been ranked at the bottom of the "top 10" best sellers list on Apple's online store in the Mac category. ) It is the most poorly targeted product in their line up. [Apple's objective is to make money. Not build the more narrowly niched product possible. ] For the other Mac products many more people see the value proposition that the product is addressing. Why would they kill off one of the more better targeted products in their line up to keep the worst one ??????????

Yes, there are some people who find utility in the MBA. However, they are not a more significant market stacked up against the folks buying the other 13" alternatives. It is the MBA that needs to move out of the overlapping functionality slot.

 

[tripjammer]

-Highly doubt i5 or i7. It'll be Core2 or i3
-RAM just might be 4GB, but it's Apple, probably 2GB or 3GB
-Expect only 2 USB ports (2.0 not 3.0)
-There is absolutely NO WAY it will have a removable battery. Apple doesn't do those anymore.
-Upgradable RAM if it's less than 4GB
-Upgradeable HD at point of sale only.
-250GB SATA or 64GB SSD seems valid.
-SD slot, probably.
$1099.

Why not think out of the box...

New MBA...could have DualCore A4 (A5????) at 1.5 GHZ..
2MB or 4 MB of ram
Maybe Apple got OSX 10.6 to run on the A4?
64GB of Flash memory, with a 128GB option


This could get the price down to less than $1000

They would sell a tone of these if priced right! Its basically a step up from the Ipad with a keyboard and no touch screen...but dual core ARM9 processor. Blackberry has that chip in there new pad...also this could for tell what will be in the Ipad 2\Iphone5\Itouch5\appleTV3.
Why not bridge the Mac line with the IOS line?

 

[bobgorila]

As to lightpeak - I was looking at this the other day, and the stuff demoed at the IDF in September topped out at 10Gbit.

Displayport goes up to 20Gbit, a full 18 of which is used to drive the 27" cinema display.

My point is that I doubt Apple would put lightpeak in a machine until it was able to perform its stated goal - being the one cable for /everything/

 

[skunk]

I'm definitely up for the 11-incher. My guess is $999 is spot on.

 

[Adidas Addict]

Why not think out of the box...

New MBA...could have DualCore A4 (A5????) at 1.5 GHZ..
2MB or 4 MB of ram
Maybe Apple got OSX 10.6 to run on the A4?
64GB of Flash memory, with a 128GB option


This could get the price down to less than $1000

They would sell a tone of these if priced right! Its basically a step up from the Ipad with a keyboard and no touch screen...but dual core ARM9 processor. Blackberry has that chip in there new pad...also this could for tell what will be in the Ipad 2\Iphone5\Itouch5\appleTV3.
Why not bridge the Mac line with the IOS line?

It's impossible for the A4 to run OS X native.

 

[lewis82]

Why not think out of the box...

New MBA...could have DualCore A4 (A5????) at 1.5 GHZ..
2MB or 4 MB of ram
Maybe Apple got OSX 10.6 to run on the A4?
64GB of Flash memory, with a 128GB option


This could get the price down to less than $1000

They would sell a tone of these if priced right! Its basically a step up from the Ipad with a keyboard and no touch screen...but dual core ARM9 processor. Blackberry has that chip in there new pad...also this could for tell what will be in the Ipad 2\Iphone5\Itouch5\appleTV3.
Why not bridge the Mac line with the IOS line?

I suggest you forget about this now.

Mac apps would not work with it, they would need to create new universal apps (PPC/X86/X86-64/ARM) which would take years in the case of big companies (think of Adobe, it took what, three years to make the CS suite 64-bit?). And if Office doesn't work, nor the CS suite, you can expect a lot of people not to buy it.

And 4MB of RAM... my watch has more than that

 

[Hisdem]

If it has 4GB of RAM, 1440x900 screen and 256GB SSD for less than 1500USD then I will buy it. If they offer an 8GB version I will gladly pay 2000USD for it.

I don't really care what CPU is in there frankly since my load average is only about 0.27.

I can't see that price happening with an SSD that size inside it, sorry

But if it comes with some decent specs (like the ones posted) and $999 for the base, I'm totally getting one next year.

 

[deconstruct60]

(and AMD is nowhere near the performance of what Intel offers currently)

Not really.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3933/amds-zacate-apu-performance-update

that is not up against the Core i5UM version (unless the article is off). That is a full power one.

Yeah sure you can through some heavyweight floating point math computation problem at the (specfloat benchmarks or 3G movie rendering ) and get separation. On mainstream apps though it is in the ball park.

Intel will get separation back with Sandy Bridge, but right now if stick to CPU+GPU combo going head-to-head and look at common usage in the ultra-mobile sector, it isn't that wide.

 

[paulyras]

It's impossible for the A4 to run OS X native.

Perhaps out of the box, but it wouldn't be the first time that Apple's switched architecture.

That said, I think it's HIGHLY unlikely. Running applications originally designed for PPC under rosetta on intel systems was agonizing enough (while everyone was converting to universal apps).

I'd be compelled to sit this one out for quite a while if they did make the switch.

 

[Shanpdx]

Not really.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3933/amds-zacate-apu-performance-update

that is not up against the Core i5UM version (unless the article is off). That is a full power one.

Yeah sure you can through some heavyweight floating point math computation problem at the (specfloat benchmarks or 3G movie rendering ) and get separation. On mainstream apps though it is in the ball park.

Intel will get separation back with Sandy Bridge, but right now if stick to CPU+GPU combo going head-to-head and look at common usage in the ultra-mobile sector, it isn't that wide.

interesting stats indeed, let us hope AMD has something to offer, we (customer) all benefit if both AMD and intel fights!

 

[C. Alan]

It looks pretty nice. I think I would rather have one of these for couch browsing than an Ipad.

 

[skeep5]

and if you get hungry, dip your macbook air in some chili con queso dip and crunch away.

 

[AlligatorBloodz]

It looks pretty nice. I think I would rather have one of these for couch browsing than an Ipad.

Im going to have to agree. I have an iPad and I love it. It worked great for traveling. But when I am sitting on the couch on sunday watching the Bears play, I want to be able to follow all the other games and my fantasy league. This is possible on the iPad, but it is just much easier on a MacBook.

 

[skellener]

Why not think out of the box...
New MBA...could have DualCore A4 (A5????) at 1.5 GHZ..
2MB or 4 MB of ram
Maybe Apple got OSX 10.6 to run on the A4?
64GB of Flash memory, with a 128GB option

Just ain't gonna happen. But I could see reusing the screen from the iPad and maybe the new MBA will be a 9.7" display? Tiny, I know, but my MSI Wind (with OSX) is just about as small (10"). Just an idea.

 

[FoxyKaye]

-Highly doubt i5 or i7. It'll be Core2 or i3
-RAM just might be 4GB, but it's Apple, probably 2GB or 3GB
-Expect only 2 USB ports (2.0 not 3.0)
-There is absolutely NO WAY it will have a removable battery. Apple doesn't do those anymore.
-Upgradable RAM if it's less than 4GB
-Upgradeable HD at point of sale only.
-250GB SATA or 64GB SSD seems valid.
-SD slot, probably.
$1099.

This is the most realistic guesstimate I've seen on the entire thread so far. I'd love it to be i3, but there again that gets you in to the NVIDIA vs. Intel quagmire.

I'd add that if the RAM were actually "user upgradeable" vs. simply "upgradeable" at the time of sale, there would only be a single RAM slot that would ship with 2GB and users could purchase a 4GB chip for. Otherwise, it's point of sale only soldered RAM with maybe 2, 4, and as a long shot 8GB options.

Since it seems like the rumor mill is pointing toward custom/proprietary SSD-only for the new MBA, I think 64GB is spot on regarding what it will ship with, and there again comes the "user upgradeable" vs. simply "upgradeable" decision: maybe a 128GB and even 256GB SSD would be available at time of purchase, but darn near impossible to upgrade after the fact.

 

[wingman8472]

12" Powerbook

All this talk about 11.6" Mac's makes me miss my old G4 Powerbook 12"

 

[cult hero]

That just boggles my mind. Why would someone pay that for an Air, when a MacBook Pro is about the same size and price but gives you a lot more for your money? If people can live with the slightly reduced functionality of the Air to go with its reduced size, why not just get an iPad (which, by the next revision, I'll bet will do almost as much as an Air)?

Well... because that's not the case in the least. IF (and that's IF) the price points are decent I'll be selling my 2010 13" MBP to get an 11.6" MBA. What do I get that I want?

More battery life. If you don't need or want more battery life, then there's no need to care about this machine. I've said over and over that I'd love to see an option on the MBP where the optical drive is replaced with more battery. I virtually never use the optical drive and I have a USB optical drive that works fine.

I loved the form factor on the 12" PowerBook. I want something similar again. When I'm at a desk, I almost always have an external monitor. When I'm not what I care about is battery life and a small form factor.

I could easily live with a single USB port these days. About the only thing I'd miss is Firewire just because I use target disk mode A LOT when doing work on other Macs. I won't lose that functionality, but Firewire 800 absolutely owns USB 2 for speed and reliability. (Heck, Firewire 400 is better on sustained transfers as is.)

Also, an SSD is going to bring more real world speed to computer than a processor bump or, frankly, just about anything. So, to get a MBP with the same kind of hard drive speeds, I'm going to have pay for an SSD. They're not cheap. 128GB on Newegg is averaging around $250.

As for the iPad doing "almost as much" as the Air, that's... well... that's just plain ridiculous. Can you virtualize on an iPad? Can you run Windows and/or Linux on an iPad? Can you run XCode on an iPad? Shall I go on?

If the 11.6" model meets a few of my requirements it will be my next development and primary use machine. I like small. I like tons of battery life. The speed gain from an SSD is gonna be more perceptible to what *I* do even if the processor is .3 GHz slower (I'm running a 2.4 right now).

As a dev, I'm gonna say that for this machine to be useful to someone like me it needs:

1. At least 1280x800 resolution.
2. The ability to have 4GB of RAM. (If I didn't do so much virtualization I 2GB would be fine though.)
3. At least 128GB worth of storage on the SSD.
4. Must cost no more than the 13" MBP with the above specs.

Plenty of people will want this machine for its fad value (which is about the ONLY selling point of the current Air) but I have to say, this machine would so fit the bill for me and how *I* like my computer.