Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Potential MacBook Air Update Delayed Due to Chip Shortage?

ghostface147 said:
They still make the Air? I haven't heard much about it recently. Maybe it's the other stepchild...
Click to expand...

Exactly...Air was/is a big flop. Just take it off the market. What's the value prop anyway (especially compared to Apple and Windows laptops and netbooks)? $1500 for a thin and underpowered laptop with a 13.3" screen and a pitiful 4200RPM drive? Might as well buy a $349-$599 Windows netbook if you are looking for lighweight and underpowered with an 11" or 12" screen...or a $799 "ultra light" Windows laptop that is still very light but packs some punch...or a $999 Macbook.

If the Air is to survive, it's gotta drop from $1499 to like $999 as well as improve the drive performance. But maybe the Air will finally be laid to rest this year.
 
big white elephant MBA

still there are previous generation MBA unsold at apple online stores.

Unless intel brings down the price of Low voltage CPUs ($300 around) Apple not going to make them cheaper and it is going to be tough once apple tablet released in $700 range...
 

Attachments

  • Screen shot 2010-01-22 at 9.34.49 AM.png
    Screen shot 2010-01-22 at 9.34.49 AM.png
    162.6 KB · Views: 209
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't heard anything about SFF (small form factor) on any mobile Core i3/ i5s, mainly because of the integrated graphics. I'm sure Apple doesn't want Intel's GPU again so cramming this and a separate GPU in an Air is going to be a tight squeeze.
 
Apple usually announces Tuesdays, so this Wednesday Dog and Pony made me wonder.

I predict minor announcements of price cuts and oddball things(time machine, mini) on Tuesday.

Tablet announced Wednesday available March or April. Won't be available available at least until the newest version of SL.

More announcements next Tuesday. Laptops, with features from the tablet.

Pricecuts the Tuesday after that.
 
jb1280 said:
I personally do not think there will be a pro update on the 27th.
Click to expand...



what the hell, ive been waiting at least 3 months just for an update, and so have alot of ppl, there better be an update this month or feb...:mad::mad::mad:
 
Thank goodness!

I want a new MacBook Air (even though my current one doesn’t feel slow yet) and a new tablet (even though I can’t think of anything but games and video calls that I want it for).

I can afford neither right now. So the less temptation the better :)

But in the end, I can’t imagine getting any laptop but an Air ever again. Picking up a laptop with one hand... how could I go back to two?
 
iDisk said:
Flash Drives can hold LOTS of data (So 1 port is all you really need)

I personally don't use the optical drive (So no optical is no issue)

For the excellent portable experience the Air does it!

It just needs a slighlty larger drive IMO and obviously the Standard 4GB ram

Plus eventhough technically 1.5lbs difference isn't much, but if you use one and it fits your needs why go back?

Plus the Air compliments the iMac or Mac Pro very well.
Click to expand...

I agree with you - i can see a role for it - most of what i do with my macbook i would rather do on an air. i wonder if my desire to get an iPad is actually i fancy an air but its just too expensive for what it is and i dont understand why - if its got less in it - it should be cheaper? it should be at netbook (plus apple premium) prices rather than at macbook plus practice where i might buy my wife one as well.
 
jb1280 said:
Can someone explain how a notebook that runs OS X, with a full-sized keyboard and 13" display is going to be replaced by a purported device that runs a hybrid OS, has a smaller display and no physical keyboard?

People have been saying that the Mac Mini and AppleTV will be merged to a singular device since the AppleTV was introduced.

They serve two fundamentally different purposes as I believe that a tablet and Macbook Air do.
Click to expand...

I keep hearing the air is a flop. Underpowered and expensive. Basically, most people who need power will opt for a MBP. That leaves the rest of those who just need a machine for basic productivity. Document editing/reading, email, contacts, web, photo management, etc.
A tablet could easily fit this bill and with well developed apps could easily become much more powerful. Heck, there are apps on the iphone that can edit photos and video. Why would the tablet be any different?
People still think they need a mouse to have control. That's because the UI has been designed to fit the mouse. Once you change the input to touch, you must change the UI. It doesn't stop the device from being capable of more.
 
MongoTheGeek said:
Am i the only one who see chip supply shortages and gets flashbacks to the old G4 days and fights the urge to run screaming into the night "Nooooo! It's so beautiful and fast. I must have it, but it's never coming..."

/though of course there is always going back to a PPC chip.
Click to expand...

I do not believe there has been a shortage of CPUs from Intel ever. There was some shortage of chip sets once but this is a different story.

Obviously if the chip was just announced, it may take a few weeks to ramp up production but in general I think this rumor has no merits.
 
shanmugam said:
big white elephant MBA

still there are previous generation MBA unsold at apple online stores.

Unless intel brings down the price of Low voltage CPUs ($300 around) Apple not going to make them cheaper and it is going to be tough once apple tablet released in $700 range...
Click to expand...
Intel is heavily betting on Turbo Boost this time around for their LV and ULV parts. Apple is going to have to play down the raw clock speeds.
 
griz said:
I keep hearing the air is a flop. Underpowered and expensive. Basically, most people who need power will opt for a MBP. That leaves the rest of those who just need a machine for basic productivity. Document editing/reading, email, contacts, web, photo management, etc.
A tablet could easily fit this bill and with well developed apps could easily become much more powerful. Heck, there are apps on the iphone that can edit photos and video. Why would the tablet be any different?
People still think they need a mouse to have control. That's because the UI has been designed to fit the mouse. Once you change the input to touch, you must change the UI. It doesn't stop the device from being capable of more.
Click to expand...

While I agree that a mouse is going to become redundant soon...I do not believe a big iTouch is going to replace a true computer any time soon. Yes these apps are very cool and all but they are underperforming in any pro situation and is conjunction with a weak cpu will be a step back in performance in every way. I'm sure the tablet thing will be great for casual use but no way is it replacing a MBP or an Air.

I am one of the people who need power and depth to my software and computer and I wish Apple would give some of it's resources back to making it's core computer line up to date and innovative. It has lost it's way in both regards over the past few years. Not in a huge way so don't flame me...but the innovation now seems directed at it's new mobil products and not it's basic computer line.
I do however await the rumored touch screen iMac with much anticipation.
 
BRLawyer said:
Question: is the NVIDIA 9400 compatible with the new Core i5s or are these gonna use crappy Intel GPUs in the MBA?
Click to expand...
Not in its memory controller, I/O, and IGP form.

It's either Intel GMA HD or that plus a discrete solution. ION2 is nothing more than a IGP/GPU solution for Pineview right now and has none of it's other functions intact from ION.
 
I hope it isn't the end of the line for the MB Air. I think it's a totally different type of computer than the tablet. It is an actual functional computer. I've had one for close to 2 years and absolutely love it. It is great for an everyday computer and so easy to take with you everywhere. I need something bigger/more powerful now to do my photo editing work, and if I had the money I'd buy a Mac Pro/27" iMac for my photo stuff and keep the awesome little air. For now I'll have to make do with a 15" MacBook Pro and wait till I can afford to go to a 2 computer set up.

If they can continue to improve upon the MB Air with more ram (this would be huge) slightly bigger hard drive and a slightly more powerful video card, perhaps it would be all I'd ever need.
 
jb1280 said:
Can someone explain how a notebook that runs OS X, with a full-sized keyboard and 13" display is going to be replaced by a purported device that runs a hybrid OS, has a smaller display and no physical keyboard?
Click to expand...

Anyone who seriously thinks that a media-pad running phone OS can replace a full-featured Mac OS ultralight laptop doesn't have a first clue about Apple or computers in general.
 
ericinboston said:
Exactly...Air was/is a big flop. Just take it off the market. What's the value prop anyway (especially compared to Apple and Windows laptops and netbooks)? $1500 for a thin and underpowered laptop with a 13.3" screen and a pitiful 4200RPM drive? Might as well buy a $349-$599 Windows netbook if you are looking for lighweight and underpowered with an 11" or 12" screen...or a $799 "ultra light" Windows laptop that is still very light but packs some punch...or a $999 Macbook.

If the Air is to survive, it's gotta drop from $1499 to like $999 as well as improve the drive performance. But maybe the Air will finally be laid to rest this year.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Replace the Macbook with the Air. Or at least make it (close to) the same price, if people want the extra ports.
 
NewSc2 said:
Exactly. Replace the Macbook with the Air. Or at least make it (close to) the same price, if people want the extra ports.
Click to expand...

LOL. I would love to see Air replacing the "regular" MacBook. Lose the space-wasting DVD drive.. drop 1.5lbs of weight.. change hard drive to SSD.. And you have a perfect laptop.

This is the way the entire MacBook line is going to go, just give it some time.
 
Carniphage said:
The Air is the perfect machine for professional writers.

I don't see any writer switching to a machine without a keyboard.

C.
Click to expand...

A writer can use any computer. Nothing special about Air for a writer. Any notebook will do for that matter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back