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*Roll up!* It's 2013 MBA season: Show us a realistic spec that would make YOU buy it!
- Thread starter Jobsian
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I figured that's why people are complaining. Some of the comments read like it wasn't even an option though.
How about a retina air ?
If they can manage to put a retina in the ipad mini maybe they could do it on the MacBook Air
If they can manage to put a retina in the ipad mini maybe they could do it on the MacBook Air
I know but the option is super expensive, and on the market a 512GB SSD also is expensive. So it's unlikely to see even the end 13" model at 512GB SSD. I think that except for the entry 11" that will be bumped at 128GB instead of 64GB, the rest will stay at the same capacity for another year.
16GB RAM
768GB or bigger SSD
A third USB3 port.
Retina Display
Quad Core Processor
Longer Battery Life.
Until all of these are available in a MBA body, I will stick with my 2012 MBA.
It handles my photo work and my SysAdmin work as well.
768GB or bigger SSD
A third USB3 port.
Retina Display
Quad Core Processor
Longer Battery Life.
Until all of these are available in a MBA body, I will stick with my 2012 MBA.
It handles my photo work and my SysAdmin work as well.
This suggestion has a few pitfalls. The first is that anything with a cellular feature needs to be certified bt most countries equivalent of the FCC in the US. The second is would they sell enough for it to be worthwhile for all the hassle. And last it would have to be an option so people who didn't want it wouldn't have to pay for it. Making it an ecen smaller amount of Airs taht would be sold with the option.
Oh and it impacts battery life of course.
Nothing, I will keep my 2011 Pro either way.
And let's face it, it will be Haswell plus a WiFi revision, with more battery life as a consequence of the new chips.
In order for Apple to seriously improve the Air (not that it's needed) they would need to redesign it with only a 13" retina display with minimal bezel, so it would replace the 11" as well. Plus 10 hr battery and up to 16GB RAM / 1 TB SSD and it would be the perfect ultraportable.
And let's face it, it will be Haswell plus a WiFi revision, with more battery life as a consequence of the new chips.
In order for Apple to seriously improve the Air (not that it's needed) they would need to redesign it with only a 13" retina display with minimal bezel, so it would replace the 11" as well. Plus 10 hr battery and up to 16GB RAM / 1 TB SSD and it would be the perfect ultraportable.
I have been a long time MacBook Air fan. I have owned every version. I briefly switched to a 15.4" Retina MacBook Pro. However, I switched back to the MBA. I am currently using a 13" MBA 2012 model. I love all the specs, but I need three things to make me happy with the 2013 model.
IPS Display - It doesn't have to be Retina, but it needs to be a 1200p display with 16x10 resolution. I really don't like the 16x9 display in the 11" MBA so I will pass on 1080p.
16GB RAM - I really like the 16GB RAM the 15" rMBP has available. I am shocked it isn't available in the 13" rMBP. I want it in my MBA.
HDMI Port - Okay, I am really being a baby here, but I want most an HDMI port added to the MBA. Put it on the right side. Leave all the other ports as is. I have AppleTV boxes everywhere possible, and I love that functionality. However, sometimes I am traveling in a hotel, and I want to connect the MBA to the HDTV in the room. I have to use the dongle, from Thunderbolt which works. However, I enjoyed that feature on the 15" rMBP more than I could have imagined.
To me, it's obvious the Haswell CPU/GPU combo will be a modest update. I am fine with the speed. I also think it will be 2014 or 2015 before we see a redesigned MBA. When that happens, I want to see a smaller footprint 13" MBA, and I want them to completely eliminate the bezel and go with a 14" LCD. Also, I don't know why everyone needs more battery, but to me the 13" MBA has great battery life for such a thin and lightweight computer.
And I just thought of something else... I really would like Apple to just start using Samsung SSDs and LCDs again in MacBooks and not worry about the damn feud with Samsung. While Samsung is on its own quest to sell computers, they are not a threat to OS X and Macs like the Galaxy series phones are to iOS and iPhones. I am sick of the LG crappy LCDs and lackluster SSDs that just don't compete with what Samsung used to provide. GET OVER IT APPLE!
IPS Display - It doesn't have to be Retina, but it needs to be a 1200p display with 16x10 resolution. I really don't like the 16x9 display in the 11" MBA so I will pass on 1080p.
16GB RAM - I really like the 16GB RAM the 15" rMBP has available. I am shocked it isn't available in the 13" rMBP. I want it in my MBA.
HDMI Port - Okay, I am really being a baby here, but I want most an HDMI port added to the MBA. Put it on the right side. Leave all the other ports as is. I have AppleTV boxes everywhere possible, and I love that functionality. However, sometimes I am traveling in a hotel, and I want to connect the MBA to the HDTV in the room. I have to use the dongle, from Thunderbolt which works. However, I enjoyed that feature on the 15" rMBP more than I could have imagined.
To me, it's obvious the Haswell CPU/GPU combo will be a modest update. I am fine with the speed. I also think it will be 2014 or 2015 before we see a redesigned MBA. When that happens, I want to see a smaller footprint 13" MBA, and I want them to completely eliminate the bezel and go with a 14" LCD. Also, I don't know why everyone needs more battery, but to me the 13" MBA has great battery life for such a thin and lightweight computer.
And I just thought of something else... I really would like Apple to just start using Samsung SSDs and LCDs again in MacBooks and not worry about the damn feud with Samsung. While Samsung is on its own quest to sell computers, they are not a threat to OS X and Macs like the Galaxy series phones are to iOS and iPhones. I am sick of the LG crappy LCDs and lackluster SSDs that just don't compete with what Samsung used to provide. GET OVER IT APPLE!
Shocked in what way? It's an artificial limit set by Apple, so that you are forced to consider buying the 15'' rMBP instead, so they make more profit. Apple has always been doing this to their customers.
For my wife. I'm happy with my 15" Retina Macbook Pro
1.6Ghz or faster Quad Core Haswell
8gb of memory base and 16gb option
768gb SSD option
802.11ac
Retina Display
1.6Ghz or faster Quad Core Haswell
8gb of memory base and 16gb option
768gb SSD option
802.11ac
Retina Display
THE Scottsdale! It's been a looooooong time! Good to see you back
Agreed on the HDMI and about using ubiquitous Samsung hardware (instead of the current lottery).
THE Scottsdale! It's been a looooooong time! Good to see you back
I suppose it has been a few years since I spent any time writing here. However, I have been following along reading.
Tim Cook appears headed in the wrong direction. I want to see Apple innovate again. Blow away the competition by innovation rather than courts and changing suppliers. If they spent their time making great new innovations, they would win!
Good to hear from you! Cheers everyone.
Here's my take:
Redesign: No, it's not impossible, even though most people think it's unlikely. The last redesign of the MBA was in late 2010, two and a half years ago. The first redesign was, well, two and a half years after the product launch (which occurred in early 2008). Windows laptop manufacturers are coming with innovative designs and new ones, even better, will come up after the release of Haswell. If Apple doesn't update the MBA, it will get behind premium ultrabooks. Will Apple do it? I don't know, especially because it will cannibalize on 13" rMBP sales. But then, sales of the 13" rMBP are being less than stellar, and delaying improvements to the MBA doesn't sound like a good strategy, especially when everybody else is trying hard to take on Apple these days.
Lighter: Yes, I expect a redesigned MBA to be lighter, and with a thinner bezel. I would expect weight to drop to some 2.6-2.7 lbs for the 13" model. Competitors are doing it, and so should Apple.
Retina Display: When Apple redesigns the MBA, it will come with an IPS retina display. Yes, a retina display consumes more battery and, to accommodate a bigger battery without a bigger chassis, a redesign is required. No, it's not technically impossible. Toshiba has just released the Kirabook, an ultrabook with only 2.6 lbs and a retina-quality display (2560x1440). And it doesn't even come with a Haswell processor, which is supposed to get a much better battery life. If Toshiba can do it, so can Apple, especially after Haswell is out. And expect a lot of retina-like displays by nearly every manufacturer after Haswell is released. Acer has already announced one at the January CES, and Samsung has showcased the 2560x1440 Series 9 in August last year. Apple is not ahead of the pack with the MBA, and it has to move at least to keep up.
Haswell: Of course, Haswell. The MBA will come with an ULV Haswell processor.
8 GB RAM: In the higher-end version, for sure. Not sure about the lower-end ones.
Faster wireless: That's probably going to happen.
7-hour battery life on all models: Even with a retina display and a lighter chassis, a 7-hour battery life is not impossible, and not even unlikely.
Perhaps Apple doesn't do all this. Perhaps Apple doesn't redesign the MBA, and/or perhaps Apple doesn't put an IPS retina display on it. The thread asked for some realistic improvements that would make me buy the MBA, and I listed mine. Now, some of them, although realistic, may not happen this year. Well, in this case, I'm not buying the MBA. I'll buy the 13" rMBP instead.
Redesign: No, it's not impossible, even though most people think it's unlikely. The last redesign of the MBA was in late 2010, two and a half years ago. The first redesign was, well, two and a half years after the product launch (which occurred in early 2008). Windows laptop manufacturers are coming with innovative designs and new ones, even better, will come up after the release of Haswell. If Apple doesn't update the MBA, it will get behind premium ultrabooks. Will Apple do it? I don't know, especially because it will cannibalize on 13" rMBP sales. But then, sales of the 13" rMBP are being less than stellar, and delaying improvements to the MBA doesn't sound like a good strategy, especially when everybody else is trying hard to take on Apple these days.
Lighter: Yes, I expect a redesigned MBA to be lighter, and with a thinner bezel. I would expect weight to drop to some 2.6-2.7 lbs for the 13" model. Competitors are doing it, and so should Apple.
Retina Display: When Apple redesigns the MBA, it will come with an IPS retina display. Yes, a retina display consumes more battery and, to accommodate a bigger battery without a bigger chassis, a redesign is required. No, it's not technically impossible. Toshiba has just released the Kirabook, an ultrabook with only 2.6 lbs and a retina-quality display (2560x1440). And it doesn't even come with a Haswell processor, which is supposed to get a much better battery life. If Toshiba can do it, so can Apple, especially after Haswell is out. And expect a lot of retina-like displays by nearly every manufacturer after Haswell is released. Acer has already announced one at the January CES, and Samsung has showcased the 2560x1440 Series 9 in August last year. Apple is not ahead of the pack with the MBA, and it has to move at least to keep up.
Haswell: Of course, Haswell. The MBA will come with an ULV Haswell processor.
8 GB RAM: In the higher-end version, for sure. Not sure about the lower-end ones.
Faster wireless: That's probably going to happen.
7-hour battery life on all models: Even with a retina display and a lighter chassis, a 7-hour battery life is not impossible, and not even unlikely.
Perhaps Apple doesn't do all this. Perhaps Apple doesn't redesign the MBA, and/or perhaps Apple doesn't put an IPS retina display on it. The thread asked for some realistic improvements that would make me buy the MBA, and I listed mine. Now, some of them, although realistic, may not happen this year. Well, in this case, I'm not buying the MBA. I'll buy the 13" rMBP instead.
I agree that an HDMI port is super convenient, but just in case you haven't seen, there are cables (not just dongles) that are HDMI on one end and mini-displayport on the other, such as this one. Very convenient, though sucks if you need to use a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet/Firewire adapter (or Thunderbolt HDD, etc.) simultaneously.
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A HDMI port would be useless to me, since my workplace still uses VGA projectors.
I think that's clearly why Apple went with thunderbolt. Essentially lets them "consolidate" all current and future ports into one port, so they don't have to make the agonising decision of what ports to include and which to leave out. That decision is in turn outsourced to the consumer, who typically needs just 1 of those ports (and and they earn more from the sale of adaptors).
I think that's clearly why Apple went with thunderbolt. Essentially lets them "consolidate" all current and future ports into one port, so they don't have to make the agonising decision of what ports to include and which to leave out. That decision is in turn outsourced to the consumer, who typically needs just 1 of those ports (and and they earn more from the sale of adaptors).
Here's my take, which I believe to be very Apple-like:
Consolidate the MBA to a single product, a 13" redesign:
Same size as 11" MBA, but 13.0" screen (the 13.3" rMBP is barely bigger)
13" screen at a smaller form-factor and lighter weight (900 grams, so even lighter than 11").
Keep the price at $999, and rMBP at $1299
Now you have a fantastic entry level Mac (13" like the old ones) at $999 and a higher grade Pro one for those who need better specs, at the cost of weight.
As for the redesign it'd be pretty much the same except IPS screen, smaller bezel(maybe like the rMBP) and little changes here and there(iPad mini like slate colour?).
Obviously the $999 version would be pretty limited hardware wise (64GB SSD, 4GB ram, lower clocked processor). There'd be an intermediate version at $1299 with double the SSD, RAM and a better processor(i7) for those who want great specs and great portability.
Consolidate the MBA to a single product, a 13" redesign:
Same size as 11" MBA, but 13.0" screen (the 13.3" rMBP is barely bigger)
13" screen at a smaller form-factor and lighter weight (900 grams, so even lighter than 11").
Keep the price at $999, and rMBP at $1299
Now you have a fantastic entry level Mac (13" like the old ones) at $999 and a higher grade Pro one for those who need better specs, at the cost of weight.
As for the redesign it'd be pretty much the same except IPS screen, smaller bezel(maybe like the rMBP) and little changes here and there(iPad mini like slate colour?).
Obviously the $999 version would be pretty limited hardware wise (64GB SSD, 4GB ram, lower clocked processor). There'd be an intermediate version at $1299 with double the SSD, RAM and a better processor(i7) for those who want great specs and great portability.
The reason why I want it to be closer to the size of the 13" MBA is because it needs to be 16x10 format and needs to have the same space on and around keyboard. I don't like typing on the 11" MBA because not enough palm rest area. I also cannot stand the 16x9 format.
Good in theory and I wanted that once. But extensive use of an 11" MBA made me reconsider. I am spoiled by the space of the 13" MBA, so I think make it a little tiny bit smaller, and put a 14" LCD IPS 1920x1200 pixel display. And if it is Retina, it needs double that resolution. I want more desktop in the space available. I don't want it scaled.