Will there be a new Macbook Air?

I'm fascinated by the Macbook Air in terms of its weight, battery life, and potential. However, Is it true that Apple refreshes their models each year/year and a half? I understand nobody has an approximation even as to when a refresh of the Macbook Air's will be but *shrugs* When do you think there will be one?

Personally, I just don't have the money to shed on a new macbook air and seeing as I will only get the funds for one in a year, I would be more comfortable waiting for a refresh to get the most up to date model.

However, with Intel's Ivy Bridge coming out soon, could we expect a refresh soon?

 

Wasn't there.... just one?

Define "soon".

 

I don't think Ivy Bridge is due to come out till late Q1 of 2012.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see another refresh for about 12-14 months. They just updated the MBA with i7's.

 

8-14 months. I think that's a pretty decent approximation. If you wait a year and they haven't refreshed them, wait until they do. You can also get massive discounts on the (significantly slower) computers from the last revision. The market is flooded with sellers who want to upgrade. Nature of the beast.

 

I agree, 8-14 months sounds about right.

On a Tuesday, or Wednesday.

 

I'd also add that the time to refresh is probably much closer to 8 months than to 14. You're probably looking at 8-9 months. If ivy bridge comes out in Q1 2012, then the macbook air can get updated at the same time in Q1 2012 and fit perfectly in schedule with 8-9 months out.

 

Does Apple usually wait a few months later before adopting the new processors? Usually I see Windows machines adopt them first before Apple. Also, any chance Apple will upgrade the gpu or has graphics taken a back seat with the line of Airs going forward?

 

It depends, apple is sometimes first out of the gate with new tech, sometimes very late. I think the GPU is pretty much locked to intel now for the air until apple switches to arm.

 

You mean if Apple switches to ARM processors based on that very vague rumor from a while back (that likely isn't true especially since notebook and desktop class ARM processors are still a way from hitting actual consumer products let alone beta hardware testing).

Apple was amongst the first to adopt the Sandy Bridge platform in the MacBook Pros, they may have even been the first company to release a SB notebook. They were a little late, though not by much, with the use of the SB ULV platform though. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple works with Intel again to get Ivy Bridge first for the MBP line but it might take them a little bit of time to finally put that in the MBA (they also have to wait for Intel to actually release Ivy Bridge ULV processors).

 

In the end, I'm convinced that apple is going to go with arm. I meant "when", and I've talked about the arm switch since before the vague rumor. I don't think it's going to happen any time soon, but that's the point. The GPU on the macbook air is stuck with whatever intel spits out for the foreseeable future. That was my real point.

Apple was also first to get the core duo processors in Jan 2006, and possibly first with a few others over the past few years.

 

So if the Air switches to Arm would we be seeing a glorified iPad with a keyboard attached?

 

Long term, something like that. Basically, the macbook air is missing a touchscreen, and the iPad is missing the ability to develop software directly on the device.

I think they will find a way to include all of that functionality in one device and merge iOS with OS X. Around that time (2016 at earliest) apple will probably switch to arm. If they don't, they will probably have universal applications (arm+intel) just like they did with powerpc + intel, but as a longer term strategy to support both types of devices going onwards (intel for power, arm for portability).

It depends on what the companies are offering 4 years out, but my GUESS is that arm is going to have a better offering than intel for the types of devices Apple is interested in.

 

Back on topic please:

So a Macbook Air refresh will be occurring within the next 12 month time frame?

 

Maybe, maybe not.

 

Sorry for switching topics here but if they don't come out with a new Air anytime soon, what do you think about the 13" MBP losing the optical drive and adding a discrete gpu option? Also I can see them changing the design slightly, but making it even more powerful than the 13" Air with the discrete gpu!

 

That would be a dream come true for many people, along with the switch to "higher" resolution screen, say 1440x900.

 

This is just a hypothetical post, but what do you guys think if Apple drops the 13" MBP altogether and makes the MBA 15"? If Apple did that, I would upgrade to it in a heartbeat.

As as long as I'm dreaming here, make the 15" MBA resolution 1600x1050 standard, with 1920x1080 optional...?

 

That is highly plausible, since it's a large window for Apple to work with.

 

That's two different aspect ratios. That would end up looking hideous. Did you mean 1920x1200?

Cross post: am I the only one who finds the Air's "tapered" look unattractive? The uMBP's straight profile view was [in my eyes] one of the main reasons it looked a hell of a lot better than their PC counterparts. Many PC vendors turn to that tapered look to hide bulk (to avoid looking like a brick), but the Mac has nothing to hide, which is what made it all that more attractive.

The aggressive, angular look is also what makes the iPhone 4 and the GS2 two of the best looking phones out there as well.

 

Lol, yeah that would be a bit ugly. 1920x1200 is what I meant.

I agree with this. The angular look of the MBP/iPhone4/GS2 are awesome. The MBP's look is a large reason why I got one last year. No wedge, and just simple.

 

A complete refresh or small update would be plausible in the next 12 months. Apple traditionally releases a new refresh (whether it is a full refresh or using the same body but new internals ala the 2011 MBA and MBP lines), updates that 5-9 months later with a spec bump, and then comes out with a new refresh (again, it can be a complete refresh or a change to a new chip architecture) 3-7 months after that so that the initial refresh has about a one year lifespan before it is completely replaced.

If anything, I would expect Apple to come out with a minor spec bump sometime early next year when Intel does the same to their processors (which happens all the time) and then a refresh when Ivy Bridge ULV comes out.

 

Create your own threads, don't hi-jack mine.
Stay on topic otherwise don't bother responding.

 

Looks like you asked for what refreshes might take place.

So far they have been discussing it.

Loaded question gets loads of answers. Live with it.