Apple Releases Two New Macbook Air Notebooks Discussion

Today Apple released the long-awaited updates to its MacBook Air lineup. While the CPUs stayed the same, Apple managed to make the notebooks thinner than ever, helped in part by soldering flash memory directly to the motherboard. As part of the update, the computer giant also introduced a new 11.6-inch model.

Read the full content of this Article: Apple Releases Two New Macbook Air Notebooks

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Now Apple is starting to entice me. $999 ($949 with student discount) is not so bad for an ultra thin ultraportable, with an acceptable amount of power under the hood. While the 64GB of flash is a disappointment, I wouldn't use an ultraportable as a main computer anyways. Interesting thing to note is that the 11.6" is Apple's first 16:9 notebook. 16:10 worshippers may commence crying now.

Things to save up for...

One thing the article didn't mention are weights... 2.3lbs for 11.6", 2.9 for 13.3".

 

I noticed in the video on the apple store that showed Ezzio running on rooftops (Assassins creed2) in Venice. I'd be surprised if those 11 and 13 inch macbook airs could really run that game. I'm not sure of the nvidia 320m's capabilities, so lets assume it can handle that game on lowest resolutions...still the 1.86 and certainly the 1.4 core 2 duo's would really surprise me if they could handle AC2.

Also, I think that 5 and 7 hours on respectivly the 11 and 13 inch macbook air models are a bit dissapointing. Ok, I understand that those are very thin laptops. But isn't that thin design supposed to be in function of portability? Ofc it is...but longer battery life (which the asus u(l) and acer timeline easily surpass for the same price) seems just as (or even more) importent to me when you look at a portable system.

 

The MacBook Air was always the only MacBook that really interested me, and now I'm even more interested. Would buy if I could to use as a secondary laptop. My only disappointment is that 64GB isn't really enough for BootCamp...

 

That jumped right out at me when I was watching the livestream. It's definitely something we'll test this week, don't worry.

Regarding the battery life, I think 7 hours is fine, to be honest, though I would like to see a minimum of six on the 11.6-inch model.

It's not too too bad - though you'd probably want to limit both OS X and Win7 partitions and then make a third section easily writeable by both OSes. I know you can get NTFS support in OS X and HFS+ support in Win7 but it always seems a bit flaky imo.

 

I thought for a hot minute swapping my Vaio TT for the 11.6in model as I kind of want to go back to OSX, but then realized everything except for the gpu is either a downgrade or just a lateral move.

 

That sort of thing never seems to stop folks from choosing Macs. I know someone who just "upgraded" to a Mac with lesser specs from a Vaio.

 

I have no problems with Mac, and really like OSX, but me I like to think that I use some logic when it comes to tech purchases. My Vaio TT with specs(some of them trivial) like an optical drive, HDMI port, firewire mini, and SD card slot make it a far greater value than switching to the 11.6in Air, which boots faster and has better gpu.

 

It's also thinner...

Still, I think with TT practically extinct in everywhere but Japanese SonyStyle outlet (and I'm not sure if they still have stock, not to mention the not very outlet-y price), the 11.6" MBA is a decent choice for people looking for a somewhat similar experience. It should also seriously challenges anyone considering a VAIO X that is $300 more and any other description/comparison typically reserved for Apple in an Apple vs. PC argument...

 

Vaio X while it looks nice is awful with it single core atom and low end intel gpu. It if can fix one of those thing it could make the price a little easier to swallow so to speak.

 

Yea. The 11.6" Air will destroy the Vaio X in every conceivable benchmark by multiple factors. Apple has truly beat Sony in the ultra-ultraportable form factor. I'll be picking up one of the 11.6" MBA's when they start shipping, so I'd really love a good review of one! The Nvidia 320m shows up the 9400m by a good bit, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it run some pretty decent games.

 

Nice looking machine, but I still don't like the idea of a non user-serviceable battery.

 

If I was in this market I would probably also going with the 11.6in Air as that boot time is remarkably fast. I mean it faster than most light weight linux times, and that is what makes it really tempting. But, the only thing I think it really is missing is firewire port(even firewire mini would do). I mean I want to get one, but logic, and my Vaio TT features stop me.

The GPU is suppose run many game in the low setting fine, but I read a few people say that ION2 is a little better than this gpu. Anyone want to confirm?

 

ION2 = Nvidia G210/310m which has 16 SP's and 256-512MB dedicated memory. But the thing about ION2 is that it has to be connected to the MoBo over a PCIe 1x connection, so it will perform slower than a G210/310m on a real notebook.

Now the 320m has 48 SP's and 256MB of integrated system memory, which is shared with the OS.

3DMark06 of each:

9400m/ION1 = 1733
ION2 = 2149
G210m = 3338
G310m = 3382
320m = 4508

I would say the 320m is much more than capable as a chipset graphics solution. It's probably the BEST chipset graphics solution out ATM.

 

I guess I was mis-informed. Then again Apple does tend to underclock the gpu a bit, so that has to be a factor.

I dunno how I can justify purchasing the Air, but I think I want one.

 

If you look HERE, you can see every test that I expanded the information on was a Macbook, so there's some numbers. They look quite good, and the only games I really play have been the Bioshock's and COD 4 & MW2, and it plays those with respectable framerates, and the Bioshock games without sweat...

 

Why go with the 320M when the 400 series are out?
I got to admit they look amazing but I'm a bit puzzled with APPLE using a 300 series GPU.
Should have come with a 425M.

 

The graphics have to be integrated in a package as small as the MBA. The GT425m would melt the aluminum shell off it.

 

I could have sworn both have a TDP of 23W.

 

Where do you see those numbers? I haven't been able to find TDP of either? I would expect the TDP of the 320m to be a bit lower than 23w. That would REALLY be pushing the limits of 11.6" with that thin of a form factor.

 

LG had a 10.6 a while back with the 8600GT and that think also a C2D LV of an earlier gen and an optical drive. But, that thing was kind of thick, and only came out in Asia and Australia, and it also came in a tablet model. I guess if LG could do something like that in a smaller package I don't see why apple can't offer something a bit better than the 320m?

 

Your right it's 12W.(if it's based on the 9400M) My bad
For some reason I was thinking it's the reg 320M GT and not the IGP 320M.
Damn you Nvidia and your stupid naming policies.

 

In 2008 we learnt from Steve Jobs that the Macbook Air was slightly underclocked at about 75% of the MBP and this was a 13" model.

laptopmag
2009 MBA
The Nvidia GeForce 9400M GPU produced a score of 3,159 on Cinebench OpenGL, a GPU benchmark
That was slightly lower than the aluminum MacBook with the same GPU (4,064)
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/apple-macbook-air-2009.aspx?page=2#axzz134HtOyPI

I'll guess we need to wait and see but it shouldn't be far off. I'm not sure if full power was unleashed in the 13" MBP.

The 11.6 MBA in particular looks nice but it lacks functionality for me and i'm not a power user and use my TT as my main laptop most of the time these days. If it works for someone else then it probably will be a good laptop.
I would never now buy a laptop without WWAN and really i can get over 10hrs battery life out of my TT with wifi on. Less than half will not do. I carry two batteries when i travel overseas and i'm not sure if the battery is removable. It doesn't look like it is. The built in optical is still a plus for me also.


I agree with your point that Apple now has Sony beat in the ultraportable 12.1< market. The Y series in terms of specs is beaten by the 13" MBA. The Z is an ultraportable also 13.1 and 3lbs and Sony are still out in front with that.

I think that the LG 10.6 had a 8200GS or 8400GS?

 

That is very interesting. I didn't know the original MBA was downclocked or throttled. But if it was the case there, then it's most certainly the case here. Going from a GPU core with 16SP's to a GPU core with 48SP's.... I guess something will be throttled or downclocked. Really the only reason I like it to have something other than Intel graphics is that, it being an ultraportable in the truest sense... if I need graphics power and I have nothing with me but my little MBA, then I'd much rather have something other than crappy intel IGP. Otherwise the 11.6" MBA could have gotten substantially better battery life guaranteed. And I 100% COMPLETELY agree about the integrated WWAN option. Stick WWAN inside that 11.6" model, and that would be the most awesome thing EVER.

 

This is a review, it speaks for itself really and clearly out surpasses other ultraportables in the field. Based on these results it's difficult to say how the gpu compares to the 2009 320M MB.

Apple MacBook Air (11-inch) Review & Rating | PCMag.com
PC Magazine

Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz) Review & Rating | PCMag.com

 

was also wondering why they couldn't squeeze a 400m series into there. Is it really that much hotter than the 320m?

 

Well looking at the benches at the bottom:

3dMark06

At native res of 1366x768 the 11.6" MBA got 3984. (1049088 pixels)

At native res of 1280x800 the 13" MBP got 4707. (1024000 pixels)

I'd say you're right on the money. I'd say it's about 75% or so of the MBP... Those screen resolutions balance themselves out pixel wise, just about.

 

H.A.L 9000 i thought 3D Mark 06 takes into account other aspects like the processor also but i might be wrong on that.

Coldmack i think that overall the 13" MBA has better performance than the Y series.

This forum member here got 1573 passmark score for the i5 430M which is the best processor that the Y series offers. It was tested at 1.729ghz. My ULV 1.6 TT pulls in 1391 so the 11.6 1.6 MBA should of course be able to reach that.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/6676375-post1623.html

If we go on passmark scores the 13" offers a 2.13ghz SL9600 processor which scores 1472 passmark but a lot of the passmark tests are out as in W7 anyway you get much better scores than you do with Vista and some of these older laptops was tested in Vista. If my TT can pull in almost 1400 in W7 then there is no way that the SL9600 pulls in 1472. The passmark results puts the u9600 below 1,000 in Vista. I would expect it to equal the 430M in passmark scores anyway. I would really would though like to see a SL9600 tested in W7. I shall do some digging lol. Some people might not know as well that they need to run their laptop in high performance mode to run these tests. That's why i prefer getting results of this forum.

Then the gpu is better as well so it gives it the edge.

However, the Y series does have other things going for it that the MBA hasn't got.

 

Sony released a 11" notebook with similar specs more than 3 years ago
Sony VAIO TZ Review

It didn't have the GPU of course, but it did have 3G, DVD drive, dual hard drive options, card reader, larger user replaceable battery, more battery life, express card, ethernet and firewire.

I do like the Macbook Air a lot but if I look at the real value I have a hard time justifying the costs against my Acer 1830T with 4GB memory and 640GB HDD.

 

Another review
Apple 11-inch MacBook Air - A Review of the Apple 11-inch MacBook Air

Battery life was 5:18 with 40 per cent brightness. The 11.6 from pictures looks nice but because of the battery life i find the 13" more interesting. The bigger SSD and SD slot is also a plus.

Phil lol i wouldn't be surprised if you buy the MBA within 2 months.

 

Isn't that exactly why Sony got out of their T series?

BTW, despite the near extinction of TT, 12" G series is still going/hanging on and I think it beats everything in the new 11.6" MBA except in GPU and maybe thickness.

 

Next year I will be a freshman in college and I will have to decide between the MacBook Air and the updated X201, or if anything else in the ultraportable market comes out.

This'll be interesting. MacBook Air for the coolness factor, the professionalism to it, the graphics card, higher quality screen and trackpad, and portability factor.

The X201 for the price, the battery life, and upgradibility.

 

I'd get the X201t. But the coolness factor definitely is in Apple's favor here.