Apple Announces Updated Macbook Air Lineup

[btarunr]

Months after bringing to the world an updated lineup of iMacs, Mac Pro workstations, and Macbooks barring the Macbook Air, Apple has finally given its due, with a new updated Macbook Air. Apple's ultra-thin, and ultra-light notebook is now available in two sizes, 13-inch and 11-inch. Internally, there are no radical changes. It still uses a Core 2 Duo, clocked at 1.40 or 1.60 GHz for the 11-inch and 1.80 GHz or 2.13 GHz for the 13-inch version with 3 MB (11-inch) or 6 MB (13-inch) of L2 cache , 2 GB of DDR3 memory (with the option to choose 4 GB), and NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics. Unlike with the older generation, the new Macbook Air uses SSDs on all available variants, it's hardwired on its motherboard (apparently to minimize space), and comes in capacities of 64~128 GB (11-inch) or 128~256 GB (13-inch).

It is over the hood that most changes are made. The unit is now thinner at 0.11-0.68 inch (0.3-1.7 cm), lighter at 1.06 kg for the 11-inch and 1.32 kg for the 13-inch. Apple claims to have learned a lot from iPad's design. It's given the new Macbook Air a larger glass trackpad that uses high-precision multi-touch surface used in Apple's touch products, which enhance the user-interface beyond just doing the work of a pointing device. The screen used has high pixel density, with 1440 x 900 pixels for the 13-inch and 1366 x 768 pixels for the 11-inch model. A high-resolution Facetime web-camera is fitted. The Macbook Air provides all the software capabilities of any other Mac, the Mac OS X Snow Leopard OS and iLife are bundled. Battery life has also gone up, 5 hours for the 11-inch and 7 hours for the 13-inch. Prices start at US $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch one, and go up depending on the optional components chosen.

[DriedFrogPills]

for $1949aus for the top of the range one and still only a core 2 duo i think not

[theonedub]

New ULV i5/7's should've found their way into these. Battery life you go from great to stellar.

[Completely Bonkers]

Apple has done us a netbook. Great. . The macbook format has always been too big for the "and a laptop in my briefcase too". It has always adopted "here, I've got an apple satchel for skool, cool". A netbook format is far better... which is why they have been so succesful in the last 2 years.

BUT WHAT are they thinking with a hardwired SSD? Have they also hardwired the memory. Upgrades, replacement-of-faulty AND RECOVERY are critical in a netbook, esp. something used for work. I would rather have 3GB memory hardwired than have a HDD or SSD hardwired that if the machine gets dropped or broken, all data is unrecoverable due to hardwired SSD. IDIOTIC DESIGN (if true).

Yes, I want a netbook format, and yes, I want it lightweight, but no, I don't need it as thin as 3mm. Keep it at 5mm and add another 5 grams and give me removable SSD.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

Apple has done us a netbook. Great. . The macbook format has always been too big for the "and a laptop in my briefcase too". It has always adopted "here, I've got an apple satchel for skool, cool". A netbook format is far better... which is why they have been so succesful in the last 2 years.

BUT WHAT are they thinking with a hardwired SSD? Have they also hardwired the memory. Upgrades, replacement-of-faulty AND RECOVERY are critical in a netbook, esp. something used for work. I would rather have 3GB memory hardwired than have a HDD or SSD hardwired that if the machine gets dropped or broken, all data is unrecoverable due to hardwired SSD. IDIOTIC DESIGN (if true).

Yes, I want a netbook format, and yes, I want it lightweight, but no, I don't need it as thin as 3mm. Keep it at 5mm and add another 5 grams and give me removable SSD.

There is some debate on the memory, I think we should wait for a teardown before making assuomptions. If they are totally hardwired it sucks though. Most people don't know what the word "backup" means and if the motherboard fries (or any component on it) they need to be pretty handy with a soldering iron if they want to save the files.

Anyway, I think the smaller one looks pretty good. Too pricey for me and it doesn't suit my needs, but it's alright. Weak CPU, but most computers in that size are pretty weak.

[Icewind31]

Originally Posted by btarunr

and NVIDIA GeForce 330M integrated graphics.

It's a 320M similar to the 13in MB Pros

[wahdangun]

wew, are they use the same ssd that was found on iPAD geez apple really suck this days, after the antena-gate and glass-gate now the came with HARDWIRED ssd ?

[Delta6326]

They still make Intel Core 2 Duo!? i thought those went out like 1 year ago

[pr0n Inspector]

Originally Posted by wahdangun

wew, are they use the same ssd that was found on iPAD geez apple really suck this days, after the antena-gate and glass-gate now the came with HARDWIRED ssd ?

It's on a small, long, custom logic board. The long video pic showed it pretty clearly.

[Completely Bonkers]

Originally Posted by Frick

There is some debate on the memory, I think we should wait for a teardown before making assuomptions. ...

Not exactly a teardown, but a good snapshot of the intestines:



Note the memory is surface mounted on the mb (top middle under the CPU/chipset), and the SSD is a proprietary design and proprietary connector (top left). Note the 4-chip SSD design, probably running at half the speed we would "expect" a SSD to operate at . Very compact design though.

[pr0n Inspector]

I have to admit it's amazing how much Apple managed to fit on such a tiny board.

[scope54]

so where is the northbridge? other side maybe? or do C2d mobiles not need a NB?

[pr0n Inspector]

Originally Posted by scope54

so where is the northbridge? other side maybe? or do C2d mobiles not need a NB?

It's a chipset/GPU combo from nvidia.

Originally Posted by Soylent Joe

I read an article yesterdy on exactly why they can't currently use the ULV Core i_ processors in the Air. I tried looking it up again here at school and can't find it


Anyway, these are a big step forward from the last ones. They seem pretty stinking nice.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...m_campaign=rss

[Soylent Joe]

I read an article yesterdy on exactly why they can't currently use the ULV Core i_ processors in the Air. I tried looking it up again here at school and can't find it


Anyway, these are a big step forward from the last ones. They seem pretty stinking nice.

[ToTTenTranz]

DDR3 is solded in the motherboard so no upgrade path there ($999 for a PC with 2GB RAM in 2010, ouch).


I wonder if they managed to squeeze two 64-bit channels in there, or it's single-channel.
If it's single channel then ouch again.. 8GB/s for dual-core CPU and 48-shader GPU.. that's quite the bottleneck!

[Completely Bonkers]

Originally Posted by ToTTenTranz

DDR3 is solded in the motherboard so no upgrade path there ($999 for a PC with 2GB RAM in 2010, ouch).

It's 3GB. That's OK. It's a netbook upgrade. Netbooks are at 1GB. And 3GB is fine (and max) for bootcamp/Windows XP 32-bit. TT, you are right, the new Air is just 2GB. Typo in OP. I agree, for a very premium product not-upgradeable, they should have put 3GB or 4GB in there. WAIT... Just went on to the website, you can configure it with 4GB for $100 more. So yes, you can have 4GB, great, but yes, it is getting a bit pricey!

Oh, and I do think the Core2 nV 3xx combo is better than the Intel IGP. Difficult, but correct call, IMO.

I am seriously tempted to swap out my SONY netbook (W11) for one of these running Windows. BUT ARE THERE ANY USB PORTS!?? Any any VGA out!!??

To hit the corporate/executive workspace there is a DE MINIMIS: USB for keystick, VGA for projector, no dongles. And I just noticed the 11"er skips on the SD card slot. Shame.

(thanks for the link pr0n)

[Darksaber]

The reason why there is no i3 or i5 within the MBA is simple: licensing.

NVIDIA does not have the license for the architecture of intel, thus they are no longer offering their nForce chipsets. This means that you would have to use an CPU with an Intel IGP along with the external graphic card (NVIDIA or ATI). While that setup works well with the Macbook and and Macbook Pros Apple can thus offer the units with i3, i5 or i7 (with that added benefit of having the choice of onboard graphic and switchable real GPU), it does not for the Macbook Air. There is simply no space to use so many large ICs in a compact space like that.

That is the downside of the ridiculous clamp which Intel and AMD have on their respective chipsets. Back in the day where there was Via, SiS and the likes, and all had chipsets for all types of CPUs the competition was stiff and we had the good choice to fit our needs and budgets.

That is another issue, that the rumor mill is growing that Apple may go with AMD as that would reduce the number of large ICs back to two (CPU and IGP with good performance)...Intel does not offer that constellation.

[Completely Bonkers]

Just looked at http://geizhals.at/eu/a581566.html

EUR 999 = $999 I do hate that

[Frick]

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

Just looked at http://geizhals.at/eu/a581566.html

EUR 999 = $999 I do hate that

Again and again, it's taxes and taxes. I pay more for hardware, but I don't pay a cent for healthcare. I like that.

[Completely Bonkers]

Oh dear Frick, back to skool. You pay Socials for your healthcare. Those are taxes on your salary if you have a job. Has NOTHING to do with ticket price of goods in a store, except for sales taxes. US prices are without sales tax, EU prices include sales taxes/VAT.

[n-ster]

1400$ for a 4GB 13" looks OK.. I would have preferred spending that then 1800$ for my sister's 13" MBPro... that has 2GB RAM xD

[Darksaber]

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

Oh dear Frick, back to skool. You pay Socials for your healthcare. Those are taxes on your salary if you have a job. Has NOTHING to do with ticket price of goods in a store, except for sales taxes. US prices are without sales tax, EU prices include sales taxes/VAT.

If I go ahead and buy a 13.3 inch fully loaded MBA in nevada (las vegas -> CES 2011), pay taxes on it, take it to germany, declare it upon entry into the country and pay 19% german taxes again, it comes to 2314.21 USD or 1653€. If I buy the exact same 2.13 GHz, 4GB memory here in Germany it costs me 2491.13 USD or 1779€.

So even though I pay double taxes on the device I end up saving around 120€ over the price here in Euro. Even more if I get my nevada tax returned...

And if the Euro keeps going so strong, the difference becomes even larger. While I agree that a price premium is warranted, I do not see the reason for such a big difference...

[Frick]

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

Oh dear Frick, back to skool. You pay Socials for your healthcare. Those are taxes on your salary if you have a job. Has NOTHING to do with ticket price of goods in a store, except for sales taxes. US prices are without sales tax, EU prices include sales taxes/VAT.

Has everything to to with the ticket price. If the sales tax is 20%, you pay 20% more on that product.

[jamsbong]

the inside looked like everything has been flatten to reduce the thickness. almost as if the hardware went through a steam roller! It is might impressive engineering. I am guessing the 4 rectangular black things are the battery pack. It looks like they've even manage to flatten the batteries and distribute them over a large area.

Very impressive piece of tech but then I'm never gonna buy this as I'm not a wealthy man.

[n-ster]

heat probably is a problem though