Apple preps updated 11, 13, 15in MacBook Airs
Ultrabook challengers in pipeline
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
There'll be new Apple MacBook Airs out in Q1 2012, component supplier sources have claimed. Expect update 11.6 and 13.3in models - and a new 15in model, they say.
The moles add that pilot production of parts has already begun for the smaller models, DigiTimes reports. Work will commence on the 15in machine in due course.
It's all a bit vague, of course, and Apple last updated the line as recently as July 2011. But Intel's 'Ivy Bridge' platform is expected in early Q2 2012, and it's been designed to push the Ultrabook platform forward, a movement Apple will be certain to want to counter.
And, indeed, take advantage of itself, even if it waits until July rather than release the not-a-full-year-on Air update of rumour.
Past rumours have claimed that the new 15in Air - which has also been described as a skinny 15in MacBook Pro, so the jury's still out on its branding - will be released to tie in with the arrival of Ivy Bridge. ®
COMMENTS
I think first quarter is a bit optimistic.
Apple will update its existing Macbook Airs when it can source the Ivy Bridge ULV CPUs in adequate numbers to satisfy demand. Because Apple makes so few individual models of laptop and therefore tends to move its whole production to a new generation of hardware at the same time, Apple is seldom the first manufacturer to offer a new generation of CPUs in its hardware, so I doubt this is likely before about May.
As for the 15 inch ultrathin laptop (which may or may not be called an Air, but probably will), Apple will release it when they are happy with it. They clearly weren't happy with it at the time they last updated the 11 and 13 inch Airs in July, but the rumours suggest they are close to being happy with it now. t am sure that Apple has a Sandy Bridge prototype of this, but they are unlikely to turn this into an actual product if Ivy Bridge is only a couple of months away. So likely May for this too. If the timing of the other Ivy Bridge models was to slip much later than may, you could get a Sandy Bridge 15 inch model in the interim, I suppose.
Uh Oh
Time to cancel that Air order:
Performance (data from Wikipedia)
Sandy Bridge
Up to 17% more CPU performance clock-for-clock compared to Lynnfield processors.
Around twice the integrated graphics performance compared to Clarkdale's (12 EUs comparison).
Ivy Bridge
Intel's performance targets (compared to Sandy Bridge): 20% increase in CPU performance.
Intel is expecting a 60% increase in 3DMark Vantage scores (Performance Preset) and a 30% increase in 3DMark '06 scores.
8GB please!
Our company is strongly considering these, but only if they up the memory to at least 8GB to accommodate the VM's we need to run in the background.
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