[kerosen]

I would like to buy a MBA and I really don't know if the new model (maybe with just minor improvements) will come up before end of 2008. I've already had the middle range MB and the MBA would be the second family computer. I mean I'm not in a hurry but I would't wait until next year either. I was thinking that a faster processor and a bigger solid state hdd would be a nice improvement (maybe a second USB port).
What are the rumours in this respect?
tx.

[MacosNerd]

Being such a new model, I suspect that it will be next year at the earliest when apple updates that line.
I'd be very surprised to see them redesign the enclosure to add more ports. Most companies don't invest a lot of R&D dollars for a new enclosure only to redesign it in 6 mos. to a year.

There is no real historical data to base any sort of decision, so any prognostication is pure speculation but my $.02 is that an update will not come until 2009

[mduell]

Certainly before the end of the year, probably next quarter. The 45nm small-package chips from Intel are due out in August, IIRC.

[kerosen]

Thanks for the advice. I'll wait until Sept.
As priority I would need a faster processor, 2.2 or 2.4.

[mduell]

The low voltage small form factor Penryns are only going to go to 1.86Ghz (@17W). The current parts are low voltage, but ~20W due to a lack of package optimization; it's possible they'll decide to squeeze in the medium voltage small form factor Penryns (@25W) and go to 2.4Ghz.

[@pplejaxkz]

I would say wait a little while longer and see. I agree with MacosNerd about 2009. I don't see any reason why they would update that model anytime soon.

[alex_kac]

Apple never waits a year for a laptop to refresh. They wait until they find something they can improve. As of right now, they can with larger SSDs. Maybe faster chips in a couple months. Nothing earth shattering, but they can update it now and they really should. I'm waiting for larger SSD as well.

[Simon]

Intel has pushed back the S Penryns (those are the 22mm^2 45nm Penryns) to September. You can expect an SL9400 (1.86 GHz, 6MB, 1067 MHz, 17W) with Cantiga at the top end. As the current MBAs are already running too hot I wouldn't put my money on the SP Penryns (2.26 and 2.4 GHz @ 25 W) since they're even higher power than what the MBA has now. OTOH the SP's clock numbers make for better marketing and they cost not a dollar more than the SL series. I'm still pretty certain we'll see SL Penryns in the next MBA.

That all said, I don't think Apple is waiting for Intel here. The MBA needs so many other improvements/changes that it is rather a question of when Apple revamps the design than when Intel can ship the CPUs. In terms of performance the MBA still compares well to similar offers from other manufacturers (the competitors that offer similar performance are either heavier or more expensive, the cheaper competition is usually slower). And in terms of the S Penryns there is not that much to be gained in raw performance either over what the MBA has now. The real MBA upgrade will be about features. And that will be released when Apple is ready.

[alex_kac]

I don't think the MBA really needs more features - not in the sense of anything requiring a case redesign. Honestly - if I have to choose between an MBA with more case changes due to more plugs and stuff, I'd just get a cheaper MB. I have a 17'' MBP right now and while I love it I also have a MP and really want a light portable laptop. So a MBA is what I want - but I think it needs only more space. I don't want 3G in there (though I think it should be an option) as I don't need another bill. I wouldn't mind another USB port *if* they have to change the rest of the case and it didn't increase the weight at all. I would prefer a firewire port instead of the micro-DVI port. But that's little stuff.