Ultimate MacBook Air 2012 models put to the test

#1 Macworld

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 04:31 AM

Post your comments for Ultimate MacBook Air 2012 models put to the test here

#2 geelmeel

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 05:38 AM

Did you do you're regular battery test on these? How much hotter do they run?

#3 padinc

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 05:39 AM

Thank you for putting this up so quickly!

I have a question if you don't mind. I have been using a 13-inch MacBook Air (late 2010), and I really want a retina display. I don't travel often, so weight isn't much of an issue. Should I wait for a retina MacBook Air, or should I buy a MacBook Pro? I don't want to wait longer then November, but I am not sure if Apple will release a retina display MacBook Air by that time.

This post has been edited by padinc: 26 June 2012 - 05:39 AM

#4 Vafudhr

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 06:03 AM

Not Nice. I have to pay a 50% premium to make sure my laptop is not old in less than 2 years since eveything is soldered.

I think my Macbook 2008 will have a lot of years ahead of him.

Cheers

#5 HalanR

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 06:07 AM

Thank you for doing this so quickly, it has really helped my purchasing decision. Did you notice if the faster processor in the 11" had any effect on battery life?

#6 HalanR

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 06:15 AM

padinc, on 26 June 2012 - 05:39 AM, said:

I'm certainly no expert, nor can I see in the future, but I'd be surprised to see Airs with retina displays that early. I think the Air will remain as the entry level notebook computer, and I can't see, in this short of time, where these displays will get cheap enough to not affect the Air's pricing. Unless, like the new Pro, they offer a higher end Air w/ retina display. I think the retina displays will trickle down to the other MacBook Pros before they'll be seen on other models. Just my opinion.

#7 Yacko

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 07:12 AM

HalanR, on 26 June 2012 - 06:15 AM, said:

padinc, on 26 June 2012 - 05:39 AM, said:

Let me add that it is also unlikely to see retina screens so soon. One, figure the screen is currently being built by a single manufacturer. Two, yields on said screen are low, maybe less than 1 in 4 or 5. Whether Apple wants to put retina screens across the line or whether Apple would like to charge you for that privilege is irrelevant. It is highly likely the quantity of screens needed to make it so, simply don't exist and may not for several months. Apple would have to have assurance of quantity either now, or very soon to act on bringing out retina screen Airs this fall, and I doubt strongly Apple has that assurance.

#8 jpollone

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 12:53 PM

Many thanks! I have thoroughly enjoyed the format of my mid-2010 MacBook Air, but it would be a difficult choice between the fully loaded 13" Air versus the 15" MacBook Pro with Retina, based on the performance metric from the Handbrake/Parallels section.

It's probably a good thing my wife won't let me wield my credit card when we zip past the Apple store.

By the way, when you pronounce Retina as ri-teen-uh, others will hold you in high regard.

#9 wesley96

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 05:14 PM

I find it interesting how the overall score for the baseline 2012 Macbook Air 11" is pretty much on par with the 2012 Macbook Pro 13". Those SSDs really are something.

Meanwhile, "retina" displays have more problems than just being single-sourced and having low yields. Its pixel density is denser than the usual ones, needing a much brighter backlight to have the same brightness. This drains a lot of power. It will be solved in time (IGZO?) but I can't see it being used on Macbook Air lineup until both the cost and battery-life effectiveness are sufficient.

#10 KPOM

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Posted 27 June 2012 - 03:15 AM

Be aware that there appears to be a bug in the Boot Camp drivers for the i7 MacBook Airs that disables Turbo Boost when running Windows 7. I noticed this, as did a few others on MacRumors.

http://forums.macrum...d.php?t=1392041

#11 StraightlineBoy

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Posted 27 June 2012 - 09:11 AM

I've ordered a 13 inch Air with the upgraded RAM and CPU - couldn't justify the price of the 512Gig SSD. I think what the benchmarks miss is how the machine will perform in the real world if you try for example processing a large image in photoshop while you've also got Safari, Mail, iTunes etc already open. Given that I reboot my Mac about once every 3 months (dream on Windows fanboys) I've frequently got many applications open and I think this where the extra RAM will really help out.

#12 JoeBuild

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Posted 27 June 2012 - 03:03 PM

HalanR, on 26 June 2012 - 06:15 AM, said:

padinc, on 26 June 2012 - 05:39 AM, said:

The bigger issue is the battery. Yes it will be a very long while before there are Retina Airs because the displays bandwidth and power needs are just too great. There is just not enough room in the Airs with current battery technology to get any sort of lasting life in an Air. Even the 13inch Pro might be too small and generate too much heat to get the retina display right now.....Besides the Retina is a different line and I see that for cost reasons being that way for a least a couple of years.

#13 pscates126

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Posted 27 June 2012 - 03:11 PM

I can't imagine this happening. The Airs probably won't get touched again until well into 2013. I don't think the prices would fall enough in 4-5 months to make this happen (and I don't know if Apple wants to replicate in the Airs what they did with the Pro...create a new high-end "Cadillac" model that goes for $400 more the others.

#14 jescott418

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Posted 28 June 2012 - 02:36 AM

You know the kicker about the Macbook Air is the premium you pay to buy the upgrades to extend the usefulness of it beyond a couple years. Their is no buying cheaper RAM or installing a Drive later and saving money. Pay Apple upfront or else. That shows that Apple is eliminating the savings for a lot of users.
Just as I argue the retina display is not for most of us. The ideal of Apple soldering RAM and SSD's into the motherboards as well as the battery not only means bowing to Apple upgrade prices. But makes it more difficult to repair. I went back to a Macbook Pro for this reason alone. If they become expensive throw aways because of their designs. I may have to rethink Apple.