More MacBook Air rumors, fast boot, lower prices

Interesting details on the new MacBook Air from CultofMac today:

• – The new model is also apparently much snappier than its underpowered predecessor. ”It boots so fast, it’s unbelievable,” our source says. “It’s amazing how fast it boots up.”
• – A faster 13-inch model with upgradeable options should appeal to pro users, while a cheaper 11-inch MacBook Air might be more attractive to students and casual users.
• – A 50-percent bigger battery, delivering 8-10 hours of battery life. The current MacBook Air has a 5-hour battery.
• – The new machine is thinner and lighter, weighing less than the current model’s 3lbs, our source says.
• – The new enclosure is also an aluminum unibody design, like the current model — but not as curvy.
• – Same black keyboard as current MBA, same single-button Multi-Touch trackpad. [wha? Current MacBook trackpad has separate button, unlike the rendering]
• – Upgradable RAM (base 2GB [-boo!], SSD.  Also NVidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics
• – Two configs: 2.1Ghz (with 2GB of RAM) and 2.4 GHz (with 4GB of RAM).

In pricing, it gets a little more foggy:

The new MBA is rumored to be considerably cheaper than the current MBA’s $1,500 starting price. Our source suggests the 13-inch machine may be priced as low as $1,100, and the 11-inch MBA at $999. The source points out that the 64GB iPad starts at $700, and the MacBook Air doesn’t have many more components.

We’re skeptical, however. We’re not sure that Apple would price a premium machine like the MBA as low as the entry-level white plastic MacBook, which also starts at $999. More likely, price points will be at $1,100 for the 11-inch MBA and $1,400 for the 13-inch machine.

If you are saying to yourself, there isn’t much here besides speculation and information that could be extrapolated from Engadget’s prototype from April, you aren’t alone.  In fact, everything about this MacBook Air seems to emanate from that and the Digitimes report of a 11.6 inch screen.

Quanta has reportedly landed orders for 11.6-inch MacBooks from Apple. Shipments of 11.6-inch MacBooks are expected to top 400,000-500,000 units in 2010.

There is a lot of room for error there.