The real point of MacBook Air - and why everyone is missing it.

[herr_neumann]

battery replacement
I've had laptops since the CompaQ luggable in the 70's. It's rare, very rare,
to need a replacement.


And with my old iBook I had to have the battery replaced 4 times under Applecare, so I would say it is hit and miss.

[ArcaneDevice]

It seems to me that everyone is missing the real point of the MacBook Air.
....

So sure, the MacBook Air of early 2008 has limitations, is missing heaps of stuff we all think is essential and probably won't sell that many. But when you go to buy your next laptop, and the one after that, it will likely be an upgraded version of what we have seen released today.

And ever newspaper reader and TV news watcher of today's unveiling will remember for the next 10 years that Apple were the first to do this modern new design that everyone else is now copying, and honey, shouldn't we see what they have in their store before we look at a PC laptop?

People are not missing this. It's been the Apple MO for years. Release something that is technically and visually cool with limitations, just to get some press and be first to market with it. Then watch parts of it drip into other lines.

It's a thin laptop. It's not that different or revolutionary to regular consumers. It just looks thin and nice in an ad. In 10 years time the Air will be just another footnote in Apple history.

People barely remember that Apple was responsible for one of the very first PDAs and creating DTP, and those were more revolutionary.

[John.B]

Also, to answer the question about who needs more than 5 hours on a flight, don't forget all the time spent waiting around these days before the plane actually takes off. and if you watch a movie or two on a long flight, i could see running out of battery.
...
Don't want to start a flame war here by using the T word,
but the touch/tablet form would be great for travelling. (FOR ME).
If i could do basic editing on docs , bring a powerpoint presentation on board, mail, net, and bring along movies, music, and photos, that would be awesome.
I bet a lot of folks don't need more than that.
I'm thinking the itouch is a real sleeper. I think it might catch a wave this
summer. I'll probably be getting one.
iPod Touch video playback time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged (http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html). Looks like the iPod Touch will have similar battery life limitations to the MBA for watching video. Neither is going to last through a long flight and long waits at the gate.

[Sandfleaz]

If they wanted to show the world how good they are at pushing the envelope, they could start by fixing their god-awful build quality,

WOW, Apple isn't perfect but their tolerances are a lot tighter than any one else!
I'm typing this on a MBP that puts any Windows laptop I've seen to shame.

[xnu]

I think Apple has learned the value of accessories to their products. The iPod Market has a huge amount of accessories and helps drive the brand. With the Macbook Air I can easily see a battery accessory attached to the bottom to give a few more hours of life and be hot swappable. Plus the spec on the usb port has additional power so a usb hub probably could take advantage of that to eliminate an extra power chord. A nimble inventive company can produce a couple great accessories to the Air to compensate for any perceived flaws. I like the fact that Apple has design a somewhat pure laptop and the tradeoffs are understandable, give it until summer to see some amazing accessories that make the small laptop shine.

[tekboi]

I swear you apple fanboys are something else. No matter what apple puts out you all will praise it. They could put out a turd w/ 2gb mp3 player inside and you people would bow to it. No!, i'm not a mac hater. I love mac, but hate fanboys.

The truth about this mac book air is that its not really worth the money. Yes, its small. But why is that so amazing when i lacks half of the features that the mac book already has. If they could have incorporated the same specs as a mac book and a macbook pro then it would be something to talk about. Besides this thing just being really small. What does this thing really offer that is worth 1700+ dollars.

I can't help but think it will feel like a toy and will be easily breakable. Anytime there is a laptop That small, i doubt it will be solid like a mac pro

[Gregory]

I swear you apple fanboys are something else. No matter what apple puts out you all will praise it. They could put out a turd w/ 2gb mp3 player inside and you people would bow to it. No!, i'm not a mac hater. I love mac, but hate fanboys.

The truth about this mac book air is that its not really worth the money. Yes, its small. But why is that so amazing when i lacks half of the features that the mac book already has. If they could have incorporated the same specs as a mac book and a macbook pro then it would be something to talk about. Besides this thing just being really small. What does this thing really offer that is worth 1700+ dollars.

I can't help but think it will feel like a toy and will be easily breakable. Anytime there is a laptop That small, i doubt it will be solid like a mac pro

Why do they have to be Apple Fan Boys and anyways why do you care ?

If the MBA doesn't work for you buy a MBP or MB, its really that simple. Many people don't even use there DVD drives in there laptops and for those that do use the wireless DVD feature or buy the ext. DVD drive. Less Gear in the computer, less power so less battery is needed.Thats why the battery is smaller, to make the computer thinner. Also thats why you have a charger like most laptops, you still need to charge them once in awhile. Even with the laptops with all the features, by the time you get done burning a dvd or watching a movie from your dvd, your battery is almost dead anyways. So what about the price, you are paying for the size and design of the computer, like everything new including the iphone you pay more for the first. It only gets better and cheaper as time goes by. So if you are worried about the price, buy one later when its cheaper. You can't expect Apple to please everyone, MBA is what it is and nothing more, so get over it.

[neversink]

For those who don't like people criticizing the MBA, please take a look in the mirror. Every product can't be perfect, granted. However, it is better to accept the criticisms of the Air, and hope Apple fixes them. To defend some of the flaws, such as lack of changeable batteries, is to go blindly, without protection, into the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. Those of us who criticize the MBA do so because we are disappointed. Apple is missing the point of having a dependable and versatile laptop. They should have waited before they put this wonderful machine out. But they were so caught up in their own PR and wowing the market, they forgot that this high-priced beauty is relatively useless. I expect that in years to come, Apple will do either one of two things: discontinue the Air as a marketing and product failure -- or they will improve it by adding more ports, more storage, user-replaceable batteries and other items yet unknown. I hope for the latter. in the meantime, those who defend the Air and don't admit to its problems are wearing blinders and appear to be sheep....

[BWhaler]

The truth about this mac book air is that its not really worth the money.

To you. It's not worth it to you.

I hate fanboys--Apple, Microsoft, Sony, et al.--as much as the next person.

But to make sweeping comments about something not being worth it or being a dumb product isn't smart.

Every market has segments. Some people own cars which need premium fuel. This grade of fuel is a waste of money and a gimmick for most other consumers. Does this make high octane a waste of money? No. Yes. Again, it depends on your needs.

I hammer Apple harder than most around here. And twice as hard to my friends who work for Apple.

But I bought a MacBook Air. Yes, I spent $3,200 on it. For my needs, it serves a real purpose and is well worth the money. But just because this is the case for me, doesn't mean the same holds true for you.

Fanboys and haters all look and sound the same: they both make sweeping statements at either extreme. "THE BOOK AIR IS PERFECT." Or, "THE MACBOOK AIR IS A WASTE OF MONEY."

Both are stupid statements. Both are idiotic.

The truth is it depends on your needs and your budget.

[ClassicBean]

I'm a freelance writer and do most of my work at home on my iMac. Occasionally, when I need a break from the home office, I work from a Starbucks or other overpriced coffee chain via my MacBook Pro.

I'm tempted--very tempted--to swap my 2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo MBP for the MacBook Air. Crazy? A little bit. Actually, a lot. But for me it's all about lifestyle. The MacBook Air fits the bill. It's compact, portable, light and does everything I need a notebook to do (surfing, writing, music, basic stuff).

If I didn't have a MBP, I'd be camped out at the Apple store right now with a grande non-fat sugar-free half-as-sweet cinnamon dolce no-whip latte in hand. And if the Air was priced a bit lower (say $1499), I'd consider swapping my current notebook.

Unfortunately, I know that in two years from now, my MBP would easily fetch $1500+ on eBay or Craigslist. The MacBook Air? Maybe $600 if I'm lucky. Do I have a time machine to offer you this accurate prediction of the future? No. Have I pulled these values out of my a$$? Yes. But I believe them to be reasonably true. Powerbooks from 3 years ago still go for a pretty penny. Over the next two years, I can see the MBA evolving to make the first version look like a mistake.

That said, I think it's a beautiful machine. I'm the bulls-eye of the target market and, if I didn't already own a laptop, I'd be the most popular kid at Starbucks.

[slotcarbob]

Many interesting comments. Let me add mine. The MBA is the future, no doubt, but as many have said, it's overpriced. This is the same thing that happens with all new technology. Eventually the prices drop, and it's mainstream. Apple is definitely driving this to new ground.

But, I am not a guinea pig, nor a whiner (bringing up facts is not whining, whiner). I can wait. What do I tell my customers? The truth. It's overpriced, and if you need the extras like the external optical, and ethernet connector (and the extra mag-safe battery that will ultimately come), then the weight and convenience will diminish. Get a MBP.

One other thing, people. It uses 1.8" drives, like the iPod. Ever try to use one of the older gen 2-4 iPods as a startup drive? Talk about starting a forest fire. The drives may not handle the load (SSD's cost an additional $1000).

Note, it is not the same screen as the MB. This one is LED backlit.

[Jimmdean]

I'm not a big fan of the regular drive option. I would have preferred just SSD on this one (40GB is fine) no matter what the final cost.

I'm sure that was the original intent, but pricing concerns probably got in the way...

Let's face it, if you're someone that needs 200+ GB, does it really make a difference what drive they put in your laptop?
You're going to be using external or network storage anyway...

[QCassidy352]

Unfortunately, I know that in two years from now, my MBP would easily fetch $1500+ on eBay or Craigslist. The MacBook Air? Maybe $600 if I'm lucky. Do I have a time machine to offer you this accurate prediction of the future? No. Have I pulled these values out of my a$$? Yes. But I believe them to be reasonably true. Powerbooks from 3 years ago still go for a pretty penny. Over the next two years, I can see the MBA evolving to make the first version look like a mistake.

Your MBP would fetch $1500 NOW, not in 2 years. However, I think that you're right that the resale value of the air will fall faster. Especially once SSD prices come down... the current price for an SSD will seem utterly absurd, and the 80 GB HD will be seen as archaic.

[mrklaw]

But, I am not a guinea pig, nor a whiner (bringing up facts is not whining, whiner). I can wait. What do I tell my customers? The truth. It's overpriced, and if you need the extras like the external optical, and ethernet connector (and the extra mag-safe battery that will ultimately come), then the weight and convenience will diminish. Get a MBP.


so if someone is considering a MBA but needs optical/ethernet, you suggest a MBP? Not a much cheaper and slightly more portable MB?

This is the main thing I see on these forums. Its the desire to morph a new product that doesn't appeal into one that does.

This isn't a desktop replacement. This isn't an ultraportable, or a tablet mac. Its just the thinnest, lightest laptop from apple. thats all. don't like it? Great. Do like it? great too.

[ArchiMark]

[Snip...]

This isn't a desktop replacement. This isn't an ultraportable, or a tablet mac. Its just the thinnest, lightest laptop from apple. thats all. don't like it? Great. Do like it? great too.



That sums it up very well, mrklaw!!!

Think it's time to put this dead horse of a thread out of it's misery now and move on....

;)

[pauljbax]

I remember when I first started thinking about buying an iPod. I gave the Apple Store guy the third degree and my final words were, "So basically this is a throw away item?" He nodded yes.

Sure, you can go through some extreme measures to put a new battery in an iPod and sure you will have to go through those same measures to put a new one in MBA. But for most of us, our laptops are not throw away items like an iPod is (which I have yet to do).

But for the price of an MBA, no one will be throwing this machine away when the battery drains out. Of course by then, you may be ready for the next Apple model that wows you.

I can see DVD/CD's going out the window since virtually all my software purchases are downloads. And with flash drives so huge now, how long will be be before that is what is inside the software box instead of the disk?

[ArchiMark]

[Snip..]

Sure, you can go through some extreme measures to put a new battery in an iPod and sure you will have to go through those same measures to put a new one in MBA. But for most of us, our laptops are not throw away items like an iPod is (which I have yet to do).

[Snip..]



FWIW, pauljbax, from what I've read recently, it turns out that it's not that difficult to open the bottom of the MBA and swap out the battery....

[Dragon Curve]

Is everyone missing the REAL point?

Just look at the hype this has created. It's everywhere. MBA this, MBA that. They've saturated the market with something that claims to be above and beyond - revolutionary.

And let's face it - it's small, sexy and lacks a huge number of features that most other laptops ship as standard.

And yet so many people (me included) are so drawn to buying one. It's the hype. It's the new, funky toy from Apple - and they know it.

They know the specs of this laptop have nothing to do with its sales potential.

If Asus came out with the exact same laptop, chances are it wouldn't sell anywhere near as well.

It's all about the hype.

[TatsuTerror]

It's a thin laptop. It's not that different or revolutionary to regular consumers. It just looks thin and nice in an ad. In 10 years time the Air will be just another footnote in Apple history.It's not that different or revolutionary, but it is in the eyes of many consumers.

I/My friend/My relative am/is getting the Macbook Air.
You know, the Macbook has better stats and is a whole lot cheaper.
It's just so thin and portable!
So are the regular Macbooks, the footprint is actually smaller!
But it's so thin!
You can't even play DVD's or CD's without a separate drive...
Oh...well, I'm getting one. It's really thin and I want the portability.

I can't tell you how many times I've already had this conversation with people I know.

[Dragon Curve]

It's not that different or revolutionary, but it is in the eyes of many consumers.

I/My friend/My relative am/is getting the Macbook Air.
You know, the Macbook has better stats and is a whole lot cheaper.
It's just so thin and portable!
So are the regular Macbooks, the footprint is actually smaller!
But it's so thin!
You can't even play DVD's or CD's without a separate drive...
Oh...well, I'm getting one. It's really thin and I want the portability.

I can't tell you how many times I've already had this conversation with people I know.

I agree with you on the practicality but as far as looks are concerned, MBA leaves the regular MB dead in the water.

The cheap, plastic and blocky look of the MB has nothing on the sleek, titanium look of the ultra-thin MBA.

Personally, I've never really liked the look of the MacBook. The plastic looks extremely cheap, can get dirty and often discoloured quickly.

I wouldn't dream of gettng a MB over a MBA but the MBP vs MBA is a different story altogether.

[Stuart in Oz]

Wow! It's amazing how far away from my original post a lot of this thread has been. Let me recap my original points:

No, the MBA is not a great power computer. It has heaps of compromises. It's missing heaps of stuff lots of us want.

However, it is setting a new form factor that will become the standard for Apple laptops of all kinds. Eventually your MB Pro will be that same size. Not this year, and not next, but almost certainly by, say, 2011 or 2012.

In the meantime, while we wait for today's power features to shrink to the point where they fit in the MBA's chassis, the hype and press it's getting is helping Apple's overall market growth.

It won't be a failure as a laptop even now as I'm sure there are enough people who value the portability over it's power user failings to make it a financial success for Apple.

But think of it primarily as a physical template for future laptop computing.

Can we stop the endless arguments now over how it is good/bad because it is ultra portable/lacks power user features?

[spinko]

Great Post.

The MacBook Air is not a pro machine nor a consumer one. Its either for people that travel quite a lot, have an iMac/Mac Pro/Mac mini and want something light to take around or for apple fanatics.
This notebook is not supposed to have massive performance levels, because, like I said before its not a pro. People want it for media: photos, music, movie clips, internet browsing...

i'm not getting one.. nuff said

[sanford]

QUOTE=Stuart in Oz;4768272]In 1989 they broke new ground with the Macintosh Portable, setting the basic design for modern laptops.[/QUOTE]

You kind of shut out your knowledge of tech-industry history and market analysis right there. The Mac Portable made Apple the laughingstock of the industry for a while. Several companies had by then released actual "laptops"; the Portable was a monstrosity costing a fortune. They had to send it to Sony to redesign, and the result of that became the quite sleek for the time PowerBook 100.

I should know, I had one a Portable on my desk for testing purposes for about a year; until I stashed in a closet because it took up was taking up way too much space.

You were *ten*, man. By comparison, I could probably give you a good off-the-cuff recollection of the low-level societal affect in the States of our Tehran embassy hostage event. But the long-term influence of Zenith sets on the television industry when I was that age, no. You have no context for you assertions, so you come up with that crazy declaration. The Portable tanked, set no standard for anyone, thank God, and Apple had to farm it out to Sony to get a handle on the situation.

You're more or less part of the Internet generation. By your late teens, the Web, email, all that, were becoming, or had nearly become, a new, dominant force in society. It's natural for you to turn to computer technology to do things. It's the environment in which you matured to adulthood. There's sense to you in having five, more, different computer-like devices because you have for most of your life been marketed to by computer hardware and software companies. They want you to buy more stuff. They should. It's how they survive.

But in the history of personal computing, a prime candidate for the single greatest achievement was the creation of small portable computers with enough power, storage and features to be used portably or on the desktop, without sacrificing anything. With the MacBook Air, Apple seeks to reverse that trend: again, you should have one computer on your desk and another for portable use, and shuffle you data between them. So why would they seek to reverse a significant achievement to which they greatly contributed? Because desktop sales have plunged, because for the overwhelming majority of computer users requiring portability, there's no reason to own a desktop and a portable. Whereas before they could only sell you *one* computer, the MB Air virtually demands you own *two*. That's good for business. It's not good for efficiency in incorporating new technology into our lives.

It's marketing hype. It's hype to sell you a second computer when you already have a perfectly good one that meets all your needs, or you could replace your computer that's getting long in the tooth with just *one* Mac that suits all your needs. Instead you pick up an extra, this MacBook Air, or you buy two new ones. That's why the thing looks so damn nice: there has to be a hook to make you want it so bad you don't care it costs you more and complicates the personal computing segment of your life.

You want the coolest new gadget, buy a MacBook Air today. You want to further the cause of function and efficiency in personal computing, wait until Apple, or someone, ships a computer as nicely designed as current Macs, and it's is as thin and light as that MacBook Air, but still has inbuilt all the features desired and required by the typical personal computer user -- no, the MB Air does not.

I can tell you getting the media attention, Apple is good with that, but I can also tell you that their primary goal for the MacBook Air is not perhaps to influence your 2010 purchasing decisions. It's to sell you a MacBook Air today. An extra. A spare. And keep you upgrading models on *two* computers rather than just one. Don't fall for it. It's counter to efficient, conservative use of computing technology.

p.s. I have limited personal computing needs. If I could make the MacBook Air my *only* computer, even if I had to buy the external optical drive and keep it in my desk drawer most of the time, I would buy one tomorrow morning. But even with my limited needs, I can't, mostly because of limited inbuilt storage with no course of upgrading. I'd have to ditch half of my ripped or digitally purchased -- mostly ripped from CDs -- music collection and/or much of my iPhoto library, and also stop doing the rare but desired iMovie projects for DVD compilations of videos of our kids. So I'm no against the MacBook Air per se, I'm against what it stands for, against what Apple setting up. They have the engineering, for almost the very same price they could have given it double the storage and a couple more ports or port types, increasing the size maybe a couple millimeters height, the weight almost nothing, left the optical as an external, and still designed it to look and feel just as light and thin as it does today. They did not. For a reason.

p.p.s. That would be an interesting experiment: Buy a MacBook Air, adding an external optical when needed, and attempt for, say, six full months to use it as my one-and-only computer. External display with keyboard and mouse allowable, seeing as it comes with the DVI connector and adapter cable. See if it can be done in a fashion anyone could easily manage, leaving room for a fair-sized media and photo collection, but limited work-relates uses, with precious little extra expense or hassle. I don't know it's worth US$1,800 plus local tax for the experiment. If it succeeded, however it would be sublime. And I suppose in six months if it failed, I could resell it still sell it with six months warranty left and take maybe only a US$600 bath on it. Hmm.

[ubercool]

There are two kinds of people in this world:

1. Trendsetters -- creative and innovative people who are optimistic about the future and who take risks on new ideas.

2. Laggards -- people who always wait for everyone else to try something first and bemoan their inability to set trends by crapping on other people's parades.

You can easily guess by the tone of the posts in this thread what group the poster belongs to. :D

[spinko]

There are two kinds of people in this world:

1. Trendsetters -- creative and innovative people who are optimistic about the future and who take risks on new ideas.

2. Laggards -- people who always wait for everyone else to try something first and bemoan their inability to set trends by crapping on other people's parades.

You can easily guess by the tone of the posts in this thread what group the poster belongs to. :D

the MBA is not trendy, imho.. it's misused engineering power..

[iStefmac]

To the Op.

Great post, very accurate, and a spot on description of the Mac Book Air's role in the near future of portable computers.

However, it does not defend the product as it exists now, and as it fits in the current market. People will not and should not buy a product simply on the principle of its innovation and future predecesors.

[Zeos]

The real point is a complicated matter that mixes iPhone / iPod touch / MBA / and Mac Mini development. Improvement and progress in each of these products is a step closer to developing a portable PC device that someone simply "plugs in" at home or at the office. The smaller components, the touch screens, the multi-touch pad, and the iMac-like docking station under development are all steps to this device that we will likely see in the next several years, one improvement at a time, until it is introduced as the Mac Nano at a future MacWorld. Print this posting out and put it in your scrapbook for reference around 2010 or 2011.:apple:;):apple:

[Tosser]

The real point is a complicated matter that mixes iPhone / iPod touch / MBA / and Mac Mini development. Improvement and progress in each of these products is a step closer to developing a portable PC device that someone simply "plugs in" at home or at the office. The smaller components, the touch screens, the multi-touch pad, and the iMac-like docking station under development are all steps to this device that we will likely see in the next several years, one improvement at a time, until it is introduced as the Mac Nano at a future MacWorld. Print this posting out and put it in your scrapbook for reference around 2010 or 2011.:apple:;):apple:

No doubt the Multitouch will be incorporated into all future portable Macs.

And in that line of thought, you really just described any/all portable from Apple –*including the 17" MBP, the 12" Powerbook and the future MBA (with a smaller bezel?).

I guess your post is a bit like Nostradamus' rantings: Being vague means that you can claim your "predictions" is true no matter what happens.
;)

[Zeos]

No doubt the Multitouch will be incorporated into all future portable Macs.

And in that line of thought, you really just described any/all portable from Apple –*including the 17" MBP, the 12" Powerbook and the future MBA (with a smaller bezel?).

Not exactly. Think iPhone form factor, but it will be plugged into a docking station to make it a desktop PC, or plugged into a laptop "shell" to make it a laptop. All the guts will be in an iPhone-sized unit with peripherals accessed via the docking station, laptop shell, or Bluetooth.

[sanford]

No doubt the Multitouch will be incorporated into all future portable Macs.

Have you run through the Multitouch videos on Apple's site? Save for swipe, pinch and rotate, it already is. No one uses it much because it's a bit unwieldy, tending to register taps you don't want registered.

And swipe, pinch and rotate are two-fingered gestures. If Apple cared to, a minor OS feature update would add swipe, pinch and rotate to all current-model Apple-engineered trackpads (as opposed to the third-party parts they were using), dating back to the first MacBook Pros an MacBooks.

There's nothing new here. Nothing at all.

[sanford]

the MBA is not trendy, imho.. it's misused engineering power..

Of course you're right. Although that's our definition of the use of this engineering power. It's more evenhandedly described as design and engineering power used to create a perceived need among people who require portability that they again require two computers, not just one.

A post down the line reports the real point is to lead the way into a single device that does all we need. No, the real point is to again split things up so we perceive we need to buy *two* Macs instead of just one. The real point is to sell us two Macs when just one will serve all our needs, reversing the efficient, consumer-friendly, but profit-diminishing single-computer -- usually a good laptop -- trend. Numerous features are missing from the MB Air, even given the current design, would have required no change in design to include, and increased the build cost very little. Why aren't they there? Why have they been left out, intentionally? Because if they were there, you wouldn't need that other Mac, a desktop or more full-featured portable. You can put double-platter 160GB 1.8" drive in a .53-inch iPod, you can find a spot for it in the footprint of an MB Air.

The iPhone is a robust mobile communications device presenting an entirely new and/or greatly enhanced feature-set to the "smart-phone" market, a market it also seeks to expand with its accessibility. The MB Air is an entry-level laptop -- for Apple, where entry-level specifications are usually better than other brands -- stripped down to almost nothing and presented as a revolution in portability by the use of design tricks to create the illusion of something far thinner and lighter than it is in reality.

The iPhone was a significant evolutionary, perhaps revolutionary, step in "smart-phone" human interface design and features. The MB Air is an iPod Sock.

There's nothing sinister at work. They're just trying to make a buck off their relatively newfound positive name recognition and appreciation of their design. That's capitalism. It's up to us as consumers to see through the smoke and mirrors of their marketing to avoid allowing them to establish a change in the current computer ownership model that is bad for consumers.

The real point of Apple is to make money for their shareholders. They are not the Messiah. They aren't even the Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

[kuwisdelu]

A post down the line reports the real point is to lead the way into a single device that does all we need. No, the real point is to again split things up so we perceive we need to buy *two* Macs instead of just one. The real point is to sell us two Macs when just one will serve all our needs, reversing the efficient, consumer-friendly, but profit-diminishing single-computer -- usually a good laptop -- trend.

Don't you think that's being a little hard on Apple? They're offering the choice of an ultrathin, ultralight laptop for those who want it. If you still want an efficient, consumer-friendly, single-computer laptop...we STILL HAVE the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I don't think Apple intentionally left stuff off to force us to buy two computers. As I understand it, they believed most people who bought one would already have a primary computer to supplement the MBA; they weren't just expecting people to buy a new supplementary computer simply to go along with the MBA.

[sanford]

Don't you think that's being a little hard on Apple? They're offering the choice of an ultrathin, ultralight laptop for those who want it. If you still want an efficient, consumer-friendly, single-computer laptop...we STILL HAVE the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I don't think Apple intentionally left stuff off to force us to buy two computers. As I understand it, they believed most people who bought one would already have a primary computer to supplement the MBA; they weren't just expecting people to buy a new supplementary computer simply to go along with the MBA.

I'm not being hard on them. Creating a market for two computer computer per use makes them more money, their mandate as public corporation. The MB Air is neither ultrathin nor ultralight; it's thin and light; it appears ultrathin and by implication ultralight. The standard MB is by far a better portable for the consumer -- hell, the first-generation standard MB is by far a better portable for the consumer.

For a desktop Mac user who requires portability, they must buy a portable Mac, obviously. They are already a two-Mac market. They can get a far better portable in the MB, but whatever. People are however buying or planning to buy MB Airs to supplement 15-inch MB Pros, which are last time I checked, already portable. Even to supplement standard MBs.

The fact is, with the advent of full-featured portables the size, weight and expandability (via ports) of MacBooks, over the last few years, the desktop market has been crashing as computer users migrate to portables only, one computer to serve all their needs. That's a significant sales loss to companies that make desktop computers. Reversing the single-computer trend, to encourage two-computer sales, especially sales of a desktop that will do everything you need matched, for portability, with a "crippled" laptop that won't, that's good for business.

I'm only hard on Apple if you think leveraging their current market position to change a negative revenue trend by presenting a terribly attractive but impractical product designed to reinvigorate sales of multiple computers to one individual for concurrent is somehow wrong or immoral. I don't. I just choose not to buy into that personal computing model. I vastly prefer the one-computer-for-all-uses-portable-and-stationary model. It's more efficient, less hassle, less work in managing two computers, managing your tools of your trade, or entertainment devices or what have you. Oh, and less expensive.

[Zeos]

I'm only hard on Apple if you think leveraging their current market position to change a negative revenue trend by presenting a terribly attractive but impractical product designed to reinvigorate sales of multiple computers...

Negative revenue trend? They have seen record quarter over quarter growth for a while now. In fact they are just about the only PC manufacturer who has. And that's not because they develop products that force you to buy multiple computers; it's because they have proven to be innovative developers of new technology. If I can get a loaded Mac Mini (or even a low-end iMac) plus an MBA for about the same price as the 17" MBP I was looking at, that's a great deal and I'm a happy camper! Home base plus a portable to use on the fly with dot-Mac to sync them up. Perfect! Steve & company rock!:)

[sanford]

Negative revenue trend? They have seen record quarter over quarter growth for a while now.

I've been a .mac subscriber since day one. It's sync function is one of the better solutions in an area where there are no really good solutions. It sometimes, not all that infrequently, creates various problems, especially crazy calendar event duplications that take forever to weed out. Rule around our house for any Mac with my .mac account on it: Do not *ever* turn on .mac sync, on penalty of death. If one of us needs one of my calendars, I publish it, they subscribe to it.

Not Apple's gross revenue trend, the revenue trend in desktop computer sales. Desktop computer sales to people who need portability being the thing that creates the market for the second computer per inividual.

I'm glad you're happy with the solution. However, you are proving my case: You are spending the same amount of money for a vast performance hit on both computers. If you were looking at a 17" MacBook Pro, logic follows you need the storage, and central processing and graphics performance of that model. And the display size. (Speaking of which, where is the display cost in your Mac Mini/MB Air pricing plan?) You're still going to want that if you do need it. So you'll find the Mini frustrating and buy something better performing for your "home base". Then your MB Air is going to seem hideously slow in comparison, even in UI tasks. So when Apple releases a faster MB Air, you're upgrading that, too. Round and round we go, where it stops nobody knows.

I'm not telling you that you shouldn't buy your "combo package" plan. I'm just telling you the truth of what you're getting, and the path it's leading you along: constant management, perhaps AppleCare expense if you buy these warranties, and upgrade replacement of *two* computers instead of just the one that would have served you in both portability and performance.

[Zeos]

I'm glad you're happy with the solution. However, you are proving my case: You are spending the same amount of money for a vast performance hit on both computers. If you were looking at a 17" MacBook Pro, logic follows you need the storage, and central processing and graphics performance of that model. And the display size.

No matter the manufacturer, if you get two computers for the price of one, you're gonna take a perfomance hit on the two. That's not particular to Apple. What is particular to Apple is that we now have fantastic options and the flexibility to design a Mac system that works for the individual. If someone wants the 17" MBP and all its power, great. If I can now afford to have a desktop AND an ultra-portable while compromising a little on performance, that's awesome. The point is I have a CHOICE that I didn't have before! :)

[drditty]

At work with wifi I have a corporate laptop. I prefer to access the internet on it, but when I want to check my email I find myself reaching for the iphone. Its just so much faster, one click and its there. I only use the iphone to surf the net when there isn't a bigger screen. Thats the point of the MBA, it will be light enough to bring with me anywhere in my bookbag with my other papers. I think it will really expand the user experience in that manner. The SSD, which I guess will be super fast on, will be the future. I think that pulling out the MBA will be kind of like pulling a magazine out of the bag: instant gratification. I just hope someone doesn't steal it!

[queshy]

I find it interesting they even offered the SSD option at that price. Even though it's competitively priced, it'll be a few years before this thing goes mainstream. Unless you absolutely need the SSD for your work or something I'd say to avoid it now - in a few years it'll all be standard. Other than that I think the pricepoint is pretty good.

[mrklaw]

It's marketing hype. It's hype to sell you a second computer when you already have a perfectly good one that meets all your needs, or you could replace your computer that's getting long in the tooth with just *one* Mac that suits all your needs. Instead you pick up an extra, this MacBook Air, or you buy two new ones. That's why the thing looks so damn nice: there has to be a hook to make you want it so bad you don't care it costs you more and complicates the personal computing segment of your life.
.


I think you're being very prescriptive in how people should use computers to make the point you do. You're assuming everyone wants one computer, and that therefore 'needing' two is bad.

first, nobody 'needs' two. the MBA is perfectly enough horsepower for most people's day to day needs. not power users sure, but for many people who just browse, email, do some digital photos.

Also, some people value portability, but don't want a desktop replacement due to size/weight etc. I'm one of them. I've been through that phase. I want enough grunt for video editing and a nice big screen. But a 17" power laptop is just not much fun when you just want to sit it on your lap and check your mail. Its more a portable than a laptop. So I bought an imac.

But I still have a crappy old dell laptop for browsing/email, or for when I'm using the computer and my wife/kids want to use the internet. Its due for a replacement and for me its between the MB and MBA. MB is plenty of power and perfectly usable, but the MBA is tempting because its lighter/slimmer and will be simpler to just throw on your lap in the evening for a spot of browsing.

As the use of computers increases, its quite likely that people will 'want' two computers, and for whom desktop power in a portable chassis is unnecessary.

nothing wrong with aesthetics and size/weight being a factor in choosing a computer. How many of us choose a car based purely on practicality?

[Agathon]

I'm not being hard on them. Creating a market for two computer computer per use makes them more money, their mandate as public corporation. The MB Air is neither ultrathin nor ultralight; it's thin and light; it appears ultrathin and by implication ultralight. The standard MB is by far a better portable for the consumer -- hell, the first-generation standard MB is by far a better portable for the consumer.

You're out of your tree, bro. Why would I want a MacBook when I don't need most of the stuff it offers? I live where wireless is ubiquitous, and I never use the optical drive on my Powerbook. The MBA is smaller, thinner and weighs less. Even a MacBook takes up quite a bit of space in my bag. The MBA takes up no more space than one of those manila envelopes. You do realize why Apple's ads feature those envelopes, don't you? The MBA isn't much bulkier than a senior thesis or a couple of decent sized term papers.

I don't need a huge hard drive either. Back to My Mac, have you heard of it?

The fact is, with the advent of full-featured portables the size, weight and expandability (via ports) of MacBooks, over the last few years, the desktop market has been crashing as computer users migrate to portables only, one computer to serve all their needs. That's a significant sales loss to companies that make desktop computers. Reversing the single-computer trend, to encourage two-computer sales, especially sales of a desktop that will do everything you need matched, for portability, with a "crippled" laptop that won't, that's good for business.

This is unsupported rubbish. How do you expect anyone to believe this ridiculous conspiracy theory? Not everyone wants a single computer. I like my iMac at home. It has a nice big screen and keyboard. I don't want to use my portable at home, because I'd have to hook up speakers and a monitor to get it how I want it. I prefer a desktop machine. Other people may share their desktop machine with other family members.

The moral of this story is that people are different. Other people have different needs and priorities than you do. You have absolutely zero evidence that this is some kind of conspiracy to sell more desktops. The MBA is aimed at people who need a desktop and a light portable.

Ockham's razor, have you heard of it?

I'm only hard on Apple if you think leveraging their current market position to change a negative revenue trend by presenting a terribly attractive but impractical product designed to reinvigorate sales of multiple computers to one individual for concurrent is somehow wrong or immoral. I don't.

Do you think the Moon landings were faked as well? Or that space aliens shot JFK?

I just choose not to buy into that personal computing model. I vastly prefer the one-computer-for-all-uses-portable-and-stationary model. It's more efficient, less hassle, less work in managing two computers, managing your tools of your trade, or entertainment devices or what have you. Oh, and less expensive.

Your problem is that you simply cannot accept that not everyone is like you. Hence you feel the need to invent risible conspiracy theories like this.

[Romeo604]

great post! :D

[sanford]

Yes, I've heard of Occam's razor (for clarity, Agathon's spelling is a variant, also acceptable, spelled for the man himself; he didn't misspell the word.)

You've obviously heard of Occam's razor but you don't know how to apply it. The case is: a publicly owned for-profit corporation introduces a new, appealing product with numerous limitations over similar, less expensive products they sell, while offering almost no advantage in comparison. Apply the razor: The corporation has created the product seeking additional revenue from it's existing customer base.

That may not be the case, but that's Occam's razor's answer. That the corporation foremost motivation in releasing a product of this kind is recognition that "people are different" is absurd on its face.

Manufacturers of personal computers have a problem today. For the so-called "typical" or "average" uses of a personal computer, the time-to-really-need-an-upgrade window is huge. Circa 2000 it was at least eight years, as anecdotally proven by my wife's G4 Cube. The 450 MHz model. I've been telling her we should get her an iMac. She has a certain design sense and refuses to give up the Cube. A couple months ago, she was complaining it was getting slow. I have a Core Duo Mac, and was like, Ha, of course it's "getting slow". But our eldest child has started to use the that Cube, and turns out she'd junked it up quite a bit. I backed it up and did a fresh install of Tiger. I have a 2GB RAM Core Duo Mac. I figured I was in for a grind. After I reinstalled Tiger on the Cube, for Web, email and word processing, it's not slow at all. So what's the really-must-upgrade window now? It could be 15 years. Apple, has a relatively small, core base of users making up most of their Mac market-share, though that share is growing; their personal computer line cannot survive selling to their share of the market, growing at the pace at which it is, a new computer every 8 - 15 years. It has to be more often. So "gimme-gimme" technology like the MacBook Air makes good marketing sense for generating more revenue faster. That's no "conspiracy theory". That's the fact for today's computer manufacturers: they need to create ways to sell more computers more often.

If your Back to My Mac works for you that's great. A large number of people can't use it to connect to their Macs from outside their local area network. The problem may be insoluble, at least for some long while, as it may require routing configurations no one will make for you at your points of access. (There's some giant security hole, too, but I'm not calling that out, as those things don't tend to make me get all aquiver, and would not affect my use of the feature, if it did consistently work.)

It takes me two seconds to connect an external display and speakers to my notebook Mac. If two second, maybe twice a day, is worth, for you, owning and managing two Macs, your time is either worth a lot less or a lot more than mine -- I'm not sure which one, though. This will take a bit longer, hang on...

Okay, that's an A4 envelope, right? A MacBook fits just fine in an A4 envelope. The fact is the MacBook is 8mm thicker than an Air. You're definitely male; only a male considers 8mm equivalent to around 1.5cm. I'd love to see your magic bag, that a MacBook with the same footprint but 8mm thicker takes up so much more space in your bag than an Air.

Multiple personal computers which one uses to do the exact same things are anathema to efficient personal computing. They're good for business, not for the consumer. Sure, everyone is different, sure, but we can make some general statements about efficiency in personal computing.

All that being said, I like the aesthetics of the Air. I wouldn't have pre-ordered one because I type all day long and I have too try the keyboards for myself. But if there were a 160GB drive in the Air, and the keyboard checked out as I suspect it does, I would buy one . . . Well, in about a couple hours here, according to the gossip. There's no other issue with the Air not soluble. But 80GB internal storage is not enough. Now tell me, seriously, they couldn't have engineered a 160GB drive into the Air? Of course they could have, in the same weight -- I'll give you an extra ounce, max, on weight for the taller drive -- and dimensions. They didn't? Why? Because for me, as I'm sure for others, that makes it perfectly usable as a one-and-only computer, with the external optical, which can be left behind most of the time.

I'll give you the thing this much of a chance. I'll go have a peek at it this morning. My tax refund went into my bank overnight -- for some reason I had next week stuck in my head. So if this thing is so fantastic I'm willing to point my iTunes and possibly iPhoto library to a second external USB2 drive, and then let Time Machine back up both the MB Air and the second external USB2 -- which I consider a bit of an extra hassle, but okay -- to my primary drive, a FireWire and USB2 model (I refuse to back-up over WiFi, even n, thank you very much; you're always forgetting the 1.5GB you bought or ripped or whatever and you wait and wait and wait) . . . Anyway, if it's so thin and light and great, I'll buy one -- no, not the SSD model, no way; too much money for a commodity part with a price that will drop way too fast -- and let you know.

If it turns out it's a hassle and won't work as a one-and-only Mac, I can always take it back and lose a little. Or sell it and lose a little more. But no more than a local hotel weekend holiday, I suppose. However if it's pretty obviously about the same rig as a MacBook, I'm not going to lose a penny for an experiment I know from the outset won't come off.





You're out of your tree, bro. Why would I want a MacBook when I don't need most of the stuff it offers? I live where wireless is ubiquitous, and I never use the optical drive on my Powerbook. The MBA is smaller, thinner and weighs less. Even a MacBook takes up quite a bit of space in my bag. The MBA takes up no more space than one of those manila envelopes. You do realize why Apple's ads feature those envelopes, don't you? The MBA isn't much bulkier than a senior thesis or a couple of decent sized term papers.

I don't need a huge hard drive either. Back to My Mac, have you heard of it?



This is unsupported rubbish. How do you expect anyone to believe this ridiculous conspiracy theory? Not everyone wants a single computer. I like my iMac at home. It has a nice big screen and keyboard. I don't want to use my portable at home, because I'd have to hook up speakers and a monitor to get it how I want it. I prefer a desktop machine. Other people may share their desktop machine with other family members.

The moral of this story is that people are different. Other people have different needs and priorities than you do. You have absolutely zero evidence that this is some kind of conspiracy to sell more desktops. The MBA is aimed at people who need a desktop and a light portable.

Ockham's razor, have you heard of it?



Do you think the Moon landings were faked as well? Or that space aliens shot JFK?



Your problem is that you simply cannot accept that not everyone is like you. Hence you feel the need to invent risible conspiracy theories like this.

[AfroZ]

There's so much complaining and arguing about the MacBook Air you'd think Apple was forcing people to buy them.

It's a nice machine if your willing to pay for it. For everyone else there are other options. Let it go.

[Agathon]

Yes, I've heard of Occam's razor (for clarity, Agathon's spelling is a variant, also acceptable, spelled for the man himself; he didn't misspell the word.)

The learned spell it my way. You can spell it any way you like.

You've obviously heard of Occam's razor but you don't know how to apply it. The case is: a publicly owned for-profit corporation introduces a new, appealing product with numerous limitations over similar, less expensive products they sell, while offering almost no advantage in comparison. Apply the razor: The corporation has created the product seeking additional revenue from it's existing customer base.

Utter rubbish. You should be ashamed of posting such an argument. It only has no advantage to you. You can't seem to get past your own head to understand that other people have different needs. The MBA is thinner and lighter, which is what people who want "ultraportables" tend to look for. That may be "no advantage" to you, but thankfully there are other people in the world who have different needs.

Given that obvious fact, your whole argument is exposed for the ridiculous conspiracy that it is. You have absolutely no evidence to attribute such motivations to Apple, and there is no independent reason to even think they would consider such a crazy strategy. It seems more likely that this is just Apple's version of an ultraportable.

That may not be the case, but that's Occam's razor's answer. That the corporation foremost motivation in releasing a product of this kind is recognition that "people are different" is absurd on its face.

Utter piffle. Apple releases different kinds of laptop for people with different needs. For example, the MacBook Pro is a professional class notebook. It's intended for a different sort of user than, say, the MacBook. But that should be obvious to anyone.

Manufacturers of personal computers have a problem today. For the so-called "typical" or "average" uses of a personal computer, the time-to-really-need-an-upgrade window is huge. Circa 2000 it was at least eight years, as anecdotally proven by my wife's G4 Cube. The 450 MHz model. I've been telling her we should get her an iMac. She has a certain design sense and refuses to give up the Cube. A couple months ago, she was complaining it was getting slow. I have a Core Duo Mac, and was like, Ha, of course it's "getting slow". But our eldest child has started to use the that Cube, and turns out she'd junked it up quite a bit. I backed it up and did a fresh install of Tiger. I have a 2GB RAM Core Duo Mac. I figured I was in for a grind. After I reinstalled Tiger on the Cube, for Web, email and word processing, it's not slow at all. So what's the really-must-upgrade window now? It could be 15 years. Apple, has a relatively small, core base of users making up most of their Mac market-share, though that share is growing; their personal computer line cannot survive selling to their share of the market, growing at the pace at which it is, a new computer every 8 - 15 years. It has to be more often. So "gimme-gimme" technology like the MacBook Air makes good marketing sense for generating more revenue faster. That's no "conspiracy theory". That's the fact for today's computer manufacturers: they need to create ways to sell more computers more often.

15 years for a must upgrade window. How can you post that with a straight face?

If your Back to My Mac works for you that's great. A large number of people can't use it to connect to their Macs from outside their local area network. The problem may be insoluble, at least for some long while, as it may require routing configurations no one will make for you at your points of access. (There's some giant security hole, too, but I'm not calling that out, as those things don't tend to make me get all aquiver, and would not affect my use of the feature, if it did consistently work.)

It works for me. It may not work for other people. Some of these people might buy MacBook Airs. Others might hang on to their Performa for 15 years because they don't think it is time to upgrade (although I cannot imagine who that would be - 15 years ago I think I had an LCIII). People are different and have different needs and environments. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that.

It takes me two seconds to connect an external display and speakers to my notebook Mac. If two second, maybe twice a day, is worth, for you, owning and managing two Macs, your time is either worth a lot less or a lot more than mine -- I'm not sure which one, though. This will take a bit longer, hang on...

Yeah, because I really want to play World of Warcraft on my MacBook's integrated graphics setup over an external monitor. Or make a massively complicated Garageband track on my puny MacBook. And I really want a small laptop hard drive instead of my big desktop hard drive. Hell, I guess I could plug in a firewire drive as well, but if I want all my stuff, then I have to cart it around with me all the time.

Or, I could just buy a MacBook Air and find my desktop machine over the internet, wherever I am, and get the things I need when I need them.

Again, people have different needs.

Okay, that's an A4 envelope, right? A MacBook fits just fine in an A4 envelope. The fact is the MacBook is 8mm thicker than an Air. You're definitely male; only a male considers 8mm equivalent to around 1.5cm. I'd love to see your magic bag, that a MacBook with the same footprint but 8mm thicker takes up so much more space in your bag than an Air.

Now you're just getting desperate. The Air takes up far less volume than the MacBook, and is significantly lighter. Anyone can see this by looking at the measurements themselves. A MacBook would come close to splitting one of those envelopes, if it didn't actually split it.

Multiple personal computers which one uses to do the exact same things are anathema to efficient personal computing. They're good for business, not for the consumer. Sure, everyone is different, sure, but we can make some general statements about efficiency in personal computing.

We can indeed, but not the ones you've been making. If you cannot see why someone who owns a workstation at home might want a very light basic computer as a portable satellite to it, then you just have no imagination. I could quite happily use an MBA. In this case, I am not doing the exact same thing. When I am out and about, I am not gaming, or burning DVDs or spending hours of heavy photoshopping. I browse, check email and write. I don't need the same things all the time, and having them present all the time may be a hindrance.

According to you, it would seem that we shouldn't have iPods, because we ought to be able to plug our headphones into our notebooks that we carry around in our bags. Who would need an iPod when you can carry around a notebook and headphones? So what if they are heavier, it only takes a few seconds to change tracks...

But that would be daft. An iPod is just a portable computer, which plays music and shows photos. Complaining that a MacBook Air doesn't have an optical drive is like complaining that an iPod doesn't have one, or that you can't run photoshop on an XBox 360. But that would be ridiculous, since an iPod is a completely different kind of device than a notebook. A MacBook Air is also a different kind of device than an ordinary notebook. It is slightly less capable, but slightly more portable. For some people that is a big deal, no matter what you think.

The whole point of the MacBook Air is that people are getting away from the old fashioned view of "here is my data on my one computer". That's the point of Back to My Mac, for example. In the future, people will simply have their data and the various appliances they use to access it, whether these be telephones, notebooks, desktops or whatever. These are all in one way or another "computers", but they all have different capacities and are used when people want to interact with their data in different ways. Your "stuff" will be distributed throughout these devices.

People who have only one computer are old fashioned, and aren't really taking advantage of what the internet has to offer.

[Agathon]

There's so much complaining and arguing about the MacBook Air you'd think Apple was forcing people to buy them.

It's a nice machine if your willing to pay for it. For everyone else there are other options. Let it go.

Why can't people understand this? Wasn't it Apple who based the original Mac ad campaign on the idea that people didn't have to use the same machines?

[Eric Piercey]

I didn't read the whole thread, just the last page or so- along with the OP.

The MBA is an advertisement and little more, a PR gadget. It's Apple's statement to the world. Is is still useful? Oh sure- but I'd have to agree with Sanford in that I'd much prefer a MB over a MBA. Were I coffee house slacker- I'd probably HAVE to have the MBA. I'm not. I don't sit in judgment of them any more than I sit in judgment over people who have 7 iPods just to keep up with the latest models and colors. The MBA is very nifty for these people. Good for them and I'm sure they'll enjoy them.

I want the most useful machine I can get my hands on... the most interfaces possible with the most amount of processor RAM and storage. In a portable I'm especially keen on interfaces. I want FW, Express card slots, USB, wireless, ethernet, video outs, audio ins and outs, you name it. If i want to hang out in the coffee bar I can still do that.


I don't think any of this matters much I just like to post. I do think the OP was on in as far as Apple's intention for the MBA.

[sanford]

The learned spell it my way. You can spell it any way you like.

You speak and write in English, correct? The reference resource for the "learned" writing in English is a dictionary -- or two, or three, for verification -- of the English language. In both American and International English:

Occam's razor, (acceptable, nonstandard variant spelling, Ockham's razor)
William of Ockham (acceptable, nonstandard variant spelling, William of Occam)

Occam's razor is spelled by the "learned" as Occam's razor. The "learned" have consulted a dictionary, or several, and use the standard spelling. William of Ockham, it's spelled Ockham, and he's the namesake of Occam's razor. That's all well and good, but Occam's razor is still spelled Occam's razor.

You spell it in the nonstandard but acceptable way. That's fine. But you justify your nonstandard spelling with, to use one of your favorite phrases, "utter rubbish" (God, I hope you're British.). The "learned" spell it by the standard English spelling. The fact you justify your variant spelling by claiming a superior position in knowledge makes you woefully "ignorant" -- only one spelling of that one, I think. I'm not going to waste my time debating with an ignoramus the merits of a particular Mac model. Bye now.

[1Life]

The MB Air is neither ultrathin nor ultralight; it's thin and light; it appears ultrathin and by implication ultralight. The standard MB is by far a better portable for the consumer -- hell, the first-generation standard MB is by far a better portable for the consumer.

Just a reminder, this statement is your opinion and not fact. Please enlighten us as to what qualifies as "ultralight" and "ultrathin" in your eyes. :rolleyes: As for me, I would gladly take the limited specs of the 3lb MBA over the 5lb MB any day.

Also, the MBA may have been conceived as a marketing gimmick but it also pushes newer technologies that we all should favor:

- flash based storage as opposed to optical drives
- wireless networking as opposed to cable
- SSD as opposed to hard disk drives

Sometimes the only way to move people off old technology is to limit their options.

My kudos to all MBA purchasers!

[tarl-cabot]

Have you run through the Multitouch videos on Apple's site? Save for swipe, pinch and rotate, it already is. No one uses it much because it's a bit unwieldy, tending to register taps you don't want registered.

And swipe, pinch and rotate are two-fingered gestures. If Apple cared to, a minor OS feature update would add swipe, pinch and rotate to all current-model Apple-engineered trackpads (as opposed to the third-party parts they were using), dating back to the first MacBook Pros an MacBooks.

There's nothing new here. Nothing at all.

Actually, SWIPE is a 3-FINGER gesture [http://www.apple.com/macbookair/guidedtour/], and the current MB/MBP TP HW does not have the capability to sense more than two contacts (fingers), so sorry, but no "minor OS feature update" can get around the HW limitation of sensing only 2 contacts on the current portables. You need a MBA or some other future fully-multi-touch-enabled TP to be able to support any gesture utilizing more than 2 fingers....

As for all the discussion about the benefits, limitations, corporate (hidden) agendas, etc....all I can say is if you want one, buy it, if you don't, don't. ;p

Is it everything for everyone?
No.
Should it be?
No.
Was it supposed to be?
No.
Should we grouse about the things we wanted but aren't getting?
Yup :) We're human.

Everybody wants everything yesterday for half the $$ (okay, that's purely a phrase used for descriptive purposes...don't shoot me down (or start a posting storm) for not having the Marketing analysis or British/English dictionary or whatever behind it to back it up....it's an exaggeration to make a point...a shame I feel the need to clarify that....)...Apple and everyone else competing for consumer $$ is doing their best to accommodate these unreasonable expectations. MBA is simply trying to satisfy a SPECIFIC need of a SPECIFIC type of user. Is it rev/ev-olutionary? Nah. Is it the shape of things to come? Hey, if I knew that, I'd be trading stock, not blogging...

MBA is a niche product. I'm not the niche, but I acknowledge the niche's right to exist and be marketed to ;)
:-p

[ArchiMark]

Actually, SWIPE is a 3-FINGER gesture [http://www.apple.com/macbookair/guidedtour/], and the current MB/MBP TP HW does not have the capability to sense more than two contacts (fingers), so sorry, but no "minor OS feature update" can get around the HW limitation of sensing only 2 contacts on the current portables. You need a MBA or some other future fully-multi-touch-enabled TP to be able to support any gesture utilizing more than 2 fingers....

[Snip...]



Any one finger gestures????

;)

Sorry, just couldn't resist....

:rolleyes:

[tarl-cabot]

Actually, SWIPE is a 3-FINGER gesture [http://www.apple.com/macbookair/guidedtour/], and the current MB/MBP TP HW does not have the capability to sense more than two contacts (fingers), so sorry, but no "minor OS feature update" can get around the HW limitation of sensing only 2 contacts on the current portables. You need a MBA or some other future fully-multi-touch-enabled TP to be able to support any gesture utilizing more than 2 fingers....
:-p

Any one finger gestures????

;)

Sorry, just couldn't resist....

:rolleyes:

Oh, there are LOTS of one finger gestures, but for our British counterparts, I wanted to make certain we were including the 2-finger type as well ;pp :D

[riker1384]

I think that if the prices come down like they do with other products, so they can build a similar laptop at a lower price, it would be great for college students. You have to carry a bunch of heavy books and bulky notebooks in a backpack, so if you have a laptop you want it to be as thin and light as possible.

[mrklaw]

Actually, SWIPE is a 3-FINGER gesture [http://www.apple.com/macbookair/guidedtour/], and the current MB/MBP TP HW does not have the capability to sense more than two contacts (fingers), so sorry, but no "minor OS feature update" can get around the HW limitation of sensing only 2 contacts on the current portables. You need a MBA or some other future fully-multi-touch-enabled TP to be able to support any gesture utilizing more than 2 fingers....


couldn't they implement the swipe (forward/back in safari, right?) with two fingers? They use that for up/down scrolling but do they use it for left/right?

TBH out of the gestures, the only one I'd appreciate would be the back/forward, as I miss having my old PC mouse with back/forward buttons on it. But they could do that on the current MB (I'm guessing)


the MBA is tricky - I want one but need to check it out in the real world before deciding, and there is no stock in the UK - not even display models. I'm tempted to just go out and buy a midrange MB to save me spending the extra money - but I don't want to regret it in a couple of months.

[uber gorilla]

I woke up this morning (figuratively speaking) and realised something: the MBA is awesome.

So awesome, in fact, that only those who can't afford it are jealous and don't want others to own something that they can't own. If they could afford it (and let's face it, it aint cheap), they would purchase said laptop and be perfectly quiet, otherwise would be touting the glories of said laptop. But, lacking the finances, they go about throwing up arguments about how pithy the MBA is, comparing it (naturally, yet unreasonably) to other products to which comparison is overkill. It's like comparing King Kong to a teddy bear. Or Letterman to Leno. You heard me.

So, in honouring the title of this thread, there is a real point to the Macbook Air -- it's a fancy, chic must-have for the facy, chic populace out there. Either you're in, or you're out. Savvy?

[sanford]

Isn't this how all debates about the relative merits of Apple's products wind up? The cons throw up their hands in disgust and the pros tell the cons they're only con because they can't afford it and they are therefore envious of those who can.

It's not all about the money, brother. (By your spellings of "realised" and "honouring", I assume you're not an American, but I'll grant you honorary citizenship for taking the cash angle on this debate.) I could check my bank balance, but without looking, I'll estimate I can buy four of the hard drive models, not even notice in the household budget -- and we're far from wealthy. Over four, the bank might do a fraud-check call, and if they don't get me, they'll call my wife's mobile. And she'll wonder what I'm doing. I can pass off three as surprise presents, but the fourth, the youngest two kids are way too young to use as excuses for the fourth Air.

But, cut out the "you can't afford one so you're jealous of people who can" nonsense, you're absolutely right, and also merely restating my point from all along. The Air is "fancy, chic". It's fashion. Not a thing wrong with that.* Where it gets ridiculous is denying it's a fashion indulgence, defending it as the most practical Mac portable solution for some people, as it's not for anyone, really.

Me, I'm con. For one reason only: internal storage. I need more for my too much music; I want everything, all my data, media files and software on the beast. And I refuse to go back to managing two Macs, sync or Back to My Mac or anything else notwithstanding. But if there were a 160GB drive in there, or an option for one, I'd buy one and tell you straight: I'm overpaying for underpowered and feature-slashed because I think it's pretty and I want the pretty one, Mommy. Not: Because I've given it much thought and it's the perfect ultralight portable for the professional on the go in today's fast, fast, fast world where every millimeter thickness and every gram weight count times one hundred. Ha. I can't stop laughing.

*Point one, I'm about to pay about US$700 for a 1930s Corona Streamline, an extra $100 for excellent over very good condition -- I'm not a collector, either. I have this notion I'll use it, but as OCR software seems to have fairly well died out, I won't use it long unless I hire a typist to rekey the product of the Streamline into a Mac. But I'm still going to buy it, because impractical as it may be, it's stunningly gorgeous. Point two, I was going to pay a rather goofy sum of US$350 for the Ugobe Pleo for my young sons, until I read kids get bored with it after half an hour. (Wonder what the return policy is on those things; maybe the boys will take to it, and if not I could just return it, take a little hit on a restock fee or something.)

UPDATE: Oh, yeah, I tried. I stripped down, or calculated stripping down where it was too much trouble to pull things off and put them back, my MacBook. I come up with 3GB spare, max, not counting that about 1GB flex for temp files or some virtual memory deal or whatever it is. That's room for maybe two movies, temporarily, not counting at least 200MB a month in new music. 10GB, sure, I could probably talk myself into it. 3GB, no way. For me, I need the storage; that's the deal-killer here. So if I'm irate about anything, I'm irate they didn't wedge a 160GB 1.8" drive in there -- and I now they could have done it -- because that knocks the Air out for me.

I woke up this morning (figuratively speaking) and realised something: the MBA is awesome.

So awesome, in fact, that only those who can't afford it are jealous and don't want others to own something that they can't own. If they could afford it (and let's face it, it aint cheap), they would purchase said laptop and be perfectly quiet, otherwise would be touting the glories of said laptop. But, lacking the finances, they go about throwing up arguments about how pithy the MBA is, comparing it (naturally, yet unreasonably) to other products to which comparison is overkill. It's like comparing King Kong to a teddy bear. Or Letterman to Leno. You heard me.

So, in honouring the title of this thread, there is a real point to the Macbook Air -- it's a fancy, chic must-have for the facy, chic populace out there. Either you're in, or you're out. Savvy?

[zap2]

By 2010 you've bought your 3rd MBA for daily use, because of non-changeable battery. If you like to buy a whole laptop instead of new battery, just keep buing MBAs every year. Share holders will be pleased.

Are you the kind of person who complains about having to buy a new iPod when you battery life starts to go down?

You can just replace the battery. Apple will do it for you.

[zap2]

I could check my bank balance, but without looking, I'll estimate I can buy four of the hard drive models, not even notice in the household budget -- and we're far from wealthy. )

No, you're rich.

If you can afford almost 8,000 dollars, and not notice it, you're rich.

[sanford]

No, you're rich.

If you can afford almost 8,000 dollars, and not notice it, you're rich.

Okay, but not by local standards, which is my principal context. But I'm also almost 40. And you also have to consider I can afford that because we're not into expensive cars, so our car payments -- actually, when we had them; we paid them off -- and auto insurance are reasonable. We don't carry much credit debt. I don't want to get lost in a 4,000-square-foot suburban civic center masquerading as house or pay through the nose for a place in a trendy neighborhood done up in plywood, spray-on Styrofoam façade and PVC plumbing that will all fall down in five years, so we have a reasonable mortgage for a reasonably sized, 35-year-old townhouse made out of traditional building materials, not stuff that you can buy in a pressurized can at the Home Depot.

Our furniture is nice, a few nice antique pieces bargain-snagged, save the kitchen table finish and its chairs' upholstery need refurbishing due to kids -- anti-stain anything is a lie unless you're talking about using Thompson's Water Seal on the fabric. The kids' clothes are nice -- with the exception, our teen daughter's clothes *were* nice, but she's made, ah, modifications to them which mostly involve holes at the knees; also creating the future scenario in which future jeans and such will be not quite so pricey until she grows out of cutting holes into them.

We live well, to our standards, but there's a fair bit of material conservatism in there, too. We indulge where we wish, on quite a bit, but they're not the sort of things that impress neighbors. I do think the minimum income in this nation for families is too low by statute; but a family of four can live to a very high standard on $45,000 gross, in a fly-over-country city. I know, we used to do it on about that, years ago, adjusting our income then downward for former lower cost of living.

Sorry, that's all off-topic. The basic point is, if one can't easily afford US$2,000 for a fashion Mac, but one has an 18-month-old $50,000 SUV in the garage of a brand new mega-house with a $3,500 monthly mortgage payment, one has made one's choices, hasn't one?

[Russet]

It seems to me that everyone is missing the real point of the MacBook Air.


That is off topic too Sanford.

The thread is that everyone is missing the point about the MacBook Air.

Stuart in Oz has twigged it. He is right on the nail. Much of the discussion everywhere else in the forum threads is bogged down in detail.

Good one Stuart.

[Russet]

In the MacBook Air Apple has followed a tactic it has used before.

If you look back over time you will note that on several occasions Apple has produced an product that has been unusual to say the least. Consider the Cube as a good example.

Creating new ideas as progressive as the ones that Apple delivers is not easy and introducing such ideas to a skeptical public even harder. Perhaps Apple has borrowed from the car industry which unveils "concept" cars at motorshows across the world.

But Apple has been clever because while their "concept" computers push the boundaries in technological and design development they are still production items that people can buy.

Such products serve two important purposes firstly they drive development, smaller logic boards, etc, etc. and secondly they test the market introducing new ideas and products to the public.

By producing concept computers as production items Apple is able to recoup much of its development funding.

The cube was a specialist collectors item rather than a mainstream product but gave us a computer based on a compact 6" by 6" package which provided the basis for the second imac and the Mac mini.

Now we have a super lightweight slim laptop in MacBook Air that will be a showpiece for executive offices. More importantly it has driven the development of super slim laptop technology and incorporated a number of technological advances such as flash storage and full wireless communication.

We shouldn't look at the MacBook Air as a mainstream product and start to compare it with, say, Macbooks. We have missed the point.

Instead we should look at the MacBook Air and see that it gives us a glimpse of where computer development is going. We should also remember that many of the advances made in computer design and technology right from the very first desktop have come from Apple.

[slotcarbob]

That is off topic too Sanford.

The thread is that everyone is missing the point about the MacBook Air.

Stuart in Oz has twigged it. He is right on the nail. Much of the discussion everywhere else in the forum threads is bogged down in detail.

Good one Stuart.


Russet, please don't treat me like my kids. "You just don't understand!". Of course I do, and I too, twigged it. Your Pismo is the perfect example. That machine was probably the best Apple ever made. It included video out, PCMCIA, FW, AND the best screen of the day. It was the "right" kind of out of the box.

The Air has one glaring fault. It is trusting an iPod like drive (unless you pay an extra $1000) to a computer that may have to run 8 hours of PowerPoint presentations. The darned thing is overpriced. Add to that the fact that you need to add a one lb external to have an optical, and the thing weighs as much as a MBP, and costs the same.

I appreciate "Apple cute" as much as anyone, but I am not going to put aside reason to accept anything they make as great, or even good. Priced at $1300, this is a "fine" machine. Not as great as the Pismo, which people still pay hundreds for, and use, but a fine machine. At $1800, you gotta be kidding.

I get it all right.

This just in
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=135A781CA29B4ECB9ADAD8E72CF6FD61

How fast will Apple lower the price on the Air, now?

[Russet]

Russet, please don't treat me like my kids. "You just don't understand!". Of course I do, and I too, twigged it. Your Pismo is the perfect example. That machine was probably the best Apple ever made. It included video out, PCMCIA, FW, AND the best screen of the day. It was the "right" kind of out of the box.

The Air has one glaring fault. It is trusting an iPod like drive (unless you pay an extra $1000) to a computer that may have to run 8 hours of PowerPoint presentations. The darned thing is overpriced. Add to that the fact that you need to add a one lb external to have an optical, and the thing weighs as much as a MBP, and costs the same.

I appreciate "Apple cute" as much as anyone, but I am not going to put aside reason to accept anything they make as great, or even good. Priced at $1300, this is a "fine" machine. Not as great as the Pismo, which people still pay hundreds for, and use, but a fine machine. At $1800, you gotta be kidding.

I get it all right.

This just in
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=135A781CA29B4ECB9ADAD8E72CF6FD61

How fast will Apple lower the price on the Air, now?

You are right Bob, the Pismo was/is a fine machine and still going strong. After all this time I am about to replace it with a new MacBook Pro. The Pismo, though fully upgraded, is now too slow, lacks RAM and hardrive capacity and being G3 cannot run up to date software. The batteries died years ago which has been a pain and the screen is now so dim it is difficult to work. I got seven good years out of it though - a marvellous machine.

It cost Aus$4,500 in 2001 (superceded by the G4 it was discounted from Aus$6,000), the new MBP is Aus$3,399 as a newly released model.

An interesting link you gave to the Lenovo and two interesting points:
1) They don't give dimensions of the machines.
2) The top model comes with XP and not Vista.

You are right the MacBook Air is expensive but I don't think it is meant to replace the MacBooks for a solid working machine doing PowerPoint presentations which I think was Stuart from Oz's original thought in this thread.

[roykim]

but in a different way.

Personally, I wish the MBA had come out sooner especially as a former 12" Powerbook owner and someone who's had real experience with subnotebooks (Toshiba Libretto L5, Sony PCG-SR127, Dell D420). I actually prefer them over normal laptops and desktop replacements. The 12" form factor was perfect in terms of usability (display/keyboard) but was still a bit heavy. The Sony and Toshiba had smaller keyboards and displays but not by much (10.5") but still were totally usable. Unfortunately, processing speed, memory, and storage were all sacrificed for size/weight.

As I see it, both the Macbooks and the MBP's are desktop replacements. Macbooks for the regular consumer, and MBP's for gamers and professionals or anyone in general who would utilize the discrete graphics chip. While I understand there aren't many who use or even see use in a subnotebook, I don't understand how there can be a comparison here. I have many friends who agree that from a price standpoint the MBA isn't a good deal, but if you look at other subnotebooks, the pricing is right on.

Do any of you even live in an urban environment like Manhattan or San Francisco where you walk, take the subway/train and bus everywhere? How about Seoul, London or Tokyo? Do you know what it feels like to have 3 extra pounds weighing you down? Or perhaps the space saved in your pack could be used for an extra t-shirt for after the gym. I remember when I lived in the city (Manhattan) there were times when I couldn't go back home until the end of the day. Meanwhile I had classes, gym.. and met up with friends for meals. There's no way in hell I'm going to carry my MBP with my textbooks and clothes to all those places. It's different now that I live in a suburban environment with a car and all.. but some things just sorta stuck with me.


* Size/weight and usability is the biggest factor for me as I like to travel and go about my daily business whether it's studying, relaxing at a cafe, or giving a client presentation. 3lbs DOES make a difference.

* HDD space is not a factor since I have all my media in some sort of PMP such as my iPod or Treo while I'm on the road. I do not need to have ALL my data with me at all times. Carrying all my media on my iPod/Treo and on my notebook while having the same data on my desktop is just totally redundant. I have external storage to deal with backups and daily use storage for my media.

* Power (batteries) has never been an issue. I HATE carrying extra stuff, so I've never EVER purchased an extra battery to carry around. I've had 8 notebooks within the past 8 years. Carrying an extra battery (in my opinion) is redundant because I always have my AC adapter with me. I try to charge whenever I can for the times when I can't be tethered to an outlet. Although, I can understand having an extra battery would be useful for those who travel air often.

* Having an OPTICAL MEDIA drive built-in is a convenience. But again, I've purchased external drives for both my Toshiba and Sony subnotebooks and found that I've never traveled with it. Ever. Watching DVD's on the road means I gotta carry DVDs. It's just more stuff to carry around (and lose or break). I'd rather just rip the thing onto my HDD and delete it after watching.. or better yet nowadays I can just DL or stream it. And today, iTunes rentals makes it even easier. Have I mentioned I hate carrying extra stuff that'll weigh me down?

*Wireless access is almost ubiquitous in urban environments. Seriously I've had t-mobile's hotspot since day one of it being released. I can count 7 Starbucks locations on my way to school. School is 5 miles away. I don't program (can't imagine anyone doing coding on this thing) nor do I use ethernet at home. With ATT's takeover of Tmobiles hotspot, you have even more locations (zomg mcdonalds... and borders and b&n) People can cry about security, but honestly.. I don't do my banking and stuff unless I'm at home.

[slotcarbob]

but in a different way.




* Size/weight and usability is the biggest factor for me as I like to travel and go about my daily business whether it's studying, relaxing at a cafe, or giving a client presentation. 3lbs DOES make a difference.

*Wireless access is almost ubiquitous in urban environments. Seriously I've had t-mobile's hotspot since day one of it being released. I can count 7 Starbucks locations on my way to school. School is 5 miles away. I don't program (can't imagine anyone doing coding on this thing) nor do I use ethernet at home. With ATT's takeover of Tmobiles hotspot, you have even more locations (zomg mcdonalds... and borders and b&n) People can cry about security, but honestly.. I don't do my banking and stuff unless I'm at home.

This was a good reply for me. Cleared up a lot about who would want one? BUT, did you buy one, or would you? Is the price not too high for this product? Again, I am waiting for the price drop, ala iPhone. Maybe 30 days.

[BongoBanger]

The real point of the Air is to provide a product that some people will find meets their needs - whether functional and/or aesthetic - and which they will therefore buy and generally be happy with.

[slotcarbob]

The real point of the Air is to provide a product that some people will find meets their needs - whether functional and/or aesthetic - and which they will therefore buy and generally be happy with.

Duh!

[BongoBanger]

Duh!


Hey, it's taken 12 pages so far to get there! ;)

[slotcarbob]

Lmao.

[Tensakun]

but in a different way.
Do any of you even live in an urban environment like Manhattan or San Francisco where you walk, take the subway/train and bus everywhere? How about Seoul, London or Tokyo? Do you know what it feels like to have 3 extra pounds weighing you down? Or perhaps the space saved in your pack could be used for an extra t-shirt for after the gym. I remember when I lived in the city (Manhattan) there were times when I couldn't go back home until the end of the day. Meanwhile I had classes, gym.. and met up with friends for meals. There's no way in hell I'm going to carry my MBP with my textbooks and clothes to all those places. It's different now that I live in a suburban environment with a car and all.. but some things just sorta stuck with me.

My situation exactly--I'm moving all over Osaka and neighboring cities nearly every day, working on trains, buses, taxis, park benches, coffee shops. As you young guys get deep into middle age, especially if you don't work out as much as ideal, your back will appreciate dearly your efforts to shed some of the weight you tote from morning to night.

Obviously the MBP and even the MB have a lot more bang for the buck as far as power/functions/IO go, but the MBA offers real portability. Since 90% of my Mac use is Word, PowerPoint, web browsing, e-mail and a bit of iTunes tweaking, I'm guessing that the MBA will have plenty enuf power for me.

[roykim]

edited

[roykim]

edited

[SodiumBenzoate]

How are you adjusting to the footprint of the MBA? I find that while full-size screen and keyboard are perfect (no complaints there)... I think they could have done better around the sides of the keyboard and bezel. They could have shaved a full inch on the sides and still have space left!

I think that the bezel is just a compromise resulting from the MBA's extreme thinness, they needed some extra space on the sides.

[Tensakun]

How are you adjusting to the footprint of the MBA? I find that while full-size screen and keyboard are perfect (no complaints there)... I think they could have done better around the sides of the keyboard and bezel. They could have shaved a full inch on the sides and still have space left!

Actually, won't make a purchase until around June/July. Have been using my 12" PB for nearly 4 years, which is perfect for sharing train seats and not invading seat partner's 'space.' The 12's keyboard is just fine for me, not cramped for my relatively big fingers.

As others have noted, the unwanted bezel around both keyboard and screen are surely due to Steve's bizarre thinness fetish. Oh well...

[namethisfile]

that everyone is forgetting.

Not sure if anyone has pointed out that the people apple is probably targeting for the macbook air is not you and i... but, the rest of the world. let me explain... of all people who has a laptop or a desktop, there's another group of people out there who doesn't have a computer, yet... for one reason or another. i think that's where the macbook air comes in. i know people have argued the merits of the MA as a good 2nd computer, or, a de-facto 2nd computer, in fact, arguing that it's too "thin" in features and flexibility to be the only computer. But, what if the MA is a good 1st computer? i mean, off-the-bat, the macbook air is a competent machine with every feature you need to start wi-fi-ing and whatnot. not that wi-fi is the end all be all of what makes a good computer. i am just using it as an example of one feature that the macbook can do with an infrastructure already built in for air-owners to take advantage of. i mean, to me, the macbook air is like living in the city and using public transportation to get around. whereas, a regular macbook or macbook pro might like driving in with your car and having to worry about parking and that stuff that comes with owning a car and needing a car. just a thought...

[imapfsr]

For me, the MBA is my only computer. Obviously I am not a 'heavy user' like some of you out there. Ocasionally watch a movie, play a round of Tiger Woods 05 as I couldnt get 08 running, internet, email and that sort of thing. So for me the MBA is the most perfect computer that I have ever used and I love it. You can also bet your a@@ I love it when someone comes up to me and drools over my MBA only becuse it gives me a chance to show off this technological wonder and convert another Windows user to Mac !!!!! :D

[BongoBanger]

For me, the MBA is my only computer. Obviously I am not a 'heavy user' like some of you out there. Ocasionally watch a movie, play a round of Tiger Woods 05 as I couldnt get 08 running, internet, email and that sort of thing. So for me the MBA is the most perfect computer that I have ever used and I love it. You can also bet your a@@ I love it when someone comes up to me and drools over my MBA only becuse it gives me a chance to show off this technological wonder and convert another Windows user to Mac !!!!! :D

This technological wonder that can't even run TW '08 you say?

[Tosser]

This technological wonder that can't even run TW '08 you say?

Not to mention he apparently rips his movies (taking up a huge amount of space on the abysmally small drive). Yes, that sure is the perfect computer for that use :rolleyes:

[Santa Rosa]

To the OP. That is a hands down brilliant post. I wish I had a time machine so we could go and prove you right. Great post.

[PittAir]

Does anyone making negative comments here even have an MBA?

Look, I bought one to replace a VAIO TZ190 (which replaced a Dell X1) and I am one of the "rest of us" who earn money with this machine.

If I am going to be doing mega video editing or intense gaming, I probably would have another machine for that purpose. This machine is not meant for you, unless, you intend to take your 20GB video file on the road (in your USB disk) and need to show it.

But guess what? I don't. I need to check emails, use MS Office apps, surf the web, and give presentations. No machine does this with the style and utility of an MBA. My guess is that the majority of traveling business people do precisely my activities, and nothing more.

Expensive now? You bet. Full featured? No way. But after guys like me use this machine for the next year and give feedback to Apple, the next generations will be fuller featured and less expensive.

Face it, Windows machines (especially Vista ones) are kludge next to Apples. Now that Apple runs XP flawlessly using bootcamp or VM Fusion (my choice), why even buy a Dell or a Lenovo unless you huge IT bureaucracy makes you?

[BongoBanger]

Face it, Windows machines (especially Vista ones) are kludge next to Apples. Now that Apple runs XP flawlessly using bootcamp or VM Fusion (my choice), why even buy a Dell or a Lenovo unless you huge IT bureaucracy makes you?

Lenovo's are awesome. You could hit one with a nuke and it wouldn't dent it. :D

[Tosser]

Does anyone making negative comments here even have an MBA?

Are you saying that people's arguments against the MBA is only valid if they purchased one? You know where that argument takes you, right? Unless you murdered someone you cannot say it's immoral and shouldn't be done. Hell, you could even say that unless you killed of an entire people, you shouldn't have any qualms with it.


Look, I bought one to replace a VAIO TZ190 (which replaced a Dell X1) and I am one of the "rest of us" who earn money with this machine.

So? I could earn money with it too. It wouldn't be a great experience and certainly not the most productive choice, but I could do it in a pinch.

If I am going to be doing mega video editing or intense gaming, I probably would have another machine for that purpose.
Or if you needed, say, firewire, an extra/swappable battery, smaller footprint (it's the size of the MacBook), more hdd-space, an ethernet plug or a 3G modem while using an external HDD and most other things, you'd hopefully buy something else.


This machine is not meant for you, unless, you intend to take your 20GB video file on the road (in your USB disk) and need to show it.
See above.

But guess what? I don't. I need to check emails, use MS Office apps, surf the web, and give presentations.
Sounds like a pda would do the job just splendidly. I'm not surprised a MBA works for you.

No machine does this with the style and utility of an MBA.
Utility? Which utility? But again, I see you emphasizing the "style"-portion of the MBA.

My guess is that the majority of traveling business people do precisely my activities, and nothing more.
Propably. Hence most of those can make do with a smart phone, a PDA and/or an EEE-PC.

Expensive now? You bet. Full featured? No way. But after guys like me use this machine for the next year and give feedback to Apple, the next generations will be fuller featured and less expensive.
Wait. So you're saying, after stating more or less that the MBA in it's current incarnation is close to perfect, that it's not? That it actually will need to get some more features? If not, why would it become more featured after a year with feedback from users like yourself?

Face it, Windows machines (especially Vista ones) are kludge next to Apples. Now that Apple runs XP flawlessly using bootcamp or VM Fusion (my choice), why even buy a Dell or a Lenovo unless you huge IT bureaucracy makes you?

I'll take a lenovo over any recent Apple any day when it comes to quality.

[aussieinrome]

Lenovo's are awesome. You could hit one with a nuke and it wouldn't dent it. :D

Only awesome for people with absolutely no aesthetic sense.

[Tosser]

Only awesome for people with absolutely no aesthetic sense.

Ah, yes. Nothing like using a ducati street "racer" as a off-road Land Rover.

You just showed your true colours: It's all about showing-off, not about getting work done. How good for you.

[wrightc23]

Only awesome for people with absolutely no aesthetic sense.

Actually I quite like the look of the X300 and the Thinkpad range. It's very functional it's also a hell of a lot quicker than the MBA. I always find it entertaining to hear users and lazy journalists talk about the performance of a PC/MAC being slower because of it's processor speed. The MBA is a real slug to use even with SSD because of the bottleneck that is PATA. The X300 has an SSD that has roughly twice the performance of the MBA's SSD which more than offsets the 0.4ghz disadvantage. The performance of any computer is limited by it's slowest device which is invariably it's primary storage option.

I understand Apple's basis for using PATA as it wanted to offer a cheaper HDD option where as Lenovo went straight for the top end exec market and used a SATA II SSD.

Hopefully Apple will change this when they next update the MBA given that Toshiba now offer a 1.8" SATA HDD. Switching to a SATA interface would also allow them to offer much quickers SSD solutions as well for the MBA.

[pilotError]

STEC - The company they are now going to for SSD drives supports PATA.

http://www.stec-inc.com/product/mach8.php

[aussieinrome]

Ah, yes. Nothing like using a ducati street "racer" as a off-road Land Rover.

You just showed your true colours: It's all about showing-off, not about getting work done. How good for you.

Work, who works, I just sit back and wait for the money to roll in...

[aussieinrome]

Actually I quite like the look of the X300 and the Thinkpad range. It's very functional it's also a hell of a lot quicker than the MBA. I always find it entertaining to hear users and lazy journalists talk about the performance of a PC/MAC being slower because of it's processor speed. The MBA is a real slug to use even with SSD because of the bottleneck that is PATA. The X300 has an SSD that has roughly twice the performance of the MBA's SSD which more than offsets the 0.4ghz disadvantage. The performance of any computer is limited by it's slowest device which is invariably it's primary storage option.

I understand Apple's basis for using PATA as it wanted to offer a cheaper HDD option where as Lenovo went straight for the top end exec market and used a SATA II SSD.

Hopefully Apple will change this when they next update the MBA given that Toshiba now offer a 1.8" SATA HDD. Switching to a SATA interface would also allow them to offer much quickers SSD solutions as well for the MBA.

I find the SSD in the Air exceeds my expectations anyway.

[Tosser]

Work, who works, I just sit back and wait for the money to roll in...

Apparently, you care more about perceived "style" than productivity and could make do with a smart phone (a real one, not the iPhone), even if you did try to have a go with sarcasm. Alas, after reading your other posts, your sarcasm really doesn't help your argument one bit.

[aussieinrome]

Apparently, you care more about perceived "style" than productivity and could make do with a smart phone (a real one, not the iPhone), even if you did try to have a go with sarcasm. Alas, after reading your other posts, your sarcasm really doesn't help your argument one bit.

Parallels doesn't run on a smart phone. Thus 3D Studio Max wont run... maybe it does and I'm just too stupid to get it working...:confused:

[BongoBanger]

Only awesome for people with absolutely no aesthetic sense.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately you're blind.

[Lord Sam]

Apparently, you care more about perceived "style" than productivity and could make do with a smart phone (a real one, not the iPhone), even if you did try to have a go with sarcasm. Alas, after reading your other posts, your sarcasm really doesn't help your argument one bit.

1. Style makes your competitors jealous, and slows down their productivity.

2. Why is the iPhone not a real smart phone? Is it because it has (ooh don't say it! Naughty word!) "Style"? Please tell me more.

3. Who cares if he uses sarcasm or not!? It's his posts. Why can't we all just get along?

[imapfsr]

It is obvious to me that the naysayers and haters of the MBA are quite simply jealous of its success and that it is the hot computer that it is baby. It is that one in the crowd that dislikes what he cannot have. When I say that I do not mean due to financial reasons or anything like that. Quite simply it does not fit his needs so he feels he must trash it in any way possible. They cannot stand that there are people out there that are overjoyed with their MBA and feel that it is the best computer they have ever used. This is my only computer and it completely does everything I need it to do. It does it all at speeds that are faster than any other PC or laptop I have used. It literally puts a smile on my face every time I use it. I went to Cuba last week and used it on the plane to watch a couple of movies I had on the hard drive.....no issues there either. Everyone knows it has its faults as does every other computer ever made but I will take the bad with the very, very good any day and continue to have that smile on my face every time I use my MBA.
PS
Tosser, sounds like you have chosen the perfect username to match your person by your comments on this post.

[BongoBanger]

It is obvious to me that the naysayers and haters of the MBA are quite simply jealous of its success and that it is the hot computer that it is baby. It is that one in the crowd that dislikes what he cannot have. When I say that I do not mean due to financial reasons or anything like that. Quite simply it does not fit his needs so he feels he must trash it in any way possible. They cannot stand that there are people out there that are overjoyed with their MBA and feel that it is the best computer they have ever used. This is my only computer and it completely does everything I need it to do. It does it all at speeds that are faster than any other PC or laptop I have used. It literally puts a smile on my face every time I use it. I went to Cuba last week and used it on the plane to watch a couple of movies I had on the hard drive.....no issues there either. Everyone knows it has its faults as does every other computer ever made but I will take the bad with the very, very good any day and continue to have that smile on my face every time I use my MBA.
PS
Tosser, sounds like you have chosen the perfect username to match your person by your comments on this post.

Please, never post again without switching your stupid assumption filter on first.

[imapfsr]

My comments are bang on BoingoBanger but I understand your denial. If you really want to talk stupid assumptions or even dumber comments....Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you are blind.........very witty and original.

[Tosser]

1. Style makes your competitors jealous, and slows down their productivity.

2. Why is the iPhone not a real smart phone? Is it because it has (ooh don't say it! Naughty word!) "Style"? Please tell me more.

3. Who cares if he uses sarcasm or not!? It's his posts. Why can't we all just get along?

1. I don't know who you compete with, their age, and what you guys compete on, but my competitors care more about my resuts and the quality of their products compared to mine (and others), not about style at the coffee shop.

2. No, something can have style as well as being a sweet product. The iPhone isn't such a product. Just like the MBA it's style over substance (much like your competitors apparently). It can't do half of what a smart phone can, let alone what a pda phone can. And what it can it doesn't really do well. Oh, well, except for youtube videos, of course.

3. Yes, it's his posts, just like my posts are mine. What strikes me about his use of sarcasm - that he does indeed use it for work - is so badly timed that sarcasm is plainly stupid. After (unwillingly) admitting that he might as well be using something else - even a PDA or a smart phone (or EEE pc) - you cannot drive your point home with a sarcastic comment like that. It's about rhetoric, and using sarcasm in this instance would mean this somehow was a good choice (or even the best?) for what he "needs".
Besides, aren't you yourself doing what you accuse me of? I guess some people don't think a few steps ahead.


It is obvious to me that the naysayers and haters of the MBA are quite simply jealous of its success and that it is the hot computer that it is baby. It is that one in the crowd that dislikes what he cannot have. When I say that I do not mean due to financial reasons or anything like that. Quite simply it does not fit his needs so he feels he must trash it in any way possible.
Great logic. So an Alfa Romeo is not a rust bucket after all - it's just a matter of different needs. By your logic, no product can be said to be crap, simply because the ones saying it's crap must simply have other needs. Excellent thinking, pal. You wouldn't happen to be a "competitor" to Lord Sam, would you?


They cannot stand that there are people out there that are overjoyed with their MBA and feel that it is the best computer they have ever used.
Assumptions much?
You remind of the people who try to pass of the bible as science, with your continuation of your strawman arguments and all.
I'm saying you could propably do with a PDA, smart phone or an EEE PC. Much lighter choices.

This is my only computer and it completely does everything I need it to do. It does it all at speeds that are faster than any other PC or laptop I have used.
Dead giveaway: Either you're very young or you haven't used that many computers. or both.

It literally puts a smile on my face every time I use it. I went to Cuba last week and used it on the plane to watch a couple of movies I had on the hard drive.....no issues there either.
Ah, yes. Excellent example of using it for productivity. It must be that "style" that slows down the competitors, right?
It's great to know that Apple has come such a long, that your definition of "does everything you want it to" is "I can watch movies on the plane". It puts everything you said into context.

Everyone knows it has its faults as does every other computer ever made but I will take the bad with the very, very good any day and continue to have that smile on my face every time I use my MBA.
Why wouldn't you get a smile on your face from watching movies on the plane? I mean, there cannot possible be any other good use for your computer. And it does it faster than anything you owned before!

PS
Tosser, sounds like you have chosen the perfect username to match your person by your comments on this post.
Must be great having no arguments, and having to resort to something like that. I'm willing to bet, had I been call "red-haired", you'd make some kindergarten remark about that instead. Go watch some movies on your "tool" instead.

My comments are bang on BoingoBanger but I understand your denial.
By now it's obvious who's "in denial". Your comments are so far fetched and assumptious all the while you make a fool of yourself that I'm beginning to wonder if you're for real.

If you really want to talk stupid assumptions or even dumber comments....Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you are blind.........very witty and original.

Am I missing something, or are you yet again talking "style"? I think that is what separates guys like you from guys like us: You constantly refer to style, whereas we think of of computers as tools, and what's the best and fastest way to get the job done. I guess you're not, since the best productivity exmple you can come up with is watching videos on the aeroplane.

[BongoBanger]

My comments are bang on BoingoBanger but I understand your denial. If you really want to talk stupid assumptions or even dumber comments....Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you are blind.........very witty and original.

Actually just don't ever post again full stop.

[imapfsr]

Wow,
I am at a loss for words. I am a very young 40 year old who has owned my share of computers in my life. I am just saying for me it is exactly what I need in laptop and I am very happy with how it performs. I am not a 'heavy user' when it comes to my computer and the Air does exactly what I need it to do. This is only my second Apple product and I am very happy with both. Ironically my first was the Iphone which I also love. Go ahead, let er rip.....
I have probably owned at least 10 or more PDA's starting with the Caseopia I think it was called to more than one Hp and HTC's as well so I do have some experience in this area. The Iphone has also been the best I have used for many reasons. Does it lack in certain areas, yes but it is so much better in others. Just because I don't agree with what you say doesn't make me 'a fool'
I am quite happy I am not a 'guy like you' and take pride in knowing I will never be one. I am just a guy who likes to watch movies on his laptop while flying on an aeroplane. Forgive me for disagreeing with you a making a fool of myself but I just can't help myself. I just wanted to see how it fealt to be one of you guys.

[Tosser]

Wow,
I am at a loss for words. I am a very young 40 year old who has owned my share of computers in my life. I am just saying for me it is exactly what I need in laptop and I am very happy with how it performs. I am not a 'heavy user' when it comes to my computer and the Air does exactly what I need it to do. This is only my second Apple product and I am very happy with both. Ironically my first was the Iphone which I also love. Go ahead, let er rip.....

Nothing to rip. However, you just proved my point, that either you were very young or had owned very few computers or both. Turns out, you merely buy computers as a fashion statement.

I have probably owned at least 10 or more PDA's starting with the Caseopia I think it was called to more than one Hp and HTC's as well so I do have some experience in this area.

Point being? My argument was that for whatever "work" you do on your computer, you could propably make do with one of those, and not something with a footprint the size of a MB.

The Iphone has also been the best I have used for many reasons. Does it lack in certain areas, yes but it is so much better in others.
Yes, it's great for surfing the web and watching youtube videos.


Just because I don't agree with what you say doesn't make me 'a fool'
I didn't call you a fool at all. I just find your statements about "work" ridiculous (more than foolish), when all you have to "show" is that you watch films on an aeroplane.

I am quite happy I am not a 'guy like you' and take pride in knowing I will never be one.
You take "pride" in that? Sheesh, I hope you have something bigger to take pride in. Otherwise I'd recommend you get a life.

I am just a guy who likes to watch movies on his laptop while flying on an aeroplane.
Yes, I think we all know by now that that is what you consider an argument as to why the MBA is great as a "work computer". You know, you could forego the computer entirely, and just use your iPhone to watch those movies. It's even pocketable, you know. What's that you say - you cannot log on to certain secure networks through wi-fi? Yes, the sort of thing (amongst many others) a real smartphone and/or pda is capable of.

Forgive me for disagreeing with you a making a fool of myself but I just can't help myself. I just wanted to see how it fealt to be one of you guys.

Well, if you so want to try being like one of us guys, howsabout you tried using coherent argumentation, and not try to argue that since you're able to watch films on it (duh!) it's the perfect work computer? That might be a good starting point.

Btw, did you know you can get much easier, much lighter, and even pocketable solutions to watch videos on the go?

[imapfsr]

My apologizes,
You didnt call me a fool you just simply pointed out that I was making one of myself. I was wondering how my comments imply that I merely buy computers as a fashion statement? Also, please show me where I mentioned that I use my Air for 'work purposes' and that style comment wasnt even made by me so you should check closer before you qoute. My point on the fact that I have owned more than a few PDAs was to say that I am not a fresh faced newbie who is commenting on things with no experience. I hope that you can understand that people are all different and so are their needs. Dont insult people intelligence just because they dont agree with you.

[strangelogic]

I am very happy with my MBA, mainly because I have to carry a huge work-issued laptop with me whenever I travel and cannot do any 'personal' activities with that equipment. The list of reasons why I went with the MBA is long, but - I don't feel like playing some game here in the forum with someone who is just here to pontificate about how he is right and knows all about technology and other people's lives, and anyone who deviates from his vision of 'correctness' in their choice of technology is wrong. Little passive-aggressive snipes over and over and over

It's a great laptop - it works for me... and for the record - it's typically not seen by other people - it's not a show piece, it's just a functional part of my life. I did the math before buying it, slower CPU - more money it did not 'add up' -- but I cannot 'quantify' how much it's improved my quality of life -- it's a dream and half, one week into owning it I still had my doubts - two weeks in, and I would never go back to my previous laptop, not ever.

toss-away.

[aussieinrome]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately you're blind.

I am blind with my love for the Macbook Air, you're right! :cool:

[BongoBanger]

I am blind with my love for the Macbook Air, you're right! :cool:

Touche!

[riz78612]

Excellent points.

You stated that battery will charge up within 5 minutes- thats kinda cool. You also state double amount of battery power compared to now. It would be better to give a range in time span instead. As differnt laptops have differnt battery power capacity.

Eg Macbook air may have 2 hours.

But the new Hp laptop has over 24 hours.

Are you saying by 2010 we will have over 4 hours of battery as standard or 48 hours battery life as standard.

It seems to me that everyone is missing the real point of the MacBook Air.

This computer was not released to be a great laptop. It wasn't released to sell in large volumes and it wasn't released to give you everything you currently get in a MacBook or MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Air was released to remind the world that Apple is way ahead of the rest of the industry. It is to plant in the minds of the consumer today the seed that will sprout into a visit to an Apple shop for a new laptop in 2010.

Apple have always been deeply involved in the development and progress of portable computing and they want to stay at the cutting edge.

In 1989 they broke new ground with the Macintosh Portable, setting the basic design for modern laptops. In 1991, (to quote Wikipedia), "The Apple PowerBook series, introduced in October 1991, pioneered changes that are now de facto standards on laptops." In 2001 we got the Titanium Powerbook - that machine set the basic standard in design (both stylistic and technical) for laptops for the next 7 years (and still counting).

Now, once again, there are technologies coming together that make a radical redesign possible. And so Apple have given it to us. The MacBook Air. Think of the MacBook Air as the pioneering generation of the next 10 years of Apple laptops. Like the Titanium Powerbook it has set a basic size and shape that breaks new boundaries and it has brought together a grouping of technologies that will become standard over the 10 year life of this design.


Multi Touch not very useful? Wait until the software makers have had 3 or 4 years to explore it's potential.

Fixed battery with poor life? The battery industry is promising new generation batteries by around 2010 with double the current life and 5 minute recharging times (do a Google search - look for Hitachi especially).

No optical drive? Think how far iTunes has come with music in the last 3 years. How far do you think it will go with movies in the next 3? And my local computer store is selling 8GB USB keys for A$49 (US$39) at the moment. In 3 years you don't think 64GB keys will be the same price? Who wants a DVD burner then?

No inbuilt Ethernet & only 1 USB? 3 years ago I was the only person with a wireless network in my street. Right now my computer is detecting 18 home networks and my middle aged non-technical neighbour proudly showed me her new wireless printer two weeks ago. Wireless really is the future. Even hotels will catch up.

Scared by the price of the SSD? 3 years ago a 64GB SSD would have put a premium on the machine of over $10 000. Today it's down to a few hundred dollars. By 2010 it will be the standard.


So sure, the MacBook Air of early 2008 has limitations, is missing heaps of stuff we all think is essential and probably won't sell that many. But when you go to buy your next laptop, and the one after that, it will likely be an upgraded version of what we have seen released today.

And ever newspaper reader and TV news watcher of today's unveiling will remember for the next 10 years that Apple were the first to do this modern new design that everyone else is now copying, and honey, shouldn't we see what they have in their store before we look at a PC laptop?

[snberk103]

Are you saying that people's arguments against the MBA is only valid if they purchased one? You know where that argument takes you, right? Unless you murdered someone you cannot say it's immoral and shouldn't be done. Hell, you could even say that unless you killed of an entire people, you shouldn't have any qualms with it.




So? I could earn money with it too. It wouldn't be a great experience and certainly not the most productive choice, but I could do it in a pinch.


Or if you needed, say, firewire, an extra/swappable battery, smaller footprint (it's the size of the MacBook), more hdd-space, an ethernet plug or a 3G modem while using an external HDD and most other things, you'd hopefully buy something else.



See above.


Sounds like a pda would do the job just splendidly. I'm not surprised a MBA works for you.


Utility? Which utility? But again, I see you emphasizing the "style"-portion of the MBA.


Propably. Hence most of those can make do with a smart phone, a PDA and/or an EEE-PC.


Wait. So you're saying, after stating more or less that the MBA in it's current incarnation is close to perfect, that it's not? That it actually will need to get some more features? If not, why would it become more featured after a year with feedback from users like yourself?



I'll take a lenovo over any recent Apple any day when it comes to quality.

The MBA is a for a niche market. Just like a Mac Pro. I have a Mac Pro and an MBP. Fits my needs. An MBA wouldn't. However, my wife has an MBP... used it for several years. Now she has an MBA too. Its perfect for her needs. She doesn't want a smart phone or PDA or ... she wants a full sized key board to write with, she researches on the internet, she uses the browser and MS Office. Did I mention she needs a full sized keyboard. And she travels with it. The MBP was great, but heavy. The MBA she can take anywhere... its light and small.

The Mac Pro is a niche product, the iMac is niche product, the iBook was a niche product. The Air is a niche product. Hell, all Apple computers are practically niche products.....

The Air does what it was designed to do. It does it well. Its not for everyone. Nor is Apple for everyone. If you don't like the Air, don't buy it. But don't denigrate it because it doesn't work for you when it obviously works for others. [/scotch fuelled rant]

[coupdetat]

I never understood why people freak out and "need" firewire ports, lots of USB ports, dedicated video etc. I consider myself a very average user. I use my computer for normal tasks like writing papers, email, viewing lecture PDF's, working in Excel, browsing, music, etc. I use the USB port for two things: transferring music to my Walkman, and getting lecture recordings off my voice recorder (which doubles as a flash drive).

I am totally satisfied with the specs of the MBA, and the only thing I would change is to reduce the size of the bezel.

Also, the overall "feel" of the computer can be worth a lot for those who appreciate it. The MBA just feels and looks incredibly solid.

[Tomorrow]

Do you remember when Apple stopped equipping their computers with floppydisks? Everyone was howling about how terrible this was, lots of external floppys became available, and so on. And where's the floppy now?

Your point is valid and well-taken, but think back to when floppies went bye-bye - CD burners had become easy to get hold of, and blank CD-R's were shy of a quarter apiece. You could still burn some files to a medium that was inexpensive enough to give away to someone (I'm thinking of how often these days I give an entire group of files, 100-300 Mb total, to a client - not always practical with FTP).

Maybe the day will come when optical media are completely phased out, but I don't see that happening until something inexpensive replaces it. I'm sorry, but I still don't see anyplace where I can buy a spindle of 50 thumb drives for under $20, so I'm not about to start giving those away to people.

[coupdetat]

Your point is valid and well-taken, but think back to when floppies went bye-bye - CD burners had become easy to get hold of, and blank CD-R's were shy of a quarter apiece. You could still burn some files to a medium that was inexpensive enough to give away to someone (I'm thinking of how often these days I give an entire group of files, 100-300 Mb total, to a client - not always practical with FTP).

Maybe the day will come when optical media are completely phased out, but I don't see that happening until something inexpensive replaces it. I'm sorry, but I still don't see anyplace where I can buy a spindle of 50 thumb drives for under $20, so I'm not about to start giving those away to people.

Actually, IIRC, when Apple got rid of floppies, CDR's were about $1 and RW's were even more expensive. And the drives themselves were very expensive too. Our first burner was a Plextor 12x drive which cost $150 in 2000.

Also, when Apple phased out CRT's, flat panels were very expensive and had not gained wide acceptance yet. I think Apple is ahead of the curve here, even though the Air has some drawbacks. One thing that's really missing from Mac is a unified app delivery system like Steam... lots of games come on physical media still, but then again gaming on Macs isn't really supported anyways.

[Sesshi]

Nothing is ahead of the curve on the Air.

The real point of the Air is that it's a non-optimal compromise in the interests of style, appreciated by people who can only determine a computer's worth in the way it looks. Inside it's an engineering disaster in many ways.

If that's the future - well I guess I'd better get back to abacus proficiency. There have been better executed - if not quite as stylish - example of this type machine in the past, and there will be in the future. But likely not from Apple.