MacBook Airs Trickling In, Apple Stores, SSD

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

The first of the pre-orders for the MacBook Air are starting to trickle in, but with the bulk of early-orders expected to arrive on Friday.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/01/31/114731-013108_09401_300.jpg

First delivery (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4866311&postcount=1855)

The 5th Avenue Apple store in NYC already had the MacBook Air on display, and even had an SSD version of the MacBook Air. A couple of users have posted their first impressions from that encounter: brief hands on with SSD (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4864031&postcount=1684), another first impression (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4863983&postcount=1679). Most Apple Stores are expected to have display models starting Friday.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/01/31/115009-iphone013008 004_300.jpg

5th Avenue Apple Store (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4864031&postcount=1684)

Due to the high level of interest in the MacBook Air, we've created a new sub forum: MacBook Air Forum (http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=122) for readers to post their questions, impressions and discuss Apple's newest laptop.

Other threads of interest: U.S. Readers waiting for deliver (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=415463), European readers waiting for delivery (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=424374).

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/31/macbook-airs-trickling-in-apple-stores-ssd/)

[Mindflux]

My GF saw an Air at the Austin Airport on Tuesday. Some passenger was flying out and had one.

[arn]

more unboxing photos

http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2008/01/12919/

[ErikAndre]

Wooot.. he got his MacBook Air posted up! If he only submitted more photos. :D


more unboxing photos

http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2008/01/12919/

Much thanks!

[Eric Lewis]

finially a sub forum! wooo

[roland.g]

I vant von.

[4God]

more unboxing photos

http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2008/01/12919/

Wow, the pic with the iPhone nearly made me fall off my chair. :eek:

Thin is in.

[riscy]

Not really my cup of cha, but I hope they trickle in and flood out :)

[twoodcc]

alright! maybe they'll be in my apple store this weekend

[jnc]

How are those MBAs secured in stores?

[riscy]

Thinking of stealing one??

How are those MBAs secured in stores?

[SheriffParker]

Nice! I can't wait to play with one this weekend at my Apple Store! SSD should be interesting to try.

[jnc]

Thinking of stealing one??

http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/r/rolleyes.gif There's a HUGE thread going about the apparent lack of a security slot.

[Doctor Q]

I'd love to test the SSD model's speed myself. I'd run a permissions check just to see how fast it runs!

[riscy]

Thx, headed down my local Mac shop to have a look, wearing my big coat - shush!

http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/r/rolleyes.gif There's a HUGE thread going about the apparent lack of a security slot.

[riversky]

What Mac OS version??? 10.5.1?? I'd be interested to see if these are loaded with 10.5.2. That would mean today is the day!

[Small White Car]

There's a HUGE thread going about the apparent lack of a security slot.

iPods and iPhones don't have a security slot AND they're pocket-sized.

Having trouble figuring that one out too? Trust me, they've got their methods.

[Area51Tazz]

How are those MBAs secured in stores?

Looks like they're securing them with the usb thingies. You pull that out, the alarm goes off. ;)

[Neutral Gamer]

It's great that they're on display in NYC but what about over here in the UK? Anyone have any idea when the Apple stores over here will have them in for people to play with?

I really wanna see it in person; like most Apple products I bet they'll look EVEN better in person than in dimly lit photos!

[MacArchi]

Steal the MBA already but just tell us the os version, PLEEZ MAN.

[Small White Car]

THE TRUE FANBOY, WHEN PRESENTED WITH GOOD NEWS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT, WILL, INSTEAD OF PRAISING IT, ATTACK OTHERS.
Ask yourself, are YOU a fanboy?

You: Hey, the iPhone is pretty cool!
Fanboy Me: Your mom smells funny!

:confused: Er...what?

[happydude]

headed to the mall of ameriva apple store on the way home tomorrow to see one of these babies in person!!!:D

[Clive At Five]

Wow, there is no doubt about it, that is a truly sexy machine. I haven't seen beauty like this in a computer since the Cube (which still wins my vote, however).

It's too bad this little laptop is so overpiced. I can't imagine what is inside it that makes it cost $1799... its own personal RDF generator??!

-Clive

[Small White Car]

It's too bad this little laptop is so overpiced. I can't imagine what is inside it that makes it cost $1799... its own personal RDF generator??!

-Clive

See chart at bottom of article:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/01/22/how_the_macbook_air_stacks_up_against_other_ultra_light_notebooks.html

Overpriced?

[Clive At Five]

See chart at bottom of article:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/01/22/how_the_macbook_air_stacks_up_against_other_ultra_light_notebooks.html

Overpriced?

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.

I'll happily sacrifice the 2 measely pounds, .5", and back-lit keyboard for a cheaper, more powerful notebook, thanks. Why? Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.

Wait, are we actually still having this argument? I'm tired of snapping my fingers in the faces of brain-washed RDF victims.

-Clive

[MacTO]

Isn't that a beauty or what? :eek:

Hopefully one day I can possess one of those... :D

Cheers! :apple:

[NAG]

Wow, there is no doubt about it, that is a truly sexy machine. I haven't seen beauty like this in a computer since the Cube (which still wins my vote, however).

It's too bad this little laptop is so overpiced. I can't imagine what is inside it that makes it cost $1799... its own personal RDF generator??!

-Clive

The 12 inch AlBook cost the same amount at launch.

[Clive At Five]

The 12 inch AlBook cost the same amount at launch.

And I didn't buy one of those either.

At least that had features comparable to the PowerBook of the day.

This thing has soldered RAM and no optical drive, for the love of Trogdor.

-Clive

[FlavaFlavez]

I wish I needed a new laptop. I want this thing now.

[Tsurisuto]

What Mac OS version??? 10.5.1?? I'd be interested to see if these are loaded with 10.5.2. That would mean today is the day!

Me too! Someone must have checked?

[MacAddict1978]

Thinking of stealing one??

LOL they did design it to easily disapear down ones pants.

[Small White Car]

I'll happily sacrifice the 2 measely pounds, .5", and back-lit keyboard for a cheaper, more powerful notebook, thanks. Why? Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.

Wait, then why don't you buy a desktop?

It gives more power per $ than any laptop. If that's what matters you should be buying an iMac.

[pondie84]

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.

I'll happily sacrifice the 2 measely pounds, .5", and back-lit keyboard for a cheaper, more powerful notebook, thanks. Why? Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.

Wait, are we actually still having this argument? I'm tired of snapping my fingers in the faces of brain-washed RDF victims.

-Clive

So, conversely, MBA air owners have no fiscal common sense and are whimps? Personally I don't think the MBA is right for me at the moment (but could be in the future) since I just don't feel the need for a lighter notebook. Even aesthically speaking I don't think MB's or MBP's are particularly ugly. Therefore I don't see the point.

However, each to their own and I wouldn't make a blanket statement like you have.

[Neutral Gamer]

THE TRUE FANBOY, WHEN PRESENTED WITH GOOD NEWS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT, WILL, INSTEAD OF PRAISING IT, ATTACK OTHERS.
Ask yourself, are YOU a fanboy

You: Hey, the iPhone is pretty cool!
Fanboy Me: Your mom smells funny!

:confused: Er...what?

"Others" as in other competing products and those people who own / support them. So the example you'd want is:

LEOPARD GETS RAVE REVIEWS
Person 1: Leopard's great.
Person 2: I love Leopard's new features.
Person 3: It's great to see Apple have improved on Tiger in so many ways.
Fanboy: Windoze users are p4wnd again! Keep buying Micro$oft's out of date joke products you sheep and don't forget your POS Dells to run them on. Bunch of morons - if I was a Windoze user I'd kill myself out of embarrassment.

Does that make sense now? :)

[aristobrat]

I'm tired of snapping my fingers in the faces of brain-washed RDF victims.
How is a RDF involved here?

There was already an established subcompact notebook market before Apple entered it with the Air.

[Small White Car]

Does that make sense now? :)

Ha ha...very detailed response!

[MacArchi]

For what it is worth I agree with Clive at Five, especially with the slew of half baked and delayed releases, but more seriously what version of OS 10.5 is it supplied with? I used to be an over excited early adopter of everything Apple, but lately when Steve says gee whizz look at what we are bringing out next - I say what ever.

[juanm]

Looks like they're securing them with the usb thingies. You pull that out, the alarm goes off. ;)

And, can you, by any chance, take the USB thing at the same time? :D
Or is this USB attached to something?

[AppleMojo]

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.

I'll happily sacrifice the 2 measely pounds, .5", and back-lit keyboard for a cheaper, more powerful notebook, thanks. Why? Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.

-Clive

Poor people shouldn't comment on new technology, cause they can never afford it and do nothing but complain.

With your purchase concept above you wouldn't mind an iPhone that weighed an extra pound and was an inch larger in every direction for half the price? Oh, but they'll put a faster processor in it.

I think the Air is stinkin' gorgeous regardless of what's in it. Pretty impressive.

I know quite a few colleagues that will never use a 15" notebook, let alone a 13" because of the screen real estate. No matter how you explain, you can't convince them to "waste" money on it. It's just a preference.

[latestmonkey]

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.

I'll happily sacrifice the 2 measely pounds, .5", and back-lit keyboard for a cheaper, more powerful notebook, thanks. Why? Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.

Wait, are we actually still having this argument? I'm tired of snapping my fingers in the faces of brain-washed RDF victims.

-Clive

So go find another laptop to buy. Nobody cares about your opinion on the macbook air. People want to see photos and get first impressions. You don't even have one so your post adds nothing.

If you're so brawny, why don't you just lug a macpro and a monitor around...

[lazyrighteye]

I called both Aspen Grove & Cherry Creek Apple Stores, and they are expecting them "within a couple of days."

I'd say tomorrow is sounding pretty good.
The weekend seems almost certain.

[numbsafari]

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.

I'll happily sacrifice the 2 measely pounds, .5", and back-lit keyboard for a cheaper, more powerful notebook, thanks. Why? Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.


So why not go buy an 8-core Mac Pro, bolt a flat screen onto the side and then mount it on top of a small generator and carry that around instead?

I mean... you're not a wimp, right? So the 50lbs (not including fuel) shouldn't be an issue? Right?

Get over it... just because it doesn't meet your specific needs doesn't mean it sucks... it just means it's not for you. Why does that make you feel so uncomfortable?

That's like saying a $1000 size 0 dress is a waste of money because it won't fit your burly ass.

[thefunkymunky]

What Mac OS version??? 10.5.1?? I'd be interested to see if these are loaded with 10.5.2. That would mean today is the day!

Me too! Someone must have checked?

And me. Come one, need to know what OSX version these babies are loaded with.:p

[EDIT] Apparently they are loaded with 10.5.1 :(

[milo]

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.

Right there is where you drop the ball.

It's not price versus performance. It's price versus SIZE/WEIGHT and performance.

And of course those aren't important to you. But they are to others - the extra money is worth the smaller dimensions. And compared to other notebooks of similar size, it's NOT overpriced.

We get it. You're not the market for the air. So why do you need to keep beating that dead horse?

[QCassidy352]

Wait, are we actually still having this argument? I'm tired of snapping my fingers in the faces of brain-washed RDF victims.

And I'm tired of explaining to people that design is a feature, and one that you pay handsomely for when buying anything from clothes to a car to a house. Maybe it's a feature you're not interested in, but it is a feature, and it does cost a great deal to achieve what the MBA has achieved. So it's not for you; big deal. Get over the idea that every product is designed with you in mind.

And I didn't buy one of those either.

At least that had features comparable to the PowerBook of the day.

No, no it didn't. Lower RAM capacity, no backlit keys, smaller HD, slower processor, no card slot, no FW 800, far worse graphics, etc. The 12" powerbook was never anything but a slightly thinner, aluminum ibook.

[glennyboiwpg]

And I didn't buy one of those either.

At least that had features comparable to the PowerBook of the day.

This thing has soldered RAM and no optical drive, for the love of Trogdor.

-Clive


Here is an idea.... if you think that the machine is too expensive.... DON'T BUY ONE!

The reason why this thing is the price it is, is NOT beacuse of it's specs, but because you need to CRAM all those specs into a SMALLER CASE!

I repeat it again, cause you've argued your point like 5 times. When you make computer parts smaller, its more expensive. Not because they are better, but they are smaller.

If you don't like that? Just keep walking past the laptop asle and onto the iMac table.

End of story.

[icoffee]

Me too! Someone must have checked?

Just called the Apple store. Like the others, not in for a few. Can someone please check to see what version of Leopard these are running?

[quinney]

"Others" as in other competing products and those people who own / support them. So the example you'd want is:

LEOPARD GETS RAVE REVIEWS
Person 1: Leopard's great.
Person 2: I love Leopard's new features.
Person 3: It's great to see Apple have improved on Tiger in so many ways.
Fanboy: Windoze users are p4wnd again! Keep buying Micro$oft's out of date joke products you sheep and don't forget your POS Dells to run them on. Bunch of morons - if I was a Windoze user I'd kill myself out of embarrassment.

Does that make sense now? :)

That's great. Now can you give an example of a microsoft fanboy?
Oh....nevermind.

[thefunkymunky]

Just called the Apple store. Like the others, not in for a few. Can someone please check to see what version of Leopard these are running?

They ship with 10.5.1 Some users on another MR thread have reported this.

[MrCrowbar]

I like how they're tethered to the tables via some sort of USB cable. Maybe you can buy those somewhere...

[numbsafari]

That's great. Now can you give an example of a microsoft fanboy?
Oh....nevermind.

The reason you don't hear from microsoft fanboys is because they are too busy getting work done... :)

[iCeFuSiOn]

I like the look of the MacBook Air, very thin. Perhaps I'll purchase one in a year or two for traveling.

[AppleMojo]

The reason you don't hear from microsoft fanboys is because they are too busy getting work done... :)

lol

When I switched over to Mac's a few years back, it was amazing out how much work I actually got done as I wasn't screwin' around with the OS trying to make it work right. And the 18 hour days seem to go by a little quicker when you enjoy the OS.

On Windows, I always felt like I wasn't productive enough. Spent most of my time in a putty session on linux boxen 2 feet away.

Essentially, Mac's make me work more! Darn you Apple!

[Lord Sam]

Cool. It will definantly be good for switchers. But some won't find it. I've watched them, and they are pretty useless for long time users. But again, switchers will find them very useful. Unfortunatly, it's only for Leopard.

[rso81]

As cool as the Macbook Air is, it's just cosmetics. I have a black macbook (aka, a "blackbook"), and all I have to do is upgrade the HDD to a SSD, and POOF! I have a laptop with better specs than the Air and with more connectivity (sorry, but it is necessary to have at least 2 USB ports). I'll say that it is the most gorgeous laptop I have ever seen, but we really are paying more money for less computer. Buy a Macbook, and upgrade to a SSD when the price of flash falls, and when the next version of Mac OS comes out. This can probably all be done for less than $600 in less than a year.

I just can't justify this laptop. For $1800, you're getting a HDD put into a computer that's really built for SSD. How so? LOOK AT IT! I'm not convinced that this "Air" can dissipate the heat that can come out of a HDD.
The only way to REALLY reap the benefit of this laptop is to buy the $3000 setup for that 64GB SSD, and that price is more than what people are willing to pay for.

I'm gonna wait till the next Mac OS comes out, and upgrade to that AND a SSD in one swoop, and I'll just do this on my blackbook. I just purchased 2 macbooks (one white, one black...same specs), an 8GB nano, a 16GB iPod Touch and 2 iPhones within the passed 5 months. I've paid my dues already, so now I can sit back and wait for the upgrades to roll in.

[NAG]

As cool as the Macbook Air is, it's just cosmetics. I have a black macbook (aka, a "blackbook"), and all I have to do is upgrade the HDD to a SSD, and POOF! I have a laptop with better specs than the Air and with more connectivity (sorry, but it is necessary to have at least 2 USB ports). I'll say that it is the most gorgeous laptop I have ever seen, but we really are paying more money for less computer. Buy a Macbook, and upgrade to a SSD when the price of flash falls, and when the next version of Mac OS comes out. This can probably all be done for less than $600 in less than a year.

I just can't justify this laptop. For $1800, you're getting a HDD put into a computer that's really built for SSD. How so? LOOK AT IT! I'm not convinced that this "Air" can dissipate the heat that can come out of a HDD.
The only way to REALLY reap the benefit of this laptop is to buy the $3000 setup for that 64GB SSD, and that price is more than what people are willing to pay for.

I'm gonna wait till the next Mac OS comes out, and upgrade to that AND a SSD in one swoop, and I'll just do this on my blackbook. I just purchased 2 macbooks (one white, one black...same specs), an 8GB nano, a 16GB iPod Touch and 2 iPhones within the passed 5 months. I've paid my dues already, so now I can sit back and wait for the upgrades to roll in.
If you do not value a decrease in weight and thickness then no, the Macbook Air probably isn't for you. Not every computer is designed to be right for everyone. That is why there are multiple models. The Macbook didn't go away. The Macbook Pro didn't go away. Heck, we still even have the mini around.

[tjcampbell]

I thought about the air briefly then I pulled the trigger on a BlackBook today which will be my portable. I love my MBP but it's too big for travel and although I find the MacBook Air interesting, it's just not what I'm looking for in an ultra-portable.

[NEiMac]

As cool as the Macbook Air is, it's just cosmetics. I have a black macbook (aka, a "blackbook"), and all I have to do is upgrade the HDD to a SSD, and POOF! I have a laptop with better specs than the Air and with more connectivity (sorry, but it is necessary to have at least 2 USB ports). I'll say that it is the most gorgeous laptop I have ever seen, but we really are paying more money for less computer. Buy a Macbook, and upgrade to a SSD when the price of flash falls, and when the next version of Mac OS comes out. This can probably all be done for less than $600 in less than a year.

I just can't justify this laptop. For $1800, you're getting a HDD put into a computer that's really built for SSD. How so? LOOK AT IT! I'm not convinced that this "Air" can dissipate the heat that can come out of a HDD.
The only way to REALLY reap the benefit of this laptop is to buy the $3000 setup for that 64GB SSD, and that price is more than what people are willing to pay for.

I'm gonna wait till the next Mac OS comes out, and upgrade to that AND a SSD in one swoop, and I'll just do this on my blackbook. I just purchased 2 macbooks (one white, one black...same specs), an 8GB nano, a 16GB iPod Touch and 2 iPhones within the passed 5 months. I've paid my dues already, so now I can sit back and wait for the upgrades to roll in.

I pretty much agree with rso81, the Macbook Air is a very cool looking computer and it many ways is a cool computer. Just seems like they went to far with cutting out stuff for thinness to me. The lack of ports is the big one to me. I don't base my opinion of a computer on its price really either, it just seems totally impractical for most people. This is a hey look what I got computer for sure, which is fine if you can afford to waste money on that sort of thing.

[Sandfleaz]

I won't be buying now, but can't wait too play with one.
.

[Clive At Five]

A letter to all my adoring fans:

Calling me "poor" and "brawny" and "burly" are very inefficient ways of making your point. Oh and could you dish out any more hyperbole with the "Buy a desktop and bolt a display to it, attach it to a battery pack and carry that around" comments? Because I think it could've used a little more exaggeration. -- Seriously, can we at least try to be a little more mature?

Here's my point. (I'm not saying my word this is the end-all-be-all on the MBA, either, I'm just saying): The MBA seems like a fiscally poor choice compared to its very-slightly-larger sibling, the MacBook. Sure you can say the MBA is half as thick, and 40% lighter, but realistically, the MacBook is already one of the most petite notebooks on the market and it packs a powerful punch. At 1" thick and 5lbs, it's already besting 90% of the notebook market at performance AND size... and the price (while it's not the lowest) ain't bad either. For what you get, the MacBook is a really damn good deal. When comparing it to another laptop, even the sexy and sleek MBA, it's hard to knock it off its throne.

Oh and since you asked, I'm not shopping for a laptop. I want a desktop, but I need more than an iMac can offer, but could never use eight cores of server-class CPU power. Since they're such bed-buddies now, you'd think Jobs would know that Intel makes DESKTOP-class processors too. Not just mobile CPUs and super-pro orgasm CPUs.

-Clive

[numbsafari]

I won't be buying now, but can't wait too play with one.
.

It's almost like the Apple store is becoming a technology strip club....

[psychofreak]

That's great. Now can you give an example of a microsoft fanboy?
Oh....nevermind.

This guy :)

http://liveandbeyond.com/wp-content/uploads/zune-tattoo.jpg

[diabolic]

The MBA seems like a fiscally poor choice compared to its very-slightly-larger sibling, the MacBook.

That's probably the best way to say it. Everyone's fiscal capabilities and concerns are different. You can't blanket everyone with one opinion.

[puckhead193]

those MBA look sick. Can't wait to play with one. I wish they could run FCS then i would be ordering one ASAP!
For traveling etc. its a very sexy machine. Just hope TSA doesn't mess it up :eek:

[milo]

Here's my point. (I'm not saying my word this is the end-all-be-all on the MBA, either, I'm just saying): The MBA seems like a fiscally poor choice compared to its very-slightly-larger sibling, the MacBook.

And the point that you miss is that the goal of the MBA isn't to be the most fiscal choice. It's to be the most portable. Some people are willing to pay extra for that portability. Obviously you are not one of them, but that doesn't mean those people don't exist. Is that so hard to understand?

And it's hypocritical to whine that people aren't being "mature" in their responses when you set the tone with terms like "brain-washed RDF victims".

[russtic]

Well when you compare it to other overpriced things it looks like a steal... but price vs performance, the only theft taking place is in the pocketbooks of its new owners.


-Clive

From that argument ALL laptops are overpriced since they reduce performance and increase price compared to desktops.

[gotohamish]

I just got a play with one at my office—now I want* one!

*need

[skorpien]

I love how every thread about the MBA becomes a petty "MBA sucks because..." thread. Yes, the MBA has it's cons, but it also has its pros. And the people that are purchasing it are those that believe that the pros outweigh the cons. Nobody is holding a gun to their heads, and I am sure they are all capable of making a well informed decision on their own (and lets face it, with an $1800 USD price tag, people are more likely to find out all they can about the computer first). It's nobody's "job" to convince them otherwise. Yes, you have an opinion. So does everybody else. State it, move on, and stop arguing the point.

On topic: I still can't believe how thin the MBA is. I wonder if the Apple authorized retailers (still thinks Apple should open up a store or two in Western Canada) would have any on display...

[nemaslov]

Thx, headed down my local Mac shop to have a look, wearing my big coat - shush!

You don't need a big coat, just an envelope :p

[aristobrat]

Calling me "poor" and "brawny" and "burly" are very inefficient ways of making your point.
So is making a comment that directly implies that people who like the Air lack financial sense and are wimps.

Pot, meet Kettle.

Because I have common fiscal sense, and I'm not a wimp.

[Clive At Five]

From that argument ALL laptops are overpriced since they reduce performance and increase price compared to desktops.

Of course I know desktops are better price vs performance than laptops. But desktops aren't portable. Even among laptops, it does not compare price vs performance (and even vs size). Sure it's small, but the MacBook is one of the smallest out there already.

-Clive

[rjflyn]

Thx, headed down my local Mac shop to have a look, wearing my big coat - shush!

Probably securing it with something in the USB slot. Also last store I went to I was looking at a MacBook and the alarm went off when I messed with the Magsafe connector, ie I want to see how it worked and unhooked it and set off the alarm. They asked me not to do that anymore. My reply was how am I suppose to evaluate the thing if I cant check out everything.

Rj

[cheekybobcat]

MBA's are so cool. I would have gotten one but 80GB isn't nearly enough space for a computer. Plus, 1G tend to have something wrong with them...
Except the iPod Touch :) tee hee

[Clive At Five]

So is making a comment that directly implies that people who like the Air lack financial sense and are wimps.

Pot, meet Kettle.

Okay, A, I stand behind the "financial sense" statement using paragraph 3 of post 61 as my reasoning. Did you read the whole post?

And, B, people KEEP ON USING the "MBA is almost HALF THE WEIGHT of the MB! and HALF AS THICK!!!1!1!!" argument. I'm saying that such a weight reduction is of little relevance when the item in question is as small as it is already.

Take a piece of bread. Pick it up. Is it easy to tote? Slice it in half and pick up one of the halves. It now weighs half as much. Is it twice as easy to tote? Scientifically speaking, yes, it takes half as much energy to move it from place to place, but we're talking about Joules here... fractions of Joules.

Same goes for the MacBook. It's five pounds. That's less than my cat. Anyone complaining that 5lbs is too heavy either has severe, severe back problems (for which I sympathize) or is a wimp. Sorry, there's no other way to slice it... no pun intended.

I'm not being immature or attacking people, I'm stating what I think is a reasonable argument. Calling someone a wimp isn't an attack when it's true. And wimps do exist. Same thing with being fiscally wise. There are a lot of people out there who just blow away their money on The Next Big Thing, somtimes even when there are bills and mortgages to pay. I'm not making this up. It does happen.

If you have money to throw away, then yes by all means, buy an MBA, but it does not represent a good value when compared to the alternatives, namely the MacBook. You'll have a hard time convincing me that you NEED an MBA. This makes it a toy. A glamour-piece. A Cube 2.0. A status icon... all these things, but not a cost-effective computer... ever.

-Clive

[Manatee]

The stores around here don't have them yet.

I'll pondered and reasoned... acknowledged the negatives... but the truth is, even if it's crap, I want one! I just have to decide which one. ;)

I'll be out of town for a week. Maybe while I'm away some anti-mugger will stuff a thousand bucks in my pocket, and the decision will be made. :)

[ricosuave]

You'll have a hard time convincing me that you NEED an MBA.

-Clive

Maybe Apple should check with you first before manufacturing the next product? :eek:

This way you can coordinate my next computer purchase straight from the Stevenes himself and save me the trouble of making any choices. We should all put you on the payroll here at MacRumors for your service.

[cornercuttin]

"The funny thing is that the computer IMO is so physically attractive and well put-together that I couldn't help but feel like pouring the money into it to make the inside match the outside"

that is what one of the initial reviews said.

at least he is honest. people want it because it is sexy. and his honesty extended further when he said you have to "pour" money into it. you don't just upgrade, you pour the money in.

i would like to know how the solid state drive helps though, as far as speed goes. i would like to see some benchmarks of the MBA vs the 15" MBP. i must admit, if the numbers are close, I guess you could somehow justify spending a massive amount of money on it.

i am going to hold out for a 17" MBP with a massive hard drive that can replace my 3 year old dual processor G5 powermac.

it is sexy though. but i'm not shallow enough to buy something on the basis of "sexy." then i would have to shop at abercrombie and watch next top model

[jnc]

iPods and iPhones don't have a security slot AND they're pocket-sized.

Having trouble figuring that one out too?

I'm not having trouble with anything apart from your asininity.

Trust me, they've got their methods.

Yeah well that's great, for THEM.

This is Apple's first lappy in my memory without the security slot - the meat of my comment lay in how users might want to see how THEY can go about securing the device without one. MBAs don't quite fit in a pocket.

[BWhaler]

I have a 1.8+SSD which I spent $3,200 on, and I am really nervous about this 8 - 8.5 hour battery charge problem.

If this is the case, my MBA will be going back to Apple.

When, or when, is Steve, Johnny, and Apple going to understand that beautiful design that does not equate to success. It is this design + the quality of what we buy that makes us spend. Bad build quality, terrible screens, heat issues, buggy ipod software, leopard bugs galore, etc., etc.

But I am hopeful.

[LizKat]

/snip/ MBA seems like a fiscally poor choice compared to its very-slightly-larger sibling, the MacBook. /snip/

Hmm, fiscally poor in your opinion based on your assessment of your needs.

My money got plunked on the barrelhead for the MBA for my own reasons, including the look, the aluminum and the weight. And more: I don't need it to have a zillion ports because I got four other machines with those ports and as I speak, 100% of them are sucking air. I did want the SSD. I went for the 1.8GHz option because it's my first intel-inside-Mac and the price difference on the chips seemed an ok investment, even if it's only an investment in Apple's and Intel's engineers' lunch menus. They are worth it to me! I want them to be happy!!

OK, to the brass tacks: It's the weight that did it for me. And the waiting that did me in. Who knows if Apple will ever get it that some people really do want a 12" intel-inside Mac laptop, something updated and down-weighted from the G4 12" Powerbook? They've given me the fantastic iPhone for the superportable side, I can live with their 13" MBA on the ultralight laptop side. I don't feel like a loser in saying gee okay lay that 13" screen on me. I am looking forward to not dragging the damn 15" Powerbook upstairs every time I want to select a few fabrics or check in some new ones. I love the powerbooks but they are heavy on the third trip, and the tenth... having a three pound Apple laptop on the way here is a really big deal to me. Huge!!

I'm a big fan of wireless. I use less external storage than I used to, and more internet access. I'm not a gamer. I research and write and take photos and calculate stuff in spreadsheets, email, transact, play music, watch TV and movies. I need to run around the house with the thing all day long while I work because my studio space is separate from some of my related workspaces. I could spring for a MacBook Pro but I don't need one, and it's too heavy to be flying up and downstairs and out in the yard with it. I am exactly the person for whom Apple made this great little flyin' machine they've named the MacBook Air.

Now I'm no fangirl when it comes to build quality so I hope this mba is on the straight and narrow path in that department or I'll become a thorn in Apple's side like I've never been before. Well maybe once or twice ;)

[Mac In School]

And the point that you miss is that the goal of the MBA isn't to be the most fiscal choice. It's to be the most portable. Some people are willing to pay extra for that portability. Obviously you are not one of them, but that doesn't mean those people don't exist. Is that so hard to understand?

Evidently, yes... It is.

[gotohamish]

Okay, A, I stand behind the "financial sense" statement using paragraph 3 of post 61 as my reasoning. Did you read the whole post?

And, B, people KEEP ON USING the "MBA is almost HALF THE WEIGHT of the MB! and HALF AS THICK!!!1!1!!" argument. I'm saying that such a weight reduction is of little relevance when the item in question is as small as it is already.

Take a piece of bread. Pick it up. Is it easy to tote? Slice it in half and pick up one of the halves. It now weighs half as much. Is it twice as easy to tote? Scientifically speaking, yes, it takes half as much energy to move it from place to place, but we're talking about Joules here... fractions of Joules.

Same goes for the MacBook. It's five pounds. That's less than my cat. Anyone complaining that 5lbs is too heavy either has severe, severe back problems (for which I sympathize) or is a wimp. Sorry, there's no other way to slice it... no pun intended.

I'm not being immature or attacking people, I'm stating what I think is a reasonable argument. Calling someone a wimp isn't an attack when it's true. And wimps do exist. Same thing with being fiscally wise. There are a lot of people out there who just blow away their money on The Next Big Thing, somtimes even when there are bills and mortgages to pay. I'm not making this up. It does happen.

If you have money to throw away, then yes by all means, buy an MBA, but it does not represent a good value when compared to the alternatives, namely the MacBook. You'll have a hard time convincing me that you NEED an MBA. This makes it a toy. A glamour-piece. A Cube 2.0. A status icon... all these things, but not a cost-effective computer... ever.

-Clive

You are indeed correct, but it still comes down to personal preference. Side-by-side, spec-for-spec, does it all add up? Who cares? If you want one and it does what you want, get one if you can. If not, um, don't.

The whiners are the ones who (a) wanted a different product to be announced; (b) want but can't afford/justify one; or (c) just like to whine and be negative.

It's the old A->B car problem again. A Kia will get you there, as will the Aston, but... and there it is folks: BUT...

[milo]

Even among laptops, it does not compare price vs performance (and even vs size).

So I guess you get to be the arbiter of how much value a reduction in size is worth? Obviously, there are people who feel that the size is worth the price - what makes you "right" and them "wrong"?
:rolleyes:

You've made your point: the size reduction isn't worth the extra money to you. We get it. So why do you insist that anyone who doesn't have the same opinion of you is stupid, or lazy, or whatever? And why keep going on and on and on and on about it? Honestly, since you're not the target market for this why should we care what you think?

[173080]

...a status icon... all these things, but not a cost-effective computer... ever.


It's not meant to be a cost-effective computer. That's what the MacBook is for.

I think the MBA is worth the price because, surprisingly, I am the target market for that computer. I wouldn't consider a MacBook. I think the lack of optical drive is a great feature. Yes, feature.

[gotohamish]

Now I'm no fangirl when it comes to build quality so I hope this mba is on the straight and narrow path in that department or I'll become a thorn in Apple's side like I've never been before. Well maybe once or twice ;)

I'm holding it in my hand, and you will not be disappointed at all.

[Clive At Five]

Maybe Apple should check with you first before manufacturing the next product? :eek:

You may kid, but it sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, not that they check with me per se, but if they asked a real person what they thought, it wouldn't hurt. It seems to me like they've lost track of what their customers actually want.

I see people on here begging constantly about what they want to see from Apple... the two most common requests are a 12"PB replacement and an xMac. The MBA, as I've read from many 12"PB fans, is not a suitable replacement, as it isn't a complete computing solution if you want it to be (needs a host PC, and no built-in optical drive) and they were looking for something with an actually smaller footprint... not thickness. While I don't share the desire for a 12"PB replacement, I certainly find their request reasonable, and would consider it something relatively easy for Apple to do. And I've been seeing posts like this for YEARS from a plethora of different voices, not just the same 6. Why can't Apple just appease these crowds and give them what they want instead of giving them something else?

And don't even get me started with the xMac. We begged and begged and begged for an xMac and we got a MacMini. Wtf? That's not what we wanted, Apple! Sure the Mini is a great little computer, but your most loyal fan-base has been asking for something else for the past 5 years. Is it so hard to give people what they want, or do you always have to reinvent something? Not every single Apple product has to be a smash-hit or innovation. We're okay with a product that goes under the radar as long as it does what we want, trust us.

This way you can coordinate my next computer purchase straight from the Stevenes himself and save me the trouble of making any choices. We should all put you on the payroll here at MacRumors for your service.

I'd love to set you up with a computer customly made for you. Unfortunately Apple plugs its ears to our requests so what we actually need is left by the wayside and is replaced what Apple wants us to have.

Oh, and no need to hire me, MR, my opinions are free. :D

...but if you're hiring... ;)

-Clive

[Sweetbike40]

I don't need one but i'd love to have one. It's a whole new way of thinking how you organize your stuff and keep it light for the road.:p

[russtic]

Of course I know desktops are better price vs performance than laptops. But desktops aren't portable. Even among laptops, it does not compare price vs performance (and even vs size). Sure it's small, but the MacBook is one of the smallest out there already.

-Clive

The point is your argument was flawed. The size is a feature and one that people are prepared to pay a premium for.

[Clive At Five]

The point is your argument was flawed. The size is a feature and one that people are prepared to pay a premium for.

Dude.

I get that. Size is a feature. I know. Read the content of my posts.

I'm saying that it is very difficult to convince me that you NEED a MBA when a MB is as light as it is and as thin as it is already, has more power, and is less money.

Is .5" and 2 lbs really worth the extra $600, a sacrifice in power, the sacrifice of a plethora of ports, the sacrifice (or "feature") of no optical bay, and subsequently the REQUIREMENT of a host PC?

@All: yes yes yes, I know it doesn't appeal to me, but are you certain it appeals to you? Is it really worth your $1800? I honestly think you're getting robbed. Just thought you should know.

It's not my job to help you realize what you do and don't need so I'll shut up now. It's your loss anyway.

-Clive

[tgildred]

I'm holding it in my hand, and you will not be disappointed at all.

Hey, hey... let's keep it clean. Oh, wait, you meant the laptop.

;)

[milo]

You may kid, but it sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, not that they check with me per se, but if they asked a real person what they thought, it wouldn't hurt. It seems to me like they've lost track of what their customers actually want.

Nope. You don't want them to listen to a real person, you want them to listen to YOU. After all, there are Real People on here who say that the air is exactly what they want. And people on here are buying them. But that's not good enough for you. They listened to the wrong people, obviously they should have listened to Clive.

I'm saying that it is very difficult to convince me that you NEED a MBA when a MB is as light as it is and as thin as it is already, has more power, and is less money.

What does need have to do with it? People want the smaller size and weight, and it's worth the extra money to them. You're obviously never going to understand their point of view, so why not just let it go?

Is .5" and 2 lbs really worth the extra $600, a sacrifice in power, the sacrifice of a plethora of ports, the sacrifice (or "feature") of no optical bay, and subsequently the REQUIREMENT of a host PC?

To all the people already buying these, the answer is obviously yes.

I'm not in the market for a laptop right now, but I can tell you I never use the optical drive or ports on the one I have, they wouldn't be missed by me.

[Ghibli]

You may kid, but it sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, not that they check with me per se, but if they asked a real person what they thought, it wouldn't hurt. It seems to me like they've lost track of what their customers actually want.


<SNIP>

-Clive

OMG!!! I'm beginnig to feel fed up with this arguments...

I'm absolutely sure that Apple DID check with some "real" people. It is called market search (I'm not sure with the english translation, but I'm sure you got the idea). The idea is that you *LISTEN* to some people that are in the target market for the *KIND* of products you are developing.

If I were developing a 300,000 $ sport car I would do a market search with people who *CAN AFFORD* to spend all that money on a car. Listening to what a tipical housewife needs from a car is NOT useful for me (usually housewifes do NOT have 300,000 $ to buy a car and the sport car I am designing doesn't have a trunk...).

We understand that you are not representing the target market for the MBA. OK. Someone else instead yes. I think that probably they have been listened.

By the way: probably selling the MBA is more profitable for Apple than building what you asked for. They did a market search also for that.

[arn]

Is .5" and 2 lbs really worth the extra $600, a sacrifice in power, the sacrifice of a plethora of ports, the sacrifice (or "feature") of no optical bay, and subsequently the REQUIREMENT of a host PC?


http://www.macworld.com/article/131864/2008/01/macbookair.html

Jason Snell sums it up well.

One reason I loved the 12-inch PowerBook G4 was that it crossed some hard-to-define weight barrier, one I hadn’t even been aware of until I started using a laptop that crossed it. The 12-inch PowerBook was so small and light that carrying my laptop around with me became an afterthought. Instead of lugging a 15-inch PowerBook from place to place, I could idly hold the 12-inch model in one hand. The MacBook Air takes that easy feeling to an extreme

[Manic Mouse]

Nope. You don't want them to listen to a real person, you want them to listen to YOU. After all, there are Real People on here who say that the air is exactly what they want. And people on here are buying them. But that's not good enough for you. They listened to the wrong people, obviously they should have listened to Clive.



What does need have to do with it? People want the smaller size and weight, and it's worth the extra money to them. You're obviously never going to understand their point of view, so why not just let it go?



To all the people already buying these, the answer is obviously yes.

I'm not in the market for a laptop right now, but I can tell you I never use the optical drive or ports on the one I have, they wouldn't be missed by me.

I can guarantee you the MBA will account for less than 5% of Mac sales over it's lifespan. Yes there are "real people" who will buy one, just not very many of them.

[numbsafari]

You may kid, but it sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, not that they check with me per se, but if they asked a real person what they thought, it wouldn't hurt. It seems to me like they've lost track of what their customers actually want.


Ummm... I don't know if you got the memo... but last quarter was their most profitable ever... and their market share keeps going up... So, quantitatively speaking, you are simply, uh, wrong.


I see people on here begging constantly about what they want to see from Apple...


First of all... you can't tell me that the people on MacRumors are your sample? The "people" you are counting are most likely the same 2 or 3 people posting over and over again hoping Apple will do something stupid like...


the two most common requests are a 12"PB replacement and an xMac. The MBA, as I've read from many 12"PB fans, is not a suitable replacement, as it isn't a complete computing solution if you want it to be (needs a host PC, and no built-in optical drive) and they were looking for something with an actually smaller footprint... not thickness.


So... if you make something smaller than the 12" macbook... and you want the keyboard to feel comfortable... and you want to keep an optical drive in there... don't you think you'd have to make some tradeoffs? Hmm... maybe... some tradeoffs that not everyone would like?



While I don't share the desire for a 12"PB replacement, I certainly find their request reasonable, and would consider it something relatively easy for Apple to do. And I've been seeing posts like this for YEARS from a plethora of different voices, not just the same 6. Why can't Apple just appease these crowds and give them what they want instead of giving them something else?


I bet you the "plethora" of voices you've been hearing are about as reliable as the other voices you've been hearing inside your head... Honest... If Apple were in the business of making computers that only 12 people posting to MacRumors want, they would cost a whole hell of a lot more than they do now.

Apple offers fewer choices to (a) simplify the sale process (b) cut down on manufacturing overhead (c) make product development simpler because you have to test fewer permutations.

And that last one is important, because it is part of the whole value propostion that Apple has over the PC world. If you want a million choices, go grab MS Windows and hit MicroCenter's BYO department.


Not every single Apple product has to be a smash-hit or innovation. We're okay with a product that goes under the radar as long as it does what we want, trust us.


So, uh, this might be news to you but an important part of Steve Jobs wealth is based on Apple's PE ration. PE is based on investors belief that Apple will continue to grow...and grow faster than the competition. The way you do that is by staying one step ahead of the competition (at least, in the tech world it is)... and the way you stay one step ahead is by continuously releasing... block busters... not by hanging on to "under the radar" flops that no one except a few luddites who can't get over their first "girlfriend" want.


I'd love to set you up with a computer customly made for you. Unfortunately Apple plugs its ears to our requests so what we actually need is left by the wayside and is replaced what Apple wants us to have.


See above... custom made computers don't look like the MBA, the MB or the MBP... they look like a PC or some AlienWare crap.



Oh, and no need to hire me, MR, my opinions are free. :D


And they'll stay that way because there's no value in them.

[Pukey]

Just got back home. Wow!

<snip>

I got to play with the 1.8/SSD model. All of you who opted for this configuration are in for a real treat -- it is speedy. Basically, sub-one-bounce application loading. I wasn't able to do anything heavy-duty, of course, but the feel I got was of a total performance package on par with a current MBP. It left a strong enough impression on me that I'm seriously considering abandoning my plan of upgrading later and opting for the SSD now. The $3K pricepoint actually began to make sense. The funny thing is that the computer IMO is so physically attractive and well put-together that I couldn't help but feel like pouring the money into it to make the inside match the outside :p

I can't wait for Friday!!! :apple:

Quote from one of the first impressions: http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4864031&postcount=1684

The MBA on par with the MBP? Good joke. It sounds like someone is being a bit too blown away by first appearances.

[NAG]

http://www.macworld.com/article/131864/2008/01/macbookair.html

Jason Snell sums it up well.

That was why I loved my 12" AlBook and hated switching over to a Macbook. I'm glad there is an Apple laptop with that feel again.

[Manic Mouse]

Ummm... I don't know if you got the memo... but last quarter was their most profitable ever... and their market share keeps going up... So, quantitatively speaking, you are simply, uh, wrong.
.

Did you miss the memo that Apple stock absolutely bombed after MacWorld and the MBA announcement?

[numbsafari]

That was why I loved my 12" AlBook and hated switching over to a Macbook. I'm glad there is an Apple laptop with that feel again.

Queueing up "That Lovin' Feeling"... :)

[Clive At Five]

http://www.macworld.com/article/131864/2008/01/macbookair.html

Jason Snell sums it up well.

Point taken, but Snell's is just one voice... granted a pretty damn big voice.

Once recent post I read here come to mind... It was this one (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4860651&postcount=87) by Crike .40

So there are some people that are and some people who aren't pleased with the MBA as a 12"PB replacement.

-Clive

[icoffee]

They ship with 10.5.1 Some users on another MR thread have reported this.

Thanks!

[numbsafari]

Did you miss the memo that Apple stock absolutely bombed after MacWorld and the MBA announcement?

Did you miss the memo that the entire stock market bombed at the same time?

[arn]

So there are some people that are and some people who aren't pleased with the MBA as a 12"PB replacement.

...then its fortunate that the MBA is not a mandatory purchase for all U.S. citizens :)

arn

[ChrisA]

The MBA on par with the MBP? Good joke. It sounds like someone is being a bit too blown away by first appearances.

For the things that most peope do with computers the speed of the CPU and the GPU do not matter much. What really matters is how fast the disk drive is. If the drive in the MBA is 5X faster than the drive in the MBP then the MBA will seem really fast.

How many people edit video or run Aperture? Anyone looking at a MBA will be a light user maybe just running Safari and email.

[milo]

I can guarantee you the MBA will account for less than 5% of Mac sales over it's lifespan. Yes there are "real people" who will buy one, just not very many of them.

I agree that the air won't be a huge seller. But I think that apple knows that - this model is intended to reach out to customers who previously didn't have an option, and increase market share. As long as it is profitable for apple and brings in new customers, does it need to have any particular piece of the pie.

I'm sure the Mac Pro makes up a very small percent of total mac sales...does that mean they should can it?

Did you miss the memo that Apple stock absolutely bombed after MacWorld and the MBA announcement?

It didn't drop big after the MBA announcement, it dropped after the apple financial results (which were generally positive, just one statistic the market didn't like). And did you miss that the entire stock market took a huge dive during that same time period? Jobs could have announced that apple developed a cure for cancer, and the stock still would have tanked.

[milo]

Point taken, but Snell's is just one voice... granted a pretty damn big voice.

Once recent post I read here come to mind... It was this one (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4860651&postcount=87) by Crike .40

So there are some people that are and some people who aren't pleased with the MBA as a 12"PB replacement.

-Clive

Didn't you just say "I'll shut up now"?

Please don't get our hopes up like that.

[numbsafari]

Didn't you just say "I'll shut up now"?

Please don't get our hopes up like that.

Heh... this whole forum is about dashing inflated hopes and dreams :)

[farmboy]

And I didn't buy one of those either.

At least that had features comparable to the PowerBook of the day.

This thing has soldered RAM and no optical drive, for the love of Trogdor.

-Clive

Think W-I-R-E-L-E-S-S. It's the new version of wired. Pretty soon all the kids will have it.

It's got no 5 1/4" floppy either.:p

[numbsafari]

Think W-I-R-E-L-E-S-S. It's the new version of wired. Pretty soon all the kids will have it.

It's got no 5 1/4" floppy either.:p

What pisses me off is that they didn't put a 15K RPM drive in there.

[farmboy]

I'm not having trouble with anything apart from your asininity.



Yeah well that's great, for THEM.

This is Apple's first lappy in my memory without the security slot - the meat of my comment lay in how users might want to see how THEY can go about securing the device without one. MBAs don't quite fit in a pocket.

If you really think a thin cable keeps your laptop from being stolen, you haven't read many theft reports, nor the news that the cable locks can be picked with a paperclip and no skill whatsoever, and the cables are easily cut with a pair of wire snips. Security from a security slot is a myth; even a strong yank on the laptop will break the slot off. Don't try it on yours, but it's true.

[MLeepson]

apple.com/retail (http://www.apple.com/retail) says Check back for the most up-to-date in-store availability. I guess they'll have the same thing as when the iPhone came out.

[compuguy1088]

What pisses me off is that they didn't put a 15K RPM drive in there.

Lol, my desktop doesn't even have a 15k RPM hard drive. :D

[numbsafari]

Lol, my desktop doesn't even have a 15k RPM hard drive. :D

And you call yourself a compuguy!

:)

[Clive At Five]

Nope. You don't want them to listen to a real person, you want them to listen to YOU. After all, there are Real People on here who say that the air is exactly what they want.

I'm not saying people won't buy MBAs and I'm not saying I wouldn't buy one if I had a bunch of money to burn because, honestly? I probably would. Some people have money to burn, but many people don't, especially now with the economy how it is. Apple could *probably* make more on volume by releasing a computer with more performance value.

I'm no analyst, but it seems like the MBA speaks to a slim audience. Targeting a more mainstream audience would, perhaps, be a fiscally wiser thing for THEM to do.

I'm absolutely sure that Apple DID check with some "real" people.

Every product has its niche. It just seems to me that this one is particularly small... perhaps even smaller than the Mac Pro niche. Again, I'm no analyst so I don't know.

Ummm... I don't know if you got the memo...
[...]
I bet you the "plethora" of voices you've been hearing are about as reliable as the other voices you've been hearing inside your head...
[...]
So, uh, this might be news to you but...
[...]
not by hanging on to "under the radar" flops that no one except a few luddites who can't get over their first "girlfriend" want.
[...]
And they'll stay that way because there's no value in them.

Wow, new record on the belittling statements. You think you could post something without being insulting?

First of all... you can't tell me that the people on MacRumors are your sample? The "people" you are counting are most likely the same 2 or 3 people posting over and over again hoping Apple will do something stupid like...

That seems to be everyone else's sample to report on how successful the MBA is... which, if anything is skewed because we're all here because we love Macs. Amongst us there will be a higher adoption rate than out in the "real world."

Oh and by the way, thanks for not reading the part about "not just the same 6 people" asking for an xMac. Every time I see it brought up, a different person jumps in, saying, "I would buy that system in a heartbeat" - EXACTLY the same thing people said about an Apple-branded ultra-portable. What makes you so certain some sort of mid-tower wouldn't be a win amongst not only existing Mac-users, but also potential switchers who want more than a MacMini? There's a reason mid-towers are the #1 desktop computer formfactor on the market, and whoever told you it's a "niche-market" is an idiot.

And that last one is important, because it is part of the whole value propostion that Apple has over the PC world. If you want a million choices, go grab MS Windows and hit MicroCenter's BYO department.

Why is this ALWAYS the response to people who voice disinterest in Apple's product lineup?

There is value in OSX. There is value in iLife. I use Garage Band, Logic, FCE, and iMovie extensively... but not in my profession. I could easily top out an iMac on performance but a Mac Pro is overkill. You can't tell me there isn't a huge performance gap there. Anyone who knows computer hardware at all can see that. Therefore, I think the request for an xMac of sorts is a reasonable one.

So tell me then. Since I am not being unreasonable about my requests of Apple, why must I then choose between the hardware I need and the software I need?

The answer is not as simple as "going to MicroCenter and building a FrankenPC." I know this because I HAVE a home-built PC. I NEED a new Mac but can't find the hardware I need from Apple. Does this mean I'm just s*** out of luck?

"Go buy windows" is an uninformed person's response to a concerns raised about the serious deficiencies in Apple's product lineup. And again. This sentiment has been repeated over and over again by numerous sources. And not just "whiny" forum posters, but at Mac sites too. There's an Ars article (yes "article") from a couple years ago saying the same things I am saying now. It's a real concern and I don't find it too unrealistic. I don't understand why you and others find it so hard to believe.

The way you do that is by staying one step ahead of the competition (at least, in the tech world it is)... and the way you stay one step ahead is by continuously releasing... block busters...

Something doesn't need to be a blockbuster in order to be popular. That's a common misconception that pundits have. Sometimes people want something that not only "just works" but also is "just right." You can't do that when you omit an entire line of processors (desktop-class) from your product lineup.

See above... custom made computers don't look like the MBA, the MB or the MBP... they look like a PC or some AlienWare crap.

Another common misconception. I happen to remember a certain computer that had upgradeable components but is also in the Museum of Modern Art... let's see, which one is that now? Oh yeah, the PowerMac G4 Cube. That computer's downfall was only that it was too expensive, not that people didn't want it. In fact, there are still companies today that provide upgrades to the Cube for owners who loved it so much they wanted to keep theirs running for as long as possible.

So if you're wondering whether or not there are people who would buy a new Cube/xMac, the answer is yes. And I am certainly not the only person saying it.

-Clive

[Clive At Five]

Didn't you just say "I'll shut up now"?

Please don't get our hopes up like that.

I can't take a challenge (especially from Arn) and just turn my back. =P

Think W-I-R-E-L-E-S-S. It's the new version of wired. Pretty soon all the kids will have it.

It's got no 5 1/4" floppy either.:p

har har har. Believe me, I was suggesting as early as year 2000 that CDs and DVDs should die, yet the next disk format is BluRay, another spinning disk. Optical media triumphs again at least for the next 5-10 years. I'd have a hard time seeing an MBA from today outlive BluRay...

-Clive

[HLdan]

The reason you don't hear from microsoft fanboys is because they are too busy getting work done... :)

LOL, that's the joke of the week!! You mean the MS fanboys are too busy trying to get the computer to work. :D

[eric_n_dfw]

Had my MBP in for warranty work and happened to ask the guy if they had any MBA's in stock. He said they didn't have any on the floor or for sale yet, but he had one in back (I'm presuming to be a floor model soon) and he brought it out.

Same impressions most people have: silly thin, surprising sturdy and dense for it's size, screen is beautiful, keyboard surprisingly nice for it's size. I did think it was heavier than it looks - but not at all too much so - like I said, just very solid and dense feeling.

I don't really want one and can't think of a good reason to spend extra on it over a MB. If I was traveling a lot and could stand the small screen, then maybe. I as a software developer, though, I'm spoiled by my 1680x1050 resolution and am drooling over the newer 1920x1200 17" screens (not to mention being able to put 4GB RAM in) - so I'm not the target market for that thing.

[HLdan]

If you have money to throw away, then yes by all means, buy an MBA, but it does not represent a good value when compared to the alternatives, namely the MacBook. You'll have a hard time convincing me that you NEED an MBA. This makes it a toy. A glamour-piece. A Cube 2.0. A status icon... all these things, but not a cost-effective computer... ever.

-Clive

Well, I hate to bust your bubble but personally I think the Macbook is for kids. It's a cheap plastic computer with a lower quality washed out screen and lacks contrast. The lack of an express card slot reduces my wireless options and no Firewire 800? The iMac has that for less money. It's laughable that someone would be foolish enough to pay the extra $$$ for the black color and it's laughable that someone would buy the white one because it scratches easily. The MBP will look new after years of use making it a much better value for a resale.
Between the Macbook and the MBP, if you don't buy the MBP you've wasted your $$$.

That's awesome that Apple sucked you in an took your cash on that toy.

[HLdan]

i would like to know how the solid state drive helps though, as far as speed goes. i would like to see some benchmarks of the MBA vs the 15" MBP. i must admit, if the numbers are close, I guess you could somehow justify spending a massive amount of money on it.
it is sexy though. but i'm not shallow enough to buy something on the basis of "sexy." then i would have to shop at abercrombie and watch [I]next top model

Dude, people don't have to justify where they spend their money, they buy what they want for THEIR reasons. Who Are You?:rolleyes:

[HLdan]

Did you miss the memo that Apple stock absolutely bombed after MacWorld and the MBA announcement?

Um did you miss the memo that Apple's stock plummeted days before Macworld. The Air had nothing to do with it.

[cohibadad]

What pisses me off is that they didn't put a 15K RPM drive in there.

They did. It's called SSD.

[HLdan]

So if you're wondering whether or not there are people who would buy a new Cube/xMac, the answer is yes. And I am certainly not the only person saying it.

-Clive

Actually they would not. The Cube was hardly upgradable. It had on-board graphics, no way to switch out the hard drive, no way boards to it and no way to swap out or add another optical drive. The G4 Cube was was worse than the Mac mini whereas it was crazy expensive and you had to still buy your own wireless card.

The reason the mini sells because it's cheap.

[AidenShaw]

You don't need a big coat, just an envelope :p

... a big envelope (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=4859590&highlight=envelope#post4859590) ...

[John.B]

As cool as the Macbook Air is, it's just cosmetics. I have a black macbook (aka, a "blackbook")
You paid the "black macbook tax" and you critique the MBA on the basis that "its just cosmetics".

You don't see the irony of that? ;)

Quote from one of the first impressions: http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=4864031&postcount=1684

The MBA on par with the MBP? Good joke. It sounds like someone is being a bit too blown away by first appearances.
Slower processor + faster "disk" (SSD) = ???

I guess we'll find out as soon as an MBA with the SSD is benchmarked against the rest of the Macbook/Macbook Pro lines.

[Sweetbike40]

I think there is big enough market for the MBA. It's just too expensive right now. I realize that making technology like this (slim design) makes for a more expensive/less capable laptop, it also limits how many people can afford to buy it. It's just a very expensive toy right now. The newest, most beautiful piece of technology from Apple. Weren't the first ipods like 4G and $500? I remember the first time i heard about them and thought i'd love that but would never spend that much for so little. And looks where they are now. I think maybe the MBA could be the start of something new and eventually they could eliminate the MB but always have the MBP.

Right now, the iPod Touch is everything portable i could ever ask for and it fits in my pocket. :) -- So i think i take back my words on Apples most beautiful piece of technology being the MBA. iPod Touch beats the MBA.

[AidenShaw]

You paid the "black macbook tax" and you critique the MBA on the basis that "its just cosmetics".

White plastic is just incredibly tacky looking - the BlackBook is the only reasonable one. "Just cosmetic" doesn't apply - you aren't choosing between a good looking laptop and a better looking one, you're choosing between a reasonable laptop and one that looks like a child's toy.

Now, if only Apple would get rid of the tacky white plastic power bricks, dongles, cords and other accessories. How embarrassing to plug a white plastic USB cord into an Ipod Touch - it's like fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror of your A8 :eek: .

[foodcoma]

I've been reading news and forums on this website for quite a while now and this is my first post. Not to make this sound like a "pc anonymous" post, but I have been a long time PC user and I am now seriously considering getting an apple - a macbook air (probably the 1.8/ssd). So, i suppose I am apple's target market.

I have looked at other apple lineups but none of them interest me, except for the MBA. The only issue I have is that I wished they provided an option for a slightly larger ssd, but I suppose 64gb is sufficient for me - I'm only using about 10gb right now (majority are documents and the rest are photos/music).

So, why am I thinking about switching? Well, because the MBA looks good, it's light, it's thin, and from a technical standpoint, it offers pretty much everything that I would ever need (even for an only computer). I know many other colleagues and friends who are looking forward to getting one for the same reasons as mine, but they would probably never go online and post on a forum about it.

Also, there are plenty of us out there who don't need the kind of horsepower that many designers, architects, programmers, media folks, etc. need. The only applications I ever use on my laptop are office and the browser. Apple has yet created another niche through its release of MBA and I think it's great! It fulfills my needs, and many others like me.

[queshy]

I've been reading news and forums on this website for quite a while now and this is my first post. Not to make this sound like a "pc anonymous" post, but I have been a long time PC user and I am now seriously considering getting an apple - a macbook air (probably the 1.8/ssd). So, i suppose I am apple's target market.

I have looked at other apple lineups but none of them interest me, except for the MBA. The only issue I have is that I wished they provided an option for a slightly larger ssd, but I suppose 64gb is sufficient for me - I'm only using about 10gb right now (majority are documents and the rest are photos/music).

So, why am I thinking about switching? Well, because the MBA looks good, it's light, it's thin, and from a technical standpoint, it offers pretty much everything that I would ever need (even for an only computer). I know many other colleagues and friends who are looking forward to getting one for the same reasons as mine, but they would probably never go online and post on a forum about it.

Also, there are plenty of us out there who don't need the kind of horsepower that many designers, architects, programmers, media folks, etc. need. The only applications I ever use on my laptop are office and the browser. Apple has yet created another niche through its release of MBA and I think it's great! It fulfills my needs, and many others like me.

Welcome to the forums!

The MBA certainly is a niche product but I think it's going to do very, very well. Their marketing strategy is incredible, as well. I have a 100% functional perfect macbook pro, yet I want the MBA!

[John.B]

White plastic is just incredibly tacky looking - the BlackBook is the only reasonable one. "Just cosmetic" doesn't apply - you aren't choosing between a good looking laptop and a better looking one, you're choosing between a reasonable laptop and one that looks like a child's toy.
On one hand I don't disagree with you. On the other hand, you can see how someone else could conceivably make that same value judgment: Between what they might consider to be an "incredibly tacky looking" black Macbook vs. the sexy-looking aluminum MBA?

Honestly, what has the world come to when even Macheads don't get the value of aesthetics? :confused:

[latestmonkey]

Well after reading through this thread, I've learned very little about the MBA and whether it's in the store near me. However, i have learned that Clive at Five is a moron who thinks product development should revolve around him. He's a focus group of one. And if you don't agree, you're getting robbed by Apple. But hey, he's fiscally smart and not a wimp... :rolleyes:

[AidenShaw]

Honestly, what has the world come to when even Macheads don't get the value of aesthetics? :confused:

De gustibus non est disputandum (http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/degustibusno.html)

You like what you like, I like what I like.

I can't stand white plastic...

I also think that the MacBook Cube Air sacrifices too much practicality in order to be thin. If it were a few mm thicker, and had a normal complement of ports, and a larger hard drive, and a user-swappable battery, and a narrower bezel around the screen so that the footprint wasn't so huge - it could be interesting.

As it is, it's a big, flat laptop without enough battery runtime to be considered.... "Beautiful" and "Useless" don't get the cash to come out of my wallet.

[Tosser]

Well after reading through this thread, I've learned very little about the MBA and whether it's in the store near me. However, i have learned that Clive at Five is a moron who thinks product development should revolve around him. He's a focus group of one. And if you don't agree, you're getting robbed by Apple. But hey, he's fiscally smart and not a wimp... :rolleyes:

You should have read the deleted posts. Both his and the ones from other people.

[zlinger]

As cool as the Macbook Air is, it's just cosmetics. I have a black macbook (aka, a "blackbook"), and all I have to do is upgrade the HDD to a SSD, and POOF! I have a laptop with better specs than the Air and with more connectivity (sorry, but it is necessary to have at least 2 USB ports). I'll say that it is the most gorgeous laptop I have ever seen, but we really are paying more money for less computer. Buy a Macbook, and upgrade to a SSD when the price of flash falls, and when the next version of Mac OS comes out. This can probably all be done for less than $600 in less than a year.

I just can't justify this laptop. For $1800, you're getting a HDD put into a computer that's really built for SSD. How so? LOOK AT IT! I'm not convinced that this "Air" can dissipate the heat that can come out of a HDD.
The only way to REALLY reap the benefit of this laptop is to buy the $3000 setup for that 64GB SSD, and that price is more than what people are willing to pay for.


You have raised some interesting points, and I seriously pondered about whether to go for a MB or MBA for an hour last night at the Best Buy store. In the end, MBA won... even without trying the MBA. I selected the MBA with 1.8Ghz 80GB option (until SSD prices drop) to future proof it a bit. Sure the specs are not the same... but I have a main computer at home anyway (Mac Mini), and I'm no longer in the school of thought about the one size computer fits all. Without benchmarking the two in person, from what I have read the specs are not really that bad (depending on your needs though). Yes, SSD is the way to go... and I don't mind paying the CPU premium now and a drive upgrade later. With the MB demo last night, concern about ergonomics and plastic construction of the MB is a deal breaker for me, and solidifies my decision to go for the MBA.

I found the MB case is kind of sharp on the edge of the keyboard and it digs into your palms (that reminded me of my MBP that I sold). The bezel seems quite large and stands out in black plastic. The screen was kind of dull. The fingerprints, wear marks, scratches, smears that it left were a complete turn off. And the weight was too heavy for what I would expect in a portable at 13".

In the end, I'm willing to trade-off some performance, for a 3 lb. aluminum case, internal battery, and slower processor (relative to the use). You pay for design, ergonomics, style, and quality.. this is not just cosmetics.

[G4DP]

There seems to be some really sad people posting in this thread. THere are those who explain their point of and reasons for not buying - as you would expect in a forum. There are those who admit it's a very nice machine and actually need it for practical reasons.

Then you have the sad fanboys who think the sun shines out of Steve Jobs backside and that Apple can do nothing wrong, any one who has a different opinion to them is a waste of space.

At least it makes it easier to tell who actually uses there Macs for work and not just the latest fashion accessory.

I, like many others, think it looks great, the price is a little high but not as bad as other Apple products but it's not practical for what I do as a career. So I wont be purchasing one unless I win the lottery.

[John.B]

De gustibus non est disputandum (http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/degustibusno.html)

You like what you like, I like what I like.

I can't stand white plastic...

I also think that the MacBook Cube Air sacrifices too much practicality in order to be thin. If it were a few mm thicker, and had a normal complement of ports, and a larger hard drive, and a user-swappable battery, and a narrower bezel around the screen so that the footprint wasn't so huge - it could be interesting.

As it is, it's a big, flat laptop without enough battery runtime to be considered.... "Beautiful" and "Useless" don't get the cash to come out of my wallet.
I certainly didn't mean to cause a dust-up over the white vs. black macbooks.

I'm only saying someone else may see the beauty or utility in the MBA that you may not. That its not useful to you is good enough reason for me if you don't want to buy one. ;)

FWIW, as a Logic user I'm as disappointed at the lack of a FW port as anyone. :( That doesn't mean it doesn't have value, just that it doesn't suit my needs today.

[Clive At Five]

Well, I hate to bust your bubble but personally I think the Macbook is for kids. [...] That's awesome that Apple sucked you in an took your cash on that toy.

Good thing I didn't, nor have I ever, purchased a MacBook. I would personally only buy an MBP, b/c, yes, I would use the graphics card, as crappy as it is

Actually they would not. The Cube was hardly upgradable[wrong]. It had on-board graphics [wrong], no way to switch out the hard drive [wrong], no way boards to it [what?] and no way to swap out or add another optical drive [wrong]. The G4 Cube was was worse than the Mac mini whereas it was crazy expensive and you had to still buy your own wireless card.

The only part of that sentence you got right was that the Cube was expensive. Otherwise, yes, you can EASILY swap out the GPU, RAM, Optical Drive, HDD (though there was an internal limit of 120GB or something, which had something to do with the hardware at the time, not just the Cube. Luckily, there's a software hack out for it so that problem is not really concern. The Cube's only problem was that it was waaaaay overpriced, and that it was just a *little* too small. It prevented some of the upgrade cards from not fitting correctly and subsequently, required a bit of a hardware hack to get it to fit.

Anyway, yes. I maintain my belief that an upgradeable tower would sell like hotcakes.

-Clive

[salvatorereda]

you should be able to return the boxes back to mac after purchase for them to be reused again. (refurbished units)

save paper and the environment

take your macbook and macbook air home in a timbuk tu bag! (that would be free with the purchase of the computer)

good idea huh!

[foodcoma]

Welcome to the forums!

The MBA certainly is a niche product but I think it's going to do very, very well. Their marketing strategy is incredible, as well. I have a 100% functional perfect macbook pro, yet I want the MBA!

Thanks! I, too, think that it will do well.

[Mac In School]

MacBook Air First Impressions (http://www.bloggywoggy.com/2008/02/macbook-air-first-impressions.html)

[Koolio27]

I stopped at the Cambridge, MA Apple Store during lunch and they had 3 MBAs on display...they were also already sold out. No SSD versions on display but the woman did say they will eventually get an SSD display model sometime in the near future.

It definitely is sweet but it's not for me. Oh, and I don't mind the black keyboard - it looks better in-person than in pics.

[milo]

Actually they would not. The Cube was hardly upgradable. It had on-board graphics, no way to switch out the hard drive, no way boards to it and no way to swap out or add another optical drive. The G4 Cube was was worse than the Mac mini whereas it was crazy expensive and you had to still buy your own wireless card.

The reason the mini sells because it's cheap.

People don't want Cube 2, they want a mid tower. A cheap, basic machine with no money wasted on unnecessary design frills or miniaturization.

You should have read the deleted posts. Both his and the ones from other people.

Posts were deleted? I guess not nearly enough...

There seems to be some really sad people posting in this thread. THere are those who explain their point of and reasons for not buying - as you would expect in a forum. There are those who admit it's a very nice machine and actually need it for practical reasons.

Then you have the sad fanboys who think the sun shines out of Steve Jobs backside and that Apple can do nothing wrong, any one who has a different opinion to them is a waste of space.

So you see people who blindly praise apple, but fail to see those who blindly bash apple? Gives your own post a bit of a fanboy slant...
But I do agree there are some sad people posting in this thread.

[Clive At Five]

Well after reading through this thread, I've learned very little about the MBA and whether it's in the store near me. However, i have learned that Clive at Five is a moron who thinks product development should revolve around him. He's a focus group of one. And if you don't agree, you're getting robbed by Apple. But hey, he's fiscally smart and not a wimp... :rolleyes:

:) Thank you for finding me to be a moron. :)

Now really, am I actually a moron? I've stated my opinion clearly and logically several times, but never in a matter that was "moronic." Maybe I'm persistent, but that's just because I like to have the last word. Hardly makes me a moron, so much as stubborn.

As for the facts, comparatively, the MacBook is a very sleek small machine with a lot of power, which bests 90% of the laptop market to begin with. This is a fact. Actually the most common complaints about the MacBook are regarding "the cheap white plastic" -- never that it's too slow or too heavy or too thick. Yet Apple decided to sacrifice so much for such small improvements.

That's all I'm saying. I'm not calling people idiots for buying it. I'm not calling Apple stupid for designing it, because I know there are people who will buy it, whether they actually need it or not. It just doesn't seem to represent a wise monetary choice - "to me" - and I'm shocked at how many people consider the MBA to represent a good cost-value.

And no, I don't think Apple should cater their product line to "me." Look at all desktops. 90% (or maybe even more) of them sold are mid-towers. Whether people actually need a tower or not, they (like the MBA) think they do, which is what is important. People buy what they think they need. Just as so many people here think they need an MBA, I think I need a mid-tower; as do 90% of people who buy desktops, apparently. To me, an MBA seems like a stupid idea, just as to you an xMac would be. Statistics show, however, that the mid-tower market is huge (unlike the UPMC market) and Apple can (and should) tap in to that. This much I know is true, as per the conversations on these forums and amongst my predominantly PC-using friends: there are people who want the simplicity of OS X AND a hardware configuration they think fits them. They haven't found it yet, which leads me to believe there's something missing from Apple's product lineup.

-Clive

[milo]

:) Thank you for finding me to be a moron. :)

Now really, am I actually a moron? I've stated my opinion clearly and logically several times, but never in a matter that was "moronic."

You think your opinion is clear and logical, are you really the best judge of that?

I'm sure most morons don't consider themselves to be morons.

If "moron" rubs you the wrong way, would you prefer "tiresome hypocrite"?

I assume "moron" isn't being applied to your opinion of the machine...just your insistence that your opinion is the only one that matters.

I'm not calling people idiots for buying it.

You're saying they lack "common fiscal sense"...sure sounds like you're calling people idiots.

[Clive At Five]

You think your opinion is clear and logical, are you really the best judge of that?

I'm sure most morons don't consider themselves to be morons.

I am wise enough to know I am not wise. That's all I can say for myself.

...but do you, honestly, not think my opinions, especially those in Post #142, were not stated in a clear and logical manner? I don't know how much clearer I can be about my opinions. I've explained my reasoning several times and each time instead of replying maturely to my arguments, you just say "You're an idiot. You don't get it. What a moron. He thinks Apple's computer lineup should revolve around him."

Are you not capable of retaliating to the CONTENT of my posts rather than perpetuating a childish name-calling war? Trust me, by fighting back with things like "morons wouldn't think of themselves as morons" it just goes to prove that you aren't capable to responding to the issues I've raised in my posts, nor has anyone even tried. They automatically jump for the kill. Real mature.

And I'm the moron.

Yes my opinions are "controversial," and I'll be the very first to admit that I see things differently than you and as I tried to highlight in my post above is that the MBA doesn't make sense - "to me." I specifically highlighted those words to clarify that it is my OPINION. I've then gone on to explain what isn't computing for me regarding the desirability of this machine... Yet no one cares to discuss the issue, I'm just labeled as wrong and stupid and a whiner.

If "moron" rubs you the wrong way, would you prefer "tiresome hypocrite"?

I assume "moron" isn't being applied to your opinion of the machine...just your insistence that your opinion is the only one that matters.

No, I'm raising a point of discussion, to which no one has cared to respond in a mature way. Again, you jump in for the kill, fabricating the idea that I am imperialistic about my opinion and that all those who disagree should burn in hell. Are you capable of responding to the points I've raised without being snarky and rude? You haven't proven so yet...

You're saying they lack "common fiscal sense"...sure sounds like you're calling people idiots.

You are taking that quote way beyond where I ever meant to take it. It was said in the very beginning of this thread when I was basically asked to justify my opinion, which I did, trying to say it in a light-hearted manner. Obviously people took it to heart, and I've subsequently spent the last 60 posts trying to clarify what my point was in a serious way, yet no one chooses to listen or even read, again, the CONTENT of what I am saying. They won't take it as a point of discussion, they just jump to the conclusion that I am a nay-saying idiot.

Honestly. I've never met a less-mature group of individuals.

It's called a discussion board because you discuss things, not beat of people who have a conflicting opinion of something. "Oh, he sees things differently! Let's bash him until he shuts up, regardless of whether or not he's actually bringing up some good points!"

Please, I honestly want to discuss these things, which is why I brought them up. So I will give you one last chance to prove to me that you are not just a bunch of children:

1) Is the MacBook seriously too large? ...enough so to justify a smaller laptop, one that sacrifices so much and ends up costing more than its sibling?

2) Is the MacBook Air a suitable replacement for the 12"PB, many of whose fans were wishing the MBA had a smaller footprint while maintaining most of the features of the MacBook Pro line (i.e. SuperDrive, GPU, etc.)?

3) Relating to #2, do you think Apple does a good job of listening to its customers wants and needs?

4) Relating to #3 (but unrelated to this thread), do you think there is a performance gap between the iMac and the MacPro, and if so, do you think it should be filled? By a bigger iMac? By a headless mid-tower, a.k.a. "xMac"? Do you think people would buy it?

These are the topics I've been trying to raise, all of which have been "answered" with immature slams and the like. I really am curious as to people's opinions on these issues, so please attempt to respond to these points in a civilized manner... or heaven help me, I will literally go insane.

-Clive

[Clive At Five]

2) Is the MacBook Air a suitable replacement for the 12"PB, many of whose fans were wishing the MBA had a smaller footprint while maintaining most of the features of the MacBook Pro line (i.e. SuperDrive, GPU, etc.)?

Just as a discussion point regarding #2, I want to post this link (http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g4/faq/differences-between-12-15-17-powerbook-g4-models-introduced-april-19-2004.html) as a source for 12"PB comparison, specifically, that the beloved notebook was 4.6 lbs (almost the same as today's 5-lb MacBook), had a GPU, and cost less than the MBA. The SuperDrive model matched today's MBA price at $1800.

Due to its striking similarities to today's high-end MacBook, it seems as though the major distinguishing factor between the 12"PB of yore and the MB is the smaller footprint and presence of a GPU.

Would it not, then, make sense that a suitable 12"PB replacement embody these two things: smaller footprint & graphics performance? The omission of the optical drive is probably excusable since most people have flash drives with decent capacity, although the lack of an optical drive forces the owner to have possession of either a host PC or a specialized tethered SuperDrive (which, due to the MBA's sole franken-USB port is an over-priced uni-tasker [by which I mean it cannot be used with other computers]).

So in terms of giving 12"PB owners a replacement, I think Apple dropped the ball. As for developing a product that will work well in its own niche, of course they succeeded... but the question remains of whether or not Apple is listening to the requests of their customers/fans. With all the clamoring for a suitable 12"PB replacement that was taking place before the MBA's announcement, it seems not.

Another question remains is whether or not 12"PB fans will actually find the MBA to be better than what they thought a 12"PB replacement would've been. I can see some people having this opinion.

Thoughts?

-Clive

[foodcoma]

1) Is the MacBook seriously too large? ...enough so to justify a smaller laptop, one that sacrifices so much and ends up costing more than its sibling?


It's not too large for me, but it's certainly too heavy. I travel a lot, most of which are international flights. Even when I'm not traveling, I do carry my laptop with me most of the time. Some may say that the difference of 2 lbs is immaterial, but that's relative. 2 lbs make a world of a difference when you are on the move as much as I am. Also, I prefer thinner laptops but that's just my personal preference.


2) Is the MacBook Air a suitable replacement for the 12"PB, many of whose fans were wishing the MBA had a smaller footprint while maintaining most of the features of the MacBook Pro line (i.e. SuperDrive, GPU, etc.)?


Can't really comment on the comparison between macbook air and pb. However, the footprint of the MBA is good for me - I like the 13 inch screen but I do agree with some of the posters saying that apple could perhaps have made the MBA a little narrower while keeping the current screen size. The "features" of the MBA (i.e. 1 usb port, etc.), or lack thereof, suits me fine. I do realize that this is not the case for many other people.


3) Relating to #2, do you think Apple does a good job of listening to its customers wants and needs?


No idea but the MBA made me switch over from the PC world (the last time I used a Mac was more than 15 years ago). This is envisaged to be my sole computer as I don't really need a lot of hard disk space or processing power.



4) Relating to #3 (but unrelated to this thread), do you think there is a performance gap between the iMac and the MacPro, and if so, do you think it should be filled? By a bigger iMac? By a headless mid-tower, a.k.a. "xMac"? Do you think people would buy it?


No comment - I'm hardly in a position to answer this.

[Lord Sam]

Mine has arrived! Oh YEAH! It is one of the coolest machines I have ever used.

[jnc]

White plastic is just incredibly tacky looking - the BlackBook is the only reasonable one. "Just cosmetic" doesn't apply - you aren't choosing between a good looking laptop and a better looking one, you're choosing between a reasonable laptop and one that looks like a child's toy.

Now, if only Apple would get rid of the tacky white plastic power bricks, dongles, cords and other accessories. How embarrassing to plug a white plastic USB cord into an Ipod Touch - it's like fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror of your A8 :eek: .

I didn't see "imho" anywhere in that post. Yet I should have, about ten times.

[Lord Sam]

No SSD on mine tho. $650? No way