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Apple Announces MacBook Air

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My (likely incoherent thoughts):

The MBA: the world's first disposable laptop. Need more memory? Buy a new laptop. Need to replace the battery? Bring it to your nearest Genius Bar, become an intrepid hw hacker or buy a new laptop. The latter point would be fine with me if laptop battery technology were reliable enough. I can't overlook the integrated memory design, though. Also, I have a problem relying solely on wireless ever since the 10.4.8-10.4.10 updates, during which my wireless functionality was reduced to #*($ for 6 months.

But hey, the integrated, "snapshot" design worked for the iPod, right?

IMO, I just don't understand why anyone would choose the MBA over an MB. The MB is already very lightweight and portable (paired with my Brenthaven sleeve, its a dream on the road). The MBA battery life is only marginally better...so no breakthrough there (pity). Same screen size. The default model includes an HDD instead of the anticipated SSD (pity). Finally, the price point is the deal-breaker: you gain a marginal improvement in portability and that's it.

I don't mind a smaller keyboard or screen when I'm on the move, especially if it could give me 6+ hours of battery life. In short, I was really hoping that Apple would dive head-first into the subcompact market. While the MBA doesn't really do anything for me (just me...everyone is entitled to their opinions), I look forward to playing around with one soon.

Minor point: the black keyboard IS ugly. Blech.
 
To me it's just an overpriced thinner macbook with less features.

I would have been MUCH more excited about 12" and wouldn't have minded for it to have been a bit thicker.

Many would agree that screen size and keyboard size are less important for the kind of person that is in the market for a compact notebook.

For the moment I keep the money and wait....
 
Anuba said:
But I'm not tied to a desk today. The Dell D/View and D/Port combo is a great docking station, it brings the screen up to eye level. I hit a button, wait five seconds for the system to undock, slip the laptop in my bag and presto, I'm on the road. Come back home, dock, and I have a complete desktop system with all the bells & whistles.

A MacBook doesn't really qualify for desktop replacement; it just sits flat on the desk and I have to plug in/unplug tons of stuff which would certainly tie me to the desk just to avoid the hassle. I'm still hoping for that iMac-esque docking station to come along and change all that, but until then I'd rather put up with Vista than MacBook cable hell.
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Well, you could always only plug in what you're using... I know that's a scary thought, getting BT keyboard and mouse and not plugging in a bazillion things just because you can. You use all of that crap ALL the time? I'm thinking you would simplify your life quite a bit once you realize that you don't actually need all that stuff plugged in all the time. And those docks - I hate them, with a passion. Simplify your life and plug stuff in WHEN YOU NEED IT.
 
bigmc6000 said:
Well, you could always only plug in what you're using... I know that's a scary thought, getting BT keyboard and mouse and not plugging in a bazillion things just because you can. You use all of that crap ALL the time? I'm thinking you would simplify your life quite a bit once you realize that you don't actually need all that stuff plugged in all the time. And those docks - I hate them, with a passion. Simplify your life and plug stuff in WHEN YOU NEED IT.
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Compromising is not something you should have to do after dumping $1800 plus tax. Especially after dumping $3100 plus tax. :rolleyes:
 
Underwhelmed

Steve seemed a bit half-hearted to me.

A new notebook which is a thinner and more expensive MacBook with a slower processor, little connectivity and no optical drive out of the box.

Oh, and you can't buy it yet.

I'm sure it will appeal to some, but, as others have no doubt said, the Cube appealed to some. I fear its userbase will be extremely limited - those who are prepared to sacrifice function for form, and who can afford it. Steve Jobs types, in other words. A pity, as in many ways the Mac is a perfect synthesis of form and function.

Ah well. We can always wait for the 13" MacBook Pro, the Mac Tablet and the Pocket Mac.

By the way, MacBook Air is in no way as stupid a name as iPod. Just think about it.
 
!!

wow a laptop with an replaceable battery became an option! I think dell and hp should advertise this now " buy the latest technology! a laptop with a battery that u can change it yourself" l!!! wow can't believe it apple really did them a big favor!
I think the next step will be removing the screen..and mr. steve says "who needs a screen anymore"..or maybe "who needs a laptop anymore"
 
History repeats itself

This is Apple's new G4 Cube. The functionality is too limited, the price is too high, and they won't be able to rectify the problem without a major change in form factor. Deja Vu.

Apple's going to take a bath on this one...
 
nsbio said:
What exactly makes a laptop sexy??? A girlfriend is sexy, but a laptop... I do not think so.

On the other hand, if someone gets excited with laptops, does that mean that every trip to the Apple store is like free porn?:p
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Please provide another word that might imply gorgeous industrial design. After all, that is part of the reason we all enjoy Apple products. And I maintain that 'sexy' is a very appropriate adjective, despite what others have mentioned about the tapered bevel, etc. Don't forget that good industrial design is often inspired by nature (think Da Vinci, a shell, and the golden section); just may be that SOMEone's girlfriend inspired the cube :)
 
No firewire on MacBook Air?????????

:eek:I tried to ask someone from apple and they danced around the question apparently if you need to boot off a CD or DVD you need to bring the MacBook Air back to Apple. So you can't do things like update to 10.6 when it comes out or be able to run TechTool Pro since it sometimes needs to boot off the CD/DVD drive to run.:eek:

Mac4Brains@mac.com
 
Yes, sexy

nsbio said:
What exactly makes a laptop sexy??? A girlfriend is sexy, but a laptop... I do not think so.

On the other hand, if someone gets excited with laptops, does that mean that every trip to the Apple store is like free porn?:p
Click to expand...

Thanks to that last post with the Dell link. Seems even the beige-box-boys are using the sexy term (as well as "sensual"):

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Sleek and Sexy
As one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks in its class, the XPS M1330 is a truly portable notebook. How did we get so thin? Our optional LED display uses 32 tiny, white LEDs for a super bright, super skinny screen. Projected weight starting at just under 4 pounds (1.8 kg)1 and featuring next-gen technologies like slot load optical drive, HDMI connection, Biometric Fingerprint Security, the XPS M1330 is the last word in leading edge high tech.
 
makeyourfaith said:
Thanks to that last post with the Dell link. Seems even the beige-box-boys are using the sexy term (as well as "sensual"):

This, incidentally, only proves my point and asserts that Dell designers are ... shall we say... touched on the head? Sexy Dell must be oxymoron of the year:eek:
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Val-kyrie said:
My thoughts too. I wonder what Apple paid to have Intel shrink the C2D chip by 60%.
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According to Anandtech it looks like Apple may have gotten first run on a Montevina SFF style package. Now that is cool. But the sad thing is the chip is a LV Merom. So expect a Macbook Air refresh in about 6 months, complete with Montevina/Penryn SFF package.
 
Where is the ability to secure the laptop down? It is very light, very easy to slip into just about any semi-large bag, purse, or as steve said - envelope. I would believe that this would constitute a major security flaw, as we all know... shiny things catch the eye of sticky fingers.
 
Just as I thought, I would not like it. It looks cool, but it's not for me.

I am even more pissed that no upgrade announcements for MacBook or MBP were made.

Worst Keynote Ever, IMO.
 
it's all marketing

nsbio said:
makeyourfaith said:
Thanks to that last post with the Dell link. Seems even the beige-box-boys are using the sexy term (as well as "sensual"):

This, incidentally, only proves my point and asserts that Dell designers are ... shall we say... touched on the head? Sexy Dell must be oxymoron of the year:eek:
Click to expand...

You're right, I can see all the execs at Dell applauding the marketing team for coming up with campaign keywords like "boring", "dull", and "ugly". I think it is you that has proved my point: you disagree that Dell is sexy, therefore you in some way agree that Apple products are in fact sexi(er), which coincidentally makes you the oxymoron :)

Probably enough said on this topic.
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All apple did was create an internet appliance. Remember those? They BOMBED hard. I wonder what these cost to build? Got to be dirt cheap. There is nothing in there. I see these dropping to $599 in 2 months. Apple needs to get with the program, and the program is the consumers.
 
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