Apple Announces MacBook Air

[Lesser Evets]

I am not saying this is a great product, and I am not saying this isn't stylish or well engineered...

But, this would have been cool 2 years ago. It's a step sideways, even backwards. 'HEY! WE MADE A LAPTOP!!!...but THINNER!!'

-_-;

Apple blew it today, in terms of going forward in technology. If this was made with the monitor in place of the keyboard/trackpad, and a full multi-touch screen, and usable as a note pad, it would have been close to amazing. It's hard to break away from they clunky, horrid design of a 'book' with a hinge, but I am sure they can do it in another 2 years. This size of price really seals this as a bauble rather than a basic.

What a bland start to a new year for Apple.

...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.

If Dell is sexy, Apple is SEX... except that when you buy Apple Air you are the John, forking over huge money to get f'd by the slimmest model around.

 

[sbaik]

from an insider

-sir we don't have a space for firewire
-"no problem"
-sir we don't have a place for wired network
-"skip it"
-sir we have a problem with the battery
-"put it inside"
-sir can't let people get into the ram
-"..they don't need to"
-sir the optical drive is too big
-"excellent..they will buy an external one"
-sir we have only a space for one usb
-"mmm..I think its more then enough"
-sir we run out of silver keys
-"put black...no one will notice"

 

[mark88]

http://www.aii.co.jp/contents/smojsdmk/vaio/PCG-X505/Images/wallpaper_1_1.jpg a product launched in 2003.....

So for Apple to launch something about as thick in 2008 isn't that special at all. Sony already proved you can make slim laptops.

 

[LizKat]

My guess is that this is aimed at the mobile professional who already has a desktop. Then s/he could use the optical drive of the desktop. Moreover, with integrated graphics and the ultra-slim profile, it appears built for traveling lightly.

Right, I also see this as a complementary machine. And with more of us (and more software / content vendors) becoming ever more net-centric, optical drives may quietly fade away completely in another six or eight years.

There was a time I thought that Syquest drives were a permanent part of computing's future...

 

[mark88]

Considering Apple already make the worlds sexiest laptops. Doesn't this new one just make the other two less sexy?

I just don't see what market they have created at all. Anyone wanting a slim laptop before today would buy a Macbook or Macbook Pro. Now they have 3 choices, 1 being the new MBA which is super slim.

Just don't get it. I also don't see many PC users buying a MBA as their first mac.

 

[bigmc6000]

Compromising is not something you should have to do after dumping $1800 plus tax. Especially after dumping $3100 plus tax.

and I didn't say Compromise - I said Simplify. Once you get to the point where you realize you didn't need all that worthless crap in the first place you'll be far more productive and a much more efficient worker. For example, my PC at work, I have no admin rights so I can't move crap off the desktop. All it does is create a cluttered look that does nothing but slow me down. My Mac, 3 icons on the desktop and the apps on the bottom. Simple is better and more efficient...

 

[uNext]

If it would have had built in 3g or any wwan i would consider it.
But for apple to call it air but miss some wireless features is senselss to me.

 

[sas76]

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....

Could not agree more.

Who is this marketed at ?
I was looking foward to something that would complement an iMac, macpro or even the macbook pro. I mean sync very easy (auto update certain folders) transfer pic's vid's documents etc and be smaller then 13.3. I have a 12" ibook and it is bulky, it would be great to have someting smaller.

Who is going to buy this ? If you are going to shell out that much money why wouldn't you buy a macbook ?

I know someone will shoot me down but I call "Flop"...

ss

 

[macenforcer]

and I didn't say Compromise - I said Simplify. Once you get to the point where you realize you didn't need all that worthless crap in the first place you'll be far more productive and a much more efficient worker. For example, my PC at work, I have no admin rights so I can't move crap off the desktop. All it does is create a cluttered look that does nothing but slow me down. My Mac, 3 icons on the desktop and the apps on the bottom. Simple is better and more efficient...

Yeah ok. Your argument is lame. I wouldn't call firewire, upgradeable ram and a faster hard drive worthless.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Could not agree more.

Who is this marketed at ?
I was looking foward to something that would complement an iMac, macpro or even the macbook pro. I mean sync very easy (auto update certain folders) transfer pic's vid's documents etc and be smaller then 13.3. I have a 12" ibook and it is bulky, it would be great to have someting smaller.

Who is going to buy this ? If you are going to shell out that much money why wouldn't you buy a macbook ?

I know someone will shoot me down but I call "Flop"...

ss

I wouldn't call Flop, but I wouldn't buy it and I don't see anyone with a reasonable budget buying one either. I know for a fact that I would but a base Black Book and replace the RAM and HDD. About 4GB and a 200 GB 7200 rpm to be exact.

I am pretty sure that many will buy the MacBook as well. But there will be some that buy this machine that do have the money to get a better internal SSD and faster processor.

Yeah ok. Your argument is lame. I wouldn't call firewire, upgradeable ram and a faster hard drive worthless.

Agreed. I would call firewire a must have for most situations. For this machine I could live without upgradeable RAM, but not that piss poor HDD and a none user replaceable battery. This thing is looking to be a larger iPhone that costs 5 times as much.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

This product has gotten more release day hate here than any other product...except the iPod when it showed up in 2001. Which tells me it will fly off the shelves.

 

[thevofl]

This product has gotten more release day hate here than any other product...except the iPod when it showed up in 2001. Which tells me it will fly off the shelves.

Oh yes, the legendary Thread 500

 

[macenforcer]

I wouldn't call Flop, but I wouldn't buy it and I don't see anyone with a reasonable budget buying one either. I know for a fact that I would but a base Black Book and replace the RAM and HDD. About 4GB and a 200 GB 7200 rpm to be exact.

I am pretty sure that many will buy the MacBook as well. But there will be some that buy this machine that do have the money to get a better internal SSD and faster processor.



Agreed. I would call firewire a must have for most situations. For this machine I could live without upgradeable RAM, but not that piss poor HDD and a none user replaceable battery. This thing is looking to be a larger iPhone that costs 5 times as much.

Precisely Skunk. But there is a problem in that the macbooks have a major flaw.

Fan noise.

I bought the first macbook in black on release day. It was perfect. It didn't have the mooing or anything. Now I ended up selling it and getting the new macbook. What a mistake. The new macbook for whatever reason has fans that ramp up to 5000rpm when ever the cpu needs to to something and this happens all the time, during ichats, spotlight indexing, photoshop, even watching youtube videos. None of my macs ever did this. My mini doesn't do it. Yeah the fans come on during hardcore cpu tasks but not during watching videos or using ichat.

Now I took it back and got a replacement but the replacement did the same thing so I took that back too and ran tests on all the macbooks in the applestore and they all did it. So holding out for a macbook with the 45nm chip and hoping it will be ok even though the new penryns have the same heat specs. We shall see.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Where or where is 10.5.2!!!!!!!!!!!!???

IF 10.5.2 is going to utilize the new SSE4 instructions in Penryn CPUs as has been rumored, I don't expect 10.5.2 until Penryn is available for Apple's computers. Since Penryn is running behind in availability, it will depend on Intel whether Apple releases a quiet update or waits until April or June to debut Penryn with Montevina.

 

[mpspence]

did i hear him say that it's on as soon as you open it?, imo that is the biggest downfall and the biggest reason i don't like transporting my mbp, because by the time i sit in class or the library, take it out,open it, turn it on, wait for everything to load, and wait for my applications to load i wasted about 5 minutes and i was bored as hell the whole time!!! so i just use one of the school's computers. However if this thing is on and loaded when i open it, which i HIGHLY doubt since the processor is slow and everything else, then this is by far the most feasible and usable notebook ever, i really feel that load time is that big of an issue

 

[ghettochild]

This product has gotten more release day hate here than any other product...except the iPod when it showed up in 2001. Which tells me it will fly off the shelves.

Wrong. This product will tank.

 

[mikef07]

If it would have had built in 3g or any wwan i would consider it.
But for apple to call it air but miss some wireless features is senselss to me.

Bingo for me.

1.6 processor - I don't need power
2 GB RAM- Don't need more
80GB HD - More than enough
1 USB Port - Fine
Thin - Awesome
Weight - The lighter the better
Price - Don't care within reason and this is within reason.

No Cellular capability that I can either leave in or that is built in. Very dumb.

I am the perfect target for this laptop. I travel 100-140 nights a year and as you can see above the specs are perfect. The only way I could use cell capability would be an external usb cell card that would stick out too far or get lost, or worse, break off.

Bad bad move.

 

[Clive At Five]

Isn't it a 2lb difference? That's a 40% reduction in weight. Almost half. With an SSD it may be about half (of course I have a slight lingering fear the SSD will make it 3.0 and that the HDD is really 3.3lbs, but will see)

If the adapter is smaller that is a further weight reduction. Anyone know what the weight of the current 13.3 PB adapter is? The new one is like 45 instead of 60W and should be smaller.

Okay, fine. Whatever. 2 lbs. How many people have a problem carrying a 5lb laptop? A few, yes, but it's hardly a widespread issue. Like I said, the gains don't justify the losses for the majority of users.

Pros versus MacBook: half the thickness. "half" the weight. End of list.
Cons versus MacBook: More expensive. Limited to 80GB storage. Slower HDD. Less reliable HDD. Non-upgradeable RAM. No optical drive. Complicated software install process (requires a host PC).

And the worst part of all: THE FOOTPRINT IS NO SMALLER!

So tell me: WHAT'S THE POINT?

If 13.3" was too large before, what changes with the MacBook Air?

If you're too afraid to admit the answer, I'll do it for you:

Nothing.

Apple needs to start developing computers that make sense.

-Clive

 

[Digital Skunk]

It be kinda cool if we could get a SSD in any other capacity. NewEgg has a 32GB for $400, so Apple could do the usual thing and charge us at least $600 for it.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Wrong. This product will tank.

We shall see, O child of the ghetto. But I think not.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Apple needs to start developing computers that make sense.

-Clive

Clive.... Just one thing to say about this:

AMEN BROTHER!

 

[makeyourfaith]

I also don't see many PC users buying a MBA as their first mac.

VERY good point, as most execs are caught in the PC world. As soon as I saw the Air, I thought of Apple's market share: creative types, self-employed, students etc. I know my daughter has maxed out her iBook with 120GB hd. Someone on this forum mentioned the Air is perfect for students. Not! They're the biggest hogs of music, photos, and videos.

Back on topic, this is a complimentary machine. So switchers would need an iMac as well as the Air. Pretty big fork-over for a bit of portability if you ask me.

Definitely holding out for the MBP updates. Long overdue, a waiting game, but I'll surely wait to upgrade my 12" PB. I just can't seem to go for a bigger form factor like the 15" MBP. It doesn't fit in my fanny pack (my 12" PB actually does!) If anyone's seen "The In-Laws", you'll probably find the 'fanny pack' analogy a bit humorous...

 

[11800506]

I knew immediately after I saw the MBA that people would complain about it. Sure it is missing an Ethernet port and sure it has only one usb port, but remember that Apple feels that aesthetics are more important than function and will make compromises to make nice aesthetically. It is after all the thinnest notebook in the world, so it is going to be expensive and it will have compromises.

 

[Agent Smith]

I tend to agree with the naysayers of this thread. This is not a successor to the 12" PB (the best laptop ever!). I think that for the price, it should be a much more "full" (for lack of a better word) package. Don't get me wrong, it looks nice and even harkens back to the old TiBook keyboard, which I'm kind of partial to, but to justify this as "the new hotness" with a price to match, is not cool.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

 

[Pukey]

Apple's MacBook Air is cool, but I actually liked Wired's mockup design better (except for the apparent lack of iSight).

Now, more importantly...where's my Penryn MacBook Pro?!?!?!! Oh well, maybe later this year.