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Apple Announces New 13.3-Inch and 11.6-Inch MacBook Air Models with Flash Storage
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I couldn't help but notice, from the image on apple.com it seems the usb port is on the left side of the laptop. It's the same on my macbook, and I absolutely hate it. I can't use the wired Mighty Mouse I have, because the cable is only 6" long. I'm left handed so I can use it that way, but I would prefer right handed. I just use another wireless mouse I have, but I'd like to use the expensive nice mighty mouse I paid for.
Is this a problem with anyone else? It seems to me like an obvious problem they should have corrected years ago, but I guess everyone at apple just has bluetooth/wireless mouses and don't notice. They need to have usb ports on both sides, the back, etc. Two on the left is just awful. Such a major design flaw from a company that usually crafts their computers with such care, it really baffles me...
D:
Is this a problem with anyone else? It seems to me like an obvious problem they should have corrected years ago, but I guess everyone at apple just has bluetooth/wireless mouses and don't notice. They need to have usb ports on both sides, the back, etc. Two on the left is just awful. Such a major design flaw from a company that usually crafts their computers with such care, it really baffles me...
D:
Only the left USB port is on the left side. There is a right-flavoured USB port on the right side if you want to use that instead.
Depends on if you want high picture quality or use your time & money efficiently.
If you'd know about video scaling & Kell factor, you'd know that you loose resolution when you have to interpolate it to fit different resolution.
Downscaling loose more, but also upscaling lesser than twice also decreases the effective resolution.
So you get better resolution going from 1080->900 or 1080->768 than 720->900 or even 720->768.
More important issue for many people is probably if you have to buy same content several times for each device. Eg. 1080 for living room & 720 for MBA.
Or use your leisure time to convert one purchase (eg. bd or dvd) for suiteble formats for all devices.
Or we can wait until SSD prices drop to more affordable levels.
When that happens, we won't have to worry about long-term storage of irreplaceable images and failed hard drives that inexplicably tic-tic-tic-scrape when they have not done anything except sit on the shelf.
SSD will not change the need to backup!
I fear you are over-optimistic of the reliability of SSD. Nothing should replace a good back-up plan.
I fear you are over-optimistic of the reliability of SSD. Nothing should replace a good back-up plan.
Must....resist.....getting......11....inch.....Air.....
same here... I just cant... resist it... But my MBP holding me back... should i sell away? sound stupid to me though...
Hmm now that Apple provides this USB stick for reinstall of the OS X software. I'm wondering will Apple also provide this option when OSX Lion comes available to order...any news on this?
Johnny says: "...without compromise", but...
Compromise No.1:
No dual glassy screen, only single glossy finish.
I just don't get why Apple doesn't offer even option for matte screen.
Just form over function?
Mobile devices are used in uncontrollable enviroment and AFAIK people don't like highly reflective screen.
Although this gives Kindle a nice plot for ad, there's really no need for glossy screens anymore. They were used to hide low quality tn-panel's shortcomings in picture quality, but now even tn-panel's quality is much better than few years ago and also high quality ips/va are also much cheaper than before.
Higher pixel density is of course a good thing.
Also for people with limited vision IF Lion finally has even some more resolution indipendence.
Compromise No.2:
No fast ports; no usb3, no Light Peak.
I'll have to transfer several gigabytes often and my clients often buy usb2-only-hdd's. Copying files from 1 to another is really slow.
If usb2 bus speed is limiting factor already, think how slow it will feel at the end of new MBA's lifespan, something like 5 years from now, when rest of the world is using usb3 and is 10x faster than MBA.
Compromise No.3:
Even less upgradeability if ssd & ram is soldered. Also, not using the latest technology will shorten it's life. Although Apple touts its products' recycleability, shortened life will make it's carbon footstamp bigger and also increase TCO.
Compromise No.1:
No dual glassy screen, only single glossy finish.
I just don't get why Apple doesn't offer even option for matte screen.
Just form over function?
Mobile devices are used in uncontrollable enviroment and AFAIK people don't like highly reflective screen.
Although this gives Kindle a nice plot for ad, there's really no need for glossy screens anymore. They were used to hide low quality tn-panel's shortcomings in picture quality, but now even tn-panel's quality is much better than few years ago and also high quality ips/va are also much cheaper than before.
Higher pixel density is of course a good thing.
Also for people with limited vision IF Lion finally has even some more resolution indipendence.
Compromise No.2:
No fast ports; no usb3, no Light Peak.
I'll have to transfer several gigabytes often and my clients often buy usb2-only-hdd's. Copying files from 1 to another is really slow.
If usb2 bus speed is limiting factor already, think how slow it will feel at the end of new MBA's lifespan, something like 5 years from now, when rest of the world is using usb3 and is 10x faster than MBA.
Compromise No.3:
Even less upgradeability if ssd & ram is soldered. Also, not using the latest technology will shorten it's life. Although Apple touts its products' recycleability, shortened life will make it's carbon footstamp bigger and also increase TCO.
Yes, USB sucks, but what did you expect? The air never had anything other than USB. Lol, lightpeak? USB 3? Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and iMac must all get those well before a consumer ultralight does.
Geez... I can understand the bitching when Apple remove a firewire port and jack the prices up $500, or remove express-card, or neglect the Mac Pro, but FFS: the price went down, another USB port was added, the screen res is awesome, and the flip door is gone. What the hell is not to love? The only other thing I would ask for is to BTO the tapers into more battery and a nicer looking rectangular profile.
Yes, USB sucks, but what did you expect? The air never had anything other than USB. Lol, lightpeak? USB 3? Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and iMac must all get those well before a consumer ultralight does.
Geez... I can understand the bitching when Apple remove a firewire port and jack the prices up $500, or remove express-card, or neglect the Mac Pro, but FFS: the price went down, another USB port was added, the screen res is awesome, and the flip door is gone. What the hell is not to love? The only other thing I would ask for is to BTO the tapers into more battery and a nicer looking rectangular profile.
I agree-- overall, very nice. SSD-only makes sense. 4 GB option (which everyone should get). Choose your SSD size. 11" or 13", and, decent battery life. C2D plus GPU (I don't know why people keep bringing up Core i3.) Overall, it makes a lot of sense.
Disappointments?
1) It should have anti-glare. I don't know what Apple's problem is with anti-glare lately. This is a major issue.
2) Backlit keyboard should be there at this price. Does it really affect battery life much? With a glossy screen, people are going to be sitting in the darkest place possible- they would appreciate a backlit keyboard.
3) It should have a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet.
4) FW+target disk mode-- anyone remember back when Apple de-supported old PPC machines without it? Still the best thing since artisan bread.
Yes, USB sucks, but what did you expect? The air never had anything other than USB. Lol, lightpeak? USB 3? Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and iMac must all get those well before a consumer ultralight does.
Geez... I can understand the bitching when Apple remove a firewire port and jack the prices up $500, or remove express-card, or neglect the Mac Pro, but FFS: the price went down, another USB port was added, the screen res is awesome, and the flip door is gone. What the hell is not to love? The only other thing I would ask for is to BTO the tapers into more battery and a nicer looking rectangular profile.
I doubt any mac will get USB3 until Intel or whatever chipset they go with supports it as part of the chipset architecture.
SSD vs Flash in MBA?
Sorry if this is already asked,
256GB SSD configuration adds $750 to MBP, but 256GB Flash storage already in $1599 MBA configuration.
What gives?
Why 256GB Flash memory is cheap in MBA but NOT in the form of SSD?
Sorry if this is already asked,
256GB SSD configuration adds $750 to MBP, but 256GB Flash storage already in $1599 MBA configuration.
What gives?
Why 256GB Flash memory is cheap in MBA but NOT in the form of SSD?
and btw, older model MBA (refurbished section) going for $849 and $1099.
I wish it had one more USB port and SD Card slot, I do not mine the other specs of the older MBA.
I wish it had one more USB port and SD Card slot, I do not mine the other specs of the older MBA.
Apple could make a bunch of people happy by making a PCIe port and dongles for very fast I/O devices like Ethernet, Light Peak, FW800/3200, USB3 when it arrives, etc. ONE port and it can be SMALL. Just need a set of dongles for common I/O or even a micro-dock with 3-4 ports.
Apple needs to let high I/O co-exist with tiny form factor systems. I need to be able to unload my HD video camera and go again, for example. Once the (iPhone) uploads it to my cloud it can erase and reset if commanded.
Rocketman
Apple needs to let high I/O co-exist with tiny form factor systems. I need to be able to unload my HD video camera and go again, for example. Once the (iPhone) uploads it to my cloud it can erase and reset if commanded.
Rocketman
I'm going with the 11" MBA, and as virtually the only thing I need when I'm out and about is online, 64Gb will be fine. However (sadly) there is one online app that I HAVE to use regularly for business that HAS to use Internet Explorer, so I'm going to have to put Parallels on there. Could I still get away with the 2Gb RAM. Has anyone done this (on an "old" MBA for example)??
In case you are going to use Windows XP and will give it only 512 MB Ram, then yes, you can get by. Everything else (Windows 7, Vista) should get at least 1GB of RAM and then your Mac will suffer greatly...
Steve's cancer was not Adenocarcinoma but the way less common islet cell neuroendocrine tumor which has better prognosis.
Doesn't help skunk who wishes to purchase now. Your faith in the vagaries of the flash market and Apple's willingness to pass on savings is adorable.
Paranoia never goes out of style when family memories are concerned. I use iDisk and Dropbox when possible too.
