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Is the Macbook Air 13" overpriced?
- Thread starter Sangdushi
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It's expensive, but not overpriced. There's a big difference!
Compare it to other ultra-portables, and consider some of it's features. Yes, it's expensive, but you get an awesome computer.
Some things are more expensive than other things. If you get a worthwhile benefit (or benefits) from the increased price, than it's not overpriced, even though it may be expensive.
If you want a really fast, thin, light, and sleek laptop that also happens to be a Mac, the airs are fantastic.
Compare it to other ultra-portables, and consider some of it's features. Yes, it's expensive, but you get an awesome computer.
Some things are more expensive than other things. If you get a worthwhile benefit (or benefits) from the increased price, than it's not overpriced, even though it may be expensive.
If you want a really fast, thin, light, and sleek laptop that also happens to be a Mac, the airs are fantastic.
I understand the question. I'm also a bit set back to spend 1279 on a baseline laptop (not even the high-end model). For some people that's a lot of money.
Of course, in its class it is great. You don't find cheaper ones with the same spec. Vaio Z-class is much more expensive. But being an Apple enthusiast, it sometimes is a bit hard when people come in with their lovely new laptop and you find out the price. Of course they're not ultraportable, but they do usually have a decent GPU, aren't too heavy, and are still nice enough looking.
For me it boils down to OS X though. I've tried the hackintosh route, and it didn't work for me because one of the things I love about the Mac is the hassle-free experience. Flapping the display shut to put it in sleep mode, knowing it will wake up again for sure. No weird problems to fix when I really need to do some work. No frequent reinstalls, spending hours bringing it up to the latest patch level and removing bloatware after every reimage. Stuff like that. For me that is worth the premium.
And on the other hand, when I look around at other people like myself, not the average computer user but techies. When I see what they buy it's usually HP EliteBooks, Lenovo decked-out business ones etc, and guess what, often they cost more than a MacBook Air if not around the same. And believe me, comparing your MacBook Air to one of those you got one sweet deal
Of course, in its class it is great. You don't find cheaper ones with the same spec. Vaio Z-class is much more expensive. But being an Apple enthusiast, it sometimes is a bit hard when people come in with their lovely new laptop and you find out the price. Of course they're not ultraportable, but they do usually have a decent GPU, aren't too heavy, and are still nice enough looking.
For me it boils down to OS X though. I've tried the hackintosh route, and it didn't work for me because one of the things I love about the Mac is the hassle-free experience. Flapping the display shut to put it in sleep mode, knowing it will wake up again for sure. No weird problems to fix when I really need to do some work. No frequent reinstalls, spending hours bringing it up to the latest patch level and removing bloatware after every reimage. Stuff like that. For me that is worth the premium.
And on the other hand, when I look around at other people like myself, not the average computer user but techies. When I see what they buy it's usually HP EliteBooks, Lenovo decked-out business ones etc, and guess what, often they cost more than a MacBook Air if not around the same. And believe me, comparing your MacBook Air to one of those you got one sweet deal
This is, ultimately, true: Windows laptops deliver more bang for your buck than Apple laptops. Let's be honest guys: we all know that there's indeed a price premium built into all Apple products. That premium is sometimes justified ($1100 for 11" MBA or $1700 for a 27" iMac) and sometimes not ($2500 for a 17" MBP
).- So, are PC laptops better value? Yes
- Are Mac laptops better altogether? In my opinion, yes. And Max OSX is much better than Windows.
- Is it worth paying the Apple price premium? I'm an Apple customer, so I will obviously say "Yes", but heavily depending on the product (There's no chance in hell I'd pay $2500+ for a 17" MBP. That's seriously out of whack).
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This is precisely why I'm an Apple customer and why I paid 1800 euros (2500 dollars) last year for my MBA Ultimate: the superior OSX and the hassle-free experience. And since I use my laptop as my mobile office, I think it's worth the premium.
Sure, specs-wise it was overpriced, but the OSX alone is worth the premium.
Sangdushi...ask Kulimer this:
Can his friend sell his windows based leveno for about 80% it's original purchase price in a couple years?
Me thinks not even close!
Buying a apple computer is truly the best bang for your buck...as they retain there value by far and away better then any other computer out there....don't believe me? just check out your local craigslist and learn...
ps: enjoy your new 13" air ;-)
I used to think so, but after seeing Samsung 9 Series' prices I think it's fair. Plus you can use both Windows and Mac OS. (Admit it, nobody in this world can do without Windows)
So... Now I've got one.
So... Now I've got one.
Please post a Windows laptop that offers more bang for your buck than a MacBook Air 13".
We're waiting.
(Hint : you're wrong. As far as the MBA is concerned, it's very aggressively priced and competitive. There is no Apple tax).
What Gets Me
Is the difference in price between the USA and Europe. This is the order for my new MBA:
Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive
£55.00
1
£55.00
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: MC684ZM/A
Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011 - 1 license
£158.29
1
£158.29
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: H2438LL/A
MacBook Air, 13-inch
£1,207.50
1
£1,207.50
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: Z0ME
With the following configuration:
1.8GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
256GB flash storage
Keyboard (British) & User's Guide (English)
Accessory Kit
Apple Thunderbolt cable (2.0 m)
£32.50
1
£32.50
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: MC913ZM/A
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll
£169.17
1
£169.17
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: S2513ZM/B
Subtotal
£1,541.33
Promotion Savings
£-81.13
VAT @ 20%
£308.26
Order Total
£1,849.59
I guess we have become used to it, and Im looking forward to my new Air, but if i was being honest I guess I'd say that Overpriced in Europe would be a fair comment.
Its not as if they are made in the states either....I'm an expat NYC guy, so keep in touch with prices and stuff back in the states. The killer in the UK is VAT (I know its a government tax) but if we want our Apple kit, we pay more for it....It's always been that way.
Is the difference in price between the USA and Europe. This is the order for my new MBA:
Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive
£55.00
1
£55.00
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: MC684ZM/A
Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011 - 1 license
£158.29
1
£158.29
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: H2438LL/A
MacBook Air, 13-inch
£1,207.50
1
£1,207.50
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: Z0ME
With the following configuration:
1.8GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
256GB flash storage
Keyboard (British) & User's Guide (English)
Accessory Kit
Apple Thunderbolt cable (2.0 m)
£32.50
1
£32.50
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: MC913ZM/A
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll
£169.17
1
£169.17
Dispatched: 3 business days
Delivers 28 Sep, 2011 Standard Service
Part Number: S2513ZM/B
Subtotal
£1,541.33
Promotion Savings
£-81.13
VAT @ 20%
£308.26
Order Total
£1,849.59
I guess we have become used to it, and Im looking forward to my new Air, but if i was being honest I guess I'd say that Overpriced in Europe would be a fair comment.
Its not as if they are made in the states either....I'm an expat NYC guy, so keep in touch with prices and stuff back in the states. The killer in the UK is VAT (I know its a government tax) but if we want our Apple kit, we pay more for it....It's always been that way.
This! I'm trying to sell my windows laptop to buy a mac, and while I bought it for 1360, noone is interested even for 800 (euros).
While with a mac, the value is retained, which ultimately means isn't that expensive.
Also,
They're not that overpriced in europe tbh. They cost ~120$ more than in the US. The thing that makes them expensive is our tax, which here in greece is 23%!!! Almost 1/4 of the price up!!! It's ridiculous. But if we count the tax-less price, it's a normal rise since it's being imported.
That Is A Good Point
Apple kit does retain it's price very well, iPads,iPhones everything, whereas a Windows based PC becomes virtually worthless very quickly. I have a laptop which has had very little use, but like you, nobody wants it.
Apple kit does retain it's price very well, iPads,iPhones everything, whereas a Windows based PC becomes virtually worthless very quickly. I have a laptop which has had very little use, but like you, nobody wants it.
For Apple Stuff
Yes, but not Windows based PC's.....I will probably end up giving it to a local College or something....At least I'll know its going to people who need it. Id rather a young person who can't afford one had it than to end up getting pennies for it somewhere else.
Yes, but not Windows based PC's.....I will probably end up giving it to a local College or something....At least I'll know its going to people who need it. Id rather a young person who can't afford one had it than to end up getting pennies for it somewhere else.
The MacBook Air has by far the best value in its category (ultrabooks), which is not something common for Apple products.
And when I say value, I'm just talking about specs for your dollar, since the value of the rest (OS, preinstalled software, lack of preinstalled bloatware, design, build quality, usability of the keyboard/trackpad...) is more subjective.
Most people here will agree though that the MBA is also the clear winner in those more subjective categories. And it's the thinnest.
So, to answer your question: No, the MBA isn't overpriced. If you think it's too expensive, you're just not in the market for an ultrabook, as other comparable models from other manufacturers offer less for more.
Add the resale value into account and there's even less reason to chose a Windows ultrabook. I don't see any to be honest. I mean, you could buy a Windows 7 license and add it to the MBA's price if you really wanted to use Windows instead of OS X, and the MBA still would have a better value.
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Fair Comment
I always knew I was going to buy one.... It's the perfect tool to round off my kit. When you think of it that way I guess the price difference becomes meaningless.
I always knew I was going to buy one.... It's the perfect tool to round off my kit. When you think of it that way I guess the price difference becomes meaningless.
I have a 7lb. ASUS gaming notebook. It is uncomfortable to use in your lap due to the weight and a pain to carry anywhere. It's also overkill as I never used it for gaming, just web surfing and a little development here and there. I still need Windows for Quicken and VPN access at work (proprietary Checkpoint VPN client) but the Air serves as a perfectly good Windows notebook using Bootcamp (which was surprisingly seamless to set up).
So, I went ultimate 13" and have been very pleased. The battery life is excellent (relative to the 1:45 I would get with the ASUS) and when it needs a charge the battery charges fully in a short amount of time.
It was not a cheap purchase but I didn't think that much about it, just plunked down the AMEX. A buddy of mine who works as an Apple Genius said he pushes the Air over the MacBook Pro unless a customer really seems to have the need for the higher end hardware, and with the latest revamp the Air makes even more sense.
I don't find it surprising that someone would switch for the MacBook Air. This product is very representative of the Apple philosophy. That often, the quality of your computing experience depends more on how well you can integrate your product into your life than just numbers.
A lot of computer nerds tend to forget that ultimately, higher specs should be desired for more productivity, not just for the sake of them.
If you truly take productivity into account, because that's what matters, a lot of people will find the benefit of having an ultraportable computer much better than slightly better specs.
People with heavy laptops often ask themselves when leaving in the morning "Should I bring my laptop today? Will the probability of me using it today justify the bulk and weight in my bag?" They will often keep it home and later in the day go "Damn, I wish I had my laptop".
With a MacBook Air, you just put in your bag, don't ask yourself any question, and if you ever need it throughout the day, you know it's there.
For a lot of people that move with their computer a lot, the fact that you can always have your computer with you, even when you didn't expect to use it, adds much more to their productivity than an added fraction of gigahertz.
That's why a lot of people that always used MBPs in the past now choose the Air. I'm one of them, and don't regret it at all. It's the best computer I ever owned.
Please post a Windows laptop that offers more bang for your buck than a MacBook Air 13".
We're waiting.
(Hint : you're wrong. As far as the MBA is concerned, it's very aggressively priced and competitive. There is no Apple tax).
Dude, specs-wise there are DOZENS of PC 13" laptops that deliver more muscle than the 13" MBA at lower price.
Sure, they ain't that pretty. Sure, they ain't that thin or light. And sure, they ain't got OSX (the deal-breaker for me). But specs wise, a PC laptop will always beat a Mac laptop on the same price range.
I love Apple stuff and I'm a rabid customer, but I refuse to become a fan boy and blind my eyes: we gotta admit it, PCs deliver more muscle at a lower price. That doesn't mean they're better though (they're not). But they do deliver better specs at an equal price range.
Apple's products aren't aimed at people who only care about raw specs with no concern about size / weight / design / OS / etc.
Being thin and light are specifications that the mid-range Windows PCs you speak of don't match. Once the Ultrabooks start coming out it will become more apparent that the MacBook Air line is not overpriced. Portable computers of any kind are a compromise, and the more portable, generally the more expensive and/or less powerful they are.
The form factor IS a spec too. The weight, screen quality, battery life, build quality, SSD v. HD etc. are just as important as the gigabytes and the megahertz! It all contributes to the user experience.
So far, no one has been able to match the user experience in the ultrabook category while making it cheaper than the MBA.
"Overpriced" is a relative term that depends on the buyer's needs, wants, and budget - not a black/white fact. To some, an Air is a luxury device that they would never dream of spending $1300 on. To others, it is just a fact of life and a necessity.
Demand will ultimately determine if a product is priced at an inappropriate level for the market. In this case, the 2011 Airs are a runaway success currently in terms of sales volume and demand, and we aren't even to the holiday season yet.
Before purchasing my 13" Air, I spent a lot of time researching all of the other major manufacturers to see what comparable units they had to offer. In most cases, to build anything like an Air the prices ended up being about the same or more. As others mentioned, there are intangibles like OS and integration with other products/services that are hard to measure.
A few weeks back there was a report about Apple's competitors having a hard time meeting the same price points for similar products (the source was the competitors themselves and Intel). Apple's economies of scale are hard to match in manufacturing.
Demand will ultimately determine if a product is priced at an inappropriate level for the market. In this case, the 2011 Airs are a runaway success currently in terms of sales volume and demand, and we aren't even to the holiday season yet.
Before purchasing my 13" Air, I spent a lot of time researching all of the other major manufacturers to see what comparable units they had to offer. In most cases, to build anything like an Air the prices ended up being about the same or more. As others mentioned, there are intangibles like OS and integration with other products/services that are hard to measure.
A few weeks back there was a report about Apple's competitors having a hard time meeting the same price points for similar products (the source was the competitors themselves and Intel). Apple's economies of scale are hard to match in manufacturing.