MacBook Airs have Arrived

[encro]

If you have received a MacBook Air please open Terminal.app and enter the following command and report back with the info returned:

hwprefs machine_type cpu_type

Cheers

 

[iCeFuSiOn]

What is this, find the MacBook Air?

Yes.

 

[gwangung]

Apple has missed here. The cube made more sense than this. This product's size and capabilities should price it UNDER the MacBook. Like $799 or something. It's a second computer.

Absolutely not.

It's an ultraportable machine and the market for those START at $1600. The product's size (i.e. WEIGHT) puts it into a different market.

Pay attention.

 

[PDE]

Hmm, I'm interested to see what the Achilles heel will be on this model... Dodgy display? Overheating? Faulty HDDs? Or will Apple break into something new - faulty trackpads perhaps?

I totally agree. There will be something and it won't be pretty....never a rev A Apple product again!

 

[craigatkinson]

LOL

has anyone thought of watching the movie on the computer they're using remote disc on?

 

[SheriffParker]

Hmmm. Well it certainly is thin.

I really don't know how this one left the building though.... There's lots of room for improvement.

 

[craigatkinson]

I don't think this machine is for the type of people who frequent these forums. People like us like lots of features and capabilities. Apple didn't release the Air for us. This machine is for people who want something they can use while on the run and don't require a lot features. As long as they can do email and word processing and maybe listen to some music while they are at it, then they are set.

 

[latergator116]

I wouldn't call it a design flaw. It's not the easiest thing to make a heavy, tough cord that's not ugly and too big. Looks like they figured it out with the Air. I have 2 magsafe connectors, and other than bite marks on one from one of my stupid cats, they're both in great shape. And I tug on mine to get them off, a lot of the things Apple recommends against. I think the 1.5 stars on the Apple site is just a case of the fact that people with 0 problems would never review a product like that, and people that have any problem always write in and complain.

Again, not to say that Apple couldn't do better, but I really think the current MagSafes are 4 star-worthy, or at the very least 3.5. Looks like the MBAir might hit 5 stars, though I am concerned that the cord may not be very heavy gauge.

I don't have one, so I can't really comment personally, but Apple has made sturdier power adapters before, why not now? It just seems like there's so many complaints about the Magsafe compared to before. To be fair though, wasn't there a recall a while ago for adapters that would overheat and possibly catch on fire?

 

[Mindflux]

I don't think this machine is for the type of people who frequent these forums. People like us like lots of features and capabilities. Apple didn't release the Air for us. This machine is for people who want something they can use while on the run and don't require a lot features. As long as they can do email and word processing and maybe listen to some music while they are at it, then they are set.

You dont need 'features and capabilities' to frequent forums.

 

[Mindflux]

Hmmm. Well it certainly is thin.

I really don't know how this one left the building though.... There's lots of room for improvement.

Or not? Have you seen the guts. Show me where anything else can go?

 

[em500]

There comes a point where shrinking something down makes it significantly more expensive. I don't think it's hard to see that the Air has definitely hit that point.

The Air does a lot more "leave them out" than actually shrinking.

 

[diamond.g]

If you have received a MacBook Air please open Terminal.app and enter the following command and report back with the info returned:

hwprefs machine_type cpu_type

Cheers

I don't have a MBA, but I was curious to the output of the command you posted. Just a FYI, it comes back and tells me command not found.

 

[eddietr]

You dont need 'features and capabilities' to frequent forums.

How fast of a processor and how many ports do you need to spend time complaining about other people's laptops when you aren't buying that model yourself?

 

[stevechollet]

Everybody seems to be chiming in on the MacBook Air, so I might as well too.

To me (opinion here), the MacBook Air misses the mark in many ways, but at the same time, I believe it is a computer that needed to happen (I'll explain this later)

Here are some issues, pro's and cons style compared to the MacBook:

Pros:
- Thinner
- Lighter
- Nice looking (subjective)
- Slightly longer battery life?
- MultiTouch Trackpad

Cons:
- Slower Processor
- Less hard drive capacity
- Slower hard drive
- Less connectivity (Optical, firewire, etc)
- Higher price (+$700)

The thinner & lighter thing is cool, but it's no more portable than any other MacBook. The footprint is the same, and the bag you carry it in isn't much different if at all than what you would carry any MacBook in. Also, the trackpad feature will undoubtedly be available on the MB and MBP on their next respective revisions.

So let's sum it up; you get a computer that is not really any more portable, has less connectivity, is slower, has less space, etc, etc, and you pay $700 more for this. Doesn't add up for me. As someone else mentioned, this is more of a second computer, but it is priced at a pro level, and clearly not a pro machine.

However, I said this computer needed to happen...here is what I mean. As impractical as this computer is (based on it's price), this is a great looking and well functioning machine for the right person, which is the consumer level user. I think a realistic expectation is to see this design become the MacBook design, a thin lightweight computer for the consumer, and at the current MacBook pricepoint, people would be all about that. And then, the pro user would have the MacBook Pro, a portable with all of the connectivity and speed that pro users need. I hope that made sense. Again, I think the design and the idea is great, but it's position in the product line makes no sense to me. Unless you are impractical and want to pay a premium for the über-trendy, then it makes complete sense.

I hope they eventually split the line to the MacBook Air design, and a Pro design...I think that would make sense for everyone. My opinion.

Steve

 

[peestandingup]

Somewhat disappointing, but it makes sense. The speed/quality of a given connection may not be enough to support watching a movie.

Bologna. Windows users do it all the time. If that were the case, then why can you boot from a disc over the air with this thing??

 

[pjarvi]

Hmm, I'm interested to see what the Achilles heel will be on this model... Dodgy display? Overheating? Faulty HDDs? Or will Apple break into something new - faulty trackpads perhaps?

Moving parts would be my guess. The USB/headphone/mini-DVI connectors in particular. A number of the remote users at our company have a habit of not unplugging things when they put their laptops away. It wouldn't surprise me to see people leave a USB adapter for something left plugged in when they put the system away, and cause damage to that part of the laptop. Other than that, it will be interesting to see how well the hinge for the display holds up.

 

[RichP]

Its understandable the machine would lack some features in the quest for lightness. We never expected to have an optical drive, we never expected it to be a powerhouse, we never expected it to have a completely full feature-set. However, this machine lacks SO MANY features (namely useful ports) it begins to lose some of the Apple design flair for simplicity. The machine isn't that portable if I need to carry around a bunch of little attachments and adapters.

And other manufacturers have roughly figured out how to do it, why not apple?

 

[AidenShaw]

WHO CARES IT FITS IN AN ENVELOPE!!! IT FITS IN AN ENVELOOOOOOPE!!!!

So does a three year old Dell X1

blah2

 

[PNW]

I'm amazed at all the negative press about the lack of an optical drive. A couple of years a go when our IT dept handed me a lenovo x40 I said "nice size, where's the dvd drive", the guy said (while rolling his eyes) "if you really need one we'll get you an external." They did, I never use it.

If you want to watch a movie on your MBA rip it to another computer and copy or stream it to the MBA.

I take my laptop when I travel and I bike to and from work with it on my back everyday. When you're lugging something around all the time, 2lbs makes a huge difference.

As others have mentioned the MBA was never meant to be anyone's primary box. And as to the price I imagine that having Intel redesign a processor for the MBA wasn't cheap.

 

[batmccoy]

Absolutely not.

It's an ultraportable machine and the market for those START at $1600. The product's size (i.e. WEIGHT) puts it into a different market.

Pay attention.

I am paying attention. Are you? This is an Apple product and requires a second computer. Most if not all of the people that would use this would have a Mac.

It doesn't matter how thin something is. Did the people asking for a thinner laptop realize that options would be lost? With reduced capabilities of a MacBook, it should be priced less than a MacBook, no matter what anyone else is selling an ultra portable for.

 

[zedsdead]

I really want one of them to address how the 80gb Hard Drive performs. Walt made a comment about the Macbook Air being speedy, but I wasn't sure if he was addressing this specifically.

 

[eddietr]

With reduced capabilities of a MacBook, it should be priced less than a MacBook, no matter what anyone else is selling an ultra portable for.

But how on earth do you propose to make something smaller than a normal laptop and still have an overall cost lower than the larger devices?

Why do you think other manufacturers also charge a premium for their smaller, thinner notebooks which are also generally less powerful than their bigger, cheaper notebooks?

 

[MRU]

I think all those whining were not the target audience that apple was aiming at, pure and simple.

Yes the battery may be the most realistically contentious aspect but everything else is just nonsense.

If you need a computer that does 'everything' Apple already give you an array of models and options to suit your needs.

The reason I'm getting a MBA is simple.

I need somthing very portable that i keep all my contacts, addresses, calender, accounts, surf the internet and emails, check files clients send to me on the fly, or provide quick proofing...

I already have had a MB and a MBP, both fine machines but there are parts I dont like or need about both and where the MBA fits my needs perfectly.

The macbook is a great value laptop, but aesthetically for me it lacks somthing which may seem trivial but it is important to others.. I much prefer Aluminum macs as a previous powerbook user, they look more professional, and have extra features such as back lit keyboard that I really like.

The macbook pro is a very powerful desktop replacement, but I already have one (a mac pro) and whilst aesthetically its great it is overkill for my needs. I never ever use the drive and I prefer if it was a little smaller and lighter...

Enter macbook air... Does everything I want out of laptop.

Sure it's not super cheap, but Apple knows it's demographic and know that the people who would be attracted to the MBA as a ultra portable secondary computer, one that has been geared towards those that really care about aesthetics, well they know generally we can afford the price tag and not grumble about it.

If your whining about lack of this, lack of that, too pricy etc... Then its quite simple the MBA was not designed for you. So please stop complaining, go out for a long walk, find the nearest bridge and simply..... get over it......

I mean if your not going to buy one, why moan about it ? Have you nothing better to do ?

 

[JGowan]

Wow... Can't even play DVD's? So if I want to watch a movie on my Macbook Air on the couch, I have to plug in that superdrive and have it sitting there humming next to me?

Who watches movies on the couch with their laptop?!? You watch a movie on a TV. Personally, when I travel, I HandBrake a movie or 3 and Quicktime them hoes on the go.

 

[Airforce]

Who watches movies on the couch with their laptop?!? You watch a movie on a TV. Personally, when I travel, I HandBrake a movie or 3 and Quicktime them hoes on the go.

Well, according to Engadget:

You can't rip DVDs over the network using a tool like Handbrake.