MacBook Airs have Arrived

[Cloudane]

Definitely becoming too much of an Appletard - just been watching the latest Naruto Shippuuden (anime series, as avatar). Character hands character a manilla envelope, exact same type where you unwind the string to open it. "What's this" he says.... you can guess what I was half expecting him to pull out of it

If the manga wasn't already written way ahead of time I'd think they did that on purpose

 

[MacsAttack]

Why does no one understand? If you have to carry around "a bunch of little attachments and adapters" to do what you need, then this model is NOT FOR YOU. Buy a macbook or macbook pro.

The fun example was somebody who shoots digital video... A van full of camera and sound equipment and he thinks the MBA is rubbish because it is not well suited for video editing in the field. Yah. Sure. The extra weight of that MBP is going to be a real killer. How dare Apple make such a heavy full-featured pro laptop!!!!

I've got an office full of people here - each of which would find the size and form factor of the MBA perfect (only corporate use of Dell and Windows standing in the way). Light weight and thin. Fits in the folio along with their MBA-sized documents (one less bag). More than powerful enough for their requirements (document processing, e-mail, presentations). Good screen. Good keyboard. Half of them could live without a battery at all - they just hop from desk to desk in different offices.

Most people who ask me - I tell them to get a white MacBook. One or two I reluctantly point at the MacBook Pro (it has some real serious issues that need working out - which with the new keyboard and a bit of case redesign we may see some time this year), but there are also several for whom the MBA is the perfect answer. The interesting thing is that there is little overlap between the three groups.

 

[iAmLegend]

It breaks your heart that you won't turn any heads with a MacBook or MacBook Pro.

And here we have a perfect example of the only people who will be buying a MacBook Air...trend whores who like to show off new gadgets. Pathetic.

 

[filmguy15]

And here we have a perfect example of the only people who will be buying a MacBook Air...trend whores who like to show off new gadgets. Pathetic.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Buy it for practical use, not because it's Apple's "new thing".

 

[paulbaker]

my 2 cents for MBA:

1. I am not all that hot for the design of the MBA, contrary to many. Other than it being really thin, I don't find it all that pretty or good looking. I still like the design of MBP more.

2. I am not so sure about using 1.8 inch HD. Didn't Apple tell people that using iPod as a HD for computer is not really a good idea and it may damage the HD down the road?

3. If Apple is billing the computer as wireless centric notebook, I find it confusing that MBA does not have Express 34 slot to put 3G cards in. Maybe there are USB-based 3G modems, but I haven't seen one.

4. Since Apple wants you to buy music through iTunes, not being able to import music remotely kinda makes sense.

5. I honestly don't know who will be up for purchasing this notebook. For about $500 less you can buy a faster computer (Macbook). what you get for $500 more is aluminum casing and 2lbs less. If you find 2lbs extra that troublesome, you need to spend $500 for gym membership, not for purchasing MBA.

Several USB 3g wireless....

 

[Cloudane]

Again, I can't justify it myself. But what I can say is... there's nothing wrong with carrying around accessories for this thing. The point of it is, when you do want to travel light, you have the option of leaving all that stuff behind. If it's built in, that option doesn't exist. That's the flexibility people are paying for IMO.

BTW I'm not averse to showing off gadgets I wouldn't buy something for that sole purpose, but I'm willing to admit that as a human being I like that kind of attention. I often wonder if those who slag off "show offs" drive the ugliest cars, use the ugliest phones etc etc.

 

[kuwisdelu]

I'm with MacsAttack and Cloudane on this. I'd probably get a MacBook Air if 1) I had an iMac/Mac Pro to supplement it, 2) I had the money, and 3) my MacBook hasn't even had its 1 year birthday yet. Otherwise, I think it's a perfectly reasonable tool.

Honestly, I don't use most of the accessories most people here seem to think of as "necessary." And I even tend to think of myself as having greater computing needs than "average." But hell, I don't even know what 3G is or what I would do with an ExpressCard or whatever those things are. You guys are making me feel really out-of-the-loop.

What I do know is...

-Only four of the applications on my MacBook have required CD's to install: VMWare Fusion, Windows XP, SAS Statistical software, and XCode. The rest I downloaded as free, open-source software.

-I've never used my optical drive away from home. I haven't once. I rip music and movies at home and take them with me.

-I've never had more than one thing plugged into my USB drive at once, and then it's usually a flash drive, printer, or my iPod.

-I've never used my firewire, line in, or video ports at all.

-I've used my ethernet once. Once. And it wasn't even necessary.

-I don't need a small footprint; I carry a briefcase for my schoolwork and notebooks, etc.

-A thinner laptop gives me more room for schoolwork in there. 2lbs make not sound like much, but it's the difference between laptop alone vs. laptop + textbook I may need. Trust me, I'm in shape, but it still makes a difference when you're carrying them several miles to and from campus.

-I've never even touched my battery. My MacBook usually lasts me through the whole day, and if I really, really need there's usually outlets in at least one of my classrooms which can give me 50 min of charging. So much for needing extra batteries?

Wait, what?

But you're telling me the MacBook Air is inherently flawed? You're telling me if I bought one, it'd just be to be a trend-whore and turn heads, not because of any of the legitimate reasons above? Oh. Well. Nevermind, then.

If my MacBook needed replacing and I had the money, I'd go for the MacBook Air. Yes, it's expensive, but that's not a flaw of it; that's me being a poor college student. I'd have an iPhone, too, if I had the money, but most here agree the iPhone isn't an "inherently flawed" Apple product destined for failure. If my MacBook is getting old when MBA 2.0 comes around, I think I'll be in line for one. Right now, I'm just not in the market for any computer.

 

[eddietr]

-Only four of the applications on my MacBook have required CD's to install: VMWare Fusion, Windows XP, SAS Statistical software, and XCode.

You can even download Fusion and XCode.

 

[kuwisdelu]

You can even download Fusion and XCode.

Hmm, oh yeah, you're right.

I didn't happen to, but I could have easily, if needed. If I'd wanted to play illegally, I technically could have downloaded Windows XP, too. And in the job world, even SAS would be provided for me on a company licensed computer, rather than on my own...

 

[Tensakun]

Doesn't play with Windows?

Hi guys, my first post in this forum, so sorry if my question seems clueless.

Someone mentioned, either in this or a similar thread, that the MBA doesn't work well with a Windows XP install via Bootcamp. Is this really the case? Didn't notice a post giving the reason. Guess is that there's some compatibility issue with the new 'Remote' disk software. Would the USB disk option resolve this?

Any clarification on this appreciated--unfortunately (don't get me started), I need to run Win sometimes in my work situation.

One more Q to the wizards: I know that the optional disk drive doesn't work with other machines (!), but wouldn't any old USB CD/DVD drive off the shelf work with MBA?

 

[eddietr]

Hi guys, my first post in this forum, so sorry if my question seems clueless.

Someone mentioned, either in this or a similar thread, that the MBA doesn't work well with a Windows XP install via Bootcamp. Is this really the case? Didn't notice a post giving the reason. Guess is that there's some compatibility issue with the new 'Remote' disk software. Would the USB disk option resolve this?

My understanding is that you can't install Windows within Bootcamp from a remote disc. So you need the external superdrive to install Windows.

Any clarification on this appreciated--unfortunately (don't get me started), I need to run Win sometimes in my work situation.

If it's for work and not for games, you might be better off with Fusion or Parallels instead of Bootcamp. Have you considered that? Certainly more convenient than rebooting.

One more Q to the wizards: I know that the optional disk drive doesn't work with other machines (!), but wouldn't any old USB CD/DVD drive off the shelf work with MBA?

Good question on the USB CD/DVD drive. Someone will have to try that.

 

[kuwisdelu]

Hmm, well no one really knows for sure yet. I don't remember reading anything like that. I really have no idea how well the remote disc would work in Bootcamp.

But if you want to use Fusion or Parallels to run Windows inside OS X, I see no reason that wouldn't work just fine with the remote disc. And if you want to use a USB drive, like you said, I know Fusion can certainly install Windows from a disk image if you don't have the physical CD in the drive.

And luckily, they put 2GB RAM in the MBA, so if you were to use Fusion or Parallels, Windows would run just fine on it.

Edit: Oops, you meant USB CD drive. Misread your question. Apologies. Yes, I see no reason why it shouldn't work, either. The special MBA Superdrive is just recommended and talked about so much because it can be used wirelessly, I think.

 

[AidenShaw]

The special MBA Superdrive is just recommended and talked about so much because it can be used wirelessly, I think.

I couldn't find the reference, but I saw one story that said that the "special" thing is that the USB port on the MacBook Cube Air is a non-standard port that supplies more than the 2.5 watts of power set by the standard.

The external MBA drive requires the extra power, therefore it will only work on the MBA.

Any other external DVD drive should work, especially if it uses a power brick to provide power.

 

[Rendwich]

Fatasses

For crying out loud! Will people stop saying stupid stuff like that? Seriously... gym membership... and that's gonna do what? Take away 2 lb from your computer? The damn thing will still weigh the same. So what if it feels lighter after your work out? You don't even need to spend that $500. Just do push-ups in your spare time.

How about this? Anyone familiar with Dune? Train your mind so it works better than a computer. Voila, saves you that $1000 too. Or you can merely do away with calculators, by learning to do the calculations in your head and memorizing Pi and the trigonometric function values, among other things. Saves you from tapping too.

There is A REASON that people want a LIGHT portable... So they don't have to go to a gym in order to carry one around!

It's pretty hard to find a person in Europe or the US today who can't afford to lose 2 pounds. If you're one of them, I congratulate you on the extra $600 you're spending to lighten your load by 1-2%.

Losing 2 pounds doesn't require a gym. It requires an incredibly small amount of self-control. Or a good sitting on a toilet.

The Airball is the greatest Apple train wreck in 10 years. That's actually a big complement to Apple, because any other company has them much more frequently.

 

[Tensakun]

Thanks for quick-n-clear replies Eddie, Kuwis, and Aiden!

If it's for work and not for games, you might be better off with Fusion or Parallels instead of Bootcamp. Have you considered that? Certainly more convenient than rebooting.

Have never owned an Intel-based Mac, so don't have any hands-on experience here. My thinking was that, since I don't need Win more than half a dozen times a week, I can put up with a reboot while grabbing a coffee or staring out the window; anyway, beats moving over to a 'doze machine. My thinking was that, given the extreme on-board space limitations of the 64 gb SSD, Parallels or Fusion might take up too much precious disk space.

I know Fusion can certainly install Windows from a disk image if you don't have the physical CD in the drive.

Right. I was guessing (hoping) that by moving a disk image of the Win XP install disk into the MBA the install could be done just under Bootcamp.

Am really enjoying these discussions, with all of the different viewpoints. (Tho some suggestions like hitting the gym seem a bit far afield.) As with all of you, my Mac is a pretty important part of my life. Still, I don't expect Apple to deliver my dream machine or solve all of my problems...

 

[kuwisdelu]

Thanks for quick-n-clear replies Eddie, Kuwis, and Aiden!



Have never owned an Intel-based Mac, so don't have any hands-on experience here. My thinking was that, since I don't need Win more than half a dozen times a week, I can put up with a reboot while grabbing a coffee or staring out the window; anyway, beats moving over to a 'doze machine. My thinking was that, given the extreme on-board space limitations of the 64 gb SSD, Parallels or Fusion might take up too much precious disk space.

Parallels or Fusion wouldn't take up any more space than Bootcamp would. The only extra memory required is RAM, which is only a temporary thing, and which the MacBook has enough of anyway. If you can install it easily via Bootcamp (which no one really knows yet), and that works for you, then that's great since Bootcamp is free. We won't really know until they start arriving to see how the remote disk works under Bootcamp, but seeing as it can boot remotely, I would think Apple would make Bootcamp compatible with it, too.

Right. I was guessing (hoping) that by moving a disk image of the Win XP install disk into the MBA the install could be done just under Bootcamp.

Am really enjoying these discussions, with all of the different viewpoints. (Tho some suggestions like hitting the gym seem a bit far afield.) As with all of you, my Mac is a pretty important part of my life. Still, I don't expect Apple to deliver my dream machine or solve all of my problems...

I have no idea if Bootcamp can install from a disk image. Hopefully someone else here does. I do know for certain that Fusion can.

 

[Horst]

There is a vast disparity from voicing an opinion, and the ceaseless drone of posters grousing over a product they are incontrovertibly not the demographic that the said product is aimed at.

Moaning over lack of features in product (A) when you are ultimately given a choice from a range of products (B) & (C) which do; is an utterly fruitless exercise in tedium.

It's fortunate not everyone has your attitude towards controversial discussion...

I'm in the market for an 'ultraportable' , yet fully featured and fairly powerful laptop ; the rumors about the MBA got me quite excited, I was hoping to get a replacement for my 15" MBP, basically a modern version of the 12" PB.

Hence I feel entiteled to comment - not that voicing an opinion should require any excuse in an open discussion forum...

The shortcomings of the MBA are obvious, as it has been pointed out numerous times by all the 'whiners and moaners' , the advantages few.

You like the MBA, and don't need a more capable computer ? Fine by me, I sure won't slap anyone for getting one, each his own.

But quite a few people seem to be looking for technological advancements in such a product, people who travel for work and require a laptop that delivers when needed and isn't such a hog like the MBP.
For those the MBA is a disappointment, 2 steps back in technology and user friendlyness; Apple used to do better than that with new products, top of the line prices used to buy you top of the line performance and the design and useful features.

I hope the MBA is just a stepping stone to better things to come...

 

[Manic Mouse]

Definitely becoming too much of an Appletard - just been watching the latest Naruto Shippuuden (anime series, as avatar). Character hands character a manilla envelope, exact same type where you unwind the string to open it. "What's this" he says.... you can guess what I was half expecting him to pull out of it

If the manga wasn't already written way ahead of time I'd think they did that on purpose

Danzou was bribing Orochimaru with a MacBook Air.

 

[Cloudane]

Can just see him wrapping his tongue round it and swallowing the thing (noooo!)

"Air today gone tomorrow, is that the best you have to offer?"

 

[deathstar]

great

slowest mac
external DVD won't work with pc
remote disk does not support CD music, DVD movie.
remote disk is super slow
DVD rippers like handbrake won't be able to use remote disk
remote disk supports none of the 3rd party firewall on pc....

$1800. way to go.

dude don't buy it!

seems that lot of people here don't understand that the MBA is not a new MB. It's a new line of laptop, not a substitution. What are you looking for?? a core 2 duo 2,4, 4gb of ram, ultra-light, all connectivity, ultra-thin and for 900$???? Who will buy a MB or MBP then??

If you don't like the MBA please don't buy it and stop throwing unuseless comments.

My personal view:

Imagine the situation of being in a central market with your laptop surfing or working:

- You don't need Ethernet connector
- You don't need optical drive.(in the most of cases)
- With a multi-touch trackpad you don't need a mouse.
- Of course you don't need a printer.


Conclusion:

You still have your USB port unused, for using with a pendrive or a 3g modem, for example. This is not a laptop to use at home, it's a laptop to go "in the air".

 

[hanoimac]

Clearly MBA is not for everyone, it is just a new line product, right-in between current MB and MBP ( at least Jobs said so.. )

For me, MBA is what i'm looking for: it's light weight, 1,36 kg is ok for me to carry with all day, it's beautiful, which is helpful because it will attract my audiences when i'm on my keynote...

I've already have a powerful desktop system (Mac, of-course!) that handle all my works (graphic and video). So my MBA only have to pick up all the done works to the client meetings and show_'em_off..

My only wish is that Apple would make graphic card more sophisticate so my keynotes will be more...eyecandy!

 

[Lord Sam]

Mba

The foto looks sorta weird. But that is one good-looking machine! I need one of them!

 

[eddietr]

Have never owned an Intel-based Mac, so don't have any hands-on experience here. My thinking was that, since I don't need Win more than half a dozen times a week, I can put up with a reboot while grabbing a coffee or staring out the window; anyway, beats moving over to a 'doze machine. My thinking was that, given the extreme on-board space limitations of the 64 gb SSD, Parallels or Fusion might take up too much precious disk space.

Yes, I'm getting the SSD myself and I was working this morning on getting my MBP organized and under 50GB in preparation for the transition. So I know what you mean.

But I think you'll find that fusion or parallels is more efficient for a small drive like that. Because remember you have to partition that drive for Windows if you use bootcamp. So you then have a fairly hard limit in the Mac side. Especially if you want to leave any spare room on the windows side.

Whereas with the fusion or parallels, the windows drive will start as small and just grow only as needed. And so the spare space that you need to have to work is effectively shared across both operating systems.

You can also avoid having to even install office in windows. Windows can be just those applications that you really need for work.

 

[BlackSmp]

You know that there is a market outside of USA? We have plenty of 3G carriers to chose from... and that the higher speed 3G modems have higher transfer rates than Bluetooth (if supported by the carrier)?

I don't understand all the fuss about the MBA lacking a built-in 3G mobile broadband card. I have a MB with a Blackberry Pearl from Sprint. All I do is make a bluetooth connection and I'm online with pretty decent speeds. I definitely do not want Apple to add in something that'll probably only work with ATT (the WORST cell carrier on the planet!!). All it'll due is take up space and probably consume some power even if it's not in use.

 

[quantumbits]

Intel from Ground Level

I had some time to kill and need a break from work, so I headed over to the mall and the local Apple Store. I chanced on a really cool, ::real:: (i.e. willing to talk, not just spout off brand b.s.) and informed rep. Among the things that he mentioned:

1) The MacBook Air will be secured using the same mechanism as for the iPods and iPhones (i.e. sticky pad). I hadn't noticed until now, but the MacBooks are secured with an alarm that plugs into ethernet port (or was it the firewire port?)/

2) The "official" target demographic for the MacBook Air is rich business travellers. Big surprise.

3) 802.1x functionality in the iPhone and iTouch is a certainty upon the availability of the SDK. This is the main reason why I haven't purchased a touch.

4) According to him, they don't expect to have spare batteries on hand for the Macbook Air. IOW, a replacement (e.g. faulty battery) will require that the laptop be shipped to a repair center.

I don't know if any of that is useful to anyone. But there it is. Have a nice weekend all.