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*MBA: The Aesthetic Pinnacle* What compliments are people passing about your MBAs?

Is your MBA attracting more attention than your previous notebook?

  • Total voters
    150
The MBA is my first Mac, my reasons for getting it are varied.

I'm in the IT field and decided I needed a Mac in my arsenal because more of my clients were either starting to use them or inquiring about them and I figured it would be a good idea to have a Mac to better serve my clients.

I decided on the MBA (13) because I liked the whole package. Decent power, peppy SSD performance, very portable and excellent battery life. The wow factor was also a nice bonus but not the primary concern.

That said, yes it does garnish a fair amount of attention. I was at a real estate office today for several hours doing some troubleshooting and a lot of people who passed by me asked about it. Most were along the lines of "i've been thinking about getting one of those, how do you like it?"
 
Now that more and more people own the MBA, I'd like to hear about more anecdotes/see where the voting goes.

Absolutely stunning device, even now that it's second nature to me, I'm jolted into re-admiring it as people are always passing remarks about it!
 
2IS said:
That said, yes it does garnish a fair amount of attention. I was at a real estate office today for several hours doing some troubleshooting and a lot of people who passed by me asked about it. Most were along the lines of "i've been thinking about getting one of those, how do you like it?"
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Guys usually tell me this, I find ladies, especially older ones tend to ask "what is that?" :D

Keep the votes flowing and let's hear more anecdotes!
 
I have to say the ONLY thing that I'm not absolutely over the moon about in terms of design and look is the bezel. It jolted me a little when I first saw it, but I've gotten used to it.

If Apple find some technical way of shrinking it to a quarter of what it is now, not only would the MBA be untouchable design-wise, but I would personally nominate Jobs and Ive for the Turner prize.
 
I used to get an occasional compliment from a flight attendant regarding my Rev B. However, since the Rev D, these have become ubiquitous, and now that the polycarb MacBook is gone that will just continue. That said, the 11" is more likely to "get attention" since it is so small (though the 11" Rev D outsold the 13" model supposedly).
 
KPOM said:
I used to get an occasional compliment from a flight attendant regarding my Rev B. However, since the Rev D, these have become ubiquitous, and now that the polycarb MacBook is gone that will just continue. That said, the 11" is more likely to "get attention" since it is so small (though the 11" Rev D outsold the 13" model supposedly).
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Exactly my experience as well, the 11"s footprint is that unfamiliar.
 
A landslide so far, would have been interesting to know exactly what notebooks you were all coming from...
 
I remember the only time someone next to me pulled out a MacBook on the plane, and I was impressed. I think it was just the white model, but he pulled it out and loaded it up and started watching a TV show. As someone who has been wanting a Mac for years, that made my day.

I don't agree that the reason we are Air owners is because of the wow factor. The primary factor for me is I can live in the future with it. SSD, no optical drive, etc.

I have ordered the 11-inch ultimate and this will be my first Mac. I will be taking it to the bookstore/Starbucks frequently, and I do some traveling by plane. Can't wait to use it. I'm sure I will get some comments on it also.
 
Jobsian said:
A landslide so far, would have been interesting to know exactly what notebooks you were all coming from...
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No, it doesn't garner more attention than my previous notebook, since I've been using a MacBook Air since the Rev A back in February 2008. I've just been waiting for all you latecomers to the party. :)
 
Jobsian said:
A landslide so far, would have been interesting to know exactly what notebooks you were all coming from...
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A Black MacBook. Sometimes people with macs ask about it because they never knew Apple released one, however it isn't anything big.

But I think you're excited about a new toy that looks great, but ultimately I think, as you get older and mature, you'll understand why so many here are picking your posts apart and going against what you're saying.

It's just a laptop. Yea it looks great but a bad speculation about some Apple users (and you seem to fit the bill here, no offense; two of my friends are the same way) is that you just love the computer because it looks amazing and you don't do anything particularly useful with it.

What do you do on your Mac that you can't do on a Windows computer? My argument stems from this in this: There's no reason to not get a Mac, however don't be the person who just gets a mac because it's a Mac. Being this person speaks loudly about your intelligence and maturity, among other things.

This is a Mac forum and everyone here loves Macs, however after being here for a while, I noticed that most of the people here (at least the people posting) are somewhat intelligent and actually DO things with their computers and buy them for "logical" reasons.

If you live your life looking for happiness and pleasure out of materialistic things, you're really missing out. Life is so much more to that.
 
Great post Spade and kind words. Occasionally I slip some posts that're a little tongue-in-cheek and maybe satirize the stereotype you mention :p

That being said and in all seriousness, I truly do absolutely love the design of the MBA's so much that the design alone brings me a kind of irrational joy. When I'm carrying it in a bag, I'm conscious of its thin yet powerful presence, sometimes to giddiness.

What marvel to have all that work and play in such a small enclosure. My mind wanders and I reflect on the poverty of life before this. My landscape has forever changed and I will never love again. In that way, the MBA is also a curse.
 
Jobsian said:
Great post Spade and kind words. Occasionally I slip some posts that're a little tongue-in-cheek and maybe satirize the stereotype you mention :p

That being said and in all seriousness, I truly do absolutely love the design of the MBA's so much that the design alone brings me a kind of irrational joy. When I'm carrying it in a bag, I'm conscious of its thin yet powerful presence, sometimes to giddiness.

What marvel to have all that work and play in such a small enclosure. My mind wanders and I reflect on the poverty of life before this. My landscape has forever changed and I will never love again. In that way, the MBA is also a curse.
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Ah; yea (I'm assuming of course) coming from a background in hich you don't really have to a place you have is great; it's amazing and people want to do it, they want to grow.

However, I think that.... ultimately you're just going up; there are a plethora of people who are already there. I had to sell my old MB, work, and I think I might have to sell my phone and resort to a dumb phone, all to pay for the baseline 13 inch Air. Life isn't easy for a college student that doesn't have rich parents.

On the other hand, there are people here who can buy 2,3 MBA ultimate models just like that, without thinking about it.

The point I'm trying to make is that it's good, great to be appreciative of what you have but don't go around boasting and showing it off for everyone to see. Truth is, nobody cares. Nobody.

You can sit in a coffee shop with a 1.3 grand computer and people will think it's nice for 12 seconds then forget about you; not even remember your face. They don't "care" about you. It's just an object, it doesn't "mean" anything. It's a piece of aluminum with silicon, metal, and plastic inside. That does stuff.

I'm not trying to rain on the parade here, but it's just a computer; if you're going to boast about it on an internet forum, there are some larger things you should be addressing concerning yourself and your personality.

But I mean, we're all shaped by our environments. As Americans, we love materialistic things. Shiny, expensive, showy, we love them all; that's why some people buy Apple products: simply because everyone loves them and they cost a lot. If you buy into it you're nothing more than a number, an individual who ultimately doesn't even know how the system works in which you live.

Here's a commercial Microsoft showed showcasing the Xoom. The same points are hinted at in this article. Take out the Xoom and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOX9mb7V4o

Hint: iPod buds and white clothing resemble the Apple sheep.
 
Young Spade said:
Here's a commercial Microsoft showed showcasing the Xoom. The same points are hinted at in this article. Take out the Xoom and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOX9mb7V4o

Hint: iPod buds and white clothing resemble the Apple sheep.
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Omg LOL! Never seen that commercial, it's a little disconcerting, I guess as it rings true.

Still, it's self-serving and its attempt to convey demarcation between its aspirations and Apple's is pure mythology; Microsoft would utterly LOVE to be the proprietor herding those sheep!
 
And good points as well, I don't disagree with much of what you say. Perhaps I need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Unfortunately I'm not one of those who can buy an Ultimate without thinking. Well I guess I can, but then I'd have to think!

Again in some seriousness, in terms of MBA as a projection of persona, a lot of what you write is true, however, I see it as little different from any other items you adorn yourself with, from your choice of shoe (not a merely practical choice) to your choice of glasses (same). Whether it's conscious or unconscious is another matter :)
 
gman901 said:
I was teaching a friend of mine how to use his new 11" MBA at the bar and a lady walks up smiling and asking my friend about his Air. She said she was thinking about getting one for her husband. She then proceeded to grab his laptop to see how light it was. My friend kind of freaked because she asked if she could pick it up at the same time that she grabbed it.
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You take a laptop to a bar and play with it :eek: get your priorities right aka get pissed and pick up a few women while your there ;)
 
Jobsian said:
Omg LOL! Never seen that commercial, it's a little disconcerting, I guess as it rings true.

Still, it's self-serving and its attempt to convey demarcation between its aspirations and Apple's is pure mythology; Microsoft would utterly LOVE to be the proprietor herding those sheep!
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That they would. Apple's stocks rose to an incredible amount when their earnings call came out; they're on the way to being one of the richest and/or most notable companies out there. I read an infographic the other day and the Apple name was up there with Coca Cola. Like, in terms of global recognition. I want to say it was higher but that takes a chance of spreading wrong info, so to speak.

Jobsian said:
Again in some seriousness, in terms of MBA as a projection of persona, a lot of what you write is true, however, I see it as little different from any other items you adorn yourself with, from your choice of shoe (not a merely practical choice) to your choice of glasses (same). Whether it's conscious or unconscious is another matter :)
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I guess... you have that idea of "computing anywhere" with the MBA; the ability to just open it up and do things wherever you are... but that isn't much different than the MBP.

Might I ask, WHY do you feel this way about the machine? Obviously it's the aesthetics of it, as the MBP is pretty much better in all regards.... so what about having a laptop that's really thin is that enticing to you?

Meaning is something that is completely subjective (obviously) so what some people might see here as some aluminum, silicon, and plastic you might view as something much, much more.

I'm intrigued though lol, why?
 
Jobsian said:
Thing is though, a lot of the positive aspects of my personality is something I owe to this machine.

How can I explain it, ok when you don't have supportive parents to instill enough self-esteem, you have to forage it elsewhere right? Some people find it through a good family network, some find it through competence/success in their profession, some find it philosophically contemplating the practical sequelae of their increased nitrogenous tissue as they study their purple-veined bicep (no gear, we're cool).

I dunno, it appears that in an ironic existential twist my personal human deficiencies are eased with Apple corporate produce. If I own this lofty and celebrated configuration of silicone and aluminium then surely I'm a worthy person, right? In that way, Jobs is kinda my dad, if you see what I mean :)
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Funny! :D
 
Young Spade said:
Might I ask, WHY do you feel this way about the machine? Obviously it's the aesthetics of it, as the MBP is pretty much better in all regards.... so what about having a laptop that's really thin is that enticing to you?

Meaning is something that is completely subjective (obviously) so what some people might see here as some aluminum, silicon, and plastic you might view as something much, much more.

I'm intrigued though lol, why?
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Post above might explain a bit :p

Really though, I see the design not just as an aesthetic advantage over the MBP, but it's an 'enabler', ie my threshold for taking it with me (within the house or outside) is much lower. Fits pretty much anywhere and isn't intrusive.
 
Jobsian said:
Post above might explain a bit :p

Really though, I see the design not just as an aesthetic advantage over the MBP, but it's an 'enabler', ie my threshold for taking it with me (within the house or outside) is much lower. Fits pretty much anywhere and isn't intrusive.
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That's exactly why I think so many people are going for the machine. It's so small and compact that you can take it anywhere, farther than you would normally take a larger laptop. Going downstairs to make coffee? Take the laptop. Eating? Take the laptop. Going to a friends to watch the game? Take the laptop. Going to grab a bite to eat? Take the laptop.

I do this with my MB; can't wait to start doing it with a MBP/MBA.
 
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