The AIR as a "shuttle" machine?

[tsubikiddo]

These are the changes I reckon that should happen to the MBA:

1. Better battery life.
2. Bigger/better SSD.
3. More RAM.
4. An extra USB port.
5. A glass trackpad like the MBPs.
6. More powerful processor.

+ shed some more weight
It's still a tad bit too heavy at the moment

 

[gwsat]

+ shed some more weight
It's [the MBA] still a tad bit too heavy at the moment

The MBA weighs only 3 pounds and so far as I know is the lightest fully featured 13 inch laptop on the market. Do you know of something lighter out there or, like we all do here a lot, are you just wishing?

 

[tsubikiddo]

The MBA weighs only 3 pounds and so far as I know is the lightest fully featured 13 inch laptop on the market. Do you know of something lighter out there or, like we all do here a lot, are you just wishing?

=====SJ mode commence=====
Apple thinnovates.

Sent from my iPad
======SJ mode end=====

Yes, I know the MBA weights only 3pounds, that's 1.36kg.
I remember I keep quoting this number whenever people starts a debate about whether the MBA is worth it with me.
I knew, I knew. And this figure, along with the full computer experience and full-sized keyboard, has offered me what Steve mentioned at its launch, 'No Compromise'.

The way I see it is, @1.36kg, I am like always carrying a little bit heavier than a bottle of 1.25L of soda with me.

I wish the MBA can weight amongst the netbooks.

 

[ludavico]

1. Better battery life.
2. Bigger/better SSD.
3. More RAM.
4. An extra USB port.
5. A glass trackpad like the MBPs.
6. More powerful processor.

Like it! I would gladly relax the thin-ness and give up a little on the weight too.

How many people really think the MBA needs to be that freak'n thin?

For me its about weight and battery... (even if it comes at a premium price)

 

[daze]

I am an avid Mac user but have you considered getting a sub-notebook/netbook such as the Acer 1810TZ which comes with a ULV Core 2 Duo (the one I have has a 1.3 GHz processor), 4GB RAM, Bluetooth, 802.11N, a relatively full sized keyboard and an 11.6" screen? I own both an MBP 15" (i7), an iPad, and the Acer. Granted, while the Acer runs Windows 7 Home, it is adequate for playing video, iTunes, and web surfing. Battery life is approx. 6 hours.

I do find the iPad a bit restrictive but the display is gorgeous and I am hoping that OS 4 will make it a lot more usable.

 

[ludavico]

...but have you considered getting a sub-notebook/netbook such as the Acer 1810TZ which comes with a ULV Core 2 Duo (the one I have has a 1.3 GHz processor), 4GB RAM, Bluetooth, 802.11N, a relatively full sized keyboard and an 11.6" screen? .

Yes, and possibly a Toshiba (couldn't pay me to use an HP )

I was going to wait and revisit the non-Apple options after WWDC.

Maybe go with UNIX too...

First choice is OSX though.

 

[gwsat]

I do find the iPad a bit restrictive but the display is gorgeous and I am hoping that OS 4 will make it a lot more usable.

You have put your finger on what it is I like about my iPad. The display is, indeed, out of this world. Further, it is a virtual certainty that Apple will improve the usability of the iPad over time. Even now, the iPad is decent, if limited. Still, as noted earlier, I want an updated MBA.

 

[tsubikiddo]

Like it! I would gladly relax the thin-ness and give up a little on the weight too.

How many people really think the MBA needs to be that freak'n thin?

For me its about weight and battery... (even if it comes at a premium price)

That thinness to me is more of a gimmicky thing.
Battery endurance is crucial for those of us owners who really use it for work

And the weight comes before the shape,
I can't really imagine a super-light computer that will be brick-ish

I am an avid Mac user but have you considered getting a sub-notebook/netbook such as the Acer 1810TZ which comes with a ULV Core 2 Duo (the one I have has a 1.3 GHz processor), 4GB RAM, Bluetooth, 802.11N, a relatively full sized keyboard and an 11.6" screen? I own both an MBP 15" (i7), an iPad, and the Acer. Granted, while the Acer runs Windows 7 Home, it is adequate for playing video, iTunes, and web surfing. Battery life is approx. 6 hours.

I do find the iPad a bit restrictive but the display is gorgeous and I am hoping that OS 4 will make it a lot more usable.

Thanks, may have a look at the Acer Timeline series.
But I have had v. poor experience with their CS before.
Long story short, my previous Acer laptop spent 3mths at the CS/technicians repair (within its first year warranty) and still wasn't fixed until the case was escalated to consumer councils.
Nonetheless, it still suffered from another fatal failure within the next 6mths.

The full-sized keyboard is an important feature for me because I type a lot.
The key cap size is not a serious issue, I don't have banana fingers anyway, but it is the positioning of the keys that are causing a lot of problems and frustrations. It really frustrates me when the my input flow got broken up and the usual gestures ain't working.

I kind of think my fingertips will hurt a lot if I type on the iPad's glass multi-touch IPS display. Ouch.

 

[daze]

Maybe go with UNIX too...

First choice is OSX though.

Well, I know that Ubuntu 10.04 works great out of the box without fiddling with anything! I have been a Linux user since 1996 but even I was impressed at how polished Ubuntu has become with each release. Not bad for a free OS. Still prefer OS X but can't always go the Hackintosh route.

 

[ludavico]

Given the alternatives, I guess it really comes down to this then...

 

[darngooddesign]

I like that list, but I'd reorder it:

Thank goodness you reordered his list.

That thinness to me is more of a gimmicky thing.
Battery endurance is crucial for those of us owners who really use it for work

Then you will never be happy with the Air and the 13" Pro is your computer.

 

[Apple!Fre@k]

I'm waiting patiently for what happens at WWDC, too, with regards to the Air. I just bought an iPad and quite like it, but if a really appealing new MBA gets released at WWDC, I just might return my iPad and grab the MBA.

As it stands currently with MBA's stats, I'd rather have my iPad. But I suspect that will change when it's updated and I hope it's updated at WWDC. If not, so as not to kill myself with thinking about it, I'm just going to put it out of my mind and be happy with my iPad.

Given the latest news surround Intel's processors though, I'm starting to think we'll just see a bump in RAM to 4GB and battery life increased to 7 hours (maybe 8 if we're lucky), as well as a slight bump in a C2D processor. And since it would be a somewhat limited update, Apple will slash the price on the entry MBA to $1,299. If that's the case, I'm in. That's only the price of 2 iPads.