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The Other (Bigger) Market for the MacBook Air
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It's really tempting to buy a MBA. I must say that if I had $3000 I'd sell my MBP, buy a Mac Pro and a MBA and use back to my mac to access any files I needed. I'm saving up now...
MP for the HD editing, MBA for the portability. If only...
MP for the HD editing, MBA for the portability. If only...
The movie is in production.
I'd bet steve organised some sort of prototype for filming.
I don't think it's a chick computer.
It is a computer that will appeal to women and may have influenced the design.
Electronic products that set out to target in the past have fallen flat on their face by being patronising (even the ones by all women design teams).
The MBA seems to have some very clean design goals, namely it a light computer that goes anyway and is used mainly it environment supported by a network/computer.
It would just as well to say the HR department of a large corp. who would spend the majority of their day around the campus. It could as easily be seen as and play to get macs out of graphics and into other departments.
I'd say that IS sexist: refusing to take their needs or desires into consideration, just because they're women. OF COURSE, they could be disproportionately attracted to a product. That's proof right there that manufacturers should take notice.
If Apple has any smart executives, one of them spent a little time pondering the question, "I wonder how women will see this?"
Anyway, on topic. I could view the MBA's January '08 release as marking territory for a product that will mature and become much more desirable in the near future, as did the
TV.In 2009, this puppy should be $300-600 cheaper in the base config, have options for 128 GB storage and 4 GB memory, and faster processors and busses. That gets closer to acceptable for a lot of people.
Yeah, everyone sees something missing (how could they not have Firewire!), but Apple may just be reinventing a whole class of computers, as they did with the mp3 player industry.
I'm really tempted to buy one, too. And if a lot of women are buying them, so much the better, and good for them, they've got great taste. Hopefully I'll have tons of hot chicks coming up to me in coffee shops and asking me about the cool laptop I'm using. 
Like others in this thread, what I really wanted though was something like the 12" Powerbook, I sure do miss mine. If they had released the MBA in the same width/depth as the PB 12"... I don't think I'd think twice, even if it still lacked an optical drive and firewire.
As it is, I will think long and hard, it's the closest in portability to the PB 12" so far. In fact it's 1.5 lbs lighter... probably has significantly better battery life... if only they had shaved off another couple inches from the width... argh, so frustrating! But I might get this thing, hang onto my MBP for more processor-intensive tasks, and keep my fingers crossed for a 3.5 lb 12" XGA MBP... or even 13.3" WXGA, if they shave the sides down to keyboard-width...
Like others in this thread, what I really wanted though was something like the 12" Powerbook, I sure do miss mine. If they had released the MBA in the same width/depth as the PB 12"... I don't think I'd think twice, even if it still lacked an optical drive and firewire.
As it is, I will think long and hard, it's the closest in portability to the PB 12" so far. In fact it's 1.5 lbs lighter... probably has significantly better battery life... if only they had shaved off another couple inches from the width... argh, so frustrating! But I might get this thing, hang onto my MBP for more processor-intensive tasks, and keep my fingers crossed for a 3.5 lb 12" XGA MBP... or even 13.3" WXGA, if they shave the sides down to keyboard-width...
All of you go out and buy the macbook air spend 1800+ while my pockets just breeze on through this alpha stage financial crisis we will be experiencing.
And while you beta test and help apple perfect it at your cost for having the title of owning the worlds thinnest laptop. I will be ready for gen2 that will not only be better then the current offering but cheaper as well with added features you will be wishing your laptop had but cant afford because you will still be paying for it lol.
Gotta love beta testers...they make decisions that much easier the second time around
Is amazing how hard some people will try to justify buying an overpriced piece of s..t.
No matter how you look at it is not a good buy and all over the internet forums and media seem to think likewise.
But hey if you have the money go for it...just dont be mad when the spinning beach ball is a permanent addition to your viewing.
And while you beta test and help apple perfect it at your cost for having the title of owning the worlds thinnest laptop. I will be ready for gen2 that will not only be better then the current offering but cheaper as well with added features you will be wishing your laptop had but cant afford because you will still be paying for it lol.
Gotta love beta testers...they make decisions that much easier the second time around
Is amazing how hard some people will try to justify buying an overpriced piece of s..t.
No matter how you look at it is not a good buy and all over the internet forums and media seem to think likewise.
But hey if you have the money go for it...just dont be mad when the spinning beach ball is a permanent addition to your viewing.
And the people waiting for gen3 will be laughing at you and so on and so forth. I'm not big on first gen products, but I'm not going to knock early adopters 'cause if it wasn't for early adopters (like the people who spent $400 on a 5gig iPod when everyone thought Apple just laid the biggest egg since the Cube) there would no second, third, or fourth gen products.
Lethal
Because if they'd put two on, you'd have complained, saying "Surely they could have fitted just one more port in", in a never ending circle, until it gains 1kg, and another cm depth with the additional 47 USB ports you've demanded.
I'm pretty surprised that no one made the connection between this and the Avon lady hired by Apple a few weeks ago
https://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/07/andrea-jung-joins-apples-board-of-directors/
Well said. Early adapters are what create and move markets.
With the MBA, I am trying to decide between it and a MBP. Part of why I am not motivated to get either right away is that my PB15 still keeps working like a champ -- plus I still use Classic.
BTW, I was one of those who purchased the original 5GB iPod. It was for our daughter. Never regretted that purchase.
MacBook Air and Spousal Permission
Actually, with respect, isn't it great that in the age of Facebook, we can now learn what our wives think? Before, we usually had no clue!
Actually, my wife had no problem with me ordering my MBA, which was a first! Thanks Apple for that!
Actually, with respect, isn't it great that in the age of Facebook, we can now learn what our wives think? Before, we usually had no clue!
Actually, my wife had no problem with me ordering my MBA, which was a first! Thanks Apple for that!
Devilot - I hear ya! As a female, I run into situations constantly where it's automatically assumed instantly I know nothing of tech. Same with audio (I'm into high-end audio - sound quality super-important to me), tried to buy something off Audiogon and was almost refused the sale because they couldn't believe I was a female and the seller was suspicious. A New Years Eve a guy whipped out an HTC to demo it to another. As I approached to get in on it, I was told "oh, we're having a tech discussion" and totally ignored my presence. I shoulda whipped out my hacked iPhone but I didn't want to crush his dreams.
We're not all created equal guys....
That said - I want an MBA BADDDDDD!
We're not all created equal guys....
That said - I want an MBA BADDDDDD!
Because, as a demographic, technologically inclined women have some serious purchasing power.
Also: because it has a TON of radically innovative tech inside.
I'm really surprised by the number of people complaining about the cost.
If you seriously compare it to the competition, factor things like a fully custom CPU from Intel (not cheap considering the low production volumes--there are none of the typical economies of scale here) plus the custom chipsets to go with it and you have an expensive piece of hardware.
At first, I'll admit, I was surprised by the chunk of change necessary to get an SSD. However, I went and priced out similar hardware from other laptop vendors and found they're actually offering a REALLY good price for the size.
from the furious discussions about the macbook air, one thing is clear, there are now two camps, one which totally adore the product, one that hates it.
So what apple had done is to effectively split the market segment up to create a new one. Which I believe is what they intended.
So stop fighting here. If u want a more feature packed notebook go for the macbook pro. If u value portability go for the MacBook air. If u have a limited budget get the macbook.
So what apple had done is to effectively split the market segment up to create a new one. Which I believe is what they intended.
So stop fighting here. If u want a more feature packed notebook go for the macbook pro. If u value portability go for the MacBook air. If u have a limited budget get the macbook.
Seriously. It's as if people just assume out of the gate that Apple intentionally prices their hardware to appeal to the elite set. Miniturization is expensive! To make the world's thinnest laptop, you have to think small about everything going into it - and then some. From the super-tiny hard drive to the custom-built Intel chips, Apple had to do things with the design that nobody else is doing. Without off-the-shelf components, that's going to cost you.
Apple is a business. They know what the MBA costs and after they add in a reasonable profit, $1799 is a decent price.
Not sure about everyone else, but the MBA is perfect for my wife's needs. She is finishing her masters in nursing and is in her second year of law school. She's got a white MacBook...but the Air is what she has always wanted.
She wants a LIGHT, THIN computer to do basic computing tasks - writing, web searching, email...nothing processor intensive
I'm sure we'll be looking at rev B CLOSELY
That's my $0.02
Adam
She wants a LIGHT, THIN computer to do basic computing tasks - writing, web searching, email...nothing processor intensive
I'm sure we'll be looking at rev B CLOSELY
That's my $0.02
Adam
Dude... you must not live in a college town. Around Philly... every town is a college town... and every town has at least one cafe where you'll find at least one woman on a laptop.
And that's not even counting the women on laptops you'll see at places like Panera.
And those are just people who are looking to be out and about on their computers. I've worked with lots of women consultants who travel with laptops. You'll see tons of them in corporate settings and also in airports and hotel lounges.
I dunno... 50% of the population (or is it 51%) is female. That's a really broad and diverse group of people. Do they think differently? Sure. Do they shop differently? Sure. Do they care about tech? Absolutely.
I also don't think this is strictly tied to female shoppers, though it will certainly be a hit in that demographic. I think there are also plenty of male technology buyers who aren't as focused on specs. I think a lot of men look at specs because that's how we look at everything. But there are plenty of guys buying cars that don't meet up with all the specs (I'm guessing more guys own the Elise than women... but maybe that's just because they know women'll wanna drive it...).
I think this laptop blows two very important specs out of the proverbial ballpark: It's lightweight without compromising on usability (cpu power, screen and keyboard sizes, battery life are all part of usability) and it looks damn good.
Lastly... I'm amazed at the number of people who look at this and say "I can't edit full HD video on it or run a Java App Server so it clearly sucks and no one but stupid morans will buy it. RAWR". Apple has these other laptops called MacBook and MacBook Pro that might be more in line with a portable that fits your needs... and those still don't even come close to comparing to an iMac or MacPro.
Nobody expects you to own one of each.
I dunno... I used to own about 20 computers ranging from a 200lb Sun 4/470, some quad core DB servers and then my silly PC desktop. I was in college and loved playing around with computers and getting OpenBSD to run on things. Now I work as a consultant and I'm very happy with my laptop and iMac. They have plenty of computing power for my needs... take up WAY less space and look about a billion times better on my desk. I stare at these things all day long (and sometimes longer) so it's nice to have them be visually appealing.
Sure, I miss having a running computer for a coffee table. But, come on, you have to be realistic about what you actually need at some point.
I too have to challenge this statement. Women are at the coffee shop I frequent, on laptops, every day. It's about a 50/50 split. Just because they aren't at your starbucks, doesn't mean they don't use laptops on a daily basis. I agree that you don't make a woman specific laptop, but it is true that many women would find this laptop small enough to carry in a purse when out in the field.
Personally, I don't mind the extra 2.4 pounds of my MBP, but I don't carry it in a purse!
Actually, the price isn't so much of an issue, because 1799 dollar is just the introduction price. I bought my 20-inch Cinema Display at TWICE the price it is today. This was right after introduction. I expect the MacBook Air to cost 1299 dollars in about 9 months from now. Maybe it'll even end up cheaper in 2009.
I can totally agree with that. In fact there are so many of them I often can't take the seat inside Starbucks or other coffee shops. They should limit the maximum you can stay to one hour or so.
When the wife gets MBA, the hubby gets...
To the extent that the MBA is purchased by women, there is a huge upside for an additional sale: the hubby gets whatever he wants (technology-wise, and maybe more)
I haven't been married long (3 years) but it seems that a major purchase for the wife translates into permission for the husband to get something, too. I bought my wife an iPhone on launch day, and she has almost been begging me to get one ever since (finally "caved" this last week).
So when the wife gets the MBA, the husband can get himself a new laptop, too. An MBP, let's say!
I doubt this will happen, but how cool would it be if Apple releases revamps their MBP line to look more iMac-like (aluminum with black bezels) and includes a 13" in the line. They could display them side-by-side in the retail store window, with a big sign over them saying "His Hers." Just in time for Valentines Day.
To the extent that the MBA is purchased by women, there is a huge upside for an additional sale: the hubby gets whatever he wants (technology-wise, and maybe more
)I haven't been married long (3 years) but it seems that a major purchase for the wife translates into permission for the husband to get something, too. I bought my wife an iPhone on launch day, and she has almost been begging me to get one ever since (finally "caved" this last week
).So when the wife gets the MBA, the husband can get himself a new laptop, too. An MBP, let's say!
I doubt this will happen, but how cool would it be if Apple releases revamps their MBP line to look more iMac-like (aluminum with black bezels) and includes a 13" in the line. They could display them side-by-side in the retail store window, with a big sign over them saying "His Hers." Just in time for Valentines Day.
That psychology sounds good, but doesn't always work in real life, but good luck.
I doubt that you will see a 13 inch MBP with the new MBA. That would be in direct competition with the new product and could potentially take many sales away from the MBA.
I doubt that you will see a 13 inch MBP with the new MBA. That would be in direct competition with the new product and could potentially take many sales away from the MBA.