Ultrabook Manufacturers Limiting Initial Shipments in Face of MacBook Air Popularity

[divinox]

Used one for a bit. Didn't own it as i was borrowing it for testing.

Fantastic machine. But yes, the cost was ridiculous. It was a couple years ago (might have been a different letter at the time). was a core2 duo 1.2ghz, 2gb DDR2 ram, and a 64gb hard drive.

the form factor was amazing and it served me well for the 6 months i used it. But the cost was at the time over $2,000 for the machine.

A few things about it that i didnt like. The power of the graphics. Intel 845's were terrible chips. the sandy bridge of today is amazing in comparison. The keyboard layout was great, but the keys made a little too small, And cheap. I don't think i'm particularly brutal on my keyboards, But within 5 months the lettering and the texture of the keys were completely different. they were smoothed out and the painted letters gone. I touch type, so i could still use it, but this is a "cheap" feeling issue you shouldn't get in a 2000+ laptop.

Right now, from what i can see, the Macbook Air is the only ultraportable that truly feels like it's done right. The others i'm sure technology wise will keep up, and may even offer a few added features. But overall package and price, the Air is really really tough to beat. And unless these other companies can come out with some added feature or seriously undercut apple, they'll be fighting a tough uphill battle

A bit unfair in your comparison there then. I mean, if the MBA did not feel better than a "couple of years" old VAIO Z what would that say about the MBA?

New Z looks quite sweet. i7 2.7 ghz (with tb, 3.6ghz), 8gb 1333 ddr3, 256gb ssd. 13.1" 1600x900 display (ips?). 16.65 mm thick, 1.18 kgs (MBA: 17, 1.35).

Graphics-wise, it comes with an integrated Intel GMA 3000, but way sweeter: With your VAIO Z you get an external gfx -- 1GB Radeon HD 6650M -- which docks with your computer over "thunderbolt" (or, intel light peak). The same dock also includes a BR/DVD, and a bunch of ports (hdmi, ethernet, usb 3.0, you name it). Dock weighs 0.7 kg (less than 2kg total that is, if you feel like taking the dock with you).

7h battery, with optional "sheet battery" that gives you twice that.

Wow.

Too bad the price will be as extreme as the device... i wouldnt expect to find it under 2000 when it comes out. Clearly though, this device blows the MBA away. At least on paper... :- )

lets put it this way. If someone offered me to switch their fully geared Vaio Z (above) with my (soon to be) fully geared MBA, i wouldnt think twice about switching :- )

 

[AppleScruff1]

You did such a good job imitating fanboys, I seriously thought you were a fanboy.

LOL. I actually do like some Apple products a lot and I have posted many serious things about them, but most ignore that and call me a troll and hater. I consider myself rational, I'm not a fanatic, and I don't think Steve Jobs is the second coming of Christ. He is a very good CEO and made tremendous contribution to the tech industry along with a few others. Perhaps I am no better than the ones I poke fun at since I lower myself to their level. I will say that the hard core Appelonians are a "different" bunch.

 

[LordVic]

A bit unfair in your comparison there then. I mean, if the MBA did not feel better than a "couple of years" old VAIO Z what would that say about the MBA?

New Z looks quite sweet. i7 2.7 ghz (with tb, 3.6ghz), 8gb 1333 ddr3, 256gb ssd. 13.1" 1600x900 display (ips?). 16.65 mm thick, 1.18 kgs (MBA: 17, 1.35).

Graphics-wise, it comes with an integrated Intel GMA 3000, but way sweeter: With your VAIO Z you get an external gfx -- 1GB Radeon HD 6650M -- which docks with your computer over "thunderbolt" (or, intel light peak). The same dock also includes a BR/DVD, and a bunch of ports (hdmi, ethernet, usb 3.0, you name it). Dock weighs 0.7 kg (less than 2kg total that is, if you feel like taking the dock with you).

7h battery, with optional "sheet battery" that gives you twice that.

Wow.

Too bad the price will be as extreme as the device... i wouldnt expect to find it under 2000 when it comes out. Clearly though, this device blows the MBA away. At least on paper... :- )

Image

lets put it this way. If someone offered me to switch their fully geared Vaio Z (above) with my (soon to be) fully geared MBA, i wouldnt think twice about switching :- )

I'll agree,
That is one sexy beast.

 

[JAT]

A $200 netbook can do just about anything a macbook air can do because the macbook air can't do anything extraordinary. It's just a fancy netbook and everyone knows it.

Also a netbook is probably 5-10x faster than an iPod touch.

You have clearly used neither. I have used both.

By your logic, a HP Proliant is also just a fancy netbook. And it doesn't even have a screen!! What a piece of crap.

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lets put it this way. If someone offered me to switch their fully geared Vaio Z (above) with my (soon to be) fully geared MBA, i wouldnt think twice about switching :- )

I wouldn't even think once. Just a simple No would suffice.

 

[840quadra]

A bit unfair in your comparison there then. I mean, if the MBA did not feel better than a "couple of years" old VAIO Z what would that say about the MBA?

New Z looks quite sweet. i7 2.7 ghz (with tb, 3.6ghz), 8gb 1333 ddr3, 256gb ssd. 13.1" 1600x900 display (ips?). 16.65 mm thick, 1.18 kgs (MBA: 17, 1.35).

Graphics-wise, it comes with an integrated Intel GMA 3000, but way sweeter: With your VAIO Z you get an external gfx -- 1GB Radeon HD 6650M -- which docks with your computer over "thunderbolt" (or, intel light peak). The same dock also includes a BR/DVD, and a bunch of ports (hdmi, ethernet, usb 3.0, you name it). Dock weighs 0.7 kg (less than 2kg total that is, if you feel like taking the dock with you).

7h battery, with optional "sheet battery" that gives you twice that.

Wow.

Too bad the price will be as extreme as the device... i wouldnt expect to find it under 2000 when it comes out. Clearly though, this device blows the MBA away. At least on paper... :- )

Image

lets put it this way. If someone offered me to switch their fully geared Vaio Z (above) with my (soon to be) fully geared MBA, i wouldnt think twice about switching :- )

Definitely a tasty looking piece of kit, that portable power would be nice for doing remote video editing / photo work, and have more power / capacity when needed.

I do find your interest in it kinda funny though, considering the following quote from yourself.

Riddle me this: Why is it that when Apple takes something from others its cool and awesome, but when others takes hints from Apple it is "a rip-off"?

p.s.

carrying adapters sucks when it comes to portability. not like they are cheap either.

You are not interested in carrying adapters because it hinders portability, but a much larger (than an adapter) battery sheet, and external graphics / drive (AKA power Media Dock) is ok?

 

[victoria stiles]

In the two odd years that MacBook Air has been in the market, it has become increasingly popular.The two versions of MacBook Air differ in a few ways. The lower end comes with a 1.86 GHz processor and a 120GB SATA hard disk drive. Now, the higher model, the 2.13 GHz processor laptop, comes with a 128 GB solid-state drive. Both models have 2 GB of SDRAM, though. Both versions come with nVidia graphics card. The track pad lets you use it for various purposes through different functions like pinching, rotating, swiping, etc. It also comes with a built in sight camera, a mono speaker and a microphone.

 

[AppleScruff1]

In the two odd years that MacBook Air has been in the market, it has become increasingly popular.The two versions of MacBook Air differ in a few ways. The lower end comes with a 1.86 GHz processor and a 120GB SATA hard disk drive. Now, the higher model, the 2.13 GHz processor laptop, comes with a 128 GB solid-state drive. Both models have 2 GB of SDRAM, though. Both versions come with nVidia graphics card. The track pad lets you use it for various purposes through different functions like pinching, rotating, swiping, etc. It also comes with a built in sight camera, a mono speaker and a microphone.

Better check those specs again.

 

[yakapo]

A $200 netbook can do just about anything a macbook air can do because the macbook air can't do anything extraordinary. It's just a fancy netbook and everyone knows it.

Also a netbook is probably 5-10x faster than an iPod touch.

sure it's a netbook with a 128gig ssd, 2nd gen core i5, and a 7 hour battery in a 3 pound package. I think the better category to compare it to would be "ultrabook" right? Isn't that what the article is about to begin with?

I'm sure eventually they will come out with a ultrabook pc that has similar specs for about $200 less. Then again maybe not and besides some people need a ultra light now. I'm happy with my new mac air and this is coming from someone who always said macs were overpriced.