Walt Mossberg Reviews the New MacBook Air

[carmenodie]

I can't believe Apple still relies on this old crumb for PR.
I heard him give a review on the WSJ website last year and he sucks. I would rather watch coal turn into gold under extreme pressure than to ever listen to this guy again.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I would rather watch coal turn into gold under extreme pressure than to ever listen to this guy again.

You must have a lot of time on your hands. Like, an infinite amount.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

A few years ago there were reports published that had the lead in the portable computer market and to stay ahead they had to either produce a sub-notebook to increase its market share.

Years later the MBA enters. No surprise here.

 

[peterlobl]

The stock 64GB storage on the 11" is a joke to the smart consumer looking to spend $1000 wisely.

The pricing is so off for many, but Apple sure has a method to their madness. The Apple cult is even stronger with this introduction of a 64GB MacBook Air for $1000.

I felt drawn to the 2.13/4/256 Air and ordered.. my only Mac of the last 15 yrs was the original Air - and while impressive, I sold while still being able to recoup a nice chunk of its original price. Was a little too slow and not quite enough...

But still - That is really a nice feeling - amid my work machines of Acer, HP and Dell branding - some 11.6 netbooky and others 18" monstrous - I know the Air will have a strange aura about it which keeps its value high and its owners somehow content.

Can't wait for it to arrive - backordered til 11/5 from MacMall - but $102 discount, free shipping AND no sales tax ease the hitech tension

 

[chrmjenkins]

*snip*

You may want to rethink what you've written before someone else does for you.

 

[spob15]

As a frequent traveler, the idea of not having to take my laptop out of my bag is very appealing. Really makes me think an Air might be my next computer.

Like any other practice at the airport this may be situational...I get told to take my iPad otu sometimes, other times I dont...Now I just do

 

[spob15]

Agreed. They are often quite pleasant. Cheerful even. But it is still pretty random. They might let it stay in the bag, or they ask you politely to take it out. Or they may get terse and authoritarian. My experience is that once they've made their mind up, pointing out the rules they're supposed to be following is not constructive.

Guess you dont use Newark liberty...

 

[cmaier]

*SNIP RACIST MORON TALK*

You're an a--hole.

 

[spob15]

The basic install of Mac OSX 10.6, is a little over 8GB, without removing languages, unneeded binary, etc.

Is this something a user can do on their own? Any place to get the details?

 

[Roessnakhan]

As a frequent traveler, the idea of not having to take my laptop out of my bag is very appealing. Really makes me think an Air might be my next computer.

Is it really that much of a hassle? Also you're going to be waiting a while for every TSA employee to conform to that standard - a computer is a computer to most of them.

 

[cmaier]

Is this something a user can do on their own? Any place to get the details?

There are various apps that will remove unused languages, printer drivers (not an issue if it's a fresh SL install), and binary formats. It's also possible to do some of it manually. For example: http://www.thinkmac.net/tutorials/2...-remove-languages-and-free-up-disk-space.html

See also: http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/

 

[weing]

so you are gonna spend $1400 because of......the TSA?

that sounds retarded.

And even goofier if you dont think you will get kicked to secondary screening almost every time you leave your air in your carry on. The TSA written rules have little or nothing to do with the whims of your screening line and the "rules of the day" at your airport.

 

[deconstruct60]

I'd like to see how the MacBook and 13.3" MacBook Pro sales fair after this release. Apple's platform is too flat with barely any differentiation beyond this model was just updated vs. a slightly older one.

It is going to take a while for the real relative wieghting that the market puts on these to stabilize.

After the MBA first appeared in the line up it shot to the top of the "top 10" on the Apple store only to fade over time ( especially after the MBP 13" showed up). I won't read too deeply into the rankings for first month or so.


Right now a couple of Apple retailers are running specials on the entry level MBP 13" that pushes it into the $999 range. At that price it is holding its own ( on Amazon right now still out of in front of the MBA ). I think the MacBook is getting clobbered though. At $899 (and lower at discount retailers) it probably would hold up better.

I doubt these MBP 13" specials will last an extended period. I think retailers are just trying to dump the entry level models as fast as they can because of the they loss a bit of an edge because now metal cased Mac that is cheaper. Price is one of the dominant factor for most folks.

One of the major problems is not that the Mac laptop platform is too flat but that a $999 floor is put on the pricing. What you have is a logjam at that price point.

I suspect that in the Spring the MBP 13" will get a discrete GPU, a Core i mobile processor, loose the DVD (maybe get two drives and tack on another $100 ), and jump in price by $100 (due to GPU).

That would straighten out the pricing so that, when looking at entry level models, it went :

MBA 11" $999
MBA 13" $1299
MBP 13" $1399
MBP 15" $1799
MBP 17" $2299

With a Core i , SSD + HDD , and discrete GPU the MBP 13' would smoke the MBA 13" in all kinds of ways when it comes to performance and value. Enough that a decent number of people who need performance and storage will stretch the extra $100 in decent numbers.

Apple could do a crippled MBP 13" (no DVD , 2GB RAM , no SSD ) if wanted to squeeze into the same $1199 spot in now. Basically would take out components so that extra $100 for discrete GPU and VRAM was tradeded off. Then have "better" and "Best" models to bring it back up to competing better than MBA 13". The entry model would be on that folks on budget bought and then upgraded with 3rd party RAM, drives , etc.


Seriously annoying that FW would jump to a $1399 entry point, but that is the kind annoying move have come to expect Apple to make. Perhaps though the could take the crippled MBP 13" above , remove the keyboard backlight, use low res screen, and just name that MacBook. They'd be able to slot that in at $1099 probably. If they did that then probably don't need the "stripped MBP 13". So

MBA 11" $999 [ weight and size matter most. ]
Macbook 13" $1099 [ need value and flexibility, but metal case. ]
MBA 13" $1299 [ size matters slightly less and text too small on 11" ]
MBP 13" $1399 [ need above average performance in small/light enough package. ]
MBP 15" $1799 [ need above average performance, portable, and larger screen ]
MBP 17" $2299 [ need way above average performance, large screen (1080p without having to squint at details in the frame and some controls still left on screen) , luggable, and connectivity: DVD and ExpressCard ]

That would put them back into differentiated models. For example, all MBP's have discrete GPUs (with optional low power integrated mode). Ditto for MB. All MBA have integrated graphics.

All those changes keep the $499-899 range open for iPads. Apple can probably get another year or two out of pretending that quality laptops can't be priced in this range.


Not sure what Apple does next year though. C2D again for MBA would be a stretch although there should be better integrated graphics only options by next Fall. However, there should also be better single chip solutions with integrated GPU by next Fall too. AMD should have something that Apple can use at that point.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Does anybody take Walt Mossberg's reviews seriously? I mean, c'mon. There's a reason Jobs gives him early access to all the latest Apple tech.

Well said!

The "Dynamic Duo" of Walt Mossberg and David Pogue, are the "chosen two" quite literally, to be given first access to any new about to be announced Apple product.

Owned by Jobs, they have their glowing... overly sappy reviews prepared at first light and are usually the first ones to be published. The reason I say usually, is sometimes like this time around with the MBA, they are purposely held back and published just a bit after some others, so as to not look so obvious to the uninitiated.

The bottom line is they suck-up to Jobs and company with great consistency.

Undoubtedly, those who cannot spot a puff piece of journalism have bought into their "expert opinions" and the sales reflect it.

Cheers...


(for those of you who seem to misread things, I have offered no comments or criticism regarding the computers, but rather I've only commented on these two "tech experts".)

 

[cmaier]

Well said!

The "Dynamic Duo" of Walt Mossberg and David Pogue, are the "chosen two" quite literally, to be given first access to any new about to be announced Apple product.

Owned by Jobs, they have their glowing... overly sappy reviews prepared at first light and are usually the first ones to be published. The reason I say usually, is sometimes like this time around with the MBA, they are purposely held back and published just a bit after some others, so as to not look so obvious to the uninitiated.

The bottom line is they suck-up to Jobs and company with great consistency.

Undoubtedly, those who cannot spot a puff piece of journalism have bought into their "expert opinions" and the sales reflect it.

Cheers...


(for those of you who seem to misread things, I have offered no comments or criticism regarding the computers, but rather I've only commented on these two "tech experts".)

Conspiracy theory much?

Exactly what product did Mossberg review where he said something untrue?

Could it be that the NY Times and WSJ are massively read publications, with circulations far exceeding tech rags, and hence they get early access? Or is that not conspiratorial enough for ya?

 

[deconstruct60]

Right, the new MacBook Air's USB ports were inspired by all those USB ports on the iPad.

The iPad has a 3G option. The new MBA's get a 3G option via an external USB modem. Not quite the same but I suspect an influentail chorus of folks told them that one USB socket is not enough. Especially, if going to leave off 3G. A significant number of their ultramobile competitors have built in 3G. An even larger number have either 3G builtin or at least 2 USB sockets.

The external 3G modem gives the users flexibility to pick their 3G/"4G" technology and service provider without having to worry about making tradeoffs internally.

If going to have something almost always plugged in when powered on then need another USB port for the occasional need. One port was impractically small in number. It would be too few on iPad too if didn't put the radio inside.

 

[Eidorian]

I suspect that in the Spring the MBP 13" will get a discrete GPU, a Core i mobile processor, loose the DVD (maybe get two drives and tack on another $100 ), and jump in price by $100 (due to GPU).

Taking the optical drive out to get discrete graphics and a SSD stick sounds super sexy for the 13.3" MacBook Pro.

Even if it was 64 GB you'd have the traditional hard disk there for the extra capacity. Core 2, yeah lets not talk about that. I don't want to see it again.

 

[fredfnord]

Misimplication

You may want to rethink what you've written before someone else does for you.

I am fairly sure that if he were to think about what he wrote, there would be no 're' about it.

-fred

 

[raybo]

64GB is adequate for most peoples needs. I have 2TB in my iMac at home, that's where everything is stored.

I need my laptop to be portable with excellent battery life, 64GB is more than enough to hold a days worth of important stuff.

I can understand for some people it's going to be inadequate though, plenty of students only have a laptop.

My 27 yo daughter got the 1st gen Intel Macbook with 60GB and it is still her only computer and that has been enough. She uses a backup drive for pics.

Ray

 

[deconstruct60]

Exactly what product did Mossberg review where he said something untrue?

It is not the truth it is the convenient leaving out of other truths. For example from the review.

they really do offer the different, more iPad-like experience Apple claims they do. Battery life is strong, and the wake up from sleep is almost instant, even after long periods of being unused.

Every Macbook/MBP for last 2-3 years (at least ) can practically do the exact same thing. They all wake up and the screen comes alive. If were using a lightweight program before sleep can jump right back in. Pragmatically, the vast majority of folks are not waiting 3-4 days to use their computer again so practicality of the 30 sleep "feature" is dubious. Who buys $1000 computers not to use them for months at a time and can't wait a minute for the drive to spin up if they do?

The difference is when hit a disk access after sleep. The hard drives take longer to spin up.


The point is that he looks largely where Apple wants him to look.

Another one.

The 13-inch model has the same resolution as Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro and the 11-inch Air has greater resolution than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Again not strictly true. The number of pixels are the same. The dpi is different. If open TextEdit and type a sentence on the 11" screen and do the same on the MBP 13" screen, then the text will be bigger on the MBP 13" screen. If aiming the discussion at "normal folks" then really should note that it is harder to read text off the screen on the 11" version.

But he is tooooo busy trying to tie these models to iPad that can't manage to squeeze that into the review.

Could it be that the NY Times and WSJ are massively read publications, with circulations far exceeding tech rags, and hence they get early access? Or is that not conspiratorial enough for ya?

All the mags/rags that get free machines kiss the vendors butts to some extent. Even more so when the company spends big ad dollars. They read the media guide the company gives them along with the freebie and at least pick out 2-4 points that the company stresses to gives them brownie points on.

It is unfair to single out just these two. But if you believe they aren't on the "kid glove review" bandwagon... WWF wrestling is real too.

 

[RT2020]

This guy is such an Apple cheerleader, he might as well be on Apple payroll.

 

[Yavanna]

Mossberg is just repeating Apple's hype that the new MBA is somehow inspired by the iPad. There is no fundamental difference between this new MBA and the original one that predated the iPad.

This is significant because it proves that Apple creates hype. A lot of their marketing is hyperbole.

Did it escape your notice that Apple had been working on the iPad for years, even before the iPhone? In fact, they have said that what they learned from developing the tablet led to the iPhone. Is it possible that all that miniaturization etc. that they developed prior to 2007 could have led to some of the features of the original (2008) MacBook Air, and that they have just been building on it since then?

Perhaps they are not referring to the last 6 months only.

 

[deconstruct60]

Taking the optical drive out to get discrete graphics and a SSD stick sounds super sexy for the 13.3" MacBook Pro.

Not just sexy but it solves the problem that a vocal subset of moaners were complaining about when the ExpressCard option got dropped. They needed ExprCard because wanted to capture I/O on FW , write to a drive, and have OS/Apps on separate drive to minimize dropouts due to latency. So needed a card for a second Firewire bus or eSATA connection.

Reality is that most just needed a SATA connection. If have two SATA connections inside the box then there is no need for expansion card to add it. That frees up the Firewire just for high end audio and perhaps video capture (standard def). You don't need any extra cards to plug in. The laptop is a high performance mobile recording device right out of the box.
Can do mutlitrack audio , copy/downstream CF cards from cameras , etc.
So it isn't just "sexy" or "cool" it is stuff subsets of foks have historically down with MBPs and MBs (before they were kneecapped with dropping FW. )

If the OS/Apps are on SSD "stick" then have practically all of the "instant on" , "long term hibernate" abilities that the MBA's have, but also have storage at the level similar to desktop models. So still on the 'flash is he future' kick (except maybe Macbook variant to save costs) and 'DVDs are dead' (only buy electronic from iTunes) campaign. So just as much part of the "future of laptops". However, using technology and a modest amount of additional weight to more smartly to deliver higher performance.

It would be nice if 10.7 "Lion" has a mode where the filesystem used a SSD + HDD to create a hybrid drive. Folks who just wanted a bigger, faster drive could use that if not concerned about segregating access latencies.

Apple's prices are higher than average. Next year that will be even more true. They got to find out have to deliver much more value next year if want to keep their prices at the same level.

 

[C. Alan]

I can see the MBA as being focused as a second computer, with portibility in mind. I'd be curious to know if the MBA will be canibalizing the sales of high end Ipads. If I were in this market, I would rather have the keyboard.

 

[rdowns]

I can't believe Apple still relies on this old crumb for PR.
I heard him give a review on the WSJ website last year and he sucks. I would rather watch coal turn into gold under extreme pressure than to ever listen to this guy again.

Comedy gold. You, my friend, are a diamond in the rough.