will MBA flop?

[n8236]

Flop? Nah
Great success like the MBP and MB? Nah

I think the MBA is gonna be somewhere in-between given that the % of road warriors compared to regular MB/MBP users is much less to begin with.

The MBA is simply a fill-in of a void in the already Apple lineup of laptops. The logic is simple. How many types of laptop users are there? What do ppl usually use laptops for? And why do they buy it for?

The sole purpose of a laptop is simply portability, that's the core reason for the existence of laptops. Otherwise, ppl would buy desktops. Apple simply went back to the root reason of portability. Light and functional.

Going one level deeper, you get 3 categories of laptop users (from Apple's pov). The ultimate road warriors such the traveling sales guys in many companies, etc. The MBA is perfect for them. Then you have the traveling MB users who simply want a bit more flexibility in their machines but able to provide a bit of that desktop power for everyday use with much compromise. And lastly you have the near desktop replacement users of MBPs who nearly has it all.

Slim and light weight laptops are a niche market since the buyers of these laptops are highly concerned with size.

 

[daneoni]

I think it would be a very niche product i.e. a selected few will still buy it BUT for the most part people will bypass it quickly for the MacBook line.

 

[sushi]

I think that the MBA concept will be winner.

Some random comments:

- Dropping the Ethernet connector was gutsy. However, these days, a computer with good wireless capability does not need an Ethernet connector. And for those few who need it, they can always get a dongle.

Note, the same arguments were made when Apple dropped the modem. And now folks can use a modem dongle if they need modem capability.

- It would have been nice to have 2 USB connectors. But one will suffice.

- Same for the speaker. Stereo would have been better.

- Full sized keyboard is good.

- 13.3 inch display is good.

- Not an ultra-portable -- weighs over 2 pounds.

- Thin is nice for the road warrior group.

I was hopping for a 10.4 to 12.1 inch ultra-portable weighing 2 pounds or less. Obviously, the MBA is not it.

I do like the MBA and see a use for it. I am sure road warriors will enjoy carrying and using it. I may just pick one up. Definitely want to see in person first.

IMHO, those who think that the MBA was going to be a professional level laptop were not being realistic in their expectations. That is not the purpose of the MBA.

 

[n8236]

Ppl are gonna look at the Macbook and go, "eww, look at how fat and cheap that looks compared the MBA!"

Then by just tacking on a few hundred bucks, they're gonna opt for the MBA.

Apple has strategically priced it right where they want it to be.

I think ppl will definitely cross shop the MBA and MB when wanting to buy either.

And those shopping for a MBA will also consider the MBP.

That's assuming price is what they're looking at.

 

[hottium]

(ot?) Logic pro with mba

This might go off-topic but anyway. I was wondering how logic pro or any other music software will run on macbook air? I'm thinking about buying a mac laptop for music and other multimedia but can't decide between mbp or mba. Mbp hasn't got updates for a while and mba looks pretty cool. Any suggestion from old mac-users would be great.

 

[lasuther]

Does anyone elsed think the MBA is just a ploy to get more MacBook sales? It seems most people would pick the MBP over the MB. Now that the MBA is here, I think we will see more potential MBA buyers walking out of an Apple Store with a regular MB in hand.

I have to agree with you. The MacBook Air makes the MB look amazing. Same footprint, slightly thicker, and a hell of a lot more powerful. Its just a matter of time before the multitouch trackpad makes its way into the MBP and eventually the MB.

I don't see why people are calling the MBA a ultraportable. Its just as ultraportable as the MacBook, lacks half the features, and is just slower. The 12" PowerBook wasn't up to the other PowerBooks level, but it was always better than an iBook.

I don't see this being a "road warrior" laptop. I travel a lot for work and this isn't going to do it. You want an ethernet port for some hotels and customer locations, superdrives are important for loading software or burning presentations, and having more usb ports is really nice. Having a 3lb laptop and 2lbs of accessories just doesn't make sense. Especially when the MacBook gives you all of that built in with a faster and cheaper package on the same footprint.

For the people who were looking for the next 12" PowerBook, this is a failure. For the people who looked at the MacBook and though it was way to heavy, had to many features, and was just to cheap; the MacBook Air will fit the bill.

 

[supremedesigner]

i think it will flop as well, too expensive, too large, too slow, not enough ports, too short life span as I expect.

Large? Wow - I think you never saw MBA's spec. What a crock.

 

[clevin]

Large? Wow - I think you never saw MBA's spec. What a crock.

lol, really? dont make bold assumptions about others.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Sales wise? Sure it is going to flop, you might even say bomb since Apple has laptops that are MUCH better values for the money. I think the most important part of MacBook Air is not well it sells, but the technology developed from making it. There is a chance that we will see lighter fully featured Apple laptops in the future by drawing on some of the lessons learned from the Air.

 

[Consultant]

For anyone who does not have the budget for such a cutting edge device, read:

"The price is competitive with other laptops in its market segment." [CNN.com]

In addition, the solid state drive costs about $1000 alone in a 2.5" form factor. To have it in 1.8" form factor should be even MORE expensive.

 

[tomoisyourgod]

It's the perfect machine for yuppie types and other professionals who buy expensive things just because they are expensive.

It's annoying when you see someone with a Macbook Pro and all they use it for is "browsing the web, doing email, maybe a spreadsheet or typing a letter"

It's still a quality machine though, one day all laptops will be the size of the MBA

 

[Pressure]

well, the MBA is exactly same area size as MB, only thinner. now imagine it in that picture.

I think you somehow missed my general gist of things.

I was indicating that the size difference between the 12" PowerBook and MacBook Air would be smaller than the difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Yes, I know the MacBook Air and MacBook share the same footprint but they sure don't share the same weight, height or performance.

 

[clevin]

In addition, the solid state drive costs about $1000 alone in a 2.5" form factor. To have it in 1.8" form factor should be even MORE expensive.

Thus I suggest a 16G SSD+ SDHC slot supports up to 64GB card, so ppl can expand it in the future when price drop. (8G SDHC is now $50)

Yes, I know the MacBook Air and MacBook share the same footprint but they sure don't share the same weight, height or performance.

I understand, MBA is lighter, thinner, and slower.

What I was saying is. when we discuss about "ultra portable", footprint is much more important than weight and thickness. Im not trying to convince anybody who think otherwise, but we can open a poll in a neutral ground, and see exactly what "ultra portable" means, and which type is more attractive.

 

[Consultant]

Thus I suggest a 16G SSD+ SDHC slot supports up to 64GB card, so ppl can expand it in the future when price drop. (8G SDHC is now $50)

I understand, MBA is lighter, thinner, and slower.

What I was saying is. when we discuss about "ultra portable", footprint is much more important than weight and thickness. Im not trying to convince anybody who think otherwise, but we can open a poll in a neutral ground, and see exactly what "ultra portable" means, and which type is more attractive.

You might want to do some research on solid state drives. There is a reason why it's so expensive. It's the extremely fast READ AND WRITE SPEED. Some model is 4x faster than 10k raptor.

SDHC are way slower than harddrives which are slower than Solid State Drives. Different technology, different price. Professional cameras are five figures and use fast memory, consumer cameras are cheap using cheap and slow memory.

 

[clevin]

You might want to do some research on solid state drives. There is a reason why it's so expensive. It's the extremely fast READ AND WRITE SPEED. Some model is 4x faster than 10k raptor.

SDHC are way slower than harddrives which are slower than Solid State Drives. Different technology, different price. Professional cameras are five figures and use fast memory, consumer cameras are cheap using cheap and slow memory.

well, 16G SSD is enough for core system, SDHC is for personal data.

Also, Its possible to leave a slot open for SSD in case ppl want to expand it or exchange it (since journaled system like OSX tent to write a lot on SSD and thus reduce the life span of it), AFAIK, in some rev EEEPC, there is a such slot accessible to users.

Its just a way to handle the fact that current SSD is super expensive. If there is a way, then it should be adopted.

 

[Unspeaked]

I have little doubt this will flop.

It's as if Apple tried as hard as they could to make a laptop version of the Cube.

 

[Brianstorm91]

I don't really see much in the MBA; sure it's light, thin and attractive, but its footprint is much too big for a portable laptop.
I've never heard someone complain that their laptop was too thick instad of too big.
It seems like they became obsessed over making it thin and forgot what they were supposed to be doing.

 

[lukegarnz]

there seems to be so many people here that are bitching about the MBA not being able to handle apps like photoshop etc and not being a very good pro laptop. Where was the bit where apple says it's a pro laptop?? yes it's the same look of a MBP but it's not trying to be a pro, as Steve Jobs ssaid it's designed for the wireless world no mention of pro there. I'm sure this is the first of an amazing line of notebooks that they will bring out and i think it will do well.

 

[Consultant]

well, 16G SSD is enough for core system, SDHC is for personal data.

Also, Its possible to leave a slot open for SSD in case ppl want to expand it or exchange it (since journaled system like OSX tent to write a lot on SSD and thus reduce the life span of it), AFAIK, in some rev EEEPC, there is a such slot accessible to users.

Its just a way to handle the fact that current SSD is super expensive. If there is a way, then it should be adopted.

My home server uploads at over 500KB/s. I can access a 700mb file in 3 minutes anywhere in the world. That's the future.

 

[gwangung]

Flop? Nah
Great success like the MBP and MB? Nah

I think the MBA is gonna be somewhere in-between given that the % of road warriors compared to regular MB/MBP users is much less to begin with.

The MBA is simply a fill-in of a void in the already Apple lineup of laptops. The logic is simple. How many types of laptop users are there? What do ppl usually use laptops for? And why do they buy it for?

The sole purpose of a laptop is simply portability, that's the core reason for the existence of laptops. Otherwise, ppl would buy desktops. Apple simply went back to the root reason of portability. Light and functional.

Going one level deeper, you get 3 categories of laptop users (from Apple's pov). The ultimate road warriors such the traveling sales guys in many companies, etc. The MBA is perfect for them. Then you have the traveling MB users who simply want a bit more flexibility in their machines but able to provide a bit of that desktop power for everyday use with much compromise. And lastly you have the near desktop replacement users of MBPs who nearly has it all.

Slim and light weight laptops are a niche market since the buyers of these laptops are highly concerned with size.

QFT.

Somebody here understands market segmentation.

 

[clevin]

My home server uploads at over 500KB/s. I can access a 700mb file in 3 minutes anywhere in the world. That's the future.

well. Im sure apple's MBA is your ideal choice, since with that price and design and function, it is obviously not a massive market attraction.

PS. you can't access a 700MB file in 3 minutes anywhere in the world, since internet is two or more points interaction. not only decided by how fast your end is.

 

[gwangung]

I understand, MBA is lighter, thinner, and slower.

What I was saying is. when we discuss about "ultra portable", footprint is much more important than weight and thickness.

Where did you get this?????


From what I understand, the driving force for subcompacts is mobility. That can come in either size or in weight. And I would think that weight is MUCH more important than size--in moving a briefcase around, I think a lot of folks would swap an inch or two of width for weight.

 

[Hmac]

It's not a laptop meant for hardcore computing. I'm familiar with the epxerience of carrying a 15.4 inch Dell Latitude D800 though airports and hotels and I hated it. So, I replaced it with a 2-lb. IBM X40, which at the time was the smallest laptop available. No built-in optical, had to buy a docking station, also bought an external optical drive. It had a 30 gig hard drive and a 1.0 ghz Pentium M with Centrino chipset. It was perfectly adequate for the kind of on-the-road stuff I needed. No, it wasn't a very good photo editing machine....no, it was a lousy video editing machine. But it was GREAT for carrying around airports and taxis, and did a completely adequate job of checking email and doing word processing and spreadsheets. The MBA is aimed at that same category, and I have no doubt that it will perform exceptionally well for that stuff.

This happens after every....single....MacWorld, and it's crystal clear that, once again, unrealistic expectation have pissed off the Apple fanboy crowd. The moral is, you aren't goint to get a be-everything, do-everything portable workstation that costs $1000 and is the size of a sheet of paper.

 

[Consultant]

well. Im sure apple's MBA is your ideal choice, since with that price and design and function, it is obviously not a massive market attraction.

PS. you can't access a 700MB file in 3 minutes anywhere in the world, since internet is two or more points interaction. not only decided by how fast your end is.

Yup I know it's dependent on local network connections, but there is something called satellite uplink... =)

Or portable drives.

 

[Hmac]

What I was saying is. when we discuss about "ultra portable", footprint is much more important than weight and thickness.

Wow. I completely disagree. Weight is the issue. Footprint is important only insofar as it dictates the size of the carrying bag it needs and the size of the screen. 13.3 inch screen is perfect, in my experience with both 15.4 inch screens and 12 inch screens on an airline tray table.