will MBA flop?

[Unspeaked]

The next MB revision. What I'm really curious about, however, is what will the next MB revision look like. Will Apple keep encasing them in plastic? Somehow I doubt that. Also, what will it do for the MB based on what it will have learned from the MBA experience? According to our trusty Buyer's Guide, they're due for a revision in about four months. Can I wait that long? Probably.

I would guess Apple will change the MBP enclosure long before it changes the MB enclosure.

The MBP case, simply stated, is looking pretty stale.

I'm surprised you prefer it to the MacBook case as it's so G4-era while the MB look and feel is much more in line with the Intel machines.

I'd wager the majority of MacBook Pro owners would prefer the MacBook case if they could have the same internal components inside it.

 

[netdog]

I was anxiously awaiting the MBA today, which I envisioned as a "pro" level computer, similar to the older 12" PBG4. You can imagine my disappointment with the MBA. I am a corporate road warrior with a mac in a sea of PCs on the road. The MBA looked great yesterday as a theory - in reality it is nothing that I want. Too expensive, not good for plugging in things. Dongles are painful for us travelers - we lose them... Ethernet dongle? No way. One usb port? ugh, cannot do it.

I'd rather have a black MB. Wish I could get a 12" MBP. It doesnt exist. And never will.

But, I think the MBA will flop. Dont like it. It is like apple TV or newton... Seems "ok" but I expect better from apple. I don't want "ok"

The 12" PowerBook was not as "pro" level computer like its larger PowerBook brethren. It was an iBook in PowerBook clothing. The misconceptions about the PB12 due almost solely to its skin are incomprehensible.

People who predict that the Air will be a flop have no understanding of the market that it is aimed at. Fortunately for Apple, their marketing teams know far more than the pimply-faced posters here.

 

[huck500]

Yes. From what I've read most people hate it, including me.

Why hate a computer?

I have no interest in them, but hate seems a little extreme.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

The 12" PowerBook was not as "pro" level computer like its larger PowerBook brethren. It was an iBook in PowerBook clothing. The misconceptions about the PB12 due almost solely to its skin are incomprehensible.

how can you claim that? It always had a faster CPU speed, longer battery life, and better graphics. I think it maxed out at 1.5, where as the PB 15" maxed out at 1.6.. it had firewire, so did the PB 15". USB, Wireless, bluetooth.. check check check. So basically you're missing the backlit keyboard, and a faster GPU, and it would've been an exact version of the 15" PB.

 

[Unspeaked]

how can you claim that? It always had a faster CPU speed, longer battery life, and better graphics. I think it maxed out at 1.5, where as the PB 15" maxed out at 1.6.. it had firewire, so did the PB 15". USB, Wireless, bluetooth.. check check check. So basically you're missing the backlit keyboard, and a faster GPU, and it would've been an exact version of the 15" PB.

So true, it was way closer to a PowerBook than an iBook.

Comparing it to the woefully underpowered iBooks is laughable.

 

[gnasher729]

What I'm not so thrilled with are:

1. Price. The minimum, imho, is $2099, not $1799, since it only makes sense to get the 1.8 MHz customize option to extend the life of your MBA. I don't know why anybody would not opt for that. And when you're spending that kind of money, it's hard not to notice what else you could get with the same amount, or how much you could save by picking up a MB instead -- and with more power, etc.

2. USB. At first the idea of only one USB port didn't bother me, until I realized that I like to use a mouse with my PB. Which means that my MBA's port will be filled most of the time with the mouse receiver. One extra USB port doesn't seem like too much to ask for. (Jobs' vision of a wireless world is inspiring and all, but in my real-life experience utopia just ain't here yet.)

3. Hard drive. I don't mind the limited memory space. What I'm concerned about is the speed of the thing. I'm no expert, but I hear that it would be pretty slow. (Not the SSD, of course, which I'd love, but it's just way too expensive right now.

1. The minimum is $1799. Spending $300 for ten percent difference in speed is wasteful. If you want to spend more, then

2. If you need a wireless mouse, then buy one that works with Bluetooth. No USB dongle. So what do you put into the USB drive? My suggestion: I can buy 4 GB memory sticks for £12, and they can hold four full length movies in H.264 format.

3. Yes, the hard drive isn't fast. But you have 2 GB of RAM, so no page outs/ins and MacOS X does an awful lot of caching with that amount of RAM.

 

[charliecrosslan]

I think it will sell, but it is a v1 so you have to get over the problems. Even though you know it will be updated soon, probs august/ something, to better processors. Actually, they probably already have a 2 ghz core 2 duo (mini sized) ready, but are waiting to release it to boost sales.

 

[gnasher729]

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.

I just typed in "64 GB SSD" into Google, and the first link was to this advert:

http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?ad=fg&pid=19381

They are selling 64 GB 1.8" drives for $1699.

 

[emotion]

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.

My laptops are mainly used for audio. The lack of FW really limits your choice of external audio interfaces. The HD version's disk is to slow for multiple tracks and the SSD too small. FW could come to the rescue here too but alas...

The MBA is a design statement by Ive. It's not a mass market product and is meant to train the eye to some design cues that will come with future models - on that level it may ne a success.

Can't say I'm not disappointed though. Something a little more compact (that bezel is large etc) with FW and I would have plumped down the cash. Despite pretty high UK pricing. Ah well roll on Montevina MBPs in 6 months!

 

[gothamm]

let me know once they stick those tiny core 2 duo processors in the iphone.

 

[Hmac]

Why hate a computer?

I have no interest in them, but hate seems a little extreme.

Agreed. Anyone who can work up the emotions necessary to "hate" a computer they haven't even used or touched clearly has other issues going on, and their attitudes immediately suspect.

 

[Mord]

There are plenty of people who like to show off out there who're willing to pay a premium.