Don't expect a revolution on October 20th.

[Manatee]

I fit the OP's description in point 1 (no, not a college girl), older (50), travel a lot, non-gamer (except for point-and-click action games), business user. I can't wait for an updated Air!

I do most of my surfing on my iPad now, but I also want a light-weight machine for documents (I need more features than the iPad apps support so far, like mark-up and comments), image management (I like Photoshop and LightRoom), and the ability to run Windows apps with Fusion or Parallels.

I prefer a 13" Air with 4GB RAM 128GB (or more) storage, and... that's about all I need. I had a Rev A, but the 2GB RAM and 64GB SSD were a little tight. I gave that one to my nephew.

I'm looking forward to Wednesday!

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

I would likely sell my iPad and go for a low priced MBA if one were offered. But as-is, the MBA is already too toy-like for the $$$.

I think most of the MBA target market (female students, light-lifting execs, etc) have moved to the iPad or Wintel sub notebooks by now. Apple had a great start but let it languish and even with a refresh, I suspect the MBA is already facing a sunset.

 

[HLdan]

Spacekatgal is a girl. Doesn't mean she can't be chauvinistic, but at least your "man" is somewhat off.

However, I don't agree with her. So far I've only seen MBAs with males who cherish good industrial design. The same kind of people who like sports cars (as opposed to muscle cars). Girls who mainly do facebook have pink netbooks with Hello Kitty stickers.

That's chauvinistic, mea culpa.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I didn't see anywhere in the OP's OP that "she" said she was a girl.
Still I don't agree at all that Apple has targeted the Air towards girls. That doesn't make sense for one big reason, it's too expensive to design a machine to market mostly towards girls. The top MBA is currently $1800, which is down from the original $3099. At those prices it's stupid for a girl to buy something like that just because it's cutesy and girly, but to each his/her own.

 

[Spacekatgal]

CaoCao, this is from the Wikipedia.

However, the early casting methods introduced microscopic flaws that were excellent sites for crack propagation, and led to [LiquidMetal] being fragile, like glass. Although strong, these early batches could easily be shattered if struck. Newer casting methods, adjustment to the alloy mixtures and other changes have improved this.

It also goes on to praise the strength to weight ratio, and to say its more cost effective than composite materials. I take this to mean it can still be shattered, though.

As far as girls liking the Macbook Air, I mean, I'm talking about my peers and friends. ^_^ There has always been intense interest in it. Also, I don't see anything wrong with wanting a laptop that is small and cute. My Macbook Air had Di Gi Charat stickers on it to emphasize the girlyness of it. That is my personal take on the Air, though. Obviously, it's also targeted at a more serious business-minded market.

 

[blairh]

I would likely sell my iPad and go for a low priced MBA if one were offered. But as-is, the MBA is already too toy-like for the $$$.

I think most of the MBA target market (female students, light-lifting execs, etc) have moved to the iPad or Wintel sub notebooks by now. Apple had a great start but let it languish and even with a refresh, I suspect the MBA is already facing a sunset.

Sunset? Please. I expect Wednesday to be the rebirth of the MBA.

Things only appear to be more promising with each passing day and new rumor. Now there is talk of a battery potentially giving us 8-10 hours on a single charge.

Like I've said before I think it will be an amazing day for Mac fans. The MBA has always been a machine for the business professional or someone with the means to have two laptops (home and travel). The MBA has always been a "luxury" item. Can you imagine how many people have purchased a 13" MBP or white MB over the MBA simply because it was cheaper and had better battery life?

This is why Wednesday will be great. Finally a true ultra-portable that is affordable (I do believe the $999 rumor for the 11.6" model, and I think the white MB will remain in the lineup and go down to $899). And then of course you have the business professional who can upgrade to the new 13.3" model which will be completely revitalized (and probably offer more options for configuration).

With respects to the MBA audience I have encountered plenty of women with them, however I will say they were always business women/career oriented women. Suffice to say I've never met a female college student, etc, with a MBA. That however will change with an affordable 11.6" model available.

With respects to the notebooks we are potentially going to see this could be the lineup come 2010 holiday season.

13" White MB.
11.6" & 13" MBA.
13" & 15" & 17" MBP.

Those are some seriously awesome choices for the consumer.

 

[Spacekatgal]

Sunset? Please. I expect Wednesday to be the rebirth of the MBA.

Things only appear to be more promising with each passing day and new rumor. Now there is talk of a battery potentially giving us 8-10 hours on a single charge.

Like I've said before I think it will be an amazing day for Mac fans. The MBA has always been a machine for the business professional or someone with the means to have two laptops (home and travel). The MBA has always been a "luxury" item. Can you imagine how many people have purchased a 13" MBP or white MB over the MBA simply because it was cheaper and had better battery life?

This is why Wednesday will be great. Finally a true ultra-portable that is affordable (I do believe the $999 rumor for the 11.6" model, and I think the white MB will remain in the lineup and go down to $899). And then of course you have the business professional who can upgrade to the new 13.3" model which will be completely revitalized (and probably offer more options for configuration).

With respects to the MBA audience I have encountered plenty of women with them, however I will say they were always business women/career oriented women. Suffice to say I've never met a female college student, etc, with a MBA. That however will change with an affordable 11.6" model available.

With respects to the notebooks we are potentially going to see this could be the lineup come 2010 holiday season.

13" White MB.
11.6" & 13" MBA.
13" & 15" & 17" MBP.

Those are some seriously awesome choices for the consumer.

Again, Blair, I think you're dead on.

If you look at the latest CoM rumors, we're going to get two MBA models. One on the cheap, and a 13 inch for pros. And an 8 hour battery. I am feeling very optimistic. This is the step that's going to take the MBA into the mainstream.

 

[blairh]

Again, Blair, I think you're dead on.

If you look at the latest CoM rumors, we're going to get two MBA models. One on the cheap, and a 13 inch for pros. And an 8 hour battery. I am feeling very optimistic. This is the step that's going to take the MBA into the mainstream.

Thanks. And I totally agree with you too. I'm also very interested to see if consumers will continue to purchase the iPad like hotcakes or if some will say to themselves "well, for double the price (speculation here) I can get a bigger screen, an attached keyboard, and Mac OS X." (with respects to the 11.6" model.)

I will concede however that the starting price point of an iPad is simply too much for many to pass up and the seamless integration of 3G in those specific iPad models is also very attractive.

Expect a detailed article from Gizmodo this weekend entitled, 11.6" Macbook Air vs. iPad:Which One You Should Get

 

[CaoCao]

CaoCao, this is from the Wikipedia.

However, the early casting methods introduced microscopic flaws that were excellent sites for crack propagation, and led to [LiquidMetal] being fragile, like glass. Although strong, these early batches could easily be shattered if struck. Newer casting methods, adjustment to the alloy mixtures and other changes have improved this.

It also goes on to praise the strength to weight ratio, and to say its more cost effective than composite materials. I take this to mean it can still be shattered, though.

As far as girls liking the Macbook Air, I mean, I'm talking about my peers and friends. ^_^ There has always been intense interest in it. Also, I don't see anything wrong with wanting a laptop that is small and cute. My Macbook Air had Di Gi Charat stickers on it to emphasize the girlyness of it. That is my personal take on the Air, though. Obviously, it's also targeted at a more serious business-minded market.

It was sold commercially starting in 2003, IMO seven year is enough for durability to improve, have you seen the metal ball drop test?

I also have seen business women with them, It fits well in their bags

 

[Spacekatgal]

It was sold commercially starting in 2003, IMO seven year is enough for durability to improve, have you seen the metal ball drop test?

I also have seen business women with them, It fits well in their bags

Oh, I found that video. Fascinating stuff. You mean the metallic balls bouncing out of the tube, yes?

It seems that you're right that things have improved a lot, but by doing things like mixing expensive platinum into the mix. I'm not sure how cost-feasable that would be for an entire case - though milling a whole case out of a block of aluminum is also expensive, I'm sure.

I read a lot more about this, and as far as I understand it, the shattering issue is the main problem with the technology still. It can only be worked around by adding other elements to the mixture that are long (in the molecular sense) and have tensile strength to fight micro-fractures.

I would be lying if I said I hung out with more business women than college students. ^_^ But I'll take your word for it.

Bri

 

[CaoCao]

Oh, I found that video. Fascinating stuff. You mean the metallic balls bouncing out of the tube, yes?

It seems that you're right that things have improved a lot, but by doing things like mixing expensive platinum into the mix. I'm not sure how cost-feasable that would be for an entire case - though milling a whole case out of a block of aluminum is also expensive, I'm sure.

I read a lot more about this, and as far as I understand it, the shattering issue is the main problem with the technology still. It can only be worked around by adding other elements to the mixture that are long (in the molecular sense) and have tensile strength to fight micro-fractures.

I would be lying if I said I hung out with more business women than college students. ^_^ But I'll take your word for it.

Bri

Milling Aluminum is also expensive

PS I belong to a Kiwanis organization

 

[thinkdesign]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

IMO Apple would do better to make the iPad the first liquidMetal product. That thing weighs enough to tire out your hands after a short time. (Especially since the shape makes no ergonomic concessions to the shapes of actual hands. And, they inexplicable refuse to sell the takle "ring" stands that they had made for the stores. Has anyone else started selling them.)

The iPhone doesn't need a way to lose a little weight. The Air... if a new metal let it lose 3 ounces, I don't know if a huge number of buyers would care.... though if it were the only option, would the cost scare off some?

Perhaps for a "Limited Edition 5th Anniversary Macbook Air", they could throw in a Liquidmetal case, and some other thing like a 2nd color, black or very dark grey.

 

[CaoCao]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

IMO Apple would do better to make the iPad the first liquidMetal product. That thing weighs enough to tire out your hands after a short time. (Especially since the shape makes no ergonomic concessions to the shapes of actual hands. And, they inexplicable refuse to sell the takle "ring" stands that they had made for the stores. Has anyone else started selling them.)

The iPhone doesn't need a way to lose a little weight. The Air... if a new metal let it lose 3 ounces, I don't know if a huge number of buyers would care.... though if it were the only option, would the cost scare off some?

Perhaps for a "Limited Edition 5th Anniversary Macbook Air", they could throw in a Liquidmetal case, and some other thing like a 2nd color, black or very dark grey.

Or Apple could use that weigh saved to add more powerful parts

 

[thinkdesign]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

"...more powerful parts". Is needing one more way of weight-saving, the factor that's been holding them back, on adding more performance? News to me.

The rumors don't mention adding a slot for a cable lock. I'm hoping for that (part of that "mobillity" thing).

But otherwise, much of it is both as I wanted and predicted.

The "ergonomic gold" shape has even improved a little , according to the new cultofmac.com report: almost touching the table at the front! Great! My wrist muscles said "aaahhhhh" when I saw that.

And the way the thick end stayed thick, gives hope that the hinge problem has been solved. The more compact the hinge -- and area it's anchored into -- is, the harder it is to solve that. The thicker it is, the easier it gets to work out these hinge details, including getting it to open to the full usual angle. The way the current Air doesn't open to the usual angle, may have been a big source of that problem, since the hinge often got pushed hard up against the limit of it's "range of motion" (see the posts on this forum a few months back, by the professional photographer. Google "nerve-wracking", when he'd hand the Air to others while on the job, for previews.)

Looks like my wait has been worth it ! ! !

 

[CaoCao]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

"...more powerful parts". Is needing one more way of weight-saving, the factor that's been holding them back, on adding more performance? News to me.

The rumors don't mention adding a slot for a cable lock. I'm hoping for that (part of that "mobillity" thing).

But otherwise, much of it is both as I wanted and predicted.

The "ergonomic gold" shape has even improved a little , according to the new cultofmac.com report: almost touching the table at the front! Great! My wrist muscles said "aaahhhhh" when I saw that.

And the way the thick end stayed thick, gives hope that the hinge problem has been solved. The more compact the hinge -- and area it's anchored into -- is, the harder it is to solve that. The thicker it is, the easier it gets to work out these hinge details, including getting it to open to the full usual angle. The way the current Air doesn't open to the usual angle, may have been a big source of that problem, since the hinge often got pushed hard up against the limit of it's "range of motion" (see the posts on this forum a few months back, by the professional photographer. Google "nerve-wracking", when he'd hand the Air to others while on the job, for previews.)

Looks like my wait has been worth it ! ! !

Actually the constraints are space and heat dissipation. Liquidmetal cools better than aluminum and allows a thinner case

 

[Jaro65]

I would likely sell my iPad and go for a low priced MBA if one were offered. But as-is, the MBA is already too toy-like for the $$$.

I think most of the MBA target market (female students, light-lifting execs, etc) have moved to the iPad or Wintel sub notebooks by now. Apple had a great start but let it languish and even with a refresh, I suspect the MBA is already facing a sunset.

I agree...as far as the current model goes. The SJ has a fantastic knack for redefining/creating product categories. I suspect the new model will be quite stunning and will sell like hotcakes.