First Look at the MacBook Air

[Fast Shadow]

Its about the same price. Actually cheaper than the SSD version of the MBA.

You get a lot more stuff, too.
Pity it doesnt run OSX.

On Sony's website the cheapest TZ is $2200. It comes with a 1ghz C2D, 1 gig of RAM, 11" screen, 100 gig hard drive, and sprint WAN integration.

So for $400 more than the basic MBAir you get 2" less screen, 600mhz slower processor, 1 gig less RAM, 20 gigs more HD, and WAN integration.

The top end TZ comes with a 64 gig SSD drive and a 250 gig hard drive, the same 11" screen, a 1.33ghz CPU, 2 gigs of RAM, and it costs $3700.

So for $600 more than the 1.8ghz+SSD MBair you get 2" less screen, 470mhz slower CPU, and the bonus of a 250gig hard drive.

I must be missing how either of those Sony options are better values than the MBAir. And on top of it all the Sony boxes run Vista, which is one of the biggest pieces of turd I have ever had the misfortune of encountering. And I am no Microsoft hater, I love WinXP for its relative stability and simplicity

The MBAir will be able to run Leopard, WinXP, Vista, Linux, FreeBSD, Win2k3 server, etcetcetc.

Don't see how there's any comparison.

 

[Zadillo]

You can buy another portable. Maybe, oh I don't know... A Macbook?

Or a mini-USB hub (Logitech makes a nice one designed for notebooks, and I suspect we'll see some MBA matching mini-hubs soon).

On Sony's website the cheapest TZ is $2200. It comes with a 1ghz C2D, 1 gig of RAM, 11" screen, 100 gig hard drive, and sprint WAN integration.

So for $400 more than the basic MBAir you get 2" less screen, 600mhz slower processor, 1 gig less RAM, 20 gigs more HD, and WAN integration.

The top end TZ comes with a 64 gig SSD drive and a 250 gig hard drive, the same 11" screen, a 1.33ghz CPU, 2 gigs of RAM, and it costs $3700.

Yeah, and I think the TZ is one of those devices that is too much on the small side footprint wise to be entirely comfortable to use, at least for my own preferences. I've always found the SZ to be a better bet in terms of combining raw power while still being fairly thin and portable.

One thing to note is that both the TZ and SZ do have built-in optical drives, but personally, when I owned a Vaio S360 and an SZ450, I rarely ever used the optical drive, so I don't mind the idea of having an external one.

The removable battery can come in handy, but once you are carrying around spare batteries, the portability aspect of even a TZ becomes pretty much lost (not to mention the $199 price Sony charges for a standard battery or the $299 they charge for the extended battery).

Personally I'm still deciding back and forth whether I do want to go with the MBA or just get an MBP, but I think the nice thing is that Apple has a pretty nice variety of options in their portable range now.

 

[macidiot]

Apple have indeed attempted to all out with this laptop. They have tried to address those who think 11-12" is too small by keeping the 13" screen estate, and included with it a full-size keyboard and backlit lighting which is very cool.

Apple is trying to get a share in everyplace in the home and there is only one way to do this: think different, think 'air'.

The boldness is in the features which have been dropped. There is a common theme running in the products released or updated today and that is the 'Air'. The name wasn't just chosen because it represented the highest selling type of Nike trainer in the world. Apple are heavily pushing forward wireless technology through the new 802.11n standard. The Apple TV, Time Capsule and iPhone are examples of this. Apple TV holds its place in your living room, while Time capsule functions as your WiFi centre, backup device and router and the iPhone replaces your portable music player and phone with a Smartphone that does everything every phone and ipod used to do better, with the added support of WiFi. Of course the iPod Touch was also introduced as a cheaper option to fill the gap for those who didn't need the phone or the hefty price-tag and monthly subscription contract associated with it.

Whats next? The MacBook Air. This is the mobile WiFI device that everyone will buy. It is NOT an ultraportable laptop by any means. It is a light, thin, yet fully functional computer that people can carry anywhere to browse the internet from any WIFI hotspot (which Apple is trying to promote, although is a long way away).

Remember folks, Apple pushed the Airport standard before WiFi really took off, and the launch of the iMac in 1998 paved the way for the extinction of the floppy disk as it is today.

The removal of ethernet and the optical drive are the two bold moves here and the beauty of the MacBook Air will attempt to masque Apple's subtle shift towards a wireless platform of electronics which it will want to pioneer by having a product for every possible corner of your house, bag or pocket.

Will it succeed? Yes. Not the MacBook Air, but the vision. Everyone was crying back in 1998 when the floppy went, no one thinks twice about it now.

Welcome to the era of chique, wireless computing. C'est la vie...

I have a $400 iPhone for thin and light wifi internet browsing. And a 17" mbp for full featured computing. Both are wireless.

What I would like is a small laptop with a decent feature set that weighs less than my 17". The Air isn't it. I have a need for a small laptop for trips. But I'm not going to pay 2k for a second computer.

wifi has spotty coverage. Hotels have it, but you pay. And I don't think spending 4 hours a day at a starbucks is a solution.

But like I said before, the battery is a joke. I can live with the other stuff, as I have a mbp. However, all I see is a thin computer with a lower feature set than the Macbook that costs $800 more.

 

[pyrophite]

Ok, i've posted a lot in this thread, mostly hate towards the new MBA. I have done some reading, looked around and have actually softened up to the idea a bit, here's my take on it now after taking a step back.

This laptop is actually pretty nice, it has a specific market in mind, and will be a very light laptop that will appeal to those who just want a basic computer to carry around, and are willing to pay a high premium to barely know that they're carrying around a computer at all.

I realized the reason i was so down on the MBA was NOT because of what it was, but because of what it wasn't. I was looking for my next laptop, this is certainly not it. The laptop most of us were all waiting for was a small version of a MBP that we were willing to pay a premium for. Thinking about it, this isnt outside the realm of possibility, in fact i think when they update the line it might just be in the cards. But making an announcement like that wouldnt warrant the neccesary spotlight of the macworld keynote, THIS product would.

There are a few facts that the people buying this laptop HAVE to come to terms with (and likely will). They will be limited to wireless connections for internet unless they want more bulk, they will have to deal with no optical drive unless they want more bulk. They will HAVE to get the laptop's battery replaced at some point, this is inevitable. Hopefully the buyers don't find later that they need more laptop, because this certainly isn't going to be upgradeable.

This is NOT cutting edge tech right here, this is for lack of a better term a "disposable" laptop. And although i still feel the pricepoint a bit high, it certainly isn't astronomical, especially considering any other company (besides dell) would likely charge an even higher premium for the same laptop.

I STILL have qualms about the footprint of this laptop, but honestly this was going to HAVE to be a requirement for the computer to have a wide screen as well as a full size pitch keyboard. This is not the laptop for most of us, it will probably do moderately well in the marketplace, but i still believe it's going to be met with lackluster reviews. The iPhone was a pretty nice powerhouse compared to some PDAs, and following it up with a mostly asthetic laptop with lackluster performance seems like mixed messages from Apple.

I certainly hope that a 13 inch macbook pro is in the works however, and that is something i WOULD be willing to shell out a premium for.

 

[powermac_daddy]

i mean it's a cool computer. but then in order to use it as "real" laptop, you need to add this and that. Yeah, cool design, it's better for the kids age 6 - 12. I surely won't waste $2G for this. Unless it's as powerful as the Macbook pro. "something in the air", big deal. Smog!

 

[futureswitcher]

MacBook Air

Hold the phone...5 HOURS??? Geez, I thought the whole point of "ultra-portable" was to be, oh, i don't know, ultra-portable?? - as in you can do a lot with it away from the power plug.
Even the much less expensive MB has 6 hours of battery!

Other than that -
- no Ethernet
- only 1 USB
- no microphone/line in = no Garageband
- high price point

As a student looking for a computer, i'll pass.


looks like it's still the MB for me! (not that there's anything wrong with that)


on a more positive note about the MBA, however:
- looks awesome
- 3 lbs
- three-quarter-inch thin
- I'm extremely jealous of the multi-touch
- remote disc is pretty cool


--whatever...still looking forward to my MB

 

[Vidd]

A lot of the people here complaining belong to the demographic that the Macbook is aimed at. Note that I'm not saying everyone.

 

[Zadillo]

Hold the phone...5 HOURS??? Geez, I thought the whole point of "ultra-portable" was to be, oh, i don't know, ultra-portable?? - as in you can do a lot with it away from the power plug.
Even the much less expensive MB has 6 hours of battery!

Other than that -
- no Ethernet
- only 1 USB
- no microphone/line in = no Garageband
- high price point

As a student looking for a computer, i'll pass.


looks like it's still the MB for me! (not that there's anything wrong with that)


on a more positive note about the MBA, however:
- looks awesome
- 3 lbs
- three-quarter-inch thin
- I'm extremely jealous of the multi-touch
- remote disc is pretty cool


--whatever...still looking forward to my MB

It all depends on what the real-world battery life is; 5 hours of real-world use, especially without an extended battery, would be pretty good (I'm pretty sure the MacBook doesn't really reach 6 hours in real-world use).

 

[obeygiant]

A lot of the people here complaining belong to the demographic that the Macbook is aimed at. Note that I'm not saying everyone.

So the MBA is only for rich people? I guess.

 

[David G.]

The MacBook Air makes me wonder why they [] cant slim down the the regular notebook by a few tenths a centimeter now.

 

[badNameErr]

Seriously, you give a **** about TWO pounds?

Seriously, yes. I travel a lot. A lot. Every pound counts. YMMV.

 

[macenforcer]

Oh yeah, the name sucks too.

 

[maestrokev]

MacWhiners

Like many, I'm surprised at all the negativity here, this forum should be renamed MacWhiners! Don't knock it just because you can't afford it.

What Apple has done is provide choices. There has always been a market for the thin and light and this product is the most innovative. Sure, other companies could have taken out drives etc, but no one has produced such an elegant package.

To those complaining about the slow uptake in the corporate market - when have Apple products overwhelmed the corporate market? Either you adopt Mac OS or you stick to Windows, that will still be the main driver of what laptops corporations adopt.

Coming from a 4lbs Dell 700m with thick extended batteries and a DVD drive I rarely used, I'll be putting my order down for the Air. Will it come down in price, of course, like any Mac product updates, you'll get more for your buck if you wait.

 

[swb1192]

in my idea..

i think apple should have just shown this product off, and not put it up for sale. they should have said "hey, look at what we can do with our product." and that's it. a done deal. i think people are amazed at this product, but aren't interested in the MBA.

 

[Takeo]

Ok... I don't have hours of spare time to read all 500+ posts... so this has probably been said already... but I think the bottom line is... this is really meant (or at least most suited) as a SECOND computer. Just like a Smart Car is really only suited as a second car. You still need a "real" car to take road trips... take your longboard to the beach... get a big load of groceries... etc.

For what is it... the MacBook Air is simply amazing. What it is is a super thin, light, easy to carry around laptop to use as a second computer... for travel... client meetings... presentations... etc. So if you're a professional and you have the cash... you could have your workhorse Mac Pro tower at home... and this sweet little thing for on the road.

 

[swb1192]

Ok... I don't have hours of spare time to read all 500+ posts... so this has probably been said already... but I think the bottom line is... this is really meant (or at least most suited) as a SECOND computer. Just like a Smart Car is really only suited as a second car. You still need a "real" car to take road trips... take your longboard to the beach... get a big load of groceries... etc.

For what is it... the MacBook Air is simply amazing. What it is is a super thin, light, easy to carry around laptop to use as a second computer... for travel... client meetings... presentations... etc. So if you're a professional and you have the cash... you could have your workhorse Mac Pro tower at home... and this sweet little thing for on the road.

I like this idea. This is very very smart.

If only I had thousands of dollars to use on computers currently.

But I'm not saying that that's a problem for a lot of people...

 

[macidiot]

Can you imagine shipping your iphone for a replacement. Get over it. If anyone brings this up that has an ipod or iphone let me ask you something. Why did you get them????The same thing will happen to you...

The simple difference is that the iPod is a toy. If I don't have it, I can live without it. The iPhone is a little different, but again, I can go without it for a couple of days. Even so, I'm not happy with the prospect of having to send it in. The saving grace is that cell phones tend to get replaced fairly often, at least for me.

However, a computer is different. My livelihood depends on having my computer, and having to send it in to replace a battery is absurd. I should be able to just pop a new one in, which has already happened with my mbp.

 

[digitalbiker]

Ok, i've posted a lot in this thread, mostly hate towards the new MBA. I have done some reading, looked around and have actually softened up to the idea a bit, here's my take on it now after taking a step back.

This laptop is actually pretty nice, it has a specific market in mind, and will be a very light laptop that will appeal to those who just want a basic computer to carry around, and are willing to pay a high premium to barely know that they're carrying around a computer at all.

I agree with what you say here but I think Apple just laid another egg here with the Macbook Air. The market is just too small.


It doesn't appeal to students because it is too pricey and no optical drive. Probably not durable enough for a student either.

It doesn't fit a majority of users who want an inexpensive laptop.

It doesn't fit a lot of business professionals because it doesn't do WAN networking through a cell phone service. Lacks HD storage and really isn't ultra-portable because of large footprint.

It doesn't fit pros because it is too underpowered and too limited.


So who does it fit.

Novice computer users with too much disposable income.

The elite fashion conscious who demand style over function and finance.

I believe that is the very small market that is left.

So does anyone have an idea when Apple might release the penryn based MBP, with LED backlight, backlit flat keyboard, and multi-touch track pad. That is the animal that I and most users want anyway. That is what the masses expect from Apple. Most people are still waiting for the 10 or 12 in. MBP.

 

[Loge]

- no microphone/line in = no Garageband

It comes with Garageband; use the USB port.

 

[kzin]

sounds like an overall great machine for those who need max portability, but not max power.

uh, can't agree with you there.

People who want max portability, these days, go with an UMPC or a MID.

What bone did Apple throw them today?

An UMPC? no.
A MID? no.
A tablet/laptop (laptop screen swivels so you can use it tablet mode)? no.
A conventional laptop that has a smaller footprint than a MacBook? no.

Just another conventional laptop. Same footprint as a MacBook, just thinner.

Who cares?

Lets just re-arrange chairs on the deck, shall we?

Last year was the year of the UMPC. Where was Apple's UMPC?
This year is the year of the MID. Where's Apple's MID?

And don't tell me it's the iPod Touch -- sure, adding on those 4 apps gets it one step closer to being a half-assed MID, but it's still not there (and what's with paying $20 for apps that should have been on it from day one!?). I'll be impressed with it as a MID when it has an ssh client (that doesn't cause later updates to brick your device), a vnc/remote-desktop client, VPN of some sort (pref. openvpn), support for bluetooth (HID, FTP, and DUN or PAN), and either a virtual keyboard you can use in landscape mode, or a slide-out physical keyboard. Oh, yeah, and an open SDK. THEN it'll be an acceptable entry into the MID market.

This was the most underwhelming keynote I can remember. And the most underwhelming announcement of the bunch was the MacBook Air.

 

[MrCrowbar]

take that motherboard, just square shaped and use the regular sized processor. 2.5" user swappable hard drive and a Superdrive and you got yourself a damn fine (small) Mac Mini. Think 3 CD jewel cases stacked.

 

[maestrokev]

Ok... I don't have hours of spare time to read all 500+ posts... so this has probably been said already... but I think the bottom line is... this is really meant (or at least most suited) as a SECOND computer. Just like a Smart Car is really only suited as a second car. You still need a "real" car to take road trips... take your longboard to the beach... get a big load of groceries... etc.

For what is it... the MacBook Air is simply amazing. What it is is a super thin, light, easy to carry around laptop to use as a second computer... for travel... client meetings... presentations... etc. So if you're a professional and you have the cash... you could have your workhorse Mac Pro tower at home... and this sweet little thing for on the road.

Exactly right, perfect as a 2nd or 3rd computer. The Air wasn't aimed at the poor student or someone who can afford only one computer.

 

[macidiot]

you mention the battery and say that a "PRO" computer would need one...... what do you mean by that? You DO realize the market that NEEDS the replaceable battery the most is the people constantly on the move right? Every time you plug in a laptop that hasn't been completely drained and completely charged it loses some of it's maximum battery life right? If you're doing that much traveling, your battery will probably be at 50% maximum life within 18 months. If you're a traveler that likes to replace an overpriced laptop every 18 months then be my guest, but there's a lot of travelers and businesspeople out there that do not fit into this category.

Caveat Emptor

That's not really true about lithium batteries. They don't have memory and don't need full discharges. Your talking about nimh batteries.

 

[Perro]

Negativity

I don't understand the negativity of MacRumors. This things is going to sell big. The lack of an optical drive is genius - Apple setting the trend one again. Lack of ethernet, not altogether worrying; the speeds of 'n' are satisfactory for the vast majority of owners. Must admit that the 'non-replaceable' battery is a concern.

The point is not that everyone wants/desires this computer. It fills a niche. And I think the MBP/MB/MBA line-up is looking pretty sweet at the moment.

 

[jlwillia]

I'm not criticizing, but I feel if that is their intended market, they missed, by a lot. Having just graduated college, I would not pay $1800 for what I could essentially get for $1000. Maybe you CAN afford that while going to school, but I just could not justify it without substantial income. If that is the market they were trying to hit, they should have done a thin tablet or a smaller form factor computer. What real incentive would a college student have for buying this over a m1330 from Dell for substantially less? (from a cost to returns perspective)

I appreciate your thoughts but the incentive to buy this over a M1330 or Dell is obvious: OS X and thinness. As I stated in my previous post, the footprint is fine with me. The thinness of a laptop is important for those who want to carry it around in a backpack/briefcase/messenger bag. Having an optical drive is important - when I'm at home. I don't need to carry it around with me all the time though. To me an optical drive is analogous to a toothbrush - you must have one if you will be gone for more than about 10 hours, but you don't need it if you return home at the end of the day.

And just to reiterate my previous concerns: the inability to upgrade the RAM and battery is concerning. The speaker may be an issue if it's much quieter than the MB speakers. The price is also a concern compared to the MB, but less so when compared to similar products from other manufacturers.

If you can't tell, I'm not completely sold myself. I want to play around with one in a retail store. But my first impressions are positive. Honestly, I think my decision to buy will depend on my experience in the retail store.