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I have to be honest, I am a mac fan, but the MBA seems to be apple indulging in a bit of a pissing contest with sony (viao being the 2nd prettiest laptops around). Shame, cos I love sony and apple......

Next Viao 1 nanometre thick??

Still, would buy one if I was loaded.

Apple is just doing what they do best and the technology has finally caught up to them to get back into the ultra-light notebook market.

Sony isn't at all worried, they are in the Windows space, and Windows is still the best selling platform.
 
it's for kids at the age of 6 - 12. they should just change the price to $100. it's like Microsoft's $100 laptop. why not?

I have to say this, as a long time Mac users; (I have 10 Mac products at home/office). This is a really "lame" update.

Not for you= for kids aged 6-12.
I can't imagine working on less thant a 13" screen, but I know some people do, so I don't call these computers a toy.
sad to see that you just cannot imagine someone has different needs from you.
 
Advantages of Solid State

I realize the solid state drive is expensive because they are still new, but what are the advantages in speed/battery life over the standard hard drive?

I don't mind the non-replacable battery if it gets 5 hours. It is a travel machine, not a desktop replacement.
 
Anyone care to explain why the solidstate hd carries such a premium? And for a lesser capacity?

A combination....

a) Memory is a *lot* more expensive per GB than a traditional hard drive. SSD's are still relatively new tech.
b) Apple's infamous customisation tax that they apply to memory, storage, graphics etc.
 
One thing to remember here is that Lenovo uses the hidden partition for system restores. You never need any physical media to reinstall or repair your OS.
Yes you do, if your HD crashes, or the Partitions get messed up.

In an ideal situation, yes, the hidden partition will take care of many problems. However, there are still some that will hose the system completely.

Also, you cannot upgrade the HD without restore disks.
 
Why are ppl complaining about a PATA drive?

Would you buy it if it was SATA-II?

PATA makes sense because it is a 4200RPM drive. PATA/SATA-II at 4200RPM will give you the same performance results. Its not the interface that's the problem, its the RPM of the drive.
 
If you're here quibbling about specs, ports, hard drive rotation speeds, ExpressCard slots, soldered RAM and glossy screens, then guess what: You're not the target audience for the MacBook Air. You're a Geek, just like every single forum member on MR, who represent the overwhelming minority of Mac users in the world.

100% agree. I am surprised by the rabid responses against this product by people who by now should know better how Apple targets products to the consumer.

you don't even have to go back to the initial Ipod reception by the geeks. Just remember a few months ago with the iPhone. the geeks complained:
"OMG no keyboard!!"
"OMG no GPS!"
"OMG No expandable memory slot"
"OMG evil lockin with AT&T"
"OMG no laptop thetering"
"OMG no exchange support"
"OMG WTF NO 3G!!!!!!!!!!!!! buahh"

All these and more were thrown as reasons why the iphone would be a total failure...... yet Apple went to selll 4 million of those....;);)

Apple knows that all these whining geeks will always get the fully featured macbook pro line. The macbook air is not intended or designed to appeal to alpha geeks. This machine is designed to complement a desktop machine for a significant number of people who already have a mac desktop and would want a light notebook running OS X for web/email/photo sharing/light word/excel work.

I plan on ordering mine soon. I cant remember the last time i used ethernet in my laptop, I only use the cd drive of my laptop to to install a major application like Office since almost all other software is downloadable. I have never used the pmcia slot, and out of the 2 usb slots available, i never had the need to use the two of them simultaneously. I think this machine pretty much fits my usage pattern. :D:D
 
Battery life

I was wondering about the 5 hour battery life Apple is saying this has. Is that using the PATA or the SSD drive? And what are the differences between the two.

And what were they thinking... no replaceable battery come on, bad move.
 
MBA will most likely fail in the Japanese market...

To me, the price or power of the MBA is not much of a concern. Through time, it will naturally come down in price and increase in power. Of course, if patience is your virtue.

The main disappointment is the 13.3 inch screen. If Apple is listening, there is a massive market and need for a smaller notebook with a 11" to 12" screen. I live in Japan and if Apple seriously wants to dominate the notebook market over here they must create something with a smaller screen.

For example, just today I was traveling around Tokyo and stopped by some coffee shops (e.g. Star Bucks). Not once did I see anyone with a 13" laptop. Everyone with a laptop was using a 11" to 12" sub-notebook -- I spotted at least four or five in one afternoon.

Personally, I have been waiting years to replace my 12" Powerbook G4. This is such a popular model that it is perplexing that Apple has not used the best of this model as a template for the new Macbook Air.

Also, only glossy screen!? Every time I see a glossy screen I can only see the reflections of people and lights behind me. I honestly don’t understand why they are so popular. At least give us the option to choose a matt screen like with the pro models.

Oh well, I suppose I will have to squeeze more life out of my G4. I think I will pass too...

Saying that, my wife is on the lookout for a new laptop and I am in the process of trying to convert her. I think I have swayed her because of bootcamp. Also, she saw the Macbook Air advert and was pretty impressed with how it looks. She wants to test one out as soon as possible. Great! Maybe my opinions will be swayed by using hers’ each day.
 
...

Coupling a 4200rpm drive with a Core2Duo processor? Putting the cart before the horse: I just can't believe it's worthwhile having an 800mhz frontside bus, 2gb ram, and either a 1.6 (...6?) or 1.8 (...3?) ghz Core2Duo being served by a 4200rpm drive. Doesn't make sense. If you want the best performance out of the processor you've got to bite the bullet and pay the premium for SSD. I just can't help thinking that if the commitment was to a 1.8" drive @ 4200rpm that there wasn't a more sensible processor pairing on offer that might have allowed them to price the device more competitively and at the same time better distinguish that this is not a Pro-level machine. Which it isn't.

My tuppence worth, Derwood

But then Apple has to cater to people who can't yet afford the SSD drive
(we are talking $3000+ here). I think that's why the 1.8 inch HD is the base option.

I don't think the 1.8 inch 7200rpm drive exists yet right?

Do you think that the 5 hours battery life posted on Apple's website is based on the SSD equipped model? If not then I assume the battery life should be longer with SSD?

My main disappointments are the soldered ram and non-removable battery. Nah, I will stick with my MBP...
 
I really like that thing. If I am on the road, it does what it can do best. Having a regular screen with regular keyboard and being light.
The only downside I could see for me would be the missing ethernet port. But with 802.11n I can see myself not needing it as much as in the "old" a/b/g days..
 
to tell you the truth i dont think it is going to sell. Many college students these day and many average people, which the world is made up of is not going to spend 3 grand on a notebook that is 10 years old of tech. ...
Ridiculous.

1) It is not "3 grand" it's 1700 bucks with an option to add a different, very expensive hard drive if you are stupid enough or rich enough to want to do so.

2) It's not "10 year old technology," (sic) it's two primary features are the fast wireless and the multi-touch. Both of those are the very latest technology. You would be hard pressed to find a different manufacturer of laptops that is even using them.
:rolleyes:
 
The level of stupidity here is amazing...

The MBA will be a HIT, yes, I attended the Keynote, and I had my 5 minutes with the MBA at the Sales meeting later in the evening yesterday, the thing is simply perfect for those of us who travel a lot and need a computer with decent features for working.
Its very light and the LCD is gorgeous, quite speedy BTW..!

You need more features? buy a MB or a MBP, as it is the MBA is just about perfect, and Apple will sell a ton of them, despite the complaining by the clueless that spell doom for Apple everytime they take out a new product...
 
It's a bitch the change the battery and the hard drive and you can't upgrade the memory. Sweet form-factor, but it's basically an $1800 iPod Nano. No thanks.
 
...You might as well have bought a refurbed MBP because it would give you far more bang for the buck then your MB...

You're right. I should sell my Boxster and get that big truck I've seen at my neighbor's. He can sure haul more s**t. Or my brother should sell his Prius and get that Hummer I tease him about. Or maybe I should get that Ferrari that's got a quicker 0-60 that my car. Oh, wait: I bought the Boxster because it's the perfect combination of features for MY needs. Come to think of it, that's why my bro bought the Prius. I'll bet even my bud with the truck, and the guy with the Hummer, did the same. How might i apply that principle to computers? Hmmmmm.......
 
As far as the non-replacable battery, I can see a third party market open up similiar to that of iPod. What's wrong with carrying an external battery pack that gives you an additional 20+ hours of battery life? They exist for iPod, they'll exisit for MBA too, you'll see.
 
You're right. I should sell my Boxster and get that big truck I've seen at my neighbor's. He can sure haul more s**t. Or my brother should sell his Prius and get that Hummer I tease him about. Or maybe I should get that Ferrari that's got a quicker 0-60 that my car. Oh, wait: I bought the Boxster because it's the perfect combination of features for MY needs. Come to think of it, that's why my bro bought the Prius. I'll bet even my bud with the truck, and the guy with the Hummer, did the same. How might i apply that principle to computers? Hmmmmm.......

Hahahahaha, thats funny :D
 
I'm actually very interested in the air but uncertain how to manage such low storage space.

Is there an easy way to sync all my email from mail (not just the .mac)

Also is there a way to keep certain songs on the air like an ipod but keep the main library on the Mac Pro?

Same questions for the iphoto album...
 
What's most amazing is that Apple's 64GB SSD costs $500 less than what NewEgg sells their one for. Believe it or not its cheaper to buy the SSD through Apple. LOL

That is interesting. I just checked Scan's site and indeed you're looking at £568 (~$900-1000) for a 64GB SSD. I stand corrected on 'point b' and it's very Un-Apple :) They must've had a massive bulk discount.
 
You're right. I should sell my Boxster and get that big truck I've seen at my neighbor's. He can sure haul more s**t. Or my brother should sell his Prius and get that Hummer I tease him about. Or maybe I should get that Ferrari that's got a quicker 0-60 that my car. Oh, wait: I bought the Boxster because it's the perfect combination of features for MY needs. Come to think of it, that's why my bro bought the Prius. I'll bet even my bud with the truck, and the guy with the Hummer, did the same. How might i apply that principle to computers? Hmmmmm.......

Thank you for making my point for me.

You could have easily have bough a cheaper car (MacBook) for less money that was faster and had more cup holders (ports), but your Boxster (AirBook) fits your needs and you don't need all those extra cupholders, and what your car does offer to you meets your needs perfectly. Simple reasoning really, but its amazing how its lost on people.
 
Reducing the footprint would make the screen smaller. From the presentation, it seems that they specifically wanted to avoid making a small screen.

Why? Look at that bezel around the screen - they could lose an inch there easily.
 
I'm actually very interested in the air but uncertain how to manage such low storage space.

Is there an easy way to sync all my email from mail (not just the .mac)

Also is there a way to keep certain songs on the air like an ipod but keep the main library on the Mac Pro?

Same questions for the iphoto album...

Honestly, it's fine. I have 80GB on my MB with all my music (circa 11GB), all my apps, photos, dowcuments etc etc and I have about 30GB left. Im sure your amount of stuff is different but I know that if I was using the MBA as just an on the road laptop, I could still stuff it with my files and be fine
 
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