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First Look at the MacBook Air
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Looking forward to see what Rev. B or Rev. C will bring. I'm not in a market for anything right now, but I could see myself replacing my 12" PB with this thing down the line.
As usual, I'll ignore the whiners and complainers. After all, as someone pointed out a couple days ago, everybody hated the iPod and Apple for releasing just another MP3 player.
As usual, I'll ignore the whiners and complainers. After all, as someone pointed out a couple days ago, everybody hated the iPod and Apple for releasing just another MP3 player.
A couple of things:
1) If Apple can get Intel to make custom sized chips, why can't they get a screen manufacturer to make a screen that fills out the lid a bit more. Also, does anyone know if these chips are exclusive to Apple, or are other companies using them/ going to?
2) Didn't Samsung release the 1.8" 160gb drive? If so, why not make that an option in these things? 80gb is just too small, and yes I know you can take an external, but why not the option for the larger drive?
1) If Apple can get Intel to make custom sized chips, why can't they get a screen manufacturer to make a screen that fills out the lid a bit more. Also, does anyone know if these chips are exclusive to Apple, or are other companies using them/ going to?
2) Didn't Samsung release the 1.8" 160gb drive? If so, why not make that an option in these things? 80gb is just too small, and yes I know you can take an external, but why not the option for the larger drive?
well i'm ordering one next week (gotta wait for letter from work to tell me how much bonus i'm getting - if it's enough then i'm getting the ssd) because it's exactly what i need
my black macbook at teh moment is sorely underused for it's abilities. i don't make any use of a 2nd usb slot (barely use the one anyway) never used ethernet, i do all my main work on my iMac, and the Air will be fine for playing warcraft on (and probably starcraft2 when it arrives) should i feel the need to game away from my desk
that, and it is the most damn sexiest thing in the whole wide world and i just cannot resist its sirens call
my black macbook at teh moment is sorely underused for it's abilities. i don't make any use of a 2nd usb slot (barely use the one anyway) never used ethernet, i do all my main work on my iMac, and the Air will be fine for playing warcraft on (and probably starcraft2 when it arrives) should i feel the need to game away from my desk
that, and it is the most damn sexiest thing in the whole wide world and i just cannot resist its sirens call
I don't have any problems with the fact that the battery doesn't come out, but I think apple should create some sort of external battery that can plug into the MagSafe port to allow users to go longer between charges.
Let me see if I have this correct:
- Nearly twice the price of the more capable MacBook
- Still has a footprint larger than the Sony they used for
comparison
- No Optical Drive
- No Ethernet Port
- All external accessories must compete for one USB port
- Can't take an extra battery with you
- Weighs the same 3 pounds as the Sony?
(That can't be right?)
- No dedicated graphics
- Non upgradeable memory
- 1.8" drive (SLOW!)
So who exactly is this for?
Definitely impressed with the multi-touch trackpad and the LED display will be good for battery life and the environment.
Redeeming qualities are that the availability of the SSD will help get that technology to market cheaper and quicker and the reduced size (heat?) processor will probably now show up in the Sony and other competitor's machines (largely covering any advantage Apple had).
I am really disappointed with this announcement. I have waited several YEARS for an adequate replacement to my 12" G4 Powerbook and I hoped that this would be it. Guess I will keep waiting.
Thanks Apple, I'll pass.
- Nearly twice the price of the more capable MacBook
- Still has a footprint larger than the Sony they used for
comparison
- No Optical Drive
- No Ethernet Port
- All external accessories must compete for one USB port
- Can't take an extra battery with you
- Weighs the same 3 pounds as the Sony?
(That can't be right?)
- No dedicated graphics
- Non upgradeable memory
- 1.8" drive (SLOW!)
So who exactly is this for?
Definitely impressed with the multi-touch trackpad and the LED display will be good for battery life and the environment.
Redeeming qualities are that the availability of the SSD will help get that technology to market cheaper and quicker and the reduced size (heat?) processor will probably now show up in the Sony and other competitor's machines (largely covering any advantage Apple had).
I am really disappointed with this announcement. I have waited several YEARS for an adequate replacement to my 12" G4 Powerbook and I hoped that this would be it. Guess I will keep waiting.
Thanks Apple, I'll pass.
For the complainers...
Apple has laptops with the features you are complaining about the Air not having. The Air is made for travel, and not for people to have as their only computer. This is made to be as LIGHT as possible by ditching marginally useful accesories. 3lbs vs 5lbs IS a big deal when you are hauling a laptop around the world on planes to give Powerpoint presentations. What is missing?
-Optical drive: A giant, unnecessary brick. With SD cards, thumb drives(you can get 4GB flash drives for $25) and high speed wireless, optical drives are going the way of the floppy. I almost never use the one on my MacBook. I have an IBM X40 for work and love how light it is and NEVER use the usb DVD drive I have for it.
-Firewire: Yeah Apple pushed it, but they're throwing in the towel. USB is VHS, Firewire is Betamax. Or for you kids out there; USB is Blu Ray, Firewire is HD-DVD.
-Ethernet: And there is no dial-up modem either. Or a SCSI port. Once again, why include something that for the most part is not used?(Yes, some of you use it all of the time, and all of you use it some of the time - but wireless is the defacto standard on laptops. I'll plug my Macbook in once in a while when it isn't playing nice with my Verizon router, but that is another issue).
-Soldered RAM: Not crazy about this, but once again probably a necessary sacrifice for weight/compactness.
-Non-Replacable Battery: OK, this does stink. It is possible that it is also a result of design elements needed for compactness, but Apple does not have a good track record here. Then again, batteries are getting good enough that you may never NEED to replace them. It would be nice if Apple just ripped you off on the battery price & not the installation too(wow do they charge way too much for this. I should start a business...), but nobody is perfect. Remind yourself that you COULD be using Windows, and they would let you swap your battery for free.
Apple has laptops with the features you are complaining about the Air not having. The Air is made for travel, and not for people to have as their only computer. This is made to be as LIGHT as possible by ditching marginally useful accesories. 3lbs vs 5lbs IS a big deal when you are hauling a laptop around the world on planes to give Powerpoint presentations. What is missing?
-Optical drive: A giant, unnecessary brick. With SD cards, thumb drives(you can get 4GB flash drives for $25) and high speed wireless, optical drives are going the way of the floppy. I almost never use the one on my MacBook. I have an IBM X40 for work and love how light it is and NEVER use the usb DVD drive I have for it.
-Firewire: Yeah Apple pushed it, but they're throwing in the towel. USB is VHS, Firewire is Betamax. Or for you kids out there; USB is Blu Ray, Firewire is HD-DVD.
-Ethernet: And there is no dial-up modem either. Or a SCSI port. Once again, why include something that for the most part is not used?(Yes, some of you use it all of the time, and all of you use it some of the time - but wireless is the defacto standard on laptops. I'll plug my Macbook in once in a while when it isn't playing nice with my Verizon router, but that is another issue).
-Soldered RAM: Not crazy about this, but once again probably a necessary sacrifice for weight/compactness.
-Non-Replacable Battery: OK, this does stink. It is possible that it is also a result of design elements needed for compactness, but Apple does not have a good track record here. Then again, batteries are getting good enough that you may never NEED to replace them. It would be nice if Apple just ripped you off on the battery price & not the installation too(wow do they charge way too much for this. I should start a business...), but nobody is perfect. Remind yourself that you COULD be using Windows, and they would let you swap your battery for free.
Intel has announced the Penryn chips that Apple will use in the macbook pros and the iMacs.
Other PC vendors will use the new Penryn chips and Apple will have to follow.
Consider this: With the macbook pros only being about $200 more than this 'air book' - an announcement of an update (macbook pro) would take away from potential sales.
Give it 2 weeks when this thing launches - they are taking pre-orders, and then you will get the updates quietly to the macbook pro.
Think about it:
Sleek 'airbook' and 2 lbs lighter. Very nice...but -
1) Worse video card than pro
2) not as expandable in memory as pro
3) not as large harddrive as pro
4) not as tight trim around monitor as pro (wast of space on the air... it could have been yet smaller in width)
5) no fire wire ports for me to hook up my firewire dvd player
5a) I dont have wifi, so apples connect method wont work
6) Not as fast as Pro
Sure, you take out everything that makes the laptop a laptop and price it for only $200 less than the pro machine, someone buys it and thinks its a deal...well it is - for apple.
Is that 2 lbs worth it if you compare how much you loose between that an a pro machine that is not that much more expensive? See where Im coming from?
Peace
dAlen
The price is the biggest deal buster. If it was $1200 or less and was more than just a fancy emailing machine I might get one. I can't believe I sold my macbook a few months ago to wait for this thing to come out.
1.Apple's site indicates that the RAM is soldered to the motherboard.
2. Built-in battery is not user accessible
Those 2 are really big negatives. They will have tons of problems with the batteries just like I had with every single one of my ipods and my macbook. It will stink not being able to replace it myself. This machine is not what I need or want.
Can this machine even run Vista prem with the low graphics capability?
1.Apple's site indicates that the RAM is soldered to the motherboard.
2. Built-in battery is not user accessible
Those 2 are really big negatives. They will have tons of problems with the batteries just like I had with every single one of my ipods and my macbook. It will stink not being able to replace it myself. This machine is not what I need or want.
Can this machine even run Vista prem with the low graphics capability?
Folks, this machine is targeted squarely at the Executive Suite, it's a 'Halo creation device'.
The size, style, and feature set is geared towards people with titles like 'Director', 'Chief', and 'Vice'. It's not a production machine, it's not a student machine, and it's not an 'only' machine.
It is my belief (as a longtime tech marketing schmuck) that the primary purpose of this machine is to create as much visibility as humanly possible for Apple in the leadership of companies and organizations as a style-driven, ultra-attractive, mid-priced option, with a bonus 'bragging rights' upgrade to a truly costly version with the latest tech (SSD).
But execs don't need the power, don't need the externals, and have minions to handle little things like booking hotels with wireless, packing dongles in the bag, and doing updates. (OK, not at my company... I'm both the boss and the tech minion. Poor planning on my part, really!).
And as someone with a 'Chief' in his title (of a $10m company - small potatoes!), I'll have one. Yes, I will have one. Soooooooon.
The size, style, and feature set is geared towards people with titles like 'Director', 'Chief', and 'Vice'. It's not a production machine, it's not a student machine, and it's not an 'only' machine.
It is my belief (as a longtime tech marketing schmuck) that the primary purpose of this machine is to create as much visibility as humanly possible for Apple in the leadership of companies and organizations as a style-driven, ultra-attractive, mid-priced option, with a bonus 'bragging rights' upgrade to a truly costly version with the latest tech (SSD).
But execs don't need the power, don't need the externals, and have minions to handle little things like booking hotels with wireless, packing dongles in the bag, and doing updates. (OK, not at my company... I'm both the boss and the tech minion. Poor planning on my part, really!).
And as someone with a 'Chief' in his title (of a $10m company - small potatoes!), I'll have one. Yes, I will have one. Soooooooon.
Rip off Britain
I think the Air will be perfect for those of us who want a lightweight laptop for work, travel, etc.
The only thing that's really pi33ing me off is the price difference:US price $1799 = £900, but in the UK its £ 1200!!!
Why does everyone and his wife rip us off in the UK??
Does anyone have any idea how much it would cost to import said item including freight, tax, etc?
I think the Air will be perfect for those of us who want a lightweight laptop for work, travel, etc.
The only thing that's really pi33ing me off is the price difference:US price $1799 = £900, but in the UK its £ 1200!!!
Why does everyone and his wife rip us off in the UK??
Does anyone have any idea how much it would cost to import said item including freight, tax, etc?
What percentage of people (college kids, etc.)
- Buy an extra battery?
- Replace their internal hard disk, RAM, etc?
- Even know what an ethernet cable looks like?
I don't think these things even register to most people. Sure some of you might "need" these things, but most don't. That's why Apple offers different models to suit different needs.
Just sayin'
- Buy an extra battery?
- Replace their internal hard disk, RAM, etc?
- Even know what an ethernet cable looks like?
I don't think these things even register to most people. Sure some of you might "need" these things, but most don't. That's why Apple offers different models to suit different needs.
Just sayin'
Well, I was expecting a thin'ish laptop/ultraportable, with pared down processor specs, no silly frills like keyboard backlighting or *anything* else that suck power unnecessarily. Why? To be able to have a full working day without having to be tethered to an outlet.
Note the bit about the 'pared down' processor specs.....?
It's pretty, but I'll pass.
It is real purty tho'
No replaceable battery!? WTF? The fan boys will be rushing to justify this with all sorts of excuses. Also the glossy screen makes a big no thanks for me. Download the tour and you can see screen reflections everywhere. What is with Apple trying to make uses have glossy screens. They SUK.
That had to be the most boring, lame Keynote in a very long time. I must be getting old and jaded but thinner notebooks, and movie rentals? What innovation. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
That had to be the most boring, lame Keynote in a very long time. I must be getting old and jaded but thinner notebooks, and movie rentals? What innovation. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I am watching the video
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/#ad
Do you know the song title? I have enjoyed very much
ainsssss As relaxing ....
jejeje
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/#ad
Do you know the song title? I have enjoyed very much
ainsssss As relaxing ....
jejeje
Love it, very impressive!
But other than the ultra-portability and the wow-factor when pulling it out in front of colleagues/friends/classmates etc I'm not sure it's worth it. At that price point I'd be tempted to pay much less for a more powerful machine (MacBook) or a little more for some real power (MacBook Pro)
Time will tell how successful it is
But other than the ultra-portability and the wow-factor when pulling it out in front of colleagues/friends/classmates etc I'm not sure it's worth it. At that price point I'd be tempted to pay much less for a more powerful machine (MacBook) or a little more for some real power (MacBook Pro)
Time will tell how successful it is
Things I could have lived with:
Glossy display
no optical drive
weight
thinness
price
processor
Things making my decision to wait for MB/MBP updates:
non-replaceable battery
large footprint
ram upgradability
I think apple has targeted a market here and it's not the everyday laptop user - definitely a niche driven product. Seeing my ipods batteries die over the years I think it inconceivable apple is trying that model with a laptop. My word, I've replaced every laptop battery I've ever had at 1.5-2.5 years. And what about the cross country flights when I pack a spare? Really sad that it's not my cup of tea....
Glossy display
no optical drive
weight
thinness
price
processor
Things making my decision to wait for MB/MBP updates:
non-replaceable battery
large footprint
ram upgradability
I think apple has targeted a market here and it's not the everyday laptop user - definitely a niche driven product. Seeing my ipods batteries die over the years I think it inconceivable apple is trying that model with a laptop. My word, I've replaced every laptop battery I've ever had at 1.5-2.5 years. And what about the cross country flights when I pack a spare? Really sad that it's not my cup of tea....
MBA looks great and I like the concept. I use my iBook for just mail and the web while watching TV and use my desktop mac for anything that requires a bit of power so this would do that a similar job. The only thing is that is a lot of money for a 'cut down' bit of kit. If it was $500 I'd go for one.
Probably about £300 once you've paid tax and import duty.
Blame our arse-raping government, not the American companies