How is the MBA air underpowered???

[Ryan T.]

The people who had first hand experience using them at MacWorld said they didn't seem slow. Apple said the demo units were using the 80GB hard drives.

But I was concerned enough about it to order the SSD.

I realize, but I wouldn't consider that empirical evidence. There is no question they're going to be much slower than the 2.5" 5400RPM and 7200RPM drives, but the real question will be if it's distractingly slow as it was on the X40/X41 from IBM.

 

[Hansii]

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I was wondering how well the MBA work with heavy web use? At any time I have about 40 tabs open in Opera and Firefox, some of them auto refresh so they are not just static pages. I read in the Ars Technica review that heavy Firefox use made the MBA slow down, they tested the 1.6, I have ordered the 1.8 HDD, plus Opera works better with many tabs open.

 

[stainlessliquid]

Your first was mistake was to assume that people are saying its under powered "compared to other ultra portables". They arent saying that. They are saying its underpowered period. Most people think all ultra portables are underpowered stupid little computers for how much you pay, dont think that the MBA is being singled out as being underpowered (maybe underfeatured though).

In its price range you can get a MBP. Compared to other computers in its price range it is underpowered.

I think a 1.8ghz C2D is a great processor for a laptop that has great speed. But not for a $2000+ laptop.

 

[illian]

In its price range you can get a MBP. Compared to other computers in its price range it is underpowered.

I think a 1.8ghz C2D is a great processor for a laptop that has great speed. But not for a $2000+ laptop.

so which cpu would you prefer in a small notebook?!

 

[mashoutposse]

The MacBook Air isn’t an ultra-portable.

It's volume is the same or less than the majority of "ultraportables."

Footprint ceases to matter once it can't fit in a pocket. And if its footprint is the same as or less than that of the typical papers and folders that most of us carry with our laptops, it REALLY doesn't matter.

The ThinkPad X61s is 12", 3lbs, slightly thicker but smaller in the other dimensions than the MBA, and has the same CPU options.

Definitely not "slightly thicker" -- it is double the thickness on average. That means double the volume, which means double the space to cram stuff in. And also double the space occupied in your bag.

 

[cohibadad]

MBA isn't underpowered. It's no powerhouse workstation but it is plenty for what I use it for. I don't know what the definition of an ultraportable is but I do know that picking up a MBP 15 feels like lifting a brick to me now.

 

[kabunaru]

Welcome
I was reading many comments form many smart users from macrumors and a lot of them say, that the MBA is underpowered!! Now, I would just go on and read the next topic but they say it in every possible one and its not like one user but a bunch. So I think, did I miss something from the keynote or there really are other ultra-portable laptops with Quad-Xeon processors. So I did some research, and I could not find any ultra-portable laptop in screen range from 11-14' that weight <3lbs with anything close to C2D 1.6 not ULV!! So if anyone can please explain me this phenomenon of MBA being underpowered.
Thx in advance
Marek

It would still be a fine computer and will serve people well.

 

[aiongiant]

this thread can go on forever lol
everyone has thier own definition of what ultra portable is and what underpowered is etc etc

for it's weight class i believe it's plenty powerful...
and how thin it is and it's light weight matters more than footprint

it's like holding a brick vs a piece of paper
yes the paper has a bigger footprint but also alot lighter and thiner than the brick.. which would you rather carry around? =)

 

[shafj]

it's like holding a brick vs a piece of paper
yes the paper has a bigger footprint but also alot lighter and thiner than the brick.. which would you rather carry around? =)

Perfect analogy!

Weight and thickness generally matter more than footprint when it comes to portability (as long as the footprint is of reasonable size of course).

The MBA is about the same footprint as a sheet of paper. Therefore the MBA will fit in most briefcases no matter how thin the briefcase is.

Unless you plan to bring around your ultraportable in a purse than the MBA will fit most briefcases and bags.

I have a Sony Vaio TR series laptop. This thing has a tiny footprint but it's also realtively thick. I normally use a normal briefcase and when its loaded with papers and folders, I have trouble fitting in the Vaio because of its thickness.

 

[pothen]

if your really interested in comparing it to the MBP via the ratio of what if can do to $$$$, then it might be, but it still has it's advantages.

i love it

 

[kockgunner]

its not underpowered. Half the 'midrange' laptops at best buy have 1.67 ghz amd turions and they don't even have 2gb of ram. My cousin recently got a supposed 'gaming' laptop with a 1.67 ghz processor.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Welcome
I was reading many comments form many smart users from macrumors and a lot of them say, that the MBA is underpowered!! Now, I would just go on and read the next topic but they say it in every possible one and its not like one user but a bunch. So I think, did I miss something from the keynote or there really are other ultra-portable laptops with Quad-Xeon processors. So I did some research, and I could not find any ultra-portable laptop in screen range from 11-14' that weight <3lbs with anything close to C2D 1.6 not ULV!! So if anyone can please explain me this phenomenon of MBA being underpowered.
Thx in advance
Marek

No, it's not underpowered. Does that answer your question?

Your gonna have to be way more specific here.

 

[jameskohn]

I have an MBA (1.8 SSD) and i love it. Fact remains: MBA is Apples least powerful laptop. It's a reasonable trade off for the thinner, lighter form factor, but it is still the least powerful laptop Apple makes right now.

 

[mashinhead]

i don't consider it underpowered in terms of processor speed, especially if you're considering the 1.8 processor. But I do consider it underpowered because it can't hold 4 gb of ram. If it had that, which has nothing to do with physical space, i wouldn't consider it underpowered.

 

[Catch]

I don't understand this fascination with power? Its a 1.6-1.8 C2D processor. It is faster than me or my applications. Benchmarks mean nothing in the real world unless you are trying to shave time off of compressing video or are visualizing in 3D applications etc. If you are doing any of these kinds of applications professionally, ANY laptop will be an anchor. Buy a workstation. No self respecting video pro sits rendering a feature film on the train. If you are a gamer don't buy the MBA. If you are a run of the mill user the MBA is powerful enough to crunch spreadsheets, presentations and spellcheck your novel.

Anyone that buys a laptop based on benchmarks needs to come back down to earth. It was some time since we had machines that were slower than what we can type and think.

I used to upgrade my workstation every year until my G5. I kept it for 4 years as it was an incredible machine. I only upgraded because I like the technology in the new MacPros and always wanted to be able to boot into XP for accounting functions. The power is wasted on me.

Anyone that reads the MBA forums thinking about getting one does not need a more powerful machine. If they did they would know not to waste their time whining on here...

C

 

[MRU]

I don't understand this fascination with power? Its a 1.6-1.8 C2D processor. It is faster than me or my applications. Benchmarks mean nothing in the real world unless you are trying to shave time off of compressing video or are visualizing in 3D applications etc. If you are doing any of these kinds of applications professionally, ANY laptop will be an anchor. Buy a workstation. No self respecting video pro sits rendering a feature film on the train. If you are a gamer don't buy the MBA. If you are a run of the mill user the MBA is powerful enough to crunch spreadsheets, presentations and spellcheck your novel.

Agree with you completely. Apple already provide two other laptops with varying degrees of customisation. If the MBA doesn't suit your needs, then simply look elsewhere.

The MBA is one laptop solution for some. It was never designed to suit ALL. If it was then Apple would have 1 laptop solution in 1 configuration, but it doesn't.

 

[ddd269]

Agree with you completely. Apple already provide two other laptops with varying degrees of customisation. If the MBA doesn't suit your needs, then simply look elsewhere.

The MBA is one laptop solution for some. It was never designed to suit ALL. If it was then Apple would have 1 laptop solution in 1 configuration, but it doesn't.

or better yet... buy them all!

 

[cedar]

Welcome
I was reading many comments form many smart users from macrumors and a lot of them say, that the MBA is underpowered!! Now, I would just go on and read the next topic but they say it in every possible one and its not like one user but a bunch. So I think, did I miss something from the keynote or there really are other ultra-portable laptops with Quad-Xeon processors. So I did some research, and I could not find any ultra-portable laptop in screen range from 11-14' that weight <3lbs with anything close to C2D 1.6 not ULV!! So if anyone can please explain me this phenomenon of MBA being underpowered.
Thx in advance
Marek

When in doubt, get the MBP or one of the MB's. The MBA is for the sophisticated buyer who knows very well what he wants and how it fits his needs, and is willing to spring for the extra dollars to get it. The MBA is not for the insecure or someone lacking in confidence.

 

[zapp]

.....it's like holding a brick vs a piece of paper
yes the paper has a bigger footprint but also alot lighter and thiner than the brick.. which would you rather carry around? =)

Well a brick might come in handy sometimes, like when you are getting mugged, you could through it at the mugger. Unless there are more than one mugger, then you need more bricks, probably why Dell still stays in business.

 

[tstarks33]

Agree with you completely. Apple already provide two other laptops with varying degrees of customisation. If the MBA doesn't suit your needs, then simply look elsewhere.

The MBA is one laptop solution for some. It was never designed to suit ALL. If it was then Apple would have 1 laptop solution in 1 configuration, but it doesn't.

I am getting so tired of hearing this. "It's a soln for some, but not all, may not be for you, etc etc." Yes, we all know this. We do! That doesn't mean a damn thing. We can still discuss the machine, and for some, it is underpowered for whatever reason. In your world, no one should ever complain about anything, because if you have a complaint, then it wasn't made for you. It was made just for the people who find no fault at all with the machine. That's just idiotic. You can't keep narrowing down the applicable market until 100% of that market is 100% satisfied.

That said, I have no problem with the power of the MBA, with the exception of the slow std hard drive.

 

[katejones]

Depends if your comparing it by weight, size or cost.

For the same price you can buy a more powerfull machine. For the same size you can get a more powerfull machine.

It excels in it's low weight while retaining a 13 inch size.

People just need to be aware if there expecting the MBA to be lighter,faster and cost less than a macbook there going to be dissapointed and that is why people consider it underpowered.

 

[Beric]

If the MBA were a 12 or 11-inch, and the same thickness and other specs as it is now, I would be happy. For the things I do, I don't need a high-end system. However, I use an optical drive on my MB, so the MBA wouldn't work for me.

Thinness is good, but Apple should have an option for a smaller footprint as well. And the optical drive is still critical for just too many users. But the system specs are incredible for a laptop of that size, and the average user doesn't need more.