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Is MBA your dream laptop?
- Thread starter silverblack
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My dream laptop doesn't exist.
The best ultraportable I've had is the Sony TZ. The best 13" ultraportable I've had is the X300. The best 13" lightweight I've had is the Sony SZ. The only 13" supported OS X platform that I can practically carry all day I've had is the Air.
The best ultraportable I've had is the Sony TZ. The best 13" ultraportable I've had is the X300. The best 13" lightweight I've had is the Sony SZ. The only 13" supported OS X platform that I can practically carry all day I've had is the Air.
I agree. I too read the MR bashing posts and thought it might not be for me. I wanted light. I already have an iMac that does the bulk of my computing, this was my portable machine. I got a great price on it, so I went for it. No regrets whatsoever.
I waited to purchase the Superdrive and I'm glad I did, since I haven't had any real need for it yet. I don't miss the ports (or lack thereof) and I haven't had a real need for wired ethernet yet.
I never really had the concept of a "Dream Laptop", but the MBA is much better than most of the bashers had made it out to be. Just look at this post, folks who don't own it came in to bash it.
Alright, we obviously use our computers very differently (which is good) and I do agree that is totally ahead of its time. I just think a lot of people still have needs for CDs. A lot of people go buy their software and music in stores and it comes on discs, how does that work with the remote drive thingy? I understand the Air is a portable and meant to be as thin and light as possible but I stick with my big ol' clunker MBP...
(I don't think the Air will be the only computer without a CD drive, it is ahead of its time, the question is how far is it ahead?
I wouldn't say its ahead. It either fits your needs or it doesn't. This is targeted as a portable second machine and it fits that role very well. If you want to rip and install 20 packages, spend the $99 and get the superdrive. The only thing I've had to use a CD drive for so far was Microsoft Office. Just about everything else I was able to download.
Don't believe everything you read. My machine is perfect and has never suffered from any of the reported symptoms. I'm a little suspect of someone that has come across 4 or 5 bad machines. Not to say that it hasn't happened, only that it's pretty unusual. Some folks never even tried to remedy the situation and installed software to reduce voltage to the chip. I don't believe that's a solution and should be taken back to Apple if it was that reproduceable.
There's a lot of bashers, but if you look at the MBA owners poll (a month ago?), you'll see very different numbers of happy owners. That's were the proof is, not someone who isn't buying it because they don't like the configuration or the price.
I've owned a lot of laptops and they all got hot when I stressed them. I've not experienced any of the core shutdowns.
So, if I take that complaint out of the picture, I'm not sure what else there is to complain about. Everything else (lack of ports, no DVD, non-user replaceable battery, smallish hard drive) are all things you know about well in advance of any purchase.
You can either live with these limitations or you can't.
I can and I'm very happy with it so far.
Pluses that have me wowed are:
LED backlit incredible screen
backlit keyboard
size and form factor
keyboard tactile feel
aluminum case
snappy performance
2 gb ram standard
It either meets your needs or it doesn't. The good news is that if it doesn't, Apple offers various Macbooks and Macbook Pros that ought to fit.
Rule of business: unhappy customers squawk much more tha happy customers. For every unhappy guy blogging it up, there's a couple of hundred that never pipe up.
So, if I take that complaint out of the picture, I'm not sure what else there is to complain about. Everything else (lack of ports, no DVD, non-user replaceable battery, smallish hard drive) are all things you know about well in advance of any purchase.
You can either live with these limitations or you can't.
I can and I'm very happy with it so far.
Pluses that have me wowed are:
LED backlit incredible screen
backlit keyboard
size and form factor
keyboard tactile feel
aluminum case
snappy performance
2 gb ram standard
It either meets your needs or it doesn't. The good news is that if it doesn't, Apple offers various Macbooks and Macbook Pros that ought to fit.
Rule of business: unhappy customers squawk much more tha happy customers. For every unhappy guy blogging it up, there's a couple of hundred that never pipe up.
I agree with GCMexico (if GCMexico=DS-W, this is JSK). It is perfect.
Not that I do not have a couple of complaints, but they are all about OS/Driver implementation on the Air, not the hardware itself.
For the comments on linking to drives on other Macs, all I did was turn on drive sharing in the standard OSX control panel on my Mini and the drive showed up in Finder on my MBA.
Not that I do not have a couple of complaints, but they are all about OS/Driver implementation on the Air, not the hardware itself.
For the comments on linking to drives on other Macs, all I did was turn on drive sharing in the standard OSX control panel on my Mini and the drive showed up in Finder on my MBA.
I would like a MacBook Air, but I'm not sure it's the Computer for me. The USB Ports, Storage and lack of overall performance would limit me. However I have tried it before and it was really light and nice to use.
Mine is fantastic!
It runs a great deal faster than my iBook g4. I'm so excited to finally have a built-in iSight, illuminated keyboard, and a system that is portable enough to bring everywhere I go on campus. The heat issue and fans are completely manageable, and I'm yet to experience a core shutdown. An extra USB port would have been nice, but I don't miss the superdrive.
Love it. I'm so happy I chose Air over the nicely-priced MacBook.
It runs a great deal faster than my iBook g4. I'm so excited to finally have a built-in iSight, illuminated keyboard, and a system that is portable enough to bring everywhere I go on campus. The heat issue and fans are completely manageable, and I'm yet to experience a core shutdown. An extra USB port would have been nice, but I don't miss the superdrive.
Love it. I'm so happy I chose Air over the nicely-priced MacBook.
I forgot to comment about the price point of MBA.
I think Apple has done a perfect job in setting the price point, right in between the black Macbook and 15" MBP. It's not meant to be a student or value computer, so being more expensive than the MB makes perfect sense. Setting the price of MBA any lower would hurt the sales of Macbooks.
Likewise, MBA is not meant for power users. MBP should remain as the most expensive line of laptop, being the most powerful and luxury in performance.
I'm also glad that Apple offers the regular HDD and SSD options, and the fact that they now lowered the premium of getting the SSD. I opted for the traditional HDD, but will be upgrading it myself to SSD when the price comes down further. Related to this, I am very happy to see that the design of MBA allow easy access to the interior hardware.
I think Apple has done a perfect job in setting the price point, right in between the black Macbook and 15" MBP. It's not meant to be a student or value computer, so being more expensive than the MB makes perfect sense. Setting the price of MBA any lower would hurt the sales of Macbooks.
Likewise, MBA is not meant for power users. MBP should remain as the most expensive line of laptop, being the most powerful and luxury in performance.
I'm also glad that Apple offers the regular HDD and SSD options, and the fact that they now lowered the premium of getting the SSD. I opted for the traditional HDD, but will be upgrading it myself to SSD when the price comes down further. Related to this, I am very happy to see that the design of MBA allow easy access to the interior hardware.
He means the 12" PowerBook G4
Slightly smaller and lighter than the 12" iBook of the time, it was a full featured 12" PowerBook; DVD burner, great keyboard (compared to the iBook), matte screen, discrete graphics etc. I still use mine daily. If only Apple made a 12" Macbook Pro, sigh.
It's going to take them a very long time to fit some of these "dream" components into the macbook air's form factor. Especially a decent GPU. The overheat issue reports are bad enough, why add more heat? And CD drives add to boot time, weight, and overall performance as well as a little bit more heat. It doesn't make sense. Just burn all of your optical disc images into an external hard disk.
Originally Posted by Gregintosh
The CD-ROM being taken out is totally ahead of its time, but for someone like me who hardly uses CDs at all as is its totally not even noticeable, much less a deal breaker.
agree, if it's such a dealbreaker, you can still buy the additional one for $99, IMHO, many never use theirs, much less daily
The CD-ROM being taken out is totally ahead of its time, but for someone like me who hardly uses CDs at all as is its totally not even noticeable, much less a deal breaker.
agree, if it's such a dealbreaker, you can still buy the additional one for $99, IMHO, many never use theirs, much less daily
Another pricedrop,and at least a 128 SSD, gets me in the picture
and I always forget about these
LED backlit incredible screen
backlit keyboard
and I always forget about these
LED backlit incredible screen
backlit keyboard
Dear,
The MBA was and is still my dream laptop, and it does everything I need very good and very fast. There is only one issue that turns my dream into a nightmare and that is that hell of a core shutdown every time.
It is unbelievable that it is not possible to have a skype conversation on a computer of nearly $3000. All my PC friends who I always coursed before
With kind regards,
Bas
Why aren't you heading to an Apple store with this issue???
Why aren't you heading to an Apple store with this issue???
Dear Cheffy,
I did and Apple is always very willing to help me. Tomorrow I get my 3rd MBA replacement.
The core shut down is a general problem that affect all MBA's. Not everyone will notice it though with average use. The good news is, that Apple is working in an solution and will be available soon.
With kind regards,
Bas
...what I needed was a simple ultra portable laptop that could get me on the net and let me watch movies...
...= MSI wind with a faster processor (when over clocked), same size HDD and enough left $$ over to get one for all your friends (ducks and runs for cover)...
The missing superdrive, to me, is one of the most desirable features. I don't know about you, but to me, that "di-di" sound the superdrive makes everytime you turn on or wake up a MB/MBP drives me nuts!! I have seriously considered opening up the darn thing to disconnect the drive.
I was so happy to know that the MBA does not have a superdrive. Aside from the quiet start up, it also lightens the weight and keeps it thin. I sincerely hope that Apple never brings the optical drive back in future generations of MBA.
I have a couple old USB DVD drives around to get the job done, never missed the integrated drive for even one moment.
I was so happy to know that the MBA does not have a superdrive. Aside from the quiet start up, it also lightens the weight and keeps it thin. I sincerely hope that Apple never brings the optical drive back in future generations of MBA.
I have a couple old USB DVD drives around to get the job done, never missed the integrated drive for even one moment.
Gee you make me feel special as I have both.
The 24" iMac is my big fat wife at home and the MBA is my sexy mistress.