Did you guys notice the new benchmarks for the Rev B? CRAZY fast. Some are better then the MBP! Yeah its totally worth it IMO.
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Is there a point in the Air now?
- Thread starter puffnstuff
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If a few MHz of processor speed and RPM of hard disk speed didn't matter much, then the Air has LESS weight and a BETTER screen for the SAME screen size and keyboard. And who wouldn't want that?
My point is that many people have no use for big specs. We tend to latch onto specs because they're easily quantifiable. But if you want an Air, the only spec that matters is the weight.
I'd get an Air myself if it had 4GB of RAM. Unfortunately, my usage pattern (which requires virtualizing Vista) won't work with 2GB.
Maybe another week or two. I havent ask my friend about it yet but shes saving the discount for me.
Exactly. So it depends on whether you think specs or weight is more important. The regular MacBooks are for the first group of people, the MacBook Air is for the latter group.
And my point still stands. The MacBook Air is for the mobility (light weight)-conscious. Also, the original argument, that the Air's specs are much higher than a PowerBook G4's, is not valid (due to higher software and tasks). And that's where I got my argument from.
If I had a choice between a set of specs for a certain price and better specs for a lower price, I would choose the latter, and I'm sure most others would too. It doesn't matter if I didn't need the extra specs. I'd still be getting more for less, which is also good for the future.
See...? Specs do matter.
I too would like an Air, and it's specs are much higher than my existing iBook. It's, just like Scottological said, is more than what I would use daily. But I am willing to trade weight for better specs.
I ran Xbench on my 1st gen. MBA (1.8ghz 64GB SSD) and compared it to the new version. The improvement is damn impressive imo.
just for reference here is the version 1 (yours) and version 2 (mine) side by side:
http://db.xbench.com/merge.xhtml?doc2=317752&doc1=317451
the graphics in v2 destroy that of v1 ... the ssd is obviously much faster as well. nice visual comparison.
http://db.xbench.com/merge.xhtml?doc2=317752&doc1=317451
the graphics in v2 destroy that of v1 ... the ssd is obviously much faster as well. nice visual comparison.
The new graphics chip and new SSD is very impressive.
Did you notice the new Macbook Air's are running a different build of OS 10.5.5? I wonder what tweaks they have included, besides the 4 finger gestures.
Now that the regular Macbook lacks FireWire and is so expensive it makes the Air look better in comparison.
That was probably Apple's plan all along sigh
That was probably Apple's plan all along sigh
That's very impressive. I wonder how much slower the HDD version will be (as that's the only one I can afford to consider at the moment).
Agreed; and the tactic will probably work, on me. Much as I like the looks of the new MacBook, I'm more inclined now to go with the Air. Had never considered it before.Now that the regular Macbook lacks FireWire and is so expensive it makes the Air look better in comparison.
That was probably Apple's plan all along sigh
Here's another tidbit; when I erased and reinstalled Leopard on the alumiMB, it wouldn't boot from my trusty boots anything from PB, iMac, MB, MBP... retail version of Leopard. Would just go into an endless rebooting sequence. I had to use the supplied system disks. I never break into those. Interesting.
The new build could add support for the new graphics chips? I wonder how much of 10.5.6 made it into this build? Very interesting.
I understand some people preferring the trade off between thinner & lighter, instead of more ports, optical drive, etc, but why should the MacBook Air be more expensive then the MacBook when it's lacking this things? It's thinner and lighter because it's not including these parts, so shouldn't it be less expensive to build? Do you think we will see the Air become the entry level notebook in the future.
No, I don't think we'll see the Air become an entry-level notebook. The fact that it is thinner and lighter allows Apple to successfully sell it at a premium price (as Sony and other manufacturers do with their super-thin notebooks).
I'd also guess that the weird drives that Apple uses in the Airs cost them more than the savings of not including the optical drive and extra ports.
The quality of the Air screen is also higher than that of the MacBook, so I'm sure there's a cost for that as well.
I'd also guess that the weird drives that Apple uses in the Airs cost them more than the savings of not including the optical drive and extra ports.
The quality of the Air screen is also higher than that of the MacBook, so I'm sure there's a cost for that as well.
Minimizing things is expensive, it´s as simple as that. Rember Mr. Jobs who stated they had to reduce clock frequency of the graphics card?
The MBA is not just an MB without some things, it´s a completely different design. It´s got a premium CPU (6 MB L2 cache), and a heavily minimized logicboard. And let´s not forget, you have to cool the system, what means you need ducts, fans and so on. In short, it ain´t easy to design such a sleek book.
I had the new Macbook , I loved it but wanted a SSD drive had the chance to return the MB and LOVE my MBA!
I must agree love it without the black bezel.
I must agree love it without the black bezel.
Good Topic! I'm about to see what Friday has to offer in terms of sales. I'm probably one of the only people that doesn't own a computer (I just use the iPhone..) so this would be my first. I've been looking at a new MB vs a new MBA R2.
The one thing that worries? How do you guys and gals survive without the drive?
The one thing that worries? How do you guys and gals survive without the drive?
i have been using the disc drives of what computers have been near me whenever i need it. so far, haven't needed the superdrive yet (since february)
honestly, i'm still surprised how often this question comes up. by the most used logic, we'd all be wearing snow shoes in the bahamas. you get double or triple the protection for the same price as some good sandals.
honestly, i'm still surprised how often this question comes up. by the most used logic, we'd all be wearing snow shoes in the bahamas. you get double or triple the protection for the same price as some good sandals.
well u've survived so far without a drive
so why would u need one now?
most programs come in downloadable format nowadays anyway so i find i rarely use a drive unless i need to burn something
and then i use USB half the time anyway so i rarely use my drive unless i wanna watch a DVD
but then that's why my 50" plasma is for
so why would u need one now?
most programs come in downloadable format nowadays anyway so i find i rarely use a drive unless i need to burn something
and then i use USB half the time anyway so i rarely use my drive unless i wanna watch a DVD
but then that's why my 50" plasma is for
I use the local library for updates, just blank the iPhone and start over. You Tube for music, WWW runs fine as is, and I charge it by the socket in my apartment. Not the most ideal set-up but...
For the Air? I wonder the % of owners that opt for the SSD over the standard HD? 25%? 35%? (A deeply discounted Air previous SSD version might make a good purchase as well. The trick is to find one...)
I've had my Rev B MBA 1.86GHz 128 SSD for a week now - and WOW!
I'm very impressed...
haven't used my MBP since.
MBA gets it's first road test on the weekend... which is why I bought it.
I'm traveling overseas - so will be interesting to see how it all goes.
I do a lot of traveling - and I think the new Rev B MBA will not only meet all my needs but so far is exceeding my expectations!
I'm very impressed...
haven't used my MBP since.
MBA gets it's first road test on the weekend... which is why I bought it.
I'm traveling overseas - so will be interesting to see how it all goes.
I do a lot of traveling - and I think the new Rev B MBA will not only meet all my needs but so far is exceeding my expectations!