Just 2 weeks to WWDC and STILL no MBA refresh: Your prediction for the MBA's fate?

[iSpoody 1243]

i think a modest update and a small price drop will get more sold.
most people that i see using mba have it as their only computer.
the processor in the mba is more than capable enough.
ram and gpu upgrade seem like that would be the least.
eol or major refresh seems more likely in beginning of 2011.

 

[Winni]

All Apple notebook models have now been updated except for the Macbook Air, which has had the longest wait of them all.

We have 2 weeks to go to WWDC, what do you predict Steve Jobs has ordained for the MBA?

The MacBook Air is dead - it targets almost the same audience as the iPad but is three times more expensive. I don't think that it still has a market outside the "executive prestige toys" niche.

 

[gyus]

Why in the world would they get rid of the separate video card and go with the intel graphics card? Just so it could use the core i7? AFAIK the intel video doesn't even support open CL. So that would be a a major step backwards and be clearly against their advertising push in snow leopard.

same C2D, 4 gb RAM and a 320M card. Thats it.

No case redesign.

MBA is not going anywhere.

I am so sick of ipad/ ipod/ iphone/ os4/ AT&T / Verizon news. Apple needs to re-focus on their computer line and OSX.

Maybe a more substantial refresh in January.

 

[entatlrg]

The MacBook Air is dead - it targets almost the same audience as the iPad but is three times more expensive. I don't think that it still has a market outside the "executive prestige toys" niche.

LOL, it targets no where near the same audience.

Have you used both an iPad and Macbook Air extensively? I have, and once the cool/wow factor wears off it's sure nice to get back to the MacBook Air to do some 'real' typing and get work done at a much faster pace.

Anyone who buys an iPad thinking it can do as much and costs so much less than a MacBook Air is fooling themselves. Your time is worth money and it takes longer to do creative tasks on an iPad and it's limited to what tasks it can do.

Even Apple acknowledges it's a consumption, enjoyment device not a laptop replacement of any sort.

 

[jk1002]

What people fail to realize that more and more people use macbooks for work.

I travel a decent amount and i stare many hours a day at that screen.

I can't get used to glossy, that leaves me with 15" and 17" which are too large and heavy and way more expensive.

An ipad is not a serious option for work.

Apple has to consider the businessmarket, not just hipsters that surf at starbucks or stumptown or wherever they hang out these days.

 

[pharmx]

The MacBook Air is dead - it targets almost the same audience as the iPad but is three times more expensive. I don't think that it still has a market outside the "executive prestige toys" niche.

Saying the MBA targets the same audience as the iPad is about as ignorant as saying Windows 7 sucks. In both cases the statement is false, and usually made by people with little or no experience with the product being discussed.

 

[skate71290]

voicegy -- I just wish that I could be absolutely certain that 4Gb of RAM would be enough to allow me to run several Windows apps and several more OS X apps simultaneously from the OS X desktop with VMware Fusion in Unity mode. I am cautiously optimistic because I have been running just such a setup with only 2Gb of RAM and 1 processor core dedicated to the Fusion vm. I keep trying to get some feedback from others who have satisfactorily run a bunch ow Windows and OS X apps simultaneously in Unity mode with only 4Gb of RAM. So far, though, I haven't seen a thing that seemed definitive.

I like the iPad but only as an adjunct to a real computer, to be used for limited purposes while in situations that make a laptop inconvenient. The iPad is not suited for either document creation or numbers crunching. It's a lightweight device, which should be limited to being used for lightweight purposes.

Hey, got the Rev A 1.6GHZ 80GB PATA MBA (Signature) and well to be frank it can handle Parallels 5 Windows 7 and OSX simultaneously for about 10 minutes, but the laptop can then heat my bedroom up, which in turn slows the processor down to save your laptop from melting internally and you will slowly notice that the whole computer comes to a halt... it's pretty cool, you can do it by watching videos on YouTube as well, makes me laugh.... until it becomes annoying! something that really annoys me... Windows 7 allows you to use Flash Drives to improve RAM on your computer... why can't OSX do anything like that, especially on these 2GB MBAs?

 

[gwsat]

LOL, it targets no where near the same audience.

Have you used both an iPad and Macbook Air extensively? I have, and once the cool/wow factor wears off it's sure nice to get back to the MacBook Air to do some 'real' typing and get work done at a much faster pace.

Anyone who buys an iPad thinking it can do as much and costs so much less than a MacBook Air is fooling themselves. Your time is worth money and it takes longer to do creative tasks on an iPad and it's limited to what tasks it can do.

Even Apple acknowledges it's a consumption, enjoyment device not a laptop replacement of any sort.

Indeed! Anyone who claims that the iPad has the ability to substitute for any real computer, no matter how modest, has been misinformed. I have an iPad and like it for playing Netflix streaming and downloaded CD titles. I use its browser for a quick and dirty reference when I am watching TV but that's about it. The iPad's email client is so primitive so as to be virtually useless. Unless you add a third party program and are prepared to do some work to set it up, the iPad's ability to transfer information, other than via email, is nonexistent. The iPad is fun and remarkably capable when properly viewed as a recreational device but lacks the ability to do the kind of work we do routinely on genuine computers. Trust me on this.

 

[skate71290]

Quite honestly, I don't view the argument as a personal attack. What I hate is when people call others names here and moderators do nothing about it. Saying that I eat SJ's BS is partially true. Most of us do. Many are far worse and believe everything he says. I am trying to be positive and give Apple benefit of doubt until WWDC. I do believe there's something behind taking Macs to the next level.

I believe with the MBPs it will ultimately happen with their next update; remember iMacs got a minimal update after a long wait last year, then later in the year they got a real update. I believe the same could be true for the MBPs. It seems like Apple implemented something just to keep sales up until they could get the real update out. Now I could be wrong in my logic, but I bet late 2010 or early 2011 brings a real update to the MBP and all Mac notebooks. Apple will have to take a different strategy with C2D by that time, so why not adjust the lineup together.

While yes, i do have an iPhone i am getting really ****** off with waiting for a MBA update... Apple's Mac Range is beyond **** and OSX is actually, for the first time in 3 years (since i moved to Mac) worse than Windows, the Sony Vaio Z pisses all over every Apple Laptop and the iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad, while arguably making Apple freaking millions of Dollars still does not justify stopping the development of 10.7 (Clouded Leopard ) and i believe that Mac sales, while suggested by analysts are not cannabilsed by iPad sales, will dwindle fairly quickly, especially if Windows 8 is released by 2012

 

[calderone]

Indeed! Anyone who claims that the iPad has the ability to substitute for any real computer, no matter how modest, has been misinformed. I have an iPad and like it for playing Netflix streaming and downloaded CD titles. I use its browser for a quick and dirty reference when I am watching TV but that's about it. The iPad's email client is so primitive so as to be virtually useless. Unless you add a third party program and are prepared to do some work to set it up, the iPad's ability to transfer information, other than via email, is nonexistent. The iPad is fun and remarkably capable when properly viewed as a recreational device but lacks the ability to do the kind of work we do routinely on genuine computers. Trust me on this.

Misinformed?

The definition of "computing" widely varies. For some it is facebook, for others it may be word processing and spreadsheets.

"Work" also has varied definitions, since we all do different work.

These generalized statements about what the iPad can and cannot do are worthless, just as generalized statements about the Air would not be accepted by many.

If I said "The MBA cannot be used for any serious video editing." There would be a number of people that would pop in and disagree saying "Well I do it and it works just fine!"

Or if I said "The MBA can't hardly be considered a real computer, it has virtually no expandability options and is underpowered compared to other offerings."

People would disagree, obviously. But neither of these opinions are wrong, they simply come from a different perspective. Just as the negative comments about the iPad come from a different perspective, but I would hardly call you misinformed if you didn't think the fictional comments I made above about the Air were true,

All of the things I used my Air for I can do on the iPad. So the iPad, for me did replace a "real" computer. That decision came down to what I used the Air for. With a Mac Pro, which I am on most of the time. The MBA didn't make sense.

Now, if a person is doing any serious audio, video, photo, etc etc etc. I think they already know an iPad can't replace a computer that would be used for those purposes. But if they have a powerful desktop, or a desktop, the MBA can be replaced by an iPad.

In response to the person you responded to, the MBA and iPad can indeed target the same audience. The audience of individuals that want a light weight device to do their "computing." Which they choose will be dependent upon what needs they have.

While yes, i do have an iPhone i am getting really ****** off with waiting for a MBA update... Apple's Mac Range is beyond **** and OSX is actually, for the first time in 3 years (since i moved to Mac) worse than Windows, the Sony Vaio Z pisses all over every Apple Laptop and the iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad, while arguably making Apple freaking millions of Dollars still does not justify stopping the development of 10.7 (Clouded Leopard ) and i believe that Mac sales, while suggested by analysts are not cannabilsed by iPad sales, will dwindle fairly quickly, especially if Windows 8 is released by 2012

In what way is OS X worse than Windows?

 

[skate71290]

Misinformed?

The definition of "computing" widely varies. For some it is facebook, for others it may be word processing and spreadsheets.

"Work" also has varied definitions, since we all do different work.

These generalized statements about what the iPad can and cannot do are worthless, just as generalized statements about the Air would not be accepted by many.

If I said "The MBA cannot be used for any serious video editing." There would be a number of people that would pop in and disagree saying "Well I do it and it works just fine!"

Or if I said "The MBA can't hardly be considered a real computer, it has virtually no expandability options and is underpowered compared to other offerings."

People would disagree, obviously. But neither of these opinions are wrong, they simply come from a different perspective. Just as the negative comments about the iPad come from a different perspective, but I would hardly call you misinformed if you didn't think the fictional comments I made above about the Air were true,

All of the things I used my Air for I can do on the iPad. So the iPad, for me did replace a "real" computer. That decision came down to what I used the Air for. With a Mac Pro, which I am on most of the time. The MBA didn't make sense.

Now, if a person is doing any serious audio, video, photo, etc etc etc. I think they already know an iPad can't replace a computer that would be used for those purposes. But if they have a powerful desktop, or a desktop, the MBA can be replaced by an iPad.

In response to the person you responded to, the MBA and iPad can indeed target the same audience. The audience of individuals that want a light weight device to do their "computing." Which they choose will be dependent upon what needs they have.



In what way is OS X worse than Windows?

Adobe Flash Player, iTunes, iPhoto, iWork, Safari, Quicktime X... just to name a few These applications on my MBA (Signature) can only be run perhaps one or two simultaneously, whereas the Windows Alternatives (Bootcamp) i can run, Chrome, iTunes, Picasa 3, Office 2007 (Word and Powerpoint) simultaneously, while this is not techno benchmark geeky stuff with numbers it is real-life performance and OSX sucks!

Edit: WiFi, File Transfer, Finder are worse than the Windows alternatives

 

[Scottsdale]

LOL, it targets no where near the same audience.

Have you used both an iPad and Macbook Air extensively? I have, and once the cool/wow factor wears off it's sure nice to get back to the MacBook Air to do some 'real' typing and get work done at a much faster pace.

Anyone who buys an iPad thinking it can do as much and costs so much less than a MacBook Air is fooling themselves. Your time is worth money and it takes longer to do creative tasks on an iPad and it's limited to what tasks it can do.

Even Apple acknowledges it's a consumption, enjoyment device not a laptop replacement of any sort.

So true. But it's understandable that those who have never used or own an MBA would think the iPad is the same market. Someone who has never used an MBA and read the stories that the original MBA was such a failure never give the MBA any credit. Honestly, Apple brought it on themselves with the original MBA's complete disaster.

The MBA's brand today still suffers tremendously because SJ got up and introduced the MBA in January 2008 that was NOT ready for sale especially as a "MacBook." If Apple would have introduced the v 2,1 MBA as the "original" MBA in October 2008, I believe the MBA branding would be amazing. It's just too bad that Apple doesn't fully test its products as everything is so secretive that it seems it doesn't even truly know what its new products are capable of until the product is released and sold. I know many are going to protect Apple and say I am wrong, but I believe it's so secretive that it's counterproductive and causes Apple to introduce original products like the original MBA that completely fail in user expectations. Even if Apple did a 50 computer testing with developers, it would figure out more of these problems ahead of time.

I imagine that the original MBA was tested inside of a case that was bigger than the actual case and cooled better. I have learned that Apple tests its prototype systems in cases that are like plain boxes so the product testers don't see and leak what Apple is going to release. Is it really worth it to hide its products so well that it doesn't even know what those products are capable of for the end user? The big problem with the original MBA was SJ got up and told everyone it was a Mac, when in fact it didn't work and do what people expected from Macs. Apple learns its lessons really well and rev B products are always much better. It's just too bad because with the MBA we can see how badly the system fails its new product buyers at times.

Saying the MBA targets the same audience as the iPad is about as ignorant as saying Windows 7 sucks. In both cases the statement is false, and usually made by people with little or no experience with the product being discussed.

Agreed. People that don't actually use BOTH products cannot imagine the real world usage differences. People that don't really need a computer, or just need a secondary device for entertainment purposes never needed an MBA and will believe the iPad is the "same" device at 1/4 the cost. In reality, we all know the MBA is actually targeting people that want to use the MBA as a primary Mac, or those who need a real computing device and use the MBA as their primary NOTEBOOK, and those who want an ultraportable for traveling and will pay for extreme portability but OS X/Windows 7 capable.

Those who use a Mac Pro at home for "heavy lifting" could love the MBA for computing on the go. Those of us who are business professionals, students, or anyone who needs a "real" computer but not a "real powerful" computer can use the MBA for everything we need. And those who travel often see the advantages of the 3 lb. MBA when we don't need an MBP with a 10-hour battery or an optical drive. Let's face it, the average computer user doesn't need any more power or performance than the MBA provides. Some people like "more power" when they're never really using it. Some of us are willing to pay more for a computer that has plenty of power for what we need yet saves on weight by not having a 10-hour battery that we aren't going to use anyways or an optical drive that's a waste of space.

I can understand how someone doesn't understand the differences between the iPad and MBA. I can also understand some people that bought the "dumped" MBAs for $999 to $1299 can see the iPad as a better tool for the job that they're using it for. What they are looking for is a device to check email, do light web browsing, and an occasional small pages document. The average person might use a computer at work and only needs an iPad at home as they don't need a complete computer. I am really starting to understand why people say they think the iPad is a better device than the MBA.

The truth in all of this is the MB is going to experience more cannibalism to the iPad than any other Mac. People that buy MBs for their home experiences generally don't need anything more than an iPad to do some browsing, Internet, watch a few movies, or create or read a small Pages document. I see it with my parents, a few of my siblings, and some friends of mine. A lot of people are using a MB to do tasks that the iPad can easily manage themselves. But most people who do these simple tasks don't realize what a real computer user needs their computer for... OS X and real applications for creation rather than just consumption.

I think the thing is it's easy for people to confuse the iPad as being just as capable as an MBA if they don't really need a computer as what they're ultimately doing is consumption not computing.

 

[ditosou]

hummmmm....

MBA and iPad target the same audience? ahahaha ahahahahha Please stop joking... and try to get informed about the MBA traditional user profile... it has nothing about with iPad users....

 

[gwsat]

Misinformed?

The definition of "computing" widely varies. For some it is facebook, for others it may be word processing and spreadsheets.

"Work" also has varied definitions, since we all do different work.

These generalized statements about what the iPad can and cannot do are worthless, just as generalized statements about the Air would not be accepted by many.

If I said "The MBA cannot be used for any serious video editing." There would be a number of people that would pop in and disagree saying "Well I do it and it works just fine!"

Or if I said "The MBA can't hardly be considered a real computer, it has virtually no expandability options and is underpowered compared to other offerings."

People would disagree, obviously. But neither of these opinions are wrong, they simply come from a different perspective. Just as the negative comments about the iPad come from a different perspective, but I would hardly call you misinformed if you didn't think the fictional comments I made above about the Air were true,

All of the things I used my Air for I can do on the iPad. So the iPad, for me did replace a "real" computer. That decision came down to what I used the Air for. With a Mac Pro, which I am on most of the time. The MBA didn't make sense.

Now, if a person is doing any serious audio, video, photo, etc etc etc. I think they already know an iPad can't replace a computer that would be used for those purposes. But if they have a powerful desktop, or a desktop, the MBA can be replaced by an iPad.

In response to the person you responded to, the MBA and iPad can indeed target the same audience. The audience of individuals that want a light weight device to do their "computing." Which they choose will be dependent upon what needs they have.

As noted, I have an iPad and long ago concluded that it is not a real computer. The problems go far deeper than those I addressed in my earlier post. for example, no Web browser that is available for the iPad remembers information previously entered in dialog boxes on Web pages you have used before. That's a fundamental feature of every OS X and Windows browser that I have used.

Bookmarks are also a hassle. If you want conventional bookmarks, you have to use Safari, which doesn't support tabs that display on the page you are currently viewing. If you want tabs, you have to use Atomic browser, which requires you to click a bookmark icon on the open page and then burrow through several layers before finally reaching the book mark you want.

The browser problem, of course, is on top of the difficulties caused when entering data by the iPad's virtual keyboard, which while better that the iPhone's tiny version, is only a pale imitation of the real thing.

Don't get me wrong, I love my little iPad and appreciate what it can do. Nevertheless, I recognize that it is a small device designed to do small jobs. The things it won't let me do, even when engaged in something as basic as Web browsing, simply can't be gainsaid. The MBA's weaknesses, which we agree exist, are not such as to disqualify it from being a real computer. Were it that I could say the same thing about the iPad

 

[calderone]

MBA and iPad target the same audience? ahahaha ahahahahha Please stop joking... and try to get informed about the MBA traditional user profile... it has nothing about with iPad users....

Instead of writing a response with below grade school level abilities, why don't you explain how they DO NOT target the same audience.

 

[ditosou]

hummmm

Instead of writing a response with below grade school level abilities, why don't you explain how they DO NOT target the same audience.

There are a lot of MBA users that want a lightweight "full" capable machine... to develop applications, run advanced applications, to compile programs, to write scientif papers, to run virtual machines, to run web programming tools, to use/test 2 or 3 different browsers whenever they want, to also run microsoft based programs if they want (excell, powerpoint, word), to explore/reconfigure unix based applications and associated scripts, to write long documents not using a touch interface, to run some compatible drawing tools, to run simulations from different research areas, use advanced document preparation tools as Latex, etc. etc. etc. basically they want a computer not a toy.

A very simple example, most of the university teachers that I know use a MBA. Ask them or other MBA users if they can do the same in an iPad... no way.

 

[Scottsdale]

There are a lot of MBA users that want a lightweight "full" capable machine... to develop applications, run advanced applications, to compile programs, to write scientif papers, to run virtual machines, to run web programming tools, to use/test 2 or 3 different browsers whenever they want, to also run microsoft based programs if they want (excell, powerpoint, word), to explore/reconfigure unix based applications and associated scripts, to write long documents not using a touch interface, to run some compatible drawing tools, to run simulations from different research areas, use advanced document preparation tools as Latex, etc. etc. etc. basically they want a computer not a toy.

A very simple example, most of the university teachers that I know use a MBA. Ask them or other MBA users if they can do the same in an iPad... no way.

Very accurate and nice post!

 

[pharmx]

Instead of writing a response with below grade school level abilities, why don't you explain how they DO NOT target the same audience.

If the main purpose of your MBA is to do stuff like look at FaceBook and play games like Peggle, then yes, I guess you can say they target the same audience. But then you have to wonder if you really NEEDED an MBA to begin with. You can do those same things with a 13" MBP or even MB. So in that situation, why would you pick the Air over the other available alternatives...and that's not even considering the cheaper PC and/or netbook options.

The MBA is a perfect balance of form and function for niche population. Most of the people who don't like the Air usually fall into one of two categories: 1) People who want (though not necessarily needs) more functionality and 2) People who can't justify the cost

People who like the MBA also tend to fall into two categories: 1) People who find it perfect for their needs (although needing an upgrade) and 2) People who bought it for its aesthetics or as a status symbol....it is this segment of the population that could have an iPad serve as an almost perfect replacement, since they never needed the complete feature set that is unique to the Air.

In my opinion, the MBA's biggest flaw is that the market that ended up owning most of the units, is not the market that it was primarily designed for:

- The portability it offers is not for students looking to throw it in their bag and carry it with them to all their classes -- rather, it's for the person who travels frequently and needs to get work done on the go, whether it's on a meal tray during an airline flight, or at a small table or booth during a coffee break.

- The power that it offers is not for people looking to replace their desktop gaming rigs, work stations, or all-in-one computing solutions -- rather, it's for people who need the functionality of a full OS when away from their primary computer, so that there is no loss in productivity.


I think it's a testament to how flexible the MBA really is, that there are so many owners outside its intended market. There are several people that would be better served with a MacBook, 13 inch MacBook Pro, or even Sony Vaio....yet they chose the MacBook Air for one reason or another.

Whether it's the college student typing notes for class, the teenager living on facebook and twitter, the sales rep preparing a slide show presentation, the game developer coding the next iPad app, the soccer mom searching YouTube to see what her daughter just posted, or the web developer running a local server to test out a site for a client....the MBA delivers. Would the iPad be a perfect substitute or alternative for many of the people and situations just mention? Yes, most definitely....but again, those people were never the intended target population, and never needed the Air to begin with.

The biggest threat to the Air is not the iPad, and it never will be, as long as the iPad is running iPhone OS. In the unlikely situation that the MBA switches to iPhone OS or the iPad switches to Mac OSX, then I could see this being more of a concern. I believe that Apple introducing a thinner/lighter 13" MBP with a BTO option to remove the optical drive and have a smaller battery is something to be more worried about. However, I don't really see them doing this either, as intriguing as that sounds.

Unless Apple really is going to EOL the Air, I see them as continuing to use the MBA as a testing ground. With the recent leak of the new Intel road map, maybe we'll see some things tested out on a redesigned and/or updated MBA before it makes its way to the MBP lineup. The iPad on the other hand, could never serve this type of purpose...although I could definitely see it being the testing ground for a whole slew of new products from Apple. I can't wait to hear what's announced at WWDC!

 

[pharmx]

There are a lot of MBA users that want a lightweight "full" capable machine... to develop applications, run advanced applications, to compile programs, to write scientif papers, to run virtual machines, to run web programming tools, to use/test 2 or 3 different browsers whenever they want, to also run microsoft based programs if they want (excell, powerpoint, word), to explore/reconfigure unix based applications and associated scripts, to write long documents not using a touch interface, to run some compatible drawing tools, to run simulations from different research areas, use advanced document preparation tools as Latex, etc. etc. etc. basically they want a computer not a toy.

A very simple example, most of the university teachers that I know use a MBA. Ask them or other MBA users if they can do the same in an iPad... no way.

damn, I think you just summarized my essay of a post, lol. However, I definitely would not put the iPad in the "toy" category. In the same way that the MBA has a unique feature set with respect to form and function, so does the iPad. Developers have barely scratched the surface of what the iPad can truly do. The true innovations will come once people get past traditional mindsets, and start exploring UI interactions and efficient work flow designed around gestures and multi-touch. It may take some time, but I think we are in for some really cool stuff from the iPad. I think Apple realizes this potential as well, which is why so much focus has shifted in that direction.

 

[gwsat]

damn, I think you just summarized my essay of a post, lol. However, I definitely would not put the iPad in the "toy" category. In the same way that the MBA has a unique feature set with respect to form and function, so does the iPad. Developers have barely scratched the surface of what the iPad can truly do. The true innovations will come once people get past traditional mindsets, and start exploring UI interactions and efficient work flow designed around gestures and multi-touch. It may take some time, but I think we are in for some really cool stuff from the iPad. I think Apple realizes this potential as well, which is why so much focus has shifted in that direction.

As I tried to make clear in earlier posts, the iPad lacks the functionality of the MBA, or any other real computer. You make a good point, though. The iPad is certainly not a toy and will gain far more capability as more and more developers release more and more apps for it. For the moment, though, the iPad is no more than an adjunct to a real computer, which is the reason why I am so anxious to see what WWDC may hold for the MBA.

 

[calderone]

There are a lot of MBA users that want a lightweight "full" capable machine... to develop applications, run advanced applications, to compile programs, to write scientif papers, to run virtual machines, to run web programming tools, to use/test 2 or 3 different browsers whenever they want, to also run microsoft based programs if they want (excell, powerpoint, word), to explore/reconfigure unix based applications and associated scripts, to write long documents not using a touch interface, to run some compatible drawing tools, to run simulations from different research areas, use advanced document preparation tools as Latex, etc. etc. etc. basically they want a computer not a toy.

A very simple example, most of the university teachers that I know use a MBA. Ask them or other MBA users if they can do the same in an iPad... no way.

Yet again. I never said the iPad can replace an Air for those kinds of tasks.

I merely stated that they can target the same audience, however, the decision comes down to what they use it for.

Even in your examples, the MBA is worthless for most of those tasks. It is woefully underpowered and lacks expandability. And for many, the MBA would be considered a toy and not a computer. You admit this yourself when you put quotes around the word full. The MBA would be my last choice for tasks such as the ones you listed.

Apple has no intended market in mind with any of its products. They just want to sell them. This is evident in their advertising which doesn't really target anyone. The MBA, iPad, MBP, MB, etc are in the category of portable devices and the consumer determines which portable device is best for them.

That said, my iPad does quite a bit of work for me and was successful at replacing my MBA.

As I tried to make clear in earlier posts, the iPad lacks the functionality of the MBA, or any other real computer. You make a good point, though. The iPad is certainly not a toy and will gain far more capability as more and more developers release more and more apps for it. For the moment, though, the iPad is no more than an adjunct to a real computer, which is the reason why I am so anxious to see what WWDC may hold for the MBA.

And the MBA lacks functionality as well. There will always be something better. The MBA is the computer that fills everyone's needs. It all comes down to what you use the device for. For myself, the iPad was able to replace my MBA. That doesn't mean I don't do anything with my computers.

 

[gwsat]

And the MBA lacks functionality as well. There will always be something better. The MBA is the computer that fills everyone's needs. It all comes down to what you use the device for. For myself, the iPad was able to replace my MBA. That doesn't mean I don't do anything with my computers.

The current MBA does, indeed, have some critical shortcomings. Most notable among them are its non-expandable 2Gb of RAM and its tendency to overheat and stutter under heavy graphics loads. That said, though, it supports all OS X Web browsers, including my current browser of choice, Google Chrome. It also has network printer support and will accept any of the myriad and excellent email clients that Snow Leopard supports. The iPad can do none of that.

I agree with you that how satisfactory one's experience with an iPad turns out to be is dependent upon what he expects from it. Clearly you are not bothered by the limitations of the browsers it supports or by its email client. Also, although the weaknesses of its browser choices and email client do bother me, I still like my iPad a lot because its limitations, significant though they are, are largely overcome by its small size, light weight, and impressive display. Our only difference is really whether the iPad can be a reasonable replacement for the MBA or any other OS X or Windows computer. We agree, though, that the iPad is pretty sweet. In fact, I have an iPad coming that I bought from the Apple Store as a high school graduation gift for my grandson. It is scheduled to arrive on Thursday morning.

 

[Scottsdale]

Yet again. I never said the iPad can replace an Air for those kinds of tasks.

I merely stated that they can target the same audience, however, the decision comes down to what they use it for.

Even in your examples, the MBA is worthless for most of those tasks. It is woefully underpowered and lacks expandability. And for many, the MBA would be considered a toy and not a computer. You admit this yourself when you put quotes around the word full. The MBA would be my last choice for tasks such as the ones you listed.

Apple has no intended market in mind with any of its products. They just want to sell them. This is evident in their advertising which doesn't really target anyone. The MBA, iPad, MBP, MB, etc are in the category of portable devices and the consumer determines which portable device is best for them.

That said, my iPad does quite a bit of work for me and was successful at replacing my MBA.



And the MBA lacks functionality as well. There will always be something better. The MBA is the computer that fills everyone's needs. It all comes down to what you use the device for. For myself, the iPad was able to replace my MBA. That doesn't mean I don't do anything with my computers.

Sorry but, IN MY OPINION, your argument is invalid. The original market for the MBA is very different from the iPad. Those who were willing to buy $999 to $1299 dumped original MBAs were the same market as the iPad. However, that isn't the intended market of the MBA, and that market isn't the brand new MBAs Apple sells.

In reality, we all know the MBA is actually targeting people that want to use the MBA as a primary Mac, or those who need a real computing device and use the MBA as their primary NOTEBOOK, and those who want an ultraportable for traveling and will pay for extreme portability but OS X/Windows 7 capable.

 

[joyofduck]

My two year old MBA is the slice of my desktop that I get to take with me - And over the last two years that has become a smaller and smaller slice. Dev tools, CS, Office and virtual machines have all increased their resource requirements considerably in that time.

I actually find myself having to use remote desktop access to office machines more and more just to gain the resources I need.

Mostly I need more storage and CPU umph!
Built in 3G data and GPS would be the icing on the cake.

Otherwise it means considering the non-Mac alternatives and perhaps even a return to Wondows.

Oh please no......

 

[calderone]

Sorry but, IN MY OPINION, your argument is invalid. The original market for the MBA is very different from the iPad. Those who were willing to buy $999 to $1299 dumped original MBAs were the same market as the iPad. However, that isn't the intended market of the MBA, and that market isn't the brand new MBAs Apple sells.

Arguments are either valid or invalid, and they aren't rendered so based on your opinion. Saying that an argument is invalid "In your opinion" doesn't make any sense.

In reality, we all know the MBA is actually targeting people that want to use the MBA as a primary Mac, or those who need a real computing device and use the MBA as their primary NOTEBOOK, and those who want an ultraportable for traveling and will pay for extreme portability but OS X/Windows 7 capable.

Again, you haven't made a case for what the intended market for the MBA is. You are simply fabricating a target market that suits your position and stating that it is in fact the target market.

This is a conclusion, not an argument. Taking your own ideas of what the MBA is and extrapolating that to the intended market is reaching.

Based on your analysis, anyone who does not use the MBA as their primary Mac is not the intended market. I think it is obvious that this one doesn't work, as the MBA is much more a complimentary device than a MBP.

You used a disjunction after this one, so I assume the following is a separate market.

Based on your analysis, people who need a "real computing" notebook as their primary notebook will choose a Macbook Air over a more capable Macbook Pro. And this is somehow the intended market?

You used a conjunction here, but given the flow I take it that this is also intended to be a separate market.

The only bit you got right is those wanting an ultraportable, since that was Apple's intended market (keynote).

Notice anything familiar about that last one? It is very similar to the intended market I mentioned that the MBA and iPad fit into.

"Those who want an ultraportable device." Which one is chosen is based on what you do. With such a widely defined market, I cannot be wrong. However, it is clear that Apple just wants to sell products, so the intended market game is a fools game.

Why create these narrow markets based on what you think or "feel" about the MBA? Nowadays, picking a computer is about determining what can do the tasks I want for the least amount of money. And then we add constraints, otherwise no one could logically pick a Mac!

So, maybe you want it to be really portable or maybe you don't care. Maybe you want it to be something from Apple. From the items that match your criteria, you determine which one suits your needs best. Apple is creating products that fit the generic criteria people have, and that criteria can lead you to a few products.

The decision is made based on what you do and what will accomplish those tasks the best. In reality, many of your criteria may not be feasible. Demanding fast video editing and an ultraportable may not get you the best machine for the job, but if that portable criteria is the most important you have to settle.

The point is, Apple is not saying: "The MBA is for these people: *list* ."

They are saying "Here is an (ultra)portable notebook from us, running OS X."

It is up to the consumer to determine what they need.