Lenovo Air

[CrackedButter]

I would buy this over the MBA any day (if I could install OSX on it):

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/lenovo-x300-ad-takes-the-macbook-air-head-on/

This I know this laptop has been discussed on these boards but pay attention to the advert, very tongue in cheek. Aimed directly at Apple for their compromises.

 

[Zwhaler]

I like the ad. I like Apple, but it is nice to see Lenovo "strike back" with something Apple can't argue with. Like you said, I would certainly get one if it could run OSX. But since it doesn't, it's just another ultraportable to me.

 

[PlaceofDis]

also starts at $2866...

 

[Zwhaler]

also starts at $2866...

Ouch, I didn't notice that. That makes the MBA a no brainer

 

[PlaceofDis]

Ouch, I didn't notice that. That makes the MBA a no brainer

see this is where apple might have gotten it right, yes its more expensive than the macbooks, but the Air is cheaper than a lot of its competitors, because they put so many things into their ultraportables. yes apple is taking a gamble by leaving them out, but it might be worth it to lower the price.

 

[lostfan916]

God Lenovo's are so ugly I don't think I'd ever able to sacrifice beauty for power.

 

[iToaster]

I see someone in Lenovo went "Oh frick, Apple did it again." Certainly it competes, but look at the specs... 1.2 Ghz processor! ...1 Gb RAM! ... although it does have a SSD. I don't see a multitouch trackpad or a backlit keyboard. I can tell you that the Air is great because lots of people hardly ever even use an optical drive, nor is there any life threatening need for more than one USB port. Certainly they're nice, but Apple seems to have slimmed it all down to exactly what works best. I can't really think of anything I'd find useful from it to add to the MBA, but they through out a competing laptop, though at that price for those specs, me thinks the MBA makes a better buy.

 

[Zwhaler]

God Lenovo's are so ugly I don't think I'd ever able to sacrifice beauty for power.

Yeah, except you don't gain power with this. A post or two above mine said that it only had 1.2Ghz and 1GB RAM. that makes the MBA even more attractive (pun intended)

 

[kuwisdelu]

The Air's compromises really don't matter to most people.

Sure, the Air was aimed at business execs, but it's becoming very popular with average consumers who've never considered ultraportables before because they were too expensive, or made too many compromises in areas that mattered more to them. Most people will never need an ExpressCard slot or more than one USB port. Most people will get frustrated with small keyboards and tortoise-slow processors.

The Lenovo will sell to the same people who've always bought them: businessmen who need ultraportables. The Air will sell to some of those, too, but where it's really making a breakthrough is bringing the ultraportable market to people who've never even considered one before. I wouldn't get the Lenovo even if it had OS X. It's very nice for a Windows laptop, though. I'd end up putting Ubuntu on it, though