MacBook Air rev C, "Everything we know, and everything we want." (orig. desperate)

[qubex]

I hate to sound rude, but you're hallucinating.

With it's static specs the Air will not attract power business users. To paraphrase you, the Rev. C Air is just as incapable of being a primary mac as it was yesterday.

It's a dud. It will sell, and it will probably sell well... to a load of fasconistas who will jam it into their Fendi handbags.

<Fail>

 

[jnc]

Whoo hoo! Cheaper! Cheaper! Yes, cheeper indeed, because it isn't worth it's former asking price, a fact I raised again and again.

..Which Apple just addressed. What more do you want them to do? This WWDC could have been nicknamed "finally, but..." because it's brought a lot of people what they've been asking for, then suddenly made them decide to want more

Proc bump + price drop should have been a deal maker for many fence sitters, in a world that makes sense...

I hate to sound rude, but you're hallucinating.

With it's static specs the Air will not attract power business users. To paraphrase you, the Rev. C Air is just as incapable of being a primary mac as it was yesterday.

It's a dud. It will sell, and it will probably sell well... to a load of fasconistas who will jam it into their Fendi handbags.

<Fail>

The MBA is no less capable as a primary Mac than the Mac Mini, or white MacBook. The SSD model in particular. With Superdrive, natch.

For the record, I almost always see a MBA on a plane or a train coming out of the magazine compartment of a briefcase when I travel.... it is truly useful to some sectors rather than being a fashion accessory. Quit hatin'

 

[entatlrg]

yea, for sure qubex ... get over it ... MANY people LOVE their MBA's and it serve's them very well as their primary computer ...

something to be said for using a zippy machine with a great screen, full size keyboard and no dents in your legs from the weight, no bulk in your bag due to the size, and the pure FUN and PLEASURE of typing on and owning the incredible MBA !!

If I was you I'd buy the new MBA and use it everyday for 14 days before you knock it ... you'd never return it! lol

 

[qubex]

You people are most definitely weird.

I've been in this thread campaigning in favour of the MacBookAir's form-factor for literally months. The form-factor is brilliant. It's lack of legacy clutter (optical drive, lots of ports) is elegant. It's a perfectly thought-out platform for a consummate business user.

I'm not quite sure how you've succeeded in missing my fifty-odd posts to this effect, but it's no problem, I'm entirely willing to remind you... fifty times if it turns out to be necessary.

Unfortunately Apple is not doing justice to the form factor. The tiny size and weight appeals to the business user who, as you mention, will need to pull the machine out on a train or aeroplane to do some work, somebody who wants to carry a decent no-frills machine around with them and not dig a trench in their shoulder. I speak from experience since I am one of them (cue first reminder: I like the MacBookAir's form-factor because I'm fed up of dragging around my hefty MacBookPro 15", end cue).

Now, that same kind of business user will seek a machine that though no-frills is not "basic" or underpowered. Unfortunately, compared to the rest of the line-up, the MacBookAir is now underpowered and is falling further behind. You cannot compare it to a Mac Mini because they inhabit entirely different price niches. You cannot compare it to a MacBookPro 13" because the latter now far outranks it in every performance measurement that counts.

It cannot be compared to anything. It's an outlier... and they've let it fall behind, and this infuriates me.

(Why? Cue second reminder: because I like the MacBookAir's form-factor because... yada yada yada.)

I had one for all of three, maybe four hours. The display was marred by lines. I hate the button on the trackpad. I sent it back.

 

[Scottsdale]

Qubex... um ok, I will go ahead and hold my tongue from your downright disgusting bashing of me apparently hallucinating... sure!

Now, going back to my argument. I wanted a rev C MBA today. We didn't get one. We got a v 2,2 not a v 3,1. It was a CPU bump... maybe a little battery spark or two and an ethernet cable included. We could have got a LOT MORE. But we didn't, so we need to determine WHY???

There are three trains of thought on what will happen next:

1. MacBook Air rev C is a complete redesign focusing on being the thinnest at it's thickest part. Super ultra portable Mac with carbon fiber casing, an ULTRA LOW VOLTAGE CPU, LESS RAM, LESS BATTERY, LESS EVERYTHING... making it even more portable... MORE LIKE A NETBOOK COMPETITOR!

2. MacBook Air rev C is the same form factor. The component makeup simply wasn't ready for a bump at this time (just exactly as my source indicated even though I was INCREDIBLY WRONG and thought if Apple wanted a 256 GB 1.8" SSD today, it would be in the MBA). Tiny or ultra portable takes more money or time... and with the price discount, Apple has chosen to take more time for the same direction. This direction also gives the MBA a chance to COMPETE AND PROVE ITS DESIGN! If the MBA sales pickup, and they should, Apple will be fully justified in moving forward with a newer high end model. That high end model will include an Arrandale CPU if later than November 2009. It will most definitely include 4 GB RAM or two RAM slots. It will absolutely focus on battery savings and power with an OLED display and the new battery tech. It will SPORT a new display with black bezel and a silky smooth glass trackpad. It will hold ALL of our data and entertainment files with a 256 GB SSD. It will have the higher quality glass 60% greater gamut display! But, the tech wasn't there, or Apple decided to focus on making this PRO changeover now, and focus on the MBA when time permits.

Option 2 CONTINUED... This strategy did/does allow Apple to further compete as an alternative to low quality netbooks with a high end MBA with a great display, fast SSD, and full sized keyboard fancying the Mac OS X! This allows Apple to let the economy get itself righted (although Apple sees it just as we do... it is going to be years before Apple can bump prices back up on Macs). It allows Apple to also add a new high end MBA back closer to the target price for the MBA that will compete for US HIGH END BUYERS WHO WANT TO USE AN MBA AS OUR SOLE MAC... OUR PRIMARY MAC... OUR BUSINESS MONEY MAKER!!!

Option 3. Apple EOLs the MBA BRAND. In the future, Apple uses the form factor to lighten the MBPs when Apple can impose its digital (optical drive-LESS) aspirations on our Mac notebooks. The MBA design is incredible. Everyone that ever saw mine said it is the coolest computer they have ever seen. The price threw a lot of people off. Apple had to lower the price to make the MBA compete on a lower end market AND for secondary Mac buyers or those consumers who use their MBs for fun NOT WORK.

I really believe that when Jobs introduces the iTablet device, we get a MacBook Air that fulfills our PRIMARY MAC roles. Right now, Apple is using the form factor to provide a lower cost Mac notebook to be used as a SECONDARY MAC for Mac users and a competitor to netbooks... THIS WAS NOT THE INTENDED INITIAL MARKET FOR THE MBA. The MBA was originally targeted for business/non graphics PROS who want the quality and luxury of a higher end Mac, desire the portability of a super lightweight Mac, can afford the extra price tag, NEED the power of a MB (not a MBP), and finally use it for business/career tool as a PRIMARY MAC!

So, the MBA is not meeting the major demands of its intended target market right now. We all wanted 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, better battery, glass trackpad, and etc. But Apple NEEDED a device to fulfill the SECONDARY MAC ULTRA PORTABLE market which has no iTablet/Netbook device to compete in these times. So, Apple did NO UPDATES to save money and be able to sell it very competitively.

I really believe that the high end MBA we see today will be the low end MBA in three to six months. At that time, we will get all of the features we want to use an MBA as a luxury PRIMARY MAC again.

In the meantime, it is NO LESS PRIMARY MAC CAPABLE than the rev B was two days ago! It just isn't. We don't need 4 GB of RAM to make our NORMAL business apps work. It will NOT make the MBA any faster/slower with 4GB/2GB RAM. What will slow it down is using too much RAM, but the average business user doesn't UNLESS virtual machine does... SO USE BOOT CAMP and save the RAM in the meantime. The price dropping $700 is so HUGE. I cannot believe it's not the number one talk on all of the forums right now. This is unheard of for a very successful model of a Mac notebook!

The economy, and probably just as well, THE MICROSOFT ADS did a great job at making Apple answer. Also, I have to believe Apple didn't want to follow the projections of keeping the Mac notebooks the same and have to report at WWDC next year that Mac sales are down 25%! With these price drops, Apple should at least hold its market share and sales figures this year from last year... year over year.

I have to work in a few hours... so I have to go. And I didn't think out anything here... I just typed it in reply to being labeled hallucinating over my MBA opinions in a $700 less MBA with 2.13 GHz CPU and SSD!

I love the direction Apple took as long as it's working on evolving the MBA and not coming up with a revolutionary design!

 

[hitekalex]

Unfortunately, compared to the rest of the line-up, the MacBookAir is now underpowered and is falling further behind.

You cannot compare it to a Mac Mini because they inhabit entirely different price niches. You cannot compare it to a MacBookPro 13" because the latter now far outranks it in every performance measurement that counts.

It cannot be compared to anything. It's an outlier... and they've let it fall behind, and this infuriates me.

Qubex, your whole premise is wrong and your expectations need some re-adjustment. MBA should not be compared to MBP, and it will never match MBP spec-by-spec. MBA form factor and thinness impose some real physical limitations (CPU heat dissipation, battery size, etc).

Combination of 2.13Ghz C2D and 128Mb SSD will result in a very capable machine. Will it match the fully decked out 13" MBP - of course not. Is 50% in weight drop and incredible form factor worth some sacrifice in specs and high price point? Yes!

I don't understand what you're complaining about.. That MBA doesn't match MBP spec-by-spec? Well, duh, no one in the right mind expected that. But to say that Apple has "left MBA behind" is completely inaccurate in my opinion.

 

[glitch44]

Is 50% in weight drop and incredible form factor worth some sacrifice in specs and high price point? Yes!

I think I've heard you repeat the "50% weight drop" fact before. Where are you getting that? The Air weighs 3.0 pounds. The 13" macbook weighs 4.5 pounds. I believe that's a 33% weight drop. In other words, the Air weighs 66% of the weight of the Macbook.

I suppose you're calculating it as weighing 1.5 pounds less than the macbook, which is 50% of its own weight, but that's a rather odd stat to quote.

 

[hitekalex]

Going from 3lbs to 4.5lbs is 1.5 times or 50% weight increase. So you're right, I should have said 50% weight increase, rather than drop.

 

[qubex]

No, I never expected, nor needed, a MacBookAir that compares favourably spec-by-spec with any other line.

What I meant is that the other lines are advancing far faster than the Air, and consequentially, the Air looks like an increasingly lacklustre choice as time advances.

Honestly? I find myself wondering: shall I just keep the big MacBookPro 15.4"/2.4GHz for another year? Shall I grab a 13" now? How about a new 15" at the next refresh? How about waiting it out for that iTablet thingy?

This has completely thrown my thinking. I've always been neurotic but at least I knew what I was angling for. Now I've completely lost my bearings.

 

[Veinticinco]

I think I've heard you repeat the "50% weight drop" fact before. Where are you getting that? The Air weighs 3.0 pounds. The 13" macbook weighs 4.5 pounds. I believe that's a 33% weight drop. In other words, the Air weighs 66% of the weight of the Macbook.

I suppose you're calculating it as weighing 1.5 pounds less than the macbook, which is 50% of its own weight, but that's a rather odd stat to quote.

Personally I always refer to the MB/13MBP as being 50% heavier than the MBA, or it being a 50% weight increase;

i.e. 50% of 3 lbs = 1.5 lbs, which added makes 4.5 lbs.....fairly simple really.

 

[glitch44]

Personally I always refer to the MB/13MBP as being 50% heavier than the MBA, or it being a 50% weight increase;

i.e. 50% of 3 lbs = 1.5 lbs, which added makes 4.5 lbs.....fairly simple really.

Semantics. They're all correct:

The Air represents a 33% weight drop from the MB/MBP
The Air weighs 66% of the weight of the MB/MBP.
The MB/MBP is 50% heavier than the MBA.
There is a 50% weight increase between the MBA and the MB/MBP.

It's how marketing people can skew an ad to sway people. Like if we really wanted to emphasize the weight:

The MB/MBP is 150% the weight of the MBA.

 

[jnc]

Personally I always refer to the MB/13MBP as being 50% heavier than the MBA, or it being a 50% weight increase;

i.e. 50% of 3 lbs = 1.5 lbs, which added makes 4.5 lbs.....fairly simple really.

Makes sense, but if read wrong it could appear as "The MacBook air is half the weight of the uMB".

 

[iMacmatician]

Being that the article I referenced was one year old as I did mention... the Q4 it was referring to has already passed.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/25/samsung-announces-crazy-fast-256gb-ssd-our-knees-buckle/

I JUST realized this...Q4 2008 was the last MacBook Air update. Why didn't it include the 256 GB SSD then?

Probably the same reason why there's no 256 GB SSD this update.

I'm still waiting for news on a 1.8" 5 mm 256 GB SSD.

As for the next update... I'm thinking Arrandale, 40 nm GPU, 4 GB RAM, and some other improvements.

 

[foranor]

I'm still waiting for news on a 1.8" 5 mm 256 GB SSD.

I can fulfill your wish for news on the 256 GB SSD.
It's available. For example, you can purchase it here: A link to a german price-search-machine.
Even if you don't understand german, the label should be pretty self-explanatory.

http://www.idealo.de/preisvergleich..._-flashssd-1-8-sata-ii-mlc-256gb-samsung.html
Or here:
http://www.samsung.de/about/about_device_solutions_business.aspx Scroll down for a picture of one.

 

[glitch44]

I can fulfill your wish for news on the 256 GB SSD.
It's available. For example, you can purchase it here: A link to a german price-search-machine.
Even if you don't understand german, the label should be pretty self-explanatory.

http://www.idealo.de/preisvergleich..._-flashssd-1-8-sata-ii-mlc-256gb-samsung.html
Or here:
http://www.samsung.de/about/about_device_solutions_business.aspx Scroll down for a picture of one.

The first one claims to be 1.8", but isn't that the 2.5" pictured? The 2nd one on samsung's official is listed as a 2.5". I don't doubt that it'll be available someday, but until an actual consumer has it in their hands or in their laptop, it's all just press releases to me.

 

[iMacmatician]

Is the 1.8" 5 mm or is it thicker? Plus it's available from February 2009 (at least I think that's what it says). Then couldn't Apple have put it in yesterday's MacBook Air update?

 

[glitch44]

Is the 1.8" 5 mm or is it thicker? Plus it's available from February 2009 (at least I think that's what it says). Then couldn't Apple have put it in yesterday's MacBook Air update?

It's 5mm. Some 1.8" drives were being made that were 8mm thick, but anything more than 5mm can't fit in the Air chassis.

 

[mobilevisual]

Clearly the Air isn't for everyone. If you're a Ram-hogger, CPU-raper, the MBA isn't for you. I bought a revB ssd and love it. It is stunning, inside out. The Air isn't build for business, it is built for mobile-business users. The kind of folks that spent more time on the road than on their Aeron chair.

I don't see any point of debating whether or not the Air is “the” computer for someone. Apple did a great job flexing its innovative power. Apple has the ball to put out an anorexic of a machine and has bigger ball to call that 3lb machine “AIR”. True, Apple wasn't the first to put out a <3lb p.c, but it is the first to sex the hell out of a solid piece of aluminum with a respectable brain power. What? You mean a hot chic that can do my taxes. I'm sold.

Scottdale, a suit at Apple should replace your stolen Air, simply because you sold more Air for Apple just on this forum alone. Apple must have done something right to have loyal fans like yourself.