Exactly. You are right on them being clear competitors.
These are amongst the clearest competitors out there. Ultralight laptops for people that need real screens and keyboards - professors, writers, journalists, lawyers....
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Macbook Air vs. Just leaked Thinkpad x300
- Thread starter NYCMacFan
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Exactly. You are right on them being clear competitors.
These are amongst the clearest competitors out there. Ultralight laptops for people that need real screens and keyboards - professors, writers, journalists, lawyers....
With regards to all of the comments about the ThinkPad being ugly, you have to appreciate the important facts;
Apple design: form over function
IBM design: function over form
There's no denying that nearly all of Apple's products suffer in terms of functionality just so they can look pretty & the MBA is the prime example of this. Apple are more concerned with their products being visually appealing than highly functional, because this is their market; pretentious style-concious people who are more concerned with their stylish image than whether their computer is actually any use as a computer. In this regard, Apple pull it off very well.
ThinkPads OTOH have retained the same visual design since the very beginning of the range back in 1992. Why? Because it's a fscking solid design, which allows the ultimate functionality in the form factor & makes extremely strong/durable machines (that's the reason they've been used on the spacestation(s) for so long!). ThinkPads are targetted at the business sector; people who want a solid machine that also looks professional*. In this regard, IBM/Lenovo pull it off perfectly.
(* 'stylish' is not the same as 'professional'. Prada stilletos are 'stylish' but black leather suit shoes are 'professional')
Yes, these two machines are in some regards direct competitors, but in other respects they are not. Yes, they are targetted towards people who want a full screen & keyboard in a thin & light form factor, but there is a clear divide between who will buy each one. The MBA is targetted towards the "professors, writers, journalists" (to quote a previous post) whereas the ThinkPad is targetted towards your traditional suit & tie business man.
Apple design: form over function
IBM design: function over form
There's no denying that nearly all of Apple's products suffer in terms of functionality just so they can look pretty & the MBA is the prime example of this. Apple are more concerned with their products being visually appealing than highly functional, because this is their market; pretentious style-concious people who are more concerned with their stylish image than whether their computer is actually any use as a computer. In this regard, Apple pull it off very well.
ThinkPads OTOH have retained the same visual design since the very beginning of the range back in 1992. Why? Because it's a fscking solid design, which allows the ultimate functionality in the form factor & makes extremely strong/durable machines (that's the reason they've been used on the spacestation(s) for so long!). ThinkPads are targetted at the business sector; people who want a solid machine that also looks professional*. In this regard, IBM/Lenovo pull it off perfectly.
(* 'stylish' is not the same as 'professional'. Prada stilletos are 'stylish' but black leather suit shoes are 'professional')
Yes, these two machines are in some regards direct competitors, but in other respects they are not. Yes, they are targetted towards people who want a full screen & keyboard in a thin & light form factor, but there is a clear divide between who will buy each one. The MBA is targetted towards the "professors, writers, journalists" (to quote a previous post) whereas the ThinkPad is targetted towards your traditional suit & tie business man.
There's a lot of denial among the MBA crowd, if you haven't noticed. It can't be compared to *anything* except to the Macbook and Macbook Pro, in which case the comparison must be made on "thickness" and "weight" instead of on, you know, anything else (like performance or price). They keep saying it's the "best in its class", and I guess they're right, because they've effectively placed it in a class of one. Every notebook that outperforms it in speed, features, weight, or performance can't be compared to it, and isn't meant to compete with it. I doubt even SJ would be this detached from reality, but apparently, lots of the MBA's defenders are.
I may be the only one in the world that thinks this...but I think that Levono is sexy looking.
You're not the only one. I love the thinkpad look and I love the sturdiness and keyboard. If it ran os x I'd actually prefer it over an MBA, but only because the specs and weight. An Air with the same specs would be perfect....
The Thinkpad is better in nearly every way. Hopefully the second gen MacBook Air will be similar to this. Of course, it will be funny to hear Jobs try to explain why they were "wrong" about omitting the optical drive.
Jobs won't admit that because for those of us who want the Air, we are glad he dropped it. The IBM is a totally different machine and is much more expensive.
It's for geeks. The MacBook Air is for a different crowd altogether. You will see how well it does. People ordering now are already going to have to wait until March to take delivery.
Thinkpads are great for what they are. So are MacBooks, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.
these 3 are hardly same level, MB/ MBP has nearly no sacrifice in functionality (except for certain shortage in software availability for OSX) compare to their counterparts in PC world. MBA, on the other hand, sacrifices a lot of functionality.
Please don't list them together just because they all made by apple, it would be blind brand loyalty.
The Macbook Air will totally own thinkpad
that's for sure, a no priced concept can't beat anything. If/By the time they come out with the thinkpad there will be version 2 of the MBA.
Hey Thinkpad Lovers
I have an IBM Thinkpad a30p. Lots of great software. Anyone willing to trade me for an MBA? Half an MBA? 1/4 an MBA? A free lunch?
Didn't think so.
My Thinkpad is on eBay now...just in case you're serious.
I have an IBM Thinkpad a30p. Lots of great software. Anyone willing to trade me for an MBA? Half an MBA? 1/4 an MBA? A free lunch?
Didn't think so.
My Thinkpad is on eBay now...just in case you're serious.
those specs seem a little fishy to me. you are fitting all of the same components that are in the MB, plus some extras into a package slimmer than the mbp. it just doesnt seem right.
also, what would apples motivation be to use an aluminum case if it makes it so much heavier. it the mba has x number of components and the x300 has x+y number of components, none of which are smaller than the air's, how could it possibly weigh less or even the same?
also, what would apples motivation be to use an aluminum case if it makes it so much heavier. it the mba has x number of components and the x300 has x+y number of components, none of which are smaller than the air's, how could it possibly weigh less or even the same?
I agree, it seems rater fishy. That's a really puny battery that they're fitting in this x300, and I truly doubt that DVD burners that thin exist.
I didn't bother reading through the whole thread and I also didn't bother reading all the specs of the new Thinkpad. Why? Well, there is one HUGE problem with the Thinkpad. It uses Windoze......
Not entirely accurate. A lot of business's use IBM's for their road warriors (not really "geeks" per say).
This looks like a great fully featured laptop in a compact package. The fact that it has 3 full usb ports (I'm sure not crippled), DVD drive AND pci express slots (hint 3G networks) makes it run circles around the MBA.
Now it's not as sexy as the MBA but there are always trade offs.
Of course it's about the look
This is America...land of materialism!! Why would I get a fully loaded Honda Civic, when I can buy a Mercedes with half the features of a Civic??? Answer that question and you are at the heart of consumerism and capitalism. Same thing with the MBA...all you need is the right balance!!! Decent specs, awesome look means GREAT product that will sell! It's a win win for Apple, and for those that can afford the MBA right now. I'm a firm believer that most of the complainers are the ones that can't afford the MBA, if the MBA was on Ebay for 1000 right now, all the complainers would be bidding on it
This is America...land of materialism!! Why would I get a fully loaded Honda Civic, when I can buy a Mercedes with half the features of a Civic??? Answer that question and you are at the heart of consumerism and capitalism. Same thing with the MBA...all you need is the right balance!!! Decent specs, awesome look means GREAT product that will sell! It's a win win for Apple, and for those that can afford the MBA right now. I'm a firm believer that most of the complainers are the ones that can't afford the MBA, if the MBA was on Ebay for 1000 right now, all the complainers would be bidding on it
Guess what: Compare any company's smallest models to its almost always cheaper full-size brethren, and the smaller ones lose the performance battle every time.
According to CNet, the MBA is 2-3 times faster than similarly sized units from other manufacturers while being cheaper than practically all of them. This includes the oft-mentioned Sony TZ, Toshiba R500, et cetera et cetera.
The MBA and MBP/MB should not be compared because the MBA is over two times smaller than either.
Actually with an SSD, they will be comparably priced.
So IBM delivers a faster, smaller, lighter machine with more amenities and you just toss up your hands and say they are different and not subject to comparison. If you could install Leopard on the IBM would you still say so.
I hate the look, but started this thread given how impressive the specs were. I will still probably buy the MBA, but am let down by the overall package (even though I agreed with killing the optical drive and retaining full sized keyboard and 13inch scree). Just thought it could be a touch lighter/smaller footprint.
Except the Thinkpad was designed from the start for functionality, whereas the MacBook Air is just a fashionable product with little functionality.