MBA vs. new ultralights?

[Scottsdale]

I agree. The cheapest Vaio Z goes for $2,449.99, which is a whole lot more than the $1,799 Apple charges for a top of the line MBA. Admittedly, the Zs have better specs than the MBA has but they will only run Windows unless they are hacked.

The money issue isn't really a factor in my opinion. I would PREFER Apple sell much more pricey MBAs. There should be MBAs in the price range that Sony is competing in with the Z. The problem is Apple is missing a market here by pricing the MBAs so cheaply. Apple is missing out on luxury now, and I believe it's because Apple didn't have the iPad before. If Apple is smart about it, I believe the next MBA should be priced higher with incredible specs available.

I think they should reintroduce BTO and the MBA. Sure the MBA could start at $1499, but they should have BTO options allowing people to spend stupid amounts on their MBAs. I would pay for BTO options like, IPS display, LCD/IPS trackpad, aluminum capped keys, anodized aluminum, higher range CPU, discrete GPU, 3G/4G card, 8 GB RAM, 256/512 GB SSDs, ports, and battery options.

The market is there and people are willing to pay $5k for an incredible MBA. I don't care what the price is... I just want ALL of the high-end specs to be available via BTO options. Why not please many segments of the ultraportable market? Just consider the original MBA being priced from $1799 all the way to $3099... that is the kind of range that should be available in a luxury product.

I don't care that the Vaio Z costs $5k, to me that's an advantage not disadvantage from the MBA and MBP. The Z also can please a wider range of audience from the ultraportable market. In my opinion, when Apple introduced the iPad, it gave them free reign to really tackle the high-end market with its MBA...

 

[gwsat]

Scottsdale -- I agree that Apple would be well advised to start including BTO optons for the MBA, primarily 8Gb of RAM. If I could buy one so equipped in the $3K range, or maybe even more, I would do it.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

For regular consumers (majority of the market), the higher the price is, the less people will buy. Apple wants to make money, not try to sell the most expensive computer ever made (Sony Z). *sarcasm*

I would consider the MBA if the price remains largely the same but a refreshed CPU/GPU/4GB memory/larger HD as the base. Just don't get crazy with BTO options like aluminum-capped keys and LCD trackpads. The MBA was supposed to be a barebones Mac not the stuff-every-piece-of-awesome hardware-into-the-smallest-package Mac. But the current hardware is outdated.

 

[gwsat]

For regular consumers (majority of the market), the higher the price is, the less people will buy. Apple wants to make money, not try to sell the most expensive computer ever made (Sony Z). *sarcasm*

I would consider the MBA if the price remains largely the same but a refreshed CPU/GPU/4GB memory/larger HD as the base. Just don't get crazy with BTO options like aluminum-capped keys and LCD trackpads. The MBA was supposed to be a barebones Mac not the stuff-every-piece-of-awesome hardware-into-the-smallest-package Mac. But the current hardware is outdated.

The very reason I think that Apple should consider BTO options for the MBA is for prospective buyers like you. You could buy what one hopes would be a basic MBA after an upgrade that would have a glass trackpad, 4Gb of RAM, and an integrated NVIDIA 320M GPU. That way you would be able to buy an MBA that, by Apple's standards at least, was up to date but would cost about the same as the current model does. Other buyers who were willing to pay more, such a Scottsdale and me, could opt for BTO options to add even more RAM and other goodies. It seems to me that such options might expand the market for the MBA, not contract it.

 

[eleven59]

the sony z while not the nicest looking or thinnest, still comes in at 3lb....

maybe apple has learned something from the Air and will be giving us a 13"MBP that weighs 3lb and 15" down to 4lb... and thats why there is no update??

 

[eleven59]

The very reason I think that Apple should consider BTO options for the MBA is for prospective buyers like you. You could buy what one hopes would be a basic MBA after an upgrade that would have a glass trackpad, 4Gb of RAM, and an integrated NVIDIA 320M GPU. That way you would be able to buy an MBA that, by Apple's standards at least, was up to date but would cost about the same as the current model does. Other buyers who were willing to pay more, such a Scottsdale and me, could opt for BTO options to add even more RAM and other goodies. It seems to me that such options might expand the market for the MBA, not contract it.

i like BTO options BTW.. options are always good IMO

 

[thleeal]

two and a half words for you my dears

multi-touch Trackpad