More MacBook Air Details and Notes

[WyoMac]

No Doubt

I wonder if there's a market for an 'extender' battery pack for the MBA (or other Macbooks) - similar to those available for the iPod.

I'm sure that at least one third party vendor has a compact external battery ready to go. Also, while Apple's stated $129 battery replacement seems reasonable enough (I have paid more than that for an extra laptop battery), I'm sure that by the time that people are actually to the point of needing a replacement, there will be third party vendors like those for the iPod that will do the replacement less expensively, or with higher capacity batteries.

 

[cmendill]

hot cakes

Who, when they consider all the shortcomings of the air compared with the MacBook, will still opt to pay $700 more?

Those who don't consider them?

I think this is an amazingly designed, beautiful computer. I just don't know who it's for.

It's not that I don't think this will sell, or that I hope it won't, i just think it is intrinsically a bad idea. And the reason people get so upset, is because apple spent so much time on this bad idea when they could have come out with something better, they aren't just mad because they don't like it.

It's the first 100% sex product since the cube.

It's gonna sell like hot cakes.

 

[plinkoman]

Well, that completely unrealistic scenario is exactly what I am considering, getting an Air in addition to my MBP.

don't you have anything more important to spend your money on than getting a second laptop? If ever there were an example of spending money irresponsibly, that is it.

You give out the impression that Apple is forcing you to buy the Air instead of the MB.

First of all, keep reading, I bring up the regular MacBook, you even quoted that part. Second, I was only talking about the MBP originally because of the size comparison that this thread is partially based on. My points that the Air and the Pro are similarly priced, while the Pro has much more capabilities, and is by no means, unportable, still stand.

And the Air is for all those, for whom the MB is too heavy (and clunky).

since when is the MacBook considered a heavy and bulky laptop? Apple releases a smaller computer, and all of a sudden everything bigger is too big, despite having formerly been praised for being small?

Can you consider a reason why anybody would prefer the MB over the MBP other than monetary ones?

Yes, the MacBook is slightly smaller, but it, unlike the Air, still has all the expandability of the Pro(minus expresscard), plus the power difference is less that it is between the Pro and the Air. Price is generally a major factor in getting a MB instead of the Pro. Why spend extra money if you can spend less and still get a well rounded computer?

It is different with the Air. You could get a regular MacBook, that has more features and better performance than the Air, for much cheaper, and as I originally said, you could get a MBP for almost the same price as the Air, and get considerably more for your money, while the sacrifice in size just isn't that big. Apple's laptops are small and light for their given screen sizes, getting even smaller just isn't necessary, especially at the cost of so much functionality.

I really hate getting in these debates. I only posted here because after seeing the comparison between the Air and the Pro, I was amazed at how the Pro didn't seem very much bigger. I don't see why you turned this into a debate, there was no reason for you to do that. Nothing you have said makes any of my points less valid. You just clearly have a different opinion on things, especially if you think the small difference in size is worth an extra $1799 on top of what you already paid for your MBP.

 

[WyoMac]

To each his own

. But it's light! It's not an ultraportable or even particularly small. But it's thin!

The more compact a design is, the more compromises there will be. I have seen some ultraportables that had an impressively small footprint, but the keyboard was ultra-cramped and the screen real estate was small. Apple chose not to compromise on screen size or the keyboard. That being said, it is not the machine for me, I think there will be a market for it.

 

[manu chao]

Another car analogie

Think about two-seater cars, think about eg the Miata. Why do people drive these two-seater cars if they could get four-seater cars for usually less?

 

[Rendwich]

One Quart or Liter

I'm just pointing out the goal of the product was to create something lightweight - not a fully featured laptop. If you need a fully feature laptop get a MB or a MBP. The Air is for people who already have a desktop mac and want a lightweight portable. End of story.

of water (or milk or soda) weighs about 2 pounds. That's the weight difference between a MacBook Air and a MacBook. Did you EVER HEAR of ANYONE who was on a business trip or at school and said, "Man, this liter of soda is killing me! I have to set it down before I get tired!"?

No, of course you didn't. It's a truly ridiculous reason to create a dramatically underpowered and underequipped computer for an exhorbitant price. The MacBook Air, from the name to the lack of an ethernet jack, will be the biggest Apple bust since Jobs took over again. Count on it.

 

[happywilly]

bundle AIR with unlimited internet & movies

Steve:

Through partnerships bundle AIR with unlimited internet and unlimited movies for a specified time period say one year. Offer separate options to pay $ for the internet package and $ for the movies. The result is an entertainment juggernaut ...who cares about the living room....a WIN for every partner.

 

[manu chao]

I really hate getting in these debates. I only posted here because after seeing the comparison between the Air and the Pro, I was amazed at how the Pro didn't seem very much bigger.

I only posted here because I'm fed up with so many people accusing Apple (and indirectly those who like the Air) of being stupid to produce something they themselves would not buy.

 

[manu chao]

of water (or milk or soda) weighs about 2 pounds. That's the weight difference between a MacBook Air and a MacBook. Did you EVER HEAR of ANYONE who was on a business trip or at school and said, "Man, this liter of soda is killing me! I have to set it down before I get tired!"?

No, of course you didn't. It's a truly ridiculous reason to create a dramatically underpowered and underequipped computer for an exhorbitant price. The MacBook Air, from the name to the lack of an ethernet jack, will be the biggest Apple bust since Jobs took over again. Count on it.

Here it is again, Apple is stupid and arrogant for offering you a product that you don't like.

And by the way, I suffer from neck and wrist problems, and I do feel every pound on my shoulder or in my hands.

 

[plinkoman]

I only posted here because I'm fed up with so many people accusing Apple (and indirectly those who like the Air) of being stupid to produce something they themselves would not buy.

fair enough, but I made no such accusation.

 

[Rendwich]

Size Matters

Think about two-seater cars, think about eg the Miata. Why do people drive these two-seater cars if they could get four-seater cars for usually less?

One reason is that the Miata is quite maneuverable and agile on the road. It's fun to drive. Another reason is that the Miata "footprint" is dramatically smaller, it fits in smaller places. A third reason is the power/weight ratio. The performance is better because the car is so light. Fourth, the Miata is a convertible and it's fun to drive in the open air in nice weather.

Now let's use these reasons for the MacBook Air:

1) The MacBook Air, far from being agile, is dramatically underpowered. It's much less 'agile" than a cheap four-seat car or a cheap, thicker laptop. It will be much less fun to drive than a normal laptop for half the price.

2) The MacBook Air's footprint is the same as a normal laptop or a "four-set car". You can't fit it anywhere you can't fit a normal laptop, except an envelope. My productivity and "driving pleasure" are SEVERELY REDUCED inside an envelope.

3) The power/weight ratio of a MacBook Air is almost exactly the same as a MacBook. Not to mention that a 5 pound laptop is hardly a great burden, the number is so small that it's irrelevant. Cutting off two pounds doesn't change anyone's experience in any meaningful way.

4) The wind will blow through your hair a lot better on a thicker laptop than it will with the underpowered MacBook AIr.

In short, the reasons for a Miata have nothing to do with the reasons for a MacBook Air, and that's essentially because there are no reasons for a MacBook Air at all. This computer will make The Cube look like a great product success.

 

[badNameErr]

of water (or milk or soda) weighs about 2 pounds. That's the weight difference between a MacBook Air and a MacBook. Did you EVER HEAR of ANYONE who was on a business trip or at school and said, "Man, this liter of soda is killing me! I have to set it down before I get tired!"?

No, of course you didn't. It's a truly ridiculous reason to create a dramatically underpowered and underequipped computer for an exhorbitant price. The MacBook Air, from the name to the lack of an ethernet jack, will be the biggest Apple bust since Jobs took over again. Count on it.

So, if you could have a computer which does everything you need and was 2 pounds lighter (and price wasn't an issue) you wouldn't buy it? There is a market who will pay a premium for a lightweight portable. That is the market this was designed for.

 

[meagain]

People here still use ethernet? Like, actually plugging the computer into the internet?

 

[Rendwich]

Here it is again, Apple is stupid and arrogant for offering you a product that you don't like.

I don't know if they're arrogant or not, I never said that. But the MacBook Air is a realy stupid idea and if that makes them stupid, so be it. I never said anything like that, but I'll put those words of yours in my mouth, if you insist.

Apple has made some amazing hardware and I'm sure they'll do it again. No one bats 1.000, and this is 3-pitch strikeout, plain and obvious to anyone.

And by the way, I suffer from neck and wrist problems, and I do feel every pound on my shoulder or in my hands.

I've never seen a neck lanyard for a laptop, maybe you should consider a different way of carrying it?

And furthermore, you're ripping everyone because "Apple is offering a product they don't like" as if our personal preferences are irrelevant to our purchases. How come YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS are so important and essential? Are you more important than everyone who can see what a dud the MacBook Air is?

And honestly, did you EVER set down a liter of soda (not two liters, one liter) because your neck was too sore? Come on, be slightly realistic and honest for a minute. If 2 pounds causes you pain, the least of your worries is a laptop.

 

[WyoMac]

Conclusions (1-9)

TOO THIN. TOO WIDE. TOO ISOLATED. TOO LOCKED. TOO SMALL. TOO FORGETFUL. TOO STUPID. TOO MISNAMED. TOO UGLY.

I would suggest you don't buy one. There will be people that will.

 

[dsnort]

3) The power/weight ratio of a MacBook Air is almost exactly the same as a MacBook. Not to mention that a 5 pound laptop is hardly a great burden, the number is so small that it's irrelevant. Cutting off two pounds doesn't change anyone's experience in any meaningful way.

While your post was inconceivable replete with examples of ignorance and faulty logic, this one example leapt out at me.

As someone who travels ALL the time, the possibility or even fractional potential of less weight in the briefcase that I have lugged through most North American airports excites me to a state that is almost sexual. Really!!!!

Go back under your bridge Troll.

 

[jragosta]

This, in my mind, will be important for insurers! I wouldn't get one either. It's not perfect, but it's a deterrent.

Off the top of my head, I don't know a single laptop users who uses the security cable when traveling. Granted, some of them use the cable in their (locked) offices, but that's not when most laptops get stolen.

I personally love the new MacBook Air but i notice there is no front row?

Because the MBA wouldn't make a very good entertainment center?

 

[badNameErr]

As someone who travels ALL the time, the possibility or even fractional potential of less weight in the briefcase that I have lugged through most North American airports excites me to a state that is almost sexual. Really!!!!

The serious travelers here understand that but you won't get anywhere if you try to explain it to the non-travelers. I've already tried - and failed.

 

[Rendwich]

So, if you could have a computer which does everything you need and was 2 pounds lighter (and price wasn't an issue) you wouldn't buy it? There is a market who will pay a premium for a lightweight portable. That is the market this was designed for.

The rub comes when you type "does eveything you need". There is NO ETHERNET JACK, there is a very weak CPU, there is NO REPLACEABLE BATTERY, there is NO SMALL FOOTPRINT, there is a TINY HARD DRIVE. What am I doing with this computer? Surfing the web?

Beacuse if I'm surfing the web in Starbucks, I am ()*&#$%$ well not going to pay EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS for the privledge. You say "if price was no issue" but if "price is no issue" then why have an opinion on ANYTHING you buy? Just buy eveything and see what works best for you! Price is ALWAYS an issue unless you're Bill Gates.

It's these kinds of "arguments" that make the world laugh at us Apple users. "If price is no issue", I mean, really? Because I can get a laptop which does EVERYTHING better for MUCH LESS MONEY. Now I have to decide if I am going to take dramatic hits in price and features to save 2 pounds.

Maybe neck-and-wrist guy will do that, but he's in a tiny minority which will make MacBook Air a mega-failure which Apple hasn't seen for a decade.

 

[mcbane666]

- MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro photos - side by side.
- The MacBook Air battery will be a $129 replacement, requiring Apple to replace it.
- Walt Mossberg (video) first impressions of MacBook Air
- More high quality photos: Appleinsider, ThinkSecret
- How long will a SSD drive last? - up to 51 years for a 64GB SSD and 12.9 years for 160GB SSD, longer than the average replacement cycle for storage.
- Multitouch video demo and control panel screenshots
- Guided Tour is available on Apple.com

Article Link

this is the second time you have posted two SSD options, there is only one.

 

[jragosta]

Let's see - RAM soldered to the board, weakest CPU in the lineup, no optical drive, no user-accessible battery, no ethernet jack. But it's light! It's not an ultraportable or even particularly small. But it's thin!

The REMOVED things outweigh the tiny advantages by so much, maybe you meant to type "backward" instead of "forward"?

Maybe for you. Fortunately, you're not the entire computer market.

Lots of people like the fact that they can get a nice sized screen on a Mac with a 3 lb computer and none of the removed things matter to them. Personally, I couldn't care less about Ethernet, Firewire, optical drive, multiple USB ports, etc on a laptop. And since I'm carrying a laptop and power adapter on my shoulder through airports > 20 weeks a year, cutting the weight by more than 50% is a great thing.

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that other people won't. If YOU don't like it, then don't buy it.

The rub comes when you type "does eveything you need". There is NO ETHERNET JACK, there is a very weak CPU, there is NO REPLACEABLE BATTERY, there is NO SMALL FOOTPRINT, there is a TINY HARD DRIVE. What am I doing with this computer? Surfing the web?

Beacuse if I'm surfing the web in Starbucks, I am ()*&#$%$ well not going to pay EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS for the privledge. You say "if price was no issue" but if "price is no issue" then why have an opinion on ANYTHING you buy? Just buy eveything and see what works best for you! Price is ALWAYS an issue unless you're Bill Gates.

It's these kinds of "arguments" that make the world laugh at us Apple users. "If price is no issue", I mean, really? Because I can get a laptop which does EVERYTHING better for MUCH LESS MONEY. Now I have to decide if I am going to take dramatic hits in price and features to save 2 pounds.

Maybe neck-and-wrist guy will do that, but he's in a tiny minority which will make MacBook Air a mega-failure which Apple hasn't seen for a decade.

Compare the MBA to the MBP. It's less than half the weight and a couple hundred bucks cheaper. if you don't need Ethernet, 17" screen, optical drive, etc, why not choose the MBA?

For lots of people, the ability to do email, browse the web, and maybe run Excel or Word when they're on the road is all they need. The MBA is the lightest Mac laptop and that's valuable to lots of people.

No one said you have to buy one.

 

[manu chao]

I've never seen a neck lanyard for a laptop, maybe you should consider a different way of carrying it?

I just wanted to point out that there are persons out there for whom carrying a 5 pound laptop is an unhealthy strain on their shoulder and neck muscles because of prior damages to those parts of the body. But I guess it's much more fun ridiculing other people...

 

[Rendwich]

While your post was inconceivable replete with examples of ignorance and faulty logic, this one example leapt out at me.

As someone who travels ALL the time, the possibility or even fractional potential of less weight in the briefcase that I have lugged through most North American airports excites me to a state that is almost sexual. Really!!!!

Go back under your bridge Troll.

Not a single substantiative reply because you have none. And is it surprising that you get sexually excited about the possibility of dropping 2 pounds in carrying weight? No, you'll spend 1800 bucks instead of losing two pounds of your beer belly and carrying a functional computer.

Then the inevitable troll-accusation. My reasons are clear, you have no response, the majority of forum posters agree that the MacBook Air is a bad idea. When the MacBook Air goes down in flames not seen since the Cube, I expect a full apology.

Get a clue and get in the weight room, wimp.

 

[badNameErr]

Now I have to decide if I am going to take dramatic hits in price and features to save 2 pounds.

Your 100% correct. But THAT is the point of the product! Welcome to the wonderful world of marketing!

And dude, don't get me started on Apples (over)pricing policies.
If price was really an issue we'd all be running on windoze. lol

Get a clue and get in the weight room, wimp.

Chill out Rendwich. We're all Mac users here - we can all get along. Be nice.

 

[dsnort]

But the MacBook Air is a realy stupid idea and if that makes them stupid, so be it.

No, you display of ignorance makes you, well, what's the word......DAT

And furthermore, you're ripping everyone because "Apple is offering a product they don't like" as if our personal preferences are irrelevant to our purchases. How come YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS are so important and essential? Are you more important than everyone who can see what a dud the MacBook Air is?

And are you more important than everyone who likes what they see in the MBA? DAT

And honestly, did you EVER set down a liter of soda (not two liters, one liter) because your neck was too sore? Come on, be slightly realistic and honest for a minute. If 2 pounds causes you pain, the least of your worries is a laptop.

Actually, I have set down a 2 liter of of beverage because of discomfort in some part of my body. It all depends on how far you have to lug it. DAT

I swear, it's the same thing every time. Every Apple event there is a rash of MacRumor "Newbies / M$ Fanbois" that sign and come on the forum to post Trollbait. It's enough to make you believe 24/7 middle school is a good idea!

And in case you were wondering what DAT means, it short for "Dumb A**ed Troll".