The Air needs to get its mono speaker placed in the center of the laptop at least. I don't like sound coming from one side of the notebook. Better yet, get stereo speakers.
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New Macbook Air in November?
- Thread starter soundtonoise
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Nah, not necessarily. I have a Macbook Pro unibody that's doing fine for me right now. When I pull the trigger on an Air, I want 4GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and the line problem fixed on 100% of them (not taking a gamble). Lastly, I want it when the upgrade is brand new, so that I'll be purchasing right at the very beginning of the life cycle of that Revision. Then I'll maximize "newness", and get what I want as well.
Nah, not necessarily. I have a Macbook Pro unibody that's doing fine for me right now. When I pull the trigger on an Air, I want 4GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and the line problem fixed on 100% of them (not taking a gamble). Lastly, I want it when the upgrade is brand new, so that I'll be purchasing right at the very beginning of the life cycle of that Revision. Then I'll maximize "newness", and get what I want as well.
I'm exactly in the same place though mine was the limited edition 13" MB Alu
... I would add that I'd like the glass trackpad as well now that I've gotten used to it.
Nah, not necessarily. I have a Macbook Pro unibody that's doing fine for me right now. When I pull the trigger on an Air, I want 4GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and the line problem fixed on 100% of them (not taking a gamble). Lastly, I want it when the upgrade is brand new, so that I'll be purchasing right at the very beginning of the life cycle of that Revision. Then I'll maximize "newness", and get what I want as well.
Problem is when we get the 4 GB RAM the 256 GB SSD is going to jack the price up by $400 is my guess.
I agree one post above that the "Silky Smooth" Glass Trackpad is shear joy to use. At first it seemed like a marketing gimmick to me. After a few months of use I found it very disappointing to go back to the MBA's button. Until one has used it extensively it's difficult to understand its added value.
Apple is a master at adding enormous value with small inexpensive features. Take the glass trackpad for example, a few cents worth of glass equals tremendous value to a Mac. Apple uses the small cost upgrades to improve the user experience and more importantly "justify" the cost of a Mac to customers. Another great example is the backlit keyboard; people would often "justify" the high end unibody MB for the backlit keyboard. The total cost to Apple is around $1 per Mac - it was a $300 upgrade. Sure there were other upgraded components, but the $1 cost feature to Apple truly sold the upgraded MB to buyers. How about the aluminum casing on Mac notebooks; $4 worth of aluminum adds tremendous value for Mac buyers. It improves not just the look but the feel and even performance by acting as a gigantic heatsink.
Apple is genius also by only adding a couple of features to each upgrade. By making small incremental changes, Apple gets the enthusiasts to want to go through the hassle of getting a new Mac with each update. I am a junkie who has fallen for this trap. Could Apple have added a glass trackpad or 4 GB of RAM with its last MBA speed bump... sure but it gets another upgrade from many by waiting. Occasionally Apple makes a big update or redesign of each Mac offering, and that new design sells the Mac as a "needed" new computer to the common customer. Apple really uses the incremental and new design updates to keep sales up all the time, because Apple has to keep selling to existing Mac users. Once someone goes Mac, they get trapped into the Apple ways of "needing" an updated Mac every two to three years when new designs and components change the Mac. At the same time, their old Mac is usually still functioning fine... part of Apple's marketing genius!
Sorry for hijacking, but actually what exactly is the tremendous value brought to us with this glass trackpad? I never used one, I admitt, but I just can't think of a great advantage, really.
Take no notice of that quote of Scottsdale's. There is no "tremendous value". It has absolutely no practical advantage whatsoever over the standard trackpad, and in my experience, is much more frustrating (e.g. drag and drop) and annoying (loud "CLICK" with uneven tension) than the MBA trackpad button. Doesn't even feel 'silky smooth' and cold to the touch like you'd expect glass to. One of Apple's most gimmicky features of recent times.Sorry for hijacking, but actually what exactly is the tremendous value brought to us with this glass trackpad? I never used one, I admitt, but I just can't think of a great advantage, really.
I have mixed feelings about the glass trackpad. It's surface is really awesome. Even if previous trackpads on aluminum were already good, the glass gives it an edge, for sure.
But I like having the dedicated button. I've found myself right clicking or zooming things accidentally all the time -- probably because i'm used to manipulate the trackpad with both hands, one finger resting over the button, without actually clicking it.
But I like having the dedicated button. I've found myself right clicking or zooming things accidentally all the time -- probably because i'm used to manipulate the trackpad with both hands, one finger resting over the button, without actually clicking it.
The glass trackpad DOES add tremendous value. I would guess that 90% who use it fall in love within a few days. Read many a posts bragging about it. I absolutely LOVE the feel. It does take some getting used to but a separate button makes ZERO sense.
So, don't discount what I say if you disagree. Let's let those who have actually used it on their primary Mac for let's say a week decide how valuable it might be. I used one for two months. It was complete disappointment going back to the MBA's trackpad and button.
I love the MBA, but the button and plastic trackpad need to be updated to the joy of the glass buttonless trackpad.
So, don't discount what I say if you disagree. Let's let those who have actually used it on their primary Mac for let's say a week decide how valuable it might be. I used one for two months. It was complete disappointment going back to the MBA's trackpad and button.
I love the MBA, but the button and plastic trackpad need to be updated to the joy of the glass buttonless trackpad.
So I'm sure you can answer my question then.
Don't tell me it's the feel of it only ...
Sorry Scottsdale but you sound that you are just advertising for something that doesn't really do anything special. The cons of the glass touchpad are more than the pros.
"tremendous value" = you would know when someone is using your machine due to the high noise coming from pressing it? LOL!
"tremendous value" = you would know when someone is using your machine due to the high noise coming from pressing it?
LOL!
Ok, maybe tremendous value is a slight overstatement -- but I agree with the sentiment. After using the glass for a while it is very difficult to go back. To me, it's similar to the experience of when you first got the "back button" or the "scroll wheel" on the mouse. (granted the multi-touch features are available on the trackpads as well).
The feel is much smoother to me than the regular trackpads.
The area is larger I believe (though I don't know that for sure).
There are likely other reasons. Personally, I don't think you can fully understand it without putting some real time into using the glasspad... But, like everything, everyone has an opinion.
I think many wishes expressed here are not realistic. But, when Nehalem is here , Apple could easily come up with a new MBair, as is , but simply upgraded to 2.53 G, 4GB of memory, 2 USB and 160GB SSD would make an enormous difference. This 2 weeks old of mine would make way for the new one.. Anytime.
But glass trackpad and black bezel would surely put me off.
But glass trackpad and black bezel would surely put me off.
"Value" is dependent on a user's needs, but there are a few advantages of the glass trackpad that I have observed
1. The glass trackpad is MUCH more responsive. There is virtually no latency between finger gestures, such as tap, pinch zoom, swipes, and their executions on screen. Trackpad found on MBA (present on both rev. B and C) has a noticeable split second delay that compromises the multi touch experience
2. The glass trackpad has much higher "fidelity" to the finger gestures. The 2-finger gesture scrolls with incredibly high fidelity, almost as if you're physically moving the page with your fingers. The MBA scrolling experience is much more in line with previous Mac trackpads, which is less responsive but acceptable
3. Glass trackpad requires much less pressure to activate. This has been an advantage to me
4. Glass trackpad removes the elevated button that is known to scuff the MBA bezel, near the iSight camera. This is a widely reported problem
1. The glass trackpad is MUCH more responsive. There is virtually no latency between finger gestures, such as tap, pinch zoom, swipes, and their executions on screen. Trackpad found on MBA (present on both rev. B and C) has a noticeable split second delay that compromises the multi touch experience
2. The glass trackpad has much higher "fidelity" to the finger gestures. The 2-finger gesture scrolls with incredibly high fidelity, almost as if you're physically moving the page with your fingers. The MBA scrolling experience is much more in line with previous Mac trackpads, which is less responsive but acceptable
3. Glass trackpad requires much less pressure to activate. This has been an advantage to me
4. Glass trackpad removes the elevated button that is known to scuff the MBA bezel, near the iSight camera. This is a widely reported problem
Sorry Scottsdale but you sound that you are just advertising for something that doesn't really do anything special. The cons of the glass touchpad are more than the pros.
"tremendous value" = you would know when someone is using your machine due to the high noise coming from pressing it?
Would you care to elaborate what you think the cons are? Clicking noise? Have you ever owned a Macbook (Pro) with the glass trackpad?
Sorry Scottsdale but you sound that you are just advertising for something that doesn't really do anything special. The cons of the glass touchpad are more than the pros.
"tremendous value" = you would know when someone is using your machine due to the high noise coming from pressing it?
I'm annoyed when I use the trackpad on my black macbook after using the glass one on my MBP. It's way better, smoother, and feels better. I couldn't care less about the clicking sound of the glass trackpad. Sound doesn't matter at all to me, and the feel of it is everything.
First of all, I'd like to say that I love the glass trackpad feel, however, it's not a huge deal to me whether or not the MBA get's one button for the whole thing, or a separate button. This is because it already has a huge trackpad, and I use tap to click. What I would like to see in the MBA is (along with everyone else) 4gb RAM, and (everyone will kill me for this one) a q9000 intel processor. I see all of the problems with this, yes, but the truth is that the W/h ratings for this processor aren't much higher than the 2.16ghz custom intel processor in it now. I would only like to see this as an upgrade, of course. For all those who want my head for this, I only want to dream, and seeing a quad core processor in an air would sell one too me, even if it cost $3500.
Loosing the point.
Firstable, to say how easy it is with Apple products to loose the point.
Macbook Air is a Macbook Air, not a thin Macbook Pro.
Here is my case. I owned a 1.8 MBA, that was very easy to deal with. Not much power, sometimes hot enough to fry an egg...., but very suitable for what i really did with it. That was, mainly, web surfing, mailing, access to my Mac Pro via ARD and siimilar easy tasks. Able to execute every programs, but dont expect to be as fast as a ray. The main job was done in my Mac Pro.
Till the new Macbook Pro came. Guauuu. New screen, SD bootable slot, and an improved battery. Sold the MBA. Bough the MBP. Even i bought a 256GB SSD for it. And everything is incredible in this 2.53 MBP. It boots so fast that its incredible. Virtual machines seems as fast as those running native in other laptops.
But..... Not necessary so much power for what i use to do. And after some days, i misssed my MBA. Its incredible, cause there is not as much difference weight , were are not talking about pounds and pounds.... But..., you can bet, you note it. MBA used to come with me in my bag, as a if it was a book. Not the the MBP.
So many words to give you a very simple advice. I forgot it, so maybe some of you could forget too
Don´t loose the point. Think what you expect from your next laptop before. It may comes to a very expensive forget.
P.D : I write this from my new 2.13 MBA. Next days the MBP will find a most happy owner that can use it as it deserves, as a standalone machine for everything.
Firstable, to say how easy it is with Apple products to loose the point.
Macbook Air is a Macbook Air, not a thin Macbook Pro.
Here is my case. I owned a 1.8 MBA, that was very easy to deal with. Not much power, sometimes hot enough to fry an egg...., but very suitable for what i really did with it. That was, mainly, web surfing, mailing, access to my Mac Pro via ARD and siimilar easy tasks. Able to execute every programs, but dont expect to be as fast as a ray. The main job was done in my Mac Pro.
Till the new Macbook Pro came. Guauuu. New screen, SD bootable slot, and an improved battery. Sold the MBA. Bough the MBP. Even i bought a 256GB SSD for it. And everything is incredible in this 2.53 MBP. It boots so fast that its incredible. Virtual machines seems as fast as those running native in other laptops.
But..... Not necessary so much power for what i use to do. And after some days, i misssed my MBA. Its incredible, cause there is not as much difference weight , were are not talking about pounds and pounds.... But..., you can bet, you note it. MBA used to come with me in my bag, as a if it was a book. Not the the MBP.
So many words to give you a very simple advice. I forgot it, so maybe some of you could forget too
Don´t loose the point. Think what you expect from your next laptop before. It may comes to a very expensive forget.
P.D : I write this from my new 2.13 MBA. Next days the MBP will find a most happy owner that can use it as it deserves, as a standalone machine for everything.
yea, honestly, i am more concerned about the aesthetics of it at this point. i want glass screen, glass trackpad, and 1 more USB port. realistically, i personally dont care is anything else gets bumped. although, bigger hdd/ram is NEVER a bad thing.
Sorry for hijacking, but actually what exactly is the tremendous value brought to us with this glass trackpad? I never used one, I admitt, but I just can't think of a great advantage, really.
There isn't any. People are just buying into Apple's marketing.