Not a Netbook!

[iZac]

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

 

[Carouser]

Like I said in an earlier post, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quakes like a duck - its a duck. . . this puppy looks, and sounds like a netbook, so its a netbook, regardless of the price.

'Netbook' is an arbitrary category. One can define 'netbook' in a way which includes the MBA and one can define 'netbook' in a way which excludes the MBA. 'Netbook' is nothing but what is covered by the definition(s), it's not an essential property of a device. Why, the anandtech review you quoted even extends the definition of 'netbook' to include devices with full-sized keyboards, faster processors than other netbooks, and different screens. If the definition of 'netbook' is so elastic, then it doesn't mean much to call something a netbook to begin with. I don't even know what distinguishes a netbook from something else, if you can stretch the definition in these ways. Why, then, would people care whether the MBA is a netbook or not? Why not call all things 'laptops' or 'computers' and then compare on spec or some other criteria? 'Netbook' doesn't demarcate objects in any useful sense, so I wonder why people care so much about whether the MBA belongs or not. I conclude that 'netbook' is not a very useful category and thus avoid using it. People generally just use it to smear a device through equivocation.

If you say 'the MBA is a netbook, facts is facts, a duck is a duck' then you don't understand this.

So its a great computer but it is a netbook. . . I really like the 11" MBA, but its a netbook

The use of 'but' in these cases says that 'great computer' and 'netbook' are opposing categories, with 'netbook' being a diminutive term 1. Otherwise one could say 'it's a great computer and it's a netbook'. As a result, a comment like 'welp, it's objectively a netbook, why do fanboys get bent out of shape at my factual analysis' is disingenuous because it relies on a definition of 'netbook' which is clearly deprecatory.

1 Just like 'she's a nice girl, but she's a blonde' or 'it's a nice car, but it's a Toyota', etc.

 

[highscheme]

'Netbook' is an arbitrary category. One can define 'netbook' in a way which includes the MBA and one can define 'netbook' in a way which excludes the MBA. 'Netbook' is nothing but what is covered by the definition(s), it's not an essential property of a device. Why, the anandtech review you quoted even extends the definition of 'netbook' to include devices with full-sized keyboards, faster processors than other netbooks, and different screens. If the definition of 'netbook' is so elastic, then it doesn't mean much to call something a netbook to begin with. I don't even know what distinguishes a netbook from something else, if you can stretch the definition in these ways. Why, then, would people care whether the MBA is a netbook or not? Why not call all things 'laptops' or 'computers' and then compare on spec or some other criteria? 'Netbook' doesn't demarcate objects in any useful sense, so I wonder why people care so much about whether the MBA belongs or not. I conclude that 'netbook' is not a very useful category and thus avoid using it. People generally just use it to smear a device through equivocation.

If you say 'the MBA is a netbook, facts is facts, a duck is a duck' then you don't understand this.



The use of 'but' in these cases says that 'great computer' and 'netbook' are opposing categories, with 'netbook' being a diminutive term 1. Otherwise one could say 'it's a great computer and it's a netbook'. As a result, a comment like 'welp, it's objectively a netbook, why do fanboys get bent out of shape at my factual analysis' is disingenuous because it relies on a definition of 'netbook' which is clearly deprecatory.

1 Just like 'she's a nice girl, but she's a blonde' or 'it's a nice car, but it's a Toyota', etc.

you did logically son him pretty hard

contratulations

 

[gwsat]

'Netbook' is an arbitrary category. One can define 'netbook' in a way which includes the MBA and one can define 'netbook' in a way which excludes the MBA. . . . I conclude that 'netbook' is not a very useful category and thus avoid using it. People generally just use it to smear a device through equivocation.

If you say 'the MBA is a netbook, facts is facts, a duck is a duck' then you don't understand this.[/SIZE]

Well said. The critical factor to me is that too many of those who call the 11 inch MBA a "netbook" without further qualification are doing so as a not so subtle jab at Steve Jobs' comment that Apple would never make a netbook. But as you so articulately put it, "netbook" is an arbitrary word that has no fixed meaning, so those who insist on using it unqualifiedly are just showing their ignorance, or meanspiritedness, depending on your point of view.

 

[Kenrik]

Regarding price...

The Processor alone runs $270
+ $100ish for the SSD..
+ $30 Ram
+motherboard/graphics Maybe another $120?
Case, LCD etc.?

I expect it costs Apple somewhere in the area of $600 to make that $950 laptop..

Those margins are really small by Apples standards..

 

[Kenrik]

Actually $718

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...ther_Apple_laptops_says_analyst?taxonomyId=12

I paid $950... with education discount.

I really don't see how you can compare it to a $600 PC netbook when the parts alone cost more than $600... It's seriously not in the same galaxy as PC netbooks.

 

[calibrad]

This article may shed some light on the subject.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20020827-64.html?tag=mncol;posts

 

[HLdan]

But so what?? So what if the whole world sees your 11.6" MBA as a Netbook, so what? Does it really matter what someone labels it as long as you're happy with it?

 

[kimleeson]

Netbook NOT a notebook

This thing was soooooo small. I purchased it the first day, used it for a week and returned it. It's just too small. I couldt get used to it. I got the 13" version of it and luving it

 

[darngooddesign]

I miss the term subnotebook.

 

[1appleAday]

This thing was soooooo small. I purchased it the first day, used it for a week and returned it. It's just too small. I couldt get used to it. I got the 13" version of it and luving it

Glad the 13" version works out for you! But I can see some people prefers the 11" for various reasons (reduce travel weight is the first one I can think of)

 

[lespaul85]

Who cares? Really.

Ok to flesh out my response a little.....

If "notebook":"netbook" = "apples":"oranges"
Then notebook = apple
And netbook = orange
This is an apple so since apple = notebook then it's quite clear it's a notebook

There. Logic just as dumb as the argument.

-posted from my iPad..... A notebook cause it's Apple.

 

[MrFlynn]

iPad is closer to a netbook then the macbook air.

This netbook deal is as annoying as the media calling it "an ipad with a keyboard."

Really? It runs ios? no? 1ghz A4 chip? no? Touch Screen with apps you get from the App Store? No?

So let me get this strait...it has no touch screen, no A4 chip, doesn't run ios, doesn't run a single app from the app store...but its an ipad with a keyboard?

No sir. Your about as much a journalist as the MacBook Air is an iPad with a keyboard.

 

[gianly1985]

 

[maflynn]

Who cares? Really.

Ok to flesh out my response a little.....

If "notebook":"netbook" = "apples":"oranges"
Then notebook = apple
And netbook = orange
This is an apple so since apple = notebook then it's quite clear it's a notebook

There. Logic just as dumb as the argument.

-posted from my iPad..... A notebook cause it's Apple.

While I have enjoyed the debate, clearly its a sensitive topic since there are so many people trying to defend the notion that its not a netbook. Personally, I do't care, heck I don't even own one yet but this thread was started because someone felt he needed to defend their MBA from the insults of calling it a netbook.

 

[Carouser]

While I have enjoyed the debate, clearly its a sensitive topic since there are so many people trying to defend the notion that its not a netbook.

Yes, clearly very very sensitive, since there are also many people trying to defend the notion that it is a netbook.

And yet there are others again who recognize that the term 'netbook' is a distinction without a difference, that to say the MBA is or is not a netbook is to say absolutely nothing at all. Well, it might provide comfort to pedants, or allow someone to smuggle in condescension under the guise of their steely-eyed objectivity, but that's equally worthless.

 

[maflynn]

allow someone to smuggle in condescension under the guise of their steely-eyed objectivity, but that's equally worthless.

What I gathered from this thread is a level of arrogance, in that if you disagree with the idea its not a netbook, clearly you have little computer knowledge and are ignorant of things computer related.

Personally, I really don't care but as I already posted, I enjoyed the debate.

Also, I'll say this before (in all likelihood) leaving this topic and thread for good is that, like many other debates (mac vs. pc, ford vs gm, etc) There's no way one side is going to convince the other. My opinions were not altered and I saw no compelling reason to drop the notion the MBA is a netbook. Conversely, I and others failed to "convince" the folks who don't believe its a netbook.

Bottom line is this: Do you like the MBA, great, if not there's other macs. Who cares if I or others call it a netbook (and vice versa)

 

[Carouser]

My opinions were not altered and I saw no compelling reason to drop the notion the MBA is a netbook. Conversely, I and others failed to "convince" the folks who don't believe its a netbook.

You've still ignored what I said earlier in the thread about how when you say "It's a netbook" or "It's not a netbook" you're really saying nothing substantive at all. Whatever answer you reach, there is nothing to be drawn from it.

I have no idea what your definition of 'netbook' is which would make it of any use. I've never tried to convince anybody that it is or isn't a 'netbook', I've tried to disabuse people of the idea that the term 'netbook' refers to anything meaningful. It's like the previous post by bruinsma about 'it's not a car it's an automobile'.