NOT Buying a new MBA? I am going to cancel my order tomorrow...

[alpinadvl]

I posted this in another thread.... but thought this deserved its own thread - for others to chime in and respond...

I ordered a fully decked out 13.3 MBA at 12noon PST....

and ..I am now reconsidering the purchase.... and will probably cancel tomorrow.

I currently have a 2.13 MBA with 128SSD , 2gb.....

the reason for the reconsideration is the following :

1. No Backlit Keyboard

2. Not as elegant as the current MBA (in terms of hiding all ports) for a clean look.

3. No GSM/EVDO connectivity option (not a deal breaker) - but, if they were convinced enough to come out with an 11" MBA... I wouldn't be too surprised if this is in the works... especially with Verizon (CDMA) and AT&T announcing they will both be selling the iPad.

4. Apple has made a clear indication that they are moving to a streaming and (more and more) "cloud based" ideology.... the next logical step would be making a Macbook PRO without an optical drive.... it's only logical.... to fit in with their AppleTV, iPad, iPhone, and wireless / Airplay connectivity.

5. No case-machined "Power" button.... silly i know, but having a "power" keyboard button is so.... non-apple.

6. No sleep indicator light (not a big deal)

7. No infra-red (not a big deal....maybe this will be a "Pro" version)... or, this might just be supplanted by wifi controller (via Apple "Remote" App)

8. No USB 3.0 --> not really a big deal for me... but Apple has always been on the frontlines of "good" technology... it is hard to deny the advantage of USB 3.0 (however, I wonder what that would require in terms of space sacrifice in the MBA).

Basically,

there is nothing "spectacular" for me...except the 4gb upgradeability, the all Flash system... and a nicer looking display.

personally, in pictures.... the wedge shape looks weird... and has no "flair" to it.

Also, I believe if you are connecting this to an apple cinema display (especially) if you have an 11" model - it will be a very awkward connection.. but the 13" should fair the same as the outgoing current model. I only mention this... because it was one of my simple "design gripes" - and I was surprised they didn't make the connectivity more "apple-like"

Yeah,

I'm canceling my order for sure.

 

[ryannazaretian]

Just to let you know, #5 is totally Apple. Our first household Mac... Some Quadra machine, had the power button on the top right of the keyboard.

But yea, I don't blame you. I agree with #1, #6, and $7. I didn't even know about #6 and #7.

 

[Macpowered]

I'm eating some salmon tikka with cucumber yoghurt for lunch...

 

[mattb79]

Wow, that's a whole lot of anal retentive stuff to cancel an order over.

I went into the store and checked it out, but I didn't buy one because I think it was looking at me funny.

 

[lbro]

I didn't buy a windows 7 phone because I can't afford it and the OS sucks.

 

[sparkie7]

I'm eating some salmon tikka with cucumber yoghurt for lunch...

totally random. like FG

 

[sunburn]

I made a proposal on their website to order one for work mine says backlit keyboard.

MacBook Air, 128GB Flash Hard Drive 1-3 business Z0JK $1,329.00 1 $1,329.00 $1,329.00
days
Accessory Kit 065-9785
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide 065-0284
1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 065-0201
128GB Flash Storage 065-9772
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM 065-9770

 

[motulist]

I don't understand what you're talking about regarding the power button. All Mac laptops have a power button on the upper right.

 

[alpinadvl]

I'm eating some salmon tikka with cucumber yoghurt for lunch...

LOL !

Yes... i admit the list is pretty anal-retentive stuff... but I said as much in the list.... however, keep in mind I have a Rev.C loaded MBA... so, in respect to that machine... there is not much driving me to the new one.

We all know this "new" style MBA will get fleshed out in the next 2 revisions !


In the interim... an iPad will serve my apple-trinket-new-gadget "needs"

 

[re2st]

I made a proposal on their website to order one for work mine says backlit keyboard.

MacBook Air, 128GB Flash Hard Drive 1-3 business Z0JK $1,329.00 1 $1,329.00 $1,329.00
days
Accessory Kit 065-9785
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide 065-0284
1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 065-0201
128GB Flash Storage 065-9772
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM 065-9770

Good one!

 

[MacHamster68]

i had see the add for the new 11.6 MBA and thought wow is that cute i want it
999 dollars fine ,
until i went on the website of Apple UK and found its 849 POUND, and until i thought , hang on , with a bit luck there is the current model MBA and some might even buy one of these new ones and get rid of their old one and with luck i find one which still has apple care on next year , buying at the moment would be stupid as most will now try to get near to the £849 to buy a new one as always when a new Apple product comes on the market the prices for the predecessor rise for about a half year before dropping again to a more realistic level

 

[jtmav]

LOL !

Yes... i admit the list is pretty anal-retentive stuff... but I said as much in the list.... however, keep in mind I have a Rev.C loaded MBA... so, in respect to that machine... there is not much driving me to the new one.

We all know this "new" style MBA will get fleshed out in the next 2 revisions !


In the interim... an iPad will serve my apple-trinket-new-gadget "needs"

I have the same machine, it was a free replacement for a failed Rev B. While the new Air seems a bit better, it just doesn't have enough to justify an upgrade for me. I do run VM Fusion on XP but not with any intense apps and it works fine. I am sure 4 GB RAM would be nice, but I don't get the beachball now at all. While it looks like they improved some of it, it came at a cost, some of which I think lessens the attractiveness especially the backlit keyboard. Doing away with that was enough to keep me in my Rev C for now.

JTMav

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

1. No Backlit Keyboard

Step into the light. Seriously, all these claims about sunlight causing insta-melanoma are entirely overblown.

2. Not as elegant as the current MBA (in terms of hiding all ports) for a clean look.

This is actually WHY I decided to BUY this round of MBA's. I use a 'barely there' 32GB flash drive, always stays in the USB port. Now I can use it with the MBA as well. Couldn't do this with the old one.

3. No GSM/EVDO connectivity option (not a deal breaker) - but, if they were convinced enough to come out with an 11" MBA... I wouldn't be too surprised if this is in the works... especially with Verizon (CDMA) and AT&T announcing they will both be selling the iPad.

I have a Verizon MiFi. Thank god we didn't get yet ANOTHER built-in 3G radio in this round. With my MiFi one device delivers wifi to everything in my bag...phone, iPad, MBA, MBP...whatever. If I had to keep up with a different 3G account on every device I owned, not only would that get expensive, it would be wasteful.

4. Apple has made a clear indication that they are moving to a streaming and (more and more) "cloud based" ideology.... the next logical step would be making a Macbook PRO without an optical drive.... it's only logical.... to fit in with their AppleTV, iPad, iPhone, and wireless / Airplay connectivity.

Dropbox + aforementioned flash drive + AirVideo = Win. Cloud is the future...quit being such a luddite. Truthfully, Apple still hasn't quite capitalized enough on cloud-based services, but they are obviously moving closer in that direction.

5. No case-machined "Power" button.... silly i know, but having a "power" keyboard button is so.... non-apple.

Correct. You are silly.

6. No sleep indicator light (not a big deal)

Correct. No big deal.

7. No infra-red (not a big deal....maybe this will be a "Pro" version)... or, this might just be supplanted by wifi controller (via Apple "Remote" App)

Plenty of workarounds to this already. Redundant port is redundant.

8. No USB 3.0 --> not really a big deal for me... but Apple has always been on the frontlines of "good" technology... it is hard to deny the advantage of USB 3.0 (however, I wonder what that would require in terms of space sacrifice in the MBA).

Really the only thing on your list that has any merit. No Firewire and no USB3 means you are stuck with USB 2 and the cloud. Then again, see my comments about re: cloud and Apples long-range plans become self-evident.

I'm canceling my order for sure.

Understood, but stop this nonsense and just call it like it is. "Buyers Remorse" and "Apple Fail" ain't the same thing.

 

[animatedude]

I made a proposal on their website to order one for work mine says backlit keyboard.

MacBook Air, 128GB Flash Hard Drive 1-3 business Z0JK $1,329.00 1 $1,329.00 $1,329.00
days
Accessory Kit 065-9785
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide 065-0284
1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 065-0201
128GB Flash Storage 065-9772
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM 065-9770

huh? are you serious?

 

[epictempo]

Only one problem

Your only problem is no BL. Get a usb led light, now that you have unhidden usb ports (now a pro not con).

 

[eddieaus]

I made a proposal on their website to order one for work mine says backlit keyboard.

MacBook Air, 128GB Flash Hard Drive 1-3 business Z0JK $1,329.00 1 $1,329.00 $1,329.00
days
Accessory Kit 065-9785
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide 065-0284
1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 065-0201
128GB Flash Storage 065-9772
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM 065-9770

it also says your CPU is 1.6Ghz, doesn't make any sense. FAKE!

 

[patrickdunn]

huh? are you serious?

I would like to know as well...

 

[jrko]

Why do we need to know what people are not buying?

I'm not buying a mac pro because its got no built in screen (no biggy really)
I'm not buying an apple TV because its not as powerful as my Mac mini
I'm not buying an Apple 27inch screen because its not as big as my Dell 30inch screen
I'm not buying an Apple Vesa mount because I have nothing to hang on it (see above re Apple screen)
I'm not buying an Apple trackpad because its not as accurate as my tablet
I'm not buying a macbook pro replacement battery because I don't own a macbook pro

Start a new thread telling us about the virtues of your current MBA and make new MBA owners jealous that you have a sleep light

 

[MikePA]

Interestingly (at least I think so), there's a Refurbished MacBook Air 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2 gigs memory and a 128 gig SSd in the refurb store for $1,099. Hmmm.

 

[mac jones]

My biggest concern is that they left out that little standby glow light.

what a disaster.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Good for you, buy then don't buy. Who cares?

The ******** you listed is just that with the exception of the backlit keyboard. Until you have had it you don't really get how great it is if you're a person that doesn't want to sit under a bunch of light all of the time (ie: bed). However, the day a ****ing IR port is a PRO feature is the day el steveo would deserve a cock punch.

 

[RememberMac]

Then why did you order it in the first place? Think before you buy man!!!!!!!!

 

[173080]

No backlit keyboard? A plastic power button? Seriously?

They're some of the things that make a Mac more luxurious than a PC.

Apple is focusing too much on cutting costs to offer lower price points.

I would pay extra for a machined power button and for a backlit keyboard. Even for a machined aluminum keyboard.

The hidden ports on the original MBA were more elegant.

 

[HLdan]

Then why did you order it in the first place? Think before you buy man!!!!!!!!

Good, I was about to ask the same question. I never understood why this wasn't the first question asked?

 

[TheMacBookPro]

it also says your CPU is 1.6Ghz, doesn't make any sense. FAKE!

You can upgrade the proc in the 11.6" MBA from 1.4GHz to 1.6GHz for $100. FAIL!