"FAILURES" ??? "BACKBURNERS" ??? The attention the MacBook Air generated for Apple when it was first released, the attention the Air still gets from the general consumer is invaluable to begin with. Not to mention Apple has resources proven time and time again to be deeper than even the best Tech Analysts predict PLUS they have $29 BILLION cash in the bank !!
You think Apple see's the MBA as a failure and it's been put on the backburners? I couldn't disagree more. Didn't the MBA 'wow' the Apple Board of Directors/Shareholders alike, re-instill confidence in Apple's design abilities ETC ETC ... do you forgot all that. The Air gave Apple a boost in many ways, AND it's the direction of computers, no?
You do realize right, that Apple exec's aren't sitting around today discussing what they're going to be doing with the hardware on the Air next week or next month, same goes for the tablet ... the "designs, changes, improvements" have been planned a long time ago, compared to what's insinuated here. Whether it's the Air or a new Tablet the design/hardware is done months previous to it's release.
For example, Apple is most likely well past the next set of revisions to the MacBook Air, if the next revision is going to be referred to as 3.0, then you can bet the Engineers are planning versions 4.0 and 5.0 right now, same goes for the MBP's, iMacs any product for that matter. Granted in the tech industry the timeline's are much shorter as parts improve, but the 'design' and hardware is planned long in advance.
Somewhere high up in Apple they're planning what Mac's they'll be releasing through Q2, maybe Q3 possibly Q4 2010 ... what's coming out in Q4 '09, and Q1 '10 has been planned long ago ... they'll be working on final tweaks, software and QC that's about it.....
But come on, everyone knows at the very least the future of computers is thinner and lighter, Apple pioneered that and shocked the world ... how does "failed product" and put the MBA on the "backburner" make any sense at all?
Take a quick poll in the MBP section or even MB section at what people's opinions are of the MBA. I would say that HALF of the original MBA buyers will NEVER buy an MBA ever again no matter how much it improves. The original FAILURES were complete. Macs just worked until the MBA. Then people experienced overheating, core shutdowns, freeze ups, and kernal panics.
The unfortunate thoughts of the MBA by most are it cannot even play a video without overheating. Of the 21 people I knew who bought an original MBA, 20 were onto a different computer within a year. Only 7 bought another MBA. The other 13 were onto different Mac and even PCs. The consensus was that the MBA was JUNK! It was NOT CAPABLE. And yes, IT WAS A FAILURE.
Now, I don't care how many people are going to jump out and say they loved theirs... before CoolBook and updates, the original MBA just didn't work! That memory lasts. It has ruined the brand name of MacBook Air. Imagine just how different the story would be if the rev B had been the original??? Imagine just how memorable and great the reviews would have been.
THE AVERAGE MAC USER CONSIDERS THE MBA MERE NOVELTY! It takes a certain person to forgive the original failures... to look past the misfortunes and negative remarks... and give the new MBAs a real chance to become their love.
When people give the Nvidia MBAs a chance, they generally fall in love. Now, we all disagree about what makes the MBA great or usable or etc. But we all have come to love our MBAs whether we use them as our primary Mac & SOLE computer, our Mac notebook, or just as a secondary Mac to do light work.
Unfortunately, I have to say that if Apple had released the Nvidia MBA as its original, the MBA would have a solid BRAND name moving forward. Right now, I know of people who refuse to EVER buy another Mac again because the original MBA failed them, and they blamed Jobs for selling them a piece of *****! That's the truth.
I still hear moans and groans when I talk about how great my MBA is in some crowds. Some joke that I must be a light user. Unfortunately, I think your view of the MBA isn't the common or average view of the MBA. I know this from my own experience. It helps me understand because I work with a bunch of educators, engineers, and etc who often use the Mac and in much greater numbers have their own experiences with Macs and, most specifically, the MBA.
It will take a long long time for all to forget the failures of the MacBook Air brand. I guarantee that Apple wishes it could take the original back. I would bet that the original was a failure financially not just for itself but ruined potential sale value of future Nvidia MBAs. Jobs surely knows how wrong his keynote was and the MBA was never ready for the masses.
So we all can act like the MBA is our savior, but in its first revision it truly was more novelty... in later revisions it has been shear Mac pleasure.
Failure overall... NO. But failure to far too many... YES.
