Why Apple Did What They Did

[KamiNoYadoru]

It's also twice as thick as the MBA, about half a pound heavier, nowhere near as attractive IMO, and any "perks" on the hardware such as trackpad features or ambient light sensing are dependent on how well they integrate with windows, as opposed to the very smooth operation you get from the MBA.

Don't try and claim that the Z exposes the MBA for being overpriced when there are several things that the MBA does that the Z doesn't or can't, completely outside of OSX vs. Windows.

The Envy 133 comes close in the design department but still falls very short when it comes to that integrated OS + hardware package and all the little additions that makes using apple hardware so smooth, and until they update the specs, actually costs more than the MBA for inferior specs.

The real key to this discussion and this argument is that complaining about the MBA being overpriced when NOBODY else is offering the same package OUTSIDE of the OS choice (I like OSX, but I am in no way married to it) rings false. If the MBA's strong points don't appeal to you, fine, there are other laptops for you. However, if they do, there's nothing else that comes close right now, so don't attempt to tell me what those features are worth to me. It's cool if it's not the computer for you.

 

[AppliedMicro]

it doesn't have OSX and it's a deal killer for me.

For me too.

Don't try and claim that the Z exposes the MBA for being overpriced when there are several things that the MBA does that the Z doesn't or can't, completely outside of OSX vs. Windows.

But these are minor things.

For a start, I suppose the Air's trackpad capabilities / gestures are handled in software (OS X). And there isn't much else what can be done with the Air but cannot with Sony cannot. Magsafe maybe...? Keyboard backlighting is just a nice-to-have, as is its design. And don't get me started on what you can do with the FireWire port, as opposed to the Air. The discussion is all over this forum.

So what's supposed to be so unique about the Air?

Now please don't get me wrong.
I like the MacBook Air as a product. I really do.
It's almost perfect as a product, if you ask me.
It has got about anything I would want in a notebook (including design and form factor).

But I still can't help but feel that it's another case of Apple-ish overpricing.
Not even the backlit keyboard is worth so many $.
I stand by that point.
In any case, it clearly shows in the optional connectivity department:
$87 plus tax for basic VGA / DVI / Ethernet connectivity?!

Only passive rewiring and the right connectors are necessary for the graphics.
And to make matters worse, the DVI adapter is DVI-D only, even though they could easily have made it a DVI-I.
That's what I call a corporate rip-off.

Seriously... who would call that "comparatively reasonable" pricing?!

 

[gooddeal]

I just don't understand why people keep posting/arguing on something they know they don't need/want. If you don't appreciate the thinnest/design of the Air (OS X?), the Air is not for you. If you can live w/ an I4 engine, you wouldn't be able to understand why people spend more money to get a V6 engine plus they need to spend more money on gas.

 

[KamiNoYadoru]

For me too.

And don't get me started on what you can do with the FireWire port

I don't use firewire.

So what's supposed to be so unique about the Air?

But I still can't help but feel that it's another case of Apple-ish overpricing.
Not even the backlit keyboard is worth so many $.
I stand by that point.

Show me another laptop that's as thin, light, and well-engineered as the air with as powerful specs, and as good and big a display, keyboard, and trackpad for less money.

In any case, it clearly shows in the optional connectivity department:
$87 plus tax for basic VGA / DVI / Ethernet connectivity?!

I have a good wireless network wherever I go (my iphone suffices when wifi is not an option) and I never hook my lapper up to an external display, and when I do, it will be to a 24" LED ACD. So what do I care what it costs for ports that I never use? If you do, you might not find the MBA worth the money. I don't, and I do.

That's what I call a corporate rip-off.

Seriously... who would call that "comparatively reasonable" pricing?!

I don't care about ports, and the MBA has no competitor that can do everything it can do, be it windows or OSX, and the closest competitor costs more. The guy above me has it right.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Show me another laptop that's as thin, light

There are few, if any. But the Air design itself isn't all that remarkable, considering that Apple just cut features from other notebooks.

the MBA has no competitor that can do everything it can do

OK, now I really want to get this, but I just can't. So please, anyone tell me:

what is it that competing notebooks can't supposedly do?

Nitpicking aside; so please don't tell me about a few trackpad gestures or how the Air is just that critical half an inch slimmer to fit into something at your place.

 

[MacsBestFriend]

i'm glad that apple doesn't include the optical drive on MBA, that thing is ancient dude!

i hope macbook and macbook pro will not have optical drive and just include the external superdrive, it will be less weight and much thinner laptops.

An optical drive will become obsolete when all CD's and DVD's are on solid state cards you plug into your TV, possibly when USB 3 comes out. Optical drives will become obsolete when other game companies use the iTunes method and sell video games wirelessly. This is going to be the future of media, it's going to be here, come three more years...

 

[TheReef]

They could have fit an extra USB, a Firewire, or with some more work even an express card slot on the left side

 

[UltraNEO*]

i'm glad that apple doesn't include the optical drive on MBA, that thing is ancient dude!

i hope macbook and macbook pro will not have optical drive and just include the external superdrive, it will be less weight and much thinner laptops.

You know what would be even better? If they created a self-recovery partition on the HD. This way they won't need a external optical drive, either! But you'll lose like 10Gb to system backups! Can you afford that on a already tiny drive?

 

[aleni]

You know what would be even better? If they created a self-recovery partition on the HD. This way they won't need a external optical drive, either! But you'll lose like 10Gb to system backups! Can you afford that on a already tiny drive?

can't afford to lose any more HD space. it's better installing the air over the remote disc, or better supply a recovery disk in a usb flash disk and sell it for $5 (apple subsidized price). i would buy it without a thinking.

 

[UltraNEO*]

can't afford to lose any more HD space. it's better installing the air over the remote disc, or better supply a recovery disk in a usb flash disk and sell it for $5 (apple subsidized price). i would buy it without a thinking.

You could create one yourself...

 

[aleni]

You could create one yourself...

could u give a link for the tutorial. i will be gladly to do it.

 

[dougelo7]

could u give a link for the tutorial. i will be gladly to do it.

You would insert the disk into either the MBA SuperDrive or a Remote Disk computer; also you could use a non-MBA Mac to do this, but you couldn't use a standalone PC (you'd need MBA to oversee the procedure):

Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD, then open Disk Utility in the already-installed operating system (don't boot from the DVD). Select the disk and click New Image, then select DVD Master, then continue (I forget the exact button names, but they're somewhere close to what I just listed). Save the new image to the thumb drive in question.

After the computer finishes you've got you're bootable USB copy of Leopard that you can conveniently install on your MacBook Air.

(BTW I think you'd need like an 8GB thumb drive - Leopard is 4GB and then some.)

 

[aleni]

You would insert the disk into either the MBA SuperDrive or a Remote Disk computer; also you could use a non-MBA Mac to do this, but you couldn't use a standalone PC (you'd need MBA to oversee the procedure):

Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD, then open Disk Utility in the already-installed operating system (don't boot from the DVD). Select the disk and click New Image, then select DVD Master, then continue (I forget the exact button names, but they're somewhere close to what I just listed). Save the new image to the thumb drive in question.

After the computer finishes you've got you're bootable USB copy of Leopard that you can conveniently install on your MacBook Air.

(BTW I think you'd need like an 8GB thumb drive - Leopard is 4GB and then some.)

oh sweet dude! i almost buy the superdrive just to install the OS incase something bad happens. but until now, nothing happens that needs the reinstall if the OS. thanks!

 

[KamiNoYadoru]

There are few, if any. But the Air design itself isn't all that remarkable, considering that Apple just cut features from other notebooks.

Exactly. There are no competitors who can do what the air does in the same space at the same price. You lament over the lack of features I don't care about, so it's remarkable that they're gone, making the end product more capable for what *I* need it for and slimmer and lighter than anything else out there.

OK, now I really want to get this, but I just can't. So please, anyone tell me:

what is it that competing notebooks can't supposedly do?

Nitpicking aside; so please don't tell me about a few trackpad gestures or how the Air is just that critical half an inch slimmer to fit into something at your place.

I don't think you get it at all. The fact that the MBA is extremely slim and light IS what the other notebooks can't do. You're touching it, you're carrying it around, how it feels and how it works IS a feature just like the screen and keyboard are. The fact that it's a fully functional and capable notebook (at least the rev2s are) with a high end feel in a thin, sleek package IS what makes it unique. I've used other notebooks, other ultraportables, other Macbooks, and nothing feels as good as the Air. I don't give a **** about what features it's missing because what it does RIGHT nothing else does. Your whole point was ZOMG OVERPRICED RAGE~ and what you fail to see is that for someone who appreciates what it does do, nothing else can measure up. Nitpicking? Not on your ****ing life.

 

[KamiNoYadoru]

oh sweet dude! i almost buy the superdrive just to install the OS incase something bad happens. but until now, nothing happens that needs the reinstall if the OS. thanks!

That is brilliant, I never thought of that. I might have to do this as well.

 

[twist2b]

I don't even have to rampage on something stupid. I will just show you a link and you figure out:
1. Why the MBA is the price it is
2. Why the MBA is the BEST portable when it comes to specs and size
3. Why you can't find ANY other deal like the AIR:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
Just check out the $449 specs and you tell me why the AIR PWNS ALL.

Also, note that the air is over 4 times as powerful and about 4 times the price.



SSD - Get it in your head that its still expensive, ESPECIALLY 128 GB NEW version. If the SSD was cheaper (and hopefully it will be soon) the Air would be cheaper.

Thats all I am going to say for now.

 

[ppc750fx]

what is it that competing notebooks can't supposedly do?

Nitpicking aside; so please don't tell me about a few trackpad gestures or how the Air is just that critical half an inch slimmer to fit into something at your place.

No, we will tell you about those features, because they are what make the notebook what it is.

You can argue they're not important features for you (and at least for me, they aren't,) but for some people they are -- and for those people, those are precisely the things that "competing notebooks can't supposedly do."

Oh, and trackpad gestures aren't just a software thing -- there's got to be some level of hardware support to detect multiple contact points.

 

[ic1]

Security Slot

The Gallery on the Apple Store site shows what appears to be a security lock slot on each side of the latest MacAir revision. Would one of you be so kind as to confirm that there is at least one?