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Why do some apple user hate the MBA
- Thread starter Heavenkittykat
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I used to use an optical drive all the time - now I rarely use it apart from the odd occasion that I played a DVD for my son whilst we awaited a DVD player for the TV. I've burnt two DVD's and will edit some movies of my son and put those on a DVD at some point, but thats it so far in 6 months of owning this MB.
Flash memory is cheap and convenient and so are external drives. I wouldn't miss not carrying around an optical drive.
Optical drives don't carry quite the importance they did.
Welcome back mosx - what happened?
One nice thing about the PowerBook G4 12 inch is that it is a full featured laptop with optical drive.
I got my Dad one and he loves it. It has worked well over the years.
I am frequently amused at how much emotion is expressed over the MBA. I own one but then I also own numerous computers including 17" MBP. Apple OSX is in my opinion is a pleasure to live with and it runs best on Apple hardware (as compared to hackentoshes).
Emotion over the retail cost of Apple products is also amusing. Why not sell products at what the market will bear? I am also amazed at how many people will pay for extend warranty support (again why not sell it if people are willing to purchase it?).
The never ending cry for more performance creates a churn in used Apple hardware that is usually in near perfect condition at fractions of the original cost. Set back and enjoy.
The shine goes off these products so quickly for so many it is amusing (the oringinal iphone for example). I love Apple and the excitement and distress in the market that it causes.
Neil
Emotion over the retail cost of Apple products is also amusing. Why not sell products at what the market will bear? I am also amazed at how many people will pay for extend warranty support (again why not sell it if people are willing to purchase it?).
The never ending cry for more performance creates a churn in used Apple hardware that is usually in near perfect condition at fractions of the original cost. Set back and enjoy.
The shine goes off these products so quickly for so many it is amusing (the oringinal iphone for example). I love Apple and the excitement and distress in the market that it causes.
Neil
PowerFullMac said:Actually, as comouters get more powerful, the software gets more complex and needs more resources to run, so if you get a low-end computer you will need to buy another one after one or two years if you want to update to the latest OS.Computers continue to get faster and Faster and FASTER, but for many people, their computing needs haven't increased over time. Rather than buying a faster machine every 2 years, what's wrong with buying something lighter, or sleeker, if your needs haven't increased?
Answer: Nothing.
I think you're thinking about this the wrong way. I asked what was wrong with someone who bought their next computer system (say in Sept, 2010) because it's lighter and sleeker, if his/her computing needs don't change. Of course, even if software becomes more complex over those 2 years (like you said), any new computer you buy in 2010 will naturally keep pace with OS updates. All computers in 2010 will be faster than nearly ALL computers today, so whether you need a faster computer or not, your next system will likely be faster. If what you do on a computer hasn't become more complex, and you don't want a smaller screen or keyboard, then you may as well give a greater consideration to thickness and weight rather than CPU power, as your new system will be faster regardless of which you choose.
Go outside and ask random people that you meet if they need all that stuff. Most people will say "No", and these are the people who would be fulfilled by an MBA.
Also, the MBA is actually cheaper than the Lenovo and Sony ultra-thin portables, and is faster than the X300. If the MBA doesn't lack any of the ports you need from the Sony and Lenovo, you may as well get the cheaper MBA. Why would someone care that the Sony has 3 USB ports if he/she only uses one his/her MacBook?
You may be thinking that I'm a particularly simple computer user with very basic needs. No. I run simulations which simulate photon transport through "materials" (i.e. anything that exists on Earth, and anything which doesn't even exist (yet), and yet is something I can describe) because sometimes it's difficult to physically do in real life. The simulations are processed on a small cluster of 40-something multi-core Intel CPUs hooked up together. A job take around 10 days, and I need months of processing to get enough data.
Despite my heavy needs, the MBA would be adequate as none of that processing could ever be done on a laptop or desktop!! On ANY laptop with a good sized screen and keyboard, I can write LaTeX documents, check email, browse the net, and draw schematic diagrams for journal papers. Would be great if it was lightweight and looked great. There aren't many of these types of laptops for less money than an MBA.
WOW!
That's the best way I have ever heard it, and the only way to turn that meaningless comment around. Good job PFM!
It's cute, and kind of funny.....except that the analogy didn't make any sense.
I'd say that the main reasons why the MBA is so comparatively expensive for its lack of hardware is because the expensive for engineering it to be so thin is built into the cost. Not everyone needs a full-featured laptop when traveling and for those people a thin and light computer is extremely valuable because it's so easy to travel with.
That may well be true, but also ask people if they want to buy the equivalent of a £200 webbook for over £1k, and see what they say.
It's cute, and kind of funny.....except that the analogy didn't make any sense.
Yes it does, check what I wrote above in this post... The MBA is a £200 computer for over £1k... A 99c hamburger for $20!
Its nice to look at and crappy to use, core shutdowns, fans all the time Heat issues, very beautiful package, BUT not useful.
Sold mine a month after release and went back to a Macbook
My issues as well. I wanted to like it.
But that assumes the MBA and netbook are the same, and you're just paying more for the MBA. They're not the same at all. The netbooks are pretty much only meant for using the internet for short periods of time.
If you want lightweight AND a good-sized screen at normal resolution, using a normal-sized keyboard, a Dell Mini 9 isn't going to cut it.
I just think that most of the things you've said are completely unfounded, as if you decided to just make stuff up like a 14 year old who doesn't care if he's completely wrong, as long as it sounds good coming out of the mouth.
But if you want to tell us, again, that the MBA is only as good as a netbook, go ahead. But for those people who know that:
-Intel Core 2 Duo ≠ Atom (or VIA)
-a comfy 13.3" laptop with 1280 x 800 resolution ≠ a cramped 9" screen with 1000 x 600 resolution.
-a good, full sized keyboard ≠ a miniscule keyboard with compromised key positioning (function keys on the middle row....WTF?)
....then good luck. And I'd have some idea, since I'm actually interested in the Dell Mini 9, a netbook which I just cut up.
If you want lightweight AND a good-sized screen at normal resolution, using a normal-sized keyboard, a Dell Mini 9 isn't going to cut it.
I just think that most of the things you've said are completely unfounded, as if you decided to just make stuff up like a 14 year old who doesn't care if he's completely wrong, as long as it sounds good coming out of the mouth.
But if you want to tell us, again, that the MBA is only as good as a netbook, go ahead. But for those people who know that:
-Intel Core 2 Duo ≠ Atom (or VIA)
-a comfy 13.3" laptop with 1280 x 800 resolution ≠ a cramped 9" screen with 1000 x 600 resolution.
-a good, full sized keyboard ≠ a miniscule keyboard with compromised key positioning (function keys on the middle row....WTF?)
....then good luck. And I'd have some idea, since I'm actually interested in the Dell Mini 9, a netbook which I just cut up.
Netbooks work great for internet and basic office apps on the move, which is what the Air is for.
Yes, the Air has a bigger screen and keyboard, but is that worth £1,000 more?
Yes, the Air has a bigger screen and keyboard, but is that worth £1,000 more?
Do those netbooks have Core 2 Duo processors, and are the .76 inches thin? Are they made of aluminum and have backlit keyboards? Netbooks and the MBA are NOT the same at all. Netbooks aren't as sturdy and the MBA can do more than what it is given credit for. The MBA is great for travelers who need something light and have space restraints. Something such as the Dell Mini9 is not very thin at all.
And it runs OSX, which the others don't.
"Worth" is always a relative term, not an absolute. A lifejacket would be worth $0 to a multimillionaire stranded in the desert...but he might pay $1M for a glass of water. A glass of water would be worth $0 to a man drowning in the middle of Lake Michigan...but he would likely pay pretty much everything he owned for a lifejacket.
So, is the difference "worth" it? Obviously, to some people. Obviously not, to you.
On the other hand, the systems you have referenced would be worth absolutely nothing to me...but that doesn't mean you're an idiot for wanting to have them.
Nope, they have Atoms, but for what its made for, it will work fine.
Its not as thin, but its smaller... It depends what one you buy for the backlit keyboards... And it dosent really matter if its made aluminum or anything else, it still has a case and it covers the circuits, therefore it does what its made for.
I don't know what you are trying to say by your last sentence. The SZ model that I had was SONY VAIO SZ 320 P/B. It is not a premium version of the SZ and I bought it last December 2006. Here is the link for the tech specshttp://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=VGNSZ320PB. When I bought this computer I clearly remember that advertised battery life for it was 3 hours only. In which case it usually last for 2.5 with normal usage.
Consider that there are some people who need none of the things in this list and are able to do their work without them quite nicely. For over 4 years I led the development of a large software application (hundreds of thousands of lines of C++) that performs at enterprise levels (hundreds of millions of txns per hour) on a Windows laptop with lower specs than the 1.8GHz MBA (and much worse battery life). I had no difficulties whatsoever, never missed any of the items in the list above. For me, the MBA would be a performance upgrade in every respect. It's not relevant that there are other, more powerful computers out there...sure there are...but I don't need them.
Now, within that group of people, there are people who have enough disposable assets that the price of the MBA is not a significant purchase. From personal experience, I know that ticks some people off. I wish that wasn't true, and I don't think that having extra cash puts any of those people into any kind of "oooh we're special" category...but I don't think it deserves other people's disdain.
Finally, within that group of people, there are those that would much rather have OSX than Windows...thereby totally disqualifying any of the "I'd rather have a Samsung/Sony/Dell/ASUS" considerations. In that sense, they can't match the MBA specs...after all, software is a part of the laptop as much as hardware is. And, some of those people just like how the MBA looks (same way they like how a Tesla roadster or a Merc or a Lexus looks).
For that group of people, the MBA could be a nice fit. You might call those a "niche market"
Now, to the question posed by the OP: Why do people who aren't in that niche hate the MBA? For some people, it's just that they can't identify with anyone who doesn't want the absolute most power for the least money they can spend, regardless of whether they need the power, and regardless of how the cheaper laptop works (e.g. is it heavier, does it run Windows vs. OSX, etc). That doesn't make those "non-niche" people bad--it just means that they don't understand the other person's point of view.
For others, it's a matter of not agreeing with the idea of buying something because it looks nice. I'm not talking about buying something *just* because it looks nice. I mean, it has to meet my functional requirements first, but within that constraint, I'd like to buy something that I think looks nice. For some of those people, they think that's the same thing as buying it *just* because it looks nice, and therefore they look at the "niche" person with contempt. Again, that doesn't make the "non-niche" person bad, it just means that they think that a person that values form may not always make sure there's sufficient function (in the purchaser's eyes) to go with it. Sadly, the real world does give them plenty of evidence to believe that's true!
And, finally...to be honest, it just makes some people unhappy that there are things that other people can afford that they can't. That's an unfortunate spot to be in, and it's going to be a source of unhappiness for those people for a lot of things, not just the MBA. There are plenty of people who can afford things I can't, and there are people who can't afford things that I can. If you measure your happiness against those standards, you can't ever win.
Lots of philosophical BS here, but the main thing it boils down to is that there are people who think you're stupid if you don't think the same way they do.
I vote this for the best answer! You hit the mark and you completely answered my question with perfect sense. Thank you
I agree w/ the last few posts. Most people don't get why we would pay more for less specs. I really don't care. It's my money and I wanted a thin laptop that I could easily bring everywhere. It suits everything I need it for. My friend recently told me... "How the heck do you get by without having a CD drive"... I replied..."What's a CD?"...lol. I honestly have only had to use my roommate's computer once, and it was to install adobe acrobat. I use MP3's for music, and I use a jump drive to store files that I'd need for presentations. It suits my needs perfectly. BTW, this is my ONLY computer. I use this as my main computer.
We have basically the same usage. I bought a superdrive with my MBA when it was on sale but I haven't used it yet except to install Microsoft Office. I always wanted an apple thin portable laptop. I've been itching to switch to Mac a long time ago but they don't have an ultraportable at that time. So, I soon as I found out about MBA, I bought as soon as I can.
I'm glad that I don't buy the supertdrive because I've never had a need to use it for the last 3 months.
yeah good for you. And if you need to install anything, there is that remote disc feature you can always use.
Novelty wearing off?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10040316-1.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0
Most telling line is:
MacBook Air could see a minor refresh and potential price cut to increase its value proposition as build plans have slowed from earlier robust levels as customers have opted for MacBook or MacBook Pro instead.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10040316-1.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0
Most telling line is:
MacBook Air could see a minor refresh and potential price cut to increase its value proposition as build plans have slowed from earlier robust levels as customers have opted for MacBook or MacBook Pro instead.
Based on the price I just picked up an air for, I would say this is being priced in the market... I would have never gotten an MBA at anywhere near list or refurb price with netbooks around.
I am going to become an unlikely user of the platform. I am spending a ton of time walking around lately, and do not need the power of my MBP during the day. I am looking forward to the smaller/lighter platform, although a bit saddened that this will likely mean no new EEE for the me. The 1000h seemed to be perfect, and now $450, a pricepoint the air will never compete with.