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Why do some people appear to HATE the MBA?
- Thread starter Mr.Green
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Nothing to add to this.
"total wireless function"
I find this comment and Apple's misleading advertising interesting. There is a difference between RELYING on wireless totally (which the MacBook Air does and is an inconvenience and people will not gravitate towards) and comprehensively utilizing wireless technology (which people are gravitating towards, but Apple has not done with the MacBook Air). The MacBook Air relies heavily on the Internet, because of its lack of optical drive and the fact that buying and carrying around a SuperDrive defeats the purpose of buying an "ultraportable" to begin with. If Internet connectivity is vital, you would imagine any reasonable manufacturer to provide multiple reliable avenues to make sure that you can access the Internet. But that isn't the case with Apple. Instead, users will find that they will find themselves isolated from content, because of the reasons explained below.
The most reliable, fast, and secure way to access the Internet is via Local Area Network (LAN) through an Ethernet cable. A LAN connection also has less power consumption than wireless connection. This most basic and fundamental avenue, which is offered by other ultraportable laptops in Gigabit flavor, is oddly missing from the MacBook Air. That is simply unacceptable for any laptop, even ultraportables.
Apple tries to avoid this poor design choice by creating the impression that the MacBook Air is a device with superior wifi capabilities that would make the lack of Ethernet port a moot point. This is absurd and misleading. To get on the Internet wireless, there needs to be, of course, wireless Internet source available. This may not be a major issue at home, because many (but not all) of us already have a wireless router, but outside of the home this becomes an issue. Remember all those plans years ago about municipal wifi, in most cases free? Years later, guess how many of them actually materialized? Pretty much zero. Google offers wifi in Mountain View, CA, and that is pretty much it. Projects all around the United States have not been implemented and companies such as Earthlink who placed bids and won contracts to implement such services are being sued millions of dollars for the delay. So, you are limited to wireless "hot spots" which is not very convenient for many reasons.
1. Many of these are paid services. TMobile, for example, has contracted to offer such services at Borders, FedEx Kinkos, Starbucks, various hotels, and various airports for a fee, places where you would most likely want to get on the Internet.
2. Many of these hotspots are locked with a passkey or MAC Address filtering.
3. Those that are not fee based or locked by a passkey are usually private signals from nearby residents that have weak signal strength and if you do get on the network you'll get booted off.
4. Wireless security is a huge issue. There are many published stories of hackers hanging out at airports, cafes, and bookstores to exploit this vulnerability.
5. Wifi networks have limited range.
6. This limited range also affects wifi performance, which decreases exponentially as the range increases.
7. Wifi pollution, or an excessive number of access points in the area can prevent access and interfere with the use of other access points by others, caused by overlapping channels as well as with decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between access points.
8. Other devices that use the 2.4 GHz band: microwave ovens, security cameras, Bluetooth devices and (in some countries) Amateur radio, video senders, cordless phones and baby monitors can cause significant additional interference.
9. Interoperability issues between non wifi brands or proprietary deviations from the standard can disrupt connections or lower throughput speeds on all user's devices that are within range, to include the non-wifi or proprietary product. This is especially true of the standard Apple's MacBook Air utilizes for two very important reasons. First, it is an Apple, which means it is likely to have compatibility/interoperability issues with the random assortment of non-Apple routers (Linksys, Netgear, Dlink, etc.) these hotspots use. Unless, of course, they are using an Apple Airport, which is so rare that it would be foolish to rely on. Second, the 802.11n standard has not been finalized by yet, and is still in its draft stage. Although the N standard is still in "draft" stage, many hardware vendors already sell "pre-N" or "Draft-N" hardware, based on the most recent draft. These vendors anticipate the final version will not be significantly different from the draft, and in a bid to get the early mover advantage, are pushing ahead with the technology. Many of these products have failed to perform to the hype of the N standard. More importantly, the lack of standardization has led to manufacturers using their own Draft N technology, which makes it vital to purchase the appropriate adaptor to match your draft N router, because there may be compatibility issues if your wireless adaptor and router are made by different manufacturers. For these reasons, reviewers have suggested waiting on buying such routers, especially since many of them are expensive, until 802.11n is released.
So with the possibility of a lack of a wireless source/hotspot or wireless connectivity issues, you would think any reasonable manufacturer would utilize WAN options (e.g., 3G). This is, in fact, an "ultraportable" device, who knows where you will be using it, right? Although the competition offers a WAN options, Apple decided not to. What is more, with no ExpressCard slot and a single USB port that won't accommodate most WAN modems without additional accessories, Apple's poor product design makes it difficult and cumbersome to add 3G capability.
"total wireless function"
I find this comment and Apple's misleading advertising interesting. There is a difference between RELYING on wireless totally (which the MacBook Air does and is an inconvenience and people will not gravitate towards) and comprehensively utilizing wireless technology (which people are gravitating towards, but Apple has not done with the MacBook Air). The MacBook Air relies heavily on the Internet, because of its lack of optical drive and the fact that buying and carrying around a SuperDrive defeats the purpose of buying an "ultraportable" to begin with. If Internet connectivity is vital, you would imagine any reasonable manufacturer to provide multiple reliable avenues to make sure that you can access the Internet. But that isn't the case with Apple. Instead, users will find that they will find themselves isolated from content, because of the reasons explained below.
The most reliable, fast, and secure way to access the Internet is via Local Area Network (LAN) through an Ethernet cable. A LAN connection also has less power consumption than wireless connection. This most basic and fundamental avenue, which is offered by other ultraportable laptops in Gigabit flavor, is oddly missing from the MacBook Air. That is simply unacceptable for any laptop, even ultraportables.
Apple tries to avoid this poor design choice by creating the impression that the MacBook Air is a device with superior wifi capabilities that would make the lack of Ethernet port a moot point. This is absurd and misleading. To get on the Internet wireless, there needs to be, of course, wireless Internet source available. This may not be a major issue at home, because many (but not all) of us already have a wireless router, but outside of the home this becomes an issue. Remember all those plans years ago about municipal wifi, in most cases free? Years later, guess how many of them actually materialized? Pretty much zero. Google offers wifi in Mountain View, CA, and that is pretty much it. Projects all around the United States have not been implemented and companies such as Earthlink who placed bids and won contracts to implement such services are being sued millions of dollars for the delay. So, you are limited to wireless "hot spots" which is not very convenient for many reasons.
1. Many of these are paid services. TMobile, for example, has contracted to offer such services at Borders, FedEx Kinkos, Starbucks, various hotels, and various airports for a fee, places where you would most likely want to get on the Internet.
2. Many of these hotspots are locked with a passkey or MAC Address filtering.
3. Those that are not fee based or locked by a passkey are usually private signals from nearby residents that have weak signal strength and if you do get on the network you'll get booted off.
4. Wireless security is a huge issue. There are many published stories of hackers hanging out at airports, cafes, and bookstores to exploit this vulnerability.
5. Wifi networks have limited range.
6. This limited range also affects wifi performance, which decreases exponentially as the range increases.
7. Wifi pollution, or an excessive number of access points in the area can prevent access and interfere with the use of other access points by others, caused by overlapping channels as well as with decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between access points.
8. Other devices that use the 2.4 GHz band: microwave ovens, security cameras, Bluetooth devices and (in some countries) Amateur radio, video senders, cordless phones and baby monitors can cause significant additional interference.
9. Interoperability issues between non wifi brands or proprietary deviations from the standard can disrupt connections or lower throughput speeds on all user's devices that are within range, to include the non-wifi or proprietary product. This is especially true of the standard Apple's MacBook Air utilizes for two very important reasons. First, it is an Apple, which means it is likely to have compatibility/interoperability issues with the random assortment of non-Apple routers (Linksys, Netgear, Dlink, etc.) these hotspots use. Unless, of course, they are using an Apple Airport, which is so rare that it would be foolish to rely on. Second, the 802.11n standard has not been finalized by yet, and is still in its draft stage. Although the N standard is still in "draft" stage, many hardware vendors already sell "pre-N" or "Draft-N" hardware, based on the most recent draft. These vendors anticipate the final version will not be significantly different from the draft, and in a bid to get the early mover advantage, are pushing ahead with the technology. Many of these products have failed to perform to the hype of the N standard. More importantly, the lack of standardization has led to manufacturers using their own Draft N technology, which makes it vital to purchase the appropriate adaptor to match your draft N router, because there may be compatibility issues if your wireless adaptor and router are made by different manufacturers. For these reasons, reviewers have suggested waiting on buying such routers, especially since many of them are expensive, until 802.11n is released.
So with the possibility of a lack of a wireless source/hotspot or wireless connectivity issues, you would think any reasonable manufacturer would utilize WAN options (e.g., 3G). This is, in fact, an "ultraportable" device, who knows where you will be using it, right? Although the competition offers a WAN options, Apple decided not to. What is more, with no ExpressCard slot and a single USB port that won't accommodate most WAN modems without additional accessories, Apple's poor product design makes it difficult and cumbersome to add 3G capability.
Most WAN modems now come in USB form. Also, you can tether via bluetooth. I think you're making mountains out of molehills. I've travelled extensively all over the world and have always been able to find a wifi or a 3g solution to my internet addiction. I think the MBA will do fine as a wireless dependent device.
This one is a good negative. I agree that I would find a built in solution more useful. I dislike dongles and USB devices as its more to carry. I would have to say that the addition in the future of 3G would make me upgrade this machine.
Regards,
c
yup...I just got a mac PRO for $2900 with extra 2gb ram (total 4gb)
this baby has 2.8ghz 2 Quad chips (8 cores)...
thats what 3K buys you....if you know what I mean...
yup...I just got a mac PRO for $2900 with extra 2gb ram (total 4gb)
this baby has 2.8ghz 2 Quad chips (8 cores)...
thats what 3K buys you....if you know what I mean...
Did you get a sleevecase with that?
yup...I just got a mac PRO for $2900 with extra 2gb ram (total 4gb)
this baby has 2.8ghz 2 Quad chips (8 cores)...
thats what 3K buys you....if you know what I mean...
Brings a whole new meaning to the idea of a 'mobile' platform! I wish I could bring all my 8 3.0Ghz cores when I have a meeting. Together with the 2x30" displays I am sure it would make a few people very impressed... productivity sure would go up though
C
... no, buying a superdrive means that you can leave it at home, but you still have it (at home) in case you need to, you know, install leopard or iLife or something. That's an awesome idea, IMO. Even if you do cary it with you, that's up to you, rather than forced. So, if you did feel like watching a DVD, it would be inconvenient but possible. Most of the time, if you're like me, you don't, and it's handy that you don't have to have the bulk around all the time like in another laptop.
The stupidity of this statement defies my imagination. You know what's dumb? Most laptops, including all of Apple's, don't come with an ethernet cable. So you have to carry around a damned ethernet cable all over the place. I can't friggin' believe how stupid that is, Apple could have a cool little retractable ethernet cable that comes out of the side of the machine so I don't have to lug around a dang 3-6 ft cable everywhere I go, along with my headphones, power adapter, video cable... I mean, crap, where does it end?
But seriously, dude, ethernet is not missing from this laptop. You just have to get their (relatively cheap) ethernet adapter. Why is that a problem? It's not, for the reason I just waxed sarcastic over--every laptop with ethernet has a totally useless port--unless you carry around an ethernet cable. Have you ever tried asking for one at a hotel? I doubt they give them out if you just forgot yours, oopsies. So, if you're carrying a 3-6 ft CAT5e cable, you might as well throw the little adapter again.
For all your other statements, I find most of them rather alarmist or pointless, other than the statement that 3G is not included and the port won't allow a lot of 3G USB dongles. That is the height of stupidity, I agree, and they will lose some business for it.
Still, what I see in the future is being able to use your 3G cell phone as a bluetooth or USB modem. That would negate this whole issue, and it would be even better, because you wouldn't be stuck with one type of WAN capability in your laptop--if you wanted to switch over, you'd just need a new phone.
Hopefully we will see an iPhone software update (this is not going to happen until the ATT contract expires), but more likely we'll see some hacker write an app that does it, since all the hardware is there. Later this year, the 3G iPhone will be here and there will be some real demand for people to hook up their laptops to that connection, being that it's unlimited...
The other thing I agree with is that the draft-N business is ridiculous with all the incompatibilities. I blame the WiFi Alliance, or whatever they call themselves, for dragging their silly feet. Finish it and start on the next one! sheesh. If you are seriously worried about an n device that is going to ultimately be hardware-incompatible with the finalized N spec, you shouldn't buy any laptop at all, let alone this one.
I'm going with shadowfax on this one. Anyone who buys the MacBook Air and ends up carrying a Superdrive around (all the time; I can see a need from time to time) is either an idiot or missing the point or both. If I had a MacBook Air, I'd leave the Superdrive at home. I've never found a need to use my optical drive away from home. Not once. If I want to watch a DVD--even though I have an optical drive on my MacBook--I always end up ripping it, because I don't like having my drive spinning madly while I'm watching a movie, and that way I can watch it any time I like, even if I don't have the DVD. With movies on iTunes, you can download them, too. And I don't see why one would install software on-the-go. I only have one or two programs on my MacBook that came from a CD, and I installed them at home.
So what it sounds like you're saying is with an ethernet port it would be a lot easier to get internet than with WiFi? You think anyplace that doesn't offer free wireless is going to offer free ethernet? Find me one. Just one. And if you know such a place and frequent it, then buy the dongle and realize that most of us use the WiFi.
I'll admit 3G would have been a great option to add; I'm not sure why they left it off, but there must be some reason. Maybe they simply didn't have enough room. But you know what? Before the MacBook Air came out, I didn't even know what 3G was. I certainly don't have it on my phone. Maybe I'm atypical, but I don't think I'm that strange in that WiFi is by far my most used form of internet access. In fact, I've only ever used any other twice, and that was ethernet. Twice.
I don't agree with this at all. There is a TON of free WiFi out there. Specifically, Louisville Kentucky has a network downtown as well in several of their parks. Lexington has it in two parks I can think of. I also know of one park on the bay in Traverse City Michigan that has it.
Coffee shops like Beaners and Caribou Coffee also offer free WiFi in most of their stores.
Panera Bread is another good source. It's hit or miss with McDonald's if you get it for free, but I know all of the Wendy's in Lansing Michigan have free WiFi.
Because of the amount I travel I usually use http://www.wififreespot.com/ to find free internet where I'm going before I travel. I'd also like to add that there are a number of rest areas that are now offering Free WiFi as well.
So there is a lot of free WiFi out there to be had and I'd argue against it being "zero."
Shadowfax, kuwisdelu, kyleen66, and others... you know what MacManus posted was just copied from the Amazon discussion linked in the first post? You should check that out. It's insane.
Because the MBA only has one USB slot?
You are at a client site connected to their secure fileservers via LAN. The USB-LAN dongle is used. Someone approaches you with a USB stick with some data to copy to the fileservers. How cool is the MBA going to look now?
If your work requires a computer that has an ethernet and a free usb, it would be pretty stupid to bring in your MBA. I'm sure anybody who finds themselves in that line of work has multiple(even) work supplied computers to handle the job. You trolls are really grasping at straws now.
Wait..you forgot to post your daily footprint photo! :lol:
If that is what I wanted, I would have. The Air is a bit overpriced right now. For $200 more I can get a whole lot of machine....MBP
I will wait until March and see what shakes out.
Please do not assume what was neither there nor implied. There are plenty of products in Apple's current product base that I neither need nor want. However, they all have their place and do not otherwise encroach greatly on each other's space. Except this one. It isn't diverse because it occupies the same spot occupied by the Macbook. Just glitzier but undernourished, is all. Once the novelty wears off, people will wonder what the fuss was all about.
Moreover, it is not just this forum, in which the Macbook is gathering such negative feedback. Not even the AppleTV received such flak when it came out. That speaks volumes to me, if not to you.
Then why don't you back up your statements rather than just making broad generalizations based off your ill-defined personal feelings.
I don't see how you mean this. I thought it pretty clearly occupies the spot of Apple's ultraportable option. The MacBook is for those who want an Apple laptop, but not one quite as powerful or expensive as the MacBook Pro, and don't value the extra portability of the Air for its sacrifices; the MacBook Air is for those who are always moving around and really need the most portable option they can get, and don't mind the reduced feature set.
If I had my MBA at work, it would be hooked up to my Apple Cinema Display, and it would probably also have a USB hub hooked up to it, with the Ethernet dongle hooked up to the back of the display (or the hub). so, there is my hot little laptop at work, sitting next to a gorgeous 23" display, hooked up via the little micro-DVI adapter and the one USB port, which now nets me however many ports I want.
Seriously, when I am "plugged in" at a semi-permanent spot such as my home ore my office, I am going to have add-on things that extend its usefulness. I don't walk around with my 200GB backup drive or my 20" ACD for my MBP, either.
Holy cow, batman! he's got money out the wazoo!
Might want to check your assumptions there. Philadelphia, PA has rolled out its muni wifi -- about 80% of the city is covered at present. And Philly is a tad bigger than Mountain View. Earthlink is indeed up and running in Philly. Yes, it does cost, but the cost is subsidized for low-income users. And somebody who can afford an MBA isn't really worried about wifi access fees, now, are they? Further, there are certain areas within Philly designated as free zones -- mostly recreational areas like parks.
Moreover, wireless is pretty much de rigeur on university campuses these days. The institution I teach at is no great shakes when it comes to IT, but we have plenty of hotspots on campus (though, sadly, none in my office building). Anybody with a campus email user ID can access them.
Not to mention Portland and Spokane have free wifi (Spokane was one of the first although it is only in the downtown neighborhood). Just because your city doesn't have it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
You know what? I think you're absolutely right. I think people pissed at Apple for the MBA and hating the MBA--that's HATING the MBA, not merely "disappointed in," or not interested in buying it, or not having the money for it yet--HATING the MBA because Apple didn't listen to them. They wanted X, Y and Z with this, that and the other and they wanted it at this price.
Apple didn't give then that. Apple didn't listen. How could Apple have done that to them?
Look, we all have a "dream" computer in mind. I loved, and I mean LOVED my 12" PB. It was exactly the right size for me. I loved how much table space I had with it at coffee houses and on airplanes, I loved the 12" bags it fit in which hung just right over my shoulder. With my small hands, I even loved the keyboard. I was very sorry to see it go. And had the MacBook not had an equally wonderful keyboard, I'd have never gotten rid of my 12". So. In my dreams, I dream of the return of the 12"--upgraded and with all the cool stuff I'd always wanted it to have. Maybe, someday, I'll get that dream machine. Or maybe not. But I don't hate the MBA for the fact that it doesn't exist yet.
In some ways, MBA "hatred" seems like a weird case of transference: "You hated MBA! But for you the 12" would be back!" and "You evil MBA! Thanks to you Apple didn't give me an ultra portable with two USB ports! With firewire and an optical drive all at a cost of $1200!" As if the MBA was directly responsible for keeping Apple from listening to the consumers and giving them exactly what they wanted, at exactly the price they wanted to pay.
The original question wasn't "why won't you buy this machine?" or even "what don't you like about the MBA?" but why do you "HATE" this machine. Hate requires an emotional investment. You have to take the very existence of the MBA *personally* as if it's an insult to you. If, every time you look at it, you see "Apple didn't listen to me!" then I suppose that would make "hatred" of the object understandable. Not totally rational, but understandable. It would explain why so many people feel the need not merely to express why it's not for them (perfectly fine and acceptable to voice such opinions) and, instead, insult people who do find it's for them ("Your girly arms can't handle 2 more pounds!")
(Honestly, what does it matter whether anyone can "handle" 2 more pounds or not? It's completely irrelevant as you don't know what else they have to haul around or if they're disabled or elderly and need as light a load as possible, or if they have to haul this load for many hours over many miles. All of which would, indeed, make a person want the lightest possible computer, no need to insult them over such a rational and wise decision. Why haul a heavier computer when a lighter one will do?).
Hate is such a strong word. It isn't so much the "Air". The biggest problem is the people that lost muscle capacity overnight, and 2lbs turned into 20lbs.
Additionally, the Macbook Air isn't more portable than the Macbook. You will primarily use the same cases for each. If you have to tote several items around while commuting back and forth, that $2k would be better invested in a vehicle.
There simply is too much self-convincing going on with Macbook Air owners/hopefuls. You have $2k-$3k to burn on an over-priced product, which is fine. Avoid being on the forums embarrasing yourself talking about how 2lbs almost broke your arm.
Additionally, the Macbook Air isn't more portable than the Macbook. You will primarily use the same cases for each. If you have to tote several items around while commuting back and forth, that $2k would be better invested in a vehicle.
There simply is too much self-convincing going on with Macbook Air owners/hopefuls. You have $2k-$3k to burn on an over-priced product, which is fine. Avoid being on the forums embarrasing yourself talking about how 2lbs almost broke your arm.