Why do some people appear to HATE the MBA?

[loghyr]

Do you really think that a 12" screen is the only criteria to meeting the term "ultra portable"? I am pretty sure there are some "ultra portables" on the market that weigh the same as an Air, but can you really truly use a computer with an 11" screen? Really?

Yes, the Fujitsu P7010D has a 10.6" screen. Very usable.

People always walk by and ask, "Can you see those fonts?" At 1280 x 768, they were easy to see - very crisp. It also weighed 3.2 pounds.

The keyboard was also easy to use, once you got used to the ',', '.', and '/' keys being 2/3rds the width of the other keys. Again, people would ask how my fingers managed to fit on that keyboard.

For me though, a 32bit 1.1Ghz Pentium M is just too underpowered. I knew that going into the purchase (I had a P5020D from my previous employer and hated leaving it behind). I've gone 2 years with that purchase.

The other big drawback was the Intel 855GM video - it had a proprietary driver and mode that made it difficult to get Linux or OpenSolaris running
at the highest resolution.

And I'm pretty sure the HD was 4200RPM.

So, for me, performance wise, the Air will be a huge step up. And I'll get native terminal windows with a decent shell.

The drawback will be the size of the unit. But as I'm more concerned about
my back while running through an airport to make a connection, I'll accept
the trade-off.

 

[shadowfax]

Well them thick-skulls are still a big part of the potential market. As I said in my last post here the Air is obviously causing confusion and that should worry Apple...

Nick, you gotta be kidding! Apple's product line is one of the simplest consumer electronics product lines on the planet, even with the Air. Three models: Pro, Consumer, and Very Portable. The Air is a Pro machine. It's just Pro in the sense of "I slide this into my briefcase, where it adds about as much weight as a small portfolio, and go," rather than "I render movie scenes on the way too work with my laptop."

That's really confusing... for John Dvorak. I don't understand the argument that the MacBook Air is going to confuse the product lines, just because it's an "ultraportable" that has a big keyboard and screen. That seems like a gem to road warriors. It's still the size of a notebook/piece of paper, and everyone carries a bag that that would fit into for work, because people generally also take notebooks/portfolios around with them too...

I'm confused about why there would be confusion.

 

[Suncusser]

Its pretty close to what I need.

I've got a G5 dual tower in my office and several iMacs and towers out in the lab for imaging, number crunching and performing DNA analysis. I use a 17 inch G5 MPB at home. I travel 30-50K miles a year. I use the machine on the road for writing papers and occasionally building a figure but mostly its used for presentations, working with Acrobat and email correspondence. Used a 12" MPB because its easy to tote around and works well. The MBA may be too slow and limited to be a primary machine but I don't play games and rarely try to play a DVD in a computer. The MBA's specs are better than either of my old G4 powerbooks and I ordered one the first day as I've been waiting for months for the release of a replacement for my 12".

 

[dthree36]

MBA hate or love

what can I say that hasn't been said. I love the MBA but am I 100% happy with the design. NO, I wish they included an express card slot and maybe one more USB port. But think about its true purpose, it is not a desktop replacement like the Macbook Pro can be. It truly is a work of Art with the functionality for people on the go. I doubt many people pack up ALL their USB external devices when on the go.

I haven't gotten the nerve to purchase one yet but I am real close. I want the 3k configuration because well, because that is what I want. If I didn't have to pay that much I wouldn't but that is technology for you.

I say buy what makes you happy and don't forget that technology moves to fast to wait. If all you do is wait, you might as well just rent a laptop because I am sure it is just a matter of time until the next ?whatever? comes out that is the most powerful, lightest weight, longest battery device of all time.

I guess people just wanted more.... more power, more ports, more... more... more... and less money. I am having the same mental battle and it is holding up my purchase. I don't need more to do more. Decisions decisions.

 

[MacTheSpoon]

I guess it's probably true, a lot of hate for the MBA comes from 12" Powerbook users waiting for a replacement. It seems there's a second group, too, of people who wanted Apple to release something even smaller, a 10" screen size like the Vaio TZ. And then there are people who wanted the equivalent of an Eee PC, something smaller AND cheaper. If Apple had released a laptop to satisfy one of these groups, the other two would scream and complain just as bitterly as they are now.

As it was, Apple introduced a new kind of computer; a wide and light computer (yeah, and thin). So for people who were happy with the Macbook's screen size and footprint, didn't swap batteries, and didn't need all its power, and wished for something lighter, they've got a dream machine.

I'm a former 12" PB owner, and I will get the MBA. It isn't exactly what I wanted, but it's better in some ways than my old PB (screen brightness, battery life); I just wish it were narrower. Still, it's the thing Apple offers now that captures the most of what *I* liked about the 12" PB.

I guess we will have to hope that as Apple grows, it will feel comfortable offering a wider and more varied product line like Sony. Then we can all be happy with Apple equivalents of the Vaio G series, TZ series, and the Asus Eee. Maybe even that elusive Apple mini-tower.

 

[ctt1wbw]

If you want something smaller, get an HP Scientific Calculator.

 

[azentropy]

It isn't that I hate the MBA. It is that I don't agree with the tradeoffs Apple made and it isn't my idea of a true ultraportable.
They made a really thin, lightweight, beautifully designed but very limited notebook.

I'm was willing to trade a 13" LCD for a 12" or 11" LCD and a full size keyboard for a smaller one if it means having a smaller footprint, not just thiner. 12" and 11" LCD are 1280x800 as well now, so you don't lose any resolution, it is just smaller.

I'm was willing to give up some the thinness for a firewire port, a Ethernet port, a security slot and at least enough headroom to fit a dual platter 4200 drive. They still would have kept it at 3lbs or less if they would have used a smaller screen.

Unlike some, I'm was willing to trade some of the speed if Apple went to the ULV processors that could have improved battery life to 7+ hours.

Unlike some, I'm perfectly fine with the loss of an internal optical drive.

They could have done all of that at about the same pricepoint, but that isn't the way they decided to go.

What I hate is this is going to be the only option for those of us who want an ultraportable as I don't see Apple adding yet another design.

I'm a big fan of Apple, I love the OS and have owned over a dozen macs in my 20+ years of being a MACGUY (my license plate btw). But I'm not
real thrilled with the hardware choices Apple has made recently...

Ok, enough complaining about the MBA for now - time to go back to the
Mac Pro forum and complain about the lack of a midrange minitower again! ;-)

 

[markjones05]

I've been reading a lot of discussion about the MBA and it appear that there are some people who just want to hate it even before seeing it real life. I just don't get it. I don't see why people need to "warn" or tell someone else why they're not going to buy something.

One person even started several threads on Amazon discussion about it and appears to be obsessively replying and defending their position:

MacBook Air and the real notebook market

Here is one guy who posts "a warning" on every single configuration of the MBA on Amazon:

Keep in mind a serious design flaw

I pre-ordered mine from the Applestore on the keynote day, but later changed my mind and decided to save the tax money and order from Amazon prime. I find it funny that the wackos come out whenever Apple has something new, but hardly any bashers for crappy PC laptops.

I'm not particularly fond of it nor do I think I need to see it to make that decision. I'm sure it's really thin and all but in my opinion they sacrificed too much to get it that slim. Might be great for some but I feel its way to confining for the majority.

 

[tstarks33]

But, that is the logical and reasonable way of thinking. The MBA wasn't made for everyone. It was designed specifically for a certain use and many who don't fall in that category are upset over it. It's not Apple's fault. I get the feeling people are just mad Apple didn't launch a new laptop THEY could use so they end up bashing the products. Hey, I can't use the MBA...it doesn't fit my lifestyle at all but I don't think it's junk.

And the "this product isn't made for you" IS the right defense for any product. Yes, that's how the world of business works You can't please everyone and Apple wasn't trying to with the MBA. Those who cannot see that are just sour.

Very true - you can't please everyone, and indeed, no product tries to please every single consumer. But again, I say it's not a "defense", "reason", "justification", whatever. Say I think the hard drive is too slow - which, according to ars, seems like that is the case. Or, say that the battery is crappy - which, again, seems to be the case. What I am reading on these and other message boards is that the owners/future owners of MBA's defend these issues by saying, "Well, then it's not for you." That, to me, is just ********. We are labeled as "haters" because we are not satisfied by the hard drive, lack of upgradeabiilty, the fact that it's not THAT much smaller than a Macbook, etc etc, but the response is invariably "then it wasn't meant for you." I just think that's a lame response instead of addressing the actual issues mentioned.

Let's say we are discussing the movie "No Country for Old Men." I say, "well, I didn't find it believable that the main character went back to give that man some water." Instead of addressing this, what the MBA Defense Force would answer is, "well then, you are not the intended audience for this movie." You can't cover up the deficiencies of a product by making it's "intended market" narrower and narrower. Before long, the MBA is the best laptop ever created... for those people who wanted a 3 lb, .76 inch thick laptop with no CD drive, full size keyboard, 13.3 inch screen, backlit keyboard, and a 4200 RPM hard drive. For everyone else - hey, you can't criticize the MBA at all, because you are not part of that self-defined market of people who want that exact product. It's just bogus, and honestly, I can't say I've seen it before like I've seen it with MBA defenders.

And I don't even hate the thing! If the SSD version was 2500, I'd be typing on it as we speak

 

[Mindflux]

And I don't even hate the thing! If the SSD version was 2500, I'd be typing on it as we speak

dream on

"typing on it as we speak"..
lolz.

 

[tstarks33]

dream on

"typing on it as we speak"..
lolz.

Actually, to be more accurate, if the online apple store wasn't overworked when it was announced, I'd have bought the SSD version. Luckily I had an extra bit of time to think on it, came to my senses, and bought a Black Macbook.

 

[Amuraivel]

Some people hate it because it doesn't accomplish anything but be thin.

Features are meagre.

It isn't even as light as some of the lightest ultralights on the market.

Footprint matters more than anything.

 

[Catch]

Actually, to be more accurate, if the online apple store wasn't overworked when it was announced, I'd have bought the SSD version. Luckily I had an extra bit of time to think on it, came to my senses, and bought a Black Macbook.

Good for you. Its a great machine and I am sure you will be very happy with it... the MBA just was not for you in the first place! j/k

Regards,

C

 

[0098386]

I don't hate it myself, I just wouldn't buy one. I'm more for features than something being crazily thin, the MB and MBP are more than thin enough for me (and in most setups costs less).

I can see a market for the MBA and I'm certainly not in it.

To be honest I'd rather go for one of them thin Sony laptops. For the first time I prefer their design over Apple's

 

[gwangung]

This is the typical Macbook Air Defense Force response to any criticism: "It's not for you." Think the product has design deficiencies? Well, there are some people out there who don't think that, and that's the exact market Apple is trying to reach. Couldn't that reason be used to defend *any* product?

No.

But keep trying. It's amusing to see what people think are other people's needs. A lot of times, they're very far off.

 

[NAG]

The Macbook Air bashing is almost word for word the same arguments used against the iPod when it launched.

We know how that one turned out.

Now I'm not saying the Macbook Air is going to be the smash hit like the iPod, because lets face it laptops are more expensive than MP3 players (which is all the iPod was back then). Still, it is just the same irrational complaining because Apple released something nice that they don't want.

 

[tstarks33]

No.

But keep trying. It's amusing to see what people think are other people's needs. A lot of times, they're very far off.

Very informative post. Thanks for contributing.

 

[stainlessliquid]

I think one of the reasons people are pissed at the "crapbook air" is that they were expecting Apple to do something logical for once. Nobody would have been pissed off at a multitouch tablet, or a mid ranged tower.

Apple could have done SO much better. And it pisses people off when they dont get what they want.

Many people find the air ridiculous. It costs as much as a Pro but is so much crappier, and only one USB port makes it virtually unusable for anything besides plane/bus travel. The ultra portable market is a proven failure, Apple cannot "revitalize" the market because it doesnt exist, and they have added nothing new other than throwing OS X in the mix (it is far from the lightest UP too), all theyve done is taken a mm or 2 off at the cost of essential features that other UP's have.

The MBA will probably go the way of the cube. It will sell to a few people but probably not enough to sustain it as a product worth keeping around. The ultra portable market is a dead end and its amazing that Apple was stupid enough to get into it when tablet PC's have so much potential for a non-stylus input method.

The Macbook Air bashing is almost word for word the same arguments used against the iPod when it launched.

Only works with a mac so its doomed to fail? That was the only ipod complaint I know of, and it turned out to be true since the ipod wasnt doing so hot until it came to windows. People didnt hate the ipod, people thought Apple was braindead since so many people wanted one but nobody was going to buy a $1500 computer to use an mp3 player.

 

[Catch]

I think one of the reasons people are pissed at the "crapbook air"...

... and thats where you lost me. Well done my friend. I am sure the post was very insightful.

Regards,

C

 

[GlossyIsBad4U]

"Why do some people appear to HATE the MBA?"

It's has to do with what one gets for the price conflicting with a Mac Addicts lust factor of having the "latest great thing from Apple".

The bar was raised way to far for most people, and in the case of the $3000 MBA version, out of this world insane. One can get a well equipped MBP for that amount and AppleCare!

My personal beef with the MBA is the lack of a matte screen option. Since I get headaches and eyestrain from the glossy versions, it certainly crosses me off the list of potential buyers.

 

[ctt1wbw]

You know, if everyone is saying that macbook air is UNUSEABLE because it only has one usb port, how did we live before usb?

 

[cenetti]

You know, if everyone is saying that macbook air is UNUSEABLE because it only has one usb port, how did we live before usb?

what kind of question is that?
so we're going backwards, is that it?

its like asking why do we need electricity? people lived without it for thousands of years...eh?

 

[pondie84]

I also don't understand where all the rage is coming from. If you don't like it... fine. But why spend hours on end posting the same spiteful comments in every single topic relating to the MBA?

Just ignore the product and focus on something positive. Am I missing something? I mean, I understand posting in the Buying Advice threads to give your opinion on why someone should or shouldn't buy a MBA... but otherwise?

 

[cenetti]

I also don't understand where all the rage is coming from. If you don't like it... fine. But why spend hours on end posting the same spiteful comments in every single topic relating to the MBA?

Just ignore the product and focus on something positive. Am I missing something? I mean, I understand posting in the Buying Advice threads to give your opinion on why someone should or shouldn't buy a MBA... but otherwise?

well, mainly because...we have nothing better to do...
was waiting for a new macbook pro...apple decided to go with this thing called "air"....and kept us waiting.....

as soon as its released...we'll be gone...dont worry....

 

[tstarks33]

well, mainly because...we have nothing better to do...
was waiting for a new macbook pro...apple decided to go with this thing called "air"....and kept us waiting.....

as soon as its released...we'll be gone...dont worry....

Ha, this is 100% true.