Why do some people appear to HATE the MBA?

[diabolic]

I would like to find out the number of people that will be disappointed a few weeks after buying it when they realize that it doesn't do as much as they would have hoped.

What exactly are people expecting it to do that it can't? Not a single person I know rips CDs, DVDs, or encodes video on their smaller laptops, and I am in the software industry. Anyone that needs to edit audio or video on location usually has a 17" powerhouse portable that isn't even in the discussion at this form factor.

I installed Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom today and speed-wise they run fine on the MBA.

 

[MacNut]

How many people use 1 usb port at a time. That is a big drawback. Plus not having a wired ethernet. I think the MBA leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[kuwisdelu]

Not a hard comparison really, just look at the specs of the MB against the MBA.

If you judged laptops by specs alone, all ultraportables out there are terribly poor values. I'm sure there are people out there to think that, but if you're going to reduce it to specs alone, that's what you're saying. But there's still a market for them, and Apple is offering a new and different take on the idea.

 

[MacNut]

If you judged laptops by specs alone, all ultraportables out there are terribly poor values. I'm sure there are people out there to think that, but if you're going to reduce it to specs alone, that's what you're saying. But there's still a market for them, and Apple is offering a new and different take on the idea.

So why not pay for what you get, don't pay twice as much for half as much.

 

[harcosparky]

I can't see how anyone could 'hate' something the never owned/used.

I do not have a MBA.

I am in the market for a 'new' notebook, but the Macbook is not for me. At least not now, I'm not an 'early adopter of anything!

 

[loghyr]

I wonder how many people buying the MBA are impulse buyers, they see something new and cool and have to have it without really thinking if it is what they need.

I've been waiting for a 12" replacement for over 2 years. I bought a Lifebook with lower specs than what everyone else was using and it has lasted me those 2 years.

I've had an order ready for a MB 3 or 4 times in that time which I pulled out of at the very last button. I couldn't convince myself that my needs would be met.

I've been waiting specifically for the MBA since mid-December. I used this site to gauge that I should wait.

I expect the MBA to last me 2 or more years.

 

[MacNut]

Oh so why spend more and get less, Why not pay less and get the MB and save the money even if you don't use everything on it.

 

[kuwisdelu]

So why not pay for what you get, don't pay twice as much for half as much.

So you find all ultraportables to be bad returns for your money? A valid viewpoint, but certainly there's a demand for them, otherwise no one would sell them anymore. There are people willing to pay a premium price for the added portability of an ultraportable. Calling into question the value of all ultraportables is a new one, but if you don't like them in general, that's certainly a reason not to like the Air. I see where you're coming from, but it's just not feasible yet for computer companies to sell such small laptops according to their power, because the technology to shrink the electronics down to that size is just too expensive. If Apple were the only one charging that much, then we'd have a real problem.

 

[diabolic]

So why not pay for what you get, don't pay twice as much for half as much.

Because it's possible that form over function isn't a bad thing. Form usually costs more.

 

[pesc]

What irritates me is people who automatically despise it because it isn't a 12" PB.

If Apple had a 12" MBP in 2008 vintage I couldn't care less about the MBA.

Since they don't I take the MBA release as a message that Apple don't ever want to release a 12" PB replacement. Or anything with a small footprint.

This makes me want to kick the MBA in its thin balls.

Please don't take it personally.

 

[mhaas]

If Apple had a 12" MBP in 2008 vintage I couldn't care less about the MBA.

Since they don't I take the MBA release as a message that Apple don't ever want to release a 12" PB replacement. Or anything with a small footprint.

This makes me want to kick the MBA in its thin balls.

Please don't take it personally.

What I don't really understand with all the PB12" worshippers here is, that the PB12'' was only a tuned up ibookG4 and so is the macbook AIR related more to the macbook (aside from the LED screen) than the macbook pro, so what is the big deal people? The PB12" was simarlily more related to the ibook than to the PB15". Apple did the same approach with the macbook AIR basically.

 

[maverick808]

What I don't really understand with all the PB12" worshippers here is, that the PB12'' was only a tuned up ibookG4 and so is the macbook AIR related more to the macbook (aside from the LED screen) than the macbook pro, so what is the big deal people? The PB12" was simarlily more related to the ibook than to the PB15". Apple did the same approach with the macbook AIR basically.

Nah, that's just wrong. The 12" PowerBook was more powerful than the 12" iBook. Are you saying the MacBook Air is more powerful than the MacBook (which maxed out can be 2.2GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 160GB hard-drive, loads of ports)? Remember, even though it was only a light difference, the 12" PowerBook was technically superior to the iBook in every way.

If Apple had taken the same approach they did to the 12" PBook then the Air would be MORE powerful than the MacBook, instead of substantially less powerful.

 

[duffyanneal]

I can't see how anyone could 'hate' something the never owned/used.

I have a funny story for everyone.

Several years ago (before I met my wife) I was fortunate enough to get my dream car. On my 27th birthday (after saving money for years) I bought a Porsche. I was driving on Central Expressway in Dallas on my way back from showing my friends my new ride. It was about 10 at night and the traffic was light. I had the top down and I was just cruising in the slow lane going the speed limit just minding my own business. Along beside me pull a car pulls up with a few idiots inside. They started yelling four letter words in my direction, and one dude hung out the window trying to reach out and punch my car. I could tell by what they were saying that they were provoked by seeing my car. I just swerved and hit the gas pedal. That was just the first run in with people that hate you (and indirectly the object) for no apparent reason other than some deep seeded jealousy or disgust. I had that car for two years and even I was surprised how people react negatively and those type of cars in North Dallas is not exactly rare.

So yes there are people that hate things and hate people for no other reason than just to hate.

 

[janstett]

I'm curious to know how many people who think the Macbook Air's footprint is too large- have actually USED it daily for almost a week? It is a HUGE stride over the late, great 12" Powerbook (my favorite Apple laptop until now by the way.) At any rate, can you guys name some scenarios where the footprint of the MBA isn't acceptable?

I'll give you two. A few years back I did a lot of ovrseas travel and learned the value of a true ultraportable.

1. Stuck in coach on a full flight from JFK to Tokyo for close to a day. Your elbows are welded to your side and there's no room to maneuver your knife and fork for meals. You begin to act like a t-Rex and use only your wrists. The bigger footprint kills the MBA here, not to mention the nonremovable battery.

2. Once in Tokyo your tiny hotel room has a tiny safe, which the MBA will not fit into so you either leave it in the room or take it with you.

I think a lot of people trying to justify this design are Prada-Starbucks bloggers and not people who do serious tours on the road.

 

[ctt1wbw]

Well, if it's too big for you, you can find something smaller on eBay, you know.

 

[Catch]

So why not pay for what you get, don't pay twice as much for half as much.

Its almost like some people woke up the day the MBA was launched and for the first time looked at computers. It has ALWAYS been much more expensive to produce small form factor electronics than large form factor electronics.

These kinds of posts really shows how young some of the members here are. Walkman's used to be huge, MP3 players used to be huge and surprise surprise laptops used to be huge. As smaller packaging appears prices initially increase.

This is all down to the production technologies.

Miniaturization costs money. Its not hard to produce laptops with large form factors, which is why they can be cheaper with more features.

If you want features, then buy a larger laptop. If you want to save money, buy a larger laptop.

Its not hard to understand is it?

C

 

[mrklaw]

How many people use 1 usb port at a time. That is a big drawback. Plus not having a wired ethernet. I think the MBA leaves a lot to be desired.

I don't get the ethernet comment. At home if you need ethernet then can't you just add the adapter to your ethernet cable - you still only have one cable to plug in.

yes, if you're in a hotel its one more thing to carry, but TBH I've never been in a hotel in the last couple of years that didn't have wifi - it is becoming a commodity offering in hotels. So that 'pain' if you can call it that, will go away

 

[tstarks33]

Excuse me... I didn't see a new poll out saying how the MBA is a poor value in the computer industry today.

Oh yeah, because if you read it in a poll, it must be true!

 

[pesc]

At any rate, can you guys name some scenarios where the footprint of the MBA isn't acceptable?

Every morning.

http://mbp12.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9

 

[MazingerZ]

Every morning.

http://mbp12.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9

Use the other tray next to you!

 

[Catch]

Every morning.

http://mbp12.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9

Braver than me!

C

 

[DakotaGuy]

Excuse me... I didn't see a new poll out saying how the MBA is a poor value in the computer industry today.

It doesn't take a poll to figure this one out. All you have to do is compare laptops feature to feature and price to price to see the Macbook Air comes up short, way short. Now I said it is a POOR VALUE, not that it is a poor computer or there is anything really wrong with it. All I am saying is that you can get a lot more computer for your money then the Macbook Air. You really are paying for "the look of thin" and that's about it. Honestly in the price range of the Macbook Air, can you really think of a laptop with less features?

 

[MazingerZ]

It doesn't take a poll to figure this one out. All you have to do is compare laptops feature to feature and price to price to see the Macbook Air comes up short, way short. Now I said it is a POOR VALUE, not that it is a poor computer or there is anything really wrong with it. All I am saying is that you can get a lot more computer for your money then the Macbook Air. You really are paying for "the look of thin" and that's about it. Honestly in the price range of the Macbook Air, can you really think of a laptop with less features?

Again, portability can be quantified in different ways. You have to look at the whole package and presentation. Its not all about specs in the portable market. Some value the thinness and portability more than the actual specs, you obviously don't. You just look at the specs and compare it to other laptops out there without any consideration on the design and functionality of the product.

 

[kuwisdelu]

How many people use 1 usb port at a time. That is a big drawback. Plus not having a wired ethernet. I think the MBA leaves a lot to be desired.

Umm. There are lots of us who only use 1 USB port at a time. Actually, there are lots of us who rarely have anything in our USB's at all. Back when I had my old Dell laptop I'd have a few things plugged in, but that's because it's trackpad pissed me off and it was too big to move, so I just used it as a desktop. But my MacBook? At most, I have one thing plugged into USB every other day or so. And ethernet? I bought a wireless router so I wouldn't have to use that.

Braver than me!

C

Me too! I've seen pesc use that picture several times, so I certainly get what he needs a small footprint for, but I could never have an open drink that close to my laptop! Every time I see it, I get a bit nervous.

 

[diabolic]

Honestly in the price range of the Macbook Air, can you really think of a laptop with less features?

I can't think of one with a better look or feel either.