Why I LOVE my Air .... STAND UP to the recent "Air Bashers" (and make them go away !)

[entatlrg]

The MBA is pretty much for anybody. On a daily daily basis I only plug headphones and a monitor to my macbook. I seldom ever have 2 usb plugged it. My keyboard and mouth is bluetooth so I'm not usually using usb.

The only thing I ever use my USB for is memory devises like my iPod... CD drive...Is used so infrequently.

I'd be perfectly happy with an air, the features may be limited but the missing features isn't a commonality. I'm not bashing it, it would actually probably be good for me. It's just funny, not having a cd drive is a big deal to most.. I just don't think it's a daily or even weekly used feature. For me it's maybe a month.

For sure, well said! Sometimes it's better and more fun to love it for what it is instead of criticize it for what is isn't.

 

[hodgeheg]

For sure, well said! Sometimes it's better and more fun to love it for what it is instead of criticize it for what is isn't.

I completely agree that it is pointless criticising the Air for what it isn't if it isn't *trying* to be that thing - so there's no point complaining it doesn't have 3 USB ports, a larger screen, DVD drive built in etc. That doesn't mean you have to like it, it just means it isn't for you. I don't think that should ban you from wishing for something slightly different, but basically, it's not a useful criticism.

As for criticisms that are about *quality* - i.e. about the Air failing to be what it is advertised as or can be reasonably expected to be based on its advertising/design/spec/price (here I'm thinking about hinges, screen lines etc), then if you have problems you have every right to complain. You also have every right to not care and still be happy, but not to deny everyone else's opinion about *Theirs*. Even still you may be a lot happier focusing on the good things - this is pretty much how I tried to look at the lines - OK I had annoying lines that reduced the apparent contrast, but I also had a gorgeously thin / light super-portable machine with decent battery life etc. But once other problems came up, and the lines appeared to get worse, why shouldn't I be unhappy? And just because for a while I felt I could live with the lines, why should everyone else also live with them?

NO amount of faulty or poorly built or otherwise bad MBAs in any way disputes your happiness with the Air you have. Noone is saying you shouldn't love your Air.

However, the existence of some or many (and it doesn't appear to be a majority based on my own checking of 4 Apple stores over a period of many months) GOOD Airs doesn't mean that those who aren't happy with *quality* (as opposed to its fundamental design choices) should be forced to keep quiet to massage the egos of people who *are* happy.

BOTH CAN EXIST IN THE SAME WORLD. Good Airs and Bad Airs. Nothing I or anyone else says denies your opinion about things you've actually observed.

And before I'm labelled a hater or whatever, I *AM* a MacBook Air fan. If I could FIND one that was as advertised it would be the most suitable computer in the world for me. It came quite close *Even with* its problems, until it started actually falling apart. I totally get why you love the Air - I would love one too. What I don't love is **** service and being effectively told to keep quiet and not rock the boat when things don't meet up with expecations. And no, my expectations are NOT unreasonably finicky - I only expect a screen that isn't WORSE than every single other laptop I can currently find on the market at any price. It doesn't have to be astounding. Just not actually BAD. Similarly, I don't expect a 3lb computer to have hinges like a 7lb 15" thinkpad, but I do expect it not to become unusable in 3 months, or at the very least to be treated with respect in store if it does develop a problem. Judging from some of your other posts, suggesting if people tilt the screen a tiny bit it will all go away, you seem to be under the impression that this is a minor issue. Maybe on the ones you see it is a minor issue, in which case good for you. But it isn't minor in all cases. I would also point out that if your hinges are as bad as mine you *can't* tilt it by a few milimetres. It's already moving around freely within about an inch or more anyway.

 

[entatlrg]

I completely agree that it is pointless criticising the Air for what it isn't if it isn't *trying* to be that thing - so there's no point complaining it doesn't have 3 USB ports, a larger screen, DVD drive built in etc. That doesn't mean you have to like it, it just means it isn't for you. I don't think that should ban you from wishing for something slightly different, but basically, it's not a useful criticism.

As for criticisms that are about *quality* - i.e. about the Air failing to be what it is advertised as or can be reasonably expected to be based on its advertising/design/spec/price (here I'm thinking about hinges, screen lines etc), then if you have problems you have every right to complain. Even still you may be a lot happier focusing on the good things - this is pretty much how I tried to look at the lines - OK I had annoying lines that reduced the apparent contrast, but I also had a gorgeously thin / light super-portable machine with decent battery life etc. But once other problems came up, and the lines appeared to get worse, why shouldn't I be unhappy?

NO amount of faulty or poorly built or otherwise bad MBAs in any way disputes the right to be happy with what they have of those who are luckier. Noone is saying you shouldn't love your Air.

However, the existence of some or many (and it doesn't appear to be a majority based on my own checking of 4 Apple stores over a period of many months) GOOD Airs doesn't mean that those who aren't happy with *quality* (as opposed to its fundamental design choices) should be forced to keep quiet to massage the egos of people who *are* happy.

BOTH CAN EXIST IN THE SAME WORLD. Good Airs and Bad Airs.

No question, I agree completely. There is a point where ranting on this or any forum get's redundant and old quick. And, isn't it wiser to contact Apple and ask them to solve the problem? At least then the problem has a chance of being solved?

 

[iaymnu]

Good or Bad Air exists. Such as any product. Out of the 3 machines I have I really enjoy the Air the most. The form is the best part. Although I just cracked open my machine to replace the thermal paste with AS5. The initial work on the paste wasn't too bad but now my Air runs between 40c-45c browsing , ichat, itunes vs mid 50s w/out the new paste. Also 10mins with hulu would blast my fans to 6200 rpm instantly and now it doesn't go over 4500 rpm.

Aside from the thermal paste, the new Air is really a blessing

 

[entatlrg]

Out of the 3 machines I have I really enjoy the Air the most.

Nice!! A 17", 13MB" and an MBA, lot's of power there!

You're a great person to give feedback regarding screen size and weight between the 3 sizes. My MBA is my favorite too, although my wife prefers the 13" MBP.

I've thought of adding the new 2.8ghz 15" MBP to the mix but I haven't convinced myself I need it.

Can I ask, what tasks you do on your 15 and MB and what percentage of time you use them compared to your MBA.

Thanks!

 

[iMacmatician]

The air throws away old notions of a computer.

It some how has redesigned what I expect in a laptop, I think its a game changer!

Thin light weight, more toy like, fun to use and using one make you feel like a million-air!

One day soon all laptops will be like the Air!

I hope this will happen…someday.

 

[iaymnu]

Nice!! A 17", 13MB" and an MBA, lot's of power there!

You're a great person to give feedback regarding screen size and weight between the 3 sizes. My MBA is my favorite too, although my wife prefers the 13" MBP.

I've thought of adding the new 2.8ghz 15" MBP to the mix but I haven't convinced myself I need it.

Can I ask, what tasks you do on your 15 and MB and what percentage of time you use them compared to your MBA.

Thanks!

The 17" I mainly use for audio editing. But also I use if I have to do heavy photoshop. I use this machine everyday @ my desk but if I need to present something I would lug it with me for the screen estate.

The uMB isn't getting much use. It was my on-the-go machine but now is replaced with the AIR. My tasks on the uMB was LightRoom and light-mid CS4 work and presentations. But the new rev.C can do that with no hiccups and is MUCH lighter!

 

[hodgeheg]

No question, I agree completely. There is a point where ranting on this or any forum get's redundant and old quick. And, isn't it wiser to contact Apple and ask them to solve the problem? At least then the problem has a chance of being solved?

Agreed, but the problem is that those of us complaining, whether ranting or not, have usually tried very hard to ask Apple to solve the problems. In most cases they haven't helped at all, and in others they've attempted to help but failed. That's why we're ranting on forums. Agreed, *this* isn't the thread for that. I've no objection to the "Why I love my Air" - nor have I any right to object even if I did. I was responding to the implications of "make them go away" to those people who aren't happy.

 

[RCM Ras Tanura]

Why I LOVE my Air...

I previously had a MacBook Pro 15 inch and decided to give it to my son who was starting college. It gave me a good excuse to buy another laptop.

So I bought the Air1 and have loved it - it is light, quick, great for international travel and looks & feels great. Never encountered any problems.

It is so good, my wife takes it all the time and I only get to use it when she it not travelling. She feels the same way as I do about the Air.

I plan to buy another Air as soon as the next upgrade comes out. Hopefully, the screen will be the same as the MacBook Pro (without the metal frame).

Then, my wife can keep the one she has now (which was supposed to be mine) and I can finally have one of my own.

Note to Apple: Please hurry with the upgrade so I can buy one!