Apple's new MacBook Air dubbed world’s thinnest notebook - Page 5

I see your point, you want it because it's lighter. I actually sold my MBP a few months back waiting for something similar to this, but come to find out, this isn't what I wanted. I'll wait for rev b.

The beveled and rounded aluminium edges adds a fair amount of rigidity.

Apple is sure to continue dropping. Not simply because of the dog they released today, but the "pump and dump" strategy is designed to get you to buy when the price is high. The stocks you purchased somebody else bought at $125 (or less.) They have taken all their profit from you (not from Apple,) and now the price will continue to drop.

Then they will do it all over again. The price will settle at $125 again, they will rebuy the same stocks, and then pump it up again, saying it will go over $200. New buyers will come in later as the price rises, and get suckered in again. This has been going on for hundreds of years.

As PT Barnum put it, "There's a sucker born every minute."

Cut your losses and get out, before you lose all of it.

Apple Air is a dog. Time Capsule is over-priced. Apple is now a record-video store, not a hardware manufacturer. They make over-priced items that invite competition, and their licensing arrangements are doomed in the long-term. They will never go out of business, but they can't live up to the hype, either. MacBook Air stands for the airhead. It is Steve's ideal computer, but it is overpriced and underfeatured, just like him.

Go spend the money and enjoy yourself. And if you are in debt (mortgage, auto, credit cards) use the money for that instead. That would be a better use of any surplus you have saved. The stock market is designed to make the stock-brokers and insiders rich, not you.

And, even if it does make you "rich," the profits you earn all come back to you as inflation. Higher profits mean higher prices. There is no escaping a vicious circle except to avoid joining in.

A couple of points that nobody else brought up.

1. Why does the MBA only come with Mac OS X 10.5 and iLife 08'. It doesn't come with any other software. No OmniOutliner, no Quicken, no nothing (I also notice that the MB and MBP pages on Apple.com also list no other software on those notebooks either). Is this a new trend...

2. Why doesn't Apple include a Front Row remote? $19 for that piece of junk isn't worth it....

3. Shouldn't the Ethernet to USB hub be included in a $1800+ notebook?

Dave

Absolutely correct.

It's difficult to carry, and navigate, iTunes on a Macbook (while barreling down a hill on a mountain board), as I'm sure you can agree.

I'm always looking for orphaned Macbooks, though.

Those British plugs have a lot more copper than the US plugs. Have you checked the price of copper lately?

The thin and light is definitely a lot more of an advantage here.

I hope to be able to buy one of these this year, though I'm not necessarily the core demographic, I'm not necessarily very mobile, but I want something that runs cool with good battery life. I already have a very good desktop, it's not going to be a desktop replacement. I certainly don't need a notebook that's going to burn my jeans, which is what most standard notebooks feel like they are trying to do.

Wow!!! I just noticed that they are charging for the remote! WTF. The high in model is over $3000 and they want to charge for the remote.

It is like disabling the wireless back up on Time Machine and forcing you to buy the new Time Capsule (pretty cool though) to get that functionality.

The sky's not blue enough. The clouds aren't fluffy enough. The water's not warm enough.

The dosage of Paxil isn't high enough.

Ah, someone who thinks he knows something, when he actually doesn't.

That one's surprising.

This is what I don't get -- why didn't they make it light AND small? The 12" PB had a full-size keyboard and could fit under an 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Very convenient footprint, it fits in all kinds of places.

The MacBook Air has essentially the same (slightly larger) footprint than the normal MacBook. So basically they are charging a $700 premium for a thinner but slower MacBook that you can't watch DVDs on ... do people really care that much about just thinness and weight?

A 12-inch model would be sweet.

photos of MBA is up in AI and Macrumors that may change lots of comments here; but MBA is not for everyone; it is mainly of ultramobility users hmmm sigh

Michael Dell, is that you?


I recently bought a new 802.11n router after my old one died, and a 1TB external MyBook. My router doesn't allow for a networked printer of HDD those cost a lot more. I could have a waited a few weeks and bought a 1TB Airport Extreme Base Station for less money than I spent on these two devices. Furthermore, i had to buy an extra long FW cable because, as Jobs stated I found use the external drive a pain with my notebook to do backups.



What is the right machine for me if the MBA is a bad choice?



It sounds like the only answer for you is suicide.

They probably did marketing research, and found that few wanted a smaller screen. Some of the smaller models have a 1024 by 768 screens, or even less vertically, if they are widescreen.

Why did they discontinue the 12" Powerbook, and not bring it to MBP status?

Because it was selling so well? No, because it wasn't selling so well.

This looks really good, and I may get one shortly.

I'm glad. I've collected way to many Apple remotes over the last two years. I nearly have a enough to play Mah Jong with.

I love MahJong!

I do miss my 12" PB. The 13" MBis just too big for traveling. The MBA should shore up things nicely for me.

I'm kind of amazed at the response to the event, even if you hated it. You all seriously need to chill out.



There are much more important things in life. Is your entire retirement portfolio invested in AAPL?



Apple still makes all kinds of other options. And there will be plenty of buyers. This machine is still more powerful than my laptop, which I use for very serious graphic design.



Go outside and get some air. These kittens can't even use Macs.

Nice. There have been an overabundance of douches here today. It's like Digg commenters decided to drop by.

Wow, that was not what I was expecting. Overpriced, underfeatured, and totally an Apple product. Once people realize that their savings are gone, inflation is increasing (6.5% just recently!!!), and jobs lost, few will spend money on the unnecessary. The first thing to cut is an $1800 device that let's you surf the internet.

So you're just here to troll? Allrighty then.

So I guess they should bring the Yugo back?

points:
1] 1800 is a BIT much for this, but i think it will sell well at this price point.
2] personally i will wait until the SSD costs 1/3rd what it is now, and by then i hope the graphics processor in this thing is better.
3] i wonder what the battery life is with the HDD. i'm SURE the time they list is best case scenario [meaning w/ SSD]
4] the full size keyboard WITHOUT a stupid f'ing eraser pointer is KEY. multitouch trackpad is even better.
5] 13.3" screen is bigger than i expected, making overall width/depth more than i thought it would be, but it's all good w/ the KB and trackpad.
6] one usb is all i need.
7] i don't care about firewire much, but it would have been nice to put one in the time capsule [lame name]
8] remote optical is brilliant. optical drives aren't ready to go away just yet, but soon this should eliminate the iMac/floppy OMFG panic.
9] it blows the competition away in looks / lust factor. i'm still amazed that no other computer manufacturer can hire industrial designers with any competence. it's like every other company makes industrial designers the whipping boys of the hardware engineers... does it come with the envelope?

Like, you need it!! Don't you?

AnandTech give some balanced, thought out perceptions and good insights into the components used in the new MacBook Air.

•

Uncovering Intel's Custom CPU for Apple

"It looks like Intel created Merom SFF specifically for the MacBook Air, a product that wasn’t in Intel’s lineup or roadmap but one that Apple needed. Remember that the first chip that will look like this wasn’t scheduled to be out for another six months with Montevina SFF.

It’s not clear whether Intel will make this custom Merom available to other OEMs (we’d suspect they would if there was enough demand), but it’s a tremendous feat on Apple’s part. This isn’t the first time Intel has put together a one-off chip for Apple; if you’ll remember, the CPU in the Apple TV was a special Dothan that wasn’t a part of Intel’s standard lineup."

Quite. I suspect most peoples video comes off mobile phones and digital cameras. This clearly isn't a laptop for DV Pros but that's what the MBP is for.


I had assumed it would but hoped it wouldn't. It's a worrying trend.


1. Macs don't come with anything but trials nowadays. iWork and Office trials to have to remove (and that's despite the adverts).

2. That does seem very stingy especially as this machine is clearly aimed at the business market carring a very light laptop to give Keynote/PPT presentations (hence the included VGA/DVI adaptors).

3. Again should be standard in the box.

-------------

The battery concerns me (but will not change in future revisions).
The Audio will surely get Stereo speakers and Optical Out in Rev B.
Hope you can get a Flash drive in that folding USB port...

Obviously Apple expects you to buy a TimeCapsule to sit at home/office with all your data and printer connection, when in WiFi range.

For Office and general internet tasks on the move this is a great product. A seocnd or third revision will be worth the money.

It's pretty good in its class of device.


I doubt it's that much different. The 2.5" notebook drives maxed out at about 2 watts, much lower on idle. The 1.8" hard drives are probably a lot more efficient, it's probably the same drive as in the 80GB iPod, and that iPod battery didn't need to be very big to support the drive.

Wilco is back!

This is a serious yawner. They should have rolled the MBA out quietly last week, and used the keynote to unveil the new Mac Pro. At least that would have been interesting.

I mean, what was the objective here? Lets make the most under powered, least featured notebook we possibly can, then charge a massive premium for it just because it's thinner. A smaller footprint would be marginally impressive, but only a simpleton is impressed by "thin".

Like the original?http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notebook-...top-263957.php

So it would make marketing sense to you not announce a new product to the lineup but spend a good deal of time in this once year event talking about an expected upgrade to the Mac Pro? Seriously!

It's not the thinness that is impressive, it's the whole package being that portable that is impressive. If you understood technology you'd know that this type of engineering costs more than the chunky engineering of other OEMs

More like 50,000, but point taken.

Pot, meet Kettle.

Well, I have to say I am a bit disappointed.

I am one of "those" people getting ready to switch back to Mac after a 10 yr absence, and have been anticipating today like Christmas! I have used subnotebooks for years. I think the MBA design is gorgeous, and as a sales rep, I do not need high-end power for video/photography, but I need a big enough screen for spreadsheets, SFA websites, reviewing marketing plans and .ppt slides. I want light and compact size due to the ever-constricting airline seats. The MBA form-factor and weight really appeal to me.

BUT: I *always* travel with 2 batteries. I need at least 100gb of space for growth (currently using 85). Built in Ethernet is useful but I can probably make do with the USB dongle. Ethernet is still needed as some hotels do not have wifi and I have to connect to their broadband with Ethernet.

Apple was SO CLOSE here!!!!! You can tell by the size of the screen bezel that they have enough room for a 15" screen. And no matte screen option? They could have kept Ethernet. The HDD options should have gone at least to the 160 GB ipod drive. All of those additions would have affected the thickness by .2" or so, but they would have been worth it for the way most of us work.

As for competition - these are some previous laptops that are small and one is lighter, and without compromise on functionality:

Toshiba R200 - less than 1" thick, 2 USB, SD, VGA, PCMCIA, internal modem, Ethernet wireless b/g. Weight = 2.74lbs. Battery life, approx 3.5 hrs

Panasonic CF-W2 (now the W4 or 5) - CD R/W, 2 USB, wireless b/g, SD, PCMCIA, VGA, EThernet, built in modem, armored HD, 12.1" screen, mono, 2.6 lbs

My current Panasonic CF-Y4 - DVD R/W, (2) USB, wireless b/g, SD, PCMCIA, VGA, Ethernet, built in modem, *armored HD* (tested up to a 4 ft. fall). 14" screen, stereo, and 3.4 lbs.

I'm not starting a flame-war, I *want* a Mac, but I'm looking at my 3 year old Panasonic that still has 15gb of HDD left, a larger screen, built in drive, ethernet, SD, PCMCIA and is only .4lbs heavier! I just dont think I can justify the 1800 to go backwards. Maybe rev.2 or by the WWDC Apple will have some more compelling options for the MBA????

I said earlier that a HD weighs 365g, this was for a 2.5". Sorry about that.

SSD can save between 5-10% though I've seen as much 15%. These figures are usually for 2.5" SSD to 2.5" HD comparisons though. 5% to 10% of 4 hours is 12 to 24 minutes.

I do agree optical drives are on their way out. The main reason most people think they have to have one is to watch DVDs, but I think downloads etc will slowly make this need go away. If you're a DV pro, you need a drive and you'll be buying a different laptop.

You can pick up a 32Gb ssd for $400 (newegg) or $320 used. Too bad that's not an "in the middle" option from the Apple store. Unfortunately I bet it could be quite difficult to take apart the machine. ( Why would they make it easy if you can't upgrade anything (like ram)? )

Remembering that you can go somewhere north of 40 hours of music and about ten hours with the Classic 160, the drain isn't too bad.

Didn't think of that. I wonder...

Really gunning for that permanent ban, huh?