114 flights a year and a complete inability to google "macbook external battery".
Why on earth do you need a replaceable battery if you can get a 34 hour battery? If the 222 watt hr battery is too big (it is rather huge) the small 60 watt hour battery will keep the MBA going 11.8 hours.
And you seem to have the inability to use seatguru to find airlines with airplanes with power ports in coach for your 114 flights a year.
Kinda screwed if you fall under the fly america restrictions but even so there are flights and seats with power in coach. Even more in premium coach.
And the issue with the projector is not a common one. The MBA can support bog standard VGA and comes with the same 9400M on the 13" MBP. The graphics is just fine.
Only for the clueless "road warrior" unable to use either seat guru or external batteries.
"You are allowed one larger lithium ion battery installed in a device, plus up to 2 spare larger lithium ion batteries."
These include the 222 watt hour batteries. The limit is 300 watt hours. At first there was some confusion but things have pretty much smoothed out.
Amazing...you have more than 128GB worth of power point presentations? You certainly peg that "death by powerpoint" meter.
They have these things called wireless in 2009. Not too many ethernet ports in airports ya know?
And any road warrior that hasn't considered taking along an airport express has been too clueless to get a nice hotel room with a great view from the balcony that's a tad far from ethernet port. Or just wants to do email from the bed as opposed to the desk.
They also make these things called USB hubs. Which aren't all that big and you can stuff into your checked luggage.
You call the MBA wimpy and you want a netbook instead?
Don't want to carry hubs and whatnot. Don't want a laptop 30% larger than a 10" netbook.
My goal is to lighten the load and to reduce the size of my bag. Stop selling me, it won't work.
Oh come on, are you serious? If an average consumer wants a system that can run Mac OSX, arguably the best operating system available, how many choices do they have for hardware?
Apple created an OS, own it, and want to earn money from it. Makes sense to the rest of us. If you desire their product, buy it. If you don't desire it enough to buy it, buy something else. If you want an open source system, put together a Linux box.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Madcapper
I get the feeling most people blindly hate Psystar because "it's the cool thing to do", and blindly support Apple because they have yet to realize that behind the veil it's just a cold, heartless money-hungry company like any other.
The machine is a bit under powered. No storage. No replaceable battery. Lousy graphics. I couldn't get it to work with my InFocus projector, not enough graphics performance or oomph or something. Can't do a business presentation, why tote it? Not a road warrior machine.
If you think that a MBA is underpowered, despite having a C2D and lousy graphics, depsite having a 9400M, then getting a netbook with an Atom CPU and likely not anything as good as the 9400M iGP is not a good way to go.
Plus, most netbooks have poor battery time. The best I?ve seen for battery is the Asus 1005HA but even that 10.5 hour rated battery isn?t that great. Any MB or MBP with a 7-8 hour battery is likely just as long lasting due to the variances of how they measure the usage. The 1005HA has the added benefit of also having a nice display compared to other netbooks. This is one of those things I?d think people would find more important, yet they oddly only care about the RAM on the GPU. It really makes no sense.
The issue of not being able to replace the internal battery is not a good argument since there are plenty of other options to be had that 1) make the argument moot, and 2) make switching out batteries in mid-flight more or a hassle than simply plugging in an external battery. Then there is the issue of charging the extra batteries. I hated having to get up in the middle of the night to switch batteries. It?s much better when there is a power pass-through to charge both the internal and external at the same time from one cable.
I?ve had two netbooks, one with Mac OS X loaded and the other with XP. Neither were viable replacements for real notebooks. The HW was too slow and too cheaply made with a display and keyboard that was too small. There was no way i could have spent any real time computing on it. For me, netbooks are piss poor notebook replacements that only seem to be supplements to real computers, not one?s primary work horse for long business trips. The MBA and the ultra-light notebooks on the other hand are very capable with their LV C2Ds and decent size displays and IGPs. If a MBA can push high-profile H.264 1080p out then I don?t think your problem with the projector was graphics processing.
If you think that a MBA is underpowered, despite having a C2D and lousy graphics, depsite having a 9400M, then getting a netbook with an Atom CPU and likely not anything as good as the 9400M iGP is not a good way to go.
Underpowered for the money. A netbook is going to be underpowered, everyone expects this because it's costing you $594 instead of $1500 or $1800.
But it doesn't matter. I would pay $1600 for an OS X 10" netbook. It's the footprint I seek, the total size of the base is the single most important feature. No one seems to get this.
I frequently set up Netbooks for customers, they are SSSLLLOOOOOO-OOOOOOWWW and underpowered at least they are putting 160GB hard drives in them now, the old 8GB and 16GB flash drive models weren't much fun.
I came across one that wouldn't let me install our software as it only had 3MB of free space left!
Most of it's 8GB was taken up by Office 2003, geez that thing chugged it took half an hour just to free up enough space on that POS..
The tiny keyboards and screen are annoying and as for the trackpad give me the MacBook one any day of the week, I'll stick with my 13" MacBook thank you very much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt_s
Also, I'm thinking you didn't really pay attention to my post. I want & need a computer with a smaller footprint. This is really the show stopper - the 13" LCD means the base of the machine has to accommodate it. I want a smaller footprint. The smallest footprint Apple produces is 13", 30% greater than my desired standard. This is ok for 2004 or 2005 technology but not in today's netbook world.
The tiny keyboards and screen are annoying and as for the trackpad give me the MacBook one any day of the week, I'll stick with my 13" MacBook thank you very much.
And you should. If you're happy with it, and it's doing the job for you, don't fix what ain't broken. You have what you want, and you're happy. How cool is that?
I'm not happy. I'm sick and tired of lugging this 13" piece of metal around the world. I want something different. Maybe you can understand...
But it doesn't matter. I would pay $1600 for an OS X 10" netbook. It's the footprint I seek, the total size of the base is the single most important feature. No one seems to get this.
I get it but your previous posts, as I recall them, seem to indicate that the MBA can?t even do the basic things you need it to, like running a projector, so I don?t see how a netbook would solve that problem.
Unless you are willing to spend $800 for a netbook i don?t think you?re going to get what you want, based on what you?ve stated. The best I?m aware of for the money and has a good battery life I?ve already mentioned.
The OS X argument is the one that is completely lost on me. Install OS X if you want it. It?s a trivial task once you use the HCL to find a machine that has all the drivers available for it.
A netbook is a back up not a replacement, try using one for a while.
Ubuntu and Open Office.
XP or 7 and Office.
I really don't think a netbook would meet your needs as outlined earlier.
Email, Web browsing and a bit of multimedia is what Netbooks are primarily designed for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt_s
And you should. If you're happy with it, and it's doing the job for you, don't fix what ain't broken. You have what you want, and you're happy. How cool is that?
I'm not happy. I'm sick and tired of lugging this 13" piece of metal around the world. I want something different. Maybe you can understand...
And you should. If you're happy with it, and it's doing the job for you, don't fix what ain't broken. You have what you want, and you're happy. How cool is that?
I'm not happy. I'm sick and tired of lugging this 13" piece of metal around the world. I want something different. Maybe you can understand...
You have different standards as to what constitutes a mobile-desktop compared to other folks. I've had my MBA for almost 18-months. It's my workhorse. I use it for both OSX, and VMWare/XP. It runs faster than my old dedicated Sony Vaio. Graphics performs is great, and I don't have any issues running Powerpoint or any of my development tools that I use in both OSX and XP. I haven't used a LAN connection on it for ages (all wireless nowadays).
If you're complaining about the "puny" disk storage of the MBA, than as usual, this machine is just not meant for you. You seem to be looking for something of the MBA size/weight but in a more higher horsepower / desktop package which is just not going to happen.
I know dozens of MBA owners that are simply happy with their MBA purchase. Why? Because they knew going into it what it's advantages and disadvantages were. For true mobility, this is by far the best machine I've owned and it was my first personal Mac machine. You want higher horsepower?? Go with a Macbook Pro. Want cheapo, disposable, underpowered machines? Go with a netbook. It seems that you have standards that really, no manufacturer can ever hope to meet.
I get it but your previous posts, as I recall them, seem to indicate that the MBA can’t even do the basic things you need it to, like running a projector, so I don’t see how a netbook would solve that problem.
Unless you are willing to spend $800 for a netbook i don’t think you’re going to get what you want, based on what you’ve stated. The best I’m aware of for the money and has a good battery life I’ve already mentioned.
The OS X argument is the one that is completely lost on me. Install OS X if you want it. It’s a trivial task once you use the HCL to find a machine that has all the drivers available for it.
MBA - I can't connect to a customer's Ethernet network, plug in a USB thumb drive, and copy files I can take to their manufacturing floor. I can't connect to a hotel's Ethernet network (not all have wireless) and plug in a USB dongle to run the software I need to connect to our internal design software. To travel with a MBA means I also have to tote a USB hub - all while spending $1799? One USB port that also must double as an Ethernet port for $1800? This is not a serious machine for business. I'm trying to reduce the crap I schlep, not increase it.
The Fujitsu I'm looking at has replaceable batteries. I can swap one for another and it's just not that big a deal. Two batteries will give me 6 to 7 hours; three will provide 10-11. I will not buy a laptop that has a built-in battery. I travel too much.
Spending $800 is considerably different than spending $1800.
Doesn't matter. Battery time doesn't matter. The whole underpowered thing doesn't matter. Even one lousy, pathetic USB port - the world's most expensive USB port - doesn't matter. I want and need that low profile base. If Apple would just decide to innovate and compete in this market, all these issues would be solved. Until then, I may install OS X on to a series of netbooks. For $500 - $800, I can pretty much buy 3 or 4 for the same cost as one MBA with it's lonely little USB port.
NOTE ADDED: I took my InFocus machine into the Apple Store, and the MBA would not drive it. Could not detect a video signal. MB & MBP worked just fine. I then took it over to a friend's local office (who had recently purchased this Fujitsu 10.1" model), and ran the projector off the VGA port without a problem. The Mac Gurus could not explain why the projector would not run (nor were they very concerned about it).
MBA - I can't connect to a customer's Ethernet network, plug in a USB thumb drive, and copy files I can take to their manufacturing floor. I can't connect to a hotel's Ethernet network (not all have wireless) and plug in a USB dongle to run the software I need to connect to our internal design software. To travel with a MBA means I also have to tote a USB hub - all while spending $1799? One USB port that also must double as an Ethernet port for $1800? This is not a serious machine for business. I'm trying to reduce the crap I schlep, not increase it.
The Fujitsu I'm looking at has replaceable batteries. I can swap one for another and it's just not that big a deal. Two batteries will give me 6 to 7 hours; three will provide 10-11. I will not buy a laptop that has a built-in battery. I travel too much.
Spending $800 is considerably different than spending $1800.
Doesn't matter. Battery time doesn't matter. The whole underpowered thing doesn't matter. Even one lousy, pathetic USB port - the world's most expensive USB port - doesn't matter. I want and need that low profile base. If Apple would just decide to innovate and compete in this market, all these issues would be solved. Until then, I may install OS X on to a series of netbooks. For $500 - $800, I can pretty much buy 3 or 4 for the same cost as one MBA with it's lonely little USB port.
Let me help you Matt S, you must have got lost on your way to the Fujitsu forum
MBA - I can't connect to a customer's Ethernet network, plug in a USB thumb drive, and copy files I can take to their manufacturing floor. I can't connect to a hotel's Ethernet network (not all have wireless) and plug in a USB dongle to run the software I need to connect to our internal design software. To travel with a MBA means I also have to tote a USB hub - all while spending $1799? One USB port that also must double as an Ethernet port for $1800?This is not a serious machine for business. I'm trying to reduce the crap I schlep, not increase it.
The Fujitsu I'm looking at has replaceable batteries. I can swap one for another and it's just not that big a deal. Two batteries will give me 6 to 7 hours; three will provide 10-11. I will not buy a laptop that has a built-in battery. I travel too much.
1) The MBA is design for traveling professionals. It clearly doesn?t fit your needs but I bet it fits the needs of more professionals than netbooks do.
2) You talk about wanting less clutter, like a simple USB hub for when you are in a Hotel or having to switch out from a USB-to-Ethernet dongle, but you then you go to talk about having 2 or 3 extra batteries with you. That sounds like a lot more clutter, bulk and weight to me. Then you either have to have a unit to power all these extra batteries or go through the rigomorale of changing them out after they charge every few hours. This may cut into your sleep time; it did mine.
Quote:
Spending $800 is considerably different than spending $1800.
Different, sure, better, not necessarily. I almost always go for the most convenient solution. For me, that is a 13? MBP with a 7 hour battery. That is better than having 2 Li-Ion batteries to tout, I don?t have to change them out to use or to charge and the Li-Poly charge faster. If I possibly need more I can just buy an external that doesn?t mean I?m having to close down my work, shut the lid, flip the machine over grab a coin to release the battery and then replace with a new one every couple hours.
Quote:
Doesn't matter. Battery time doesn't matter. The whole underpowered thing doesn't matter. Even one lousy, pathetic USB port - the world's most expensive USB port - doesn't matter. I want and need that low profile base. If Apple would just decide to innovate and compete in this market, all these issues would be solved. Until then, I may install OS X on to a series of netbooks. For $500 - $800, I can pretty much buy 3 or 4 for the same cost as one MBA with it's lonely little USB port.
You stated previously that the MBA was underpowered for using a projector. I think it?s clear that Apple has chosen NOT to compete in that market because they have chosen to innovate. It?s clear that your issues may be solved (there is no would be if the 9400M isn?t powerful enough, if you don?t know how many and what ports it will have, and what the price point is) as making a 10? netbook isn?t your only interest here.
I don?t disagree that the MBA is not right for you, but your idea of convenience doesn?t seem to jive with mine at all. What you propose sounds like a chore. The move for a built-in battery is something I?ve been asking for for a long time. I?m glad it?s finally here. The only reasons I prefer the 13? MBP over the MBA is the drive capacity and the battery duration. Both are too low for me to use constantly as I travel 100% of the time. I no longer own a home, I?m all hotels, rental cars and airports these days.
You have emoticons at the end of your posts but you don’t sound like you are joking. Matt_S is not trolling or being an ass in any way.
Solipsism he's not understanding that what he seeks is IMPOSSIBLE right now. I've noticed that you back almost every statement you make by facts (which I'm slowly doing myself), so if you cannot get through to this guy then I see it as nobody can.
The "you can leave now" was bad forum etiquette and MATT if your reading I apologize.
You have emoticons at the end of your posts but you don’t sound like you are joking. Matt_S is not trolling or being an ass in any way.
No, just lying about the MBA. With a 9400 the graphics are not wimpy and unable to drive projectors. And he's claiming some road warrior godhood without knowing any of the tricks of the trade.
No, just lying about the MBA. With a 9400 the graphics are not wimpy and unable to drive projectors. And he's claiming some road warrior godhood without knowing any of the tricks of the trade.
Posted previously: I took my InFocus machine into the Apple Store, and the MBA would not drive it. Could not detect a video signal. MB & MBP worked just fine. I then took it over to a friend's local office (who had recently purchased this Fujitsu 10.1" model), and ran the projector off the VGA port without a problem. The Mac Gurus could not explain why the projector would not run (nor were they very concerned about it).
Comments
114 flights a year and a complete inability to google "macbook external battery".
Why on earth do you need a replaceable battery if you can get a 34 hour battery? If the 222 watt hr battery is too big (it is rather huge) the small 60 watt hour battery will keep the MBA going 11.8 hours.
And you seem to have the inability to use seatguru to find airlines with airplanes with power ports in coach for your 114 flights a year.
Here...let me help you:
http://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_economy.php
Kinda screwed if you fall under the fly america restrictions but even so there are flights and seats with power in coach. Even more in premium coach.
And the issue with the projector is not a common one. The MBA can support bog standard VGA and comes with the same 9400M on the 13" MBP. The graphics is just fine.
Only for the clueless "road warrior" unable to use either seat guru or external batteries.
"You are allowed one larger lithium ion battery installed in a device, plus up to 2 spare larger lithium ion batteries."
http://safetravel.dot.gov/larger_batt.html
These include the 222 watt hour batteries. The limit is 300 watt hours. At first there was some confusion but things have pretty much smoothed out.
Amazing...you have more than 128GB worth of power point presentations? You certainly peg that "death by powerpoint" meter.
They have these things called wireless in 2009. Not too many ethernet ports in airports ya know?
And any road warrior that hasn't considered taking along an airport express has been too clueless to get a nice hotel room with a great view from the balcony that's a tad far from ethernet port. Or just wants to do email from the bed as opposed to the desk.
They also make these things called USB hubs. Which aren't all that big and you can stuff into your checked luggage.
You call the MBA wimpy and you want a netbook instead?
Don't want to carry hubs and whatnot. Don't want a laptop 30% larger than a 10" netbook.
My goal is to lighten the load and to reduce the size of my bag. Stop selling me, it won't work.
Oh come on, are you serious? If an average consumer wants a system that can run Mac OSX, arguably the best operating system available, how many choices do they have for hardware?
Apple created an OS, own it, and want to earn money from it. Makes sense to the rest of us. If you desire their product, buy it. If you don't desire it enough to buy it, buy something else. If you want an open source system, put together a Linux box.
I get the feeling most people blindly hate Psystar because "it's the cool thing to do", and blindly support Apple because they have yet to realize that behind the veil it's just a cold, heartless money-hungry company like any other.
That makes one of you.
Don't want to carry hubs and whatnot. Don't want a laptop 30% larger than a 10" netbook.
My goal is to lighten the load and to reduce the size of my bag. Stop selling me, it won't work.
"Well you and your 500Gb Netbook Are gonna fit right in here"......
LAND OF THE MISFIT TOYS
The machine is a bit under powered. No storage. No replaceable battery. Lousy graphics. I couldn't get it to work with my InFocus projector, not enough graphics performance or oomph or something. Can't do a business presentation, why tote it? Not a road warrior machine.
If you think that a MBA is underpowered, despite having a C2D and lousy graphics, depsite having a 9400M, then getting a netbook with an Atom CPU and likely not anything as good as the 9400M iGP is not a good way to go.
Plus, most netbooks have poor battery time. The best I?ve seen for battery is the Asus 1005HA but even that 10.5 hour rated battery isn?t that great. Any MB or MBP with a 7-8 hour battery is likely just as long lasting due to the variances of how they measure the usage. The 1005HA has the added benefit of also having a nice display compared to other netbooks. This is one of those things I?d think people would find more important, yet they oddly only care about the RAM on the GPU. It really makes no sense.
The issue of not being able to replace the internal battery is not a good argument since there are plenty of other options to be had that 1) make the argument moot, and 2) make switching out batteries in mid-flight more or a hassle than simply plugging in an external battery. Then there is the issue of charging the extra batteries. I hated having to get up in the middle of the night to switch batteries. It?s much better when there is a power pass-through to charge both the internal and external at the same time from one cable.
I?ve had two netbooks, one with Mac OS X loaded and the other with XP. Neither were viable replacements for real notebooks. The HW was too slow and too cheaply made with a display and keyboard that was too small. There was no way i could have spent any real time computing on it. For me, netbooks are piss poor notebook replacements that only seem to be supplements to real computers, not one?s primary work horse for long business trips. The MBA and the ultra-light notebooks on the other hand are very capable with their LV C2Ds and decent size displays and IGPs. If a MBA can push high-profile H.264 1080p out then I don?t think your problem with the projector was graphics processing.
If you think that a MBA is underpowered, despite having a C2D and lousy graphics, depsite having a 9400M, then getting a netbook with an Atom CPU and likely not anything as good as the 9400M iGP is not a good way to go.
Underpowered for the money. A netbook is going to be underpowered, everyone expects this because it's costing you $594 instead of $1500 or $1800.
But it doesn't matter. I would pay $1600 for an OS X 10" netbook. It's the footprint I seek, the total size of the base is the single most important feature. No one seems to get this.
I came across one that wouldn't let me install our software as it only had 3MB of free space left!
Most of it's 8GB was taken up by Office 2003, geez that thing chugged it took half an hour just to free up enough space on that POS..
The tiny keyboards and screen are annoying and as for the trackpad give me the MacBook one any day of the week, I'll stick with my 13" MacBook thank you very much.
Also, I'm thinking you didn't really pay attention to my post. I want & need a computer with a smaller footprint. This is really the show stopper - the 13" LCD means the base of the machine has to accommodate it. I want a smaller footprint. The smallest footprint Apple produces is 13", 30% greater than my desired standard. This is ok for 2004 or 2005 technology but not in today's netbook world.
The tiny keyboards and screen are annoying and as for the trackpad give me the MacBook one any day of the week, I'll stick with my 13" MacBook thank you very much.
And you should. If you're happy with it, and it's doing the job for you, don't fix what ain't broken. You have what you want, and you're happy. How cool is that?
I'm not happy. I'm sick and tired of lugging this 13" piece of metal around the world. I want something different. Maybe you can understand...
But it doesn't matter. I would pay $1600 for an OS X 10" netbook. It's the footprint I seek, the total size of the base is the single most important feature. No one seems to get this.
I get it but your previous posts, as I recall them, seem to indicate that the MBA can?t even do the basic things you need it to, like running a projector, so I don?t see how a netbook would solve that problem.
Unless you are willing to spend $800 for a netbook i don?t think you?re going to get what you want, based on what you?ve stated. The best I?m aware of for the money and has a good battery life I?ve already mentioned.
The OS X argument is the one that is completely lost on me. Install OS X if you want it. It?s a trivial task once you use the HCL to find a machine that has all the drivers available for it.
Ubuntu and Open Office.
XP or 7 and Office.
I really don't think a netbook would meet your needs as outlined earlier.
Email, Web browsing and a bit of multimedia is what Netbooks are primarily designed for.
And you should. If you're happy with it, and it's doing the job for you, don't fix what ain't broken. You have what you want, and you're happy. How cool is that?
I'm not happy. I'm sick and tired of lugging this 13" piece of metal around the world. I want something different. Maybe you can understand...
And you should. If you're happy with it, and it's doing the job for you, don't fix what ain't broken. You have what you want, and you're happy. How cool is that?
I'm not happy. I'm sick and tired of lugging this 13" piece of metal around the world. I want something different. Maybe you can understand...
You have different standards as to what constitutes a mobile-desktop compared to other folks. I've had my MBA for almost 18-months. It's my workhorse. I use it for both OSX, and VMWare/XP. It runs faster than my old dedicated Sony Vaio. Graphics performs is great, and I don't have any issues running Powerpoint or any of my development tools that I use in both OSX and XP. I haven't used a LAN connection on it for ages (all wireless nowadays).
If you're complaining about the "puny" disk storage of the MBA, than as usual, this machine is just not meant for you. You seem to be looking for something of the MBA size/weight but in a more higher horsepower / desktop package which is just not going to happen.
I know dozens of MBA owners that are simply happy with their MBA purchase. Why? Because they knew going into it what it's advantages and disadvantages were. For true mobility, this is by far the best machine I've owned and it was my first personal Mac machine. You want higher horsepower?? Go with a Macbook Pro. Want cheapo, disposable, underpowered machines? Go with a netbook. It seems that you have standards that really, no manufacturer can ever hope to meet.
I get it but your previous posts, as I recall them, seem to indicate that the MBA can’t even do the basic things you need it to, like running a projector, so I don’t see how a netbook would solve that problem.
Unless you are willing to spend $800 for a netbook i don’t think you’re going to get what you want, based on what you’ve stated. The best I’m aware of for the money and has a good battery life I’ve already mentioned.
The OS X argument is the one that is completely lost on me. Install OS X if you want it. It’s a trivial task once you use the HCL to find a machine that has all the drivers available for it.
MBA - I can't connect to a customer's Ethernet network, plug in a USB thumb drive, and copy files I can take to their manufacturing floor. I can't connect to a hotel's Ethernet network (not all have wireless) and plug in a USB dongle to run the software I need to connect to our internal design software. To travel with a MBA means I also have to tote a USB hub - all while spending $1799? One USB port that also must double as an Ethernet port for $1800? This is not a serious machine for business. I'm trying to reduce the crap I schlep, not increase it.
The Fujitsu I'm looking at has replaceable batteries. I can swap one for another and it's just not that big a deal. Two batteries will give me 6 to 7 hours; three will provide 10-11. I will not buy a laptop that has a built-in battery. I travel too much.
Spending $800 is considerably different than spending $1800.
Doesn't matter. Battery time doesn't matter. The whole underpowered thing doesn't matter. Even one lousy, pathetic USB port - the world's most expensive USB port - doesn't matter. I want and need that low profile base. If Apple would just decide to innovate and compete in this market, all these issues would be solved. Until then, I may install OS X on to a series of netbooks. For $500 - $800, I can pretty much buy 3 or 4 for the same cost as one MBA with it's lonely little USB port.
NOTE ADDED: I took my InFocus machine into the Apple Store, and the MBA would not drive it. Could not detect a video signal. MB & MBP worked just fine. I then took it over to a friend's local office (who had recently purchased this Fujitsu 10.1" model), and ran the projector off the VGA port without a problem. The Mac Gurus could not explain why the projector would not run (nor were they very concerned about it).
MBA - I can't connect to a customer's Ethernet network, plug in a USB thumb drive, and copy files I can take to their manufacturing floor. I can't connect to a hotel's Ethernet network (not all have wireless) and plug in a USB dongle to run the software I need to connect to our internal design software. To travel with a MBA means I also have to tote a USB hub - all while spending $1799? One USB port that also must double as an Ethernet port for $1800? This is not a serious machine for business. I'm trying to reduce the crap I schlep, not increase it.
The Fujitsu I'm looking at has replaceable batteries. I can swap one for another and it's just not that big a deal. Two batteries will give me 6 to 7 hours; three will provide 10-11. I will not buy a laptop that has a built-in battery. I travel too much.
Spending $800 is considerably different than spending $1800.
Doesn't matter. Battery time doesn't matter. The whole underpowered thing doesn't matter. Even one lousy, pathetic USB port - the world's most expensive USB port - doesn't matter. I want and need that low profile base. If Apple would just decide to innovate and compete in this market, all these issues would be solved. Until then, I may install OS X on to a series of netbooks. For $500 - $800, I can pretty much buy 3 or 4 for the same cost as one MBA with it's lonely little USB port.
Let me help you Matt S, you must have got lost on your way to the Fujitsu forum
http://ts.fujitsu.com/support/forum/
Maybe the people in this forum may be able to understand you much better. You can leave now
MBA - I can't connect to a customer's Ethernet network, plug in a USB thumb drive, and copy files I can take to their manufacturing floor. I can't connect to a hotel's Ethernet network (not all have wireless) and plug in a USB dongle to run the software I need to connect to our internal design software. To travel with a MBA means I also have to tote a USB hub - all while spending $1799? One USB port that also must double as an Ethernet port for $1800?This is not a serious machine for business. I'm trying to reduce the crap I schlep, not increase it.
The Fujitsu I'm looking at has replaceable batteries. I can swap one for another and it's just not that big a deal. Two batteries will give me 6 to 7 hours; three will provide 10-11. I will not buy a laptop that has a built-in battery. I travel too much.
1) The MBA is design for traveling professionals. It clearly doesn?t fit your needs but I bet it fits the needs of more professionals than netbooks do.
2) You talk about wanting less clutter, like a simple USB hub for when you are in a Hotel or having to switch out from a USB-to-Ethernet dongle, but you then you go to talk about having 2 or 3 extra batteries with you. That sounds like a lot more clutter, bulk and weight to me. Then you either have to have a unit to power all these extra batteries or go through the rigomorale of changing them out after they charge every few hours. This may cut into your sleep time; it did mine.
Spending $800 is considerably different than spending $1800.
Different, sure, better, not necessarily. I almost always go for the most convenient solution. For me, that is a 13? MBP with a 7 hour battery. That is better than having 2 Li-Ion batteries to tout, I don?t have to change them out to use or to charge and the Li-Poly charge faster. If I possibly need more I can just buy an external that doesn?t mean I?m having to close down my work, shut the lid, flip the machine over grab a coin to release the battery and then replace with a new one every couple hours.
Doesn't matter. Battery time doesn't matter. The whole underpowered thing doesn't matter. Even one lousy, pathetic USB port - the world's most expensive USB port - doesn't matter. I want and need that low profile base. If Apple would just decide to innovate and compete in this market, all these issues would be solved. Until then, I may install OS X on to a series of netbooks. For $500 - $800, I can pretty much buy 3 or 4 for the same cost as one MBA with it's lonely little USB port.
You stated previously that the MBA was underpowered for using a projector. I think it?s clear that Apple has chosen NOT to compete in that market because they have chosen to innovate. It?s clear that your issues may be solved (there is no would be if the 9400M isn?t powerful enough, if you don?t know how many and what ports it will have, and what the price point is) as making a 10? netbook isn?t your only interest here.
I don?t disagree that the MBA is not right for you, but your idea of convenience doesn?t seem to jive with mine at all. What you propose sounds like a chore. The move for a built-in battery is something I?ve been asking for for a long time. I?m glad it?s finally here. The only reasons I prefer the 13? MBP over the MBA is the drive capacity and the battery duration. Both are too low for me to use constantly as I travel 100% of the time. I no longer own a home, I?m all hotels, rental cars and airports these days.
Let me help you Matt S, you must have got lost on your way to the Fujitsu forum
http://ts.fujitsu.com/support/forum/
Maybe the people in this forum may be able to understand you much better. You can leave now
You have emoticons at the end of your posts but you don?t sound like you are joking. Matt_S is not trolling or being an ass in any way.
Let me help you Matt S, you must have got lost on your way to the Fujitsu forum
http://ts.fujitsu.com/support/forum/
Maybe the people in this forum may be able to understand you much better. You can leave now
Ok, finally, that was clever. Well done. I cracked a smile & laughed. Thanks!
Don't want to carry hubs and whatnot. Don't want a laptop 30% larger than a 10" netbook.
My goal is to lighten the load and to reduce the size of my bag. Stop selling me, it won't work.
I'm not trying to sell you. I'm just correcting your outright lies.
You have emoticons at the end of your posts but you don’t sound like you are joking. Matt_S is not trolling or being an ass in any way.
Solipsism he's not understanding that what he seeks is IMPOSSIBLE right now. I've noticed that you back almost every statement you make by facts (which I'm slowly doing myself), so if you cannot get through to this guy then I see it as nobody can.
The "you can leave now" was bad forum etiquette and MATT if your reading I apologize.
You have emoticons at the end of your posts but you don’t sound like you are joking. Matt_S is not trolling or being an ass in any way.
No, just lying about the MBA. With a 9400 the graphics are not wimpy and unable to drive projectors. And he's claiming some road warrior godhood without knowing any of the tricks of the trade.
No, just lying about the MBA. With a 9400 the graphics are not wimpy and unable to drive projectors. And he's claiming some road warrior godhood without knowing any of the tricks of the trade.
Posted previously: I took my InFocus machine into the Apple Store, and the MBA would not drive it. Could not detect a video signal. MB & MBP worked just fine. I then took it over to a friend's local office (who had recently purchased this Fujitsu 10.1" model), and ran the projector off the VGA port without a problem. The Mac Gurus could not explain why the projector would not run (nor were they very concerned about it).