And the funny bit is that it still looks much better aesthetically, and much more well though out functionally (the clam shell allows for a full sized keyboard), and it's something they created 14 years ago...
But yes, why isn't apple making a netbook? Why can't we (pundits, 14 year olds, midwifes, scuba divers, windows aficionados, google freaks) just tell a company that has consistently innovated for more than 30 years what to do? We are living in the majority dictatorship of the internet, or are we not? So they made an ultra portable that's priced as high (or lower than) most decent (not good, just decent) quality netbooks from sony and toshi, yet has arguably much better specifications, it's much thinner, has a better os, and all sorts of innovations, it has a full keyboard you can actually type on.
Where the heck are those netbooks from 3 years ago, are people still using the atom, and who stole the consumers' money? Was it overpriced apple? Was it apple that gave them a fully functional ultra thin and light laptop and then gave them an ipad that was simple to use, fast, readable, thin, portable, with a long battery life, with an innovative touch interface, and too many other advantages to mention here? Or was it every other dime a dozen hack putting together a few standard parts without bothering to see if they even worked together, and slapping on top of that the great windoze (xp of course because vista needed 1gb to boot, and no one wanted them anyway...)? How many of these atom netbooks are NOT gathering dust in some garage now? I know mine is, because I was stupid, or naive enough to buy one for a friend.
Oh, but yes, it's fashionable to swallow the propaganda from the very dime a dozen manufacturers that lacked the foresight and flair and are now getting their asses whooped left right and center by apple, be it in the mobile, the laptop or desktop space. Apple is greedy and overpriced and we want our netbooks so in a couple of years they 'll be able to keep good company to our other netbooks, the current ones we own, in that cupboard in the garage next to the screws, and light bulbs.
But who cares about all that. Why don't apple make a netbook?
The battery life is a bit low for my needs but the deal breaker for me is the lack of 3G. even if it was a proprietary mini-PCIe card that Apple had to install, I?d be all over that 13.3? MBA.
Battery life? You're crazy. Name another similar laptop that gets more battery life.
3G? Use a USB 3G adapter. That has the advantage of being easy to upgrade or flexible if you travel outside the U.S.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amador_o
I was about to be all over that 11", but no SD card slot... I wonder why (obviously size) they would concede that? Looks like I'll have to consider the 13".
USB/SD adapter. you're going to skip a great computer because you're too cheap to spend $10 on an adapter?
Once again MSNBC proved to be idiots. Not that CNN or Fox News(if you can call Fox a News network) are any better. But I always have this hope that MSNBC could somehow balance out the Right with some extreme left. Geeze...for the days for impartial news.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtownfan
Anyone see MSNBC posted a link to an article saying Apple Finally announces Verizon Iphone?
It goes to a dead link. I think they anticipated it, but it didnt happen and they forgot to remove the link.
Never said Apple proclaimed this, just in general.
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
The exclusion of a component doesn?t equal that product being the killer of that component. It could be a forerunner or omen of a potential trend. When did Apple call the MBA the ODD killer?
Battery life? You're crazy. Name another similar laptop that gets more battery life.
In fairness he said it hasn't enough battery life for his needs, so his needs might indeed require a 10 h battery life. He didn't say the device didn't have enough battery life for it's class. So it goes without saying that solipsism will have to lug around something much bulkier if he wants that type of battery life, because thin and light and such battery life isn't an option technologically at the moment.
Exactly because they don't they can buy an air once and have it at least for the next half a decade, at least, rather than buying some netbook crap that they can't write on, or some bulky monster laptop to carry around, or some even more expensive niche thin and light pc with that dog of an os that is windows on it.
Never said Apple proclaimed this, just in general.
Gotcha. Thought you meant they claimed this. I?ve certainly claimed that the ODD is reaching it?s EOL as we?re seeing more machines without ODDs from all vendors, the huge amount of space they take up, not seeing Apple add any Blu-ray support and the lack of ODD performance upgrades for years in Mac notebooks.
it will be enticing to Students and Sales-people and CEO's and just about anyone that doesn't do heavy crunching Apps. For most people who own a laptop, this will work quite well, and with the pricepoint being what it is, I'd say it's a win. There were several posts on this blog that have mentioned that CPU/GPU's are being upgraded faster than the Apps can catch up with them, so I think this will be a success. However, I think the 11" should have priced at $799 and $999 for the 13", given the White Mac book beats out these two in specs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strobe
Yea, because english majors blow thousands on laptops all the time.
or when you wanna go into bootcamp... and also if it kernal panics on yah... many situations for a power button than just once, but I think you already know that.
I can't imagine that being the power button...but it does have the correct power symbol. Seems too easy to accidentally hit the key and turn it off.
Most all MB's have a designated power button that's flush to the metal and takes a bit of effort to press.
I would expect that they would have anticipated the potential to accidentally hit the power key—an easy way to address that issue is to force the user to hold the key down for a couple of seconds to activate the shut-down procedure (i.e. bring up the "Are you sure you want to shut down your computer now?" window). And for the past decade at least, the power buttons on all Macs are "soft" buttons, not "hard" buttons, meaning, you can't accidentally turn off your Mac by simply brushing against, or hitting the power button. You can FORCE a shutdown by holding the power button down for more than three seconds, but that's pretty hard to do accidentally.
I would hope that they would have anticipated the potential to accidentally hit the power key?an easy way to address that issue is to force the user to hold the key down for a couple of seconds to activate the shut-down procedure (i.e. bring up the "Are you sure you want to shut down your computer now?" window). If they didn't think of that, then I'm tossing my MacBook in the ocean and moving to Redmond.
If it?s like the Eject button you can?t simply hit it and have it activate. There is a required time limit before it sends the command to perform its intended task.
Apple doesn't make a netbook because they suffer a lack of confidence in their ability to dramatically grow the Mac market, and instead worry about cannibalizing sales.
Here's a question. COULD Apple make a Netbook? Nobody here would doubt it! So why don't they?
It would be the portable mini to their MacBook. The same form factor as the 11" Air, but with compromises made to make it more easily affordable, especially for switchers who already have PCs. Sure, it wouldn't encode HD videos as fast, but most Netbook users are "english majors" and so on who just need to browse the web or use Office to write papers.
We know a Netbook can run Snow Leopard very well BECAUSE IT ALREADY DOES! Safari runs brilliantly, and can even play 1080P videos given the GPU. Hell, even using flash video players. It works today, and the hardware costs under half to under a quarter as much.
Why do people buy Netbooks? Are they unsophisticated barbarians who can't appreciate an $8 biscotti? I submit they don't need a $1000+ laptop to surf the web or run Quicken, so why pay that much?
But no, instead Apple shuns an entire market because they lack the confidence to own it despite having the ability. Instead they spend millions in R&D to cater to a very, very small niche market. Maybe it's because Steve wouldn't use a Netbook, and thus nobody should.
Or maybe I'm full of shit and there is no market for such a product. I suspect otherwise given the Netbook phenomenon, however.
I have a couple of 24" iMacs too of course, but I really couldn't part with the pbook, it's a computer classic, I would still buy it today just to marvel at it. And as you know you get attached to macs, i would have probably stuck with a macbook too like you did, it's hard to replace them after spending so much time with them, these machines elicit an emotional response as any thing that is well made should.
Ps. Yes to me too it is by far and away the best Mac they built, these new airs included.
My daughter bought a 12 inch powerbook before going to college and used it for 4 years until the main board failed. Whenever I touched it, I marveled at it. So did my wife. It was just so beautiful. I agree, best portable ever. After its failure, we gave her my wife's black macbook. It had survived a few hours at the bottom of our pool and drying out. The only parts that failed were the battery and the optical drive. The guys at the apple store cleaned it up inside, gave her a new battery, and charged her only for the replacement of the superdrive. This experience is just one more thing to make me appreciate Apple products and service.
Comments
Earliest Mentionable Fit To The Category. (HEY, LOOK WHO MADE IT)
And the funny bit is that it still looks much better aesthetically, and much more well though out functionally (the clam shell allows for a full sized keyboard), and it's something they created 14 years ago...
But yes, why isn't apple making a netbook? Why can't we (pundits, 14 year olds, midwifes, scuba divers, windows aficionados, google freaks) just tell a company that has consistently innovated for more than 30 years what to do? We are living in the majority dictatorship of the internet, or are we not? So they made an ultra portable that's priced as high (or lower than) most decent (not good, just decent) quality netbooks from sony and toshi, yet has arguably much better specifications, it's much thinner, has a better os, and all sorts of innovations, it has a full keyboard you can actually type on.
Where the heck are those netbooks from 3 years ago, are people still using the atom, and who stole the consumers' money? Was it overpriced apple? Was it apple that gave them a fully functional ultra thin and light laptop and then gave them an ipad that was simple to use, fast, readable, thin, portable, with a long battery life, with an innovative touch interface, and too many other advantages to mention here? Or was it every other dime a dozen hack putting together a few standard parts without bothering to see if they even worked together, and slapping on top of that the great windoze (xp of course because vista needed 1gb to boot, and no one wanted them anyway...)? How many of these atom netbooks are NOT gathering dust in some garage now? I know mine is, because I was stupid, or naive enough to buy one for a friend.
Oh, but yes, it's fashionable to swallow the propaganda from the very dime a dozen manufacturers that lacked the foresight and flair and are now getting their asses whooped left right and center by apple, be it in the mobile, the laptop or desktop space. Apple is greedy and overpriced and we want our netbooks so in a couple of years they 'll be able to keep good company to our other netbooks, the current ones we own, in that cupboard in the garage next to the screws, and light bulbs.
But who cares about all that. Why don't apple make a netbook?
The battery life is a bit low for my needs but the deal breaker for me is the lack of 3G. even if it was a proprietary mini-PCIe card that Apple had to install, I?d be all over that 13.3? MBA.
Battery life? You're crazy. Name another similar laptop that gets more battery life.
3G? Use a USB 3G adapter. That has the advantage of being easy to upgrade or flexible if you travel outside the U.S.
I was about to be all over that 11", but no SD card slot... I wonder why (obviously size) they would concede that? Looks like I'll have to consider the 13".
USB/SD adapter. you're going to skip a great computer because you're too cheap to spend $10 on an adapter?
Anyone see MSNBC posted a link to an article saying Apple Finally announces Verizon Iphone?
It goes to a dead link. I think they anticipated it, but it didnt happen and they forgot to remove the link.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3033118/...h_and_gadgets/
The exclusion of a component doesn?t equal that product being the killer of that component. It could be a forerunner or omen of a potential trend. When did Apple call the MBA the ODD killer?
Battery life? You're crazy. Name another similar laptop that gets more battery life.
In fairness he said it hasn't enough battery life for his needs, so his needs might indeed require a 10 h battery life. He didn't say the device didn't have enough battery life for it's class. So it goes without saying that solipsism will have to lug around something much bulkier if he wants that type of battery life, because thin and light and such battery life isn't an option technologically at the moment.
Exactly because they don't they can buy an air once and have it at least for the next half a decade, at least, rather than buying some netbook crap that they can't write on, or some bulky monster laptop to carry around, or some even more expensive niche thin and light pc with that dog of an os that is windows on it.
Thanks. You made my point better than I did.
Never said Apple proclaimed this, just in general.
Gotcha. Thought you meant they claimed this. I?ve certainly claimed that the ODD is reaching it?s EOL as we?re seeing more machines without ODDs from all vendors, the huge amount of space they take up, not seeing Apple add any Blu-ray support and the lack of ODD performance upgrades for years in Mac notebooks.
OK so no optical drive. How do you/I install new programs? I missed the presentation so I guess I have to wait.
Rick
Apple is now selling Mac software, big time. Don't worry about your getting bits and Apple getting cash. It will just work.
Lift the lid. It's instant on.
Close the lid. It's instant off.
Because it is the same for simple people.
But that's not a Macbook Air thing. That's an SSD thing. Any ol' PC with an SSD will wake up from sleep quickly enough to be perceived as "instantly".
And why isn't the 256GB SSD available with the 11.6" model?
Did you upgrade your current notebook's hard drive to a larger capacity?
I did, I have a late 2008 MBP that came with a 320 GB HD and I upgraded it to 500GB last year.
The new MacBook Airs do not fit the definition.
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&cl...g&ved=0CCAQkAE
Agreed.
"An economical notebook computer"
And why isn't the 256GB SSD available with the 11.6" model?
Just a guess, but perhaps the 256 GB module is physically larger than the others...?
Most all MB's have a designated power button that's flush to the metal and takes a bit of effort to press.
no kidding genius... but you have to turn it on for the FIRST time, right?
<I updated my post, found it on the keyboard>
Yea, because english majors blow thousands on laptops all the time.
You are right. But it only once.
or when you wanna go into bootcamp... and also if it kernal panics on yah... many situations for a power button than just once, but I think you already know that.
I can't imagine that being the power button...but it does have the correct power symbol. Seems too easy to accidentally hit the key and turn it off.
Most all MB's have a designated power button that's flush to the metal and takes a bit of effort to press.
I wonder if you have to hit FN key + the power button or you have to HOLD IT DOWN... I'm sure Apple made it so you wont hit it by accident.
I can't imagine that being the power button...but it does have the correct power symbol. Seems too easy to accidentally hit the key and turn it off.
Most all MB's have a designated power button that's flush to the metal and takes a bit of effort to press.
I would expect that they would have anticipated the potential to accidentally hit the power key—an easy way to address that issue is to force the user to hold the key down for a couple of seconds to activate the shut-down procedure (i.e. bring up the "Are you sure you want to shut down your computer now?" window). And for the past decade at least, the power buttons on all Macs are "soft" buttons, not "hard" buttons, meaning, you can't accidentally turn off your Mac by simply brushing against, or hitting the power button. You can FORCE a shutdown by holding the power button down for more than three seconds, but that's pretty hard to do accidentally.
I would hope that they would have anticipated the potential to accidentally hit the power key?an easy way to address that issue is to force the user to hold the key down for a couple of seconds to activate the shut-down procedure (i.e. bring up the "Are you sure you want to shut down your computer now?" window). If they didn't think of that, then I'm tossing my MacBook in the ocean and moving to Redmond.
If it?s like the Eject button you can?t simply hit it and have it activate. There is a required time limit before it sends the command to perform its intended task.
Here's a question. COULD Apple make a Netbook? Nobody here would doubt it! So why don't they?
It would be the portable mini to their MacBook. The same form factor as the 11" Air, but with compromises made to make it more easily affordable, especially for switchers who already have PCs. Sure, it wouldn't encode HD videos as fast, but most Netbook users are "english majors" and so on who just need to browse the web or use Office to write papers.
We know a Netbook can run Snow Leopard very well BECAUSE IT ALREADY DOES! Safari runs brilliantly, and can even play 1080P videos given the GPU. Hell, even using flash video players. It works today, and the hardware costs under half to under a quarter as much.
Why do people buy Netbooks? Are they unsophisticated barbarians who can't appreciate an $8 biscotti? I submit they don't need a $1000+ laptop to surf the web or run Quicken, so why pay that much?
But no, instead Apple shuns an entire market because they lack the confidence to own it despite having the ability. Instead they spend millions in R&D to cater to a very, very small niche market. Maybe it's because Steve wouldn't use a Netbook, and thus nobody should.
Or maybe I'm full of shit and there is no market for such a product. I suspect otherwise given the Netbook phenomenon, however.
I have a couple of 24" iMacs too of course, but I really couldn't part with the pbook, it's a computer classic, I would still buy it today just to marvel at it. And as you know you get attached to macs, i would have probably stuck with a macbook too like you did, it's hard to replace them after spending so much time with them, these machines elicit an emotional response as any thing that is well made should.
Ps. Yes to me too it is by far and away the best Mac they built, these new airs included.
My daughter bought a 12 inch powerbook before going to college and used it for 4 years until the main board failed. Whenever I touched it, I marveled at it. So did my wife. It was just so beautiful. I agree, best portable ever. After its failure, we gave her my wife's black macbook. It had survived a few hours at the bottom of our pool and drying out. The only parts that failed were the battery and the optical drive. The guys at the apple store cleaned it up inside, gave her a new battery, and charged her only for the replacement of the superdrive. This experience is just one more thing to make me appreciate Apple products and service.