Well, it's ridiculous now too if you think about it. 80 gigs vs 64 gigs? Thats $1,000 more for 16 less gigs!
I think people understand that flash drives are still SUPER expensive. Even Steve Jobs joked about that during his keynote at MWSF.
I truly believe Apple could have offered the 160 gig version alongside the 64gig flash drive version if he sold the flash drive as faster with instant start up and longer battery life etc etc.
Face it, flash is the future. I understand psychologically why they wanted to keep it at a 80/64 difference instead of a 160/64 difference. But you just know that millions of people just like me are going to wait. It's hard enough for some to get past the "no optical drive"...but to limit the HD size to 80gigs will keep many of those same people from buying right now.
Hey, what do I know, maybe Apple can't physically fit a 160gig HD in there yet....but I seriously doubt that. They already have ipods with that much.
No you're right, it was a marketing choice until larger cheaper flash drives are available. Then they'll up the regular HD options too.
But until then, I'm not going to take the plunge. Again, thats just me. :-)
Stop whining about the 64 SSD price. Dell charges the same amount.
Hey, what do I know, maybe Apple can't physically fit a 160gig HD in there yet....but I seriously doubt that. They already have ipods with that much.
It's because the 160gb HD in the iPod is double plattered compared to the MBA, which has one platter to keep the size down, although I think the difference is only a few millimeters.
There are 3 main criteria when you buy a laptop - price, power, and weight. Apple have the 3 bases covered now, Macbook for the lower cost, MBP for power and Air for light weight.
Stop whining about the 64 SSD price. Dell charges the same amount.
I don't believe he ways complaining that Apple charges more. He's complaining that Apple seems willing to sacrifice a larger HDD to help reason the expense of the SDD.
My God man! Just because a laptop doesn't have a fucking optical drive doesn't mean it's a niche product, or can't be used in a corporate environment!
The ability to play a dvd or music cd doesn't make a corporate computer! Holy shit!
you missed the point
it is a niche product
in acutal fact the amount of people that need a ultra portable represent such a small part of the market, so small in fact that its probably negligble in terms of market share and other things that people look for.
As most people have pointed out the main type of customers are either business people who are on the move constantly or fashion/trend freaks who just want to look cool. If i was looking for a laptop for home, I wouldn't pick this, I would be picking the Macbook simply because its a bit more functional for me as a home user. the weight and size and thickness will only matter to travellers and people who care about these types of things. At the end of the day its niche, because people won't be paying the price premium for a laptop like this because
a. it won't meet the majority needs of most of the market looking for a secondary computer
b. its too expensive for people looking for a secondary computer. There are many more suitable laptops that are a little bit heavier or bigger.
Sometimes when you answer a question about a niche problem you really need to think, do i represent the market? do i belong in a niche market myself?
All my work colleagues (Accounting Auditors that travel to clients alot) had the same response, wow nice laptop, stylish definetly something i would covet, but i wouldn't buy it. Its OS, specs and weight price specifications only suit a small number of people for specific type purposes.
Probably, as many who need one are out there thinking about buying one, but if you need a machine to take your iMac or your MacPro on the road, or if you even have a 17" for use in your college office, but find you need to dash off to a research site, or catch a plane and a field trip for three days, who wouldn't want a light, self contained machine that did not compromise on keyboard and entry. My problem is with ports; I would like more there, definitely, and I am no fan of "dangles," BUT this computer is for MOBILITY.
btw, I do not find the black keyboard ugly, especially in the dark when all lit up....
Then I gotta ask you again
how many students can actually afford a iMac and then another computer on top that as their main?
I don't think there are alot of these around.......
in acutal fact the amount of people that need a ultra portable represent such a small part of the market, so small in fact that its probably negligble in terms of market share and other things that people look for.
As most people have pointed out the main type of customers are either business people who are on the move constantly or fashion/trend freaks who just want to look cool. If i was looking for a laptop for home, I wouldn't pick this, I would be picking the Macbook simply because its a bit more functional for me as a home user. the weight and size and thickness will only matter to travellers and people who care about these types of things. At the end of the day its niche, because people won't be paying the price premium for a laptop like this because
a. it won't meet the majority needs of most of the market looking for a secondary computer
b. its too expensive for people looking for a secondary computer. There are many more suitable laptops that are a little bit heavier or bigger.
Sometimes when you answer a question about a niche problem you really need to think, do i represent the market? do i belong in a niche market myself?
All my work colleagues (Accounting Auditors that travel to clients alot) had the same response, wow nice laptop, stylish definetly something i would covet, but i wouldn't buy it. Its OS, specs and weight price specifications only suit a small number of people for specific type purposes.
So what I'm hearing is that business people in general are a niche community? I'm not a business person, but I can still surf the web, send email, do Word documents, yada yada yada on a MBA just like I can on a Powerbook. So if a business person buys this, and a college student and a professor buys this, and a grandma buys this, that crosses so many so-called niche communities, right? You guys need to stop with this "niche" community stupid crap because unless you are a professional merketing agency employee who was hired by Apple, then you know exactly buttkuss about this.
how many students can actually afford a iMac and then another computer on top that as their main?
I don't think there are alot of these around.......
I'm one. It's called having a JOB. Plus the GI Bill. Plus having a wife who owns her own business that grosses 350k per year. Not ALL college kids are broke.
What exactly is a "niche" product? And why is everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, Apple makes is considered a "niche" product?
By definition, a niche product is targeted at a niche market, that is a focused subset of a market sector. And who said that "EVERYTHING Apple makes is considered a "niche" product"? (may be true or not true)
Quote:
Originally Posted by His Dudeness
So what I'm hearing is that business people in general are a niche community?
It depends on what you mean by "business people". It is a personal income issue. In business there are people with much higher than average income. These are niche people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by His Dudeness
I'm not a business person, but I can still surf the web, send email, do Word documents, yada yada yada on a MBA just like I can on a Powerbook.
And?
Quote:
Originally Posted by His Dudeness
So if a business person buys this, and a college student and a professor buys this, and a grandma buys this, that crosses so many so-called niche communities, right?
Too many if's. I would just wait and see how the MBA does. As I explained in previous posts I believe that it has potential but you push it too hard here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by His Dudeness
You guys need to stop with this "niche" community stupid crap...
Easy now. You have to get real and calm down. This is not "stupid crap" as you call it. Not at this moment at least. As we speak now, a MBA for the general population means that there is at least one more computer in the house. Try to convince on this basis anyone here in Europe, where we pay 21% VAT on everything and which results in 1700 euros for the base configuration of MBA. That's $2500 today.
If it is a niche product and it sells well in that niche, what's the problem?
It makes money, it raises interest (the Air was all over the morning news and the newspapers in Japan) and leads to future purchases.
Its not just a niche product, but a wise investment.
---
No: an Air does not require another computer if you buy the external drive for only 99 bucks. It is entirely plausible that someone would have an Air as their only machine.
Air + drive + TimeCapsule + printer = one cool, wireless set-up that would be the envy of many.
in acutal fact the amount of people that need a ultra portable represent such a small part of the market, so small in fact that its probably negligble in terms of market share and other things that people look for.
Which is why Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic and Lenovo expend engineering dollars and effort in addressing this market that is so tiny its not worth bothering with?
Mkay. I guess you are smarter than the folks at all the laptop makers with an ultraportable offering.
Quote:
If i was looking for a laptop for home, I wouldn't pick this, I would be picking the Macbook simply because its a bit more functional for me as a home user. the weight and size and thickness will only matter to travellers and people who care about these types of things.
You know I lug my 17" MBP home every day and there are certainly days I'm thinking "Man, I wish I had an ultraportable instead of this boat anchor".
The MacBook is ONLY a bit more functional than the MBA. 90% of the time I'm living on a 32GB BootCamp partition and relying on the 320MB disk I have at home that automatically gets attached when I plug in the same USB cable I need for mouse and keyboard.
This machine would be perfectly fine for me as a primary machine if I didn't need full DirectX support for work.
From what I understand, you are a student and your wife has a very important contribution to the family incomes. Much more than many others. And I would like to congratulate you for this. Honestly.
But from this position it is more than easy to think that the MBA is for everyone. You are just not the average student and I am trying to make you think about it. So, please think more carefully about people having not the means to justify the acquisition of a MBA (which, rightfully or unrightfully make them question its viability), and do not be so rude with them.
From what I understand, you are a student and your wife has a very important contribution to the family incomes. Much more than many others. And I would like to congratulate you for this. Honestly.
But from this position it is more than easy to think that the MBA is for everyone. You are just not the average student and I am trying to make you think about it. So, please think more carefully about people having not the means to justify the acquisition of a MBA (which, rightfully or unrightfully make them question its viability), and do not be so rude with them.
I'm not being rude. I'm actually making fun of people because they think up the stupidest reasons to hate a Mac product. No optical drive this, no ethernet port that, large footprint here, 80 gig drive there... I mean come on, give me a break. If you don't like something, don't buy it. Don't waste time trying to convince people that it's a pile of shit just because it's lacking a feature that YOU want. Maybe in the future, Apple and Steve Jobs will consult every whiny Mac user on the forums.
And she is not paying for my college. I am. I have suffered through 19 and a half years of shit in the Navy to get this GI Bill. That's what paying for my stuff.
Ultraportables are like High End Graphic Cards. There certainly is a market for them, but its a supremely small part of the market. I mean how many people honestly are like His Dudeness........Maybe only 5-10% of my office out of a 500 people earn anywhere close to what his wife earns. I personally think the whole point of this laptop is for bragging rights and it is meant to improve Apples Profile in the laptop space. Covet the Air but can't buy it? Get a Macbook instead then why not?
Actually in fact what part of the population will be able to afford two computers one that is primarily for moving around purposes? The chances are its going to be quite small. As mentioned by Bergermeister before, its all about Marketing and bragging rights. The Air gives Apple good publicity, it opens their products to more markets simply by making markets interested in the Air itself.
Its a niche. The Macbook certainly isn't, a large number of school students, teachers, and university students use them for study work and play. Im sure they outnumber the market of the Macbook Air by a fair amount. Its really a moot point until sales figures come out but the Air should only be half the units of either the MBP and MB. Both of them appeal to bigger markets.
I'm not being rude. I'm actually making fun of people because they think up the stupidest reasons to hate a Mac product. No optical drive this, no ethernet port that, large footprint here, 80 gig drive there... I mean come on, give me a break. If you don't like something, don't buy it. Don't waste time trying to convince people that it's a pile of shit just because it's lacking a feature that YOU want. Maybe in the future, Apple and Steve Jobs will consult every whiny Mac user on the forums.
And she is not paying for my college. I am. I have suffered through 19 and a half years of shit in the Navy to get this GI Bill. That's what paying for my stuff.
Then as you should know, you are definetly not an average student, in fact your not even an average buyer. Sure not all Collage students are broke. But most Collage students are.
Your unique situation puts you with alot of disposable income which to be honest with you, not much of the world has. You are a niche
Comments
Well, it's ridiculous now too if you think about it. 80 gigs vs 64 gigs? Thats $1,000 more for 16 less gigs!
I think people understand that flash drives are still SUPER expensive. Even Steve Jobs joked about that during his keynote at MWSF.
I truly believe Apple could have offered the 160 gig version alongside the 64gig flash drive version if he sold the flash drive as faster with instant start up and longer battery life etc etc.
Face it, flash is the future. I understand psychologically why they wanted to keep it at a 80/64 difference instead of a 160/64 difference. But you just know that millions of people just like me are going to wait. It's hard enough for some to get past the "no optical drive"...but to limit the HD size to 80gigs will keep many of those same people from buying right now.
Hey, what do I know, maybe Apple can't physically fit a 160gig HD in there yet....but I seriously doubt that. They already have ipods with that much.
No you're right, it was a marketing choice until larger cheaper flash drives are available. Then they'll up the regular HD options too.
But until then, I'm not going to take the plunge. Again, thats just me. :-)
Stop whining about the 64 SSD price. Dell charges the same amount.
Hey, what do I know, maybe Apple can't physically fit a 160gig HD in there yet....but I seriously doubt that. They already have ipods with that much.
It's because the 160gb HD in the iPod is double plattered compared to the MBA, which has one platter to keep the size down, although I think the difference is only a few millimeters.
Stop whining about the 64 SSD price. Dell charges the same amount.
I don't believe he ways complaining that Apple charges more. He's complaining that Apple seems willing to sacrifice a larger HDD to help reason the expense of the SDD.
My God man! Just because a laptop doesn't have a fucking optical drive doesn't mean it's a niche product, or can't be used in a corporate environment!
The ability to play a dvd or music cd doesn't make a corporate computer! Holy shit!
you missed the point
it is a niche product
in acutal fact the amount of people that need a ultra portable represent such a small part of the market, so small in fact that its probably negligble in terms of market share and other things that people look for.
As most people have pointed out the main type of customers are either business people who are on the move constantly or fashion/trend freaks who just want to look cool. If i was looking for a laptop for home, I wouldn't pick this, I would be picking the Macbook simply because its a bit more functional for me as a home user. the weight and size and thickness will only matter to travellers and people who care about these types of things. At the end of the day its niche, because people won't be paying the price premium for a laptop like this because
a. it won't meet the majority needs of most of the market looking for a secondary computer
b. its too expensive for people looking for a secondary computer. There are many more suitable laptops that are a little bit heavier or bigger.
Sometimes when you answer a question about a niche problem you really need to think, do i represent the market? do i belong in a niche market myself?
All my work colleagues (Accounting Auditors that travel to clients alot) had the same response, wow nice laptop, stylish definetly something i would covet, but i wouldn't buy it. Its OS, specs and weight price specifications only suit a small number of people for specific type purposes.
Probably, as many who need one are out there thinking about buying one, but if you need a machine to take your iMac or your MacPro on the road, or if you even have a 17" for use in your college office, but find you need to dash off to a research site, or catch a plane and a field trip for three days, who wouldn't want a light, self contained machine that did not compromise on keyboard and entry. My problem is with ports; I would like more there, definitely, and I am no fan of "dangles," BUT this computer is for MOBILITY.
btw, I do not find the black keyboard ugly, especially in the dark when all lit up....
Then I gotta ask you again
how many students can actually afford a iMac and then another computer on top that as their main?
I don't think there are alot of these around.......
you missed the point
it is a niche product
in acutal fact the amount of people that need a ultra portable represent such a small part of the market, so small in fact that its probably negligble in terms of market share and other things that people look for.
As most people have pointed out the main type of customers are either business people who are on the move constantly or fashion/trend freaks who just want to look cool. If i was looking for a laptop for home, I wouldn't pick this, I would be picking the Macbook simply because its a bit more functional for me as a home user. the weight and size and thickness will only matter to travellers and people who care about these types of things. At the end of the day its niche, because people won't be paying the price premium for a laptop like this because
a. it won't meet the majority needs of most of the market looking for a secondary computer
b. its too expensive for people looking for a secondary computer. There are many more suitable laptops that are a little bit heavier or bigger.
Sometimes when you answer a question about a niche problem you really need to think, do i represent the market? do i belong in a niche market myself?
All my work colleagues (Accounting Auditors that travel to clients alot) had the same response, wow nice laptop, stylish definetly something i would covet, but i wouldn't buy it. Its OS, specs and weight price specifications only suit a small number of people for specific type purposes.
So what I'm hearing is that business people in general are a niche community? I'm not a business person, but I can still surf the web, send email, do Word documents, yada yada yada on a MBA just like I can on a Powerbook. So if a business person buys this, and a college student and a professor buys this, and a grandma buys this, that crosses so many so-called niche communities, right? You guys need to stop with this "niche" community stupid crap because unless you are a professional merketing agency employee who was hired by Apple, then you know exactly buttkuss about this.
Then I gotta ask you again
how many students can actually afford a iMac and then another computer on top that as their main?
I don't think there are alot of these around.......
I'm one. It's called having a JOB. Plus the GI Bill. Plus having a wife who owns her own business that grosses 350k per year. Not ALL college kids are broke.
Plus having a wife who owns her own business that grosses 350k per year.
What exactly is a "niche" product? And why is everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, Apple makes is considered a "niche" product?
By definition, a niche product is targeted at a niche market, that is a focused subset of a market sector. And who said that "EVERYTHING Apple makes is considered a "niche" product"? (may be true or not true)
So what I'm hearing is that business people in general are a niche community?
It depends on what you mean by "business people". It is a personal income issue. In business there are people with much higher than average income. These are niche people.
I'm not a business person, but I can still surf the web, send email, do Word documents, yada yada yada on a MBA just like I can on a Powerbook.
And?
So if a business person buys this, and a college student and a professor buys this, and a grandma buys this, that crosses so many so-called niche communities, right?
Too many if's. I would just wait and see how the MBA does. As I explained in previous posts I believe that it has potential but you push it too hard here.
You guys need to stop with this "niche" community stupid crap...
Easy now. You have to get real and calm down. This is not "stupid crap" as you call it. Not at this moment at least. As we speak now, a MBA for the general population means that there is at least one more computer in the house. Try to convince on this basis anyone here in Europe, where we pay 21% VAT on everything and which results in 1700 euros for the base configuration of MBA. That's $2500 today.
It makes money, it raises interest (the Air was all over the morning news and the newspapers in Japan) and leads to future purchases.
Its not just a niche product, but a wise investment.
---
No: an Air does not require another computer if you buy the external drive for only 99 bucks. It is entirely plausible that someone would have an Air as their only machine.
Air + drive + TimeCapsule + printer = one cool, wireless set-up that would be the envy of many.
What's that for?
Then I gotta ask you again
how many students can actually afford a iMac and then another computer on top that as their main?
I don't think there are alot of these around.......
Who said anything about students?
you missed the point
it is a niche product
in acutal fact the amount of people that need a ultra portable represent such a small part of the market, so small in fact that its probably negligble in terms of market share and other things that people look for.
Which is why Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic and Lenovo expend engineering dollars and effort in addressing this market that is so tiny its not worth bothering with?
Mkay. I guess you are smarter than the folks at all the laptop makers with an ultraportable offering.
If i was looking for a laptop for home, I wouldn't pick this, I would be picking the Macbook simply because its a bit more functional for me as a home user. the weight and size and thickness will only matter to travellers and people who care about these types of things.
You know I lug my 17" MBP home every day and there are certainly days I'm thinking "Man, I wish I had an ultraportable instead of this boat anchor".
The MacBook is ONLY a bit more functional than the MBA. 90% of the time I'm living on a 32GB BootCamp partition and relying on the 320MB disk I have at home that automatically gets attached when I plug in the same USB cable I need for mouse and keyboard.
This machine would be perfectly fine for me as a primary machine if I didn't need full DirectX support for work.
What's that for?
From what I understand, you are a student and your wife has a very important contribution to the family incomes. Much more than many others. And I would like to congratulate you for this. Honestly.
But from this position it is more than easy to think that the MBA is for everyone. You are just not the average student and I am trying to make you think about it. So, please think more carefully about people having not the means to justify the acquisition of a MBA (which, rightfully or unrightfully make them question its viability), and do not be so rude with them.
Who said anything about students?
You most certainly missed some posts above.
From what I understand, you are a student and your wife has a very important contribution to the family incomes. Much more than many others. And I would like to congratulate you for this. Honestly.
But from this position it is more than easy to think that the MBA is for everyone. You are just not the average student and I am trying to make you think about it. So, please think more carefully about people having not the means to justify the acquisition of a MBA (which, rightfully or unrightfully make them question its viability), and do not be so rude with them.
I'm not being rude. I'm actually making fun of people because they think up the stupidest reasons to hate a Mac product. No optical drive this, no ethernet port that, large footprint here, 80 gig drive there... I mean come on, give me a break. If you don't like something, don't buy it. Don't waste time trying to convince people that it's a pile of shit just because it's lacking a feature that YOU want. Maybe in the future, Apple and Steve Jobs will consult every whiny Mac user on the forums.
And she is not paying for my college. I am. I have suffered through 19 and a half years of shit in the Navy to get this GI Bill. That's what paying for my stuff.
Ultraportables are like High End Graphic Cards. There certainly is a market for them, but its a supremely small part of the market. I mean how many people honestly are like His Dudeness........Maybe only 5-10% of my office out of a 500 people earn anywhere close to what his wife earns. I personally think the whole point of this laptop is for bragging rights and it is meant to improve Apples Profile in the laptop space. Covet the Air but can't buy it? Get a Macbook instead then why not?
Actually in fact what part of the population will be able to afford two computers one that is primarily for moving around purposes? The chances are its going to be quite small. As mentioned by Bergermeister before, its all about Marketing and bragging rights. The Air gives Apple good publicity, it opens their products to more markets simply by making markets interested in the Air itself.
Its a niche. The Macbook certainly isn't, a large number of school students, teachers, and university students use them for study work and play. Im sure they outnumber the market of the Macbook Air by a fair amount. Its really a moot point until sales figures come out but the Air should only be half the units of either the MBP and MB. Both of them appeal to bigger markets.
I'm not being rude. I'm actually making fun of people because they think up the stupidest reasons to hate a Mac product. No optical drive this, no ethernet port that, large footprint here, 80 gig drive there... I mean come on, give me a break. If you don't like something, don't buy it. Don't waste time trying to convince people that it's a pile of shit just because it's lacking a feature that YOU want. Maybe in the future, Apple and Steve Jobs will consult every whiny Mac user on the forums.
And she is not paying for my college. I am. I have suffered through 19 and a half years of shit in the Navy to get this GI Bill. That's what paying for my stuff.
Then as you should know, you are definetly not an average student, in fact your not even an average buyer. Sure not all Collage students are broke. But most Collage students are.
Your unique situation puts you with alot of disposable income which to be honest with you, not much of the world has. You are a niche