No. Not a niche product. Not a cube. It will popularize UMPCs, like Apple did with the iPod and iPhone. Remember, mp3 players and smartphones were niche products 'til Apple cam along.
Whats great is alot of the MBA features and technology will trickle down to the MB and MBP lines, while the MBA will evolve to an even thinner, crazier, more portable and powerful UMPC. We will probably see thinner MB and MBPs thanks to the MBA, and we will see even more portable MBAs with the next product cycle!
Just think about it like this: if Apple introduced the MBA as the new Macbook replacement, I'm sure there would be an uproar. But this way, Apple can ease in all this crazy new technology, spread it across its notebook lines, and then maybe phase the MBA out when the MB & MBP essentially become a MBA, only more powerful and with more options. Think about what Apple is doing with the iPod touch (clearly the future) and the iPod classic (days are numbered). It a great way to introduce a radical new product where you already have a market-share without totally shocking your current customer base to death.
just my $.02
edit:
Found a great article that debunks the MBA's would-be rivals. It shows how ludacris some comparisons to the MBA really are!
Just returned from a three-day trip during which I spent several hours a day typing away on my MBP. Didn't use the optical drive once, used only one USB connecter at a time and never went more than four hours without returning to the hotel room where I had my power brick. I did, however, walk around a bit with the MBP on my back (in a great Targus bag) and will say that the almost six pounds for the machine started to get really heavy on the third day.
Repeat:
- I am a pro user
- I never need an optical drive
- I only need one USB port
- the hotel I stayed in had free wireless LAN
- I do not need FW
- I need three solid hours of battery life
- I find 5.4 pounds on my back heavy after a while
I am soooo looking forward to my MacBookAir. It should be here any day now!
Just returned from a three-day trip during which I spent several hours a day typing away on my MBP. Didn't use the optical drive once, used only one USB connecter at a time and never went more than four hours without returning to the hotel room where I had my power brick. I did, however, walk around a bit with the MBP on my back (in a great Targus bag) and will say that the almost six pounds for the machine started to get really heavy on the third day.
Repeat:
- I am a pro user
- I never need an optical drive
- I only need one USB port
- the hotel I stayed in had free wireless LAN
- I do not need FW
- I need three solid hours of battery life
- I find 5.4 pounds on my back heavy after a while
I am soooo looking forward to my MacBookAir. It should be here any day now!
You just gave the perfect example of the intended customer for this product. I already have a MBP so I doubt I will have the luxury of this Air, but when I go to conferences that is exactly what I do. I have never used the optical drive, the only time I need the battery is at the convention lecture hall, and 4 hours is plenty, and the only thing I plug into it is the mouse. I also always have an iPod in case there are some things I need to load or unload.
All the people yammering about what it doesn't have, there are plenty of us who do not use those features. And the 3 pound weight would be fantastic for carrying it from the hotel to the conference center and back 3 times a day for a week, not to mention the airport issues.
This article says exactly what I've been thinking about the Air. Everyone will basically go to an Apple store to have a look and come away from a MB or something else. Honestly thats how i think the Air will be determined as a success.
There's a thread at DSLR where the theory is that people will be so enraptured by the "coolness" of the Air that they will buy it and then be disappointed that it is missing some features, and wind up "hating Apple."
What a messed-up analysis. Every customer will ask, "why is this one so much more expensive than the MacBook?", and when they hear the answer they will know what the differences are.
Quick check shows the Air and Time Capsule still on top of sales at the online Apple Store Japan. This is now going for two weeks.
Neither the Air nor TimeCapsule is in the top 7 at the US store.
Time Capsule is my biggest gripe, since I need it now and when I tried to order it on line was told Feb, so did, then got a shipping date of 27 February-- technically Feb, to be sure, but not worth buying a pig in a poke. I cancelled the online order and will stroll over to look at one "in the flesh" when the finally do arrive-- just like the MBA.
Comments
Stop worrying about it.
Whats great is alot of the MBA features and technology will trickle down to the MB and MBP lines, while the MBA will evolve to an even thinner, crazier, more portable and powerful UMPC. We will probably see thinner MB and MBPs thanks to the MBA, and we will see even more portable MBAs with the next product cycle!
Just think about it like this: if Apple introduced the MBA as the new Macbook replacement, I'm sure there would be an uproar. But this way, Apple can ease in all this crazy new technology, spread it across its notebook lines, and then maybe phase the MBA out when the MB & MBP essentially become a MBA, only more powerful and with more options. Think about what Apple is doing with the iPod touch (clearly the future) and the iPod classic (days are numbered). It a great way to introduce a radical new product where you already have a market-share without totally shocking your current customer base to death.
just my $.02
edit:
Found a great article that debunks the MBA's would-be rivals. It shows how ludacris some comparisons to the MBA really are!
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/0...f-epic-idiocy/
Repeat:
- I am a pro user
- I never need an optical drive
- I only need one USB port
- the hotel I stayed in had free wireless LAN
- I do not need FW
- I need three solid hours of battery life
- I find 5.4 pounds on my back heavy after a while
I am soooo looking forward to my MacBookAir. It should be here any day now!
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2254759,00.asp
Just returned from a three-day trip during which I spent several hours a day typing away on my MBP. Didn't use the optical drive once, used only one USB connecter at a time and never went more than four hours without returning to the hotel room where I had my power brick. I did, however, walk around a bit with the MBP on my back (in a great Targus bag) and will say that the almost six pounds for the machine started to get really heavy on the third day.
Repeat:
- I am a pro user
- I never need an optical drive
- I only need one USB port
- the hotel I stayed in had free wireless LAN
- I do not need FW
- I need three solid hours of battery life
- I find 5.4 pounds on my back heavy after a while
I am soooo looking forward to my MacBookAir. It should be here any day now!
You just gave the perfect example of the intended customer for this product. I already have a MBP so I doubt I will have the luxury of this Air, but when I go to conferences that is exactly what I do. I have never used the optical drive, the only time I need the battery is at the convention lecture hall, and 4 hours is plenty, and the only thing I plug into it is the mouse. I also always have an iPod in case there are some things I need to load or unload.
All the people yammering about what it doesn't have, there are plenty of us who do not use those features. And the 3 pound weight would be fantastic for carrying it from the hotel to the conference center and back 3 times a day for a week, not to mention the airport issues.
Excellent article on the MBA:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2254759,00.asp
This article says exactly what I've been thinking about the Air. Everyone will basically go to an Apple store to have a look and come away from a MB or something else. Honestly thats how i think the Air will be determined as a success.
What a messed-up analysis. Every customer will ask, "why is this one so much more expensive than the MacBook?", and when they hear the answer they will know what the differences are.
Neither the Air nor TimeCapsule is in the top 7 at the US store.
I already have a MBP so I doubt I will have the luxury of this Air
Yah, I'm in the same boat or I'd have one ordered already.
Quick check shows the Air and Time Capsule still on top of sales at the online Apple Store Japan. This is now going for two weeks.
Neither the Air nor TimeCapsule is in the top 7 at the US store.
Time Capsule is my biggest gripe, since I need it now and when I tried to order it on line was told Feb, so did, then got a shipping date of 27 February-- technically Feb, to be sure, but not worth buying a pig in a poke. I cancelled the online order and will stroll over to look at one "in the flesh" when the finally do arrive-- just like the MBA.
Thank you for your opinion. I see your point but I'm afraid I don't agree with you. Because Apple never makes a niche product.