They have been writing long pieces in various threads, regardless of the title. The title of this thread is in a question form, which leads me to imagine that it is being a little sarcastic, perhaps, particularly because there were so many negative posts of great length before this thread was started.
Or did that miss a few people?
That is what I was thinking as well. In the meantime, I think that the ones who went ahead and ordered it (of which, there seem to be surprisingly many) have not paid a whole lot of attention, apparently.
I can't wait for the next quarter's results to see how the MBA has fared. My prediction is that it will be a blockbuster. Of course, I could be wrong about that, but that's my hunch.
I have an MBP17. I use the DVD drive mainly for installing software, or importing a DVD to Drive in, and I'm never doing those on the road. An external light weight Superdrive that can be tossed in the luggage if needed in the hotel room works fine for me. My laptop is hardly ever are connected via ethernet, given my Airport Extreme at home and the ubiquity of wireless in US hotels these days.
~Jon
Describes exactly my usage patterns as well. I can't wait until the one that my wife ordered arrives, so that I can play with it and decide whether and how it will complement my MB17 (which I LOVE, but gets too darn heavy at the end of a long travel day).
Maybe you should check the name of this thread again?
Sorry if I didn't make myself clear: I wasn't talking about just this thread on this forum, I'm talking about every thread on every forum where the MacBook Air (or any Apple product) comes up. Every time Apple introduces anything new, there's a certain very vocal subset of forum posters who Just Won't Have It!
In particular, check out MacWorld: one of the most virulent Apple-bashing sites I've ever encountered. It's a good thing that all the 4,000,000 (5,000,000 by now?) people who've bought iPhones don't read this c**p.
Actually ALL Apple products (as well as all products from every other computer manufacturer) involve some sacrifices. The bottom line is that no product will satisfy everyone all the time, so every manufacturer has to decide which features to include and which to leave it.
The strange thing is the number of people who apparently never understood that - and can't understand now that Apple has chosen a specific set of trade-offs for the MBA to target a specific niche. If they aren't part of the target audience, that doesn't mean that Apple is evil or stupid, it just means they should buy a different model of Apple (or other) laptop.
Thats a good point. I completely agree with you. Just so everyone know, Apple doesnt owe anyone anything. So they dont really have to make a product that we love. So stop bashing Apple for not making your ideal product and also stop bashing the people that defend MBA for liking it.
No, it's obviously not a smaller MBP ... the problem is that it's priced like one.
You are comparing it with a different category notebook. Sony TZ would be a better comparison in specs and price. (Although Sony has been known to be expensive).
That is what I was thinking as well. In the meantime, I think that the ones who went ahead and ordered it (of which, there seem to be surprisingly many) have not paid a whole lot of attention, apparently.
I can't wait for the next quarter's results to see how the MBA has fared. My prediction is that it will be a blockbuster. Of course, I could be wrong about that, but that's my hunch.
Heard from Apple store in New York, they are already sold out. So far so good!!!
The sad thing is thing is how many people are spec whores and bean counters. They only evaluate things on how high or how low the numbers are and the number of features the device has. They never look at its usability. I don't know the number of times I have heard somebody trumpet how great a device was because it had n features. Never mind that the ten core features didn't work and the rest of the features had no impact on the devices functionality. We need to have more people do their evaluations based on functionality.
So far the best criticism I have heard about the MBA is the lack of a cellphone card slot. That would be a big feature to the targeted customer. Not everybody goes to Starbucks.
Everyone who has reviewed the MBA praised its sturdy build quality; I am sure it won't be an issue.
The MBA is kinda expensive for my mobile needs, but is surely the way to go in case I wanna replace my old iBook...no useless ports, no bulky loads, while thin as a razor blade with more than enough power...all I need for now.
I felt the MBA yesterday, and it does feel sturdy. Thats because there is a bulge at the center of the laptop that makes it feel sturdy. you cant see from pictures, but when you see it in person, you know what i mean. (sorry i cant describe it any clearer).. But it does feel sturdy.
I used powerbook 1.5ghz and i barely used 100% of my cpu power. I used my macbook 1.83 core duo, i rarely get to 50% of cpu usage. I used my laptop for web browsing, emails, microsoft office and IM.
So people who say MBA is slow should think about what kind of use they are planning. Unless you are opening a lot of programs (meaning more programs that i mention above, video editing, or adobe programs, which means you probably want a MBP) you wont need that much power. I am currently using powerbook (3 years old) and im happy with it. Its not the fastest, but it gets the job done without delaying my work.
For 1.83 core duo (intel chip thats one year and a half old is still more than enough. MBA 1.8 is faster than 1.83 core duo.
(all of this assuming you have 2gb ram) which is what the MBA has.
I will defend MBA cpu speed. It is fast enough for web browsing, emails, microsoft office and IM.
Basically, SSD is much faster at random reads, slightly faster at random writes, slower at sequential writes, and about the same on sequential reads if I remember correctly. Some people report performance that 'feels' quite a bit snappier because random reads are fairly important to perception of computer speed.
In real life, it's going to depend on what you're doing. If you're constantly opening files, you will probably notice the difference. If you're mostly doing email and surfing the web, it just won't matter.
Basically, SSD is much faster at random reads, slightly faster at random writes, slower at sequential writes, and about the same on sequential reads if I remember correctly. Some people report performance that 'feels' quite a bit snappier because random reads are fairly important to perception of computer speed.
In real life, it's going to depend on what you're doing. If you're constantly opening files, you will probably notice the difference. If you're mostly doing email and surfing the web, it just won't matter.
They still haven't done a direct CPU comparison or battery test.
1. How durable is this machine? Can it stand up to being put in a rucksack and transported around, banged on desks like a Macbook?
2. Without a security connection how are we meant to safeguard the system? Any hint from Apple that they overlooked this and will rectify in a future release?
Minimalism doesn't mean going without needed features, it means reducing the feature set to only those things which are needed. I agree with the tone of the article that most users don't need a lot of the stuff put into laptops, including the optical drive. But my main problem, if I were a prospective Air buyer, is that there is apparently only one USB port. My Powerbok G4 had three, my Macbook Pro has 2. Since Apple can't make a decent mouse, and the only people who seem to be able to is Logitech, that one port will be constantly occupied by the receiver for the mouse. Often I need the second port for a USB key. I think the minimum requirement for USB ports is two, and I don't think adding one more would've been a huge engineering challenge for Apple. I also don't think that it's THAT uncommon for people to require more than one USB port. Having to connect a hub negates the whole concept of ultra portability. That said, I'm not the customer the Air is intended for, since I need a larger screen, more power, and more RAM.
That article was so hard to read. He was talking about a movie, his dad, critics. I got about three paragraphs in and still didn't find any content. You get paid by the word or something?
Comments
They have been writing long pieces in various threads, regardless of the title. The title of this thread is in a question form, which leads me to imagine that it is being a little sarcastic, perhaps, particularly because there were so many negative posts of great length before this thread was started.
Or did that miss a few people?
That is what I was thinking as well. In the meantime, I think that the ones who went ahead and ordered it (of which, there seem to be surprisingly many) have not paid a whole lot of attention, apparently.
I can't wait for the next quarter's results to see how the MBA has fared. My prediction is that it will be a blockbuster. Of course, I could be wrong about that, but that's my hunch.
I have an MBP17. I use the DVD drive mainly for installing software, or importing a DVD to Drive in, and I'm never doing those on the road. An external light weight Superdrive that can be tossed in the luggage if needed in the hotel room works fine for me. My laptop is hardly ever are connected via ethernet, given my Airport Extreme at home and the ubiquity of wireless in US hotels these days.
~Jon
Describes exactly my usage patterns as well. I can't wait until the one that my wife ordered arrives, so that I can play with it and decide whether and how it will complement my MB17 (which I LOVE, but gets too darn heavy at the end of a long travel day).
The haters here don't want logic and facts. They want torches and pitch forks.
This MBP with a transplanted SSD looks promising:
http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/11/the...th-a-64gb-ssd/
Maybe you should check the name of this thread again?
Sorry if I didn't make myself clear: I wasn't talking about just this thread on this forum, I'm talking about every thread on every forum where the MacBook Air (or any Apple product) comes up. Every time Apple introduces anything new, there's a certain very vocal subset of forum posters who Just Won't Have It!
In particular, check out MacWorld: one of the most virulent Apple-bashing sites I've ever encountered. It's a good thing that all the 4,000,000 (5,000,000 by now?) people who've bought iPhones don't read this c**p.
Actually ALL Apple products (as well as all products from every other computer manufacturer) involve some sacrifices. The bottom line is that no product will satisfy everyone all the time, so every manufacturer has to decide which features to include and which to leave it.
The strange thing is the number of people who apparently never understood that - and can't understand now that Apple has chosen a specific set of trade-offs for the MBA to target a specific niche. If they aren't part of the target audience, that doesn't mean that Apple is evil or stupid, it just means they should buy a different model of Apple (or other) laptop.
Thats a good point. I completely agree with you. Just so everyone know, Apple doesnt owe anyone anything. So they dont really have to make a product that we love. So stop bashing Apple for not making your ideal product and also stop bashing the people that defend MBA for liking it.
Its impossible to make everyone happy
No, it's obviously not a smaller MBP ... the problem is that it's priced like one.
You are comparing it with a different category notebook. Sony TZ would be a better comparison in specs and price. (Although Sony has been known to be expensive).
That is what I was thinking as well. In the meantime, I think that the ones who went ahead and ordered it (of which, there seem to be surprisingly many) have not paid a whole lot of attention, apparently.
I can't wait for the next quarter's results to see how the MBA has fared. My prediction is that it will be a blockbuster. Of course, I could be wrong about that, but that's my hunch.
Heard from Apple store in New York, they are already sold out. So far so good!!!
The sad thing is thing is how many people are spec whores and bean counters. They only evaluate things on how high or how low the numbers are and the number of features the device has. They never look at its usability. I don't know the number of times I have heard somebody trumpet how great a device was because it had n features. Never mind that the ten core features didn't work and the rest of the features had no impact on the devices functionality. We need to have more people do their evaluations based on functionality.
So far the best criticism I have heard about the MBA is the lack of a cellphone card slot. That would be a big feature to the targeted customer. Not everybody goes to Starbucks.
cellphone card slot? what do you mean?
Everyone who has reviewed the MBA praised its sturdy build quality; I am sure it won't be an issue.
The MBA is kinda expensive for my mobile needs, but is surely the way to go in case I wanna replace my old iBook...no useless ports, no bulky loads, while thin as a razor blade with more than enough power...all I need for now.
I felt the MBA yesterday, and it does feel sturdy. Thats because there is a bulge at the center of the laptop that makes it feel sturdy. you cant see from pictures, but when you see it in person, you know what i mean. (sorry i cant describe it any clearer).. But it does feel sturdy.
It could also be interpreted as a defense:
- "lol, you bought a MacBook Air?"
- "what's wrong with the Air?"
hahaha dont bash Appleinsider for its title. They just want to steer some discussion
It could also be interpreted as a defense:
- "lol, you bought a MacBook Air?"
- "what's wrong with the Air?"
hahaha dont bash Appleinsider for its title. They just want to steer some discussion
How much faster is the SSD compared with the normal HDD (Sata)?? No one has compared this at all. i couldnt find it anywhere..
Next week there should be reports as they were only available for purchase as of Friday.
So people who say MBA is slow should think about what kind of use they are planning. Unless you are opening a lot of programs (meaning more programs that i mention above, video editing, or adobe programs, which means you probably want a MBP) you wont need that much power. I am currently using powerbook (3 years old) and im happy with it. Its not the fastest, but it gets the job done without delaying my work.
For 1.83 core duo (intel chip thats one year and a half old is still more than enough. MBA 1.8 is faster than 1.83 core duo.
(all of this assuming you have 2gb ram) which is what the MBA has.
I will defend MBA cpu speed. It is fast enough for web browsing, emails, microsoft office and IM.
How much faster is the SSD compared with the normal HDD (Sata)?? No one has compared this at all. i couldnt find it anywhere..
Google is your friend. Results were published just a few days ago.
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/01/...dd-benchmarks/
http://gizmodo.com/351870/macbook-ai...ts-benchmarked
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/01/...dd-benchmarks/
Basically, SSD is much faster at random reads, slightly faster at random writes, slower at sequential writes, and about the same on sequential reads if I remember correctly. Some people report performance that 'feels' quite a bit snappier because random reads are fairly important to perception of computer speed.
In real life, it's going to depend on what you're doing. If you're constantly opening files, you will probably notice the difference. If you're mostly doing email and surfing the web, it just won't matter.
Google is your friend. Results were published just a few days ago.
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/01/...dd-benchmarks/
http://gizmodo.com/351870/macbook-ai...ts-benchmarked
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/01/...dd-benchmarks/
Basically, SSD is much faster at random reads, slightly faster at random writes, slower at sequential writes, and about the same on sequential reads if I remember correctly. Some people report performance that 'feels' quite a bit snappier because random reads are fairly important to perception of computer speed.
In real life, it's going to depend on what you're doing. If you're constantly opening files, you will probably notice the difference. If you're mostly doing email and surfing the web, it just won't matter.
They still haven't done a direct CPU comparison or battery test.
1. How durable is this machine? Can it stand up to being put in a rucksack and transported around, banged on desks like a Macbook?
2. Without a security connection how are we meant to safeguard the system? Any hint from Apple that they overlooked this and will rectify in a future release?