Apple MacBook Air Announced at MacWorld '08

I messed up, thanks for pointing that out!

 

i dont have money problems thanks.

 

Quoted for emphasis. Lets just apply this to the MacBook Air in general.

 

Awesome I wish my parents could pick this up for me too.

 

Apple just thought if it was thin as heck and could fit in a manila envelope, thats all thats needed for it to be lapped up like crazy, while totally forgetting about other crucial factors which are ports, footprint and expandibility.

Apple, what the heck? Do you want to shoot yourselves in the foot? Did you get so much success it all went to your head like Sony's success with the first two Playstations but totally fouling up with the 3rd?

 

I'm not in anyway suggesting you do! Still... enjoy handing that money over for thin air!

 

so do you know?

 

Life is unpredicable sometimes, you are ill advised to be so certain about your wealth.

 

wow . you are unbelievably rude

 

arch983, you would need to have a way of connecting the Air up via ethernet (one of those ports the Air is missing because its so far ahead of its time) to the router to configure isp settings, broadcast channels, security etc.

 

Most wireless routers have a default access point name that will work just fine out of the box. My "LOL" comment was relating to your magical computer form the future that may not really work too well in practice.

 

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I think that you would need the $29 usb-ethernet adapter

 

thats what i thought. so one cannot buy this machine as a main computer having no other computers with an existing network. that is weird. i dont think i like the idea of buying something for so much and yet you need all these other hardwares one for this, one for that. that is just annoying. i like to buy one product that has it all.

 

No kidding! I literally had a TiBook come apart in my hands - like wet newsprint.

 

That's Apple

 

And there are actually similar size slim notebooks with optical drives to boot! Toshiba and Panasonic both make one.

 

I seriously doubt this machine will flop. For everyone out there saying its footprint "is too big", "it not a real ultra portable", "why can't I replace the parts", it was not marketed to you.

If Mac wanted to convert hardcore ultraportable users they would have made a machine to do so, if they wanted to convert tech junkies like us they would have made the parts replaceable. Do you guys really think they are that stupid?!?

This notebook is targeted at the consumers who don't give a crap about computers, Mac's attraction has always been design and easy of use, why would they change that mentality with a new notebook?

I see this machine being a big hit with people who have little knowledge of computers, want a sexy light portable laptop, that is easy to use, and will do what they need to. If your that person this machine seems to fill the bill nicely.

 

Amen

If you're technical enough to chat on a forum, you probably will not find this one useful, unless of course you already have a desktop and standard laptop and want another laptop just as my girl has 65 pairs of shoes but still needs "that one". Or if you are a Fanboy.

As a Sony Fanboy, I still find this laptop very sexy. Unfortunately I can only afford a functional machine.

 

I think the machine is nice but has many flaws. Most of them can be overcome, but for me one stands out a mile:

ONE USB PORT

That is simply not enough. Most people will own an iPod and a thumbdrive... and many will want a mouse. I can't seriously believe they were SO space constrained they couldn't add another port. They add a VGA (or is it DVI) out port, yet they seem to overlook the possibility people may want to use a mouse as well as another peripheral? I imagine only a fraction of people will use an external screen versus a mouse.

 

i agree completely. all these complaints. this computer targets a specific market of people. for the others there is the macbook and macbook pro. now we have this totally different sexy thing. why should everything be the same boring predictable and practical thing. enough is enough. i like a company that has choices and different target markets. if it were to have a dvd drive, more ports, changable battery, ethernet, etc... then that is what the macbook pro is for so why would they even need this.

totally agree with you man.

 

I know a lot about computers. I've built all of my previous desktops, spent countless hours tinkering and playing around with my computers. I've even managed to fit a tualatin celeron into a BX motherboard via a bit of soldering (that system is still working perfectly even though the motherboard is 10+ years old).

The thing is that I'm now at the point where I just want things to work. I think that I would enjoy this laptop a lot.

 

actually there are really no flaws. this computer is not ment to have more ports. it is not ment to use a mouse with it that is what the touchpad is for. if you want a mouse then buy a desktop. this computer is meant for pure wireless on the move purposes. using a mouse does not make sense for those purposes. as for the ipod the new ones like the touch use wireless as well. for thumbdrive you got the one usb port. so you are good to go.

 

Ok about footprint..vs a Macbook Pro 15in

 

Really? To me that one is no big deal. I can't remember the last time I neede two, but then most of my notebooks have an SD reader (or similar).

This is a fashion notebook. It will do OK but it won't be the next big thing. It won't create a new category or revive a dead one.

It was a mehnote.

 

i see it only has wireless n and not a,b or g. That's not good as there are very few N networks out there now. At least, they should have a g.

 

So....sick....of....Apple....news.

Seriously anytime Apple releases something its like the whole friggin' world stops to look at their overpriced, crap products.

 

N typically can drop down to A or B/G for compat.

 

Wireless N cards are backwards compatible with G,B, and A...unless apple changed that..i wouldnt be damned surprized

lewd...you beat me..

 

I agree that is definitely targeted to people who cares more about style than functionality, but the problem I see with this thing penetrating the consumer market is the lack of optical drive and ports -- yeah, you can be an Apple fan boy and buy (or already have) the whole infrastructure that this thing is designed to work well in, but it's not going to capture much new market since regular Joe will need optical drive and ports.

On the other hand, it's probably not going to be a flop -- I mean, Apple in general is a niche market, so if it sells more than 1000 units it's probably not a flop... And this thing is good enough to cater the Apple die-hard who were forced to pick up a Sony TZ because MacBook is too heavy.

 

What other major news is their to talk about today?

You could go stir up some discussion in the other forums.

 

There are such a vast number of USB peripherals that many people (even newbies) are likely to own at least a couple.

Arch983: if what you say is true, why have Apple included an external display output? Surely this is an irrelevance? And as far as I am aware, does the Touch sync wirelessly with iTunes? I thought it still required the wire.

I am somewhat annoyed that people are hailing this device as some form of new paradigm in mobile computing when Sony did it years ago with essentially exactly the same idea, and Asus and Toshiba both have competitors. What exactly is special about this bar the fact it is a bit thinner and runs Mac OSX?
I like Apple quite a bit, but to claim any product is perfect is naive and smacks of stupidity.

 

amen brother...

 

$129 battery with free instal. That seems OK.

 

So these consumers (the very few that don't do their research nowadays) wander out to buy a computer. They've heard that Macs are more secure than PCs so they opt to buy a Mac. Off they trundle to John Lewis to have a look at the Macs. Here they see three.

1. The Macbook.

2. The Macbook Pro.

3. The Macbook Air.

And so the number game starts. What can I get that will provide me with the most bang for my buck? Heres a hint. A consumer following THIS pattern won't opt for option three. They either see 2. and realise they can get far better performance (because the numbers are so much bigger) for only a little bit more or they can opt for 1. and get better performance for far less than 3. The only people that will get option 3. are those that are horribly style conscious. I honestly can't see what market the MBA is aimed at.

 

Most people don't have the luxury of picking which notebook they want to take with them at any given time. The MBA runs agains the old saying "It's better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it." In the life of the MBA user, the later is going to be a common occruance.

I'd hate to work in an Apple store and have to keep repeating myself, "No, sorry, you can't do that"!

 

if you hate it then why are you here?

 

Yup, I want what I am writing my thesis paper on to be unpractical. Computers are supposed to be practical!

 

as far as i know N is backward compatible

 

that is true. once i was at the store and i asked if there was a way to expand a given window to the full size of the screen with one click or tap instead of dragging it every time like an idiot and only being able to drag it from one corner making it even worse. and of course the answer was NO. then i asked well why do you guys always claim to be more user friendly when you can't even let me do something so bloody basic like that???!!!

 

Yeah... The MBA ultraportable.... Like hell it is.

 

Try writing your thesis on a TZ... I don't think that I could (I'm writing my thesis too).

 

I was hoping to throw some money Apple's way. I like their stuff and of the dozens of Apple products I have owned over the years I think I have only been burned twice: TiBook (hinges, fragile chassis) and iBook (battery and mobo problem).

But the way I look at it:
MacBook $1100 and up. I can get a Dell XPS1530 with much better specs for the same price (double ram, HDD and Geforce 8600M GT) even though it is slightly larger.

MacBook Pro $2000 and up. There is not shortage of machines at this price that have similar specs and quality. Lenovo T61P notebooks can be had at this price.

MacBook Air $1800 and up. At a time when sub-notebooks are coming down in price and getting mainstream traction, Apple decides to take the concept upscale. An uber iPod Touch with a 7" screen and most of the functionality of an EEE or Cloudbook is doable in the $600 range and I think it would sell better than the Air.

So I just keep waiting I guess.

 

i agree with that in a way. but you got to understand that the mbp is so much smaller to begin with. it doesnt even look like a 15.4". put the macbook air next to the inspiron 1520 or something then you will see a huge difference.

but none the less it is no ultra portable, but definitely small

 

All my writing is done on my Q35 which has a great keyboard with only a few minor keys not being full sized and I can still happily fit this laptop into my bag something I don't think I'd be able to do with the Air due to its footprint. I agree that the TZ has a slightly too small keyboard but it does fulfill its purpose of being an ultraportable that can still function as a full computer on its own. Something the MBA cannot do.

 

Its not small! Small would be something along the lines of the Samsung Q45 which I would say is just above being ultraportable.

 

I'm waiting along with you. I really was hoping for something similar to what you described to come out of MacWorld so I could blow some of my scholarship on it. Guess I'm going to get a cheap Vostro for playing WoW instead.

 

I completely agree with you! Sure, for some users they may want a super customizable notebook, but in reality if you need more than 2GB of ram then you may want to look at the MBP, as this processor is probably too slow for you anyways.

I am getting this notebook, and I am getting it to supplement my desktop computer. The lure of OSX, for me as a computer engineering student, is huge! Not only do I have a beautiful and stable UNIX environment that "just works", I can use boot camp to install windows on a separate partition for when I need those Windows specific apps.

Not only am I going to buy this laptop, I am going to slightly upgrade my desktop to C2D w/ NVIDIA video so that I can run OSX86 better (almost natively).

I think that what many of you are forgetting is that the "just works" part of computers can be extremely alluring to many people. Personally, I love tinkering with my computers and having the freedom to do what I want, but at times I wish that I wouldn't have to and could just use my computer and enjoy it. This laptop will allow me to do so.

I personally don't like the large size of the MBP's and am not a huge fan of the MacBook because it just looks/feels cheap-ish. This perfectly fills the void. If Apple hadn't released this today, I would have most likely purchased a used 12" Powerbook.

Just my 2 cents

 

Wow, this topic have so many post.

Anyways this is my thought about Macbook Air

It's nice to see Apple step into the Ultra Portable Market, another competition means other big firms need to price their future Ultra Portable Notebook lower.

The specification does not reflect the price tho, I think it is somewhat expensive considering you are playing for close to 2k for 1.8Ghz.

And no removable battery? Nice Design apple but thats like taking 1 step forwards and 2 steps backwards. 5 hours of battery life does sound nice, but you know what specification sheet are always wrong when it comes to battery life.

On the bright side. When you ship it to Apple for a battery replacement you can use an envelope!

 

hopefully this laptop will be a simple cleancut laptop, , it doesnt look like it would have anything inside that would over heat or break..unless you dropped it...
looks like a lucky break for apple fans

wait, wheres the optical drive?

- i know its not there

 

All my thesis writing (which isn't very much...I've been slacking off ) has been on my desktop. I'd really like to have a light notebook that I can easily lug around, but on which I can install some version of Linux. However, I'm getting fed up with a few linux problems, which is why I'd like to give OS X a try. The problem was that both the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are way too heavy.

As for the footprint, I'd have to see it in person to really decide. But based on it's measurements, it's just slightly longer than my lab book so it should be fine.