Apple MacBook Air Announced at MacWorld '08

The TZ uses an older chipset with slower RAM and integrated graphics. Not to mention the slower CPU. I'd love to see Vista running on that. The regular MacBook is thicker and 2 lbs heavier. Believe it or not, that does actually matter when traveling with a bunch of other junk. Even the m1330 is 1.3 lbs heavier with the LCD backlit display.

If footprint matters then yes, the MBA won't help as it's actually slightly larger than the MB in size. But if weight is the primary concern, the MBA is just fine. Personally, I'd rather skip the mini keyboard and tiny screen.

 

Actually Vista runs fast on the TZ, even with the regular 4200 rpm HDD. I average less than 40 seconds cold boot time and less than 15 seconds shut down time, with programs like Word starting in a full second, with that dreadful "older chipset" and "slower RAM."

And could people please stop comparing the Air to the TZ as if they're both in the same class? They're completely different notebooks; one has a 13.3" screen and the other has a 11.1" screen. There is a HUGE difference. I'm all for people enjoying the Air as I do believe there is a market for this product, but let's not grasp straws here and try to justify that a 13.3" screen notebook with its better specs beats the tar out of a significantly smaller computer with a 11.1" screen.

 

I've read this entire thread and I can really relate to the underwhelmed mass.

I'm a life-long PC user. Since the mid-1980's I have enjoyed PC's and I've never touched a Mac.

Last fall, when the rumors first gained credibility, I decided to switch to this rumored ultra-portable Mac laptop. In addition to portability, I was happy to see an Intel-based Mac that would pave the way to an easier transition from my PC-oriented habits.

I considered the 13" MacBook because I was eager for change, but the footprint is simply too large for me (I currently use and thoroughly enjoy an Asus S6Fm with an 11" display).

In the end, an ultra-portable Mac was to be the development that motivated my move to the world of Apple's Mac.

I require one ultra-portable laptop and nothing else. I don't maintain a second laptop and I move around way too far and way too often to maintain any semblance of a desktop.

Fast forward to yesterday.

Disappointment is an understatement.

I am shocked at what Apple chose to call a revolutionary ultra-portable. The MacBook Air most certainly isn't an ultra-portable.

Based solely on thin-ness, Apple could easily create a 15" MacBook Air thinner than the current 13" MBA. Would this thinner 15" MBA be an ultra-portable? No.

Would a 15" MBA 50% thinner than the current MBA be any more portable than said current MBA? Not at all.

So . . . merely putting a 13" laptop on a diet doesn't make it any more portable, per se.

Aside from Apple's size snafu, Apple has neglected to provide a usable machine. Having to carry countless adapters and extras is not what I call portability or revolutionary.

If I switch to an MBA today, how am I to install MS Office or other DVD-based software distributions? I don't maintain or have access to a desktop, so I'd have to buy Apple's external DVD drive . . . thus further reducing the portability of my new MBA.

I watch a lot of movies on my laptop. Not so with an MBA. No DVD drive and not enough hard drive space to hold a sizable movie, music, photo & document library.

What about hotel Internet connectivity? In 2007 I spent about 65 nights in hotels around the world. Only about 20% of those nights were in a property offering in-room WiFi; the remaining nights were spent connected to an Ethernet cable snaking its way from a plastic brick on a tiny desk.

I don't want to carry an Ethernet adapter dongle. Nor do I want to carry a USB hub or a USB 3G/EV-DO wireless broadband Internet device. Nor do I want to carry a USB SD/MS/CF card reader.

I do intend to carry extra batteries so I can enjoy my laptop on long flights like the ones from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Sydney. Flying between California and Sydney is at least twelve hours in the plane plus time spent at gates on both ends. Empower outlets are not 100% guaranteed to work. Put simply, extra batteries are required for ANY laptop on those long flights. Bad move, a battery that can't ever be swapped out at five hours and one minute, much less mid-flight.

Speaking of a five hour battery life . . . how does one get five hours of useful life from a 37 watt-hour battery? Assuming the MBA runs at the same voltage (not wattage, VOLTAGE) of other Mac laptops, I would think MBA gets closer to 2.7 hours of regular use based on power consumption of MBA's advertised components. I see no indication that MBA uses a lower voltage than other Mac laptops because the same MagSafe charger is used across the entire Mac laptop lineup.

The MBA is not for a road warrior.

Who is MBA for?

MBA must be geared toward a user concerned about aesthetics and not much more.

MBA may work for a person primarily using a desktop at work & home and secondarily relying on a laptop to surf or play with Facebook at a WiFi-enabled Starbucks.

Sadly, I'm still a PC guy until Apple develops an ultra-portable laptop. I'll continue to eagerly await that great day.


W

 

1. What an Ugly Notebook
2. What an Ugly Pricetag
3. What an Ugly OS

Sorry Apple, but no thanks.

 

You know what, the Air is really sexy, and at a price of $1000 or 1200, I'd be all over it. However, it makes too many compromises (fixed battery, single USB port, etc) to justify its $1800 price tag.

 

It does have a docking station!!!! The Airport extreme! (period) The debate has devolved into uneducated mudslinging. Playing Devil's Advocate is one thing, but these comments are out of line.

If one would like to seriously consider how the MBA could be set up to work with no compromises consider that a wireless router (which you can set up without ethernet - just read the manual!) that supports USB connections (Apple or Linksys both have adequate models which are widely available) can be set up to add additional storage (I bought some 500 GB network drives for $129 in December that can work with any wireless router) and an external DVD burner (about $40 for a large one). The DVD drive can be used to play music CDs if you want to do so, but I'm yet to read an NBR review praising notebook speakers so use your CD player or download the MP3. Using an external mouse may be defeating the purpose of such an innovative touchpad.

I have another thought regarding the supposed lack of features that I'll post later. I will say that the debate about what defines an ultraportable notebook is tiring. Google define:ultraportable notebook and you will find nothing. Just buy the notebook that is as ultraportable as you need it to be.

 

My respect to the aesthetic designers and the engineers for the looks and ideas... a really amazing feat this at such a low price point; but the marketing department should be sacked (I guess that would include Steve Jobs). I mean... WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?? They bring on this all wireless philosophy... why? is it a UMPC? It's light... but it's too large for an ultraportable. It's thin & light... with 1 USB, no ethernet, need for an adapter, and no replaceable components and oh dear dear that pop-up port thing may be innovative (you've got to admit, it took them less than a year between patenting and implementing it) but man that's one moving part too much with no use but looks. As a concept it's great. As a product, it has no market. Panasonic ToughBooks (same price range, LV processors, optical drive, and decent port selection, all replaceable) and Sony TZ are safe.

 

This notebook does not make me want to get one. The price tag I think is high for what it is, as well as the fact that Asus has better options in my opinion of ultra-portable laptops at the right prices with the features I want =P

However, this Mac does have a good looking design and is super light =)

 

It has WORSE specs than a $500 14" laptop from walmart, which is extremely sad. Also, it doesn't appear all that much smaller than the M1330 which last I checked has about 50x more performance or more for a far lower price..

One of the reasons why I absolutely hate apple, and they CLEARLY make products created for big spenders who have no idea why they need what they just bought, but don't care because it was expensive and thus makes it better. Not to diss you MBP users, just everything else Apple makes, including the iPhone.

 

i understand that people may want this soley because they like the design or for the multitouch features there's no shame in that atleast they're feasible reasons.

but im not buying the "this notebook doesn't need that its meant to be wirless" excuse. it is a 13 inch notebook and takes up the same amount of desk room as the macbook but costs $700 extra even though it lacks a ****load of components and is technically inferior . can the macbook not utilise the same wireless features as the macbook air if your planning on going fully wireless? what exactly is the advantage of having to go from one place to another to install software ect as apposed to having an internal optical drive?

when you factor weight between the machines its an 2lb pound difference. if that compensates the $700 for people then thats cool but personally i would consult a doctor if your an adult and seriously could not handle the slight increase in weight. i know people may be carrying books and/or peripherals along with it but regardless at the end of the day its 2lb to sacrifice and pay for.

 

that isn't a docking station....at least not a complete one. 2 main things it's missing: the ability to connect to an external monitor and the ability to charge your notebook without having to put in the cord. if it weren't for those functions, i would have just gotten a usb hub.

 

I'm not a mac-lover but this time, I'm seriously amazed how small that is.
It's just... "wow."

 

Another version of EEEPC

 

Nice but to me it's just a stripped down Macbook. I was hoping for a 11" screen with DVD drive. Thinness only adds to fragility IMHO. I'm sure by looks they will sell thousands but it would sell much more to those who are already Apple fans, who have a 15"17" but want an ultraportable, which it's not. WHy buy another large laptop? I'll wait for Sony to put the 3100 GPU in their TZ, thanks.

 

I just don't get some of the strong reactions.

As for Apple being expensive, the Mac Pro is very price competitive when stacked up against a Sun Ultra or Dell Precision with similar specs. The XPS 1530 is larger and heavier than a MBP and is not available with an LED backlit display.

I understand why some don't like Apple's products, if that's the case, just don't buy them.

 

I agree in it being a fair price. If I did not already have a 15" I would consider purchasing it.

 

Please dont confuse a media extension with a true docking station. Docking stations worth there weight in anything have passthrough VGA/DVI, LAN, USB, Sound, etc. You arent going to get that in any decent form over USB, let alone some connection that is going wireless.

Another perk of most modern docking stations is the fact many have passthrough PCI-e, letting users run video cards from a docking station if needed.

 

@Ejl and Kevin: You're both completely right. I was just being a little facetious with those calling for the MBA's head on a platter.

Imagine this though: Having nothing on your desk but the MBA, a Dell Ultrasharp 3008WFP 30-inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor, and Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo by either Apple or Logitech. The monitor connects via the micro-DVI and the monitor's integrated USB hub takes care of all of your connections to cameras, iPod, etc.... The rest attached, out of sight, on the router. If you were to close the lid on the MBA it would be a pretty nice little work space. Total of three things to plug in: USB, uDVI, and power. Not really approaching the convenience of a docking station (two more things to attach) but not too bad. This is how I have mine set up right now (replace 30-inch monitor with 20-inch).

 

Ultraportable notebooks are also known as subnotebooks, and are generally under 12" of screen size. I consider my 17" portable, but it is definately not called an ultraportable by true definitions. And google does define both of them. Try define: ultraportable and define: subnotebook. They will lead you to the same page.

 

i think the issue is the timing really. the idea of being essentially wireless is cool....the problem is, for the vast majority us, we aren't ready to make the transition. we have peripherals that we don't want to replace and the thought of only having one usb port and having everything else connect wirelessly seems like a "crazy" idea. like cashmonee said before, i think apple was thinking too much in the future when they released the mba, and a lot of people aren't ready for the wireless revolution just yet. nevertheless, i think the mba will sell well enough because there are enough people who will be wowed by its design or people who are more well-versed in the current wireless technology (so they don't see the lack of usb ports as a problem) and have more expendable income.

 

10 days in which economy and currency? I certainly couldn't work my old job for 10 days and hope to buy an MBA off the back of it.

 

Personally I like to think I am somewhat up to speed on today's wireless technology. I don't think its that so much people don't want to change as it is mroe that technology is not there yet. Yes you can have printers on wireless mine is, yes routers come pre setup more often then not so in you home you probably wouldn't need an Ethernet port. The built in bluetooth is nice but hardly anything special about that laptops have had them for years. But your iPod, your Camera, your iPhone (for syncing unless something has changed), you optical drive, your memory sticks all are most likely not wireless. You are also stuck with WiFi and bluetooth. There is no option for a EDGE card or an EVDO network card. You wireless is limited to strictly local area networks. On top of that WiFi I find is very flakey. It intermittingly drops out (Somethign I do not want to have happen when I am using a Disc on the "master" PC to load software to happen thats for sure) hell my router overheats from time to time and needs to be rebooted cause the wireless lacks up. Maybe I have a crappy router but its not by choice I got it with verizon it was my only choice I even still have issues with my wireless keyboard and mouse on my desktop computer. And god forbid you live in an apartment complex and try and use WiFi you get walloped with like 100 routers half insecure and all trying to use one of the same 11 channels that you are trying to use.

And the lack of user changeable battery is a fatal flaw for a large group of people this would have appealed to. The no ethernet is pretty dumb too especially for the traveling business man where they will find most hotels lacking WiFi.

And given that this seems like an extension for your iMac desktop its a rather expensive "Second Add-on PC" at $1800 for something to tie you to your main desktop.

So then who is this for? Not a very large group of people if you think about it.

 

actually, you can get a usb evdo modem.

but the battery is definitely a good point, though that didn't stop people from buying the iphone (granted it was a fairly innovative phone).

you're right in that its target audience doesn't seem to be huge, but then again, the people looking for "ultraportables" is a small market in the first place and usually consists of individuals who are willing to pay more money while sacrificing functionality.

 

Yes but the iPhone is a phone/iPod hybrid the jump wasn't as big and most people typically leave their batteries alone in their phones. And you aren't going to be making any calls on a 6 hour flight across the country.

 

Well, actually, if you look at it, for 10 days, it comes out to $180 a day. Assuming you work, what, 8 hours a day, dividing the 180 by 8 and get like $22/hr, which really isn't tooooo bad, but I do think the 10 day thing is a stretch. Over the period of a month, its easier to justify.

 

Factor in you need to pay taxes, any benefits you may help pay for, and living expenses....

 

It seems to be a step backwards in the 'thin and light' notebook sector. Intel SR chips, as Penryns are being released, and 80gb iPod drives...

Its a novelty, and quite an expensive one at that. I will hold on to my XPS m1330- for the extra 3/4 lb of weight and 1/2 inch of thickness, the hardware is vastly superior to what the Air offers.

 

Great post ... but you are clearly not in the MBA market. If you want everything you described you'd be better off with a traditional laptop, complete with removable battery and optical drive.

 

Vastly is an understatement.

 

I think a lot of the issues are arriving from the fact that
1) Apple had a 12" laptop that was actually pretty successful and a lot of people have had hoped that the MBA would be its true successor

2) You can get an ultra portable with all the things he wanted. But he wants a Mac ultra-portable something that hasn't happened yet since the original Powerbook 12" units were out. (which was the closest they ever got to an ultra portable)

3) You bring up a good point. Who is this MBA market? So far all I have seen is people who liked the aesthetics of it as a potential market...and that is it...its lousy for the casual user because they can spend less and get more...its lousy for the road warrior because it lacks way to many things for them...I think defining its market niche is hard...

 

Wow, I've got to say... I like. At $1899 it really isn't that bad of a deal considering it's portability and uber-cool factor. Meh guess what though, it's more than double the price of my current laptop (Turion X2 TL-58 Extensa 5420).

 

I dont think so.. as they are very different market segment. EEE comes with underpowered components which isnt suitable for heavy apps. This MBA could run demanding applications quite well also the price for MBA can be considered very expensive for some people.

Personally, I'd love its name is Mac AirBook.....

 

Per my earlier post in this thread, comparing the Eee PC and the MBA is like comparing apples to oranges. That said, I think you are underestimating the Eee PC when you claim it "comes with underpowered components" which aren't "suitable for heavy apps." The 900MHz Intel processor in the Eee PC, when clocked at the full 900MHz (the latest Eee PC BIOS lets you select 630MHz or 900MHz mode) is plenty powerful. I have the Eee PC in 900MHz mode all the time running XP SP2 and I even ran Adobe Photoshop CS2 on it for a few weeks. The only reason I stopped using CS2 on then Eee PC is because I rarely connect it to an external monitor and it's annoying trying to edit in CS2 using the 800x480 screen resolution. Now I just use my Eee PC for web browsing, travel work, travel gaming (HALO and Far Cry run great on the Eee PC), and watching digital movie files.

In fact, the performance of the flash-based drive (poor man's SSD) on the Eee PC is actually FASTER than the 4200rpm hard drive that comes in the base-level MacBook Air.

Sure, there's going to be some apps that the MBA can run that the Eee PC can't ... but they're both underpowered notebooks with integrated graphics.

Again, I'm absolutely NOT saying that the Eee PC is a direct competitor to the MBA. Just don't suggest the Eee PC can't run most of the same apps that the MBA can run (OS-specific apps not included).

 

I really like it, and so will a host of apple users that need something to use between home and work.

OS X and that size and style, there's nothing that compares to it on the market atm.

 

Oh my bad, I dont read the entire thread. I'm totally agree with you not to comparing the EEE and the MBA,but some people do that though..
Woow..I amazed that HALO and FarCry can run on the EEE...

 

Love it or hate it, the fact that so many people are reading and replying to this thread suggest no matter what Apple do they generate enough publicity or interest?

CES on the other hand...

 

Far Cry runs fairly easily once your set the Eee to run at 900MHz in the BIOS and install FC on either the SSD or SDHC card. HALO takes a bit of work ... I use an app called 3Danalyze which disables one of the background settings in HALO that causes it not to run correctly on the Eee PC. Once you do that HALO runs as well on my Eee PC as it does on my old desktop with an old graphics card (and it looks great ... for HALO).

There's actually a ton of discussion over at Eeeuser.com about how you can run various apps and games on the Eee PC. I've only tried a handful of games, but I've been impressed by all the games that people have managed to play on the Eee PC.

Which, back to the original topic, makes me feel like the MBA should still manage some impressive performance. I just can't get over how the MBA has a built-in/sealed battery, a sealed HD, sealed RAM, and only one USB port.

 

No user upgradability... even with the unremarkable hardware.

A single USB slot

80gb or less of storage space


So, whats so great about the Air? Oh right, its .25 inch thinner than _____.
The 'novelty' segment notebooks (UMPC to name one) have seen limited success. To get one thing straight, I dont have any aversion to Apple computers. The current Macbooks are beautiful pieces of hardware... but the Air is a mundane laptop.

 

MacBook Air. Air.

If the machine is MacBook Air, why have a wired USB DVD drive?

Why not do something with that potent 802.11n. Build a WiFi 802.11n DVD drive and debut it alongside the MBA?

Or use wireless USB.

Use any wireless technology with remote wake so your DVD drive could be left in overhead space, under the seat in front of you or in your backpack.

One external apparatus is too many, but at least come up with something better than an external, wired USB drive.


W

 

I think it is as simple as this:

If they put
- 2 USB ports
- Slim DVD drive
- Replaceable battery
- etc...

Then they can say goodbye to the MacBook and maybe small percentage of MacBook Pro so, it will be more money for Apple to sell 3 different products instead of 2.. So they had to make the new one (MBA) totally different than the other 2 products.

But also MBA design wise is PERFECT, so whats missing as you are all saying is fitting in more stuff.. so I think this is what they will be doing now and as he said " That was just in the first 2 weeks, and we have 50 more weeks to go"...

or what do you think?

 

Looks...well like a typical Apple product. Sleek and refined. I can't believe how thin they got it!

With that said this notebook lacks too many basic features. It'll be bought by people trying to get the latest "cool" thing to get. Its just not practical for everyday users. You can get much better thin and lights with more features at a better price.

 

I think its No-Doubt that it is the best looking notebook ever made and I also think that almost most laptops are ugly, so for that nice look, sleek design and some other reasons.. $1799 is not very expensive, but yeah somehow expensive, but Apple knows their market and know that their customers got money to buy. BTW I have never ever in my life bought any Apple product, so this will be my first!

It will work well with my needs as web developer working from home:
- Performance will be good (2GB RAM + SSD)
- Screen size is good
- Keyboard "The Best Apple has Shipped"
- 1USB is sufficient for the flash memory stick
- I have desktop that I am bored from, but I still can share its DVD Drive

What else will I need?

 

Well, if you don't mind its price, then looks good for you! I have a MacBook (same keyboard layout and design), and I love the keyboard...with the MBA having a backlit keyboard as well, even more awesome .

 

This may have been mentioned already but you cannot run a 30" monitor because the dvi-out is not dual-link.

 

Yes. Typical Apple product indeed.

 

I have an old Compaq M300 sitting in a cabinet. It has a single USB port, no DVD drive, and was quite thin for it's time (1").

Maybe it was ahead of it's time...


BTW, I would never choose this over my TZ90

 

Those who are saying the m1330 is better, um, invest in rubber underpants.

 

Then use the 27-inch model.

 

Not very expensive? The reality distortion field with this one is strong indeed. The price is ridiculous for what you are getting. Plus, I really wouldn't trust anything (see, I can use bold too) Apple are saying about this notebook including this being their best keyboard. With a notebook that thin, how good do you think the depth of the keys is going to be? Plus, Apple has referred to this as an "ultraportable without compromise". Sorry Apple, but what????

1. The MacBook Air is not an ultraportable. Just look at that massive footprint for a 13" screen.
2. "Without compromise"..... LMAO. Yeah... sure... whatever his holiness Steve Jobs says....

So you are going to pay more than $3K; you want that nice SSD so stop trying to kid yourself that its $1799; for this laptop? $1799 is a galling price for a companion laptop like this anyway but good on you. Steve Jobs needs his company to make silly profit margins somehow. Certainly, this is NOT the best looking laptop made unless what you like are massive bezels, and contrasting two tone colour schemes.

 

Dell: "Introducing the XPS m1330, the thinnest 13.3" notebook in the world."

Not anymore lol. That said, I'd still rather get the XPS over the MBA.