Poll: Did you pre-order a MacBook Air?

Curious minds need to know -- despite the built-in RAM, the fixed battery, single (and soon to be overworked) USB port, lack of integrated 3G and the lofty $1,799 starting price point, did you still pull the trigger on a MacBook Air pre-order? We know, it is ridiculously thin, and it is ultra-light, so we're wondering just how many of you ponied up the premium for all that sexiness. Drop your answer in the poll below, and feel free to add a couple pennies (or more, we won't mind) in comments.

Did you pre-order a MacBook Air?

You bet! I'd pay anything for all that sexyNot yet, but I'm close to nailing that Submit buttonNot a chance! (see my reasons / rant below)Vote

[Arjun @ Jan 15th 2008 4:33PM]

Not a chance. It's simply not in my market, nor do I need it.

[superfresh @ Jan 15th 2008 4:41PM]

I agree. It guess it didn't surprise me design-wise, but I was expecting something slim by virtue of it being inexpensive, not priced at a premium due the effort involved in making something so powerful that slim. IMO, I would say shoving a full-blown Apple into that form factor actually hampers it a bit.

Steve, sometimes less is too much more.

[applefreak @ Jan 15th 2008 4:45PM]

dito

[superted @ Jan 15th 2008 4:46PM]

totally agree with you, it makes me love my macbook even more tbh

[Chris @ Jan 15th 2008 4:47PM]

same here. I mean, it's pretty and all, but I have neither the money to shell out, nor the need for another computer.

[looseinthedeuce @ Jan 15th 2008 4:57PM]

Plus, I wouldn't want to accidentally slide it into an envelope when mailing my bills.

[Keaton @ Jan 15th 2008 5:14PM]

Simple answer... I need more than 2 USB ports... and S-Video... and a RJ45... Seriously what's the point of having a itty bitty laptop and having to carry a

BIG USB hub and a
BIG RJ45 adapter and a
BIG external DVD drive and a
BIG S-Video dongle.
along with the standard power adapters, earphones, ethernet cables, and external hdds.

You would have less to carry around if you just purchased a slightly thicker competitor with a CD drive and ports! OMG! What a concept.

On the flip side I'm sure it will suit plenty on people's purposes just fine... Just not mine or 80% of computer users.

[Paolo @ Jan 15th 2008 5:22PM]

The reality is that an ultraportable should well as thin. A memo that apple obviously missed out on. One USB port is a catastrophic failiure on apples part to supply effective connectivity especially considering that using the optical drive will leave you portless. Likewise with the lack of RJ-45 leaves those who want the flexibility of tapping into non-wireless networks sadly left out, and all users are stuck with a network crippled by wireless and USB transfer rates.

Slimness is one thing but practicality is an entirely different story.

[Matt @ Jan 15th 2008 5:24PM]

@ Keaton

I think you're kind of missing the point of the "Air" in Macbook air. You're not supposed to carry any of those for this device. For mice, printers, and other peripherals there's bluetooth. For software, you can download and install it online, or use the remote drive if necessary. For media, you're intended to use iTunes or some other digital service. Now, obviously that doesn't appeal to a lot of people. However, it's not a design flaw, it's simply a matter of this not being a machine that is meant for those people.

[iuqiddis @ Jan 15th 2008 6:11PM]

@ Matt
Man you're too deep in the reality distortion field. I mean the thing looks great and all, but seriously, flaws are flaws, not 'features'.

[Camperton @ Jan 15th 2008 6:57PM]

I just can't get past the battery thing.

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 7:14PM]

You people are all missing the point of the MacBook Air. It is not meant as a replacement for MacBook or MacBook Pro. It's just a new, thin, less-featured version. Of course it's not going to have all the features of a full sized laptop. (Were you foolishly expecting different?) Ah Yes...If Apple does not achieve my impossibly high expectations, then their design is flawed.

Grow up

[Lars @ Jan 15th 2008 7:40PM]

Ditto.

Maybe if I had tons of money I might shell some out for a product that I'd probably never use. Alas, I like cheaper products that are actually USEFUL.

[Gripen40k @ Jan 15th 2008 8:13PM]

@John
"It is not meant as a replacement for MacBook or MacBook Pro. It's just a new, thin, less-featured version."

But... Why would you buy this if you already had another laptop? If you already had one... that is just a bit thicker/heavier... but did more things... and cost less.... Do you get my point?

You could however use that argument with the majority of Apple products, so they really are selling their design chops here above all else.

But one thing is for sure, I have a motion m1400 slate-tablet, and it doesn't have a cd drive but I get by fine *cough*daemon-tools*cough*....

And why no Apple tablet yet!??! That's one area that this thing would be (for me at least) totally justifiable...

[Dan @ Jan 15th 2008 10:32PM]

Doesn't anyone remember the svelte sony vaio X505?? That was at least half as thick as the Macbook Air. You can't really compare the Air with the Sony TZ cuz that vaio is too fully featured w/ an integrated dvd-burner.

[Oracle @ Jan 16th 2008 2:34AM]

job's keynote speech is more and more repetitive every year... smaller... thinner.. smaller... thinner.. poof! it's gone!

[blairseip @ Jan 16th 2008 9:16AM]

I'm not going to be in the market for a new laptop for about two years. I figure that the hardware will be a lot more powerful and stable by then. Or, at the very least, I'll be able to get an SSD drive for less than $1000!

[Tom Boucher @ Jan 16th 2008 9:30AM]

@Pado

The reality is that an ultraportable should well as thin. A memo that apple obviously missed out on. One USB port is a catastrophic failiure on apples part to supply effective connectivity

Having used an IBM Thinkpad X24, X30, X40, and now an X60 as my super light portable to take anywhere.

WTF are you smoking? The last thing I want to do is carry around a laptop, and a ton of cables & dodads to plug into it. I need something light, small, and portable to present from, do some email, andanything else on the road and the last thing I'm going to do is plug a bunch of crap in that hangs off to do that. Huge mess on an airplane, and it's annoying enough on an international flight to have to drape that power cord over the place after the five hours of battery are gone.

I'm disappointed they didn't Duo it. What it would need is a docking mechanism of some kind that would let you plug in a few things if you really need it. Though to be honest my Mac Pro hardly has anything plugged in it anymore. Everything is already on the network and accessable without the need for any cables to my computing system.

[tanooki2003 @ Jan 16th 2008 9:47AM]

Man forget this crap. I'm sticking with my Clevo D901C. At least this laptop is a power user's laptop and it has 6 speakers including a subwoofer. This mac laptop is nothing but a status symbol.

This is Apple's way of capitalizing on america's spending problem.

[Campustech @ Jan 16th 2008 5:43PM]

I'm not getting it because I think for me it would be a waste of money. First of all, I just bought a brand new Macbook in November. It has everything I need (mic input, 2 USBs, Ethernet Cable, Headphone Jack). This one is stripped down to bare minimums. Not to mention that it doesn't have an internal Optical Drive. The biggest thing for me is that the price is $500 more than my Macbook will it's specs being inferior.

[Kieth Vienn @ Jan 21st 2008 11:42PM]

John and matt are both right but what i dont think will sell is the fact that it is $1800. I mean the concept is great for those who dont need all of the extras but for the nothing that it includes and all of the dongles that you would have to carry as Keaton said it just doesnt seem worth it. I mean maybe at $1200 or no more than $1500 but $1800 is a bit pricey for less features and i'm not a cheap person.

[Artaxiad @ Jan 15th 2008 4:34PM]

I refuse to burn my hard-earned monies on electronics that are more status symbol than useful.

[Eric M. @ Jan 15th 2008 4:48PM]

Ditto, Apple is getting a little too uncomfortable putting out products that are inferior to other products on the market but still sell because they are "sexy".

I call boycott on this so nooone buy it - especially you fanboys, I know its hard but just imagine how many other Apple products you can spend your mom's money on.

[steve @ Jan 15th 2008 7:14PM]

I agree with artaxiad that it's more status symbol than useful. But how is this inferior? Apple designed this laptop for the status symbol market, not for the avg consumers. This is designed for the Starbucks crowd, people who will be working on the laptop while sipping coffee, so they don't need ports. This is not designed for Engadget readers, who are usually tinkerers who like to push the devices they have to the limits.

Tho, imho, the design is ahead of the times because wireless devices is not as ubiquitous as Apple might think. It might be fine when making a doc while sipping coffee. But when you go into an office with no wi-fi and you need to e-mail your doc/script, you're out of luck

[ark_v2 @ Jan 15th 2008 10:37PM]

+5

[Jesse S @ Jan 15th 2008 11:11PM]

It's hard to find something that Apple makes that IS for the Engadget crowd.

Except for maybe the Mac Pro. I was honestly surprised at how at-cost it is.

[DvS @ Jan 25th 2008 9:00PM]

You do realize Apple products are status symbols because people like you are calling them "status symbols"? I own many Apple products, never considering them to be status symbols. They are all very useful products.

[DvS @ Jan 25th 2008 9:01PM]

The reason why Apple products are status symbols is because people like you call them status symbols. I own many Apple products, not considering a single one a status symbol. They are great products.

[DvS @ Jan 25th 2008 6:46PM]

The reason why Apple devices are considered status symbols is because people like you call them status symbols. I own many Apple products, not considering any of them status symbols. They are simply useful products.

[DvS @ Jan 25th 2008 6:47PM]

The reason why Apple devices are considered status symbols is because people like you call them status symbols. I own many Apple products, not considering any of them status symbols. They are simply useful products.

[Isaac @ Jan 15th 2008 4:34PM]

The most obvious of my many complains: Its too damn expensive.

[Adoniteking @ Jan 15th 2008 5:51PM]

Apple: There is something in the Air?
Audience: WHAT?!
Apple: Expensive Sh*t!!!

[Craig @ Jan 16th 2008 6:50AM]

Awww Harden the F*ck up America. Many of us all round the world pay far more than you do for all manner of high tech goods.
When the mighty USD assumes it's inherent value, so too will you be paying far more than you currently do.

[Carl @ Jan 15th 2008 4:34PM]

I've got to get a new notebook for college in a few months. I'm getting another mac to replace my MB but the MBA lacks the muscle I want. I'll stick with the MBP. Its not all that much thicker.

[nickfawwaz3 @ Jan 15th 2008 7:07PM]

Good choice! Now if you tell everyone you know engadget wont have to take thier crusaude through your neighborhood

[xbox 360 @ Jan 15th 2008 11:36PM]

you have to be really stupid( or fanboy) to get this

you could get 2 laptops with twice the power and capabilities than this

but if this thing was just a multi touch screen i get it any day

it would be like a computer on paper

[lostarchitect @ Jan 15th 2008 4:34PM]

it looks awesome, but it needs a bigger hard disk (160 gigs would be good). if it gets one, i will consider buying one of these next time i upgrade my laptop.

[webran61 @ Jan 15th 2008 4:34PM]

No removable battery for swapping out for long periods of mobility, and it looks good, but not great. The bezel around the screen could have been smaller, and the black keyboard buttons make it look a little cheap, and Vaio-ish. Plus, the pink elephant in the room, it's expensive, and if the last few Apple product releases have taught me anything, it's that better things come to those who wait...

[holycow @ Jan 15th 2008 5:06PM]

my VAIO has nice silver keys! Definitely does NOT look cheap

[Victor @ Jan 15th 2008 4:34PM]

Still got a few years left on my MBP...will wait to see if I want to go subnotebook (already on a subnote for work and travel alot)

[Colin @ Jan 15th 2008 4:35PM]

Why the hell would I want something that I would have to buy dongles for. Fuck this stupid cum-gargling shit.

[Artaxiad @ Jan 15th 2008 4:36PM]

hahaha, tell us how you REALLY feel, Colin.

[Colin @ Jan 15th 2008 4:44PM]

It all just seems like a step backward for the sake of slimness. Innovation doesn't begin by taking away features...does it?

[sam @ Jan 15th 2008 5:39PM]

iMacs without floppy drives: MacBook Air without RJ45

[ecne @ Jan 15th 2008 5:44PM]

You apparently didn't hear the famous saying: perfection is reached not when there's nothing left to add, but when there's nothing left to remove. Actually, I suspect, most of computer manufacturers didn't. That's why we have craploads of "innovative", virtually indistinguishable laptops, available at the electornics superstore down the street.

[Brian @ Jan 15th 2008 6:44PM]

@ecne

You would apparently rather quote some trite statement than acknowledge the real problems that the MacBook Air has. There is NO REASON why the MacBook Air should only have 1 USB port, and NO REASON why it shouldn't have Ethernet. I can see taking away the optical drive (saves lots of space), but not ports that are a basic part of any modern notebook.

Computers are not closed-off little islands. Expandability and connectivity matter, and, no, no amount of Apple PR is going to eliminate the fact that this piece of crap notebook has only one USB port. 1998 called, they want their notebooks back.

[Serengeti @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:52AM]

Easy now. I live in an apartment, and being a 21st century young male, I can afford wireless routers... which means I don't need an RJ45 jack. If I really need one, on the road, I'll bring the USB adapter.

[Louis DeScioli @ Jan 15th 2008 10:15PM]

Thank you Colin, for that profound bit of rhetoric. You have thoroughly persuaded me not to buy this product.

I think Apple is ahead of the times here. The world is not wireless, although we are well on our way to becoming one. Businesses still run hard wired networks, not all printers have bluetooth, etc, etc. Not everyone carries around adapters or AirPort Expresses for these 'ancient' technologies. I expected more of Steve Jobs to see that the world is not ready for this yet, but it's also a case to be made that he's as much of a genius as ever and sees the potential here wants to get his foot in the door while the UMPC is still young, so when the price and technology is right Apple will already be dominating the industry.

To the rest of you though, who cannot see this product for what it really is, it is a UMPC. It might have been listed above the MB in the product line, but it is really lower. And since it is a UMPC, it is stuck in limbo with the rest of today's Ultra Mobiles. Until companies can somehow lower the price to match the smaller size and power, UMPC will be extravagance buys for those who want them as status icons. How can someone justify paying $1800 for a computer when you can buy a $1000 one that might be a little bigger and heavier, but has a better array of storage, processing speed, and other features? This is not Apple's flaw, this is the flaw of the UMPC. But since Apple has stepped in now, like the rest of their products, change will occur. Take a stroll through Best Buy and look at the other offerings in the Ultra Mobile category. I did the other day and was toying around with a Sony one that also cost $1800 and had a 7 inch screen, miniature keyboard, and a 1.2 GHz processor. The MacBookAir is a fantastic UMPC, not laptop. I'll bet my iPhone that a few months from now Apple will be able to come around touting sales figures that show that the MacBookAir out sold every other UMPC combined, by far.

This will be another gorgeous, innovative Apple product that will probably be admired by the masses and bought by the few. And for some of us, its a matter of resisting of buying it just because of how gosh darn sexy it is

[JJV @ Jan 15th 2008 11:45PM]

Colin, its not innovation, its "thinnovation"... lol

[Mogo @ Jan 16th 2008 4:29AM]

"It might have been listed above the MB in the product line, but it is really lower."

Wow. Try wrapping your head around THAT gem. Does anyone thing it's really a status icon? I know I won't envy anyone I see toting one around. Oh, and keep kissing Jobbie's backside, Louis. That's a good look for you.