Thin matters in terms of aesthetic appeal and functionality. Apple may have wanted the base to be relatively thin to match the new screen technology. And in terms of functionality, thinness can be problematic in terms of openning the laptop, and breakage.
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, how does thinness affect function? Unless we're talking mobile phones, or something of the like. My boss takes his laptop everywhere, from the office to meetings across the world, and he swears by his 2~2.5lb VAIO. Even a 3lb laptop (a la Macbook Air) seriously turns him off when looking at new ones. When you're carrying something everywhere (with other stuff), you tend to care less about aesthetics and more about "will I break my back today?"
If it is too thin, it can be harder to open the lid because you can't hold onto the base as easily while trying to lift the latch. So thinness can actually be a negative aspect.
Oh, I see. For sure. And it's made out of aluminum! These things seem far from durable. Should be interesting to see over the next few months, how many of them break. ;)
Macbook Air is an idea of VAIO X505, the thickest part is 0.8" and it only wights 1.8lb. VAIO did this years ago, Apple stole the keyboard and finally they stole the whole concept.
yeah. thickness is irrelevant. people like me only cares about weight. i was expecting the MBA to be around 1.5lbs. i wouldnt hesitate to buy the MBA if it was $2000 if it was 1.5lbs. 3lbs is still a lot. what was apple thinking???
How exactly is half a pound (its 3.5 hours is achieved only with the heavier high-capacity battery pack, $45 more for the base model) important when this Fujitsu convertible tablet has 4.4 inches of less screen real estate and a similarly cramped keyboard?
The Air also isn't crippled by a lower speed Ultra Low Voltage processor (1.6/1.8GHz vs 1.2GHz) and its accompanying lower speed front side bus (800 vs 533MHz) and memory speed (667 vs 533MHz). No camera, no 802.11n, Bluetooth is a $30 option on all but the $2200 model and the one even remotely priced like the Air only comes with a 60GB hard drive ($100 for 80GB, $200 for 100GB) and 512MB of memory ($300 for 1GB, $450 for 2GB!).
They're not even in the same market space, so why bother making the comparison? Just because it weighs less?? Yeah, that's rich. Don't even get me started on the Fujitsu's hideous industrial design...
What latch...? Like the macbook, the MBA (sounds like a bank) uses a magnet to hold the lid closed. It is a very nice feature. Almost as nice as the magnetic power attachment.
Oh and yah, I am a fanboy......Apple works for me.
Correct it's a poor comparison, because this is a *true* ultra-portable class laptop (too bad Steve doesn't read, he might learn what ultra portable really means!). It'd be better compare to the VAIO's or LifeBook's with larger screens.
How much light weight? Is it like zero pounds? That would be pretty good. But I don't see an actual weight spec here.
Plus, whatever it is, if it was achieved by micro screen and micro keyboard, you will soon find that you missed the boat: you'll spot a few squinting geeks hunched over these, but mostly normal people using the MBA as if it were a normal laptop.
yes I know it doesn't have a latch, I was refering to laptops in general. It is still exactly the same though as you have to hold the base to break the magnetic attachment otherwise you just lift the whole thing up and it doesn't separate.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
torqueo @ Jan 18th 2008 6:36AM
There's plenty of laptops lighter than the new Macbook. I think this is where Steve missed the boat - thin doesn't matter, light-weight does!
BobTurbo @ Jan 18th 2008 6:51AM
Thin matters in terms of aesthetic appeal and functionality. Apple may have wanted the base to be relatively thin to match the new screen technology. And in terms of functionality, thinness can be problematic in terms of openning the laptop, and breakage.
torqueo @ Jan 18th 2008 7:06AM
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, how does thinness affect function? Unless we're talking mobile phones, or something of the like. My boss takes his laptop everywhere, from the office to meetings across the world, and he swears by his 2~2.5lb VAIO. Even a 3lb laptop (a la Macbook Air) seriously turns him off when looking at new ones. When you're carrying something everywhere (with other stuff), you tend to care less about aesthetics and more about "will I break my back today?"
BobTurbo @ Jan 18th 2008 7:11AM
If it is too thin, it can be harder to open the lid because you can't hold onto the base as easily while trying to lift the latch. So thinness can actually be a negative aspect.
torqueo @ Jan 18th 2008 7:14AM
Oh, I see. For sure. And it's made out of aluminum! These things seem far from durable. Should be interesting to see over the next few months, how many of them break. ;)
bob @ Jan 18th 2008 7:50AM
no, software is what matters, as hardware is nothing without it, mac macbook has osx, deal-breaker.
ray @ Jan 18th 2008 8:00AM
Macbook Air is an idea of VAIO X505, the thickest part is 0.8" and it only wights 1.8lb. VAIO did this years ago, Apple stole the keyboard and finally they stole the whole concept.
darkstar @ Jan 18th 2008 8:22AM
yeah. thickness is irrelevant. people like me only cares about weight.
i was expecting the MBA to be around 1.5lbs. i wouldnt hesitate to buy the MBA if it was $2000 if it was 1.5lbs. 3lbs is still a lot. what was apple thinking???
Tony C @ Jan 18th 2008 9:06AM
How exactly is half a pound (its 3.5 hours is achieved only with the heavier high-capacity battery pack, $45 more for the base model) important when this Fujitsu convertible tablet has 4.4 inches of less screen real estate and a similarly cramped keyboard?
The Air also isn't crippled by a lower speed Ultra Low Voltage processor (1.6/1.8GHz vs 1.2GHz) and its accompanying lower speed front side bus (800 vs 533MHz) and memory speed (667 vs 533MHz). No camera, no 802.11n, Bluetooth is a $30 option on all but the $2200 model and the one even remotely priced like the Air only comes with a 60GB hard drive ($100 for 80GB, $200 for 100GB) and 512MB of memory ($300 for 1GB, $450 for 2GB!).
They're not even in the same market space, so why bother making the comparison? Just because it weighs less?? Yeah, that's rich. Don't even get me started on the Fujitsu's hideous industrial design...
willyboy @ Jan 18th 2008 9:17AM
@ BobTurbo
What latch...? Like the macbook, the MBA (sounds like a bank) uses a magnet to hold the lid closed. It is a very nice feature. Almost as nice as the magnetic power attachment.
Oh and yah, I am a fanboy......Apple works for me.
torqueo @ Jan 18th 2008 9:19AM
Correct it's a poor comparison, because this is a *true* ultra-portable class laptop (too bad Steve doesn't read, he might learn what ultra portable really means!). It'd be better compare to the VAIO's or LifeBook's with larger screens.
Alan Partridge @ Jan 18th 2008 9:23AM
@ray
You'd be amazed about the number of people who dont know that Apple 'borrowed' their new keyboard designs from the X505. Just a search on google for 'sony' 'macbook' and 'keyboard' gives moronic articles like these:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=290
http://www.pbcentral.com/columns/hildreth_leo/070711b_Sony-MacBook_or_Apple-VAIO.shtml
and even some from Engadget
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/sony-vaio-vgx-tp1-announced-loaded-up-with-hdmi-out-dvd-burner/
I would be surprised if someone pulled up a picture of an X505 (released for years ago) and claim Sony have ripped off the MacBook Air
zorg @ Jan 18th 2008 10:43AM
How much light weight? Is it like zero pounds? That would be pretty good. But I don't see an actual weight spec here.
Plus, whatever it is, if it was achieved by micro screen and micro keyboard, you will soon find that you missed the boat: you'll spot a few squinting geeks hunched over these, but mostly normal people using the MBA as if it were a normal laptop.
BobTurbo @ Jan 18th 2008 9:01PM
@willyboy
yes I know it doesn't have a latch, I was refering to laptops in general. It is still exactly the same though as you have to hold the base to break the magnetic attachment otherwise you just lift the whole thing up and it doesn't separate.