Apple's MacBook Air is officially shipping
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 30th 2008 12:30PM
posted Jan 30th 2008 12:30PM
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And the Apple fanboys rejoiced (the rest of us yawned).
no, im pretty sure i didnt yawn. I wanna know about real world tests with this thing after a few months to see any issues etc. Seems like a good machine for the small proportion who would find use for its lacking facilities. I did admit thought the last time i used a cd was a very very long time ago. I only use em for games and i download them anyway. But yeah, wont be to long for some user reviews:)
Maybe you wouldn't be so tired if sitting in your bedroom all day complaining about other people's computers wasn't your fucking hobby! You are the fanboy!
Maybe you wouldn't be so tired if sitting in your bedroom all day complaining about other people's computers wasn't your fucking hobby! You are the fanboy!
No one cares about buying or using it. The question is, "WILL IT BLEND?!"
(Macbook smoke; Don't breath this...)
@ fanman:
Thin air...don't breathe this...
i dunno about blend, but it'll probably bend just fine.
I want to see real (unbiased, so no engadget, gizmodo, blogs......) reviews, but this post is indeed retarted and unnecesary. Come on"...MacBook Air is officially shiping."... give me a break!
Looking forward to the price drop. As Confucius would say, "Study the past if you would define the future.".
Aye aye. In the words of Jesus Quintana, character in the film The Big Lebowsky...
"[Early adopters,] are you ready to be fucked, Man?"
Actually, what will happen is the specs will go up but the price won't drop. At least not below $1599 or something. It will likely always be positioned in the same place it is between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro. I bought an iBook 6 years ago that based out at $1000 or $1100. Now that is the base price for a way,way,way faster Macbook. Computer makers tend to up specs rather than lower prices. You don't see people buying $50 Pentium-III machines brand new, do you?
Reid I am sure that was a Iphone 200$ price drop comment.
you can yawn all you want... i still want one.
Since Apple seems to think the truth doesn't matter, here is a laptop that is thinner and with 14 hours of battery life.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/05/0524_metrolaptop/index_01.htm
.7" (without cheating), 2.5lb Although the purse idea is really stupid. Look at the pictures and you'll see what I mean.
This is bad news... for the consumer and Apple.
While the Air isn't exactly the answer to my prayers - it is a good catalyst for other companies to make better/lighter laptops. The air is missing too much to make it viable for a lot of people's needs but that doesn't mean it won't help improve things for everyone. The iPhone is a slick piece of hardware but again it doesn't meet my needs - it did however force companies like HTC to step up their release cycle on things like the Touch. The touch is lacking the better graphics and battery life of the iPhone among other things that might be MS's fault, some might say HTC - like the BT is still not as good on this phone as a free phone from any carrier. The touch does however fully sync with exchange which is critical for a lot of people. Either way you win - if the iPhone does everything you need you have a good option if not the Touch might be pretty good for you. There is still a ton of room for improvement for both but the iphone through down the gauntlet.
I would hope Asus and other laptop companies are trying to figure out how to make a lighter laptop but with all the items the air is missing. They may not get it down to 2lbs. But there are some VERY full featured laptops that are only 4lbs. The question is can they split the difference?
"it is a good catalyst for other companies to make better/lighter laptops."
By dropping key components? I don't think so.
No but if this notebook sells even with the lack of components - it might help light a fire for R&D for Asus and other manufacturers to work on even lighter laptops. As I said - my 4lb laptop has all the features most people could want including a better processor than the AIR and a lot of interfaces - however that doesn't mean I wouldn't like it to be about 1lb lighter. While the AIR is only 2lbs it lacks too many features for it to be useful to most of my clients but my clients are going to clamor for this unit even though I warn them about the lack of features. A reasonable inbetween would be good - I'm not sure what that is but technology keeps improving so I'm hoping to see a powerful 2+ GHz Core 2 system with 100 GIG momentous hard drive, 256MB video and an internal nic and wifi by next year with a 13" screen that is only 3lbs. I think that is quite possible. PS most of my clients who get the 2+ lb PCs don't like the small screens, small keyboards and slow processors so they get the 4lb units like I have but are not happy about the weight - I don't think it is so bad but they sure do.
you know what inspires companies to create new technologies? Innovation. There is very very little innovation found in the macbook air. Besides the thinness, there have been machines that are lighter, smaller, faster, cheaper, more expandable, and thus better. Apple has not broken any new ground aside from developing a laptop that was .76" thick. Period. So tell me, where is the innovation?
Diku - I'm not sure there is much innovation but public interest in just having news or mac fanboys or whatever. The Touch by HTC didn't take any real innovation but the iPhone was a huge impetus in getting a market niche what they wanted. Winodws wasn't innovation but it took a good idea and made it commonplace. I neither think the macbook is good or horrible - it may fit a niche I do not fit in but I do know a lot of clients of mine want really light laptops - unfortunately as you know full featured laptops that have any power aren't available in a 2lb or even a 3lb package at the moment - but I feel it quite possible we may see some by next year.
If anything is the catalyst for encouraging manufacturers to make lighter laptops, it would be Asus' Eee PC. I'm sure it was the catalyst for people's interest in an Apple sub-notebook. Who wouldn't want something as portable as the Eee but as functional as a Mac with OS X?
Too bad the Air failed miserably at capturing that.
great, more fodder for the (anti-mac) whiners
You say that as if people that use Macs don't "whine" on any story that has to do with Microsoft products.
Im a apple fan in general or rather have an affinity for a certain amount of their products... and even I don't care about the "Air". So with that said, why besides those who actually bought the product, would anyone care about these things shipping. Ive never commented negatively on your articles, but dang, who cares. When did Engadget become TMZ... i get the aol connect, but we've heard nuff bout Tom Cruise, er... Mac Book Air.
it's a gadget site.... announcing the shipping of a gadget. Shocker :O
Except that Engadget and ANOTHER post just a few days ago that said MBAs "may" be shipping now...or as early as...or whatever...
How many posts do we need to tell us that MBA are in boxes?
How does that give us any more info about the gadget?
What does this add?
"First MacBook Air Shipped"
"First FedEx man sighted with MacBook Air"
"First Consumer Un-Boxing of MacBook Air"
"Second Consumer Un-Boxing of MacBook Air"
"MacBook Air Officially Sold in Apple Store"
"MacBook Air: Popular Among Female College Students, people suffering from muscle atrophy, Ryan Block."
Oh, I went there.
http://www.Neighborcity.com
Most Mac products look great, as does the AIR. But I wonder how functional a machine that has no cd drive, limited usb connections, no 3G compatibility and no express card slot, will perform with the targeted demographic. I think like most things that look good, they only have to be slightly functional for people to buy into them.
Everyone is disappointed because they think the MBA is a laptop.
However, it is a UMPC - if you view it from this angle it clearly excels. It is better than any other UMPC on the market.
I just want to preface this next comment by saying I've never made one of these types of whines before....but it's time.
Engadget:
Are you going to put out a post everytime a MBA arrives at a home too?
Is there no other gadget out there worthy of this webspace?
No, I'm going to be one of those daft idiots that calls you Mac fanboys or iEngadget. I am also aware there is a no apple feed and site. I don't want that site because I DO like apple news....IN MODERATION.
But even I think this is a bit much.
Then don't waste your time and mine by reading it, AND commenting on it. Scroll right past it, like I do on the endless digital camera posts.
Funny how you said I can save my time by scrolling by a post rather than reading it AND commenting on.....but then you read and commented on MINE.
I had a concern and it was not phrased to be disrespectful.
You just need to take your own advice.
You wasted your own time.
Well, I guess I'll waste my time too.
"Is there no other gadget out there worthy of this webspace?"
If they were running this story by excluding another, I'd be right with you. But they aren't. This isn't a newspaper with limited space. This story didn't bump another one, and didn't replace anything.
I skip posts I don't care about. Its not that hard to do. I just don't understand why it's such a big deal to some of you. Nobody forced you to click or read it. Just move on.
I prefer to get all the news, and then choose what I want to read.
I almost got one but decided on the pro instead as I only want one laptop and this wouldn't do as my only laptop, i need a built in optical drive right now. In 3 or 4 years, maybe not.
I've been trying for a week or so to figure out how to integrate this into my life... no dice so far.
May I suggest that you're going about this the wrong way?
You've accidentally highlighted the biggest problem I have with brandism. Apple makes a product, and then people try to see how they can rearrange their lives to make it fit.
That's BAD consumerism. A consumer, to do their part in a healthy economy, should approach this the other way around: ask 'does Apple make a product that actually meets my needs?'
If they do - and if you like the product - then you *should* buy it. But if they don't, then you should look at other products until you either find the one that meets your needs the best, or choose the one that is the optimal compromise *for you*.
That's how you drive innovation and encourage manufacturers to build products that reflect an actual demand. Not doing this means that the corporations are essentially steering the market - and that's no better in the long run than other centralised economies.
I figured it out, I can give an MBA to my sister, all she does is search the web and answer email.
Why would your sister need a $1799 dollar laptop for checking email and using the web? Why would anybody, actually?
Is there some rule that there must be a MacBook Air post eternally on the front page or something?
To be honest, as one of those dreaded consultant/road warrior folks, every time I see this compy I roll my eyes. I've even got an MBP (running Ubuntu though), and the MBA abbreviation always makes me think of my master's degree, not a computer :)
Seriously though, 0.00003% of customers might actually find a use for this thing, the rest of us will stick with a product that has actual applicability to productive work. I've always had a mantra of never buying Apple products (like m$ software) until the 3rd or 4th generation, as the first version is usually a featureless buggy prototype. This is really no exception. Can we talk about Apple products that people will actually use... or things that the other 96% of us who use other OS's might actually use. Too much MacBook Air!
"Seriously though, 0.00003% of customers might actually find a use for this thing"
i hope i dont throw off yer math when i order mine friday
Yes, it's the same rule that causes every new Apple product to receive the same treatment.
There is a large, profitable market for useless luxury goods. There is absolutely no justification for purchasing overpriced, low quality, remarkably ugly Louis Vuitton luggage yet they make a good living doing it. If that's not convincing enough for you, then look at Hermes.
The MBA is a computer that is not especially good at anything other than being thin to a point of absurdity. That will not stop it from being successful. The MBA is a fashion computer; it's price and lack of function are not a detriment but, to some, an advantage. It lacks the portability of a true ultra-portable, the speed, connectability and capacity of machines close to its size, but is has sex appeal that other machines don't. Once you see someone pay $400 for a Louis Vuitton case to put their $200 iPod in, you will understand who the MBA is made for. Those people don't give a shit why the MBA is inferior to most every other computer, they only care that you don't have one and they do.
It's also for the ladies!
And more expensive
So close to what I want, yet so lacking for what I want. I'm bringing my 12" Powerbook out of mothballs.
I agree with this, the 12" Powerbook is just about perfect except for that it's pretty slow by today's standards. But for light work, even some mild photoshop stuff or Garageband or something, it still works great. It's still my ideal form factor.
Hey Steven,
I know what you mean, I have yet to mothball my 12" G4. I was hoping Apple would make something like it, but it looks like they went thin instead of small. If that makes any sense. I ordered one though, and I am willing to give it a shot. I just don't think It will compare with the 12" for me. (or you sounds like) But, to each his (or her) own I guess.
Myles, don't start your fucking UMPC shit again!
The MBA is *NOT* a UMPC, it's a Notebook/Laptop. Get it through your thick skull and go eat some more paint chips!
Hahah, I guess they deleted his post due to obvious reasons.
IT IS NOT A UMPC. If the MBA is a UMPC, then it's a huge step back in UMPC tech as a poor contender in the UMPC market as well. I can't possibly imagine walking around taking inventory with this hanging off the side of my arm...not to mention trying to deal with the keyboard when I have it hooked up to my OBDII port while I'm logging and controlling boost in my car while driving. The MBA is an under-performing LAPTOP...don't try to make up for it's shortcomings by calling it something else.
impressive in size and looks, not much else,
i would like to see how the lenovo x300 would stack up to it though
But we'd have no one to flame then.
Obviously you do care so much, because you spent a few seconds in sticking your nose in this story. Move on ass H*L3
Ah very true very true!
Orlando, please visit the nearest suicide booth... Take Steve Jobs with you please.
Lets put some real value on a MAC.
We just audited our annual IT Support Team (in-house computer support cost). We saved $90,000.00 since switching all of our workstations/laptops to Macs. And yes, we have orders placed for the Macbook Air!
It's not the cost of the computer that companies care about, its the cost of ownership over time.
ORLY?
Yeah, let's talk about a Media Access Control address...
OH, you meant a Macintosh... my mistake
I'll admit 2 things right now 1) I AM and apple fanboy and 2) The macbook Air is the dumbest piece of S*** that apple has EVER released. I understand its meant to be a secondary machine not a primary machine but as far as I can tell it's no better than an asus EEE PC (Which not going to lie I like it MUCH better than the air). I (Unlike the rest of the north american population) buy my CD's and rip them. Why should I have to use a different computer's drive to do so? In that case I may as well just rip the CD to the computer with the drive. And it's an ultraportable on the go kind of computer right? If I'm traveling I want to watch a DVD... Who is this laptop really for? I don't get it. Again, without the CD drive it has the same capability as the EEPC at 4-5 times the cost. And the power coming out of this thing is no good for other modern apps... Stop talking about/reviewing/announcing dates for/and drooling over this Slim P-O-S. You almost got it right apple... Remember it was the 12" POWERBOOK that never made it to the intel line... next time... just give me a regular laptop with regular amount of ports and a Regular "SuperDrive"... I hope this laptop never sees the light of second generation
I just wanted to drop a quick comment to you so you know why I am buying one. I bought my wife an HP laptop DV6000 SERIES. she never uses the cd drive. That said she uses my Mac mini to rip to her ipod and can sync the ipod to her laptop using Floola. Believe it or not her main requirements for a laptop are about 60-80 gigs of space, light weight, decent screen size, web cam, and wireless ethernet.
She wants to switch to Mac after using my mini. Spec wise they are very similar minus the optical drive and yeah we're paying the premium over the mac book but she wants the lighter of the two. The MBA gives her all of the above and her student discount brought the price to 1499 at her bookstore. Sold the HP for 900. so it was 600 bucks to switch. Cheaper than her books for this semester.
Now she has something coming that she will "love" rather than "lug". Believe it or not there is a fit for some. I assure you I wouldn't want one for myself though all things considered.
But now she still has to use your mini to manage her iTunes even with her own mac. And she can't take any music with her. If someone in one of her classes wants to pass her some work burned on a CD she can't take it unless she installs remote disk on their computer, gets a flash drive, or is fortunate enough to be receiving the file from someone with bluetooth. Maybe it's just me but the MBA just feels a little off. Between the lack of drive, the diminutive number of USB ports, and speed reduction it just seems worth the extra .91 kilo grams to get a macbook. It also seems that there is no remote for frontrow with it... call that a small thing if you'd like but I enjoy having that lil guy kicking around.
@tehpyro
Sad to see a self-professed "Mac fanboy" play to the gallery in this pathetic fashion. Get some self-respect, man. Figure out what you stand for.
He has a point though. You obviously cared enough to post, three times in fact.
While I don't doubt this is possible - it's going to depend a lot on exactly what kind of IT infrastructure you have and what kind of use you have for your laptops.
So what this comes down to is, yet another YMMV moment. The real question is: would this be typical for all businesses and are there any hidden costs you're not taking into account?
For example: switching to an all Mac environment may reduce IT costs over the short term, but it may cause difficulties in other areas such as parts replacements, upgrading, lack of software support and so on. And some of those costs may not even show up in IT's budgets, moving the cost to other centres within the company - cost of software purchases and loss of productivity while transitioning to new, unfamiliar replacement software (not to mention training costs).
Sure, you could buy a bunch of Intel Macs and then install Windows on them in Boot Camp or Parallels to make up the difference, but then you're not saving that much anymore since you now how two entirely different platforms to support at the same time.
So... while I'm not saying your experience isn't real, I question how meaningful it is.
That was aimed at Kevin's post. Sorry.
Blogsmith's software has a real problem with the 'reply' button on a post. I wish they'd stop tinkering with advertising gimmicks and actual FIX this.
You forgot to mention about the IT staff for macs that they are really annoying or really really gay.
I have yet to see a compelling TCO argument for switching an entire infrastructure to Apple.
First and foremost finding support staff is both difficult and expensive. Or you're going to have to retrain your likely Microsoft-qualified (or at least experienced) staff to OSX's frankly anemic server offerings. We've got an Xserve and Xraid here where I work and they're strictly second-tier stuff. We don't use them for anything more than propagating Mac desktops and file storage for photoshop/film editing purposes. We certainly wouldn't trust them with mission-critical stuff.
Further, initial expense is prohibitive, especially since the 'base' iMac is a 20" widescreen monster with a price to match (compared to the usual sub $1000 business machines). Ongoing support is expensive (AppleCare ain't cheap, not even for enterprise) and we've found Apple's general support for the business end of town to be less than excellent beyond warranty replacement machines.
I challenge someone to walk up to a Fortune 500 CTO and suggest switching an entire network to Apple. I'd further suggest you be ready to get laughed at.
Oh.. and while we're at it, it would be keen if it would remember me between posts so I didn't have to remember to type in the password on EVERY SINGLE POST!
Everyone else can figure out how to do this...
That's pretty easy, jus get firefox n use its password rememberer
im really sorry for those who are buying the macbook air then...i thought everyone could come back to reality and realize it doesn't fit in anything...
Of course it does. It fits in a manila envelope, for instance...
Look, there are a lot of people bashing the MBA because of its lack of "necessary" components, which is fine, except that everyone defines "necessary" different. This isn't for everyone, but probably some will in fact enjoy it. I personally am buying one for my wife. Yes, there is no denying that there is a certain "coolness" factor to it, but as someone posted already, this will probably be a hit with college females and "light" computer users. I happen to concur, and my wife fits this category. I have a MBP for myself, and this will be a perfect fit for her.
College students can't afford this, and if they could, they'd buy a car instead.
I agree wholeheartedly.
This is what I wrote to someone else:
I just wanted to drop a quick comment to you so you know why I am buying one. I bought my wife an HP laptop DV6000 SERIES. she never uses the cd drive. That said she uses my Mac mini to rip to her ipod and can sync the ipod to her laptop using Floola. Believe it or not her main requirements for a laptop are about 60-80 gigs of space, light weight, decent screen size, web cam, and wireless ethernet.
She wants to switch to Mac after using my mini. Spec wise they are very similar minus the optical drive and yeah we're paying the premium over the mac book but she wants the lighter of the two. The MBA gives her all of the above and her student discount brought the price to 1499 at her bookstore. Sold the HP for 900. so it was 600 bucks to switch. Cheaper than her books for this semester.
Now she has something coming that she will "love" rather than "lug". Believe it or not there is a fit for some. I assure you I wouldn't want one for myself though all things considered.
[quote]but as far as I can tell it's no better than an asus EEE PC[/quote]
I sure hope you don't work CSI, then.
Bigger, better screen. More RAM. More storage space. More powerful processor. Full size keyboard. And on, and on.
They are completely different gadgets, but I'd get an Eee over the Air any time. The Eee is a top of the line sub-notebook and the Air is a mediocre overpriced notebook.
I meant that in a "they have similar functionality" type of way... I see the obvious screen size difference and larger hard drive... But at the same time all of your comparisons are size and speed. Even then the asus EEEPC isn't going to really be that much slower.
Everybody crying about the lack of an optical drive and the lack of ethernet reminds me of the furor over the original iMac's lack of a floppy drive.
This is Apple thinking a little different, a little ahead of the curve, and a significant portion of their intended minority market share lives at that sweet spot.
- All of my computers and printers and even my 360 connects wirelessly. I haven't staying a hotel room without wi-fi for years. I have no little to no need for ethernet on an ultra-portable.
- I've completely skipped the HD disc format war. I can download HD movies through my 360. I can download music and movies via iTunes. I have little to no need for an optical disc on an ultra-portable.
Sure I wish I could upgrade the HD and RAM. No I wouldn't want this to be my only computer, or my "main" work computer but that doesn't mean that this sucker isn't going to travel with me everywhere I go.
Yes....clearly he cared.
Not necessarily about the subject of this specific post, but about the trend of posts that are a bit......meticulous.
But yes....clearly he cared about SOMETHING.
Great! Another non story about the MacBook Air!
Perhaps we could get a fresh story every hour or so tracking the consignment from the factory to the warehouse, with interviews with the driver and speculation about the *exact moment* someone may take delivery?
After all, what can be more exciting than hearing about something in delivery! Every day!!
I'm having a horrible day. Where's Miles? I want a good laugh.
Miles got his head handed to him yesterday, so he is off licking his wounds.
Irrational hatred of Apple is just as bad as irrational love of Apple.
Yawn... this thing is a [way] overpriced paperweight... I would say doorstop, but it's so thin, it probably would suck just as bad at being a doorstop as it does trying to be a laptop.
I find it interesting how so many people feel that this machine is useless. It maybe useless to you, but no doubt its not useless to the people purchasing.
The MacBook Air not meant for the people that require what it's missing. The MBA is meant for me! I have other Mac's and windows computers and need something light, powerful, and runs MAC OS. I would rather it be a bit smaller (No bezel around screen and keyboard at all). Maybe next year.
I can deal with the compromises Apple has made to create such a thin notebook that still offers a usable screen size for "real" work. If you cant, go buy something else. You have choices, lets thank Apple for that!
"It maybe useless to you, but no doubt its not useless to the people purchasing."
The people purchasing are all Mac fanboys who would buy anything with an apple logo stamped on it. You can get (way) more functionality out of virtually any other laptop for half the price (or less). And apple isn't the first company to release ultra-portable laptops. Sony and others have been doing it for years (and they are much nicer / cheaper machines).
Stop buying things just because Jobs say so. Proprietary = bad!
Linux FTW!
KillerSiafu - "Stop buying things just because Jobs say so. Proprietary = bad!"
So we should just all stop and start following you instead? How easy it was all along.
DownwardMonkey...
I suppose you can start following me if you want (maybe I can start my own company based on a different fruit image, an orange maybe?) but I'm not going to tell you what to buy. I will tell you that you should not buy this piece of crap. Just because it has an apple logo on it does not make it a good product. If you can't see uses for an ethernet port, a PC-card slot, firewire, extra USB ports, or a spare /replaceable battery... then I don't know what to tell you.
But I can find you 100 laptops that cost way less and offer way more. Included in that list are probably a few macbooks (if you're dying for an AppleOS)... All I'm saying is that if you buy this machine, you're getting ripped off...
KillerSiafu, "If you can't see uses for an ethernet port, a PC-card slot, firewire, extra USB ports, or a spare /replaceable battery... then I don't know what to tell you. "
You are missing the point entirely. I have a Macbook Pro... rarely use ethernet port, NEVER USE PC-card slot, NEVER use firewire, rarely needed extra USB ports, NEVER had a spare /replaceable battery. Get it... Its not a desktop replacement, its for those of us that currently have a PC/Mac.
And yes, im buying the USB ethernet dongle.
OH... And these same people would buy this right away if it cost less. So price is most likely your big issue, and nothing else. Its useless to you, because you don't see its value.
Despite the low ranking and the name, I have to agree. My laptop doesn't have ANYTHING on it that I'd want that the MBA gets rid of, I don't use the DVD, I don't use the ethernet, I don't carry extra power etc etc. I use a laptop for coding and the internet, that is it.
I CAN'T use an EEE PC to spend hours and hours coding on, it would be like trying to thread a needle while wearing one of those big sport fan foam hands. After a while it is just a pain in the back, eyes and hands.
As soon as I started to look at the MBA as a UMPC it became a great idea, right now it's priced too high but more and more it's becoming clear that people just don't seem to be able to handle the fact that people don't want or even need the things that they claim a laptop should have.
My mum looked at me like I was an idiot when I tried to explain the things she couldn't use the MBA for, the fact she can still use a full keyboard and carry the thing in a paper FOLDER is enough for her. She doesn't need the stuff that people say that she should need.
My only issue with it? Price.
Agreed. No one has to buy the MBA. If you like its features and/or find it sexy, you make the choice to buy it. It will all work out in the end. If Apple doesn't see the kind of revenue it wants, it will drop the price (iPhone anyone?).
Of course, it's "generally" overpriced but based on some of the responses here (assuming they are being truthful and not just Apple stockholders), some people will be actualy buying this thing.
I'll be keeping my few coins in my pocket on this one, though.
Basically here's what I don't get. If you need something portable, why not go for a cheaper and smaller computer? Either go for something that really qualifies as a UMPC, or if that doesn't work, look at the old 12" Powerbook. It's smaller than the Air, has the full size keyboard, and enough power to get by.
If you need something with power, why not go for a cheaper and more powerful computer? The MacBook has the same footprint as the Air, but it's cheaper and more powerful.
The MacBook Air by itself is not a bad product. The problem comes when you stack it up against the competition. It's not as portable as UMPCs and not as powerful as computers with the same footprint, and costs more than either. It doesn't stack up in size, power, or cost so what's hard to see the point.
A 12" MacBook with the same specs would be more valuable, and 10" even better.
This is a great little laptop but I will not buy one unless I can get the ssd drive in the configuration. IMO this laptop is not worth buying unless you get the ssd drive with it. Also I will wait for rev. b, maybe they will add a firewire port an extra usb and 4gb of ram and make the ssd drive standard all for $2199 or something like that. Then I will pull the trigger for one.
KillerSiafu, Not true.. Most people buying the MBA would NEVER buy a windows laptop. I would be happy to buy a VAIO or other UMPC, but they dont run MacOS.
For me, I have seen the light and would never purchase a windows machine again. (My business does have a few hundred windows servers, but MAC workstations/laptops all the way around).
I would like to purchase the MBA at $1499.00 or less, but willing to pay the early adopter premium.
/agree
i would never buy a windows laptop... until apple decides to let their OS be run on a dell or sony or hp or whatnot i'll continue to buy an apple laptop. actually, no.. i'd still buy apple.. not because i'm a fanboy, but because i like the aluminum. sony's vaio tz series is just way too flimsy and.. *gasp* SUPER FRIKKEN EXPENSIVE.
i too have a macbook pro. i've had one since it first came out, and before that i had the 12" PB. personally, i've NEVER used the ethernet port, i've NEVER used the firewire port and i don't have the need for more than one USB port since i dont stick everything i own in it at once. andandand i only use the optical drive to rip my music.. which is now handled by my desktop PC.
i wont buy a 13"macbook because its just as heavy as my MBP.
even the the 12" powerbook (4.4lbs was it?) was too heavy for me for to lug around at school... the macbookpro rarely gets taken out because truthfully.. its a behemoth. (i've owned a 2.2lb toshiba libretto L5) its basically a 2nd desktop that occasionally gets taken out for presentations or if i'm not going to be home for awhile.
You're completely right!
The ps2 slim's hardware sucks compared to the xbox, but WTH?! That's so unfair!
It's so friggin small and SLIM, so we must compare it with the gameboy since the ps2 is a portable gaming system, and a very good at that! Take that fanboys!
MIke Obviously has Macbook Air envy. He has spent a good deal of his time crying about since it was announced. There are millions of things in this world I have no use for, but I have yet to go on a one man crusade against them. Grow up Mikey, and stop the hate.
Whats that blank white space at the top of the article .
Oh wait i just noticed a tiny slither of pixils which must be the system .
Order time: Jan 15, 2008 at 12:23 PM PST
Still hasn't shipped.
What's a Macbook Air?