First AirMail sleeves interofficed to MacBook Air types

The manilla envelope stunt pulled with the introduction of the MacBook Air is destined to go down as the stuff of marketing legend. Now, at least one happy Swede has his piece of consumer history with the receipt of the ManillaMac AirMail sleeve. It arrived with a spare red string and button and the added touch of his name hand written on the shipping label -- nice. According to Michael, his "high quality" sleeve fits the MBA "perfectly" and features "very good" stitching with white cotton innards which should keep his MBA looking just as glossy clean his new sleeve.

[Cunthor @ Mar 7th 2008 3:21AM]

In other news, I just took a massive dump. It was pungent.

[PJK @ Mar 7th 2008 3:25AM]

I find news of your dump fascinating, please expound on its aroma and texture? Is it a single colour or a kaleidoscope of earthy tones?

[quomen @ Mar 7th 2008 3:31AM]

The possibility that all the replies to your comment could be about shit, frankly, disgusts me. Not as much as how much i'd want to punch anyone I see carrying the sleeve around though.

[Kaiser @ Mar 7th 2008 3:45AM]

The most important issue is can it fit in an envelope?

[Speeddemon2008 @ Mar 7th 2008 3:45AM]

Who wipes?


I mean who cares?

[supermeerkat @ Mar 7th 2008 4:17AM]

@quomen: If it was Steve Job's dump then you'd care.

[Hax Or @ Mar 7th 2008 9:22AM]

Emo alert.

ID-10-T error.

Apple pwns you. Nuff said.

[Erik @ Mar 7th 2008 3:37AM]

This will be forgotten the moment His Jobsness introduces the MacBook AirMini in 4 months. IT FITS IN A LEGAL ENVELOPE!

[WB @ Mar 7th 2008 9:28AM]

They already have one....called the iPhone.

[roflercopterer @ Mar 7th 2008 3:42AM]

ridiculous...GO TO HELL MAC TYPES

[Hax Or @ Mar 7th 2008 9:23AM]

haha you're so emo.

does it hurt?

[roflercopterer @ Mar 7th 2008 10:09AM]

I got this for you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo

[Reader @ Mar 7th 2008 3:49AM]

Sweet. I can get all the benefits of the MBA now (looks) just by carrying around a manila envelope.

[Trace @ Mar 7th 2008 3:51AM]

Do I detect a hint of jealousy there?

Seriously though, who are "Mac Types" ? Personally, I'm a Linux guy, but I've used Mac and Windows PCs on a regular basis. What it boils down to, in the end, is what features an operating system provides that you need. Gamers choose Windows because it has DirectX. Graphic artists choose Mac because it has adobe software (among others). Programmers choose Linux because of the variety of open source software.

Choose the operating system you're happy with, and use it to your heart's content. If you don't use a Mac, and find their choice of computer accessories silly, then don't post about it. Let them be happy with what they're using, and you stick to what you have.

[giuliop @ Mar 7th 2008 5:51AM]

Sorry Trace, what you say is well and good, but you got it all wrong.
I'm no Apple hater, nor a lover, and I'm not here to judge anyone.
But the operating system and what it can do has little or nothing to do with a "Mac Type". This is about aesthetics, good looks, "wow" factor and all that. This is about people who choose a machine because they "love it", not because it has any functionality they need in particular.
There are users who may _really need_ an MBA, but most of those who buy it don't; they do it because they want it, no matter how crippled it is.

[saintchuck @ Mar 7th 2008 8:06AM]

The Air is crippled? How so?

[Stephen @ Mar 7th 2008 8:15AM]

Guiliop: "But the operating system and what it can do has little or nothing to do with a "Mac Type". This is about aesthetics, good looks, "wow" factor and all that."

Yeah, you pegged me on that one. I'm not a Mac user at all because my 7 year old PowerMac runs circles around my wife's one year old Dell at all... Or because I've never had a single virus, or a system crash... or any other technical problems with it. It's completely not because my system just works pain-free. It's definitely because my PowerMac G4 is soooooo coool looking and people just take a glance at it and say wow. Fact is most Mac users are using systems that are several years old because they just work. I used to have to rebuild my PC's from the ground up every 6 months to a year just for it to be able to efficiently do what I wanted/needed it to do. Haven't had to deal with that crap in over 7 years and it's great!! And for the majority of Mac users, yes, it is the operating system and how well it JUST WORKS that keep us coming back. In fact, I'm gearing up to buy my first new computer in 8 years, but the fact that Dell, HP, Sony, and all the rest have Windows on it is the deciding factor in my purchase. I don't have time to deal with issues and fixing problems.

Thanks though.

[Timmy @ Mar 7th 2008 8:48AM]

Due to truth in advertising laws Apple will have to change the name of the MacBook Air to Macbook Air Limited addition.

There is only one model, everyone can buy it, but the name change reflects that the Macbook is limited in what you can do with it.

[Numetheus @ Mar 7th 2008 9:19AM]

No. When it comes down to it most people dont care about the OS. Most people care about the programs. The OS is just simply there to support the programs they use. You can make the best OS in the world with innovative features, and people will be excited at first. But when the novelty wears off most people will go back to the platform that supports their software. Thats why Linux will never really take off for the mass consumer no matter how east, stable, or quick you make it. If you dont turn the software tide, they will always go to Microsoft Windows, the OS lots of people hate but won't live without.

[giuliop @ Mar 7th 2008 9:23AM]

@saintchuck
No optical disk, three ports only, no replaceable battery. Is that new? Funny you didn't notice.

@Stephen
I'm sorry, but how could you imagine I was referring to a PowerMac G4 user when I talked about the "wow factor"?
We're talking about the MBA here, and this lame "legendary envelope" thing.
There's no denying that OSX works pretty well (never a single crash is rather hard, however): I concur with that.
But if your system works so well, you don't need to change your computer so often, yet some Apple users drool over every new iteration and feel the urge to buy it.
Do you think it's the OS that makes them do so?

[giuliop @ Mar 7th 2008 9:28AM]

Oops, I meant "no _user_ replaceable battery".

[saintchuck @ Mar 7th 2008 10:24AM]

It has a USB 2.0 port so you can hook up a optical drive can't you? It seems to me that someone considering the Air is looking for a portable computer. Why have a drive, that is mainly used for installing software, always there?

Apple includes Draft N Wi-Fi so the lack of a ethernet port is a non-issue, remembering that those looking at the Air are looking at portability. I would guess that 90+% of places that offer wired access also offer wireless (More places probably offer wireless without wired than offer wired without wireless).

A single USB port is all that is really needed when you consider that this isn't meant to be a primary computer. If someone needs a keyboard/mouse/optical/whatever while at home/office then a hub is a viable option. If they need this on the road then either choose a different computer or bring a hub since the hub is less cumbersome than the mouse alone.

Unfortunately, Apple likes the revenue stream of battery replacement service and I'll admit that their is no portability excuse for it that I can see.

To say that the MacBook Air isn't what you need, I can understand but to say that it is crippled is disingenuous and sounds like Mac-hate.

[mymaclife @ Mar 7th 2008 11:50AM]

@ Tim
I think you mean Limited 'Edition' - unfunny and unable to use correct grammar, I think that scores 100% fail!

[Eron @ Mar 7th 2008 1:13PM]

@ Stephen

My Dell laptop ran for 6 years without issue...just saying.

[stephen @ Mar 7th 2008 1:47PM]

@ guiliop

I have to admit, I'm one of those people who "drool over every iteration". But like most of us Mac users, we don't "have" to have it. There's a very small segment of users who rush out and get the latest and greatest just because it's new. Then there's the rest of us who buy the latest and greatest out of necessity. Most Mac users "drool" over their products because they're beautiful, they're easy to use, and the just plain work.

Apple and Microsoft have two completely different approaches to their products when they started and each of them carry on that approach to this day... Apple wanted to create a work of art. Microsoft wanted to make a million bucks. That core idea is to this day at the heart of everything each of them do. Apple's products are a work of art from the exterior, right down to the heart of what's driving them.

@ Eron

I've heard good things about Dell laptops. Have several friends who have had them in the past without any complaints outside of the usual Windows stuff. The issues I have with Dell are with their desktops and their customer service.

[Alan Strangis @ Mar 7th 2008 2:24PM]

@ Stephen. Yeah... I'm sure the render times on your 7 year old Mac REALLY run circles around a current gen Dell. :D

As for crashing, my G5 crashed about one in five times I use Final Cut Pro for anything much more than straight cuts. My DIY PC built the same month (used for 3D animation and compositing) crashes once every month or two. None of the Mac OR PC users I know in the REAL world would ever make claims about 100% system stability.

Don't give me this crap about Apple = Art and MS (Sorry I mean M$) = Money. That's just delusional fanboyism.

Sometimes I think that (a certain percentage) of Mac users sound as dogmatic as the freepers.

[o29 @ Mar 7th 2008 4:08AM]

"The manilla envelop stunt pulled with the introduction of the MacBook Air is destined to go down as the stuff of marketing legend."

Bit of an overstatement? Just saying.

[Adnan Osmani @ Mar 7th 2008 4:21AM]

This will go down as the stuff of Marketing legend at Engadget HQ.

There and nowhere else, for only at Engadget HQ would you find people so enthused about a product or company, the mere cardboard to it's box is enough to make them swoon.

I imagine most of them sleep on beds padded with old iPod boxes.

[trumpton @ Mar 7th 2008 5:00AM]

It's a ludicrous statement. But then what do you expect?

[mike @ Mar 7th 2008 1:03PM]

You laugh now, but in 10 years you'll be playing Trival Pursuit and the question "The Macbook Air was pulled out of what by Steve Jobs."

Your gut response will be "his ass", but then you will remember that the manilla envelope is a thing of marketing history...

[Ellianth @ Mar 8th 2008 2:03AM]

Actually, "his ass" is the correct answer. It's a shitty product :P.

[ED @ Mar 7th 2008 4:11AM]

'Envelop' is a verb. Try 'envelope' next tim pleas.

[vpr @ Mar 7th 2008 4:21AM]

'tim' is a name, and 'pleas' is a noun. Try 'time' and 'please' next time please.

[Joppa @ Mar 7th 2008 4:27AM]

Way to not get the joke vpr!

[ED @ Mar 7th 2008 4:30AM]

Yep, it was don on purpos.
Although it's impossibl to tell if vpr is pretending not to get it, as an extension to th jok.

[Will @ Mar 7th 2008 8:33AM]

Me love you long tim.
Now get out of my offive.

[ED @ Mar 7th 2008 4:31AM]

actually woudln't it b mor correct to say that 'pleas' are nouns?

[Sim @ Mar 7th 2008 11:22AM]

Pleas is a plural noun, i.e. it is itself in the plural form but when referred to as one noun - "pleas" rather than more than one singular "plea" you treat it as singular, and the converse.

Kapisch?

[Sim @ Mar 7th 2008 11:22AM]

Pleas is a plural noun, i.e. it is itself in the plural form but when referred to as one noun - "pleas" rather than more than one singular "plea" you treat it as singular, and the converse.

Kapisch?

[AlphaTeam @ Mar 7th 2008 4:45AM]

I'm sure if I find one of those big Fedex envelopes, I could my MBP in it.

[trumpton @ Mar 7th 2008 4:47AM]

What a story!
Magnificent stuff Engadget!

Will you be running features on the many other small laptops that can fit inside small envelopes, or is this another Apple exclusive?

[matthew @ Mar 7th 2008 4:51AM]

fantastic... now where does the power brick go?

are you supposed to carry this around in your hands? very inconvenient

or do you pull this out of yet another bag... waving it around so everyone can see the magic trick of you pulling a laptop out of a fake puffy envelope.

this is just silly

[Chris @ Mar 7th 2008 2:47PM]

So is the MBA.

[pallavnarang @ Mar 7th 2008 5:12AM]

I do not have a macbook air, i however do carry old magazines in a manilla envelope and sit in random apple stores to score chicks! (as advised by our beloved gadget blogs).
Its amazing how apple can make me popular, improve my quality of life, get me laid most importantly and vastly increase my self esteem: all that without me buying any of their products!
I love you steve!

[mister_s @ Mar 7th 2008 5:58AM]

"Its amazing how apple can make me popular, improve my quality of life, get me laid most importantly and vastly increase my self esteem"

u d first player i ve heard talking about getting laid and self esteem in one sentence ;-)

[mister_s @ Mar 7th 2008 5:53AM]

thats a piece of consumer history? or a new low in apple worshiping?
sad day for all.

[michas_pi @ Mar 7th 2008 6:45AM]

I wonder when the over-priced leather manila envelopes come out...

[Jack Mama @ Mar 7th 2008 7:14AM]

Yeah, that thing really looks like it would protect a MBA in a fall, or not. Of course if I had a air, (which I wouldn't) I would be afraid of sneeze on that Kate Moss wanna-be for fear of the utter destruction that would surely follow.

[Gonzalo Garcia @ Mar 7th 2008 7:45AM]

can i fit my fat n old macbook in it??

[jay @ Mar 7th 2008 8:21AM]

will mine come with my actual name or nickname.... i dont recall being able to put a custom name... suppose time will tell