The new
MacBook Air has landed, and folks all over are recording their impressions of the slightly-revamped ultraportable. Obviously there's very little to note externally, with the same packaging and design to the computer -- the only real difference is the new mini DisplayPort plug to replace that totally oddball microDVI plug. What's much more exciting is what's under the hood, namely integrated graphics (NVIDIA 9400M) with enough juice to, say, play back a YouTube video without overheating the computer to a point of non-usability. Shocking, we know. Booting is a snap (25 seconds in informal testing) with that new 128GB SSD, the computer runs cool and core-shut-down-free, can handle full HD video, and outputs to external monitors without a problem. Apple really hamstrung an otherwise interesting computer in the original Air with a criminal lack of power and cooling, and we're happy to report that they seem to have righted those wrongs -- though MacBook Air 1.0 owners still have little recourse, unless you count a $1,799 "upgrade" as a viable move. Hit the read link some more impressions, or peep the unboxing gallery below, courtesy of Engadget pal Sam.
posted October 31st 2008 8:49PM
Most people had no problems. Some people did.
It did have problems playing video though. Well, it played videos, but the fans would be cranked.
Apple fanboys aren't allowed to comment flaws in Apple products until they reach end of life.
And that includes nearly every tech blog reviews.
Why didn't they at least update the bezel to match the new macbooks? If they did that and the more extensive work to change the touchpad too, they would all look alike...which always seemed the biggest thing Macs had going for them, all their products and all their users looking/thinking alike as one group entity.
I must be the only person in the world whose MacBook Air has functioned fine... I've never had it overheat, it always runs cool enough to use on my lap (in shorts), and it handles 720 video easily. Guess I've just been incredibly lucky?
That's also been my experience (see above).
I still think its stupid that you have to pay $100 just to get the external dvd drive.
Seriously. Think of all the beefcakes you could buy with $100. BEEFCAKES!!!!! BEEFCAKES!!!!
Look at the positive side man, it was lucky you lost your job before you could get ripped off by Apple
I owned a macbook pro, sold it and got a macbook air. I was a little nervous that it was going to suck and regret selling my macbook pro. But the opposite has happened. I take it with me everywhere. I'm a real estate broker in Miami. I carry the macbook air in a small military shoulder bag when I show property. I really don't feel the weight and whip it out on the spot to write up contracts or review listings in a heart beat. I edit short videos on it, do some photo editing, surf the web, put together some keynote presentations, all running at the same time without a problem.
Now if your a hardcore graphic artist or video editor then you'd want to go with a 15 or 17 inch macbook pro. But if your looking for a badass portable then I think the macbook air blows away all of the current netbooks out there, especially if your an apple crack head like myself.
I also agree about the "ultraportable" label. It must be a marketing trick, but then again it's not targeted for people who know much about laptops.
I question whether the boot speed is related to the SSD. I think OS X + Apple hardware just plain boots fast. My (1st gen) Mac Pro boots to the login prompt in maybe 10-15 seconds flat, and the login is almost immediate. Most Macs I've used are similar. It's not really that relevant because most of us put our laptops to sleep rather than power them down, but it is nice.
And my C2D PC running Vista and Ubuntu does the same. What's your point?
If I were in Peter's shoes, I'd do the same thing. My Macbook Pro rocks, but if I had to carry a computer everywhere, and especially if I had a desktop as a sort of "home base", I'd get an Air. It's very difficult to not be seduced outright when I hold the thing, too.
One thing I often repeated about the 12" iBooks and Powerbooks was that, when folded, they were the same height and width as a common 8-1/2"x11" spiral-bound notebook. They were even no thicker than many paper notebooks. The Air takes the size thing one logical step farther -- folder-thin, but no less usable. Thousands of attaché cases and document bags are designed around standard notebook paper sizes, so the Air continues being able to take advantage of the space. Why bother with an "ultra portable" computer with a small screen, cramped keyboard, no palmrests, and maybe even no trackpad?
Except the air is 13" widescreen, not 12" 4:3. Thus, it's not the same size as a spiral notebook.
the macbook and Air are just about the size of a standard legal pad, again, common to put in briefcases and backpacks.
Apple rules. who else can make a computer that lacks basic features, charge an arm and a leg, and still swoon fanboys?
Looks nice! I wish my Air didn't burn me while watching Hulu (seriously). Not ready to plunk down for an 'upgrade' yet, but I'll definitely consider the i7 variant when that comes out in a year or so.
I use mine 8 hours straight every day. Works beautifully for me, plays videos, no overheating issues in my case. It's not the laptop for everyone, but I have no regrets buying it.
@ Paul: "...new mini DisplayPort plug to replace that totally oddball microDVI plug"
And who else is using the mini DisplayPort?
this makes the adapter the same across all of Apple's laptops. The new 24" monitor uses this directly and they have (slightly overpriced) adapters for standard VGA and DVI purposes. Mostly, you don't need a different size now as in the past the iMac used one size, the Macbook another, the Air another and the Mac Pro and Macbook Pro used full size plugs.
"with the same packaging"
Wasn't the original Airs packaging smaller and you know... black?
Kinda like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/renegrub/2989382880/in/set-72157608533238528/
Tbh, if you do actually buy a MacBook Air, you deserve it.
Just get any other 13.3" laptop, even a MacBook makes more sense than this.
Please tell me these things come with a Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter. Otherwise I'm going to have to tell a bunch of hipster undergrads on campus that they can't connect their MBA to our LCD projectors. It's bad enough having to deal with the DVI/Mini DVI adapters (and Mac owners who don't know the difference between either).
Man, the Apple product un-boxing experience is so slick.
It puts you in a good frame of mind before you get to the computer.
And their doing this with less packaging and more ecological materials from their competitors.
Whatever you think of the product inside, it's pretty damn impressive.
That was the only mac i didn't like:(
Please! If Sony had made this, everything you said was bad about it would now be awesome!
You would continue with the spiel about how Apple should watch its back. This is the future of computers. You fucking USA haters would say American computer people better get on the ball. You will cry everyday about how you can't wait to drop serious cash for this puppy. On and on.
LOL:)
I got a MacBook Air after going through the angst of worrying about all the features I'd be giving up by not having a "real" notebook. After 6 months I have to admit.....I haven't missed ANY of the missing features. I bought the external DVD drive.....used it once. Never had the need for more than one USB port at a time. I used to travel to the Far East on business every couple of months with my old 6lb laptop. After schlepping the monster around Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taipei, and various airports in the US let me tell you its the weight that makes the difference for me. Losing 2-3lbs feels like 20-30lbs. I'm 6 feet 6 inches tall...small netbooks look cool but are a little small for my big hands and their screen resolutions drive old guy eyes nuts. The takeaway here is the MacBook Air isn't for everyone. However for others it fits their needs perfectly. Buy the notebook that fits YOUR needs.
I own an MBA 1.0 and im completely happy with it. I take it to class everyday and let me tell u, when I have to take 3 fat textbooks to drag around thinness MATTERS. Who cares about a footprint, its about how thin it is without sacrificing anything. it never has overheated and on top of that i have the coolest laptop on campus.
Huh? My 1.0 Air ran just fine. I guess I don't get the complaints about the first generation still... and dragging it out even more is pointless.
If you think that these MacBooks are great, then you have not seen these other MacBooks. Just watch the videos.
http://applediario.com/2008/11/01/convierte-tu-macbook-en-un-mac-tablet/
nice, i'd love to have one
With all the space they are saving by putting their crappy mini display port, why can't they put in an Ethernet port?
"mini DisplayPort plug to replace that totally oddball microDVI plug"
"mini DisplayPort ... to replace ... oddball microDVI plug
Seriousness or sarcasm?
If Apple was nice, they would start creating adapters between all the display output formats they keep pushing out. Then, instead of having another set of Mini Display Port -> X adapters, loyal Mac users can save their money using existing cables for things like:
Mini Display Port -> Micro DVI -> Mini DVI -> Mini VGA -> VGA -> S-Video
If they've fixed the cooling problems, I'm in. I really don't want to to buy 1st gen anything, as much as I was tempted when the MBA came out, but now I think I'm gonna do it.
it's not the footprint at all imo... I travel a lot and the weight is a big difference for me.
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well I still feel that it needs 2 USB ports... one for a mouse and one for something else (thumbdrive, external hdd etc.)
but it does seem you can actually fit something in that port trapdoor this time around... that was a big blunder imo.
The Air is for everyone. It is a matter of using it. For people who do not own it, they can say all they wanted. Maybe not quite the price. But it is a heck of a machine doing most things and blows away my PowerBook 1.67.
I have the new MBP and still likes it but the MBA gets more usage just for its battery life and absolute portability. An amazing kit to use!