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MacBook Air reviewed... as a Windows machine
There are a lot of reasons to pick another laptop over the MacBook Air -- especially if you're into little things like "useful ports" -- but the comparison to non-Apple hardware isn't even relevant unless you're willing to switch to OS X, right? Well, the crew over at Xbit Labs decided to even the slate and evaluate the MBA solely as a Windows machine, wiping the drive clean of Leopard and installing Vista Ultimate. Although actually getting Vista on the Air was a bit troublesome due to the lack of a built-in optical drive and the Vista installer's refusal to wipe out the OS X partition, once installed the OS performed fine, with Apple-provided drivers activating the media and brightness keys and even the multi-touch trackpad. The only major issues were over-aggressive activation of CPU power-management, which resulted in dramatic slowdowns during some tasks, and the fact that the case got fairly warm during use -- both issues MBA owners using OS X have reported. Overall, while the MBA was a solid if unspectacular Windows machine, the lack of support and nagging issues with running a pure Windows MBA mean you're probably better off going with laptop designed for Vista -- hmm, we can think of one that might spark your interest.
Lenovo X300 ad takes the MacBook Air head-on
Pencil thin laptop? Check. Floating with drop shadow? Check. Catch phrase in Helvetica Light? You bet. "Thinnovation" may have become "The art of thin," but there's no mistaking the implication of this new Lenovo web ad for the ThinkPad X300. "No-compromise" and "Everything else is just hot air?" Them's fightin' words.[Thanks, Amerist]
Our favorite Charlie Rose caption is...
Yesterday, we pointed out the story of Charlie Rose and his MacBook Air. Just in case you missed it, Charlie was walking along the Manhattan streets with his MacBook Air. He tripped and instinctively saved the Air... and kissed the pavement.That night, he did his show with one heck of a shiner. We asked you, dear readers, to fill Charlie's thought balloon. After combing through more than 100 entries, we've chosen our favorite, which you can see above. Congratulations, Spudnuts!The runner-ups to "iAche" include ""My Sudden Motion Sensor didn't park my head soon enough." by Geoff "Boom!" by Michael L. "It's cheaper to fix my face." by x. Thanks, everyone (and get well soon, Charlie).
Charlie Rose saves MacBook Air, sacrifices face
Imagine walking down the street with The World's Thinnest Laptop. You stumble, and in an instant you're pavement-bound. Instinctively, you grab the laptop in an effort to keep it safe, and you do a graceless faceplant on the sidewalk. Ouch.Now imagine you're a television personality in that same situation; a person who makes his living, in part, by inviting millions of people to stare at his face. Do you make the same sacrifice? PBS interviewer Charlie Rose answers with a hearty "Hell, yes!" Yesterday, his show's producers report, he was tripped up while walking in Manhattan, MacBook Air in hand. He instinctively saved the Air ... and took one for the team, as it were. Later that night he could be seen on his show, bandaged and bruised like a pro boxer after a 12-round bout.It reminds me of the time I nearly killed myself trying to save a falling iPod. We're glad you're OK, Charlie -- and we award you the Official TUAW Icepack for valiant defense of falling hardware.Now for the fun part. You'll notice Chuck's thought balloon is empty. Suggest your quote in the comments, and we'll post our favorite tomorrow. Be nice, stay on topic and be funny. Now, show us what you got![via TechCrunch]
Charlie Rose sacrifices face for MacBook Air
If you caught the Charlie Rose show last night, this was the gruff ruffian you found presenting. The last thing you'd expect from the usually staid, easy going interviewer. Turns out Rose had a choice to make when he tripped on a 59th street pothole in New York City: protect his newly purchased MacBook Air, or his face -- he chose the former. According to his producers, "The Macbook Air is fine, he showed us the blood stains on it this morning." Wow, in an instant he took a measurable shot to his dignity and redefined the term, "air head." Not bad.
TSA explains MacBook Air grounding: just doing its job
What, you don't read the official Transportation Security Administration blog? No worries, we've got your back on this one with the TSA's official reaction to Michael Nygard's missed flight as a result of its incredulous MacBook Air inspection. TSA agents are in fact trained to look for anomalies. So along come the MBA laptop. It's new (thus, rarely seen), ridiculously thin, and lacks a mechanical hard drive and any visible ports. Requesting further inspection is exactly what Mr. Nygard should have expected. As surly and detached as TSA officers tend to be, in this case they were doing their job just as they were trained. Of course, knowing this isn't going to prevent any of us from bitching and moaning every time we have to remove our shoes now is it?
Apple Ads = major indie exposure
What does an Apple advert do for an unknown indie artist without a US album release to her name? In the case of Yael Naim it meant debuting at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 135000 downloads of her song, "I'm a New Soul". It also meant Atlantic Records pushing her US album debut forward by two months. According to this Adage report, Apple gets away with paying about half the going rights rate, in return artists receive unmatchable exposure.
TSA works to clear MacBook Air for flight
You may recall that MacBook Air user Michael Nygard was recently screened by the TSA (that's the Transportation Security Administration, to those who aren't in the US.) when he went through security with his MacBook Air. It would seem that the good folks manning the X-ray machine couldn't make heads or tail of what they saw on their screen. When Nygard explained that the MacBook Air was, in fact, a computer (and had that assertion backed up by a younger TSA worker) all was cleared up and he was sent on his merry way (though he did miss his flight).The TSA is working hard to make sure you don't have to deal with this hassle. On the official TSA blog (yes, the TSA has a blog and it is pretty entertaining) Bob informs us now that he is working with Apple to get his hands on a MacBook Air (hey, Bob, just make sure you don't throw it out) for some testing. He wants to run it through one of their screening machines and see if it looks any different than normal laptops. If it does, in fact, look a little odd the image will be sent to all TSA workers in airports so that future travelers won't be bothered.
MacBook Air, Mac Pro updates available
Who says this Tuesday arrived without updates? MacBook Air users can launch Software Update this morning and find SMC Update 1.0, which adjusts the use of the (very tiny) internal fan. If you've been having fan issues with your Air, let us know if this patch knocks them out. Also, the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Firmware Update is available for the Mac Pro. The change this update offers is "system stability" according to Apple. How exciting.As usual, we ask that you let us know if you have any trouble after applying these updates.
Don't throw the MacBook Air out with the paper
Apple doesn't just loan review units to anyone who asks. No, you have to be pretty high up on the tech journalism foodchain in order to be entrusted with review gear from Apple (you will note that TUAW does not receive any review units from our favorite fruit company). Steven Levy is decidedly amongst those who have no problems getting their hands on Apple's latest, with lots of help from the company itself (he was one of the 4 journalists who got an iPhone ahead of everyone else). Therefore, it is not surprising that Levy would have a MacBook Air on loan from Apple, but it is surprising what happened to said loaner MacBook Air.All was well with the MacBook Air, until Levy experienced a panic that anyone borrowing something from a huge multinational corporation never wants to feel: he couldn't find the darned thing. He feverishly traced his whereabouts and quickly ruled out thievery (he still had the powercord, so that didn't seem likely). Finally, he hit upon a theory: the MacBook Air was accidentally tossed out with the Sunday paper (if you read the Sunday New York Times you know that it often weighs in at much more than the MacBook Air's 3 pounds). One wonders if he was using one of the many Manilla envelope cases for his MacBook Air.Luckily for Steven, Newsweek will be footing the $1800 bill for the MacBook Air, but chances are should the same thing happen to you, you won't be so fortunate. Make sure to keep an eye on that tiny laptop from Apple, there is no telling where it might end up!
TSA can't believe MacBook Air is a real laptop, causes owner to miss flight
The TSA has been known to take issue with products designed in Cupertino before, but for one particular traveler, it was Apple's thinnest laptop ever that caused the latest holdup. Upon tossing his ultra-sleek slab of aluminum underneath the scanner, security managed to find enough peculiarities to remove it from the flow, pull it aside and wrangle up the owner for some questions. Apparently, the TSA employee manning the line was flabbergasted by the "lack of a drive" and the complete absence of "ports on the back," and while hordes of co-workers swarmed to investigate, the user's flight took off on schedule. Thankfully, said owner was finally allowed to pass through after some more in-the-know colleagues explained in painfully simple terms what an SSD was, but the poor jet-setter most definitely paid the price for trying to slip some of the latest and greatest under the sharp eyes of the TSA (and cutting it close on time, of course).[Image courtesy of ABC]
AirQueue gives your MacBook Air's USB port more reach
Given the fact that most (all?) 3G USB modems won't even fit in the MacBook Air's ultra-cramped USB port, it's practically a foregone conclusion that some of that sex appeal is going to be forfeited when busting out a dongle to keep using your current wares. Enter the AirQueue, which is hailed as the first USB extender designed specifically to work with the MBA -- whatever that means. Truth be told, we can't figure out exactly what makes this any different than other extenders made for helping folks out in a squeeze, but at least it's only $6, right? Oh, and if you're aiming to make things extra unsightly, be sure and pick up the pictured $38 ExpressCard adapter -- your coffee shop style quotient will be tanked in no time.[Via MacsimumNews, thanks RD]
How a MacBook Air baffled airport security
Alternate title: The MacBook Air is a device, but it's not a "Device."Programmer Michael Nygard is used to travel. He's got the process down, from airport to hotel. Unfortunately, the TSA isn't as prepared. While passing through airport security recently, he was pulled aside and made to sit in the holding area. He watched as a gaggle of TSA workers examined his things, especially his laptop ..."'There's no drive,' one says. 'And no ports on the back. It has a couple of lines where the drive should be,' she continues...."As you've probably guessed, Michael's MacBook Air had them all baffled. Fortunately, a younger member of the team eventually arrived and explained that it's not a "device," but a computer with a solid state hard drive. It's good to know they're keeping up with this kind of thing.Here's a warning to everyone traveling to SxSW this weekend with a MacBook Air: schedule a few extra minutes for the airport.
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.
Daily Show election center features a passel of MacBook Airs
The Daily Show, recently returned to full writer strength, apparently decided that the best way to say "high tech" for its March 5 Election Center feature was by getting a bunch of MacBook Airs on the set. Five of them, to be precise, arrayed before correspondents like Aasif Mandvi, Samantha Bee and Rob Riggle.Does putting an Air onscreen automatically make these fake journalists more credible and authoritative? Maybe not... but that isn't stopping some other jokers from using them in slightly more official newsrooms.Thanks to Kevin for the screen capture and Jesse for the Karl Rove tip.
The $39,750 MacBook Air
If the golden iPod isn't luxurious enough for you, check out this MacBook Air. Called "Golden Age", it's got a coating of 24k gold beneath 12,000 Swarovski crystals. Each crystal was applied by hand (of course), and only 20 Golden Age Airs have been made.That's right, you can buy one! Why not show up at Starbucks with an Apple laptop that cost nearly 40 thousand dollars? And people say Mac users are smug.Thanks, Marco!
Win a Mac mini, hosting and a MacBook Air
Aside from being a company with a name that's dangerously close to copyright infringement, Macminicolo has long been dedicated to creating hosting solutions for Mac users. In fact, they only host - you guessed it - Mac minis. It's a pretty nice service. Just send them your mini and they host it for you and give you full access (it's all yours, not shared). If you've thought about colocation but shuddered at the cost, this could be your chance. Right now, Macminicolo is running a contest to find the greatest answer to the question: "What would you do with a remote mini?" Start up a new business? Create a non-profit? The contestant who submits the best answer will receive a year's free hosting, a Mac mini and a MacBook Air. As Jeff Probst would say, "Worth playing for?" Yes, Jeff, it is.You can get the details here. Good luck!
MacBook Air gilded again - that's two times too many
Really, it's ok, you can stop tipping us on the Golden Age / Bling My Thing MacBook Air. We know it's all 24k gold and has 12,000 Swarovski crystals and crap, but we'll be honest, this stuff kind of freaks us out. We don't know, it's just offensive in that way that only a triggered gag reflex can properly describe. Supposedly only twenty are being produced, and you know the story about price, and these things being out of your league if you even have to ask.[Via Pocket-lint, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Enjoy gestures across applications with MultiClutch
The multi-touch feature that's been added to the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air is pretty cool, but rather limited (for now, at least). Wouldn't it be cool to have gestures across applications, like Safari and iChat?Check out MultiClutch. It's a preference pane that lets you assign your own keyboard shortcuts to a given gesture across applications. Switch Safari tabs with a flick. Zoom in on email with a pinch. That kind of thing.MultiClutch lets you bind gestures to a Cocoa app, including swipe, zoom and rotate. If you want to test this out, understand that it's beta. With that in mind, have fun!
Check MacBook Air availability
Sure, the MacBook Air is a niche product, but it seems to be a darned popular niche product. The folks who are most interested in the MacBook Air are the kind that obsessively track the availability of their latest gadget crush, and now Apple has made that much easier for those jonesing for a little MacBook Air action.Just load up the MacBook Air Availability page and find out if there are any in an Apple Store near you. As you can see above, my local Apple Store in Ardmore has some MacBook Airs in stock (sadly, the webpage doesn't list how many MacBooks are available, though it does point out that they are available on a first come, first served basis).You might recall that Apple posted a similar page to track the availability of the iPhone.
