MacBook Air

Not true, practical user wants less space and weight, Pro user wants BIG screens, lots of features (no matter if they really don't use them), "more power" (ala Tim Allen's) no matter if they sacrifice battery life, weight and space.

Good point, but one that I'm afraid will go over most peoples head. They simply can't wrap their heads around the fact that it's two different markets. The MB Air WILL have a market, but one that will probably not be as big as it should be because it's missing a Firewire port and a removable battery. However it's only the first two weeks of '08 so lots of good things can still happen

Hoping for an Intel one, not that I want one, but give us a working kext for Intel WiFi users to ry on our hackintoshes.

 

 

Not true, practical user wants less space and weight, Pro user wants BIG screens, lots of features (no matter if they really don't use them), "more power" (ala Tim Allen's) no matter if they sacrifice battery life, weight and space.

 

Practical users already have the Macbook - which has less space and weight than the pro, Pro users have the MBP

Practical users already have the Macbook

No! The Macbook/MBP are aimed at a totally different market than the MB Air is. That's where you guys keep getting tripped up.

No! The Macbook/MBP are aimed at a totally different market than the MB Air is. That's where you guys keep getting tripped up.

 

And I keep asking you to please tell me what market this is aimed at...

 

Its the same size as the macbook except for thickness, which doesn't matter, and in fact, the battery lasts and hour less (according to their website), so how can this be considered a viable portable option?

It's supposed to be in the ultra-portables category.

 

Here are some other noteworthy questions about the MB Air that others are asking:

 

How do you perform an emergency boot? The MacBook Air lacks an optical drive, meaning you can't boot from an inserted DVD. If they can't solve this issue then look for free SuperDrives to be handed out for anyone who purchases a MB Air.

 

How will you NetBoot? The MacBook Air lacks a built-in Ethernet port.

 

How do apply major Mac OS X updates? If you can't boot from an installer disc, how will you be able to install the next major iteration of Mac OS X? Again, if they can't solve this issue then look for free SuperDrives to be handed out for anyone who purchases a MB Air.

 

How will you use target disk mode? There is no FireWire port.

 

 

Having said all of that I am STILL GLAD that Apple has brought out this new model. Laptops have been stuck in the 80's and someone needs to push the envelope and start making them smaller, thinner, more portable, I mean come on - it is after all a notebook. Every other piece of hardware for the last decade has always followed the same general route; miniaturize it and make it more portable. Probably the single biggest thing that was seen at this years CES show was that everything was shrinking in size and weight. Laptops however are still the same size (if not bigger) than laptops of years ago. They need to start shrinking them in size and weight, so props to Apple for getting the ball rolling. Now they just need to iron a few kinks and the MB Air could be a real asset to the Mac laptop lineup.

Its the same size as the macbook except for thickness, which doesn't matter, and in fact, the battery lasts and hour less (according to their website), so how can this be considered a viable portable option?

nfg315 is right. If we only discuss portability and not hardware specs, the MBA still isn't anything that different from the Macbook. Same screen size, just 1/4 of an inch thinner and 2 pounds off. How does that make it a sub-notebook? It still has a traditional notebook screen size I think the only market for the MBA is: people who want something more more mobile, but will only buy Apple.

 

@Maxintosh: Those are all good questions. Apple should have included the external DVD drive in the price.

If we only discuss portability and not hardware specs, the MBA still isn't anything that different from the Macbook.

And THAT is saying a lot! It's not a sub-notebook it's a ultra-portable. One with the same basic hardware specs as a full-sized notebook. That is the goal isn't it?

 

Let's compare it with the base Sony ultra-portable:

 

Speed:

Sony: 1.06ghz

MacBook Air: 1.6ghz

 

Cost:

Sony: $2200 +

MacBook Air: 1799 *

 

Screen Size:

Sony: 11 inch

MacBook Air: 13.3

 

RAM:

Sony: 1 Gig

MacBook Air: 2 Gigs

 

Still not convinced? Let's compare the MB Air to other high-end ultra-portables (courtesy of Ars):

 

 

Plus, don't forget you'd have to add 129.99 for Leopard plus all the time and hassle to 'convert' it into a Hackintosh (and probably void the warranty in the process). The MB Air takes care of all that without issue. Not to mention that the other ultra-portables don't even include a backlit keyboard. My only real beef with the machine is that it's missing a user-replaceable battery and the missing ports. Other than that it is one hell of a Ultra-Portable.

 

 

@Maxintosh: Those are all good questions. Apple should have included the external DVD drive in the price.

Apple should have hired someone on this project with some common sense. I mean come on, if you or I were working on the MB Air development team we would have been embarrassed to ask someone if it needs a Firewire port. OF COURSE it needs a Firewire port - it's the year 2008 and it's a computer! What more do they need to know? Oh yeah, and speaking of things missing like Firewire, where's the ExpressCard slot? If they even just included that we could have at least added all of the other things that are missing like Ethernet, Firewire, more USB ports, and a eSATA port. Seriously, what were these guys thinking?

 

OK I'll be the first to say it; it's not the MacBook Air, it's the MacBook Error

 

Add those ports mentioned and the user-replaceable battery and THEN the MB Air will rock and roll

Maxintosh, I may have not been clear in my meaning. You're right, it's not a subnotebook it's an ultra portable. I just don't see the point in this: you might as well get a Macbook, the Macbook is very portable as it is. If the Macbook air was more of a subnotebook with a 10, 11, or even 12.1 inch screen I would be much more enthusiastic about it.

 

Add those ports mentioned and the user-replaceable battery and THEN the MB Air will rock and roll :censored2:

It will be much better then, yes. The MBA's portability is actually severely limited by not having a replacable battery. A lot of people who lug laptops all over the place use two batterys so they always have a fresh one.

I think that the Macbook Air's purpose was mainly for developing Apple's thin computer technology and to show it off. I'm sure that Apple won't rely on the Macbook Air for profit... the R & D gone into the Macbook Air would surely surface in another more practical product from Apple.

 

Whereas some other notebooks may be overall thinner than the Macbook Air at its thickest point, note that the Macbook Air is teardrop shaped, and therefore its AVERAGE thinness may still be less.

I honestly don't see a reason to get a MacBook Air over a MacBook because shaving off 2 pounds is negligible (for me, or anyone in good health). It's virtually the same size as the MacBook, just thinner. You're still lugging around a 13.3" laptop. Had Apple made it 10", or even pocket sized (it's possible, Sony's doing it) I could see the benefit.

You're still lugging around a 13.3" laptop. Had Apple made it 10", or even pocket sized (it's possible, Sony's doing it) I could see the benefit.

Exactly how I feel.

I just don't see the point in this

To be honest either do I. Having a special class just for "ultra portable" is ridiculous. ALL notebooks should be headed in that direction, not just a select few. The days of making an elephant sized notebook should be numbered, except where only the very highest specs are needed. They should use the technology of the MB Air and simply make it smaller. In this case less is more. Some people are dubbing this the MB Nano. I could see more use (and product sales) for a 9-10 inch version of the Air. It's almost like the Air can't decide what it wants to be. Add Firewire, turn it into a sub-notebook and then I'll then I'll spend money on it

 

If the Macbook air was more of a subnotebook with a 10, 11, or even 12.1 inch screen I would be much more enthusiastic about it.

Me too. I'm looking into getting the Asus Eee, but it too has no Firewire

 

Now I'm reading that the MB Air doesn't even have speakers I guess the magnets weigh too much

It has a mono speaker.

And I too disliked how it was 13.3" at first... until I realized I don't have much of a choice if I want an Apple notebook, now do I? So I got over it...

Plus, it my iiPod touch is any indication, I will actually like the 13.3" screen, because the thing is so thin. I also thought that I would dislike the size of the iPod because I was used to smaller... but in my experience, the thick/thin-ness makes all the difference.

And to those who say that 2 pounds less makes no difference, when you're carrying around textbooks, every ounce counts. And I would argue that just generally, lighter is more desirable. Especially when you have to stand up in a bus for an hour and a half on your daily commute and your strap is digging into your shoulder!

Finally, considering the size of the motherboard, I don't really think that the thing is that overpriced...

It has a mono speaker.

And I too disliked how it was 13.3" at first... until I realized I don't have much of a choice if I want an Apple notebook, now do I? So I got over it...

Plus, it my iiPod touch is any indication, I will actually like the 13.3" screen, because the thing is so thin. I also thought that I would dislike the size of the iPod because I was used to smaller... but in my experience, the thick/thin-ness makes all the difference.

And to those who say that 2 pounds less makes no difference, when you're carrying around textbooks, every ounce counts. And I would argue that just generally, lighter is more desirable. Especially when you have to stand up in a bus for an hour and a half on your daily commute and your strap is digging into your shoulder!

Finally, considering the size of the motherboard, I don't really think that the thing is that overpriced...

I've backpacked across Europe for 2 months during the World Cup, and believe me, 2 lbs doesn't make much of a difference, especially when you have 50 lbs on your back.

 

Then again, the extra inch of space could be useful for more text books, but I'd just buy another notebook bag.

I've backpacked across Europe for 2 months during the World Cup, and believe me, 2 lbs doesn't make much of a difference, especially when you have 50 lbs on your back.

 

Then again, the extra inch of space could be useful for more text books, but I'd just buy another notebook bag.

You're right... it's all about the circumstances!

2 lbs doesn't make much of a difference, especially when you have 50 lbs on your back.

What kind of a computer are you carrying around, a Mac Pro?

 

I hope this isn't you;

Exactly, a lot of years ago there was a saying, any comuter is a portable even an Apple Lisa, if your are Lou Ferrigno...

What kind of a computer are you carrying around, a Mac Pro?

 

I hope this isn't you;

You probably haven't been backpacking... If you're gone for over a month, you need at least a weeks worth of clothes.

 

Internet Cafe's is where its at.

 

MacBook Air is really no more portable than the MacBook. It's the same size. MacBook Air = Gimmick.

Apple claims it to be the "world's thinnest notebook"[1], at 0.76 inches (1.93 cm) thick at its largest point and 0.16 inches (0.41 cm) at its thinnest. However, CNET noted that the thinnest notebook ever was the 1998 Mitsubishi Pedion, which was 0.71 inches (1.80 cm) thick- Wikipedia.

First of all that's NOT what Steve Jobs said. He said it was the thinnest laptop currently ON THE MARKET (and it is). Even their print ad implies this. Secondly the MB Air is wedge shaped, the Pedion was not, it was 1.80 cm for its entire thickness. The MB Air is 0.41 cm in its thinnest area, so that obviously does make it thinner. A simple common sense way to prove this would be to put both in a tank of water to see which one displaced less. Do the math, the MB Air is the winner. All we ask is high school-grade reading abilities. Amazing stuff.

 

BTW- the Pedion sold for a whopping $6000.00! And you thought that 1799 was a lot

 

The following year Mitsubishi dropped the price by $2000.00. I wonder if anyone whined about getting their money back

 

Update: You can get a Ethernet adapter for the MB Air here. So really just the lack of Firewire is its main drawback.

 

you need at least a weeks worth of clothes.

Now why would you be comparing the weight of a weeks worth of clothes, to a laptop? Seems a bit moot no?

First of all that's NOT what Steve Jobs said. He said it was the thinnest laptop currently ON THE MARKET (and it is). Even their print ad implies this. Secondly the MB Air is wedge shaped, the Pedion was not, it was 1.80 cm for its entire thickness. The MB Air is 0.41 cm in its thinnest area, so that obviously does make it thinner. A simple common sense way to prove this would be to put both in a tank of water to see which one displaced less. Do the math, the MB Air is the winner. All we ask is high school-grade reading abilities. Amazing stuff.

 

BTW- the Pedion sold for a whopping $6000.00! And you thought that 1799 was a lot

 

The following year Mitsubishi dropped the price by $2000.00. I wonder if anyone whined about getting their money back

 

Update: You can get a Ethernet adapter for the MB Air here. So really just the lack of Firewire is its main drawback.

Now why would you be comparing the weight of a weeks worth of clothes, to a laptop? Seems a bit moot no?

 

- Source: Apple.com homepage.

 

No one said Steve Jobs.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp_Muramasas -- is actually the world's thinnest notebook, Apple.

 

Maxintosh, is english your second language? You often make no sense in your posts. Er, actually, the ESL's on this board make perfect sense compared to you

Not true, practical user wants less space and weight, Pro user wants BIG screens, lots of features (no matter if they really don't use them), "more power" (ala Tim Allen's) no matter if they sacrifice battery life, weight and space.

 

That's what I mean, for practical users, ease of use (built-in optical drive, secondary battery for long traveling, relatively fast/reasonable size HDD, and built-in ethernet port) is essential, but well, MBA lacks it all.........

Anyway, MBA would be nice to be a secondary laptop, or for executives in a corporation where he/she has IT assistants around.

No one said Steve Jobs.

The ad (actually all ads from all manufactures) imply comparisions to what is CURRENTLY on the market. Scary that you couldn't figure that one out on your own

 

Here's a big clue; you'll note that the ad does not say "Thinnest notebook in history" as that is NOT what they're claiming. They're claiming it's the thinnest on the market, and at least for the time being it is.

 

You often make no sense in your posts.

As soon as you graduate high school and get in the real world they will. This article explains it better

 

Getting back on track; Apple has now confirmed that the MacBook Air can startup from remote optical media via the 'Remote Disc' function. This means that you could put a Mac OS X Install disc in a remote computer (even a PC) and then boot the MacBook Air from that disc

So really just the lack of Firewire is its main drawback.

Yup, I agree with this. The way I see it, the MBA is more consumer-electronic than traditional notebooks, and that's exactly where the market is headed. I don't mind not being able to replace the battery... when I need that to happen, I'll get it done at the Apple store. I don't mind the lack of ports... usb is all you need nowadays (except, as noted, for video people). This is a very forward thinking laptop... and the price really isn't that high, for the electronics that are in there.

I think it's the kind of product that you need to have in your hands to find a need for... mainly because its main selling points are highly relative and should be experienced in person (weight, thinness, hotness!).

I'm just going to trust Apple on this one. I haven't been let down by them before, and this will hopefully be no exception.

 

Anyone have a link to the battery life on a Macbook with wifi turned on?

 

-Urbz

The ad (actually all ads from all manufactures) imply comparisions to what is CURRENTLY on the market. Scary that you couldn't figure that one out on your own

 

Here's a big clue; you'll note that the ad does not say "Thinnest notebook in history" as that is NOT what they're claiming. They're claiming it's the thinnest on the market, and at least for the time being it is.

As soon as you graduate high school and get in the real world they will. This article explains it better

Ha! I've completed high school 3 years ago -- and probably have accomplished more in life than you'll ever dream of. Don't worry, though. You'll learn about all the places I've lived in and visited in Geography class in Grade 5! You're almost there!

 

"The World's Thinnest NoteBook" implies more than just 1 meaning, but obviously, being a closed-minded fanboy, of course you can't see that. It also does not say, "on the market". Scary that I have to teach someone the basics of english... which makes one wonder -- who is really the one who hasn't been to high school?

It's supposed to be in the ultra-portables category.

 

Here are some other noteworthy questions about the MB Air that others are asking:

 

How do you perform an emergency boot? The MacBook Air lacks an optical drive, meaning you can't boot from an inserted DVD. If they can't solve this issue then look for free SuperDrives to be handed out for anyone who purchases a MB Air.

 

How will you NetBoot? The MacBook Air lacks a built-in Ethernet port.

 

How do apply major Mac OS X updates? If you can't boot from an installer disc, how will you be able to install the next major iteration of Mac OS X? Again, if they can't solve this issue then look for free SuperDrives to be handed out for anyone who purchases a MB Air.

A little birdie has informed me that the MBA has a custom firmware that powers up wireless networking and bluetooth as soon as you press the power button. The firmware checks for remote disks (or the external superdrive) before even loading the OS. So, you would install major OS X updates, the same way you would on a regular Mac, just with the install disk being in another computer. Put the disk in the remove drive, boot up with "C", select the disk to boot off, and install.