MacBook Air.... MacBook Crap
 

GAAHHHH..... what a let down.... :mad:

1999 spec HD space
no built in optical drive
ultra slow processor
HUGE price
only 1 USB port
NO Firewire
NO Ethernet
2GB ram chucked in (probably coz it would run like a dog with 512)
and its ugly too....

Bahhhhh.... and to think I have been waiting a year for them to release this!.... I hope they update the MacBooks or iMacs... I think I will buy one of those instead... :mad:

It's a technological leap forward! It has a solid state hard drive and a new way to put media on your computer. I'm with Jobs, the world is moving away from Optical Drives and towards downloadable content. Might they be ahead of the tech curve, again, yes. But what's wrong with that? Is it pricy, yes. Is it a bit underpowered, yes. But it's also genius. Bravo to Apple for having the guts to put it on the market.

I agree, but think that there is no current infrastructure to support it. We would need wifi all over the place and fiber running everywhere and have the ISPs, un-throttle some bandwidth for us to made everything disc-less.

Whaaa???

1.5" 80GB or 65.5GB SSHD (hardly 1999 specs)

No need for optical w/ n-speed WiFi and ability to share Optical with either another Mac or PC on the network. If you really want one, add the $99 USB powered DVR.

1.8GHZ and 40% original size… Hardly slow.

1 USB can support 127 devices. Do you really need more?

No need for firewire & ethernet. Remember? n-speed WiFi. It's even bootable over WiFi!

2GB is great! No need to upgrade memory and offsets the "high price."

Ugly? Well… That's a mater of personal preferences… Buy a Sony.

tbh, im with photek, I mean, its good and all, but not having an optical drive is bs. I mean i know that downloadable content will probably take over in like 10 years, but for now having a optical drive is a necessity. Im not complaining about the cpu though, i think its amazing how they can get a 1.8ghz cpu into something soo thin. I think its sorta like the iphone in many ways. So many revolutionary things that will change the industry, but like the iphone its missing some of the most basic features that we all need, and that is what stops both products from being perfect

EDIT- one thing i just looked at over on the mac book air's customise page is that you can only have the 1.6ghz with the 80gb hd and only have the 1.8ghz with the ssd drive. now thats a bit (insert swear word of choice)...

People thought that no floppy in the iMac was a mistake too.

Exactly! It isn't until somebody like Apple removes obsolete technology that the market adjusts.

Having just watched the downloadable video, I must say that I lust after it. As far as an ethernet connection is concerned (a must, for example, in a hotel that isn't wi-fi enabled), I'll bet there'll be a dongle for that as soon as it's clear that folks want one. Vis-a-vis disk storage, bear in mind that you can share the optical drive on another computer for installations and burns, and that you can run Time Machine and/or use storage on another computer as well. I'll certainly be very interested in early reviews by folks actually using it.

That's the hope, and I think Apple is right. Don't forget, Apple might know something about internet that we don't. Also don't forget, Apple is targeted at people in big cities (or so it seems), and cities do tend to be blanketed in WiFi tech. Or perhaps Cell Phone web tech is about to take off and we just don't know it? Point being, Apple might know something we don't about this.

Also, you can get an external super drive for $100 if you so wish. I just checked on Apple's website.

@NovaScotian -- and yes, it does have a dongle. $29.

here are my problems with the wireless connection. Apple wireless drivers suck, and they need vast improvement. Again, I am talking from certain perspectives but if you search these forums here you will find that Apple does in fact have issues with non apple wifi networking hardware. I can assure you that Apple is not even close to being the most widely used WiFi out there.

Other than that, I wish the screen were multi touch, then I'd want one. Then there would be no need for multiple USB ports, and yes I need at least three. Thumb drive, mouse, HD, or another external peripheral.

I think tlarkin has a lot of valid points, for the record. Anyone who thinks this device is completely practical needs to really go examine the specs. It's not for everyone.

But as a technological marvel, I think it's great. Did you check out the mousepad? It does all the functions of the iPhone's touch screen! I hope the give that to the rest of us poor MBP users.

where is a video I can watch of it? I read it has multi-touch gesture ability, does that mean the whole screen is multi touch? if so, me want one!

I don't get all these negative comments. If you want/need a machine with multiple and various ports, an optical drive then the MacBook Air isn't for you. It's like comparing a MacBook Pro to a Mac Pro and then bitching when it doesn't measure up.

If you want a touchscreen 13.3" Mac with a larger HDD and more RAM, FireWire, Etheret and faster processor then get a ModBook. Or does it have to weigh the same as a MacBook Air.

it's the trackpad that is multitouch.

• http://www.apple.com/timecapsule/
• http://www.apple.com/macbookair/features.html
(Click on the images for trackpad gestures)

WOW.... thats a hell of a lot of replies in a short space of time...

I think I was expressing my disappointment...

personally I need a:
- a wired connection so I can use my Mac as part of my C4D renderfarm.
- a wired connection so I can use it at work (no wireless)
- a Permanent CD/DVD drive as I use alot of disks... and I don't want one I have to attach or carry round
- as fast a processor as possible for the renderfarm... 1.6ghz wont cut it.
- a big ish HD..... ideally 160GB+

so thats me out.... MacBook or iMac it is then.....

Vegas... 'buys a Sony'..... mate... that hurts...

but I still think its not a great product....
I have never once looked at a MacBook and thought 'Jeez... that things so thick... I wish Apple would build an ultra thin, overly expensive, slow laptop with no storage that cant connect to anything...'

I recall the powerbook hack that gave up the dual-touch input. Perhaps this is a software update too.

Oh, thats not new, that has been around for a long time, in fact my macbook pro track pad is multi touch since it can sense and detect when I am using two fingers.

I was hoping the screen itself would be multi touch, that would be innovative and a way to breach into the tablet market. Even though the tablet market is still kind of niche. I can't remember how many tablets are out there, but its only a percentage of laptops that are tablets.

I do think if the air book was multi touch screen it would definitely draw in that customer base that always wanted a tablet (kind of like myself) but never reall liked how tablets were designed to buy one.

I linked to the downloadable version [large size] in my post above.

a very good point.... I am just annoyed it didn't at least live up to the spec of the current MacBook... or at least get somewhere near..

I have. I have rarely used my optical drive, ethernet port or FW port, or more than one USB port. I travel often and have been wanting a smaller machine. This is absolutely ideal for me.:D

Its like hearing Nike has released the worlds coolest pair of trainers... but they only come in sizes 1-4... and I have feet like Side Show Bob.

I am going to cry now...

Thanks, I noticed slowly after I posted that. Just got done watching it. Overall, its cool and I would buy one, if it were like $500 cheaper. I think its over priced for the specs, and its trying to sell innovation and lacks features.

However, I think it is the first step. Once it gets better and cheaper and add in multi touch screen, then I would have to be one of those people who say, I HAVE TO HAVE THAT!

Until then, I will stick with my Macbook Pro because I prefer to have the power and features it boasts. I mean I need to burn DVDs occasionally on my notebook.

if im not mistaken, the top spec macbook air is a lot more expensive than a mac book pro right? so is it really worth it? I mean compare all the features of the mbp to a 3 pound notebook that doesn't do a lot. Personally i think even with the added weight and thinkness, i would still get the mbp. I know everyone is saying how easy it is to take with you anywhere, but you still need a bag to carry it in, and its not like with a mb or mbp your carrying a ton of weight..

I think the battery on this machine is not user-replaceable. This would help in reducing the size of the case but it will surely piss off some people if that is the case.

haha

The top spec also has a 64GB SSD. There are many benefits to using NAND, but price per gigabyte isn't one of them.

I wonder how long before other OEMs get this new pint-sized C2D.

It depends on the speed that you need. Something we all seem to have glossed over is that the HD on that computer is Solid State. I didn't look at the specs on it, but it basically means that it's just a big chunk of RAM. I think the speed increased incurred by that should be phenomenal, but I could be wrong. Anyone have a better idea about this than I do?

They start at $1799 right?

$200 more gets you a macbook pro, the macbook pro is the better deal IMO. I think this may flop, or it depends if the Apple fan boys can boost its sales.

They need to lower the price a bit I think to make it more competitive. Thats just my opinion though.

But that's what we all said about the iPhone, right?

This product is targeted at heavy airplane flyers... "Air", get it?

That Remote Disc feature is a welcome invention. It has been needed for years.

But when it became obvious that price point on an iPhone was an issue his Steveness lowered the price [and demonstrated that it doesn't pay to be an early adapter]. There might be hope for a $1500 final price.

I think there are plenty of people who wouldn't notice any speed difference between a Macbook Air and a Mac Pro, let alone the Macbook Pro. For those people, the size, weight, and other factors such as the SSD drive are going to be much bigger factors.

Very true, very true. I wish it had multi touch screen though, imagine all the cool things you could do if you loaded something like Beryl Desktop manager with a multi touch screen. I think my brain would explode from visual over load.

And I am going to laugh. :D

Hmmm, I think the Macbook Air might actually be faster for some things than the Macbook Pro, because of the SSD. Watch the guided tour and you'll see the guide start Safari from from scratch. Watch closely though, because it happens instantly.

Edit: Maybe not. :( I think it was already running.

.
One more thing: With the dollar at an all-time low against European currencies -- and still dropping dropping dropping -- the AirBook looks like a bargain. I seriously think I’ll pick one up during during my next visit across the pond. Heck, I’d be paying about that much for a MacBook here (it starts at $ 1729 with the 25% VAT).

A flop due to pricing? Hardly!
This is going to sell as fast as they can make ’em to the professional market!

That is one thing that is often overlooked. a cheap dollar also means a better exchange rate for the rest of the world. Of course, this does not apply if you buy from the Apple Online Store in your country.:D

I think you actually mean Side Show Bob, if you recall Krusty actually has very small feet:)

your right.... I was thinking of the episode where SSB frames Krusty by holding up the QuickyMart...

I 'stand' corrected :D

Simpsons fan for life, that also on a side note, started the dark path which was Side Show Bob's and Barts relationship from there on in.

Back on topic, if it were 1500 bucks and had multi touch screen i would be sold, I think I will wait for second generation that has those features.

Then again I probably won't be buying any technology any time soon I have a new hobby and I want to buy a house soon. I'd say in 2009 I would be up for a new laptop then my macbook pro would be nearly 3 years old

just to add insult to injury it looks like the CrapBook Air has a sealed non user replaceable battery & soldered on RAM....

.
Anyone figure out why a 160 GB harddisk is not one of the options?
It does use the same physical size as the iPod Classic, does it not?
.

the SSD model is just over $3,000. I'd rather have a Macpro or a kick ass macbook pro with one of those new nifty 8600GTs in them and 2 gigs of ram and a way faster processor.

I don't think solid state out performs regular hard drives that much greater to justify the costs at this point in time.

yeh.... on the UK store its £2028 for a laptop with a 64GB hard drive!!!!! and that doesnt even include an Apple Remote!!!!

okay... I am gonna shut up now... I think everyone here can sense my annoyance and disappointment..... :D

Harddrive space aside, I think comparing what it doesn't have to any other model is missing the point. It's like when the shuffle first came out, everyone was saying how it doesn't have a screen, and I can get a Chinese-whatever brand one with this and that and the other. But the point was, it did what it did really well, and it served a niche. Like runners for example, nobody wants to be scrolling through track listings or looking at screens while running along a road. For everyone else there's the classic and the nano, and now the touch.

Likewise, this is for extreme "Road Warriors" who are always on the go and have been begging for an ultra-light portable for years. There's the EEEEE PC or whatever, and now there's Macbook Air. For everyone else there's Macbooks, and Macbook Pros and desktops, and iPhones etc etc.

It's really not for me either, but I think the only question is, is it small and light enough to warrant someone not getting a full featured Macbook?

I agree completely. For somebody on the road all the time, the SSD alone is a big deal. It means no more worrying that a little jostling is going to wipe out your data/drive in the middle of a trip.

I have an iPod nano (III) of the 4GB variety. I don't really plan to watch videos on it's 2" diagonal screen, but I do like the screen menus. 4GB isn't enough to use it as a data depository (I use three thumb drives), but for what it does and how it sounds, it is perfect for my requirements. (I have a Belkin FM transmitter for it because I prefer to listen to it on my car's excellent stereo rather than via earbuds.)

I view the "Air" in the same light -- it could never be my main machine (which is a dual-core G5 with two screens and two hard drives) -- but it would be a perfect take-on-the-road machine; easy to tote, convenient to use, able enough for what I actually do on the road. For me it's in the same ball park as the nano.

Anyone notice how investors have weighed in negatively on this one? It's a far cry from last year, with the announcement of the iPhone. Apple stock has dropped significantly today.

I don't see where there's much of a need for the MacBook Air at this time. Glad they didn't discontinue Macbooks and Macbook Pros.

Meh.

It's the 1.0 release of a new product line. I remember what I thought of iPod 1.0.

By this time next year we'll all have one. :D



By the way, I'm pleased with the iPod touch update despite the $20 surcharge. Looking forward to that SDK more than renting movies.

I played with this machine today. It's a great machine. Remember when the iPod mini came out with 4GB and people wondered why anyone would buy a Mini when they could get a 20GB iPod for $50 more? It's the same thing.

As have most stocks. Apple has been volatile for a while now, and today was just a bad day to be in the market period. Besides, the first big release since the iPhone is sure to be a let down to investors. You can't have an iPhone-esque release every 6 months, right?

I honestly thing Apple is way ahead of the curve with this one. When technology like this becomes of the utmost importance in 2 to 5 years, Apple is going to have a stranglehold on the market, and no one else will have any practical experience in the field.

Lets not forget how many products have been way ahead of the curve and have failed miserably. I could sit here and list dozens, but I am sure you are aware of this.

It's a Newton Cubed. :D N^3

Naw, it might do well when (if?) the price drops.
Right now it's more of a $tatus $ymbol for CEOs.

...yeah, sadly that's the one doubt that keeps consistently raising itself in my mind. I think the world is heading towards digital content in the next 2-5 years--there are a good number of people who do. But is there a large enough percent of Apple buyers out there who think that same thing?

In some ways initial reports are good, pre-orders have been so good that Apples server ran into a bunch of hick-ups early on. But what happens when all the early adopters have already got theirs? All I know is that taking over someone elses optical drive had better work like magic, or this computer is sunk. And, add on to that, Apple had better come up with one heck of a sweet and simply way to replace the battery...

The one thing that remains to be seen, and that I'm very very curious about, is just how big of a difference the SSD HardDrive makes. I searched for a review but couldn't find one. Apparently none of the "on the spot" reviewers at MacWorld had the good sense to figure out if their model had the SSD HD, then just turn it off and turn it on to see if it makes a big difference (you know, at least $1200 worth of difference).

But yeah, Apple is ahead right now, dare I say "precariously ahead". They need to start doing more to convince people that a purely wireless system is the future, or this boat will sink, technological marvel or not :(. To sum up, as a piece of technology I love the MacBook Air, but as a business move I am not so sure.

a hard drive the size of an iPod classic? I thought the iPods had an issue that if they were used excessively for disk mode, the HDDs in them would eventually overheat and burn up. Imagine Leopard pounding that thing into oblivion. And a ton of people will argue that the 4200 rpm isn't enough.

One thing I failed to see on the Air is a audio out jack. IMO, that's a dealbreaker to me, next to the SuperDrive.

And the specs are way too tame. If it runs that slow, it better be cool to the touch. I don't want a lap scorcher like the MBP but running as slow as frozen ketchup.

It's too bad you failed to see those things. Take a closer look: http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

Well, it seems to be not great at all... I like the idea of ultra thin MacBook, but as someone has said, I'd rather get a MacBook Pro with uncut specs for that money

Only 1 USB-port is really not enough!

A few things:

@Anti--all early reports make it sound as if the MacBook Air is a remarkably cool device, don't worry about overheating.

@specter--one review I read complained that you would have to look forward to a "bag of dongles" to go along with this thing. A valid criticism it would seem. You can, if you want, split the USB port into four. You'd just have to carry more stuff is all...

That's what I didn't like about Air.
I think people that visit this place are not ''target audience'' for this Macbook. I think it is more ladylike - stylish and beautiful: no matter how well it works and what's USB dongle:D
For example, my girlfriend said: 'I want it' and started clapping hands. 'Are there any other colour variants apart from grey' she asked after I explained the drawbacks to her:)

Jobso certainly has an eye for the aesthetics, eh?

I've been off these kinds of discussions for months now and had forgotten how quickly people make excuses for just about anything Apple/Jobs does.

Every article I read on this yesterday indicated that investors were disappointed in the Macbook Air. It's cool, all right, but will it make money for Apple? Is it another G4 Cube? Were people complaining about their laptops being too thick and heavy? Those where the kinds of points being made, and they're good ones, I believe. Apple's stock will come back, I'm sure, but right now its drop isn't merely about general market trends.

Personally, I would be set back if I traded in my 2004 iBook for this new machine (unless I'd sell it). My wi-fi connectivity everywhere I work is limited by 10-base T ethernet routers; I'd have to buy an optical drive; I'd even have to buy a modem for some of the places I go. All in all, the changes are much more radical than eliminating a floppy drive on the first iMacs.

I will be curious to see how well this machine does in the East Asian markets. My guess is not as well as if it were an 11" display, but you never know.

First off, Apple stock always goes up before the announcement, buoyed by the hype and rumour. After the announcement, the stock goes back down again.

People have become used to laptops being portable desktops. Many people have laptops as their only computer, and they expect to run Pro Tools, Photoshop, Maya, etc on them.
The MB Air takes a different viewpoint. It is not a replacement for your MacBook Pro.
I've seen criticism that the MBAir doesn't have Ethernet. It doesn't need Ethernet: it uses Wi-Fi. Your desktop machine needs Ethernet.
This machine is targetted at people whose first consideration is to have something lightweight and durable -- over and above technical specs.

This thing is half the weight of an iBook, which was roughly the same weight as the original PowerBook 150.

The problem that I see among the posters in this thread is that for many of them, a laptop is either their "main" machine (I know a successful indie developer who does all his work on an MBP), or their IT jobs involve the requirement for a very powerful portable. This is, after all, a somewhat select crowd.

Now think for a minute like a lawyer, consultant, banker, sales rep, etc., who has a central server or proxy at their office to which they VPN for all their interactions from away. I have consulted for law firms in which there was always a wi-fi connection in the conference room so the conferees could pass PDFs around or work on a Word doc together. We could also get an external connection through a proxy that bypassed their secure internal servers to reach our own (Timbuktu for me in those days). The "Air" might well be the ideal device for them.

That's exactly how I see it NovaScotian. And Leopard has a built-in feature that make the Air ideal for this purpose--Back to my Mac. This is the perfect tool for staying in touch with your data on the more powerful machine at home or work.

Apple is great at integration, and they don't just integrate hardware. Witness:

Time Machine and Time Capsule
MacBook Air and Remote Disk
MacBook Air and Back to My Mac

For the record I am not a fan of everything Apple makes, thank you ;).

I suppose I should further explain what I was trying to say. Apple stock dived 9 points on the day (12 at the most) because the market was bad. My guess is it would have dropped 4 or so if the market had been better. Whenever the market goes south one of the first stocks dropped is a hot tech stock, of which Apple is one. And, for the record, one bad product does not ruin the stocks value, most advisors are still saying you should buy Apple stock. Yes, the original oddness of the announcement would have driven the stock down regardless of the market, I'm just saying it would have been drive down less.

But, despite my slightly more lengthy explanation, I can't disagree with your reasoning. I had mentioned a few posts ago, the MacBook Air is a great technological exercise, but I question it's viability as a marketable product. Along those lines I think the last two posters had it correct, the MBA is really intended for a specialized market. Something I don't think any of us have seen Apple do with any real success...again, dubious.

If Apple does intend it for a wider market they really need to start convincing us that a purely wireless environment is truly the future (which I believe) and that the future is now (which I'm not so sure I believe.)

Again, bottom line: I think it's a wonderful piece of technology, and I'd like one because I'm a geek like that. But I have to wonder how Apple is going to market it to the general population.

I don't think Apple expects the Air to be their top seller. It's a way to create a market for SSD drives so that prices can come down. The days of hard drives are numbered. This is just the beginning of the beginning of their replacement.

For the perspective of one of the leading Mac developers (Wil Shipley) on the MacBook Air:
http://wilshipley.com/blog/2008/01/m...k-my-dick.html

I don't disagree with that blog at all, but what I do want to know is that:

1) How much better performance and battery life will you get out of the SSD? I would like to see actual real world comparisons, of the same user doing the same tasks on an Airbook versus a Macbook Pro

2) How hard is it to take apart. Again we are seeing soldered RAM to the logic board and a non user replaceable battery. This is basically a disposable computer, which I am against. We already have millions of electronics that we see as disposable in our society and they are just filling up land fills and making more of a mess. If Apple keeps this model just like their iPods, you will see the trend of someone buying one, using it for two years, it having an issue, the user just tossing it and buying a new one.

3) Price versus performance. Compare how that a top of the line Macbook Pro is the same cost or less than the Airbook. Even though I think the Airbook is ultimately in a class of its own, but I don't think I can justify the costs for myself over the lack of performance and less options and lower specs all for a thinner laptops (which is like what 1/4 inch less than a standard macbook pro) all for SSD and less hardware.

I guess I can see how people would want it who travel a lot or like the blogger mentioned about just using it for one or two simple functions. However, really how much more battery life will you get, and at what cost to performance?

I am on the fence with the Airbook, I would have to test drive one for a month to get a full picture of how I feel about it. I think the lacking features and the price tag will hurt the product's sales. Most people will just buy a Macbook Pro I think over the Airbook. I also think that Apple will do their common trend of introducing a product, limiting its features, releasing a new one every 8 months to a year, and then trying to get more people to upgrade or buy into it. I get the ipod trend feeling with this product. I know people that buy a new ipod every year because they just want the newest one, and they see it as a disposable device.

Shipley is right on from my POV, Hayne. Worth the read. Thanks for the link.

Nah! It's a recyclable computer. Didn't you read the tech specs?

I think you miss Shipley's point. You're not "Most people", TL.

No, I think that as a consumer people want the best deal for their dollar. They are going to see a built in super drive, firewire 800, a larger hard drive, and better video card and processor and the ability to add up to 4 gig of RAM. For the cheaper than the Airbook, which is not upgradeable, and lacks those standard features.

When people buy things like computers and cars, and things like that, they look into all the features they get for their money. I am not even talking about technical abilities. I am talking about being a consumer. They will see more features on a cheaper and more powerful laptop over the Airbook.

I think Apple released this prematurely and the market isn't ready for it. If the SSD airbook, with its less features was more priced towards an entry level macbook it would probably sell more, IMO.

I mean it doesn't take a genius, let alone a tech guru to figure out that a macbook pro is cheaper and is better spec wise, and a more powerful machine. The Airbook is going to hit that niche market of users who want a device exactly like that.

That doesn't mean that it will be recycled. How many iPods just get tossed away each year? I tried looking it up but got lots of conflicting results. However, I personally know people who have gone through like 6 iPods and have thrown all their previous ones away. I mean I personally know at least a dozen people that have had multiple iPods and have just tossed their defectives or old ones away. They think its broken but just needs a firmware reset, so they toss it and get a new one.

Just because Apple states it is recycable does not mean they actually recycle it, because recycling costs lots and lots of money and is not a very efficient to get materials, plus it consumes just as much power if not more in some cases to recycle certain materials.

The way technology is moving, of say in 5 years they could make a mac book air with the same specs as a mb or even a mbp i think at least the macbook line will be discontinued

Some people do this. I know quite a bit about cars (it's my other hobby), and I know for a fact that most people don't know the difference between a carburetor and fuel injection. And you know what, they couldn't care less.

Most of us here are, as Shipley mentioned, people who know a whole heck of a lot about computers. We do care about a lot of the things that you mentioned, and we will weigh those in the balance.

But, as a former Apple Salesman, let me tell you the amount your average Apple customer knows about computers: zilch, nada, nothing, they could not tell you the difference between the HD the CPU and the Logic Board. And they don't care. I usually spent the first ten minutes of most of my sales explaining all of this to people because I felt it was important to their decisions. But, I know I'm a rather severe minority, most salespeople don't do that.

Point being. People may compare computers, but they don't often compare the tech specs because they have no idea what they mean. A lot (not all) of people will say "oh, it's skinny and cool looking, and it's the latest from Apple", and they'll buy it.

Now, my only reservation is that I'm still not sure just how many will buy it because they think it looks good or think it's "cute". I am of the opinion that most non-techs will ask a techie friend what computer they should get, and that tech friend may or may not like the MBA. I'll be the first to point out that Apple is taking a gamble, and might have overestimated just how big the market is for this, at this time. Only time will tell.

I didn't this answered anywhere else on this thread; I apologize it it was.

The iPod Classics use a one-platter 80GB drive and two-platter 160GB drive. This makes the thickness of these two iPods different and presumably is the reason why there is no 160GB drive for the Air.

It was released targeting a very specific market and to collect feedback for the future. Apple does it at the right time, as now the reserves are full of cash.

In Singapore will do well, plenty of money here for the average young housewife to show it off as a status symbol... :)

I think 5 hours battery life is pretty lame for something that's supposedly wireless. Batteries are really the stumbling block in any mobile device IMO.

See that's the thing! I also think it's targeted to that side of the globe. Apple wants to grow its presence over there (just like every other Western company).

Agreed, and that was my main point. If the Airbook cost under $1,000, that would be another matter. Instead, it seems you're paying a high price for "coolness," which is obviously a marketable value.

Homer: Umm ... I guess I'll take that one.
Salesman: Well, do you need a paperweight? 'Cause if you buy that machine, that's all you're going to have, an expensive paperweight.
Homer: Well, a paperweight would be nice, but what I really need is a computer. How about that one? [points to a second machine]
Salesman: That technology is three months old. Only suckers buy out-of-date machines. You're not a sucker, are you sir?
Homer: Heavens no!
Salesman: Oh good, because if you were, I'd have to ask you to leave the store.
Homer: I just need something to receive email.
Salesman: [whistles] You'll need a top-of-the-line machine for that.

I think you're paying a higher price for:

1) lower weight - important when traveling.
2) coolness
3) smaller volume - important when traveling.
4) ruggedness, if you get the SSD
5) lower power consumption
6) illuminated keyboard without paying for a Macbook Pro
7) LED backlighting without paying for a Macbook Pro
8) Ability to drive large displays without paying for a Macbook Pro

It seems to me that Apple is fitting the Air snuggly between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro. If you're a MBP user, the Air might seem like a bit of a step backwards because of the smaller screen, lack of ports, etc., but don't most people buy the Macbooks? To them the Air is a step up in most respects.

I am actually going to buy a MacBook because the MacBook Air is such a low spec.. and didn't want a step down...

I think that MBA will need a price drop and a spec hike to make it appealing to more people.... the only people I see buying it are hardcore business commuters with more money than sense.... and most of them use Windows...

Thanks for the clarification!

But if you're a hardcore business commuter and you've got the money, it does make sense! That's the key though: you've got to need it for traveling.

Im really surprised that people are complaing about the price, breakthrough design and components are not cheap. For what this machine is, it does it very well and is amazing imo.

That said, will I be buying it? Well, it would be perfect for my job as I ride on the BART train everyday and the form factor would be just right to easily use (get ahead on emails, read news, etc) and turn on and off almost instantly with the SSD. Buuuut... the dealbreaker for me is lack of firewire. I am on the verge of buying a laptop, (I dont own one or need one) but if I do get a laptop it has to have FW for uploading video from my camcorder.

Its a great machine for what it is but I will probably end up with a MacBook Pro....too bad they dont make the Pro in a 13" !!

My daughter has the 12" aluminium PowerBook.
Now that, in my opinion, is one beautiful machine!

I agree. I dont understand why Apple doesnt make a 12" or 13" MBP....

I had one... and I REALLY wish I hadn't sold it.... they were genuinely GREAT machines.... I really wish Apple would release a 12" MB or MBP

niche within a niche within a niche....

I bet you will see higher specs and lower prices before the summer holidays due to Apple not achieving the sales they expect to see...

I hope so! I'm looking forward to the day all computers come with SSDs as standard equipment. :D

A nice photo!

http://gazeta.ru/files2/2564515/jobs.jpg

The problem is that you are paying more for it over a macbook pro, and I think it will appeal to the users who need short travel from where ever and then back to their network where they can fully synchronize their data.

I think its too early to introduce a product like this at that price. That is just my opinion though.

Zalister-

People may not know the difference between fuel injection and carburetors, however they do know things like standard factory sound, how many cup holders it has, heated seats, climate control, GPS, Airbags, Sirius Radio, iPod Dock, all wheel drive, etc. Those are features consumers want and talk about all the time. The same applies to computers. I want to burn DVDs, CDs, sync my ipod, have wireless connectivity, large amounts of HD space, hook up my camera over firewire, etc. They want to do those things, that is what drives a consumer to buy a Mac. Those features are offered out of the box with every Mac but the Airbook.

Now the Airbook is definitely the first in it's class so there are bound to be better models after it. However, I think that the Airbook will only appeal and be functional for a very niche market. Home users will want the all around robustness of what a Macbook Pro can do and connect to.

I can't believe all the bitching in forums about this product. This is a niche machine, if you need more USb or Firewire or larger HDD then you aren't the target market. Some people think a 19" Alienware notebook with RAIDed HDDs designed for gamers is ideal. I'm not ne of them but I can how it might appeal to others.

And all complaining that the SSD isn't a large enough capacity and that Apple is charing too much. I've looked, and I can't find any SSD for less than $1,400 and usually at $2,000 or more.

Except for the lack of HSDPA, this machine absolutely ideal for me.

Many valid POVs here. In no particular order, I am disappointed with the price point, no FW, HD size options and single USB.

We cannot underestimate the power of "cool" though, as some have already mentioned. Compared to similar products, the iPods lack features, etc., but it remains a bestseller.

The part that bemuses me is that the (considerably) more expensive SSD is has a smaller capacity. Could they not have gone larger there?? Swallow the cost, just to launch it? Dunno. Still seems odd though.

I agree, and I stated this does apply to a very small niche market. The first two professions that came to mind were Law, and research and development. Lawyers travel to and from the court house to their offices every day multiple times sometimes. With the Macbook Air they could easily travel, and have more battery life and be around the network often enough to synchronize their data to a server or to their desktop or whatever. In R&D you want to go out in the field, collect data, return to your office, sync data, then analyze data. Sure that sounds like the Airbook could fit into those markets easily.

My points were about the consumer market. Remember Apple is not an enterprise company, they are a consumer company. That is coming right from Job's mouth. So, then what exactly is the Airbook then? Is it targeted towards enterprise like Law firms, research firms, and possibly higher education?

I don't quite understand their target market for this product.

I deploy MacBooks to lots of people who don't care--and shouldn't care--about the specs. I get the basic machine knowing that it will do everything they want.

Optical drive? I almost never use the one in my MBP. I have high-speed external DVD drives at home and office on my desk, and always use those when docked because they are faster. They also interfere less with multi-tasking than the ones built in do because of interface limitations. If you took away the drive, I probably wouldn't care or really notice.

that is for you, but my user base (about 6,000 macbooks) they all use their optical drives all the time. I have to clear out stuck disks all the time for them on a daily basis.

My users love their optical drives and burn CDs and DVDs all the time with them.

I think the Macbook Air is just the beginning... the high price point, like the initial high price point of the iPhone, is meant to recoup costs early. We'll probably see a few hundred come off the price in 6 months.

I haven't seen a lot mentioned of the partnership between Intel and Apple to reduce the chip size, and yet this is probably the most significant aspect of this product: that Apple has the pull to get Intel to redesign an already successful chip. I wonder how long, if at all, Apple has exclusivity on this new chip?

Also, who's to say that this smaller version of the Core 2 Duo won't eventually find its way into the Macbook and Macbook Pro?

Here are two possibilities: full-fledged Macbooks and Macbook Pros in the same size as the larger subnotebooks out there, or Macbooks and Macbook Pros with dual processors.

I think that's the difference between techies and average people. Techies care about features, where the average person cares about benefits. Techies see features as benefits by default, where the average person sees a feature as a pain in the butt, unless it is easy to use and it does something that they want. A Firewire, port for example, is just another gizmo to most users, unless they need it to connect to their video camera.

Gavin-

The iPod as also added features to keep up with the competition. Just look at the iPod touch. Though it does lack some file sharing features, and is heavy in DRM, and possibly a bit pricey, but it has the SSD. Apple is the first to introduce this product. Once HP, Dell, IBM, etc start making something similar you will see apple adding features to become more competitive. Which goes back to someone's original theory how it doesn't pay to be an early adopter of any Apple Product.

Perhaps we are looking at a new family/class of Mac computers.

Since the MacBook Air hasn't got an optical drive, then there is a likelihood that Apple will redesign the Mac Mini to be even smaller. The only thing keeping them from making it smaller in the first place was the optical drive. It was the biggest single component. Take that away, and you can get really small!

They can even use the new tiny logic board developed for the MacBook Air.