Apple MacBook Air Announced at MacWorld '08

[someguy00]

Yeah, I apologize for the original message. It was written rather hastily without much forethought or after consideration(a bit like the MBA design I must say).

No problem .

My bet? You can't write your thesis on the MBA keyboard either.

Yeah, I really don't know about this. I'll have to wait and see one for myself.

Why, may I ask, do you require the MBA (with what will surely be a god-awful keyboard) for writing your thesis when by your own admittance you have a desktop that is surely better suited to such a task?

That's a good question. I'm going to be traveling a lot over the next few months, and so I kind of need a laptop to keep working. The asus w3v that we currently own is always used by my wife, and I do have an ancient 8.5lbs compaq presario with 45min battery life that sounds like a vacuum cleaner which I might be forced to use but I rather not .

Its when they fail to neglect the glaring omissions from the overall package that ultimately do not make the purchase valid

Ok, I'll agree with you on this one. If I ever buy a MBA, I'll know what I'm getting into, but I would like to see the look on some poor soul's face that can connect his brand new laptop to his router because the MBA does not have an ethernet port. The lack of an ethernet port is pretty astounding and the biggest oversight in my opinion. Many hotels for example do provide free internet access, but don't have wireless in the rooms.

And if you were originally considering the MacBook but were put off by the weight, why didn't you consider lighter notebooks or other options such as the Sony SZ. I just fail to see why anyone would have a reason to purchase this notebook.

I did in fact seriously consider it. Essentially, it comes down to the operating system. You might think that this is really stupid, but for me this is quite important. Should I buy the SZ, I'd install some variant of Linux on it. The reason being is that I really like Linux for work purposes: it's much easier to remotely operate and connect to other Linux computers, I prefer the text editors for writing papers with Latex and programming, and I can get a free high quality compilers (the intel compilers are free for personal use on Linux). Linux is also nice because you don't need any virus scanners, or even a firewall really (well, as long as your router has one). You don't get a million annoying popups telling you that your desktop has too many icons, or that you need to reboot to complete updates.

The problem is that Linux can also be a real pain in the for things like connecting to a wireless network if you wireless card is not supported, or importing pictures from a digital camera (I can't get this to work properly). Setting up Linux on the SZ could potentially be a huge ordeal that I'd rather not go through...

I never really considered OSX until my supervisor purchased a macbook pro. I really like that OSX has a UNIX base (so you can do the same things that Linux can), but is tweaked to work perfectly with the hardware, and that things like multimedia work perfectly out of the box. So for me OSX is the perfect combo of the best of windows and the best of linux. The deciding factor for me is that with the unity feature of vmware's fusion virtualization product for the mac, I wouldn't have any problems running that one stupid scientific application that I need from the world of windows.

Anyway, I'm not saying that OSX should be a selling feature for most people, just that for my particular needs I think that I would be happiest with it.

Speaking of theses, I should really stop procrastinating and get back to work!

[pixelot]

On the Apple website they claim, and I quote, "Between 0.16 to 0.76 inch thin and weighing only 3.0 pounds, MacBook Air sets new standards for ultra-portable computing — without the usual ultra-portable compromises."

LOL

[Nolan.Rivers]

And how many students do you know that don't have a techie friend or can even afford this?

enough to attribute a decent market to sell to and insure that production if slow will be at least mediated by jacked up margins to ensure there will be moderate success

[Sub-D]

enough to attribute a decent market to sell to and insure that production if slow will be at least mediated by jacked up margins to ensure there will be moderate success

I think Apple are just hoping the reality distortion field works well with this one. Pixelot's post really outlines.

Good luck with the work Someguy00 - I know how it feels and I've seen this whole thread as a most fabulous means to procrastinate.

[ejl]

one feature that would increase the macbook air's potential (at least in my eyes) would be an option for a docking station. i can live without my mouse and keyboard when i'm out in about, and i am fine with dealing with small screens.....but when i'm home, i would like the ability to not only use my accessories and use an external monitor, but to just plop my notebook onto my docking station and recharge my computer without having to mess with a single cord. unfortunately, given apple's track record, it probably will not happen.

[dietcokefiend]

one feature that would increase the macbook air's potential (at least in my eyes) would be an option for a docking station. i can live without my mouse and keyboard when i'm out in about, and i am fine with dealing with small screens.....but when i'm home, i would like the ability to not only use my accessories and use an external monitor, but to just plop my notebook onto my docking station and recharge my computer without having to mess with a single cord. unfortunately, given apple's track record, it probably will not happen.

I was blown away that it didnt even have some flush contacts on the bottom for a docking station. That would have solved many of my issues with it.

[InlawBiker]

one feature that would increase the macbook air's potential (at least in my eyes) would be an option for a docking station.

I'm willing to bet they won't and don't have a docking station for it because -- it's supposed to be totally wireless. You can't get one for a Macbook either because Bluetooth mice and keyboards are available and cheap.

For our Macbook the only wires needed are for power (to charge it up), and for an external monitor. Usually though the external monitor isn't hooked up. Everything else is uses via the network - printers, file shares, etc. This MBA is of the same concept. It works great in conjunction with your desktop computer, but as your only computer I think it's lacking and you'd be better off with a traditional laptop.

Greg.

[Toetactic]

Then why the lack of 3G and HSDPA? Did anyone else hear that gun shot? Is that Apple shooting themselves in the foot? They give this whole show about the MacBook Air being based on wireless connectivity and then forget these two ingredients... Please don't argue that the "whole point about the Air" is being wireless. I have wireless on my year old Q35 yet I don't use a wireless printer, wireless backup etc... Why? Because that technology is still far too immature. News flash - the MBA did not pioneer wireless connectivity contrary to what some Kool Aid drinkers would have you believe.

That is the big question. The lack of EDGE/EVDO/3G/HSDPA is the only real flaw about the computer. At least it's a much much bigger flaw than the lack of ports and an optical media bay.

And who cares about cost? It's a cheap machine. CHEAP. If you want it and need it you buy it. It's only $1700. Calling a $1700 laptop expensive is silly. That's 10 days of work for most people. In Norway Apple wants $2600 for the low end Air and $4500 for the SSD-version, and I'm still considering selling my X60s to get the low end version. You guys are lucky to be able to buy it for as low as $1700 :P

[robco]

Holy crap. Lots of people crapping all over the new MBA. All I have to say is you need to see one in person. I'm only speaking from personal experience, but folks I know who have used small and light notebooks did so for the lower weight, and hated the tiny screens and itty-bitty keyboards. I've used my MacBook in coach and the footprint is just fine. But after cramming it into a carry-on with a bunch of other junk and lugging it around the airport, I would have appreciated it being 2lbs lighter.

I love the emphasis on what the MBA can "only" do. What can't it do? I've hardly ever used my optical drive, never used firewire or wired networking. For me, it's dead weight. Wireless printing is easy and becoming much cheaper, wireless routers are cheap. What is the big fuss? Being able to use the optical drive on a networked machine is a great idea. I planned on using a BT mouse (they're cheap now too), but after using the trackpad with two-finger scrolling and "right-click", I don't see the need.

I can use Office, web, edit photos, write, etc. on the MBA. It's no gaming rig, but nothing in this class is. I can also say that the keyboard is great. It's different and takes a little getting used to, but it's a great design. Don't knock it until you've actually seen it.

[roor]

if you want a 13" notebook you're better off getting a sz, m1330 or the regular macbook.

if you want an ultraportable, you get a tz or something wiht a 10-12" screen.

the end.