Who will buy this MacBook Air???

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milstein · #1 Post by **milstein** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:42 pm

Who'll buy this MacBook Air?!!
Those ladies that love superficial beauty?
(Yes, I like to keep it in a jewel box, but using it may make me mad)

1.6 or 1.8 ULV Core 2 Duo
1.8" 80GB *4200rpm* hard drive or the 64 SSD...

I was waiting for something like ultra thin Mac Tablet
However...
OK, please give us some goodies and nice surprises in the coming Thinkpad Tablet X42t !!!

qviri · #2 Post by **qviri** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:21 pm

The only things this machine has going for against an X61s are 256 pixels in the horizontal direction, half an inch in depth, the thickness, the multi-touch trackpad, and a supported installation of OS X.

An X61s with an eight-cell battery is over two inches less wide, weighs within 10%, offers a longer battery life (6.5 hr with wireless on per notebookreview), allows you to use a drive faster than 4200 rpm without breaking the bank, has way more ports (although not a DVI) and a docking solution, and more than likely has a better keyboard. While the Air's trackpad may be awesome, when you are working on the laptop, a trackpoint allows you use the keyboard and control the cursor without moving your hands much. I told a friend today: yes I could pinch with my fingers to zoom in on a picture, or I could just hit the + key on my keyboard.

Personally, I don't think it even looks that great. I prefer an uniform thickness across the top rather sloping towards the edges to achieve that 0.16". Personal preference, however, and I'm sure the thinness will find no shortage of buyers with deep pockets.

bhurley · #3 Post by **bhurley** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:24 pm

Keep in mind that the MacBook is Apple's "consumer" model; the MacBook Pro is the "professional" model that is more comparable to ThinkPads.

The people who buy it will be people who care about portability more than anything else. Most of the millions of people who use a Mac laptop for work use a MacBook Pro, not the MacBook (and they wouldn't be interested in the MacBook Air except as a novelty item).

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:02 pm

No thanks. I prefer my HP nc2400, which weighs about the same and has the same resolution, but has an integrated optical drive, has a smaller footprint, two USB ports instead of just one, an integrated ethernet port and modem.

j-dawg · #5 Post by **j-dawg** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:40 pm

I like my computers to come with holes I can plug wires into. The Macbook Air doesn't even have an Ethernet port. I know, wireless is everywhere, but that's just unacceptable.

I really like Apple design, but I don't want to make the technical sacrifices I'd have to to buy a Mac laptop. There are too many compromises.

mattbiernat · #6 Post by **mattbiernat** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:52 am

god this is one ugly notebook. but i guess a lot of women will buy it.

tylerwylie · #7 Post by **tylerwylie** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:25 am

mattbiernat wrote:god this is one ugly notebook. but i guess a lot of women will buy it.

I don't understand how people can stand being seen with Apple products.

#8 Post by **ryengineer** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:30 am

From the things I've learnt so far, I think it's worth $1799. Integrated Ethernet adapter would've been more appealing but wireless networking is not bad and probably will be our tomorrow or already is. Macbook Air is for people who know exactly inside out what they're looking for and want out of their machines in a long run (due to limited or almost no upgradability options).

I would certainly not buy it but some selective population i.e. mostly people on the go, frequent travelers and longtime supporters of MAC will definitely be more interested, although I have always found Steve Jobs to be a great convincer and one of the greatest entrepreneurs I've seen:

MacBook Air Macworld Expo 2008 The world's thinnest notebook.

pailhead · #9 Post by **pailhead** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:15 am

Apparently, the user cannot change the battery in the Mac Air, upgrade the RAM or hard drive.

dsigma6 · #10 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:41 am

milstein wrote: 1.8" 80GB *4200rpm* hard drive or the 64 SSD...

Ahh, the 64GB SSD...is that the $1300 upgrade I've been reading about?

#11 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:41 am

milstein wrote:Who'll buy this MacBook Air?!!
Those ladies that love superficial beauty?

mattbiernat wrote:god this is one ugly notebook. but i guess a lot of women will buy it.

Just a head's up. I'm a woman, and I better not see any more comments like this anywhere in this forum. Both of you, got it?

dsigma6 · #12 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:46 am

Maybe by "women" he means Mac fan boys.

The Spirit of X21 · #13 Post by **The Spirit of X21** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:13 am

For those interested, Ars Technica has an article on the MacBook Air's processor:

http://tinyurl.com/2g4r99

jamerslong · #14 Post by **jamerslong** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:54 am

Ok, i know i don't suport Mac all that much. But this i belive is a low point in Apple. i think it will go over like the mac mini and the original apple TV. They should have been Working on a Tablet PC instead, it's a hot topic in the mac world and with multi touch technology they could really kick it up a notch. instead they are using a multi touch touch pad? even considering that alot of Mac users use it for the Richness it provides under the multimedia department i belive a "touch mac" would garner much more attention.

Yes Axiotron is coming out with it's own mac tablet PC, but it is a stylus aimed device and has no true capabilities compared to what everyone is hoping to recive. but back to the mac air

has anyone heard of the Sony x505? it's the same concept but it costed at the time 3000$. so the mac air's concept isn't even a first.

The Sony x505 weighs 1.85 pounds and a thickness os 0.8 In.
the Mac air weighs 3.0 pounds and a thickness of just 0.76 In.
The x505 also had 2 USB's, Ethernet and firewire.

Only 1 usb port is shameful. It dosen't even have a user replacable battery, what's that all about. Instead I would have to send the laptop off to apple land for a few weeks so it can get open case surgery, just for a freakin battery.

I wonder if the keyboard will even work in this laptop?

MintyMadness · #15 Post by **MintyMadness** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:44 pm

nonny wrote:
milstein wrote:Who'll buy this MacBook Air?!!
Those ladies that love superficial beauty?

mattbiernat wrote:god this is one ugly notebook. but i guess a lot of women will buy it.
Just a head's up. I'm a woman, and I better not see any more comments like this anywhere in this forum. Both of you, got it?

"Hell hath no fury..."

My cousin is a big OSX fan. He does graphical desgin, logos, banners, etc. We were having a debate about this new machine just yesterday.

One USB port is not shameful. If you are on the "go" you really shouldn't need more than one thing plugged in at a time any way (flash drive maybe?) If you need more than that then buy a USB hub. At 15$, it is inexpensive. Especially if you just forked over 1800+ for one of these things.

No optical to me is shameful. Moreso than not being included is charing 100 friggin dollars for a "superdrive" that now occupies said USB port (IIRC). I have a Sony Dual Layer DVD Slim-drive that does everything including lightscribe I got for 79$. It wasn't a steal, but I bet it's better than the mac drive if not at least just as good. "Super" my [censored]..

Obviously this was not a computer geared towards the super-user. Mac's in general are geared towards SIMPLE people who want something SIMPLE. (Dare I say simple....minded? JUST A JOKE!) Anyone who is a power user is using windows or Linux.

Apple is a joke. This computer was made to bring itself back in the spotlight ,and give fanboys something to gawk over and squawk about on internet forums worldwide. I won't argue about "fanyboys or not" there is no debate. Mac users are religious almost, about using them.

As far as teh weight and LED backlit display.... Like it was mentioned earlier, this is nothing revolutionary or new. It's sad they took a more inexpensive eco-friendlier way to power the backlight and charged MORE for it.

Jerks...

[/$.02]

-Jeremy

jamerslong · #16 Post by **jamerslong** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:18 pm

my laptop has 5 USB ports and I found my self in need of all of them one day when doing a file transfer between a bunch of hard drives. with no access to a usb hub it came in handy

. a second USB port would come in handy.

It isnt a big deal not having an optical drive as there is software provided to use the drive from another computer. I only need my drive to install software. i am still curious what you would do in said case of OS failure and you need the OS disk for repair, would the software still provide access to the air for OS installation or would you then be required to buy an optical drive? it think the drive should be included.

But the laptop will sell to those "fanboys" and there will be somebody out there who will actually find the computer perfect for their needs.

mattbiernat · #17 Post by **mattbiernat** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:24 pm

nonny wrote:
milstein wrote:Who'll buy this MacBook Air?!!
Those ladies that love superficial beauty?

mattbiernat wrote:god this is one ugly notebook. but i guess a lot of women will buy it.
Just a head's up. I'm a woman, and I better not see any more comments like this anywhere in this forum. Both of you, got it?

there is nothing wrong with stating that whatever appeals to a woman is potentially ugly for man. for example a pink purse would look ugly on a man. and this was exactly my context. i sincerely apologize if I hurt your (and anybody else who is a woman in this forum). again these were not my intentions.
Truly yours,
matt

ulrich.von.lich · #18 Post by **ulrich.von.lich** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:35 pm

Maybe a silver/white keyboard would be better? I hope they are right about the world's thinnest notebook, because I remember seeing some Sony Vaio laptops in store which are incredibly thin and light. (Definitely lighter than 3 pounds.) Apple's products are usually heavier than they look.

Overall I think Apple has done a good job, again. And I also think they would be quite popular among young ladies. Sorry nonny and other female thinkpadders who may disagree. The reason is they are usually more sensitive to the fashion and not strong enough to carry heavy laptops such as A31s around

MintyMadness · #19 Post by **MintyMadness** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:57 pm

ulrich.von.lich wrote:........... And I also think they would be quite popular among young ladies. Sorry nonny and other female thinkpadders who may disagree. The reason is they are usually more sensitive to the fashion and not strong enough to carry heavy laptops such as A31s around

Opionions are like.....Everyone's got one.. Let's just keep this about the macbook air, and stray away from the generalities.

I could make some generalizations about french men, but that would be rude wouldn't it? as well as uninformed

-Jeremy

mattbiernat · #20 Post by **mattbiernat** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:30 pm

MintyMadness wrote:
Opionions are like.....Everyone's got one.. Let's just keep this about the macbook air, and stray away from the generalities. I could make some generalizations about french men, but that would be rude wouldn't it? as well as uninformed

-Jeremy

generalizations are way different than opinions. furthermore the purpose of the "off topic" section is so that we exchange various ideas, which are of course opinions. and as long as opinions are not insulting, I don't see a problem why we shouldn't post them in this forum.

pianowizard · #21 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:38 pm

jamerslong wrote:The Sony x505 weighs 1.85 pounds and a thickness os 0.8 In.

Of course it's much easier to make the MacBook Air thinner than 0.8 inch than making it lighter than 1.85 pounds. So, Apple did exactly that.

Regarding the above comments about women, they reminded me of a review written by CNET's Bonnie Cha about the Palm Centro:

"The Centro comes in two colors: black onyx or ruby red. (We reviewed the red model.) Palm hopes the latter option will help attract more female customers and, in fact, a female colleague passed by and said, "Oh, I like the red." So obviously, there's some logic there."

I had no idea CNET had written a sexist review.

#22 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:29 pm

I guess I'm just talking to myself here. Let's see if I can make my point another way.

Who will buy this MacBook Air???

Who will buy this MacBook Air???

Re: Who will buy this MacBook Air???

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