RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to bbarrera
Re: Why the MacBook Air is "misunderstood"
"I'm pretty reasonable guy and haven't come across the 'Apple Acolytes can't contain themselves' you speak of."
You must not be reading this site.
I would suggest you take your own advice and afford those with opposing views on the MBA the same courtesy you feel those who champion it deserve.
Apple's own website states:
"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."
There certainly seem to be quite a few of the usual ultra-portable compromises. But heaven help anyone who dares point them out.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13
 ·Verizon BroadbandA..
| reply to Authority
My wife owns the Sony Vaio that Steve Jobs compared his machine to. Her machine is slightly heavier, but can fit in that same envelope that he used for the Air. INMHO her machine is far more versatile. First, the machine can connect to the internet via a wired connection (still common in many hotels and client sites), it has an integrated EVDO card, and it has an express card slot for a third party data modem. The Air has problems with most USB modems out there. It is relying on wifi, wifi, and wifi. While wifi is getting more common, it isn't everywhere.
I don't know about the optical drive prediction that Jobs made. People like to watch DVDs on the road and I think he is trying to shift this to iTunes rentals. I could be wrong, but that is my theory. I'm also concerned about data recovery problems. If your harddrive crashes in bumf-k, a trip to the local Walmart, purchasing a copy of Norton's gives you a fighting chance.
I remember being at a hotel outside DC and trying to get a hotel clerk at one of the minimally staffed chain places to print my boarding pass from my USB key. She refused to insert my key in her machine (I wound up faxing the boarding pass from my laptop to the hotel fax). Imagine asking to click up to her drive.
Yes, you can buy an external superdrive, but my experience is that you leave the drive behind for weight and then need it where you least expect it. |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| reply to Authority
said by Authority  :People keep asking me me what I think of the MacBook Air. Even non-Apple users are intrigued... something I haven't seen since the iPhone. I think the problem with the Air is that people don't really understand what it's for. The Air is really for people who already have one or more Mac AND travel OK. "people keep asking you what you think ..." of the product and are "intrigued." How does that indicate that they misunderstand the product? I'm missing the support part that usually follows the claim.
About all I hear are comments like (a) 'damn, that thing is thin! and (b) 'damn, that's too rich for my blood' I don't get the impression that everyone is an ape looking at a TI83 while wondering how to eat it.
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McCain/Fascism 08 |
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neuronbob
Health Care Reform Now
join:2000-03-30
Bedford, OH
| reply to RadioDoc
said by RadioDoc :Apple's own website states: "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." There certainly seem to be quite a few of the usual ultra-portable compromises. But heaven help anyone who dares point them out. This is absolutely true. As much as I feel the Air has a specific mission, the marketing is a wee bit inaccurate. I guess that would be a partial cause of some of the disappointment we read about on this board. The Reality Distortion Field can easily warp the mission of this machine beyond what it can really handle.
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neuronbob's web page |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| Agreed ... Marketing - meh.
Don't forget the video for Leopard where the guy talks about how simple it is to "upgrade your system - just insert the disk" and then get lambasted when people ask you whether you upgraded or A/I or clean ... blah blah yada.
Zappa claimed in an interview that MBAs would ruin the world. He was truly visionary.
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McCain/Fascism 08 |
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bobrk
You kids get offa my lawn
Premium
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC.NET
| reply to jmirabella
said by jmirabella :I am buying it as a 'work toy' - a computer and my trusty usb to serial dongle that I can bring into a colo and console servers / routers with. Do you use ZTerm with the dongle?
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STFU & RTFM | Iraq Coalition Deaths | bobrk |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs: | reply to Authority
perfect road warrior machine. Not for me. But I can see how one would find it incredibly useful.
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MCSE, ACSA, and a lot more |
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stonecolddsl
Linux Junkie
join:2004-01-07
Sarasota, FL
·Rapid Systems, Inc.
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Authority
I dont think it misunderstood I think this MBA rev1 will end up with the G4 Cubes, TAM(I have one still NIB my center piece of my Mac Collection) , AppleTV, Newton corner, nice idea but not well thought out.
Preformance is key. Removeable Batteries are key . Some people mention that the point is to view and light editing of documents so preformance does not need to be great. Okay I buy that one for now.
No removable batteries... Some would say that that what AC apdaters are for I say blah. While the magport is my favorite feature on my MBP it lacks 3rd party devices. Example there was a back order on the Airplane adpater when I went on a trip well hence why I keep 3 fully charged batteries with me.
No optical drive ... No response here as I seldom use the one in my mbp so the times I am absolutely going to need it I am going to have a external near by.
Screen size not really important to me unless I doing major editing but as the proponents state I should not be using it for major editing as it made to be a ultralight ment for reviewing documents and light editing and presitations. Fine I can believe that.
1 USB port. No excuse for this there should be 2 at and it also as a bad location.
So after all this what does ultra light do other then run OSX legally? Nothing really.
Asus EEE PC I got it during Xmas 299 camera wifi 4 gig flash. Can illegaly (which is bad so dont do it) OSX. Very light and actually not a bad little machine and it views documents , and does everything the MBA does except run OSX legally. If I was in a rush I would grab the EEE PC over my MBP if I was just going to use the EEE PC for the same uses that apple and the MBA supporters say I should use the MBA for .
Granted the biggest factor is the extra 60 gigs of flash that the MBA has on the flash drive version and that adds to cost but even comparing the mba HD version at 1,700 to the eee pc at what the today price of 399 for the 4G edition that can do the same task also very light and 1,300 dollars more. Sorry I really dont see the need to spend an extra 1,300 to run OSX legally to do the same tasks the EEE PC can do.
I love my macs and I think if apple sticks to the MBA that future MBA revsions will hopefully take care of some of the minor issues and the biggest issue cost. |
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ
 ·Optimum Online
| said by stonecolddsl :Asus EEE PC I got it during Xmas 299 camera wifi 4 gig flash. Can illegaly (which is bad so dont do it) OSX. Has anyone made an EEEEEEPC run OS-X? I'd love to see that. |
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Alakar
Facts do not cease to exist when ignored
join:2001-03-23
Milwaukee, WI
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| said by sporkme :said by stonecolddsl :Asus EEE PC I got it during Xmas 299 camera wifi 4 gig flash. Can illegaly (which is bad so dont do it) OSX. Has anyone made an EEEEEEPC run OS-X? I'd love to see that. Check this site.
»www.osx86project.org/
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"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom; it is the arguments of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." William Pitt the Younger |
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cmaenginsb
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-19
Palmdale, CA
| reply to Authority
With respect to the USB 3G modem "issues", from my and other's experience having the modem directly connected to the USB port on the computer is a bad idea as it creates unplanned for stress on the USB port that gives you a "loose" port. I have always used the extension cable that comes with the modem and have found that in addition to worrying less about breaking the modem off while plugged in the signal strength and performance of the unit is better with it further away from the computer. (It's also stated in the manual of the modem this way.) So in that case it is not a real drawback.
This is going to be a love it or hate it product, just like the iPhone.
As to comparing the eee pc to an MBA, from reading the specs it to lacks an optical drive, has 1/2 the screen size of the mba, a smaller keyboard, smaller hard drive, slower processor, and less ram. So of course it's going to be cheaper than even the MBA with a hard drive.
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CCNA, Comtrain Certified Tower Climber |
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Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | reply to Alakar
Every pre-release Leopard thread gets killed under the guise of NDAs but we can talk iPhone hacking and promote Hackint0sh 24-7.
Amazing. |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX | reply to neuronbob
I understand it's use perfectly. Doorstop.
I work with a lot of traveling people. Most common mac I ever see carried is the MacBook Pro. When we travel we grab a few dvd's and go. |
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jmirabella
Joe Mirabella
Premium,VIP
join:2003-10-20
Lanham, MD
clubs: | reply to bobrk
yea I still use zterm =) |
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Maranello
ChannelFlip
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Butler, PA
·Armstrong Zoom In..
| reply to Dogfather
said by Dogfather :How does the current MacBook not compete with laptops like the XPS M1330? They use the same processors, same standard X3100 graphics, same displays, same webcam, similar 5400 RPM drive options, same burner options. The only real difference I see if you can step up to a not so stellar GF8400 Mobile. Apple already has a competitor to notebooks like the M1330. Your joking right? So for $1499 the black Macbook comes with a 2.2GHz C2D, 160GB HDD, X3100 onboard graphics and 1GB of memory.
For $1399 the M1330 comes with the 2.2GHz C2D, LED backlit display, 3GB memory, 320GB HDD and 128MB Nvidia 8400M GS graphics. Thats $100 less for 2GB more memory, twice the HDD space, better graphics and two years more warranty.
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yanks
join:2003-09-10
USA
| Your joking right? So for $1499 the black Macbook comes with a 2.2GHz C2D, 160GB HDD, X3100 onboard graphics and 1GB of memory.
For $1399 the M1330 comes with the 2.2GHz C2D, LED backlit display, 3GB memory, 320GB HDD and 128MB Nvidia 8400M GS graphics. Thats $100 less for 2GB more memory, twice the HDD space, better graphics and two years more warranty.
Also the XPS M13330 is made from magnesium alloy and aluminum where the MacBook is plastic, the XPS M1330 is better looking than the MacBook (yes there is a PC that is nicer looking than a Mac!) and the XPS comes with a sleeve case. |
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58483323
Gurt me
join:2003-06-23
Normal, IL | I agree. I was comparing notebooks this past week because I was actually considering a MacBook and I was totally turned off by what it offered for its price. The XPS is much better looking and it offers more for the price. |
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stonecolddsl
Linux Junkie
join:2004-01-07
Sarasota, FL
·Rapid Systems, Inc.
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to cmaenginsb
Your missing the point.
A. I can add ram to my EEE PC with out having the take the whole thing apart and void my warrenty.
B. It was to point out that all the things people say the MBA is supposed to be good at the EEE is good at too.
C. What is screen size is all the MBA is supposed to be use for is presentations and light doc editing etc.
D. Does screen size really matter when your hooking it up to a dlp project. Answer NO. |
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HiVolt
29
Premium
join:2000-12-28
Toronto, ON
clubs:
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
| said by stonecolddsl :Your missing the point. A. I can add ram to my EEE PC with out having the take the whole thing apart and void my warrenty. You can't add or change the ram in the MBA, its soldered onto the board and there are no slots. 2GB is what you get, no more no less.
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GO LEAFS GO!
Don't question the authoritaaaa! |
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stonecolddsl
Linux Junkie
join:2004-01-07
Sarasota, FL
·Rapid Systems, Inc.
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Verizon Online DSL
| See yet another point not to buy a MBA for the reason apple zealots claim to be it point when cheaper alt that do the samething at reasonable preformance exsist.
I really like the idea of the MBA but I do belive that it this first rev needs some major overhualing by the apple engineering department. |
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