Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
 ·AT&T Yahoo
 ·Packet8
·magicjack.com
| Why the MacBook Air is "misunderstood"
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 a lot AND who have relatively simple requirements (surfing and documents as opposed to editing). The problem is it's so damn sexy it appeals to people who would really be better off with something else.
The danger is if a new user buys a MacBook Air on sex appeal and is disappointed with the performance or other limitations it could sour them to the Mac.
In summary, I think the MacBook Air is a GREAT solution for a relatively small group of people with specific needs and will probably disappoint anyone else.
--
"When Apple Care fails, when all hope is lost, there's one last thing to try... take your issue straight to the top: sjobs@apple.com" |
|
RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| said by Authority  :The danger is if a new user buys a MacBook Air on sex appeal and is disappointed with the performance or other limitations it could sour them to the Mac. * ding *
You nailed it.
Unfortunately, the Apple Acolytes can't contain themselves and absolutely will not listen to reason. Those limitations are going to hurt. Bad.
--
Toolmaster of La Grange. |
|
Zyncotl
Zed X
Premium
join:2002-09-13
Wayne, MI | reply to Authority
Most people don't do anything but surf the web for porn. Speaking of which... there's no porn here... I gotta go.
--
I'd take the time to insult your intelligence, but you probably wouldn't get it. |
|
B52GUNR
KM 7D love and D3 Nirvana
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-06
Vallejo, CA
clubs:  
 ·Comcast
·DSL EXTREME
1 edit | reply to Authority
I think you raise a valid point about the disappointment. I also think the price of the MBA is a bit steep for a simple road machine for e-mail, web and presentations.
This is a machine for someone with an expense account or more money than sense, in my opinion.
Yah, my MBP may weigh a ton with it, my camera, my 500GB G drive and 160 GB external drive, but when I'm on the road, I have all the tools I need to complete my photographic assignments. |
|
jmirabella
Joe Mirabella
Premium,VIP
join:2003-10-20
Lanham, MD
clubs:
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·VoicePulse
1 edit | reply to Authority
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.
the size / weight are a huge plus for me - this laptop is good for my frequent travel both air and train.. I connect via bluetooth through a second phone instead of aircard now.. so the ports are not an issue.
my bag will contain the macbook air, usb to serial dongle + assorted console cables, my old airport express, external 320gb WD passport drive ( very optional ), ethernet dongle, install DVD ( ugh ), power brick + extension cable .
edit: add noise cancelation headphones to the bag, hope the plug fits! =)
I am also paying for this, not the company..
--
Joe Mirabella
VOD Systems Engineer
RCN Corporation |
|
WALL_E
Premium
join:2003-05-28
USA | reply to Authority
Agreed 100% on all counts. |
|
bbarrera
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-23
Sacramento, CA
clubs:
·SureWest Internet
2 edits | reply to RadioDoc
said by RadioDoc :Unfortunately, the Apple Acolytes can't contain themselves and absolutely will not listen to reason. Those limitations are going to hurt. Bad. I'm pretty reasonable guy and haven't come across the 'Apple Acolytes can't contain themselves' you speak of. Every review I've read is very balanced and points out the good and bad. And there isn't a lot of gushing on this forum, instead recent threads are clogged with negative comments from the 'anti MBA acolytes' hell bent on telling us how the MBA is a mistake on several fronts.
I think the Macworld review sums it up for me...
quote:
If the story of the MacBook Air is a story about compromise, the decision about whether the MacBook Air is a product worth having can be answered by one question: How much are you willing to compromise?
...
...
Judged merely on the cold technological specifications, the MacBook Air can't measure up to Apple's other laptops. For those to whom the tech specs matter above all else, the MacBook Air can't be seen as much more than an overpriced, underpowered toy.
But for those who factor size, weight, and yes, I'll admit it, style into the equation, the MacBook Air begins to make more sense. Up until now, Mac users who craved the smallest Mac laptop possible have made their own compromise, using the lower-powered MacBook (or clinging desperately to the even lower-powered 12-inch PowerBook G4).
...
...
Source: »www.macworld.com/article/131864/···air.html
So thats the deal, if you value Mac OS X and want/need a lightweight notebook then you are in the target market. |
|
neuronbob
Health Care Reform Now
join:2000-03-30
Bedford, OH
| reply to Authority
Now wait a minute. People in this very forum have been asking for YEARS for an ultralight laptop without an optical drive.
Now we have one and people are complaining? I don't get it. Of course it has limitations. It's not a desktop replacement and it's not meant to be one. In addition, Apple is trying to have a variety of machines for a variety of needs. Not everyone needs an optical drive when they travel, for example. If they are working with documents that are already stored on their HD, no problems.
Sure the price is a little steep (my only criticism), but the tech for this sort of thing is expensive, too. I'm actually considering buying one simply as an adjunct to my MBP (which is my de facto desktop now....). I do presentations in the community on stroke, and an ultralight machine without frills is perfect for Powerpoint and such.
Have a little imagination, and if you don't need an Air, don't hate on people who like it. 
--
neuronbob's web page |
|
fraz
join:2003-12-09
Pelham, NY
| said by neuronbob :Now wait a minute. People in this very forum have been asking for YEARS for an ultralight laptop without an optical drive. Now we have one and people are complaining? I don't get it. Of course it has limitations. It's not a desktop replacement and it's not meant to be one. In addition, Apple is trying to have a variety of machines for a variety of needs. Not everyone needs an optical drive when they travel, for example. If they are working with documents that are already stored on their HD, no problems. Sure the price is a little steep (my only criticism), but the tech for this sort of thing is expensive, too. I'm actually considering buying one simply as an adjunct to my MBP (which is my de facto desktop now....). I do presentations in the community on stroke, and an ultralight machine without frills is perfect for Powerpoint and such. Have a little imagination, and if you don't need an Air, don't hate on people who like it. I agree 100% -- and bought mine for this very purpose, except my presentations involve extensive air travel-- no fun whatsoever with a MBP. I've been a computer geek type since the 80's and have never bought a piece of gear just for the "pretty" factor -- they're tools, not earrings. Actually. my favorite part of all the Mac Air "hating" is the inherent paternalism/maternalism -- somehow random people on the internet "know" what will work in my situation and I will find that these limitations will "hurt me" ? Bizarre. |
|
Otto
Premium
join:2001-03-12
Hollywood, FL | reply to Authority
For me personally, it'd be the ultimate "sit on the couch and surf while watching TV" notebook. I may not be in a plane weekly, but I still see the awesomeness  . |
|
Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP
4 edits | reply to Authority
Yawn.
It doesn't matter that some dim-witted people don't know what it's for. Only those ready to buy a SUB-notebook and are ready to click BUY need to know what it can and can't do and in that, the feature set of the Air and its purpose are very well documented both online and in store.
I doubt anyone is going to buy the Air based solely on 'sex appeal', especially when the MacBook is $700 less. It's like saying someone is going to buy an SR500 based on sex appeal or a TZ150 based on sex appeal. And if there happens to be someone that stupid, let them be soured to Mac. Who cares? Just means a cheaper MBA on eBay for the rest of us.
Meanwhile with a 1.6-1.8GHz Core 2 Duo, it's performance is on par with a lot of notebooks on the market and kicks the living crap out of other notebooks in it's sub-notebook class.
So even if they did buy it "by mistake" which is quite a speculative leap, they aren't going to be disappointed with it's performance. Apple made compromises with ports, replaceable battery and the like, but they didn't compromise on performance.
Seems to be the biggest critics of the MBA are simply the same generic Apple haters we always see whenever an Apple item makes it to the front page of DSLR. Most clearly don't even know what a sub-notebook is and certainly don't travel for business. It's the same group of dumbasses who said the iPhone would be a failure and that it sucked. Meanwhile it's already sold millions of units and the entire industry has scrambled to release 'touch' products of their own all of which are marketplace failures.
Who gives a sh!t what the dumbass haters think? They'll endlessly piss, moan and complain no matter what simply based on the logo that is on the back. |
|
yanks
join:2003-09-10
USA
| reply to Authority
With the possibility of recession around the corner this was pretty bad timing to come up with such a niche product like the MacBook Air.
Very disappointing to me, I really was hoping for a real 13" MacBook Pro, something that would compete with the Sony SZ and Dell XPS M1330. As much as I like OS X over Windows Apple has pushed me over to the PC side this time to get a proper 13" notebook. Had Apple only updated the 12" Powerbook into a 13" MacBook Pro there would be have been hoards of people lining up for one. This is one of those cases where it looks good in the window but how many people are really going to buy one. Steve Jobs is not infallible, this time I think he went over the top. |
|
Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP
1 edit | 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. |
|
NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX
| reply to Authority
I have not misunderstood it.
It's a toy.
Hard Drive = PATA
Dongles
Can not open it up..
It's a high priced POS. At this point I'd just buy one of the other micro laptops out there and hackintosh it.
--
Mac Chatter
»www.macchatter.net |
|
neuronbob
Health Care Reform Now
join:2000-03-30
Bedford, OH
| Your statement indicates you do not understood its use. It is NOT for people who want a desktop replacement. The requirements you list in your post are require a desktop or desktop replacement laptop. You need a MBP.
said by NOCMan :I have not misunderstood it. It's a toy. Hard Drive = PATA Dongles Can not open it up.. It's a high priced POS. At this point I'd just buy one of the other micro laptops out there and hackintosh it.
--
neuronbob's web page |
|
jmirabella
Joe Mirabella
Premium,VIP
join:2003-10-20
Lanham, MD
clubs:
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·VoicePulse
1 edit | reply to NOCMan
said by NOCMan :Hard Drive = PATA friend from a company formerly known as Maxtor told me that the SATA interface was too big, and that the drive in the MBA is 'state of the art' for its size / density..
-- |
|
Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP
3 edits | reply to neuronbob
It's like people see 4200RPM PATA drives as "bad" for a sub notebook when these 1.8" drives are the easiest on batteries and have the smallest physical packaging.
They continue to ignore competitors, saying they'll just buy another sub-notebook and hackint0sh it...what other notebook? One of these sweet 1-1.2GHz Windows turds with a microscopic keyboard and screen? Why, cause it has a 5400RPM drive instead? Why, cause the microscopic keyboard will come off?
Doesn't make any sense. And opening the notebook? I buy Macs so I don't HAVE to open them. Putting a hacked OS X makes it an even bigger PITA. Yeah, I really need to be constantly tinkering to keep the notebook I use for my business travel working. If I wanted to endlessly piss with a notebook to keep it running, I'd buy a Dell running Vista. That would keep me plenty occupied. |
|
Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP
2 edits | reply to jmirabella
said by jmirabella :said by NOCMan :Hard Drive = PATA friend from a company formerly known as Maxtor told me that the SATA interface was too big, and that the drive in the MBA is 'state of the art' for its size / density.. I'm not aware of any large capacity SATA 1.8" drives in mass production. All I've seen from manufacturers like Toshiba are various PATAs and all are 4200RPM to save on power. |
|
jmirabella
Joe Mirabella
Premium,VIP
join:2003-10-20
Lanham, MD
clubs: | s/was/would be/ |
|
ArchAngel21x
MacFan Pro
Premium
join:2001-10-28
Lincoln, NE
·Internet Nebraska
| reply to Authority
I was about to create the same time of thread because I got sick of all the rants about the MBA from people who apparently don't understand its purpose. You did a good job of saying what I was thinking. The only other thing I want to add is that the MBA is not a desktop replacement and it's not even a laptop replacement. Hence the reason it is it's own product category and didn't replace the Mac Book.
Having said that, the only complaint about the MBA that I think is valid is the complaint about how annoying it is that some USB devices don't fit.
--
Proud owner of a Mac Book & iPod Touch (8 Gig) | Mac Rumors | Apple Store |
|
