Here is the advert for their ultra-slim, ultra-portable but ultra-lame. If you just look at the notebook then it appears to be awesome, but if you look between the lines you’ll see that it really isn’t all that its cracked up to be.
The new notebook is nearly $1,800 for a basic MacBook Air, which seems a little high for the specs. Is the idea to get the most money for the least amount of power? All you are paying for is the wedge-shaped device that, “weighs about 3 pounds, and sports a thickness of 0.16-0.76 inches. It’s 12.8 inches wide and 8.95 inches deep.”
I mean, there are neat things involved in the whole MacBook Air like the built-in iSight webcam, a full sized backlit MacBook-style black keyboard, an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness, and a trackpad that recognizes multi-touch gestures, like on the iPhone or iPod touch.But… It lacks the power that even the basic model of the MacBook includes in their machine. They also did not include an internal optical drive, but I suppose that Apple covers up that short coming by offering a $99 USB 2.0-based add-on SuperDrive.
Overall, not impressed with their new ‘innovative’ notebook.
Not convinced? Check out a point-by-point comparison prooving the suckage.
Tags: air, apple, iphone, ipod, isight, macbook, macbook air, notebook, portable notebook, steve jobs
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What no Firewire…i thought that was a Mac must have…because USB (2)sucks? And Intel sucked also…hmmm
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While I agree with your conclusion that the MacBook Air(Head) sucks, you could add somethings to the list: you can upgrade memory on MacBook to 4GB (Airhead fixed at 2GB), upgrade disk to 250GB (Airhead fixed at 80GB or 64GB), and replace/swap battery for longer road use (built in on Airhead). These upgrades available for the MacBook would raise the price above $1099, but could still below the basic AirHead. In addition, the optional AirHead optical drive will add 0.71 lbs to the package and make it less packable than the MacBook.
Wayne Wilmot.
This laptop is garbage. No Optical drive. It’s just apple trying to sell more virtual crap. I’ll stay a pirate thanks.
MacBook Air sucks? Ok, it’s expensive. It misses whole lot of connection en optional features, but come on! The MacBook Air is such an incredible technical achievement. Sure it’s not for everyone, but Apple has set the bar for what the next generation of notebooks should be like. A product like the MacBook Air pushes the the industry into developing smaller hardware instead of waiting for industry to get there itself.
I remember people would say the original iMac sucked because it didn’t have a floppy drive. Today almost no PC has one anymore, let alone that anyone would use it. It’s just the beginning of a whole new kind of notebooks. Try to see the bigger picture here.
Well, I see your point, and I do see the bigger picture… But what I also see, is one firewire? One USB? and a non-user removable battery? Among other issues…
I am all for the size, that is awesome… I am glad that Apple is paving the way to that technology, I was just seriously disappointed by the specs.
Still… Apple sucked air on this one.
What!!!??? Mac Air, is nothing but hot air! a slower laptop for more money… No CD and worse of all… no firewire? Everyone using pro audio interfaces, use firewire. Mac just cut it’s own nose clean off!
Apple really made a computer for nobody with the Macbook Air. Firstly it’s too expensive, students will be avoiding it for a cheaper MacBook instead, or fork out the extra money for the MacBook Pro.
The Business executive might be interested here… but Apple left out the ethernet connection which is totally ignorant because many office spaces avoid wireless networks due to security issues! Apple did not make this ultra-portable either because the foot-print is still large. Consider the fact that you can’t even take an extra battery with you, only have one usb port, have no cd/dvd abilities, small 80 GB Hard Drive (or 65 GB flash for extra $1000) and you get a road apple. The Macbook Air is a fashion statement for wealthy people that don’t know much about computers. It looks cool but has accomplished nothing. This is possibly one of the most useless Macs ever.
I keep hear the defense “Ya well, it’s not supposed to be for everyone”
So who is it for?
A lot of you are missing the point, and getting caught up in specs. You’re also forgetting that THIS IS NOT THE ONLY NOTEBOOK THEY SELL. They’ve just filled in a gap in their lineup.
If you’re a student, you get the MacBook because it’s probably going to be your primary machine and you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
If you’re a professional, you get a MacBook Pro (which is an abbreviation for professional, clever I know) because you need the ports, the processing power, and the durability.
But what if you’re neither of those? What if you have a new iMac at home that is your regular machine, and you’d like to have a notebook to carry with you in the event that you want to do some writing in the field, or you’d like to take notes at a meeting, or you just want to surf the internet at a cafe? That’s the target for this product.
If you’re a power user, Apple has a product for you. If you’re on a budget, Apple has a product for you. And now, if you just want a simple, ultra-portable computer to carry with you, Apple has a product for you. Just calm down, people. It makes sense when you slow down and think about Apple’s product offering as a whole. Will I buy one? Probably not. But a lot of people probably will, and they’ll probably love it. Why does that irritate you so much?
Gordon, you’re comment is in no way unwanted, but what strikes me as odd is that you said, “If you’re on a budget, Apple is the product for you.” Now, I’m not saying that Apple isn’t product for everyone [even I use a Apple keyboard on my Windows PC, and a iBook everywhere else], but budget-wise, Apple is not friendly…
Their top of the line, beautiful products are definitely not cheap.
You can buy a cheapy weapy [and you’ll weap]Windows laptop for less than a grand, you could probably buy two for the price of a basic MacBook.
Anyway, yes, I love your argument though. Please, battle, get out swords, gladiator jousting sticks, or bare knuckles. :)
You’ve actually quoted me incorrectly. My statement is that, “If you’re on a budget, Apple has a product for you.” Not is, but has. I fully acknowledge that Apple computers can be more expensive than their PC competition; whether or not you believe the price to be appropriate to the product offering is subjective.
Just to firmly support my assertion that Apple has a budget product that is well within the cost range of the PC makers, I went ahead and configured almost identical systems on both Dell and Apple’s education websites.
Dell:
System Price: $1,418
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2MB cache/2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Edition
14.1 inch display (1280×800)
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
CD / DVD Drive
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi® Xtreme Audio Sound Card
One Time PC to PC Transfer
Integrated NIC and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Apple:
Subtotal $1,269.00
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2×1GB
160GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
As you can see, those are virtually identical systems, with a measurable difference in price - tilted towards Apple’s favor. In terms of comparing base models, Apple’s is more expensive to the tune of $150. However, the base models are not equal, and that is where the comparison must occur. In order for the Dell to be equal to the bottom-end MacBook, you have to add in 802.11n, integrated webcam, the top sound card (which is the only way to get optical inputs and outputs), Vista Ultimate (in order to have full OS functionality) and Bluetooth 2.0. This upgraded Dell still has a smaller cache (2MB compared to 4MB in the MacBook) and less video memory (128MB to 144MB in the MacBook).
This has little to do with the MacBook Air, but it does validate the contention that Apple is well positioned in the low-cost laptop market.
Buy what you want, for whatever reason you want.
It all comes down to what you use it for and how much fun/money or time you can make with them…$200 bucks diff is nothing if you can make a living on either.
Yes Gordon, sorry for the mis-quote, I typed instead of copy/paste… You have a valid statement, and I’m glad you did your homework :) Next time I will try to do mine a little more. What I was simply getting at is that people can purchase laptops for half the price of a Mac [gasp! who would?] Right, they are horrible specs when you compare… but you cannot buy a $500 mac.
DS you are right as well, although I would go spend that $200 on shoes or something silly…
its funny that they have mp3 players that have more memory then their laptops.
person with MBA:i want to download that song onto my ipod but i have to wait to get home.
other person: why? just use your laptop
person with MBA: cause i dont have anymore room on my laptop. But i love how it looks so its lack of good features and small harddrive deffientaly makes up for it.
that makes no sense
also my sister live at college and uses her laptop to store her music for her ipod. she has a 30 gig ipod so if she got this she would have 34 or 50 gigs left for her stuff and that fucking sucks. also 4200 rpm’s wtf that will suck so much and all of the people that buy it will have their MBA’s batteries stop working at the same time and i will laugh at all of them, the same thing is going to happen to everyone that gets an ipod for christmas this this sucks. its not even a good second computer.
Apple has options for people, it’s true. But the point is that the ‘MacBook Air’ is not really an option for anyone. Who are these people that can afford a $3000 second computer?? Not me; WTF is Apple thinking here? Why would anyone want 65 GB of tiny HD for that price, and not even have capabilities to install new software? What the heck do you do with your Office 2008 disc when you try to install it on the precious MacBook Air? Just go buy another computer with optical drive is Apples answer, nothing piles of money can’t fix. Apple thinks that they can sell consumers anything they want just because it’s a cool brand name. Remember the Newton? What about the Cube? If ‘Apple is filling the Gap’ then I ask what freakin gap is that? The ‘$3000, featureless, Dual-Income-No-Kids Laptop gap?’ Just how big of a ‘gap’ is that anyway?
Sure, the MacBook Air will pop up at your local Starbucks and those people drinking five dollar, unfairly traded coffees and typing email on Airbooks will feel special; the corporate suckers who think they helped the environment because their laptop is made from aluminum.
For the rest of us we will enjoy cheaper coffee and not pretend that our computer purchases make for a greener earth.
MacBook + Air = Lame
all i know is if this sells as good as the macbook pros. I will kill myself for i will now know that a brand can get people to buy anything and that “free thinking” has failed. even a person who dosent know alot about computers will know from its harddrive that its crap.
and really i dont consider it second computer material
funny note: someone said that it doesnt need a optical drive because in the future everything will be digital download.
thats all good but with 64 to 80 gbs how much are you going to be able to store on it anyway
What about G3 wireless network support. PC manufacturers are offering that as an option on most ultra-portable notebooks and tablets. If that machine was a MAC tablet, it would have been easier to swallow the lack of features provided by the MacBook Air :) have to smile very time I hear the name.
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I must say, this is a very amusing discussion. It’s interesting to see the perspective equivalent of a mac fanboy site from the PC fanboys. Some arguments are based on simply erroneous info (price/spec), some are based on an old-world view of the laptop (a desktop machine that fits in my backpack) and some are based on the logic equivalent of “A Porsche sucks because it can’t fly or go under water.” The MBP is a first generation shot at cloud computing…a niche market for now, and expensive. But I’ve been spending more money than I should on first gen products for 30 years, just so I can get where we’re going before others. Trust me: it’s paid back big time. And I’ve already ordered my MBP. See ya when you get here, boys and girls.
Smacbuck, you ordered a Macbook Pro hey? Well smart choice because the MBP is a great machine!! Good thing you did not order that crapy MBA, because that thing is a joke for suckers! BTW, the price point of $3000 for the 64 GB flash based MBA is accurate, if not a little low considering tax and that pesky external superdrive that you’d have to buy so that you can upgrade to 10.6 when it comes…
You know a Porsche not only looks good but it’s insanely fast and holds the road; a real performance machine… that’s why the car is so expensive. The MBA is NOT a performance machine, it’s not fast and when it finally ‘runs out of gas’ you have to install a new fuel tank to refill it. Good thing you avoided the MBA debacle with your not so first gen MBP.
Gordon, about that “homework” you did on the laptops
dont compare the inspiron notebooks to the macbooks if you want some of the higher end stuff.
so i compared the XPS 13.3″ to the Macbook 13.3″. (matched the macbook to the XPS, because the macbook was originally below it spec wise)
-intel core duo 2 (2.0 GHz)
-2GB memory
-160 GB HD 5400 rpm
-no clue on mac’s video card
-windows-2 yr warranty, mac didn’t say
-plus the pc has some antivirus shit that most people would already have (for example, i have norton at home, so that’s some unnecesary money)
XPS 1330- 1199 macbook-minimum 1399 (depends on the original model)
alright, now before you start on the “xps relates to macbook pro” stuff, ill compare them too.
xps 1530 vs macbook pro (all i did was take the base package and where they differed i would make the one that was lower up to what the other one had-just like before)
-2.2 GHz intel
-2GB memory
-8600 GeForse GT (xps had the 256mb standard, i couldn’t upgrade the mac from 128 to 256)
-screen: 15.4″
xps 1530- $1274 macbook pro- $2074
mac is NEVER for people with budgets, macs are for people that feel the need to own “user friendly” software without the need to know anything. And that reason right there is why i dispise macs; i used to love macs, but once they started spamming my television with “macs are easy to use” stuff i couldn’t handle it anymore. I have NEVER had a problem with my windows XP and still only have a minor gripe with vista. That gripe, some of the programs i have are a little sluggish, but nothing horrible.
tl;dr macs cost more, macs are annoying, pc’s aren’t difficult to use and i have never had the blue screen of death in the last 9 years (lol, when i did do it, i forced it to, basicaly)
macbook air is the best computer out so shutup.
Hey, Stanky…gee, ya got me. I made a tep…I mean typa…I mean typhoe…two-fingered typing sucks.
But I stand by what I said: I’m not looking for a “performance” machine as defined by heavy graphics or video. I’m looking for a communications machine that’s as portable as possible and forward-looking, instead of stuck in an old model.
The battery thing? Only time I’m away from an outlet for more than 5 hours is on a plane and…oh, I can plug in there too. $130 for a new battery, installed? Not out of line compared to other 5-hour batteries…well, if you could find one for another computer. Installing an upgrade? Gee, ever heard of downloading? Or the remote drive? Probably not…no PC has figured out how to do that. They just sell you redundant parts. Can’t watch a DVD remotely? Wow…you still use DVDs?? Speed? It’s ok…a lot of people still fall for that whole GHz as a measure of true working speed thing.
And the 64gb flash memory? Naw, didn’t go for that…that IS for people with too much money. But from what I’ve read, it costs Apple about $800 for the memory. A $200 markup isn’t criminal…maybe aggressive.
I’ll keep ya posted on my real world experience. But thanks for caring about my computing welfare…I’m all teary-eyed, bro.
Hi Smacbuck… Enjoy your 4200 rpm Ipod drive. Hope you have Wireless N for all those remote data transfers. True, the optical drive will become extinct, but how the heck to you target your mac without firewire? Too bad you will have to part with your MBA for a couple of weeks after 250 cycles of charging. But hey, your on the cusp of technology. The “old model” aka 12 inch PowerBook G4, was only 1.5 pounds heavier and you could actually use it as a full feature desktop. Apple missed the mark on the MBA, but thin is in I guess.
In two years the MBA will be added to this list:
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/mac/multimedia/2008/01/gallery_apple_flops
Why not just get an Iphone?
[…] 5. I’ll rename the tenth month of the year “Barack-Tober.” 4. I won’t let Apple release the new and improved iPod the day after you bought the previous model. 3. I’ll find […]
[…] so.addParam(”allowfullscreen”, “true”); wordtube_videos[’singled099d5b1′] = so; I have seen many MacBook Air parodies since the release of it, not really paying attention to them but this one caught my eye. […]
Hey, Stanky…traveling and just now getting back to DHADM. Don’t really need a fast drive for what I’ll do on the MBA. Might miss it, we’ll see. And N? Got it (natch) for big transfers. Migration has a few options…the new software allows several options, including ethernet. (BTW, we do agree on that…the missing port IS a mistake.) Maybe I’ll just use an external drive. I keep my serials, don’t you? And the battery is replaced while you wait at the Apple store. Bottom line is what I’ve been saying all along: I don’t want or need to carry around a desktop. I need the lightest load with a real screen and keyboard aimed at changing the old idea of “everything locally resident.”
Oh, and don’t need to get an iPhone…got one. But then, you expected that, right?
Yo, Skanky…one last thing. That comparison to the Cube? Read this:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/01/30/is-the-macbook-air-another-cube/
Regardless of your position, you have to admit it’s an intelligent rebuff of that whole argument.
I am a mac user, and i am also a pc user! I love both, i find it hilarious that people are still fighting over which is better and blah blah blah!!
Neither is better and neither is worse. Getting back to the subject at hand….
no matter what anyone says or how they try to twist it and shine it up, the mac book air is a piece of shit!!!
Seriously i have never seen such a worthless piece of crap, it is usable by nobody period, no matter how they try to make it sound.
Oh and what the hell is a “up to date professional on the move”???? UP TO DATE PROFESSIONAL ON THE MOVE??? WTF is that? Is there actually people who feel that, that is what they are? There is? So sad, get a reality check. On the move where? Oh flying by plane? Or taking a trip that is required by your job? On the move….fuck off!!
Professional? I would imagine a professional would want a macbook pro no?
Mac book air is so kindergarten it is made for kids who do not work, or girls or faggots trying to show off.
I am really a nice guy though but the new MBA is a sucky ass piece of crap and everyone knows it, and if you dont then you need a serious head check!!
Bye bye
I think Krisz just defined “professional” by demonstrating what it’s not…
I just bought a MacBook Air for my wife.
I do not know what some of you guys are bitching about. The MacBook Air is beautiful, is magic, slick, perfect for internet, iTunes, wireless connections, really portable, 4 hours battery life… it is a real diamond: perfect for a girl! (And for me: I borrow it all the time!)
Slick? hmm I don’t think the sleekness makes up for what it lacks.
Its competition does way better
https://dhadm.com/content/maybe-the-thinkpad-x300-will-get-better-buzz-than-the-mba/
The MBA - MacBook Air - is akin to buying a ’shiny glass ball to put on a pedestal in your front yard’.
- “Niceee! What does it do?
= “Ummm, nothing…but it looks great, doesn’t it?!”
In short, I will offer the same advice I am offering my IT clients - skip the Air and get a MB or a MBP. In the end, you will be happier…and not feel so cheated or wallet-raped.
I hate wallet-rape
Bottom line all macs suck. They are for clueless end users(wanna look cool)that do not know how computers work. Sorry but I make a living out of writting software so I could care less if one more mac gets sold. The day Apple releases a decent IDE for software development I will probably reconsider until then no thanks.
Lol well Eao forgets those who own and work on both. I work on a Mac anywhere I please… and when I feel like sitting in a stationary spot for hours… I’ll come back to my PC.
I love my Mac, but I also love my PC…
There are many people who feel the same way, not all little ’software writers’ prefer PC.
Oh Sarah, you are missing my point. Are you a developer?.If so please tell me where I can make a living out of writting software on the Mac platform. For your comment and I quote “not all little ’software writers’ prefer PC.” sounds like you are sored…Sorry but my only point was that you, I or anyone for that matter as a software developer COULD NOT not make a decent living on the Mac platform. Unless you can prove me wrong….
By the way .NET yes Microsoft the giant seems to be getting close to enable .NET for Mac. Since Apple does not seem to get their ducks in a row.
I think a lot of people are missing the point on this laptop. Turn the way back dial back to the PowerBook Duo. This is a subnotebook. It sacrifices some on hardware for size and weight. Most every laptop line has one. Apple’s didn’t.
Where’s the optical drive or bigger graphics/processor? No room.
The biggest thing missing, which I find lacking in all MacBooks, is the lack of a dock or port replicator. I’m tired of sticking in cables every morning.
Agreed B. Cables suck.
Funny how so many feel they have to not only have an opinion about the Macbook Air but also have to ‘air’ it (haha).
People want to distain themselves from the device for the same reason others want it so badly : to profile themselves, to show the world who they are. To acquire status.
Yeah, those ignorant fools who bought it… :)
I lol’d at an idiot who brought one of these to a meeting today. And he’s a DBA too, wtf? Don’t most DBAs have brains?
Lol, apparently not… I love Apple, but I hate this product..
$1000.00 of the price of any Mac is for shipping it out of China. Cult leader Steve Jobs outsources the building of Mac laptops to the Chinese in Shanghai, thus taking jobs away from Americans, and making us pay the freight. I worked for Apple for a year and 3 months, and quit. I could not stand the arrogance.
Even for just filling out a gap in the market, does not mean, it should make a water-down, lower spec version and charge extra fees for it.
Yo, Skanky…I promised you that I’d get back with some real world experience with the MBA. Bottom line, I can’t recommend it. Surprised? But it has little to do with most of the issues raised here. It has to do with possible manufacturing and/or software problems…here’s the deal:
>Overheating: gets hot very fast. But I’m not worried about toasting my tender mid-region. The problem is that one of the cores shuts down at the higher temp and everything slows down, markedly. You can overclock the fan and that helps some, but this is clearly a design or manufacturing fault…but it’s a killer even under low-load applications.
>Disk failure: I suspect caused by overheating, but maybe just my bad luck. I had a complete mechanical disk failure at 2-3 months. Replaced by Apple with no problem, but cost me hours of rebuilding…another lesson in timely BUs.
>WiFi: This is the real deal-killer. This is a cloud computer, as I’ve said…completely dependent on wireless connection, although I’ve found the ethernet dongle no big deal. But it pains me to say, this may be the worst wifi implementation I’ve seen on any of the dozens of PCs and Macs I’ve had. Intermittent drops, weak signal even sitting next to the access point and often, refusal to reconnect after sleep, ughhh. I read that it maybe be a system problem affecting all macs, but my wife’s MBP still rocks at 4 bars sitting next to my signal-less MBA. Oh, the humanity!!
So, Stanky, do a little victory dance, post it on YouTube and send me the link. I still love the idea of the MBA, it’s easier on the shoulder and at airports, but I’m headed back to an MBP until they fix this first-gen “concept.”
Pass the fork…that humble pie look delicious….