Innovation - Where is the PC?

The MBA ( Mac Book Air) has been around for over three years. During that period, perhaps Samsung has been the most innovative in trying to design an "MBA killer". I am not sure what design limitations there are for the PC, that is keeping the category from been stylish, innovative. We have products like the iPod, iPad and of course the MBA's. Just wondering if the system software has any or all of the game. Maybe it is the fact that Apple controls system software and hardware and insists on ease of use versus faster HDD, and processors (CPU, GPU, APU) that gives them such an advantage. Maybe the rise of alternative operating systems Linux, Android, Honeycomb, Chrome OS might mean some innovation from all OSes. Let me know what you think.

 

The first Macbook Air was very unsuccessful IMO and in the opinion of many other legit review sites. Bad battery life, unremovable battery, and a limited selection of ports, all while being extremely expensive.

Now, by you saying that Samsung was the most innovative, I'd have to disagree. I have to say the Lenovo x300 imo was the "Air killer" and here is a nice little video
YouTube - Lenovo X300

Now, in regards to design limitations, I think there is a laptop out there for everyone design-wise. Sexy is subjective, especially when it comes to computers. Some people LOVE the thinkpad look, some call it old and ugly. Some love the glossy toshiba exterior, some might call it a plasticy piece of junk.

I think PCs have been making huge strides in the battery and looks department lately.

The reason Mac's are so simple and easy to use is because of the lack of a variety of hardware. Now what I mean is that they use the same chipset processors combos in their line of notebooks, so it's easy to write and customize (if it really is them that do it) drivers because I mean they only have maybe 2-3 different options of graphics cards in their mobile line up at a time. I mean when I had my 15 inch MBP, I had to clean install Snow Leopard, and after the installation, I said to myself, "Alright, time to install drivers!"

Except, I didn't need to, because they were all there...

In that department, I think Windows 7 and Ubuntu are really getting there. I can't comment on any other distros as I've only been using Ubuntu since 10.04 till 11.04 (woohoooooo NATTY).

I mean, that's what is so great about having such a diverse notebook market. There's something for everyone.

 

Note that buying a Mac these days includes a hotplate for free. Especially the 15" chassis which has not been redesigned for 2011 but includes a mandatory quad core. And Unibody had heat problems before. Now it's really ugly...

 

You're all over the place. I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

Hardware innovation? Are you talking about materials or size? Most laptops are well under $1000. Can't afford an all-aluminum laptop on that budget. As far as size, there are a lot of thin laptops, but I don't see how thin means innovative.

Software innovation? Facebook, Amazon, Google - pretty darn innovative software that has literally changed the world.

Operating system innovation? Limited by being forced to maintain backwards compatibility. Microsoft always releases some interesting features for new Windows releases. Linux and Chrome OS will carve out their own niche area, but Windows is nearly impossible to topple given its huge presence.

 

Sony Vaio Z is a good alternative to a Macbook, and HP Envy a contender to Macbook Pro. No, the Envy isn't unibody, but it's also quite a bit cheaper with more powerful components.

 

Those who know how to configure their own software environment will not want to stay in Apple's carefully crafted, expensive wall garden covered by reality distortion fields.

 

With Apple you pay for aesthetics really. With a PC you typically pay for performance. I do like how Macs are built, but if it truly adds that much to the price premium I'll take a Panasonic Toughbook over the Mac any day if I'm going to spend that kind of coin.

 

I tried a MBA (original) when it came out and simply had to laugh at it. I also glanced at a new (2011) version and simply walked by.

Looks like a '10' (from 20 feet away) but personality is closer to a '3'.

Innovation? ThinkPAD.

ronnieb said it best and his link shows why.

See
YouTube - Lenovo X300

 

What he means is that there's been no PC which really looks like the Air.

The Samsung 9 evokes no interest from me for that very reason: I don't want a Crapbook Air-a-like (and I'm feeling much better after I was finally able to ditch all of my '09-'10 Air's). However I'm sure many people would want one.

There are good reasons for such a machine not existing in the past: Lack of durability and the fact that only a company like Apple could get away with such a fragile piece of crap - albeit a beautiful piece of crap - like the Air without fatally shooting themselves in the foot regarding customer service issues.

And if you disagree with me regarding the durability, you are squarely in Apple's consumer ballpark - i.e. you don't fall anywhere near into the category of intensive portable user but are a poser who doesn't really know or care what she's (more likely than not) buying as long as it looks good.

Dell, who tried to copy the production method to have a 'premium metal feel' but attempted to make a machine which could actually pass muster as a 'properly roadable' Windows machine failed miserably because to actually have a durable machine with the machined alloy construction method, it became pointlessly overweight.

Samsung has succeeded, if you can use that word, by aping the Air without aping it too much. And because what the Apple-obsessed airheaded, empty-walleted majority of what passes for tech media these days, a thing that does something like Apple will get far more press than something which doesn't.

 

Samsung is coming out with a cheap plastic version of the MBA. If Apple got rid of their junk keyboards Id buy a MBA and put linux on it for a basic rig. Would need a higher resolution screen for me to take it seriously though.

 

Truth be told, there are quite a few of ASUS models in the ultraportable class that I enjoy aesthetically at least as much as I do the Air. Samsung seems to be ahead of the curve with respect to aping the Air's sensibilities these days.

I'm not sure I'll ever be able to justify the purchase cost for something like an Air. It's great and all, but I don't make nearly enough money to convince myself that it's as capable as a device in its price range should.

 

ah so innovation in this instance is referiing to a cute laptop.
no comment

 

Exactly

 

'Innovation' could be applied in the 'aesthetic' aspect provided of course the design offers functionality/usability apart from just 'good looks' (which to me play an insignificant role).

I wouldn't choose a laptop based solely on it's aesthetic prowess.
I prefer to look at the hardware and cooling first.
Everything else is secondary to be honest.

To me, 'innovation' refers seeing a decade more advanced hardware compared to what we have now in laptops along with actual advances and not just die shrinks or minor revisions of existing technologies (which is exactly what we have now - Intel's 'tock' cycles are also nothing more than 'minor' revisions - despite what the architecture differential may offer).
Cooling in laptops is severely outdated, not to mention the batteries.

 

It isn't cheap. The Macbook Air looks pretty crap and has crappy specs. I'd buy the Samsung anytime.

 

I guess it's a matter of opinion - both of you I disagree with for example.

The Nine is mainly aluminium. The Macbook air is all aluminium - and I think it looks pretty good, while having the right blend of specs for its typical user.

The problem is that it's a hell of a lot more delicate than a layman's 'its metal' impression would imply, and it's also still very poorly cooled - just like the, well, entire Apple computer range.

Obviously I haven't used the 9, but I'd be inclined to give more props to the Samsung for better heat management. However it is such a second-rate 'me-too' ripoff of the Air (just take a look underneath for starters) that I'm not tempted at all. I want original design, not "the best Asian damned-near-straight, or to put it another way a slightly-straighter ripoff available". I'm still hanging on to see what Sony brings to the table, while the X220's should hopefully tide me over until then.