Apple MacBook Air Announced at MacWorld '08

Its still not "sub-notebook" enough for me. Do you think Apple sacrificed a small screen just to make the notebook thin for todays slimness obsessed society?

Agreed lewdvig. This slimness is nothing at all to get excited over and as far as I can see this is not a competitor to the Sony TZ. The footprint on this notebook is still too big...

 

At the Apple store on apple.com, under specifications it says the RAM is 2 gb "onboard". Is there a slot to expand it? I guess not, since there's no upgrade option on the customization page.

I think the non-user-replaceable battery is ok for an expensive ultraportable (or super-light if you prefer). If you're paying this much for the notebook, you can pay for Apple to replace the battery in a couple years.

However, the non-upgradeable RAM and the slow hard drive are serious limitations. Also kind of ok for an ultraportable, but... why go through the trouble of getting Intel to design a better processor if you're just going to slow it down with a slow hard drive. The SSD option is great, but very expensive.

 

I agree. Makes the little white MB look even better.

 

I'm in the market for this one. What a nice multimedia machine. I was already looking at the XPS 1330, but the Air is better.

* Long Long battery life
* HDMI
* No more VISTA!
* Cheaper than the MB Pro
* Obviously, it's prettier and smaller.

Why would you need an extended battery? This one lasts 5 hours and there's no ugly bump sticking out.

You always have to pay a premium for Apple products but it's usually worth it. This looks like a winner.

 

Well I think intel made the cpu not make as much heat as a normal core 2 duo, it isnt faster im sure. As far as the battery and memory(memory is kinda useless over 2gb with slow cpu and drive so thats that, but if stick goes back, its off to apple) But the battery is the same, if it goes bad then its back to apple. The problem with non replaceable parts is that if your on a business trip or something and a stick of memory goes out or the battery has problems, the only thing you can do is send it all the way back to apple to get repaired, which will take at least a day or two if not more. While since i got a thinkpad, if a stick of memory goes bad i can take the stick out in 5 minutes, if a battery goes bad, at least i can use a extra one(tho most wont have a extra one) but at least i wont have to wait for days for apple to repair the crazy thing.

 

MacBook needs to drop in price to $800-1100. Air could then sit just above those, and MBP could continue at the high end (which should be $1500-1800).

The XPS1530 is a game changer. As an Apple lover, I can honestly say that paying twice what an XPS1530 is worth just for leopard is insane.

I think 20-30% premium given the OS and iLife is fair. This year the Apple premium is as bad as it has ever been (50-100% IMO).

I would much rather get the XPS and hack Leopard to run on it.

 

Okay, am I the only one that dislikes the black keyboard on the silver? Their other notebooks keyboards match the color of the notebook, why not this?

 

That price is shocking... especially an Apple price.

 

Damnit, I was hoping this notebook would be worth buying

 

HDMI?...i thought mini-vga was just vga, just need a adapter to convert it to regular vga connector...hehe go kevin!

 

From reading around other sources it seems the Core 2 Duo processor is ULV suggesting even slower performance. The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard and the notebook cannot be opened up. And lastly, the screen is too big >.<

 

Er.....how are you meant to use an external harddrive with 1 usb port lol. Everyone single one i've used comes with two (extra one for power). Even without that, 1usb port is soooo crazy!!

Dave

 

Im really glad they went for a 13.3 screen as any screen below that is too small for the majority of people.

 

I don't understand why someone who needs a notebook this thin wouldn't also need it lighter and with a smaller footprints. Surely the constraints are footprint and weight for the VAST majority of people.

 

But its not too small for the target audience of the Air which I'm presuming is those that travel a lot or need a laptop that can fit into any sort of bag. The idea of an ultraportable is that it is both thin and has a small footprint. The footprint of the air is bigger than that of the standard MacBook! What good is that going to be to those that need a small computer?

 

MacMagazine?

 

No, I agree with you. The black on silver design was the first thing I noticed (and found unfortunate) as well.

I like the notebook, but would prefer an all-black version. It'll probably be introduced though.

 

I was all about the Air until I found out the footprint (length and width) were the same (actually a hair bigger) than the current regular MacBook.

They insisted on keeping a huge bezel around the LCD and keyboard.. I'm thinking they couldn't slim the footprint down at all without axing more hardware on the inside. Aside from that, the black keyboard against the aluminum finish makes it look cheap to me. Backlit keyboard is a major plus, though.

I'll wait for when they can figure out how to actually thin the bezel and make a more "true" ultraportable. I was holding my SantaRosa MacBook the other day and I said outloud "Apple, thin this bezel down and you have a sure winner!"

Jay

 

Shoulda: 11 inch screeen, 32gb SSD option, had at least two USB ports, went with a black aluminum frame to match the keyboard, and for goodness sake can they finally put a card reader in one these things!

 

You are right guys, the footprint is way too big. Is similar to the Sony SZ, not an ultraportable. Some feautures are impressive though, like the remote disk and the multi-touch. One usb only? Slowly-slowly I go away from this lappy, need an ultraportable. Rahul, seems like TZ is way better!

 

i disagree man. its not just the apple logo, its the fact that the macbook air looks spectacular unlike this ugly thing you are showing us. also it is so far ahead of its time with the idea of being pure wireless piece of tech. it is unlike any computer in this day and age

 

Get one and see if you can fit any of that in the 13.3in version let alone a 11in size one.

I smell a apple fan, if your just getting this macbook air cause it looks "sexy" or "spectacular" i think you are nuts. If you want to get this beautiful macbook then do so, but dont come crying home to me when it breaks or you drop it, looks are not as important to me as durable and reliability, thats why i have a butt ugly thinkpad, though to me this boxy, black, tank is sexy

 

I really want to see how this notebook sells, it will be a flop, lots of negative comments on it and with good reason. Nothing is user-upgradable or replaceable on this.

It has the same screen size as the Macbook. I (and I bet a lot more others), would rather have wanted a smaller footprint than it being thinner. If you made a 11 or 12" Macbook, slightly thicker with more ports and a user replaceable battery, that would have sold SO WELL. How could you have screwed this up Apple? It was so easy what you had to do.

I don't think too many will want to give up having only 1 USB port, no DVD drive, no Expresscard card, no memory card reader, no ethernet port, etc. just so it can fit in a freaking manila envelope!

This thing is DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

And the fact that Stevie compared this to and bashed the beautiful TZ (which I finally own and love!) doesn't help either, I hate you even more Apple!

 

No Thank You Apple

 

Everyone has a small tweak they'd like to see before they'd buy it. The thing about Apple is, they don't offer a zillion configurations of the same thing. Instead they offer just a few. They have too, they're too small a company to compete with every Dell/HP/Lenovo/Fujitsu/Sony/etc.

You're forced to adopt the strategy they put forward and use their stuff as it was intended to be used. Fortunately they do a good job with it.

 

It is, finally got my TZ yesterday and loving it! I cannot buy a laptop bigger than 12" ever again and I even converted my younger brother to ultraportables when he thought they were too expensive and underpowered!
I can't believe I tolerated my 14" Compaq V3000 for so long, this thing is a huge upgrade!

TZ is thicker, but has so much more built-in. Though I am impressed by Apple putting a LV instead of ULV processor in a thinner package.

 

And that's the problem, now isn't it. Apple jumped the gun and made something spectacularly less then what it is supposed to be. They were supposed to make an ultra portable notebook. Instead they created an illusion of one. The limitations (4200rpm HDD, one USB, no optical drive, no card reader among others) cannot justify the slimple loss of weight. Just look at how much more you can get for only a pound or so more. Who is going to buy this thing? Apple is gonna get a flat.

 

I dont know if I should laugh or cry. Its hard trying to come up with a response to this.

 

no dude, i dont even own a mac computer, just ipods. im a micro drone to be honest. but i still think the macbook air looks hot as hell. I see it more as being a show piece than a functional unit. Plus you guys keep saying it will break. this computer is made from machine aluminum it is a solid piece of machinery. you have the think pad for practicality purpose and function and to get work done and safe. i totally understand that. but this macbook pro is not made for that it is made for sexy looks and showing off and for being something totally different and out of this world.

 

All you had to do Apple was create a successor to the 12" Powerbook, but nope, you had to totally screw it up. People would have bought that in droves, not this....thing.

 

so you disagree? tell me what is wrong with it then. please.

 

You did the best choice dude. As we know, the Santa Rosa doesn't bring so much improvements, but the X3100 for some light gaming would be perfect. I suppose I'm going to pull the trigger on a TZ90 with the 32 GB SSD. Apple maybe is competing with the Asus EEE, excluding so many important devices (optical drive, usb, card reader).

 

Here is what Apple should have done:

Take MacBook Pro, shrink to 11/12 inches.
Remove optical drive
Add multitouch

Weight 1-1.25kg

 

so this is basically their ultraportable machine? it looks decent but im not a big fan on thin products and i dont see why if i was considering a mac i would buy this over the macbook or pro?. The multitouch, batterylife and bluetooth 2.1 is great but 1 usb port, no internal optical drive, no replacable battery? and the lack of so many other ports,connectors and slots like express card just cripple this machine.

 

Yeah I can see where you're coming from. BIG bezels and contrasting colour schemes are just so pretty.... However you are right with it being far ahead of its time in regards to wireless since it is. After all you still buy a lot of your software in disc format and I'd hate to try and install an OS using this "remote disk" nonsense. When things such as wireless installs and wireless transferring HD content quickly become viable that'll be the time of the Air. Unfortunately for Apple that time isn't now. It'd now be a good idea to refer to Kevin's picture he posted.

 

I for one really like this notebook. DISCLAIMER: I have never bought any apple products (I once won an ipod mini--don't use it very much).

In my opinion, the most important things when it comes to an ultraportable laptop are weight and battery life. This laptop does great in both categories.

I don't understand all the gripe about the footprint! As long as the laptop can easily fit into any sort of bag, the dimensions shouldn't matter too much. What you'll really notice is the weight of the thing. I much rather have a 13" screen laptop that weighs 3 lbs than one with an 7" screen that weighs 2 lbs! I'll be able to actually use the 13" one for some reall work.

Another gripe people are having is that the price is too high. I'd love to see this sell for $200, but that isn't going to happen. If you want to see overpriced, just check out the sony TZ! The top-of-the-line TZ will cost you almost $4000!!! I for one was surprised about the air's price because it was cheaper than I expected. You'll always be paying an arm and a leg for an ultraportable laptop. A base price of $1800 or so really isn't that bad compared to other laptops in the same weight category.

I was considering getting an TZ anyway, but was worried about the anemic processor (you really need the SSD to make it reasonable fast), and small form-factor (I need to work on my thesis when on the road, and the laptop is probably too small for serious work). The MacBook air has a decent processor, decent amount of ram, and will probably be a lot nicer to work with (larger screen, keyboard) than the tiny TZ.

The lack of an ethernet port, and only 1 usb plug does bother me though.

 

That doesn't mean the motherboard is though. How shock proof do you think that casing is?

 

The biggest benefit on an ultraportable is not its weight but rather its footprint.

 

one thing i would like to know is if i do not have any computers or networks set up and i go out and buy this macbook air, how do i set up the internet.

say i just purchased the internet and a router. how do i set it up without an ethernet port? is there a way? or must you have an existing computer or network to go off of?? anyone know??

 

First off its hard to say something is ahead of its time by missing a feature. Pure wireless is bogus since its just the lack of a lan port. If I break the port on my T60 is it ahead of its time?

Nothing like it on the market, because so far the market has kind of dictated what we want in a notebook. Super light and small notebooks yes, but super thin doesnt really work out too well since you start getting to the thickness of ports and you start missing basic features. Look at the Sony TZ: same weight range but has optical drive, expresscard slot, card readers, 7-9 hours of battery life, replaceable memory, etc etc.

Apple has just now entered the ultraportable market that other manufacturers have been doing quite well in for 10+ years.

 

ssd or nothing man!!

 

I for one think the notebook seems innovative (with regard to the size). Of course it would lack many features--don't forget it's an ultraportable.

 

Ok why are people calling this a ultraportable laptop?..its not...the definition of a ultraportable is a laptop weighting less than 4 pounds AND having a screen size of 12in or less...which this macbook air has a 13.3in screen. I think apple has tried to call it a ultraportable cause it is so thin and light, but its not. I have heard many complains on several forums today about it, it is not a ultraportable...

 

Not for me. I prefer the looks of the Sony in the posted pictures, and I am an Apple fanboy. The MB Air looks far from spectacular to me, but, to each his own.

 

Enjoy paying $3K+ then!!!!

 

Maybe you're talking about the TZ? The SZ has a faster processor than the Macbook Air, and a much faster hard drive too, and dedicated graphics.

 

LOL .

 

Thats no excuse, look at the ports all other ultraportables have (Expresscard, some have DVD drives, ethernet, modem, firewire, memory card readers, etc.) and their not much thicker than this and have a smaller footprint, which more so defines an ultraportable than thinness IMO.

 

Plus rep for someone else seeing it in a proper and logical manner. The Air is NOT an ultraportable. 13.3in screen and a massive bezel? I'll stick to my Q35 for taking to lectures thank you very much. At least I know it won't fall foul to an assault from "The Elements of Physical Chemistry" whilst in transit.