“Apple’s engineers know that there’s more to good design than just a spec-sheet full of numbers. It’s the sheer elegance of the Macbook Air’s slimline design that catches the eye, and when you feel how comfortably the machine balances in the palm of one hand you can’t help but wonder if your credit card will stretch to buying one,” Cliff Joseph reports for Personal Computer World. “There’s no doubt that Apple has hit the ultra-portable nail right on the head. But shrinking the unit down to this size has inevitably involved compromises in other areas.”
“Anyone looking for a powerful laptop to replace their desktop PC or Mac should probably look elsewhere as the Macbook Air simply doesn’t have the raw horsepower for that,” Joseph reports.
MacDailyNews Take: Hence the existence of Apple’s MacBook Pro.
Joesph continues, “Even so, it is more than adequate for running ordinary business software such as Microsoft Office, surfing the web and handling your email.”
“You will, however, probably end up spending a bit more on optional extras for the Macbook Air. The ultra-thin design leaves no room for a DVD drive at all, so watching DVDs is out of the question – unless you pay £65 [US$99] for the optional external DVD drive,” Joseph reports.
MacDailyNews Take: Why waste battery power spinning shiny plastic discs (and carrying them around) when there are far better ways of watching content on the go? Bring your iPod along and, while you’re at it, enable Disc Mode. Or – here’s a daring move – put a couple movies on the MBA’s drive.
Joseph continues, “There’s only a single USB port for connecting peripherals… while the lack of Ethernet is just daft.”
MacDailyNews Take: Targus’ Ultra Mini USB 2.0 4-Port Hub costs $19. Apple’s USB Ethernet Adapter connects to MBA’s USB 2.0 port and provides an RJ-45 connector which supports 10/100BASE-T Ethernet for $29. Each items weighs about an ounce. Any more meaningless complaints?
Joseph continues, “Omissions such as the lack of DVD drive and the non-replaceable battery will mean that the Macbook Air simply won’t be suitable for some people. And it’s not powerful enough to replace a desktop PC or Mac. However, the sheer size-zero slimness of the unit is hard to beat, so if portability is your top priority then the Macbook Air could be just what you’re looking for.”
MacDailyNews Take: If you want to carry an extra battery around, you want a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. If you’ll still determined, third-parties do make external batteries that plug into MBP’s and MB’s MagSafe power connector. External batteries that likewise support MBA should be arriving shortly.
Full review here.
I think Steve Jobs is simply a genius when it comes to launching new products. He never fails to do something audacious, resulting in a continued stream of debate… and free publicity.
I goes all the way back the very first iMac (which I purchased with glee) and he dropped the 3.5″ floppy drive. The whole industry thought he was nuts at the time.
I just love watching this guy turn industries (computers, films, music, telephones) on their proverbial heads and the world does its collective double-take every time.
I’m very nearly tired of hearing about the bloody MBA.
Explain to me why the macbook air isn’t powerful enough to replace a desktop mac. My mom has an eMac…is the macbook air not powerful enough to replace it? My sister has a G4 mac mini…is the macbook air not powerful enough to replace it?
To suggest that a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo with 2GB RAM is only suitable for word processing and email is just plain absurd.
@ jooop
Yes, the MBA would be fine to replace an eMac or G4 MacMini..
However, with the slower spinning hard drive and integrated graphics it is no match for a current gen desktop like the iMac.
Still, it is fine for eveyday mail, web and iLife usage.
Portable? I’ll give ’em that. Pretentious even, but that’s what MAC sheep are all about.
The MBA doesn’t ship with Windows Vista and therefore can’t play games so it’s pretty much useless. Add to that without Windows you can’t run Zune Marketplace to use a Zune so the story gets worse for the flimsy MBA. Whatever.
Your potential. Our passion.™
MBAs are useless.
I know at least 10 guys with MBAs and they don’t know shit from shinola.
By the way, what does a MBA have to do with a new Mac?
Other then pissing off the 3 people who own Zunes and the 10 that actually enjoy using Vista. The Air sets a new standard for Laptop systems in the Ultra Mobile space.
@C1
Especially when it is the same regurgitated points/counterpoints.
I keep hearing everyone complain about a lack of (built-in) Ethernet. Hmmm, I can’t remember the last time my PowerBook saw an Ethernet cable. It’s no longer just a wired world, it’s a wireless one too!
@ Al
But they do have those fancy phone holsters clipped to their kakis. That’s *hot*.
@ Spark
No kidding. I really like it, and I might buy one when flash prices come down in price and up in capacity. But geez… I get it already.
First I thought you were dumber than shit… but then I had to think about it a little more… then I realized for just a sec, I was dumber than shit.
Good one.
When I see a comment by You Know Who® up there I just move along.
It’s just not worth the effort to read drivel.
@Al
Like all MAC cultists you don’t know what you’re talking about. People with MBA’s are right up there with MSCE IT managers. These unsung heroes are the engine that makes business and the economy run. Why don’t you MAC-tards stick to your ‘graphic arts’ or whatever it is you do on your useless MACs and stay out of real world business discussions. Dorks.
Your potential. Our passion.™
I have to say, auren (the first poster here) has summed it up just perfectly.
C1, don’t be upset, it’s all good. Publicity for Apple is always good. I understand your frustration, but it’s just as well that everyone’s talking so much. It will sell everything else as well (MBPs, MBs, iMacs…).
I just picked mine up and it works perfectly on my airport network at home.While it took some thought to get connected at work, where I’m sharing an internet connection, it now works flawlessly and I really don’t need all the extra crap that some people carry around. I guess I can forego the usb-ethernet connector.
I do wish it had a floppy drive though.
NOT
@Ignore the Troll
I am not a troll. I am simply telling the truth and giving a voice to the silent majority of Windows enthusiasts in an effort to dispel the libelous attacks from uniformed MAC cultists on this site.
And thank you for taking the time to read my posts.
Your potential. Our passion.™
Well, the MBA can replace my current computers, a 15″TiPB and a 12″AluPB, and be much faster. Are tech writers always assuming people have the latest gear, and not upgrading?
Also, both of my laptops are limited to 1Gig of ram or less, and the harddrives are a 100Gig 7200rpm and a 120Gig 5400rpm but they came with 20Gigs and 40Gigs
I edit in Final Cut Pro, run After Effects, and Lightwave 3d, on a G5 dual desktop, I need a MacBook with 256mb VRAM. Now that most laptops are dual core, what more power does the average person need to email with? MBA’s should not be compared to a quad or octo-core desktop that only pros need, MacBook Airs ARE powerful enough for the Majority of people.
To the fake® ZT®: I am the original® ZuneTang®.
Anyway, for me, the MBA could definitely replace my current Macs, as Jooop said. Been using me old Pismo for over 7 years as my only computer, so the MBA would be a power boost for me. Hardly ever use a CD/DVD – only to install software that is not downloadable, but MBA can do that via AirPort. Don’t play nary games on computers, don’t do nary video editing, etc., so MBA could replace what I have, and I suspect it could replace most people’s computers 100%.
If only you were a bit bigger…
http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1137
MBA, the notebook for those who care only about how thin their notebook is.
The MacBook Air is a fine computer. Its only selling point though IS its size. If you want small, then this is your machine. Otherwise, a MacBook at $700 less would be a better choice or a MacBook Pro at $200 more.
I’m tired of hearing about the MBA. I want information about the new MacBooks and MacBook Pro’s. I’m ready to downsize from my 17″ to a 15″ MBP if and only if the screen resolution is increased to 1680×1050. Otherwise, I’ll go for another 17″ and go with the 1920×1200 resolution.
“Anyone looking for a powerful laptop to replace their desktop PC or Mac should probably look elsewhere as the Macbook Air simply doesn’t have the raw horsepower for that.”
MacDailyNews Take: Hence the existence of Apple’s MacBook Pro.
I know several people who have replaced their desktops with MacBooks or MacBook Pros. For people wanting portability and desktop power MacBook Air would not be a suitable choice. This point has been repeated for weeks.
You will, however, probably end up spending a bit more on optional extras for the Macbook Air. The ultra-thin design leaves no room for a DVD drive at all, so watching DVDs is out of the question – unless you pay £65 [US$99] for the optional external DVD drive.”
MacDailyNews Take: Why waste battery power spinning shiny plastic discs (and carrying them around) when there are far better ways of watching content on the go? Bring your iPod along and, while you’re at it, enable Disc Mode. Or – here’s a daring move – put a couple movies on the MBA’s drive.
All other MacBooks can play films from iPods and their hard drives, too. Why hasn’t Apple offered other notebooks without preinstalled SuperDrives if installed DVD drives are now obsolete or unnecessary technology for notebooks? If the ostensible desktop at home or work already has a DVD drive installed, or if you have a handy iPod, why does Apple sell a power draining external SuperDrive for MBA?
“There’s only a single USB port for connecting peripherals… while the lack of Ethernet is just daft.”
</b>MacDailyNews Take: Targus’ Ultra Mini USB 2.0 4-Port Hub costs $19. Apple’s USB Ethernet Adapter connects to MBA’s USB 2.0 port and provides an RJ-45 connector which supports 10/100BASE-T Ethernet for $29. Each items weighs about an ounce.</b>
If the Ethernet doodad only “weighs about an ounce” why couldn’t Apple’s design the MDA with this one tiny device preinstalled? Surely, this lil’ dongle would neither add significant weight nor consume too much volume. If FireWire isn’t dead is Apple ready to pull the plug, and what will Mac owners with FireWire hard drives do then?
”Omissions such as the … non-replaceable battery will mean that the Macbook Air simply won’t be suitable for some people.”
MacDailyNews Take: If you want to carry an extra battery around, you want a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. If you’ll still determined, third-parties do make external batteries that plug into MBP’s and MB’s MagSafe power connector. External batteries that likewise support MBA should be arriving shortly.<b>
Some people <b>need to carry another battery because of the lack of an external power supply. Carrying your own power has less to do with one’s determination or desire to lug extra weight, but the necessity of accessing uninterruptible power to have a functioning notebook. Besides, wouldn’t the external battery add the weight one has to lug around and kill the whole MBA portability, lightness, and thinness proposition; and severely limit the usefulness of MBA?
MacDailyNews Take: Any more meaningless complaints?
Any more meaningless MacDailyNews takes?