“The Apple MacBook Air is a seminal computer. There I said it. I’m not going to pretend that my opinion is the final word (or anything close to it) but I will weigh in by saying it’s a ground-breaking product. After using it for about two months, here’s why,” Brooke Crothers writes for CNET’s Crave. “(Note: I am not a Mac enthusiast. This is the first Apple [Mac] I’ve ever owned.)”
1. Very thin, very light but comparatively fast. That’s no mean feat.
2. Solid state drive (SSD): The SSD is revolutionary.
3. Sturdy. For a sub-one-inch-thin notebook, it feels remarkably solid.
4. Battery life. I can only compare the battery life against the other PC notebooks I use. The Air beats them all.
5. Looks. You can’t beat the aesthetics.
Full article here.
Great review! Hopefully, the voices of reason will continue to drown out the obtuse squealing of stupidity and cluelessness.
And from the C|Net review:
“Choosing the Air over the cheaper, faster standard 13-inch MacBook, or the comparably priced MacBook Pro, will depend on your needs. Travelers who want minimum weight, maximum screen real estate, and who live their lives via Wi-Fi hot spots, with little need for wired connectivity, will find the $1,799 starting price a reasonable investment for owning one of the world’s premier bits of high-tech eye candy. And while the MacBook Air’s specs are inferior to those found on the cheaper MacBook, they compare more favorably when you look at other ultraportables, where a price premium is always exacted. For instance, both the Sony VAIO TZ150 and Toshiba Portege R500 cost hundreds more than the MacBook Air and feature slower CPUs and half the RAM as the Air.”
SOoo … he compared the battery life against “the other PC notebooks I use” and the MBA wins?!? Are the other notebooks he uses also Ultra-lights or are their batteries nothing to brag about? Well, the SSD is better about battery use than the HD model … that could be it. Ultra-lights are generally not so much about battery life as about light weight – at nearly any cost. And battery life is often part of the price you pay.
So! I guess this is even more of a rave review than it seems at first glance. Bravo!
Still lusting.
Refreshingly enough, the reviewer gets it right.
Can you say seminal here? Gee…. I use mine for other purposes.
I think the Native American tribes of Florida deserve nothing less.
I think the SSD is revolutionary, and I can’t wait until they become mainstream. It’s hard to judge just how revolutionary from the article though, since he’s comparing the Air to a PC laptop’s hard drive thrashing, and a big part of the Air’s performance boost could be from OS X.
MDN, selective comment editing, much? How does Buster get away with a comment like that?
As for the MBA, it’s a great product and it’s finally about time that we heard from a level-headed reviewer. Here’s to hoping for more of them.
Although it’s a great, beautiful product, I don’t see a need for it. I have 15″ MBP. The weight is solid but not too heavy. I do a lot of photo editing in full-screen mode. At that, it’s painstaking on a 15-inch monitor. It would most definitely suck on a 13″ screen. If it wasn’t for the price, this would be a perfect present for my girlfriend. For the life of me, I can’t get her to switch, even though her sister has. Grrrrr!
http://www.tmsruge.com
If he has never owned a Mac, then the first thing he should have noticed was OS X.
Yeah the underpowered MBA is great toy to have lying around all those other laptops he has to review….
Oh hey isn’t that economic crunch coming…yeah looks like the computer for every occasion project will have to be held off until the next economic upswing. People can’t afford to shell out for 2 computers when they need to pay the mortgage first. They need a laptop that does not require a supplemental computer, right out of the box. This is a great concept…and once they figure out how to make a practical laptop with the MBA’s foot print more ppl will, and should, spend their precious few bucks on it.
What folks here need to understand is that they are fanatics of anything Apple does. Apple enthusiasts. If this is your hobby..yeah you need an MBA, an original iSight, a Lisa, etc. etc. I still have my message pad 1000. Real people that do have radio shows, home decorating empires, or make Apple products a hobby want a computer that is not a gadget. The MBA is a gadget right now. The next version won’t be. The first iPhone was a gadget. Now it is a real telephony platform.
We should stop paying top dollar for Apple’s beta projects.
Just my $0.02
@ Ray,
You are free to pay for HP’s or Dell’s beta products. I am sure you’ll get a good run for your money.
http://tmsruge.com
@Ray
here’s your 1¢ change for your opinion
P.S. option key is your friend
The Windows sheep keep coming over to the Mac side as if they are ringing the dinner bell at the Cupertino farm.
@Ampar
“obtuse squealing of stupidity and cluelessness.”
Did you have in mind our particular friend who has yet to appear here?
I wish I could read the review, but reversed-out type wrecks my eyes. Is it just me?
What works in print doesn’t always work on a computer monitor.
Ray, sorry your house is being foreclosed on.
Ray, you ignorant slut.
The iPhone was no beta or gadget; what an incredibly solid, useful, bug free, roll-out for such a radical, version 1.0, engineering marvel.
I buy Apple products because they deliver, not because it is my hobby. And because the products deliver, I am enthused.
You call the MBA a toy. Why? Because it focuses on the aesthetics of lightness, thinness over certain expendable features?
(Dictionary: expendable – of little significance when compared to an overall purpose, and therefore able to be abandoned)
The MBA is not just a gadget, it delivers a desirable experience, an experience that, taken as a whole, is greater than the sum of it’s parts.
The MBA delivers art. Art is not a toy.
Many real people, people who also happen to be successful, do have the money, they see past the spec sheet, and they value the synergy and the art delivered by the MBA.
The MBA is a serious product. It is a great product. It will sell. It is selling.
To mark:
He’s definitely no friend. But he’ll waddle, belch and stagger in and maintain his ultimate buffoon status by comparing the MBA to the MacBook Pro or similar laptops rather than ultraportables. He’ll never get it. He’s just that thick-headed. He’s also incredibly easy to bait. A sure sign of arrogance and blind obstinance.
And to Ray:
“The first iPhone was a gadget.”
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read today. Use one for a few days first or STFU. The maps widget alone has helped me out of a jam more than a few times. Come back when you’ve actually used one for awhile.
I’ll see your 2¢ and raise you with common sense.
Ampar:
”Great review.”
It has already been established that Ampar, Big Al, mark, Crabs, et al. think alike and any other fanboi who thinks like them is, according to their definition, a “great mind”.
Fanboi Cothers has not compared MBA with any other Apple notebook so a prudent consumer would find his article absolutely useless when deciding which Apple notebook to purchase. Fanboi Crothers also fails to mention what other PC notebooks he owns, the age of his PCs, the types of batteries the machines use, what software was installed, etc. In other words, his article is a complete crap.
So, what do our resident fanbois rave about? What does this crappy article provide that arouses the fanboi population? Fortunately, Crothers provides his list of insipid insights:
1. Very thin, very light but comparatively fast.
Item one consists of three features. MBA is light and thin – that’s obvious. Anyone with a third grade education should be able to read the specification at http://www.apple.com. Persons interested primarily in thin, lightweight notebooks may find these two features desirable. Of course, to achieve this lightweight and thinness Apple has purposefully deleted other features such as Ethernet and Firewire connectivity that some users may find indispensable when WiFi is out of range or an additional connector is needed. “Fast” is a relative term. Faster than what, Crothers? A MBA with 1.6 GHz CPU is much faster than a G3 400 MHz notebook, but significantly slower than any other Macbook or Macbook Pro equipped with 2.1, 2.4, or 2.6 GHz CPUs, depending on the model. For those who don’t care about ultimate power, the slower MBA is adequate to perform the mundane tasks of emailing, word processing, and web browsing. The kinds of activities that most elementary school children are familiar with today.
2. Solid state drive (SSD): The SSD is revolutionary.
It also raises the cost of the MBA to over $3,000 and the SSD is also a meager 64 GB. If you have very few files to maintain the MBA is adequate to store them. If, however, you require a hard drive with greater capacity the Macbooks and Macbook Pros can be equipped with drives of 160, 200, or 250 GB, depending on the model. A common belief is that the MBA SSD is faster than most other notebooks without SSD, In fact, the Macbook Pro without SSD still boots 2.5 seconds faster than the MBA (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=1288). In other words, for MBA with SSD you get a smaller hard drive than costs nearly a grand and is slower than a Santa Rosa equipped Macbook Pro. The only “revolutionary” thing about SSD is that SSD now becoming integrated into consumer products, but only with a huge financial cost in dollars per GB. The SSD does not have add any appreciable speed to the MBAs, which, as mentioned previously, contain the slowest CPUs of all notebooks in the Apple product line.
3. Sturdy. For a sub-one-inch-thin notebook, it feels remarkably solid.
MBA “feels remarkably solid”. No quantifiable data are presented regarding how robust or “sturdy” the MBA actually is. You have to believe that Crothers has some fanboi superpowers that exceed that of normal persons.
4. Battery life. I can only compare the battery life against the other PC notebooks I use. The Air beats them all.
Fanboi has failed to report the actual battery life of his machines. Crothers demonstrated that he is not a quantifiable and objective thinker by failing to provide comparable numbers. MBA beats the battery life of all “other PC notebooks” he uses, but, again, no number are offered for the reader to contemplate nor can these data be applied to other Apple notebooks. Fanboi also provides no description of his testing procedures, so you have to take on faith that his testing, observational and analytical skills were performed without bias. Fanboi conspicuously neglects to mention that to replace the battery will require the loosening and removal of 19 screws or sending MBA off to Apple. All of the other Macbooks and Macbook Pro batteries can be replaced in less than 5 seconds by the user without having to use a screw driver.
5. Looks. You can’t beat the aesthetics.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The last and most important phrase from Crothers is “Obviously, the Air has its (well-publicized) shortcomings.” However, fanboi does not list these. Why not? Only fsnboi knows for certain, but I suspect that listing MBA deficiencies would provide a list longer than that of Crothers raves.
So, how would an intelligent and thoughtful person make an objective decision which Apple notebook to purchase? Well, if they read Crothers crap they would have no real information that would give them a sense how to evaluate which notebook was best for them.
Afib,
Do you need a hug?
Did you all see number 5 on the list?
5. Looks. You can’t beat the aesthetics.
Talk about obtuse squealing, stupidity and cluelessness. “Look at me, I’m a MAC lemming and isn’t my MAC Book Air pretty?” Give me a break. That silly thing looks like a make-up compact for little girls.
Your potential. Our passion.™
To Zune Tang®:
NICE ! !
Now I miss my old, trusty TRS-80. Good times.
Well it sounds as if he’s starting to come around…
Wow, I think we should all meet at the vacant lot down the street and bring this thang to fisticuffs.
“Turn my headphones up…. What?”
What the hell can you buy with 2¢? Let’s get fid of the penny!
It probably contains 5¢ worth of copper anyway. Melt the damn things down!
Ampar:
Since you provided the following quote, I assume that it contains information you find important. Strangely, the very quote you thread repeats everything That I have bren threading.
“Choosing the Air over the cheaper, faster standard 13-inch MacBook, or the comparably priced MacBook Pro, will depend on your needs.”
That’s precisely what I have been saying. One has to make an objective decision which notebook most optimally fits their needs. To make that decision requires careful and objective comparisons between all models.
“Travelers who want minimum weight, maximum screen real estate, and who live their lives via Wi-Fi hot spots, with little need for wired connectivity, will find the $1,799 starting price a reasonable investment for owning one of the world’s premier bits of high-tech eye candy.”
Well, Ampar, WiFi is NOT always available where I travel. I need Ethernet when I am out of range. Therefore, MBA is not the ideal notebook for people for whom WiFi is a hit or miss phenomenon. Again, that’s precisely what I have been saying.
“And while the MacBook Air’s specs are inferior to those found on the cheaper MacBook, they compare more favorably when you look at other ultraportables, where a price premium is always exacted.”
Other PC notebooks CANNOT run OS X- that should be obvious even to you, Ampar. So a person who wants a notebook with OS X and has superior specs would be wise to purchase Macbook or Macbook Pro versus MBA. Again and again, that’s precisely what I have been saying.
I you find this quote intriguing you’re beginning to think like me, Ampar. In spite of your childish attitude and crass language you may actually be getting smarter by reading my threads.
Hey Big Al,
The US government has determined that it costs more than a penny to make a penny.
But if we got rid of pennies, how would we make change for the oh-so-many things that cost 0.99, 1.99, 2.99, etc?
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@afib
This product is not targeted toward an alpha geek like you.
Vocal geeks show up in abundance in blogs and forums but represent a tiny minority of consumers.
The consumers for which the MBA is targeted see the rich, blend/balance of practicality, usefulness and aesthetics that the product offers.
The targeted audience sees technology not as an end in itself but as an adjunct to the quality of their lives. To you, technology IS your life. To them, your objections are of little concern.
Most auto mechanics will use a suitable set of tools to do their job. But some will raise the quality of their lives and spend the extra money for Snap-on tools solely because of the aesthetics the tools bring to the job.
There is a philosophy of life at work here. The MBA apparently does not fit your philosophy, but for many, it will.
Well said, Thomas.
Afib, why do you keep repeating yourself in thread after thread?
Everyone agrees that the MBA trades “features” for portability. Don’t you?
Everyone agrees that there are some people who value portability over those missing features. Don’t you?
The only question is, when compared to other ultra-portables, whether Apple has picked the right features to discard in return for that portability. Many ultra-portables keep ports, removable battery, and optical drive, but wind up with greater thickness/ size/weight, lower CPU speed, lower battery life, etc. Others go with smaller screen, smaller keyboard to keep size down.
What features do you think the MBA should have if its volume (about 53 cubic inches) and weight (3 lbs or less) were the only starting constraints?
Ray,
Call it what you will.
But the first version of an Apple product still works better and provides for more productivity and entertainment than the second, third, or even fourth version of a product from someone else, especially if such product is powered by Microsoft software.
@Afib
Glad to see you’re back and thank you for keeping your posts concise. Too many MAC dorks just drone on about specifications, price, or their unique needs. Typical boring comments from losers who use boring computers. And way to keep the MAC fanbois (can I use your word?) at bay with your sharp wit. Us Windows enthusiasts can always use more like you. Keep it up!
My Windows detection engine has you posting from a Windows Vista Ultimate machine. If not you should be. You deserve the best.
Glad to have you aboard and let’s take it to the MAC sheep!
Your potential. Our passion.™
He says he’s not a Mac enthusiast, but he loves his Mac — he sure sounds like a Mac enthusiast to me.
@NeoMonkey
Try Ctl-Alt-Command on those pages you need to reverse…
Thomas:
”The consumers for which the MBA is targeted see the rich, blend/balance of practicality, usefulness and aesthetics that the product offers.”
What a load of ill-defined, pompous crap.
If, as you suggest, MBA is “targeted” for certain users then the logical corollary is that MBA is NOT targeted for other users. Those for whom MBA is not the ideal machine there are obvious criteria which can assist users deciding which other notebooks are optimal choices. These criteria are both objective and subjective.
Objective features, by definition, are rigorous, continuous, quantifiable, and comparable. Therefore, lower or higher numerical values can be compared to rank “usefulness” or “practicality” of well-defined and exacting specifications or features. Subjective features are mere opinion or descriptive data. Although subjective data can be ranked as well, subjective data are not considered rigorous data. I hope that this making sense to you.
”The targeted audience sees technology not as an end in itself but as an adjunct to the quality of their lives. To you, technology IS your life. To them, your objections are of little concern.”
If a person needs a notebook with more than 1.6 or 1.8 GHz CPU (versus 2.1, 2.4 , or 2.6 GHz), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than 64 or 80 GB of storage (versus 160, 200, or 250 GB), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than 2 MB of storage (versus 4 MB), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with user upgradeable RAM, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more Ethernet connectivity, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than 80 GB of storage, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than USB connectivity (i.e needs additional FireWire connectivity), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than a 13-inch monitor, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with easily replaceable batteries, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
Now, a person can judge for themselves whether each MBA deficiency is or is not a significant shortcoming or limitation for them. You, for example, may consider that a machine with a slower CPU, less RAM, smaller LCD, smaller hard drive, and no Ethernet connectivity is well worth the two grand you would be expected to pay. For you, an otherwise technologically deficient 3 lb machine with aesthetic appeal is a bargain. Other people (i.e. the group not targeted for MBA) would legitimately conclude that either Macbook or Macbook Pro the optimal machine. These persons would legitimately consider a portable machine that weighs 5 to 5.4 lbs than can function in more and varied environments the better choice.
” Most auto mechanics will use a suitable set of tools to do their job. But some will raise the quality of their lives and spend the extra money for Snap-on tools solely because of the aesthetics the tools bring to the job.
More pompous crap.
I don’t know who your mechanics are, but the people I speak with who use tools select items based on such “technological” criteria such as fit, finish, width, depth, durability, strength, etc. Many of these specifications are defined as quantifiable standards of quality and performance established by accredited professional and industry groups, institutes, and colleges. If you would actually read these standards, you will find quantifiable and objective measures defined and listed, not mere opinion or subjective rankings of “aesthetic” appeal. So, what publishable and peer reviewed quality and performance standards do you fanbois refer to?
Mr Agreeable:
“Afib, why do you keep repeating yourself in thread after thread?”
Because fanbois can’t or won’t read previous threads or lack comprehension, I have to spoon-feed them. Like many of the persons in my classes, fanbois, need constant and consistent instruction to reinforce simple subjects. The most challenging aspect of my work is overcoming these students’ limited comprehension, attention deficits, poor study skills, and inherent biases. I suppose that my experiences in public education tend to blend into my threads.
I thought the Windows Detection Engine was infallible
Um, that thing you like… I don’t like. Let’s fight.
Thanks for putting that so eloquently, Thomas!
dearest afib
If a person needs a notebook
let them choose
otherwise your
pompous
sanctimonious
self-righteous
arrogant
crap
belongs in the same place you crawled out of…
the toilet
James:
Apparently “eloquently” is a fanboi euphemism for “pompous crap”.
feral:
What makes you think that your opinions matter the slightest to me?
@afib
… pompous…?
You are clearly the prime shoveler of pomposity here.
Who are you to declare anyone who does not agree with you a “fanboi”?
Who is screaming at the readers with emphasized text?
Is it not you who are speaking condescendingly to your readers with statements like, “I hope that this is making sense to you.”
You speak as if people who would buy a MBA are unaware of the specifications or are incapable of considering specifications. How pompous of you.
You can spout all you want about specifications but the truth for many is that there are additional considerations.
The fact is that subjective decisions based on intangibles such as aesthetics and overall user experience and emotional appeal is core to consumer sales.
Apple is taking this truth to the bank with the MBA. And those profits will be quite quantifiable.
Don’t get me wrong, I personally am not attracted to purchasing the MBA. I, like you, tend more to weigh the specs (but not to the extreme that you do).
You have a “bean counter” mentality. For many people, counting beans, quantifying, getting all anal and ranting is not their thing.
Self-righteously insisting that all who do not yield beneath your tyranny of numbers is a fool makes you an ass.
In fact it makes you a pompous ass.
same reason yours don’t mean anything to me
Afib is another ultra MS/PC loverboy that will never get it. He’ll never be happy unless these criteria are covered.
1. Must cost dirt cheap
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2. Must have multiple lights that blink with and glow during use.
3. Must have multiple lights that blink and glow when sleeping.
4. Must have multiple lights that blink and glow when turned off.
5. Must have many quadruple ports and slots and hole and vents.
6. Must have 4 to 5 ways to enable an option on the machine.
7. Must have 4 to 5 ways to enable an option and must be located in areas of the machine and software in the most unintuitive way possible.
9. Must come in black, two tone, three tone, four tone and have a red button somewhere or anywhere on the device.
10. The Big one. Must have multiple stickers that say VISTA CAPABLE. Heck even VISTA READY, VISTA IN IT ALREADY, VISTA WILL BE ON IT ALREADY, VISTA CAN BE PUT IN IT ALREADY, VISTA REMOVABLE READY FOR WINDOWS 7 READY.
so, uh, how bout that Obama?
What I got out of the review and ALL of the subsequent comments:
The MBA is an over priced, under powered, luxury that compares very well with other over priced, under powered luxuries. If you happen to be someone with plenty of cash, and don’t really need the full power of a less expensive, higher powered model, then the over priced, under powered luxury suits you.
And if you say anything negative about the over priced, under powered luxury, there are people here that will want to scratch your eyes out like mean little girls.
”Who are you to declare anyone who does not agree with you a “fanboi”?
If you would read my threads, Thomas, you would understand that my beef is with those that cannot understand the simple and prudent process of intelligent consumerism. An intelligent consumer objectively and thoughtfully compares and contrasts the various machines he or she wishes to purchase, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each, then makes an informed decision.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
”Who is screaming at the readers with emphasized text?”
MDN allows users to post with emphasized text. If that is a feature that you wish MDN to omit – your beef is with them. Besides, if you consistently applied your angst against the use of “screaming” text you would have made your point to anyone who uses bold text, all capital letters, emoticons, etc. to accentuate text for clarity or formatting or bring attention to their threads.
If bold text too much for you then do the following:
1. Copy and paste the text using your favorite word processing software.
2. Select “All Text”.
3. Convert all text to standard formatting.
”Is it not you who are speaking condescendingly to your readers with statements like, “I hope that this is making sense to you.”
How you intepret my threads is more a reflection of your own personality and thought processes. Also, you have conveniently not railed against the crass language that others use frequently, so I infer that your complain is based on your personal dislike of me more than some universal standards regarding threading. In other words, you have no credibility as a critic, but you seem to be a perfect example of a hypocrite.
”You speak as if people who would buy a MBA are unaware of the specifications or are incapable of considering specifications. How pompous of you.”
Firstly, some people ARE unaware of the specifications of MBA. My motivation is to help them, what is your motivation? I never suggested that anyone was “incapable” of considering the specifications. I merely listed the specifications that I thought were most significant. Obviously, your beef is not with the specifications, but my listing them – the same specs that Apple lists on its website. If you don’t like the specs for MBA, complain to Apple, not me.
Secondly, others have also listed certain specifications and features of the various Mac notebooks, but you have conspicuously failed to characterize their threads as pompous. Your inconsistency and bias tends to suggest that your intent is purely discriminatory and prejudiced. In other words, because you are inconsistent with your criticisms, you have no credibility with me. Therefore, I really cannot grant you the benefit of collegiality that I would give a person who did not show such bias and inconsistency.
”You can spout all you want about specifications but the truth for many is that there are additional considerations.”
I did acknowledge that some persons would consider the aesthetics of MBA as important features. You might be surprised that some people print specifications (http://www.apple.com) and other people actually read them. If you wish Apple not to print the specifications of their product, please communicate your concerns to them. If you wish Apple to also list subjective scores for each Mac product and/or use more adjectives in their advertising, please, communicate this to Apple, too.
”The fact is that subjective decisions based on intangibles such as aesthetics and overall user experience and emotional appeal is core to consumer sales.”
Everyone is entitled to their opinions of aesthetics. I think that MBA is aesthetically pleasing, but has too many functional or technological limitations to be useful in the diversity of environments that I work. It is conceivable that MBA users do not need a more powerful notebook than MBA for the tasks that they do and have ready access to WiFi 24/7. Of course, some may want a notebook more than just for its physical appearance, and need a machined with the capacity to function well in multiple environments. That is their choice, too, even if it differs from yours or if they rank functionality over aestheticism.
”Apple is taking this truth to the bank with the MBA. And those profits will be quite quantifiable.
It is true that MBA has attracted the attention of many people. I would suspect that it was not just aesthetics that convinced many of them to spend two or three grand. Of course, Apple’s profits from MBA do not imply how well MBA functions as a personal computer any more than sales of Cleveland Brown’s season tickets indicate the potential of the Browns to reach the playoffs.
Don’t get me wrong, I personally am not attracted to purchasing the MBA. I, like you, tend more to weigh the specs (but not to the extreme that you do).
Extreme? What technological deficiencies did you estimate as being too “extreme” for you not to purchase MBA?
”You have a “bean counter” mentality. For many people, counting beans, quantifying, getting all anal and ranting is not their thing.”
You admitted that you also evaluated the specifications of MBA, but you are not a “bean counter”? So, precisely how many specifications did you evaluate?
”Self-righteously insisting that all who do not yield beneath your tyranny of numbers is a fool makes you an ass. In fact it makes you a pompous ass.”
Whatever.
Determining whether the MBA is overpriced/underpowered/underfeatured or not depends on what set of priorities you have and what other models you are comparing it to.
I have no problem with the judgements of those who have a fairly complete understanding of the pros and cons, no matter whether they like the MBA or not. Afib has determined that other models offer more performance at a lower cost. Those virtues are more important to Afib than thinness or lightness. No problem, not hard to understand.
I do however think it is sad that somebody with such a clear understanding of the relative virtues and pitfalls of a particular computer model has chosen to express themselves in such an inflammatory manner regarding the differing opinions of others. We have all arrived at this point with different perspectives, different perceived needs and different financial circumstances.
The opinions of those who understand the MBA and consider it to be a wise choice for their individual circumstances are just as valid as those of somebody who comes to a different conclusion for their own circumstances. It is possible to understand, appreciate and purchase the MBA without being a fanboi, and it is possible to prefer other machines without hating Apple, loving Microsoft or being a jerk about it.
It would be good if we could all lighten up, or at least learn to ignore those who can’t. Most of us have more important things to be upset about and more productive outlets for our excess energy.
feral:
“same reason yours don’t mean anything to me.
If my threads didn’t matter to you, you would not have have commented at all, but you did. However, your thread proves that my thread(s) did matter to you.
Do you see the logical inconsistency in your thinking? Why should I consider what you thread as meaningful or important if you demonstrate such irrational thinking? I would never know what you threaded was sincere and thoughtful or just disingenuous nonsense.
HEY! More dumbass, childish mud-slinging! So when do the “your mom” jokes start?
Once again, thanks for the laughs, retards!!
Afib,
Give the rest of these posters your website address so they can go there and hijack everyone of your threads.
notafib:
Inflammatory?
Firstly, without you being more specific, I find your use of generalized and unsubstantiated statements groundless.
Secondly, why or why not would you consider other threads here inflammatory or not? If you cannot provide examples, I would be glad to provide them for you, then you can evaluate then explain your reasoning.
@afib
Thanks for further illustrating my point.
Hmmm… Feels like junior high in here…
@atari
Your Mom BluRay
Thomas:
What point was that?
@Afib
Why do I get the notion that you just love to hear yourself sound off? Give it a rest.
Wow!…. I’m one of those people who visits MDN several times a day and usually enjoys the news items and the commentary, but very rarely posts. However, it’s like a virus has invaded this thread (and many other recent items regarding the MBA), and I feel like I need to say something.
If you read even a small portion of Afib’s many posts, it’s clear that he/she has an unusually high emotional need to feel like their opinion is “correct” on this subject. It’s way out of whack with the importance of this subject to the Apple “World” (Apple will do just fine whether the MBA is a success or not), let alone the B-I-G world outside of Apple.
Even attempts to deal with Afib via humor (thanks Ampar!) or light sarcasm (thanks Zune Tang!) have only fueled Afib’s vitriol. For some reason Afib has such a powerful emotional need to be perceived as being “right” on this subject that he/she has repeatedly composed lengthy, verbose diatribes in this forum.
So, I say “Stop the Madness!” Let’s stop feeding into Afib’s obsession with this topic. Let’s try and purge this thread of the Afib Virus.
Afib:
– You are right! The MacBook Air is flawed in EXACTLY the way you say it is flawed.
– You are right! People who buy the MacBook Air thinking they are getting an elegant, well thought-out, well designed, well-functioning sub-notebook are simply deluding themselves.
– You are right! People whose opinions on the MacBook Air differ from yours are fools and deserve every syllable of the tongue-lashing you mete out in this forum.
– All Hail Afib!
— Did I cover everything? Have I now maintained the order or your universe? Can you please stop your propagation on MDN now and find another virtual host?
auren:
“Why do I get the notion that you just love to hear yourself sound off?”
I don’t know what you think, only you can answer that question. Maybe your a fanboi who can’t bear the fact that logic trumps bias so you want me to stop threading.
“Give it a rest.”
If you ask a question of me or post a thread about my threads, I do feel an obligation to respond. Besides, you seem only concerned about my threading here, which I interpret as an inherent bias on your part.
MDN uses the number of hits per day to drive up the cost of advertising on it site, so MDN has a vested interest in increasing threads. If you can pay them more than the advertisers I am certain they would listen to you.
Besides, MDN is a public forum, so get used to it or start your own private blog.
Zune Tang’s mom is that pregnant guy we saw on TV the other night.
Afib honey, you forgot your meds today. I hope the fits aren’t too bad. Left some brownies and milk out for you, snookums. Let me know when your little D & D club is finished.
Love,
Your Mother
The DataDude:
“If you read even a small portion of Afib’s many posts, it’s clear that he/she has an unusually high emotional need to feel like their opinion is “correct” on this subject.”
No, you are wrong. I am not trying to convince anyone else to think like me or prove myself correct. I am simply sharing an alternate opinion and explaining my position. If you don’t like it, well, too bad.
“Even attempts to deal with Afib via humor (thanks Ampar!) or light sarcasm (thanks Zune Tang!) have only fueled Afib’s vitriol. For some reason Afib has such a powerful emotional need to be perceived as being “right” on this subject that he/she has repeatedly composed lengthy, verbose diatribes in this forum.”
Ampar’s and others use of crass language and profanity is hardly the example of intelligent and rational thought processes. It’s not “vitriol”, it’s attempting to convey a message that some others seem oblivious to understand.
You may not agree with my threads, but to characterize them as as being hostile is groundless. Maybe your revealing your own deep-seated animosity. Ever think of that?
My threads may be verbose, but I know of no other way of attempting to explain myself clearly. If you have any advice how I can edit my threads and still communicate clearly, please, be my guest, and present them. Who knows, maybe everyone can learn something from you.
You rule. Your superiority is obvious. Please allow us to lick the heel of your mighty boot. We will relent and and carry around 8 pound bricks so that we can ceck our email a few times during our business trips and vacations. We will stop speaking poorly of your mother who probably did the best she could. All hail Afib and his flaming pants.
Thank you, The DataDude! And you’re welcome.
Excuse me now while I go mow the crass. I’ve got plenty of fertilizer from some of these posts.
To Buster:
“Zune Tang’s mom is that pregnant guy . . .”
I guess he took someone a bit too literally when told to go screw himself.
I’m stuck in the office today, at least it’s ENTERTAINING dumb ass, childish mudslinging. Zune Tang is in the rarest of forms.
To James:
Oh man! Sorry to hear about the weekend office duty! I hope you at least have a nice window view.
Should we order you a pizza?
The DataDude:
You can certainly take my words out of context. Perhaps if I explain the errors of your interpretations you can relax and enjoy life again.
“The MacBook Air is flawed in EXACTLY the way you say it is flawed.”
I said MBA was deficient in certain ways, not flawed. You can certainly go back to my original threads and read them again. I will not repeat my points again. If you have any specific questions, present them, and I will explain them to you.
All machines are deficient in some form or another. There would be no product development if there was no recognition that some feature, specification, or component could not be improved. That’s what drives innovation. However, innovation of itself is no guarantee of universal acceptance nor is it likely that would anyone design a machine that fits every conceivable need.
Besides, if you read the reviews of ANY Mac product from 1984 till now you will find persons commenting on the strengths and weakness of the product. This should be no surprise to any informed and astute person. If you have read the various reviews of MBA you would have recognized that many others have also commented on the limited usefulness of MBA – not just me.
“People who buy the MacBook Air thinking they are getting an elegant, well thought-out, well designed, well-functioning sub-notebook are simply deluding themselves.”
No, that’s not what I said. I said that anyone who does not carefully and thoughtfully compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of ALL Apple notebooks is deluding themselves when they make a purchase. My motive was to ensure that persons debating purchase of an Apple notebook made a fully informed decision. I am hoping to prevent even one person from experiencing buyer’s remorse from making too hasty a purchase.
Would you agree with me that Mac users ought to make fully informed decisions when selecting their Macs?
“People whose opinions on the MacBook Air differ from yours are fools and deserve every syllable of the tongue-lashing you mete out in this forum. All Hail Afib!”
Now you’re just being completely irrational.
“Did I cover everything?”
I don’t know, did you?
”Have I now maintained the order or your universe?”
The order of my universe is not affected by those who thread here at MDN. It is hubris on your part to think that you or anyone else here at MDN has the power to alter my universe.
“Can you please stop your propagation on MDN now and find another virtual host?”
Considering the endemic lack of understanding here at MDN, I feel it is my obligation as a Mac user since 1985, to raise the consciousness and understanding of visitors and regular alike. You see, it would be unacceptable for me not to correct the misinterpretations of so many.
Would you agree with me that correcting misinterpretations is a good thing?
As if anyone (besides ZuneThang) is interested in bad looking stuff.
Only 45 minutes left, but thank you!
Afib, we got ’em right where we want ’em! Just look at the replies to your brilliant posts. You’re really getting under the fanboi’s skin. You blind MAC lemmings can’t take much more, can you? If Afib is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Afib my brother, all I can say is keep the posts coming, and do try to expound further. Don’t try to edit yourself—feel free to expand on your ideas. Let the genius flow. As a fellow Windows enthusiast I find your work fascinating and riveting. I’m even more impressed you spent an entire Saturday posting and replying. Awesome!
Your potential. Our passion.™
Zune Tang:
You might be right, ZT. Maybe the intellectual capacity of the fanbois at MDN is so limited that my efforts to engage in rational discussion is futile.
So much for the majority of Mac users being more enlightened and discerning than people like you, huh?
to Afib: A few rants do not make you convincing. You obviously missed the point of the article. Reread it and process its writer’s ideas before commenting.
LOL:
Oh, you must one of those enlightened and discerning Mac users. Thank you for showing up. I was wondering when one of you self-described Mac geniuses would chime in.
Now, what was that obvious point that I missed? I don’t want to waste your precious time by answering the wrong body of text.
If you would be so magnanimous and reveal which of my points was in error I would be so glad to read your comments. I mean, basking in the radiance of your brilliance would mean so much to me.
@afib
Apparently you have a difficulty with reading comprehension. You wrote, repeatedly:
“Fanboi Crothers”
blatently ignoring Crothers statement:
“(Note: I am not a Mac enthusiast. This is the first Apple I’ve ever owned.)”
Your repeated use of the appellation “fanboi” is obvious argumentum ad hominum… a logical fallacy. It does nothing to forward your argument except alert readers to your bias.
You also wrote:
“Fanboi Crothers also fails to mention what other PC notebooks he owns. . .”
But Crothers did indeed mention a PC notebook he has owned:
“Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past (<u>e.g., the Compaq Evo N400c</u>) were thin and light but slow.”
You wrote:
Faster than what, Crothers?
And Crothers had already told you what it was faster than:
“Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past…”
You wrote:
“MBA “feels remarkably solid”. No quantifiable data are presented regarding how robust or “sturdy” the MBA actually is. You have to believe that Crothers has some fanboi superpowers that exceed that of normal persons.”
Why should anyone believe to make a subjective judgement about the solidity of any three dimensional object, especially when compared to a ” sub-one-inch-thin notebook,” that anyone needs “superpowers?” I can lift it and comparably thin notebooks and observe and report which feel “remarkably solid.” Can’t you? Do you want him to jump up and down on his notebook so he could report whether it did or did not crush? That is far beyond the scope of this 458 word opinion piece.
You wrote:
“Fanboi has failed to report the actual battery life of his machines.”
Yes, he did… perhaps not to the detail you demand, but he did:
” I can only compare the battery life against the other PC notebooks I use. The Air beats them all. For what I do on the Air (a lot of open windows, occasional moderate Web development, writing), <u>it lasts anywhere from three to five hours</u>.”
Then you write:
” “Obviously, the Air has its (well-publicized) shortcomings.” However, fanboi does not list these. Why not?”
Could it be because he has already given us the answer? He said that the shortcomings were “well-publicized.”
As a debate, almost all of your points you make in your criticism of Crothers’ blog are strawman arguments, points you bring up merely to knock them down.
All of the rest is merely YOUR opinion contrasted to his… but you use ad hominem attacks and extend those ad hominems to a majority of your target audience. This is merely an opinion piece… it is not a objective review… as are all of your commentaries on MDN.
Finally, you asked the question:
“So, how would an intelligent and thoughtful person make an objective decision which Apple notebook to purchase?”
The answer is that they would read and consider other reviews and opinions (including yours, if they found it, noting your strong, offensive opinion of their lack of intelligence and ability to think for themselves, and give your other opinions the weights they deserve), and, finally, compare the specifications among sub-notebook computers which show that the MBA contains a processor that is faster than PC sub-notebooks, has a larger keyboard than most PC sub-notebooks, and is generally priced at a lower price than PC sub-notebooks, and then make an informed decision of which features are important to them and purchase a notebook computer accordingly.
By the way, afib, how long have you used a Macbook Air?
Afib –
From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflammatory
Inflammatory : tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult
You express yourself too well to be causing such unrest by accident. Your arguments have not been limited to objective facts, but have contained a number of ad hominem attacks crafted to raise the ire of those you address or comment upon, as well as others who may (for whatever reason) hold similar opinions.
If your intent was simply to state your opinion, you could have done that without insulting others.
If your intent was to convince others that your opinion is correct and that they should change their way of thinking to match yours, I have to channel Dr. Phil here and ask: “How’s that working for you?”
If your intent has been to to excite anger, disorder, or tumult, I must give credit where it is due. It has been a long time since I have seen such skill. That particular talent may not be the type of thing that most parents would be proud of, but that doesn’t prevent me from recognizing its scope and being thankful for its relative rarity in the world of live, personal interaction.
One more thing: Beverage of choice to Swordmaker and ZT.
notafib:
“If your intent was simply to state your opinion, you could have done that without insulting others.”
1. I disagree with your assessment.
2. Why have you not commented on others use of profanity as being inflammatory? My suspicion is that you share the same sentiment as Ampar et al. That would make you less than credible as an oracle of righteousness. In other words, your hypocrisy supersedes your insincere attempt at piety.
Great post, Swordmaker. Excellent points. Ditto to notafib. Does piety come in Apple flavor?
“And if you say anything negative about the over priced, under powered luxury, there are people here that will want to scratch your eyes out like mean little girls.”
That’s funny! Now quit squirming and hold still.
Jeez afid you are so full of yourself and so full of s__t. You’re like a rabid pit-bull ready to take on all comers.
And this “boi” business… Was it Avril Lavign with Sk8r Boi back about 6 years ago. Very middle school.
Seriously, you have issues. Believe me you are NOT obligated to raise the consciousness and understanding of visitors and regular alike.
You repeated wrote: Fanboi Crothers” blatently ignoring Crothers statement: “(Note: I am not a Mac enthusiast. This is the first Apple I’ve ever owned.)”
One only needs to own one Mac to be a Mac fanboi.
Your repeated use of the appellation “fanboi” is obvious argumentum ad hominum… a logical fallacy. It does nothing to forward your argument except alert readers to your bias.
A fanboi disregards acknowledging obvious the points of contention of MBA and fails to address them. It’s called self-delusion and premeditated ignorance. An intelligent and objective reviewer is thorough.
You also wrote: “Fanboi Crothers also fails to mention what other PC notebooks he owns. . .” But Crothers did indeed mention a PC notebook he has owned: “Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past (e.g., the Compaq Evo N400c) were thin and light but slow.”
Ok. I concede that point, but that does not make Crothers correct about everything else he wrote.
You wrote: Faster than what, Crothers? And Crothers had already told you what it was faster than: “Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past…”
Faster than Macbook and Macbook Pro? I don’t think so.
You wrote: “MBA “feels remarkably solid”. No quantifiable data are presented regarding how robust or “sturdy” the MBA actually is. You have to believe that Crothers has some fanboi superpowers that exceed that of normal persons.” Why should anyone believe to make a subjective judgement about the solidity of any three dimensional object, especially when compared to a ” sub-one-inch-thin notebook,” that anyone needs “superpowers?” I can lift it and comparably thin notebooks and observe and report which feel “remarkably solid.” Can’t you? Do you want him to jump up and down on his notebook so he could report whether it did or did not crush? That is far beyond the scope of this 458 word opinion piece.
So, you admit, Crothers has no evidence that MBA is “remarkably solid”.
You wrote: “Fanboi has failed to report the actual battery life of his machines. Yes, he did… perhaps not to the detail you demand, but he did:” I can only compare the battery life against the other PC notebooks I use. The Air beats them all. For what I do on the Air (a lot of open windows, occasional moderate Web development, writing), it lasts anywhere from three to five hours.”
My interest is in comparisons made between MBA, Macbook, and Macbook Pro only – not PCs.
Then you write: ” “Obviously, the Air has its (well-publicized) shortcomings.” However, fanboi does not list these. Why not?” Could it be because he has already given us the answer? He said that the shortcomings were “well-publicized.”
1. Crothers never lists the “shortcomings”. An honest reviewer would not be so slothful.
2. If MBA’s shortcomings are well-publicized, why do you find fault with my mentioning them?
As a debate, almost all of your points you make in your criticism of Crothers’ blog are strawman arguments, points you bring up merely to knock them down. All of the rest is merely YOUR opinion contrasted to his… but you use ad hominem attacks and extend those ad hominems to a majority of your target audience. This is merely an opinion piece… it is not a objective review… as are all of your commentaries on MDN.
Crothers can expound on his opinions, but I can’t? I have commented on Apple’s own specifications of their notebooks. Are these specifications Apple’s opinions, too?
Finally, you asked the question: “So, how would an intelligent and thoughtful person make an objective decision which Apple notebook to purchase?”
I was making the point of how to choose among the Apple notebooks, not between MBA and other PCs. Comprende?
By the way, afib, how long have you used a Macbook Air?
Others threading here at MDN do not own a MBA, but you seem to think that these persons without personal experience are qualified as experts or have a legitimate right to express their opinions. Fact is, I can read the spec and reviewers’ comments that point out that MBA is deficient as a stand alone computer and I agree with them.
“Like many of the persons in my classes, fanbois, need constant and consistent instruction to reinforce simple subjects. The most challenging aspect of my work is overcoming these students’ limited comprehension, attention deficits, poor study skills, and inherent biases. I suppose that my experiences in public education tend to blend into my threads.”
And a public school teacher? If it’s not another lie, that’s frightening. Someone’s raising the next generation of arrogant, type A sociopaths.
to Afib:
You still miss the point of the article. Reread it. You might also try to stop insulting people … sign of an insecure person on shaky grounds [sorry that I have to stoop to your level; I don’t feel good about that but then, it may be the only thing that you do seem to understand]. By the way, I have been using both Mac and Windows platforms since they both came out in the 1980s and do have some fairly good software and hardware knowledge of both. Take care and bye, Afib!
“Ok. I concede that point”
Oops. Sorry, I just fell out of my chair after reading that.
Wow! You are clinical! Hey MDN – get this God-Complex antagonist off the air.
One of the Urban Dictionary submissions God-Complex describes afib so well:
“A psychosis based in uncontrolled narcissism, inflated arrogance and a perceived need to subjugate and/or ridicule other individuals deemed to be inferior or unworthy.”
If you are saying that you are a teacher, I pity your students.
Somebody missed this line: ‘ . . . I’m not going to pretend that my opinion is the final word (or anything close to it) . . . ‘
Most reviewers know the difference between a notebook and a sub notebook.
Good to see Brooke Crothers is one of those astute people that knows the difference.
“Brooke Crothers is a former editor-at-large CNET News.com, has been an editor for The Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and has been an analyst at IDC. He writes for the CNET Blog Network, and is not a current employee of CNET. Contact him at brooke_crothers@msn.com.”
I couldn’t find boi in his bio? WTF?
I had an opinion that I forced down someone else’s throat once.
Once.
… oops, ‘scuse me, I was picking my nose and accidently hit the “return” key on my expensive Sony sub-portable notebook…
Afib, please share your credentials. Obviously, they are more impressive. Social studies, grade 10 doesn’t count.
It’s just wonderful how so many of you are provoking the troll to spend hours writing long and useless diatribes.
Hey, the troll is a real money maker for MDN.
Afib….man oh man you slay me. Where do you get the time to write all this crap? Don’t you have a job….or at least some homework?
Obviously you are just trying to provoke people and most of us are intelligent enough to see through it. As much as I hate to admit it, I like Zune Tang’s approach. He can pull of the contradictory, pro-MS fanboi crap without resorting to insults and childish rants. The latter is a sign of low intelligence.
Pathetic.
oh…and the Buster at 5:36PM was not me. For the love of Pete, there are a zillion aliases you can use….leave mine alone.
Jesus Afib wtf is your problem? What is the deal with your 1000 word essays? How bout you try a nice warm glass of stfu! I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you and your comments are completely irrelevant and caustic. You sir wreak of a microsoft fanboi so really your opinion is worthless. We don’t care what you think and quite frankly I love the MBA and if I could afford one I would buy one in a heartbeat. So…I’ll just have to suffer on my 17″ Powerbook which incidentally is still probably a better machine than you’re running and this thing is 5 years old. And…my OS is better than yours too. Personally I think you suffer from penis envy.
Haha, funny stuff, funny stuff.
Zune Tang, I’m loving it, although it’s a little less veiled sarcasm than is your norm, still brilliant. What was funny was that he didn’t catch on to the fact that it was sarcasm.
Ampar, good job finally giving up on arguing with him (except the one post about him being a teacher. Which, btw, as someone studying to be a teacher, really makes me worry about those who will be my colleagues.)
But you know, I just have to wonder, what if Afib is someone from MDN? Think about it. Every single thread he’s posted on, gets tons of hits, because everyone argues with him. More ad revenue for them.
So he just goes on to every thread about the Air, because the Air is both a popular product and a heavily and to some degree easily criticized product, and criticizes it. Those who like it defend it. He doesn’t need to make sense, because he’s just generating hits.
If that were found to be the case, I would promptly stop reading MDN. They have bled Dvorak dry with all the criticism they’ve given him for hit-baiting, and if they’re doing the same thing by employing Afib, I’d be disgusted.
But, it’s probably not. Just a thought.
And Afib, I know, I know, I said I was done with you a long time ago. But why are you so determined to post on every single story about the Air that they put up, and say the exact same thing? I don’t get it. Really, I don’t. Go ahead, call me a moron and a fanboi (which btw, “boi” did not come from Avril Lavigne’s song, whoever said that. It’s a term referring to lesbians who are slightly less manly than those who would be considered “butch”), and say that I’m too dense to understand why you’d do it.
Fine. You say you’re a teacher. Then teach me why you need to say the same thing over and over, to the same people. I mean, have you not noticed that you’re arguing with the same people every time, and the only one to “agree” with you was Zune Tang? Why then do you constantly argue with us that no one in their right mind should by the Air? We don’t agree with your base reasons for not liking it, so you’re obviously not going to convince us. So why keep trying? I don’t get it. So instruct me in the mannerisms of your mind.
And one more thing, this is going way back to that first argument I had with you, you said that I was like you in that I found the Air too expensive, because I said I couldn’t afford it. You completely misunderstood me there. When I said I couldn’t afford it, I meant I couldn’t afford any new computer, which you would’ve caught on to if you’d read earlier in that same post, where I said I was running a PowerMac G4 400 (as in 400MHz), and that I couldn’t afford to upgrade it. As in, I can’t afford the $300 to upgrade my processor. Why? Because, as I also stated in that same post, I am a college student. And I am of the “poor, starving” variety of college students. I can pay for rent, food, gas, and that’s about it. Fincancial Aid and student loans cover my tuition. So that’s why I can’t afford the Air. But, if I could afford to spend my money on anything other than essentials, I’d buy an Air. So don’t lump me in with you.
@afib
To straighten you out a little …
There is a difference between a “thread”
and a “post”….
Example: … This particular “thread” might be called …“CNET’s Crave: ‘Apple MacBook Air is a seminal computer’ “ …
And you are currently “posting” on this “thread” …. uhhh .. get it ?
I sincerely doubt– if this was your thread– anyone would be reading it !
It’s obvious you came here looking for a fight– and you got one — happy now ?
“Better to be thought of as a fool– than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”
Can’t we all just get along ?
-Rodney King
”The consumers for which the MBA is targeted see the rich, blend/balance of practicality, usefulness and aesthetics that the product offers.”
What a load of ill-defined, pompous crap.
If, as you suggest, MBA is “targeted” for certain users then the logical corollary is that MBA is NOT targeted for other users. Those for whom MBA is not the ideal machine there are obvious criteria which can assist users deciding which other notebooks are optimal choices. These criteria are both objective and subjective.
Objective features, by definition, are rigorous, continuous, quantifiable, and comparable. Therefore, lower or higher numerical values can be compared to rank “usefulness” or “practicality” of well-defined and exacting specifications or features. Subjective features are mere opinion or descriptive data. Although subjective data can be ranked as well, subjective data are not considered rigorous data. I hope that this making sense to you.
”The targeted audience sees technology not as an end in itself but as an adjunct to the quality of their lives. To you, technology IS your life. To them, your objections are of little concern.”
If a person needs a notebook with more than 1.6 or 1.8 GHz CPU (versus 2.1, 2.4 , or 2.6 GHz), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than 64 or 80 GB of storage (versus 160, 200, or 250 GB), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than 2 MB of storage (versus 4 MB), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with user upgradeable RAM, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more Ethernet connectivity, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than 80 GB of storage, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than USB connectivity (i.e needs additional FireWire connectivity), yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with more than a 13-inch monitor, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
If a person needs a notebook with easily replaceable batteries, yes, MBA is technologically deficient.
Now, a person can judge for themselves whether each MBA deficiency is or is not a significant shortcoming or limitation for them. You, for example, may consider that a machine with a slower CPU, less RAM, smaller LCD, smaller hard drive, and no Ethernet connectivity is well worth the two grand you would be expected to pay. For you, an otherwise technologically deficient 3 lb machine with aesthetic appeal is a bargain. Other people (i.e. the group not targeted for MBA) would legitimately conclude that either Macbook or Macbook Pro the optimal machine. These persons would legitimately consider a portable machine that weighs 5 to 5.4 lbs than can function in more and varied environments the better choice.
” Most auto mechanics will use a suitable set of tools to do their job. But some will raise the quality of their lives and spend the extra money for Snap-on tools solely because of the aesthetics the tools bring to the job.
More pompous crap.
I don’t know who your mechanics are, but the people I speak with who use tools select items based on such “technological” criteria such as fit, finish, width, depth, durability, strength, etc. Many of these specifications are defined as quantifiable standards of quality and performance established by accredited professional and industry groups, institutes, and colleges. If you would actually read these standards, you will find quantifiable and objective measures defined and listed, not mere opinion or subjective rankings of “aesthetic” appeal. So, what publishable and peer reviewed quality and performance standards do you fanbois refer to?
Mr Agreeable:
“Afib, why do you keep repeating yourself in thread after thread?”
Because fanbois can’t or won’t read previous threads or lack comprehension, I have to spoon-feed them. Like many of the persons in my classes, fanbois, need constant and consistent instruction to reinforce simple subjects. The most challenging aspect of my work is overcoming these students’ limited comprehension, attention deficits, poor study skills, and inherent biases. I suppose that my experiences in public education tend to blend into my threads.
Oh, and Afib, I’m sure you’re going to also lump ?what? in with you too, by saying that the Air is overpriced, but my guess is, he’s in a similar boat as me, he can’t afford any new computer, hence why he uses an older PowerBook. It’s not the the Air is overpriced, it’s that some people have to live on a budget.
Which, btw, if you’re a teacher, uhm…teachers don’t make a lot. I know this, because my mom is a teacher, I’m studying to be a teacher, and I’m on good terms with many of my former teachers, and know generally what they make. It’s not a lot. How can you afford a new MBP on a teacher’s salary, exactly?
Furthermore, if you are a teacher, do you speak to your students this way? Do you call them stupid when they can’t quite grasp concepts that you’re trying to teach them? Do you yell at them for not understanding? Because if we were going off the premise that you are right about the Air, (which I am not conceding that you are, this is simply for this point) and we simply just don’t get it that it’s bad, then that’s exactly what you’re doing. We’re students who just quite can’t grasp your lofty concepts. And what do you do? You insult us for it. No good teacher would ever do that. EVER. A good teacher would talk to the student calmly, figure out where the difficulty in grasping the concept was, and find a way to work around it. And if it is that the student is stubborn, then the best way to win over a stubborn student is by giving him something good. Not by telling him he’s stubborn and stupid.
If you truly are a teacher, then I’d have to worry more for the educational system in this country than I had previously thought, and it would be teachers like you that I feel deserve the measly pay teachers make, because you got in it for the power position you hold over the future of America by being a teacher, not for the purpose of passing on your knowledge and love of your subject or your love of learning itself. If you are a teacher, it’s teachers like you that cause our school system to fail in comparison to those of other countries. If you are a teacher, it’s those like you that make students hate school, and taking almost zero knowledge from it, rather than loving it, and desiring to take as much knowledge as possible. I sincerely hope you are not truly a teacher. If you really are, I hope you don’t do too much permanent damage to your students. And I hope the other teachers in your school can make up for your shortcomings.
….”And I hope the other teachers in your school can make up for your shortcomings….”
uhhh … I suspect his wife deals more with those than the other teachers
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”red face” style=”border:0;” />
Most popular type of vehicle sold in the US is the pick-up truck. Now, in the big cities in the US (and the surrounding suburbia), you won’t see people drive these things; they’ll be driving minivans, small or medium-size SUVs and such. Some of these SUVs cost twice as much as pick-up trucks, can carry less, have poorer gas mileage, etc, etc, etc. Yet, for a large number of people they make sense, and pick-up trucks just don’t.
I have a MB. I couldn’t afford MBA. If I could, I’d have one. It is possible that there is a percentage of MBA buyers who would have probably been better off (perhaps even happier, although this is less likely) with MB or MBP. I am convinced, though, that the vast majority of MBA owners knew exactly what they were buying and went ahead anyway.
Probably 90% of Macs out there have poorer specs than MBA (that includes all the PowerMacs, MacPros from two years ago, iMacs from a year or more ago (with the CD chip)… You could get a few more MHz for your buck (as much as you could get more Miles per Gallon for your buck on a pick-up or a Prius, than on an SUV). That completely misses the point.
To wrap up. Getting nickers in a bunch over the idea that consumers aren’t making the right decision when buying MBA, because they are deceived by slick advertising and looks, isn’t really necessary. As I said, I’m pretty sure most of those knew what they bought, what they could have bought (MB/MBP), and went ahead and bought MBA anyway. Anybody who had one and played with one for a MONTH (not ten minutes) can confirm this. There are no significant numbers of recorded cases of buyer’s remorse for MBA.
Apparently, Apple has hit the sweetest of sweet spots with this laptop. As insignificant as it is in the complete line-up of Apple’s offerings (including iTunes store, Apple’s pro software, all other hardware), it’s good to know Apple continues firing on all cylinders.
Afib: What you are writing is not a “thread,” dumbass, it’s a “post.” The “thread” is the total of the posts within it. Ampar posted first, so please stop referring to this as your thread. Idiot.
Poor fanboi Afib;
His own particular device isn’t getting raves, so to inflate his ego, he needs to deflate the one that does.
You can almost feel the tears of rage in his comments, after he finds that not everyone follows lock-step with his opinions.
This whole exercise in ranting and raving over one of Apple’s latest products is actually quite pathetic. It’s really pretty simple – Apple got it right and will make a lot of money with the MBA, and some dumbass can’t stand it. Even a complete moron would understand that Steve Jobs and Co. are smarter, richer, and much more successful than whatshisname due to their keen understanding of the market and what it demands. Not liking it isn’t going to change the facts. Deal with it!
@Afib
> The “World Wealth Report” is a report on individuals with a net worth of at least $1 million in all assets except their “primary residence”. The report is compiled annually by Capgemini for Merrill Lynch.
There were 9,500,000 Millionaires globally in 2007 < Wiki
9,500,000 Millionaires !!!
Now, call me shallow, but if I was on that list, I would not hesitate in buying a shiny, sexy, cool, “look at me” MBA. (and I don’t even want a lap top, heck, I hate carrying a mobile)
These people can afford to say “screw the specifics, look at how cool that sucker is”, the cost of an MBA is nothing but play money.
This is a world, where a Millionaire is not regarded with the awe as they used to be, a world where there is a market for $50,000 + handbags!!! and other crazy, luxury and nonessential items. (but each to their own, I don’t write the rules).
The MBA, is a working tool that also happens to be at this phase in its very short existence, a point of sale, a design that also brings attention to Apple, Apple Macs and their future ideas.
Sure, Apple are not in the luxury market – they are famed, amongst many qualities for their design ethos, their “m-Far-sis” (sorry, wrong emphasis stressed) on design has strongly associated them with being fashionably germane, this is all good as long as they keep up the innovation.
Your deconstruction of the numbers and specifics are pointless. You can’t paint by numbers, try to understand that not all things are about bang for buck … rightly or wrongly, somethings are about doing what you want to do, screw a life ruled by applied logic, apply some “me time”.
Drop the “superego” tap into your “id” and try injecting a bit of verve and passion into your life.
For what it’s worth, (zip probably) but I think the MBA offers a good bang for the bucks, and is a little ripper.
Thanks, Crabs.
@ Afib
As they say, opinions are like a##holes. And you are very much like an opinion.
I’m pleased that this has been one of the more intelligently debated threads for a long time. Kudos to you Afib.
MBA is simply suited to a particular purpose. If not yours then choose something else, simple as that.
neomonkey said:
“I wish I could read the review, but reversed-out type wrecks my eyes. Is it just me?”
Try “Ctl-Alt-Command 8” to turn on reverse video.
— jcw
I can’t believe you’ll argue for 3 pages with this fool. Slow weekend folks?
Afib, get a bloody life. If you’re trying to be King of The Geeks, congratulations, you’re the Smartest Monkey in town. And you’ve proven that a life full of feature lists and devoid of passion Makes Afib A Dull Guy. The kind of guy that would spend his saturday writing pages of text about a product he doesn’t like.
Good job. You Win.
Nice, but I tried something similar awhile back, C1. This is probably more of a brain chemistry issue. Someone should check on the local pets. Seriously.
Word.
One only needs to own one Mac to be a Mac fanboi.
One only need two brain cells to call people names and repeat old tired insults.<span class=”s1″>
</span>Your repeated use of the appellation “fanboi” is obvious argumentum ad hominum… a logical fallacy. It does nothing to forward your argument except alert readers to your bias.
My God, did you leave anyone in charge of the Comic Store?<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>Over intellectualizing will get you everywhere on ZDnet, honey.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>We’re more low-brow around here.<span class=”s1″>
</span>A fanboi disregards acknowledging obvious the points of contention of MBA and fails to address them. It’s called self-delusion and premeditated ignorance. An intelligent and objective reviewer is thorough.
And a troll shows up to an anonymous message board and throws around Latin to make himself feel smart in a way that real-life interaction can’t.
{It’s the smell}<span class=”s1″>
</span>You also wrote: “Fanboi Crothers also fails to mention what other PC notebooks he owns. . .” But Crothers did indeed mention a PC notebook he has owned: “Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past (e.g., the Compaq Evo N400c) were thin and light but slow.”<span class=”s1″>
</span>Ok. I concede that point, but that does not make Crothers correct about everything else he wrote.
Thank God you’re here to be correct about everything.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>The Latin is very compelling.<span class=”s1″>
</span>You wrote: Faster than what, Crothers? And Crothers had already told you what it was faster than: “Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past…”<span class=”s1″>
</span>Faster than Macbook and Macbook Pro? I don’t think so.
Okay, so?<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>My Jetta isn’t faster than a Suzuki Hayabusa.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>And it cost twice as much.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>I got robbed!<span class=”s1″>
</span>You wrote: “MBA “feels remarkably solid”. No quantifiable data are presented regarding how robust or “sturdy” the MBA actually is. You have to believe that Crothers has some fanboi superpowers that exceed that of normal persons.” Why should anyone believe to make a subjective judgement about the solidity of any three dimensional object, especially when compared to a ” sub-one-inch-thin notebook,” that anyone needs “superpowers?” I can lift it and comparably thin notebooks and observe and report which feel “remarkably solid.” Can’t you? Do you want him to jump up and down on his notebook so he could report whether it did or did not crush? That is far beyond the scope of this 458 word opinion piece.
There’s the fanboi word again.<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>If you can’t come up with any new thoughts, just keep repeating it… It’s rather hypnotic.
Dude, if you can’t comprehend ‘it feels remarkably solid’ and just try to cope with the unquantifiable analog of that statement, then you must really be popular at parties.
</i>
<i>”I’m having a great time!” <span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>
“What do you mean?<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>How do you define ‘great??? Compared to what?”
“Okay… I’m going to go talk to someone else!”<span class=”s1″><b>
Oops.. wrong paste, hang on…
C1 is a Fangrrl ! !
One only needs to own one Mac to be a Mac fanboi.
One only need two brain cells to call people names and repeat old tired insults.
Your repeated use of the appellation “fanboi” is obvious argumentum ad hominum… a logical fallacy. It does nothing to forward your argument except alert readers to your bias.
My God, did you leave anyone in charge of the Comic Store? Over intellectualizing will get you everywhere on ZDnet, honey. We’re more low-brow around here.
A fanboi disregards acknowledging obvious the points of contention of MBA and fails to address them. It’s called self-delusion and premeditated ignorance. An intelligent and objective reviewer is thorough.
And a troll shows up to an anonymous message board and throws around Latin to make himself feel smart in a way that real-life interaction can’t.
{It’s the smell}
You also wrote: “Fanboi Crothers also fails to mention what other PC notebooks he owns. . .” But Crothers did indeed mention a PC notebook he has owned: “Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past (e.g., the Compaq Evo N400c) were thin and light but slow.”
Ok. I concede that point, but that does not make Crothers correct about everything else he wrote.
Thank God you’re here to be correct about everything. The Latin is very compelling.
You wrote: Faster than what, Crothers? And Crothers had already told you what it was faster than: “Subnotebooks I’ve had in the past…”
Faster than Macbook and Macbook Pro? I don’t think so.
Okay, so? My Jetta isn’t faster than a Suzuki Hayabusa. And it cost twice as much. I got robbed!
You wrote: “MBA “feels remarkably solid”. No quantifiable data are presented regarding how robust or “sturdy” the MBA actually is. You have to believe that Crothers has some fanboi superpowers that exceed that of normal persons.” Why should anyone believe to make a subjective judgement about the solidity of any three dimensional object, especially when compared to a ” sub-one-inch-thin notebook,” that anyone needs “superpowers?” I can lift it and comparably thin notebooks and observe and report which feel “remarkably solid.” Can’t you? Do you want him to jump up and down on his notebook so he could report whether it did or did not crush? That is far beyond the scope of this 458 word opinion piece.
There’s the fanboi word again. If you can’t come up with any new thoughts, just keep repeating it… It’s rather hypnotic.
Dude, if you can’t comprehend ‘it feels remarkably solid’ and just try to cope with the unquantifiable analog of that statement, then you must really be popular at parties.
“I’m having a great time!”
“What do you mean? How do you define ‘great??? Compared to what?”
“Okay… I’m going to go talk to someone else!”
So, you admit, Crothers has no evidence that MBA is “remarkably solid”.
There is also no evidence that it’s pretty. I think it is. There is probably no way to precisely measure the smell of your pants, either. But the dog still avoids you.
Do you ever come to a conclusion on your own? Or do you wait until all the evidence is in? This actually shows a lack of imagination and intuition, but that’s common in today’s Comic Store professionals. It’s probably why you’re alone on a Saturday in the first place.
You wrote: “Fanboi has failed to report the actual battery life of his machines. Yes, he did… perhaps not to the detail you demand, but he did:” I can only compare the battery life against the other PC notebooks I use. The Air beats them all. For what I do on the Air (a lot of open windows, occasional moderate Web development, writing), it lasts anywhere from three to five hours.”
My interest is in comparisons made between MBA, Macbook, and Macbook Pro only – not PCs.
My interest is in Mountain bikes, cameras and shoes. Looks like we were both pretty disappointed in this worthless article, because it didn’t cover ALL our interests.
Then you write: ” “Obviously, the Air has its (well-publicized) shortcomings.” However, fanboi does not list these. Why not?” Could it be because he has already given us the answer? He said that the shortcomings were “well-publicized.”
No, it’s because he’s a FANBOI FANBOI FANBOI.
Keep repeating it, you almost sound smart!
1. Crothers never lists the “shortcomings”. An honest reviewer would not be so slothful.
2. If MBA’s shortcomings are well-publicized, why do you find fault with my mentioning them?
Thank God you’re here, really. Because, you know, this is JUST the kind of place where we wouldn’t know all about the MBA’s shortcomings.
Which brings me to the point that you must be achingly new and woefully under-informed. If you think we don’t talk about Apple’s mistakes and shortcomings here, just type “I LOVE GLOSSY SCREENS” and wait a few minutes. Sitting atop your soaps, trying to be the Voice Of Reason in the Sea Of Fanbois is a red herring. You’re not, and this isn’t.
Oh BTW, you should take more care with your “your” and “you’re” if you’re going to be so bloody pedantic. Re-read your posts.
As a debate, almost all of your points you make in your criticism of Crothers’ blog are strawman arguments, points you bring up merely to knock them down. All of the rest is merely YOUR opinion contrasted to his… but you use ad hominem attacks and extend those ad hominems to a majority of your target audience.
“Ad Hominem”… there’s another one they love at the Demolay meetings. Using it twice in one sentence will really impress mom.
This is merely an opinion piece… it is not a objective review… as are all of your commentaries on MDN.
NO SHIT. Welcome to MDN, cretin!
Crothers can expound on his opinions, but I can’t? I have commented on Apple’s own specifications of their notebooks. Are these specifications Apple’s opinions, too?
Sounds like you watch a lot of Fox News. Bush Best President Ever? Obama a Sleeper Terrorist? Hillary Made Of Snakes?
You see… it’s true. You are not allowed an opinion here. That’s just the way we roll. You can’t even ask a question until you get your secret decoder ring.
Finally, you asked the question: “So, how would an intelligent and thoughtful person make an objective decision which Apple notebook to purchase?”
I was making the point of how to choose among the Apple notebooks, not between MBA and other PCs. Comprende?
Well done. I feel I’ve lost at least 12 IQ points reading your posts.
By the way, afib, how long have you used a Macbook Air?
Others threading here at MDN do not own a MBA, but you seem to think that these persons without personal experience are qualified as experts or have a legitimate right to express their opinions. Fact is, I can read the spec and reviewers’ comments that point out that MBA is deficient as a stand alone computer and I agree with them.
Did you test drive your car before you bought it? Or did you just read the spec sheets that someone else put together, read reviews that others wrote, weighed all the pros and cons and just took their word for it? DId you get an accurate review on how the seat fit your ass? Or how the wheel felt in your hand?
You can read anything you like and agree with it. You can say the Holocaust didn’t happen if you want.
Or you can think for yourself, which is seems you think you really know how to do.
Congrats, Afib. You’re King of the Geeks.
-c
Okay, that should get him worked up into a lather.
Now I’ll top it off by Turning off the computer and enjoying this beautiful day. Outside.
Toodle-Ooo.
And at this moment C1, there is a terrified, lonely “man” crouched in the corner with his fingers in his ears singing “la la la la I can’t hear you” convinced of his superior intellect.
But well said nonetheless. The truly sad aspect is that anything he says that might have a semblance of validity is thoroughly negated by his over the top arrogance.
It’s been a great weekend. I particularly enjoyed Zune Tang’s posts (for once), and the “wheeeee…..splat!” sound of them passing far overhead and striking the opposite wall.
@Predrag:
Precisely correct. I have an MBA because I knew how important weight and volume are to me as I travel both locally and globally, and I knew that it would be more than fast enough for the work I do, since it would be faster than what I already had been using (Thinkpad X60, and before that Powerbook G4).
But although the troll says everyone should be free to make an intellectual choice, he keeps implying in long posts that anyone who buys an MBA is making a bad choice, and should of course have gotten an MB or MBP instead; the MBP being the best laptop. Yes, without a doubt, the MBP is the best laptop EXCEPT when you need even more portability or don’t want to pay for the additional features.
Wow. I think it’s been a great weekend too. Finally someone like Afib brilliantly elevates the discussion on MDN and you MAC sheep get all worked up in a tizzy over her astute observations and analysis putting you MAC fanbois in your place.
Once again you MAC dorks are proven to be out of your league when it comes to intelligently discussing technology with Windows enthusiasts like Afib and myself. How about you MAC lemmings stick to appraising technology for it’s sissy aesthetic aspects while us Windows power users will do the intellectual heavy lifting with insightful in-depth evaluation of specifications and functionality?
Your potential. Our passion.™
Seminal-semenal its all the same
@ChrissyOne
‘My God, did you leave anyone in charge of the Comic Store?’
Hah! Somebody call the cops! She just killed me.
Can’t believe this continued so far.
It is amusing to see people upset at the fact that afib is upset at the fact that writers won’t compare the MBA with every laptop currently in production.
Of course, the fact that afib uses fanboi all the time goes a long way to explain why people could get upset.
Yet, a person who is smart enough to include the Cleveland Browns in one of his/her posts can’t really be all that bad, can they?
Maybe a little misguided, but I mean, c’mon, the fact that writers won’t compare the MBA with every laptop currently in production is enough to drive a person CrAzY, isn’t it?
Maybe the sermon was about being a goat with his horns caught in the thorn bush.
Stupid goat.
Silly thorn bush.
Amen
Boy, that Afib…what a windbag.
Wow. Stay in bed with the wife for the day and look at what I missed.
Sorry, I just got here. Somebody told a fib? Shame! Oh, btw, my sister just bought an MBA. I guess I should go call her and tell her how stupid she is.
I got an Air for meetings and travel, and it unexpectedly replaced my pro laptop for heavy imaging work too!
No, my pro laptop didn’t die… but the Air is about the same speed after all! Air may be slower than pro laptops from today, but it’s not slower than pro laptops from a couple years ago, which run just great.
I do miss the big screen, but not enough to bother. I thought I would miss extra USB ports, but so far so good. Haven’t needed a hub. Actually I haven’t need the USB port at all except once when copying data off a portable HD.
Wow! What a long tread.
Why is it that some people inist on telling other people they made a wrong decision?
I have/had a 12″/g4/867 I have been waiting for a new 12″ for a while. I broke down a bought a macbook air as an upgrade.
I went from a 60GB hd to an 80.
I went from 640 mb RAM to 2 GB.
I went from 867 mgz to 1.6 GHz.
I also got the back lite keyboard I wished for.
I will admit i just wanted an upgraded 12″ with the addition of backlit keyboard. But apple chose not to make that.
and i got the built in I-sight.
The only thing i miss is firewire/target mode for moving my files. But I got a cheep external HD that does dual firewire/ USB2.0 and it was faster than my 12″ to move files.
I did not want the 15″ or the 17″ as they are larger than I want to carry around (I think of the 17″ as a desktop computer that you can carry with you.
More than every thin else the alumiun, backlit keyboard, lightness, and the great screen is why I chose the air over the white or black one.
I mean it is “4 to 5 times” faster than my other laptop.
How fast does it need to be to do surfing, checkbook, and some programing?
It is my main computer.
Oh, where to find me….
LostBoys
Afib.
Stfu.
From.
Iest.
All this bickering (yikes). Why can’t we get back to the point of the article… The MacBook Air is great ultra-portable computer for surfing porn!
<div style=”font-size: 80pt; color: #000;”>FREE TOWERTONE!!!!</div>
<div style=”font-size: 80pt; color: #000;”>FREE TOWERTONE!!!!</div>
<div style=”font-size: 80pt; color: #000;”>FREE TOWERTONE!!!!</div>
<div style=”font-size: 80pt; color: #000;”>FREE TOWERTONE!!!!</div>
<div style=”font-size: 80pt; color: #000;”>FREE TOWERTONE!!!!</div>
<div style=”font-size: 80pt; color: #000;”>FREE TOWERTONE!!!!</div>