“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.
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
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