“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.
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.