The new MacBook Air is smoking hawt.
I’ll admit that after I watched the live broadcast and then began working through all their marketing material on their site that I was hooked.
I’ve been needing a more mobile-device for doing some of my work, especially when traveling since I’m typically not building software or doing any heavy lifting (like StarCraft II… *ahem*…), just writing and blogging during these times.
Am I just creating an elaborate justification for my need (or want?) of these things?
Steve, you got me again. Darn you! How could you not want one after watching this video!
Oh, and the reinstall USB stick is straight sick!
Ken says
I really like this 1 inch version too, I think it might fit in perfectly instead of the iPad which has shortcomings (although I did end up using this iPad for almost everything). I don’t like the price vs how much memory you get though. Sure, it’s an ssd but I can’t help feeling ripped off somehow.
The iPhone has been the only thing from apple that doesn’t make me feel that way.
Stephen Bateman says
Really? 64 is a bit low, but 128gb should be plenty for most uses…
Tim Owens says
From the IT angle I’ve always thought between 60 and 120gb was more than enough. If you’re storing half a terabyte on your laptop you’re in for a world of hurt if (or more likely when) your harddrive crashes. Keep the mass storage on an external that you’re not carrying with you everywhere. Solid state also helps with this by not having moveable parts. I think the large size drives will get there but unless we wanted to see a $2000 Macbook Air we’ll have to work with those storage limits for now.
Ken says
Correction. 11 inch version, the iPad kept cutting out the other 1. Argh
Nick Wangler says
Man, you hit the nail on the head… that “Do I really need this or just really want it?” feeling is all over this. Considering I just bought a MacBook Pro late this summer, I’ll have to pass on this for now.
But as a first Mac for my wife…. hmmmm……
Brett Barner says
The MacBook Air is slick. Instant on would be an awesome feature.
austinklee says
My only issue is whether to get the 11″ or 13″. I’m with John. A lot of times I don’t need all of the bells and whistles of my MacBook. I think I could get by on just an Air, iPad, and iPhone in almost every situation.
JayCaruso says
It’s nice, but this is basically Apple’s foray into the world of netbooks. Of course, they’ll deny it, but a 11.6″ screen? Netbook fellas. That’s what it is.
I don’t know. A 13.3″ MB pro seems pretty light to me and can be had for nearly the same price.
Kevin says
Word. And although they’ve been niche distros, Linux has been doing “instant on” in the netbook space for a while.
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Tim Owens says
Except most netbooks I see have crap Atom processors and 2GB max of memory, not to mention thick and heavy with 3 cell batteries (exceptions of course, but very few).
This thing is a laptop. A small laptop but with large (compared to netbooks) solid state drives as default, up to 4GB of RAM, a 2Ghz Core 2 Duo, and a 13″ option with screen resolutions comparable to 20″ LCDs on the market I think it’s a week comparison to most netbooks.
Kevin says
Here’s a site with (at least some of) the exceptions:
http://www.netbookin.com/tag/core-2-duo/
Looks like Apple’s just late to the game (again), but with a prettier and (I didn’t look at all the prices, but everyone I looked at was) higher priced product as always.
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Tim Owens says
I counted 14 “Laptops” on that page and 1 $800 “Netbook” with only 1 gig of RAM. Very few of those laptops even offered solid state drives and I assure you that’s where the “Apple is more expensive” line bottoms out. Add a 64gig SSD to a laptop with 2 gigs of memory and a Core 2 Duo processor and I’ll be surprised if you’re not flirting with or flying past the $1000 price tag.
Apple’s not in the race to be the first to market, their in it to be the best. There will always be cheaper less elegant solutions, but that doesn’t mean they’re right for most consumers.
Kevin says
I guess this just brings up my problem with Apple’s elegant solutions. If they do what you want them to do, they do what you want them to do. If the don’t (for instance, I really don’t care about SSD or not), I have no choice. High end premium products are never meant to be right for “most” customers. Only a few so they can make higher margins. The rest is just marketing hype to make the rest of you drop $$$ on things you don’t need.
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Kevin says
Just remember that it’s marketing material. It’s made to make you want to buy it…that’s it’s whole purpose and Apple seems to be really good at it. Try reading a few critiques to balance it out. π
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Kevin says
Here’s PC Mag’s review of the new MacBook Air. Looks like they agree with Tim that it isn’t a netbook (but darn close) and as with any product has it’s pros and cons.
Full disclosure: I read the summaries and skimmed the rest.
Any other reviews that aren’t just straight marketing material?
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Travis Fish says
It is beautiful. I really just want one of those thumb drives. π
So which are going to get? 11 or 13?
Matt Phelps says
Sorry, but I can’t justify $1000 for a netbook. Plus, I really like the bigger screens, 15.4″ is my minimum. If I wanted to drop 1k on a computer I’d get a gaming-grade computer. (Not a gamer, I do video editing.)
The reinstall USB stick, however? Nice! I’ve noticed quite a few companies ditching the CD-ROMs in favor of flash drives.
Kevin says
It continues to amaze me how many things like the USB reinstall stick originate in the open source world. Yet, somehow they aren’t useful until Apple (or Adobe or…) does them and open source projects are perceived as just copycats and non-innovative. Who’s really innovating? π
Heavy sigh.
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Matt Phelps says
Didn’t know that. But, then again, it makes sense that open source projects would adopt USB reinstall sticks early on. USB sticks are easy to update, and CDs are a pain.
I’ve seen companies using USB sticks instead of CDs for years, usually when bundled with something else, so Apple is really behind on this one. My question is how long until CDs are as hard to find as floppies or audio cassette tapes.
Kevin says
I will say that I used “originate” in a loose sense. I doubt the open sourcers were the very first to do it, but I *think* the first to mainstream it.
Since I use Ubuntu and all free open source software, CDs are already irrelevant and have been for at least a couple years. Package management is amazing. Come to mention it, this is another idea Apple ripped from the open source world when it created it’s App Store. Heavy sigh again.
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
David Tonen says
I have had (and still have) the original Air that came out almost 3 years ago now. It is the best laptop I have ever had because it is a laptop and not a netbook. True, it is not a MacBook Pro but for the “traveller” (and I have logged a ton of miles in the last 3 years) – you cannot beat its portability and functionality. The new iMac is my mainstay but the Air is my travelling companion.
Kyle Gilbert says
John, you’re not alone. I’m guilty too.
John Saddington says
ah. π
Kevin says
So maybe I’m missing something…what is it that the MacBook Air really does that is so different from the plethora of choices already on the market (aside from look cooler…that’s always a given, but image doesn’t help get work done)?
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com
Andrew says
It is a beautiful computer, and if I were made of money I’d totally get one for all my around-town and travel computing needs. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m made of money.
Darryl says
It seems a bit pricey in my opinion – for a netbook anyway.
I have no doubt that it will be nice though. I’m about to become a seminary student, so one of these would suit me – but then I’m a student and this isn’t a student priced laptop.