January 15, 2008 @ 1:52 PM
Because I haven’t written in a looooooong time, and there will undoubtably be a shortage of discussion around this topic, I give you my initial impressions of the MacBook Air or Things I’m certain you weren’t about to lose any sleep over:
I may be the only one. I hope I am. That would be awesome for Apple. But the announcement of the new super-thin, uber sexy MacBook Air leaves me frustrated. Why? Because I so badly want to want it. And in the past, Apple’s almost always taken care of that for me.
With the iPhone, I might have been willing to pay $900, $1100… maybe even more, without a second thought. And it’s immediately obvious to me why. The iPhone replaced something. Every time Apple comes out with some new tech, my “i want” factory goes crazy, and also on some other level, my rational brain goes to work justifying why I can’t live without this device.
Recently, for me, it’s all been about simplification. Apple’s continually giving me ways to spend more, and worry about less. Fewer machines to update/keep current, fewer wires, fewer power adaptors. Less junk, and more capability. Sold!
The problem for me with Macbook Air is it doesn’t replace anything. It’s so phenomenally innovative, and has me VERY excited about what my next laptop with look like/be. But it can’t replace my Macbook Pro from a processing and graphics perspective, and is still marginally slower than our regular Macbook. The only argument I can find Apple making is that it fits inside an envelope.
For people who’ve been waiting to upgrade their laptops, this will most certainly be an awesome machine! And of course, I’m already getting in line for my new AppleTV, Time Capsule, and even an iPod Touch (with the announcement of mail). I will readily spend $5 a pop on HD movie rentals. But for now, I will have to continue to lug this inconceivably thick machine around with me (a whole ungodly inch) until Apple’s next big announcement. Sour grapes? 
Comments
I think Apple are deliberately positioning as a user's second, "on-the-road," machine. What convinces me of that is the feature to attach to the optical drive of another machine over wireless. For those who travel all the time, this will be the most awesomest, coolest, sweetest as laptop ever. For those of us with regular ol' lives, it's just another Apple product after which to lust.
Mark it was great to finally see your name in my feeds with an updated blog topic 
Although it may not seem groundbreaking, I'm anxious to try out the new trackpad features.
@Russell, Thanks!Re: trackpad - Oh man, me too. Can't wait to play with one! Just wish I had a spot for it in my arsenal. Soon enough, I'm sure. :D
Yeah, I think the Macbook Air is for people who already have a Mac Pro, iMac or whatever at home and want something to take with them on trips (or just outings to a café).The fast that it's so light also means that you can interoffice one to a co-worker in an interoffice envelope. Haven't you always wanted to do that?
I totally agree, Mark.I'm hoping that the elimination of the optical drive catches on because with all that space opened up in a Macbook Pro, you could double the RAM storage and add another battery. That would be real value added to the big ol' one-incher we have.
I was very disappointed as well, for much the same reasons as you outlined. I wanted to be blown away, but wasn't. I found myself trying to picture how it would help me, and I couldn't. I neither simplifies my life, nor let me do things I couldn't before. Sounds like I wasn't alone in my reaction, either.
but the macbook air isn't there as a replacement of the 15" Pro. People who need the power of the Pro should and will stay with that and that's the plan behind the "air". It's a new product for new needs. Business-man and everyone who will not work on high end grafics or video and have the money to buy something slick.I am really confused about all the people who compare it to the power of the pro line...
Initially I was really excited about a compact notebook, but the features are underwhelming, and not enough to warrant paying more money for what is essentially a crappier computer. I'll hold out and see what they do with the rest of the MacBook line.
I've read a lot of mixed reactions in regards to the AIR elsewhere, as well. I think it's totally uber, incredible physical form factor that makes it seem lighter and smaller than it really is. This would be my next personal computer (I have a macbook from work), if I needed another machine. Perfect companion to my iMac as suggested above.
From what I've gathered, the flaw here is in the marketing strategy. The Macbook Air has virtually no market audience. Let's take a look at the potential demographics and why it doesn't work for any of them:The business traveler: Yes the Air is incredibly light and small, but from the early hands-on reviews coming in, it's also incredibly fragile. Lack of durability negates any portability it has going for it. Also, while the prospect of the a totally WiFi computer is appealing, most people aren't ready for it yet. This is especially true in the CDR dominated corporate world... hell they just moved on to DVD's.
Low end or first time users: So it's stripped down, that means it's a low end product like the Mac Mini right? Nope, not if you need a 2nd computer to install anything on it. Aside from this being a hardware limitation, just the *sound* of it would make most first timers cringe. First you have to install some software on your host computer that lets it share it's optical drive, then you need to find the optical drive on your Air, then... oh forgot it I'll just buy a Macbook.
High end or pro users: Well, we can figure it out, we can appreciate it, but... an 80gb hard drive? 1.6Ghz? No thank you, that's what we were on 4 years ago. And why would anyone on earth spring for the solid state hard drive when you could buy a Mac Pro for that money?
The fact is that the Macbook is a "bridge product", meaning that it's meant to fill the hole between the Macbook and the iPod touch. But there really isn't a hole there. It brings no critical new functionality to justify filling that hole. With the limited hard drive and concocted way to install software, it's less of a small, lightweight notebook, and more of a bulky, heavy iPod touch. I can get my email and check out the web for a fraction of the price, and the device fits in my pocket to boot.
I predict this notebook will go the way of the Cube, which is a pity, but then again this might just be Apple sticking their flag in the ground, fully well knowing this product will flop, but nonetheless be an important milestone for their lineup.
As usual the cool factor's high. Apple is sticking with their "just futuristic enough to wow" approach. Any a lot of times Apple products are simply steps towards something even cooler. I remember when they used Flash memory for the first time. That was an obvious step towards a wide variety of uses.I betcha this "thin" approach will become the norm, and only get cooler and cooler (which hopefully equates to "more and more functional")... for now though I'd probably save my money and wait. I've been told you have to plug in a DVD player. Seems like external hardware is necessary.
FYI, I was just as jazzed to see Apple sticking with their TV deck. They didn't abandon it. They re-tooled it. The idea is sound... digital media in one box. Just gotta get the model right.
oh well, cheers!
I got to use one yesterday, and it's very nice.What might have pushed this over the top for me would have been (at the same price point) the inclusion of Edge, EvDO, or WiMAX for ubiquitous connectivity. That or (please, Uncle Steve!) BT tethering via the iPhone.
As it is, it's a little too much of a boutique object for me.
Can't wait to see what the next iteration of MBP/MB brings, maybe as early as this summer. I'm still on a PowerBook G4, so the itch to upgrade is getting stronger by the month.
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