I’m sure many of you have been waiting for Apple to produce an ultra-slim portable notebook — I know I’ve been. The wait is over.
This morning at Macworld in San Francisco, Steve Jobs announced the MacBook Air ($1799). Measuring only 0.16 to 0.76 inches and weighing 3.0 pounds, the MacBook Air is the world’s thinnest laptop.
Features include a 13.3 LED backlit wide screen display, a full-size backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight camera, and an iPhone-like trackpad with multi-touch gesture capability.
Additional specs include: a built-in iSight camera, USB 2, micro-DVI and headphone via a flipdown door, 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.
There’s no optical drive on the MacBook Air. A “remote disc” feature allows you to “borrow” any nearby machines optical drive or you can purchase the optional MacBook Air SuperDrive ($100).
Two options are available: 1.6 GHz version with 80GB 4200-rpm PATA hard drive ($1,799) or 1.8 GHz version with 64GB solid-state hard drive ($3,098).
Great news for all Mac fanatics, but my only qualm is the rather slow and small hard drive in the 1.6 GHz variety.
Eh, I dislike Macs. They can’t play any games and to under powered vs. similarly prices PCs. But it is pretty damn thin.
I have to say, I’m impressed. after it’s predecessor, the iMac, Apple has a lot to offer. Probably have to wait for to drop down in price before consumers really get a bite out of the pie. In its market right now, most likely competing with E-PCs but hey, its an Apple. I saw an quick ad for the MacBook air being packaged in one of those legal envelopes, no doubt it’s going to be a hit.
wow, i love the design, but ya, i think would wait for things to come later on this year. I would prefer the hard drive to be bigger, especially for someone on the go who doesn’t want to deal with the possibility of not getting anything done simply because they forgot their external.
Gotta agree with JustAZN, except for the underpowered-ness, because Macs are pretty damn powerful, dependent on what you’re doing. God knows how disgustingly AWESOME it is for video and graphic editing.
wow it just cut out half of my comment
Just like many other companies, a priority has to be chosen, either BEAUTY or PERFORMANCE. In this case, beauty is the winner, and it’s practically sets the beauty standards for laptops. My only concern is with the pocket-sized harddrive, at 80GB it’s barely a portable media centre for travelling on the plane.
Okay, but I still have to say, it looks state of the art, and it’s under an INCH! I wonder how durable it actually is.
-AllaN
JustAZN, you are not a Mac user right ?
Let’s do this the easy way: the way MacOSX is written simply doesn’t need the power you are asking for. By using a Mac, you’ll see that even it’s less powerful than a Windows PC of the same price, it’s a loooot faster and simple to use. Just look at Windows Vista and the specs it requires do launches itself correctly. It’s just sooo heavy !!
For the performance, the built-in Intel processor is a world premiere for this Mac. Intel built this core only for the MacBook Air. Yes the MacBook Air is a technological performance.
I’ll finish by saying that if you want to play the latest games, you’ll have to buy a extremely powerful PC that will cost the same price or even more… without mentionning all the games compatibility troubles encountered with Vista…
I think that things are going to change. EA, one of the biggest game editor has been selling it’s games for the MAC since months ! The Mac has the Intel core, the next step is the graphic card… When this is done, Steve Jobs is gonna be even more rich than he is now…
It’s a nice design, but not practical. About the comment saying macs being under powered and overpriced, your talking about the PowerPC days the new Intel Macs are beast, heck running a virtualized WIndows XP with MS Office using Parallels is just like launching Photoshop. also want to run your windows only games? then use Bootcamp and be blown away. but since the only game I play is World of Warcraft, I’m all good! just my 2 cents.
Haha Chan2k1, well put. Too often users of one genre are too biased and don’t even look into the other aspect of the category. Compatibility continues to improve as we move further and further into the digital age, so it just keeps getting better. I envision a future where Macs and PCs coexist in utopia with equal awesome performance. Actually I’m lying, because competition between the two will exist irregardless. It was a good try though.
-j
Most complaints I’ve seen against a Mac is the lack of software, but since the Mac can dual boot, is that even a relevant argument at this point? I’m a PC user and I don’t play computer games so either platform is fine by me as long as it runs Adobe suite products well. My focus is on the hardware.
There will always be the Mac vs PC war, much like the plasma vs LCD and the Nintendo vs Sony vs Microsoft war, and the apples vs oranges war. People are going to defend what they like, especially if they’ve already purchased that product (some numerous times) and have the need to justify that investment.
This is a laptop. A very portable laptop. Performance is not really the focus here so there’s no point to complain that it is underpowered compared to other units twice its weight.
The only current competitors in this weight-range are:
- Sony Vaio TZ series (includes internal optical drive) $2000+
- Toshiba Portege $1500+
- Dell Latitude D430 $1100+
- Lenovo x61 $1100+
(prices are approximate)
All the processors in those units range from ~1.1-2 Ghz. So it’s definitely in the same range of performance. In fact, I’m surprised it’s $1799. Apple usually has a $100-200 premium for their products so I was expecting at least $1999.
That said, the only one USB port bothers me though.
I think vgachi57 is hitting on the right points here. The MacBook Air was designed to be a light, ultra-portable laptop, relying heavily on wireless connection.
For those who are looking to play the latest and greatest games, I doubt that this machine was built for you.
I find that the MacBook Air would be a great on the go laptop for casual use. Made for casual use. Watching a movie, browsing the internet, etc. I have an iPod Touch and when I’m not using my laptop or have left it at work, I would use my Touch to browse. It’s handy, but after using it for heavier browsing, I would love to have something like the Air.
Also I could see it being used to help out with my daily life. As I’m learning to cook and I pull recipes from Rouxbe or something, I usually lug my 17″ 8lb laptop to the kitchen and set it up on the small dining table and refer back and forth from it. It’s a bit clunky. The MacBook Air would be a much better use.
I think that the Air would be a great alternate computer to have if one has the funds to spend on it. I wouldn’t say is a laptop or desktop replacement though.
[...] interesting that Kineda and Paul both point out seriously problems with the new Macbook (it’s wimpy, overpriced, and [...]
It’s still pretty underpowered for its price. An ASUS A7 series can easily beat it for $700 less. They come with Intel Core 2 Duos now yes, but still for the price they’re relatively weak. I defended them back when they still used PowerPC and During the early Pentium 4s and late PIIIs but like the saying, “That was then, this is now.”
The processor in the Macbook Air isn’t one specifically built just for it. They’re just a Core 2 Duo T7100 for the 1.8GHz version and T5500 for the 1.6GHz version with an added 2Mb of L2 cache, making them not very powerful, despite being a laptop for that price.
There are other operating systems other than Vista, such as XP. Besides, when XP came out, look at the reviews it had-they were no different than Vista. It’ll only take time until M$ releases SP1. When installed and edited correctly even Vista will play nice. Every game supports Vista (even 64-bit), it’s just a fact of knowing which drivers to download and which registry keys need not to download.
Trying to emu a windows OS through a emu-loader through Maxs will only cause instability not to mention the huge performance loss through the emulating program and sub-par hardware. The strongest video card the Mac can use is the Radeon X1950XT. It’s a strong card but good luck finding one for PCI-X and/or a cheap price.
JustAZN, I ask again, why are you comparing the air to a laptop that is not aimed at the same market?
The Asus A7 series is 7 lbs, which is even above the average laptop weigh of 5-6, which is already twice the weight of the air and comparable laptops. The only unit Asus makes that’s even remotely geared at the same portable-desiring audience is the Asus EEE-PC (~ 2lbs). That thing is powered by a 900 MHz Intel Celeron-M with 2 GB solid state HDD for $299. Cheap? yes. Underpowered, maybe. Depends on what you want to use it for.
If you go by your “bang for your buck” concept, then why even get a laptop? Laptops will always be pricier, offer less options, and weaker than a standard desktop. And the reason is convenience. You can tote a laptop around with you with less cables and less headache. So you’re paying a premium for that portability. So shouldn’t it make even more sense that you would pay an even higher premium for even more portability (hence the lighter laptop)? Maybe not you specifically, but someone who is looking for absolute convenience?
How is the ASUS A7 not aimed at the same market? Laptops are made for portability. The ASUS A7 and Macbook Air are directed at the same market. Sure it’s less than an inch but it doesn’t even come with a optical drive. For $1700-$3000, I’d expect Apple to do some R&D and get a slot drive in there. I don’t know about you guys but I rather have a 1.5in notebook that actually comes with an optical for the premium I’m paying for such a sub-par laptop.
Cars are made for transportation. Does that mean a Ferrari and a Ford Explorer are directed at the same market? In that case, the Ferrari is a complete ripoff cause you can’t even store anything in it. It costs more, can do less, but some people like it cause it’s sleeker and is way easier to turn heads. For the price of a Ferrari and maintenance costs, I’d expect it to lay golden eggs but that doesn’t happen because that changes the focus of their product. The focus of the Air is LIGHT portable, not 7-lb portable. (Personally, anything above 4.5 is too much of a laptop for me. At that point, it’s a burden to lug around to meetings and whatever.)
More than anything to do with actual hardware specs, it’s Apple. Look at the iPod. It costs more than Sandisk’s Sansa (which doesn’t need to convert mp3s to their proprietary format) but is totally dominating the market among mp3 players. Some people just like Apple. So if you still don’t agree, you’re just not their target audience.
With that said, yes I agree it sucks that it doesn’t have a optical drive. I’m not disagreeing with you that it’s expensive, lackluster for certain tasks, etc. I’m not in their target audience either in that respect. But I do like the size. Like I mentioned above, the only 3-lb laptop that does is a Sony Vaio TZ, which retails for $2099+.
Get a room you two. ~_^
-j
JustAZN, I have a 7.8lb notebook and I’ll tell you, I wouldn’t compare my laptop against the Air.
Not having an optical drive might be a huge factor for you, but I personally have not really had to use an optical drive on my laptop. If you believe that Apple has not done it’s R&D, I would say you are mistaken. R&D doesn’t have to go into the development of new technologies, it can be used to determine what technologies is required and not. For their target users, an optical drive isn’t fully required and also an optical drive is a huge power draw, since it has mechanical parts. Remember when Macs dropped the floppy discs? They are however, making a gamble that people will be renting and buying movies and tv shows through iTunes.
When it comes down to it, the world of mobile computing is starting to change. Laptops are so hugely popular now that there’s different ones for different uses. A few years back, a laptop was just for on-the-go computing and the only difference would be business laptops and more consumer based laptops. I would believe that much of this is attributed to the lack of power that mobile computing had.
This however is not particularly a large case anymore as mobile computing power, while still slower then desktop equivalents, is perceived to be more or less on par for an average user. People are looking beyond the processor speed when purchasing laptops.
One last fact to consider. As size goes down, prices goes up. Apple did get Intel to develop a processor that 40% smaller then the current processor.
http://www.anandtech.com/mac/s.....01&p=2
lets stop arguing. the air is really thin end of story.
The optical doesn’t have a big power draw, unless you’re going back a decade. It doesn’t matter if it has parts that move, that doesn’t make it consume more power. Video cards don’t have moving parts and they can be the #1 power consumption hardware in computers.
The Core 2 Duo in the Apple is of the same core as the regular mobile one is, the Merom. Smaller doesn’t mean more expensive either just because it’s smaller. Reasons why the fab would go smaller would have to be based on architectural developments, meaning new techology, which then means it’s more expensive. The C2D in the Apple Air also isn’t mass produced for anybody else, meaning Intel has to raise the prices in order to meet their production cost.
the 64 Gig SSD drive costs $999 more than the 80 gig PATA drive.
the 1.8 Ghz C2D costs $300 more than the 1.6 Ghz one
the disc drive is $100 and externals don’t go with portability.
Did I mention it doesn’t come with a Ethernet port? Then the whole “It’s meant to be wireless” argument turns to BS.
[...] interesting that Kineda and Paul both point out seriously problems with the new Macbook (it’s wimpy, overpriced, and full [...]
Windows Vista wireless connection problems…
no kidding!…
Jessie…
Thanks for the info. By the way, I am a big fan of your site. Keep up the great work….
I can see that this argument is really about being usable to have all the bits and piece so that you’re really doing some serious work vs. the aesthetics and light usage of the notebook.
to me this new MacBook Air is just another product for those who like their notebooks to be light so that its more portable and does the normal grind of work (i.e typing documents, surfing the net, etc…).
If you were going for some serious power, you wouldn’t buy one of these.. i can’t imagine anyone who wanted to play network games to bring something like this… or for serious business, whether or not it has enough battery to last… given that the most heaviest part of the notebook is the battery, i wonder actually how long this thing can last…
No doubt it’s an amazing and sexy machine. I don’t get all the nitpicking though. Name me one laptop – one computer for that matter – that doesn’t compromise somewhere. This is an ultra-portable computer that has everything you need…unless you’re a gamer or in the IT department.
Can you tell I’m an Apple fan? :-)
But, it’s all a moot point anyway. Rumor has it that the next version is already on it’s way, a scant 9 months after the release of v1.0. To wit: http://personafile.com/Apple-M.....100228.htm
With that kind of product lifecycle, I wish Apple had a trade-in program!
[...] interesting that Kineda and Paulboth point out seriously problems with the new Macbook (it’s wimpy, overpriced, and full [...]
[...] netbook to ease the appetites of Mac OS X fans looking for something easier to carry around than a MacBook Air, users will be taking action into their own hands. Hackintoshers have successfully completed fully [...]
quite interesting moled