I Want A Macbook Air and I Want It NOW!
January 15, 2008: It’s just been announced by Apple and I want it - The Macbook Air. At .76 inches at the thickest part, and just 0.16 at it’s skinniest, it’s thin enough to fit into an interoffice envelope. Yet it has a 13.3 inch LCD screen and full-sized keyboard. It weighs a mere 3 pounds, which is just silly. You could take this sucker anywhere.
For the photographer in me, it’s got some extra bonuses. No, not the built-in webcam, although that’s cute. What’s got me jazzed is the new, larger-than-ever trackpad, which includes some of the functionality of the iPhone screen. You can pinch your fingers to zoom into a photo, twist them to rotate the picture, and use a “swipe” of your fingers to flip from one shot to the next in iPhoto. That’s crazy cool.
Sweeeeet.
I’m a pretty entrenched PC user, but it’s ridiculous how Apple has cornered the market on sexy, fun and intuitive hardware that practically screams “use me!” One day I’m going to win the lottery and make the switch. In that order.
Scott
January 16th, 2008 at 6:47 am
I know it’s not sexy, but I’m pleased with the Time Capsule which will complement my MacBook Pro. The Air is nice, but you’d still need a desktop too and it’s a lot of money for a secondary laptop.
Regards,
Rob…
January 16th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Hey Scott,
I posted an entry about this on the Global Geek Podcast blog earlier today… I saw the MacBook Air and the first thing I thought was “pretty, but fragile.”
I can’t imagine this laptop being able to stand up to being carried around in someone’s knapsack, one drop and it’d be toast. I could see it falling off a table and the corner crumpling up like so much tinfoil. Also, it’s pretty small and the HD is only 80GB. I can’t seriously think anyone is going to want to shell out an additional $1000 to get the optional 64 GB solid state RAMdrive. Also, no optical drive, although they did also design a companion USB-powered Superdrive…again, more money.
I personally think this is just like the iPhone and the iPod touch… pretty, neat to play with, but certainly not worth laying out the cash for. Give me a nice 17″ MacBook Pro and we’ll talk…
January 16th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Last year I made the switch to Mac and I haven’t looked back since then. I have to say I think Apple is one of the few manufacturers that think about both performance and design, which makes their products so wonderful.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Don’t wait for the lottery…. just switch! I second the recommendation for the MB Pro, given your likely style of usage.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:01 am
I tried a Mac and just wasn’t impressed at all. Plus it would be expensive to switch all of my applications. But on the Airbook - you can’t upgrade anything - it’s sealed shut. That doesn’t seem like a good idea.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Thanks for weighing in, all. I think the thing that bugs me most about the system is the lack of an ethernet port and its only having 1 USB port. And even the ethernet port is understandable, but one USB port? That’s painful.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
@Scott: It’s relying too heavily on the wireless access. I can imagine trying to use it while traveling to the UK (as I do) and having to get an Ethernet-to-USB adapter for those hotels that do not have wireless (there are quite a few), plus I would need a USB hub so I could plug in my mouse and camera card reader. Not worth the money, IMO.
It’s like the iPod touch… pretty, neat toy, way too much money.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I think this will change the way we do computing. The “Back to my Mac” feature on Leopard will allow you to tap into your main machine from anyplace in the world and use all the applications and features on your main computer. I think most people use a computer when traveling to check email, surf the web, etc. Herne is correct that this relies heavily on wireless, but that’s the new world we’re entering, isn’t it? As far as windows applications, the mac does windows too. It’s PC’s than can’t do Mac OS.
I switched to Mac ten years ago and have never regretted it. I also own an iPhone and love it. I think until you’ve spent time with these gadgets, it’s hard to know what you’re missing.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
As a Mac, Windows and Unix user, I see most of the Windows vs. Mac rhetoric as just silly. I’m glad to see there’s so little of it in this forum. :-)
Does Scott need an Air?
I go computer shopping when the one I have no longer does what I want it to.
I always buy all the computer I can afford so it lasts as long as possible.
I will often buy close-outs and reverbs because I get more computer for my money and the bad design decisions are known.
The Air sure is kewl….
Carl
February 1st, 2008 at 7:25 am
Ahh, the Mac vs WIndows debate at an intellectual level. Well, like Carl said, most of the arguments are just silly. As an IT Pro myself, I do find I work in a Windows World and I play in a Mac world (as I sit here on my MBP). Having said that, the initial “ooohs” and “ahhs” seem to have dissipated, as the real reviews are coming out on the “Air”. Check these review sites out for additional details:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/macbook-air-review/
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080129/BLOG01/80129018/0/BUSINESS
http://reviews.cnet.com/macbook-air/