The MacBook Air doesn’t impress me

by billso on Monday, 21 January 2008

I’ve had a few people ask me what I think of the MacBook Air. I haven’t seen one in person, but based on what I’ve read, I’m not interested in this new model. The Air looks like the Steve Jobs’ latest new toy. What if sales are low? What if he gets interested in another project? It’s happened before, as Forbes points out.

Flash memory that replaces the hard drive is a great option. But it’s an extra US$1000.

The multipoint trackpad? We saw that coming when Steve unveiled the iPhone a year ago.

But there’s only one USB port? No RJ-45 jack? No FireWire port? It’s dealbreaker after dealbreaker, I’m afraid.

The sealed battery is the real killer. Sure, the replacement fee is only US$129. But the user still has to take their Mac to an Apple store or send it to a depot. What if I want to pop in a spare battery?

As Forbes reports in another article, MacWorld attendees weren’t very impressed, either.

Tagged as: Apple, hardware, iPhone, mac, mobile, network, USB

dpeters1

I wasn’t too impressed by the MacBook Air either. This state of unimpressedness is also not only bred from my distaste for all things under the aegis of “Mac Culture” but actually has grounds in practicality.

If I had a laptop that thin, I would be deathly afraid of breaking it about every 5 minutes. And no optical drive? How will i watch movies whilst I’m out and about? The option for an SSD drive is intriguing, but ahead of its time. Until large capacity flash drives become cheap and are well on the way to being ubiquitous, such an option will be well outside of the realm of practicality for all but the mega-wealthy. It is my belief that thinness is not an indicator of quality and I’m not just saying that because I’m a large guy.

While I’m dispassionate about this newest Mac release, I’m sure it will energize the rabid Mac fan base just like any other shiny new release. Despite my saying otherwise, it does look like a beautiful device; Mac understands style in this bleak world of IBM-compatible boxiness.

At 1,800+ dollars however, it’s just about the most impractical laptop I’ve seen in quite a while.
http://billso.com billso

MacBook Air looks and sounds more like a fashion accessory than a reliable computer. It’s pretty, not practical. Perhaps Apple will sell a pink model later this year.
dpeters1

They’re doing pink ipod Nanos for Valentine’s. I’m willing to wager the pink model MacBook Air will show up in time for V-day ’09.
dpeters1

They’re doing pink ipod Nanos for Valentine’s. I’m willing to wager the pink model MacBook Air will show up in time for V-day ’09.

In a completely unrelated question; is the capcha for this site the one that helps translate books into english?
http://billso.com billso

Yes, I’m using the real recaptcha. It doesn’t translate books from other languages into English, though. This captcha does quality control on OCR scans of English language books. Recaptcha’s developers have more info at this link.
dtaylor

Although I do agree with the main points in these postings, about the impracticalities of its sturdiness and how it symbolizes something of a fashion statement, I think its technological innovations are in alignment for where the market will be reaching.

The new IT developments by Apple have to be introduced to the market while developing a competitive advantage with its aesthitics, and in this modern era, sleek and attractiveness seem to go a lot further with retail than the physical durableness and forms rationalism.

I think it will do surprisingly well simply because of Steve Jobbs’ uncanny way of taping into the desires of Apple’s target market. His shinny new product will more than likely be a successful product (plus I have shares in Apple, so I have my fingers crossed).
http://billso.com billso

The MacBook Air doesn’t compare to anything on Wired’s list of Apple’s 8 worst products.