MacBook Air: a personal view.
By: Carlo
tags: Air, Apple, MacBook, MacBook Air, Steve Jobs
Category: Apple, Development & Computer, Thoughts
I was one of those who followed the MacWorld, few weeks ago, in any possible way. I was interested in the banner “There is something in the Air” but I am still undecided if I am one of the Lovers or the Hater of the new Apple laptop.
One thing is essential before starting to discuss about the MacBook Air: it is NOT a normal laptop, it is NOT a desktop replacement, it is NOT intended to break the market as the MacBook. The Air is something different, different target, different specs required and different power. I have read a lot of reviews, a lot of people trying to analize the MacBook Air as if it was a new version of the MacBook Pro. I am sorry, you cannot expect to have everything you need in such a small shell, let’s face the truth!
Battery: It is not replaceable! A lot of people I know, when hear the news that the battery is a non-replaceable, started to breath fire. Hell on Earth, a laptop where you cannot switch battery! Well, let me think how many people I know walks around with a spare battery… let’s see… Yes, I think ONE of them. One, indeed! one on hundreds I know. Being honest I had the need for a replaceable battery maybe once in six years… and I did not have one, therefore it was useless. The target of this laptop is to be compact and light, and if you want to travel as light as you can, you do not bring a spare battery with you!
No integrated DVD reader! ALLELUIA! Yes, I need the DVD reader, I use it… probably as much as I use the external Hard Drive that sits on my desk (and that never leaves the desk, BTW). Apple did not present a laptop without drive, but with an external drive! It’s the best solution! The more sceptic are bothering that you cannot use the external drive with another Mac, but it is because of the power consumption, that is three times the power a normal USB port can provide. The USB port of the MacBook Air is extremely powerful, and Apple decided NOT to provide an external power chord for it: you need to travel light, don’t you?
Only one USB and no Firewire! Shame! Well… A second USB port would have been advantageous, but in the end you can live without it. I have two USB and a firewire on my laptop, and I try not to use all of them together. It uses less power, and I have less cables around. Do you need an external Hard Drive? Plug it in and out! Do you need the DVD? Plug it in and out? Do you need to attach your Firewire camcorder? You do not need a MacBook Air!
What a tiny Hard Drive! Well, when I bought my MacBook, one year ago, the normal drive was 60GB. The Air does have a 1.8inch drive, not a 2.5inch like every other laptop. This is because it has to be light. Obviously it does not have 60GB, but 80. Do you want to have the fastest, next generation hard drive, being a Early Adopter? You pay to receive less, for more money! Your choice!
Price! It costs too much! Well yes, it costs a lot. Miniaturisation has always been expensive. You can buy a normal MacBook for much less, receiving more features (more processor, HDD, etcetera) for some pounds and inch more!
In the end I think that the MacBook Air is spectacular, stylish and… fantastic. I cannot see the time to see them in the Apple Store! I also think that the MacBook Air is designed for specific applications. I will never keep into consideration one of them: it is not powerful enough to support my development and my photos (Aperture is slow on my MacBook).
Requirements drive technology!
And the requirements the MacBook Air fulfil are clearly more dedicated to those who travels with their own computer everywhere, whitout the need of power. I think about Managers, Professional Bloggers, Journalists etcetera. I cannot stand those who are overcritic just because they cannot play the latest game on it, or because it is the last item from Apple.
Let’s see that shiny thing for what it is: a small, stylish, lightweight (in many senses) brand new computer.
I will not buy it, because the next laptop should be able to deliver a little more power than my MacBook, but I do not think the MacBook Air is a bad thing. I am one of those who needs his entire world with himself on his laptop. I need my laptop to be the Desktop replacement. I am not a MacBook Air user!
Last thing: do you know why there has not been so much hype on it? Because the target of the Air is different, smaller and more silent!
Cheerio!
i’m trying to guess who’s whom you’re thinking about… :D
btw, on engadget they tested that the battery has juice for about 2,5 hours…
Hi Roberto!
I did not think to anyone in particular writing this post. I can tell that you are not an Apple supporter, but as I already told you, probably I am more a defender. Maybe I thought more intensely at you when I was thinking about the replaceable battery… :)
I have seen the review on engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/macbook-air-review/ this is the link for those who want to read it). Strangely the information given from Cupertino seems to be inaccurate. I said strangely because normally the test on the battery are conservative. Mine was lasting twenty minutes more than expected in the first days of light!
I repeat myself: the MacBook Air is specifically targeted. If you are not in the target… (BTW, you did not comment anything more… :)
Good thoughts - I’m not in the target market either. I think the battery is a concern as I just bought a new battery for my macbook after 1.5 years. It wasn’t holding a charge past 15 minutes. I also had the drive fail on me. Basically I am glad the MacBooks and MacBook Pros have very easy to replace hard drives, RAM and batteries, and the Air is a step backwards.
Obviously all these compromises were done to make the computer very sleek, thin, and light which is great. But personally, I don’t travel enough where that is the importance.
It will be interesting to see how the sales of this product are!
Jason,
Welcome Back!
I have to admit that my battery is still as new after… 14 months. It lasts more than two hours under normal usage.
The step backward for the fact that RAM, HDD and battery are not replaceable is what you have to pay to get such a light thing. I think that the main target for the MacBook Air cannot give a s**t about replacing RAM, HDD and battery. It’s just COOL!
BTW: even if I would have travelled a lot, I could not accepted such compromises!
I fear the sales of the Air will be disappointing, this is why I hope to see a refresh of the MacBook Pro!