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Not enough CEOs and Executives and White-Collar Status Monkey types hang out here. Just the bargain-hunting Freaks come here. That's how we like it.
Ain't nobody in THIS forum lining up to buy the new super-slim MacBook Air.
First one here to buy one has got to report in. I'm sure he or she will be met with a chorus of "Leader!" replies.
I'm not holding my breath.
Why? We're too cheap. Our idea of status is counter-signaling. Who can make the oldest hardware run the fastest, and who can pay the least for the most Bang. We'll choose Bang over Bling any day!
Hell, hundreds of regulars here still praise and defend OS 9, and half the guys here are still running wheezing old G3 and G4 Towers, and holding 'em together with Scotch tape...
...and scream like weasels at the thought of paying retail for the Scotch tape!
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I'll post on or around the 5th when mine arrives.
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Nope. My CC was ready to go the moment SJ said MacBook Air. I was chomping at the bit ready to spend up to $2300. But as he went on I saw more and more stuff that was unacceptable and my wallet shut. I'll just buy a MBP when the Penryns ship.
What I needed:
1) A user removable battery
2) User upgradable RAM
3) The usual assortment of connectors OR a minimal set (USB 2 and video out) + a mini connector that connects to an accessory dock with a full compliment of ports like the old Duo had.
I can live with the proc, HD size and even integrated RAM. But I'm not about to buy a $1800 laptop where I can't even swap out batteries or bump up the RAM. That is the ultimate planned obsolesce. I don't mind spending the $, I just don't like to waste it.
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I'm not in the market now, but even if I was, I'd have a tough time getting one. The negs:
- no firewire...
- one USB port? Ugh.
- 80gb drive or $$$ SSD
- add-on ethernet...
-Tofer
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I can get a refurbished 2.2mhz Macbook Pro for less money AND get a better feature set.
More disk space, more power, more RAM, better video, replaceable battery, etc.
Besides, it looks like it will break if you look sideways at it.
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Neither am I in the market.
There was a lot of woe expressed with the first iMacs that did not have a floppy drive, but the concept survived.
It is very possible that this unit will create it's own niche. It does have its dependencies, but if those are in place, who knows maybe it will work!
OTOH, maybe it won't. Guess we'll see.
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It's pretty sweet in the pictures. I imagine it will appear even thinner in person, much as the Nano did the first time I saw it in person.
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Wait, this thing is real?
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So far all the reasons listed only confirm that different niches work for different customers.
If those are your list of qualifiers/disqualifiers, Apple's MacBook Pro or Mac Book are likely better right choices for you.
The MacBook Air isn't "flawed" because it doesn't suit your needs, it just means you need a different computer.
Remember when everyone screamed about losing the floppy drive? Or the transition to USB? and complained about having to purchase an external add-on? How long did that last?
I'd rather see this one kept light, stripped down, and thin as air, that than for Apple to start adding on all these things just to please those who can't live without the ports and features that already exist on other, more suitable (competitively light, functional, attractive) models.
For myself, I'm happy with my MacBook Pro. I gotta have FW800, and an ethernet port, and etc. etc..so that model works just great for me.
If it were Dell, or Microsoft, you can bet nobody would have been left out. It would have been designed by committee, looked uglier than sin, and weighed two pounds more.
If this model leaves you and your wallet behind, it's not a bad thing, better that than weigh it down.
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It's definitely a niche computer (at least for now).
But, I really really need/want an ultra portable Mac. I had been using a Black Macbook C2D, but I recently sold that. The battery issue hurts on paper, but comparatively I have owned all of the following laptops, and never ever had a second battery for them.
2 x iceBook G3's
1 x iBook G4
2 x Powerbook G4 12"
2 x Powerbook G4 15"
1 x Powerbook G4 17"
1 x Macbook C2D
1 x MacBook Pro 17"
Which brings up another point, I usually don't keep computers more than 12-18 months. I usually sell them off, upgrade when something comes along that will give me a few more processor cycles.
I don't burn that many CD's/DVD's from the laptop, though I do watch movies on it. It would have been a major issue for me, but this winter we ripped my 300+ DVD collection for my AppleTV, so I can drag/drop and go.
A gigabit ethernet port also would have been nice for transferring large files, but my N wireless is pretty fast.
The bottom line is that I love the look of the thing, the form factor, and it will be great to have in my bag all the time for script notes/writing, cutting dailies and collaborative work on my films.
If it's a bust I'll sell it off, and probably won't take much of a hit.
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