Jan
20
2008
6

MacBook Air, thin on functionality

macbookair.png
So it is well known that Apple have launched the MacBook Air. It is interesting the response from almost everyone. It’s more sure, it looks good, but it doesn’t bring anything new (even on Digg which I thought would’ve been full of praise for Apple). Apple is trying to tell us all that thin is in. It’s almost like the fashion world telling us thin is in, with the really obvious downside – to be ultra-thin you must have anorexia and have no other functionality at all, but at least you look “nice,” (after the airbrushing hides your bones).

That’s what comes to mind with the Air. It’s thin, looks nice, but lacks functionality. Here’s what it’s got,

  • It’s less than 2 cm’s thick!
  • 13.3″ screen,
  • A pad big enough to do gestures on (nice),
  • 2GB of RAM
  • [up to] 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (custom).

But then you go, what does it lack then? It doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive, something I can’t see many people getting to grips with. There is a Remote Disk feature, which is actually a neat idea. You install it on your other computer and then your Air will pick it up as a normal disk. If you must have a separate drive (this is Mac town though, just what are you going to install on that thing, Windows!?), you can buy one. It will go into the USB port. The only USB port on the entire thing. In fact, it has one USB port, one mini-DVI port (for hooking up to an external monitor) and one headphone jack. That’s it. If you need more (such as if you do get the external optical drive), you’ll need to buy a USB hub. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t supply one of those.

The kicker is the price. $2,999! The price of luxury I guess. If you want the slightly faster, with less space version, you can spend $5,139.00! It almost made me fall off my chair. You get everything cut, have less features, and pay more for something with all the features.

But then there are the accessories. $159 for the SuperDrive, $48 for the Ethernet adapter. If you want to use both of these at the same time (I think Steve Jobs will have a heart attack at this) you’ll have to get a non-Apple supplied USB hub.

Of course with all these little dohickeys you have to buy, you’re suddenly stuck with something that’s thin but you need a carry case to lug around to actually use it. It’s not something practical for people who are getting laptops because it’s a laptop. It seems more geared to the people who get laptops as an accessory to their desktop system – perfect for Apple faithful, but not for who Apple target towards.

$ prices quoted are New Zealand dollars from the Apple NZ Store

6 Comments

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Douglas
January 21st, 2008 7:55 am

The solid state disk is most of the reason for the top priced model, and they’re expensive - why no mention of that Daniel?

And even the Apple faithful aren’t sure who Apple is targeting products for anymore. I don’t think the Air is a Cube, but it may come close.

Tom
January 21st, 2008 8:41 am

The 64Gb solid state disk costs an extra $1600 when compared to the 80Gb hard drive but offers random access, much slower latency, and protection from bumps that would otherwise ruin a conventional hard drive.

I don’t think laptops are suited as primary systems, so yes, this laptop is very suited as a secondary machine. In this usage you don’t need an optical drive to install things on the go, you can go back to you primary machine to do that. I would like to watch DVDs on the go, but Apple would like me to use iTunes rentals.

“Of course with all these little dohickeys you have to buy” Have to buy? Wireless N can be faster than 100mbit ethernet, so you don’t need ethernet. If it’s a secondary computer which is very likely the target market, you don’t need a optical drive. If you are plugging a mouse into your laptop when on the go (the use case for this machine - on the go) I think the concept of laptop is lost. What else do you need USB ports for? Even so, this machine has bluetooth so bluetooth keyboards and mice aren’t taking up USB ports.

It’s quite common for technical minded people to have feature paranoia, that is, an insatiable thirst to look at two lists of features and purchase the one with more. The iPhone isn’t 3G, doesn’t have GPS, 3rd party applications don’t work. The truth is that the masses don’t care about features. If a product is well designed, well marketed but is selective about the features it includes people will still buy it.

“perfect for Apple faithful, but not for who Apple target towards” Who are Apple faithful and who is the target market for the MacBook Air?

I love the pseudo-journalism here. Pretending to be unbiased, but then skewing everything towards your view, leaving out essential information. You might as well have a proper rant, it must take some effort to keep up the charade.

Daniel
January 21st, 2008 9:29 am

I don’t think laptops are suited as primary systems, so yes, this laptop is very suited as a secondary machine.
A lot of people do use their laptops as primary systems, and the industry has been hinting at a turn towards this for a long time.

I would like to watch DVDs on the go, but Apple would like me to use iTunes rentals.
If that’s what Apple is trying to get everyone to do, then why to the rentals only work on AppleTV? And why would people who own the DVD want to rent it off Apple?

Have to buy? Wireless N can be faster than 100mbit ethernet, so you don’t need ethernet.
So now you want everyone to buy 802.11n as well? That isn’t cheap and your average household either has ethernet, or are just catching up to 802.11g and won’t really care necessarily about upgrading to n yet, nor would really care about increased speeds. This is especially true since it’s still in draft form.

If a product is well designed, well marketed but is selective about the features it includes people will still buy it.
That is true, and people will still buy the MacBook Air. Unfortunately, non-technical minded people will find the lack of an optical drive sub-par and will go for a laptop with it, which would be cheaper.

Who are Apple faithful and who is the target market for the MacBook Air?
Are you seriously asking who the Apple faithful are? Judging by the statement earlier about Apple wanting you to rent from them, I’d think you are one of them.

The typical Apple is marketed towards people who want everything in one box, and be simple to use (as in relative computer newbies). I can’t see this matching that market.

I love the pseudo-journalism here. Pretending to be unbiased, but then skewing everything towards your view, leaving out essential information. You might as well have a proper rant, it must take some effort to keep up the charade.
Typically, a blog is where people to put their views and opinions forward. I make no “charade” to show that this is unbiased “pseudo-journalism.” I’m merely doing what all other bloggers, like yourself, do and that is put their opinion forward.

And to the solid state drives
I should have mentioned that really. While it does provide improvements to disk access, with a price that high it probably did need a computer company like Apple to start releasing disks as a sort of standard for them to come down. But laptop hard drives these days tend to contain accelerometers to stop hard disks when they detect falls, so while the solid state drive does it better, a normal hard drive may provide enough protection [in most situations].

Daniel
January 21st, 2008 10:26 am

why to the rentals only work on AppleTV
Sorry, HD rentals are only available for AppleTV. But the rest I can tell are available on iTunes.

Crytos
January 21st, 2008 12:25 pm

iTunes is the devil, i would never have such a disease installed on my system.
MacAir thing looks cool - just a flashier version of the Asus EEE pc which i think is pretty cool. either way i wont buy it (MacAir) cause i don’t need it. if it didn’t cost a fortune like every other apple notebook i may consider :P lol. and just a general comment on the one and only USB port…that’s normal for apple…1, 2 or 3 ports - either way apple notebooks and desktops never give you enough.

Tom
January 21st, 2008 10:06 pm

but Apple would like me to use iTunes rentals
Sorry, this is tongue in cheek. I wouldn’t use iTunes rentals.

I agree with most of your points.

And why would people who own the DVD want to rent it off Apple?
I’m guessing your point is that they can’t watch a DVD if they own a MacBook Air because it’s their primary machine. I’ll come to this later.

And to the solid state drives
I agree, the key advantage of SSDs is performance not reliability. For some it’s worth the extra cost.

Who are Apple faithful and who is the target market for the MacBook Air?
I asked this question because this is my main point. Apple do target people who want everything in one box, and be simple to use (as in relative computer newbies). They go for this market and another market, the creative professional. Why else would one of their computer models start at $4700?

The brunt of my argument is that the MacBook Air has a niche market. I believe this market is the secondary machine of a creative professional. I think I’m in their market. I have a powerful main machine with Wireless N, a great sound system and large display. I wouldn’t consider watching movies or playing games on a laptop. For starters the screen is much smaller than I’m used to and the sound just wouldn’t be the same. What I would like is a small light laptop that I can take places, use wireless access to check my email, remote login into my computer at home, view my documents, and write emails in the lounge.

While my demeanour may indicate otherwise, I am not an ‘Apple faithful’. I appreciate their products and sometimes I am willing to spend the extra to get what I think is the best. As an counter example I would never own an iPod (or personal music device), I just don’t see the point. Obviously this isn’t something everyone believes.

The MacBook Air reeks of Steve Jobs. He’s probably the driving force behind size and weight no matter what… leave out the DVD, firewire, USB ports. It’s been said, “Steve Jobs is a dictator with a great sense of style”. Most of the time they get it, sometimes they miss the mark. I think in this case they have missed the larger mark but hit a smaller one.

I’m merely doing what all other bloggers, like yourself, do and that is put their opinion forward
I have a tendency to get enthusiastic when it comes to situations where I think someone isn’t quite ‘getting something’ and spreading untruths, for that I’m sorry. When I read your articles I don’t get a feeling of personal voice, I mostly see weasel words and they put me off somewhat. But I’m still reading and I do enjoy your perspective on things even if I do chuckle over what you’ve left out, or your wildly differing opinion to mine. Keep blogging.

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