Forums | MacLife

I think the important thing here is that, for $99, you can now buy a bootable external USB Superdrive direct from Apple with iMovie support, etc. I'll probably get one just so I can finally direct-dupe CDs on my G5.

The downside? New type of video port, no ethernet w/o adapter, no firewire, and only 1 USB port - and it's not like you can use a docking station to add that stuff.

All to save less than a third of an inch vs. the MacBook. The weight savings is impressive though - from 5 pounds to 3.

Do we have USB target disk mode now? That would mitigate not having FW a little.

It seems to be priced in the ballpark with other form-over-function uber-thin notebooks, but color me underwhelmed. They could have made it a little less tapered, added a couple more plugs, and used the same DVI port as the other laptops; all without making it thicker or appreciably heavier.

I imagine the MBA will recieve rave reviews, and Apple will sell a lot of them at first, but in six months we'll be calling it "another Cube."

dvpierce wrote:

New type of video port

With included adaptors.

Do we have USB target disk mode now? That would mitigate not having FW a little.

Looks like WiFi is the target disk alternative for migrations.

I imagine the MBA will recieve rave reviews, and Apple will sell a lot of them at first, but in six months we'll be calling it "another Cube."

I was thinking that myself. Apple overshot the puck just a hair and while they are at the point at where it's going, it has still gotta cross half the rink.

It was a good system just limited & overpriced for what it was.

Way too much money for the Air IMHO. Shame....

The thing is obviously targeted at the executive/business class and it's not likely to fail like the Cube because Apple has that particular market's attention right now with the iPhone, and it plays on a direct requirement they have, ultra portability, while having the style and 'sex' appeal people in those markets go for and, to them, the price isn't an issue.

The Cube failed because Apple had no momentum in the business/executive market and, in the end, it was just another desktop in a fancy case.  Nice form, but function that didn't meet any immediate demands that a $500 tower PC shoved under the desk didn't solve.

Glad I got an eee pc a few weeks ago.

pkmgarf wrote:

Yeah, I'm not too big of a fan of the name.  I liked Macbook Thin more.

MacBook Mini/Nano here

granted, after the initial overenthusiasm, I think I'll stick with trying to get a MacBook standard.

All I can say is that you have to see it in person. It's tiny and incredibly light. The screen looks great though. The SSD is a definite "ouch" @ $999, but the USB Ethernet Adapter is only $29. The multitouch gestures are pretty cool too. The big downsides are only one USB port. The video adapters are included. About the only thing I personally would want would be a docking station.

The one question not really answered is what does one do if the situation arises where an OS reinstall is required. If the user doesn't have the optical drive... ?

I played with it for a very short time as there was a huge mob. They have a huge table full of them, but a crowd around each one. There are also Apple reps there watching over them so no shenanigans...

Pariah wrote:

I am a bit amused by the griping about certain missing features of the Air-book.
I gotta say that design makes perfect sense to me as someone how has always thought of a Laptop in terms of being a secondary computer.
The Air is NOT nor is it intended to be, a replacement for your "desktop replacement" fully functioning general purpose laptop. It's a rather nice convenient, super easy to take with, sidekick to what ever you use as your primary computer.
At least the way I have always envisioned any portable needs I might have, the Air looks like just exactly what I would want.
A sleek, light, "just enough to get the job done" computer.
I give it a big thumbs up
I do think leaving off Firewire is a very odd thing for Apple to do.

it's thicker than the USB and micro(not mini)-DVI ports.

Pariah wrote:

I am a bit amused by the griping about certain missing features of the Air-book.
I gotta say that design makes perfect sense to me as someone how has always thought of a Laptop in terms of being a secondary computer.
The Air is NOT nor is it intended to be, a replacement for your "desktop replacement" fully functioning general purpose laptop. It's a rather nice convenient, super easy to take with, sidekick to what ever you use as your primary computer.
At least the way I have always envisioned any portable needs I might have, the Air looks like just exactly what I would want.
A sleek, light, "just enough to get the job done" computer.
I give it a big thumbs up
I do think leaving off Firewire is a very odd thing for Apple to do.

Yeah I thought of it the same way (and no firewire is a little disappointing but I'll live).

If you want something with a bunch of features and can replace a desktop get Macbook Pro. If you want an affordable laptop get a Macbook.

ABigSmall wrote:

Heh, I guess I'm out of Apple's target demographic for another five years or so.

Start earning lots of money, get a trophy wife or equivalent and lay in a stock of black turtlenecks.

Windows doesn't support installing off an external optical drive?

Do you really need two USB ports? You know they make small hubs. (I can understand the no firewire thing, kind of lame since USB 2 isn't the best for hard drives.)