MacBook Air

Graymalkin

Ethernet? Who's still using ethernet these days? No optical drive? *snickers* Well, that reminds me of the day when computers started to come without a floppy drive. zOMG, teh world is coming to it's end!!!111one :D And one USB port is plenty enough. Plug in an iPod classic or any other USB-powered storage device and - presto - up to 160 gigabytes of spaceous goodness.

But if it's a "fully functional" laptop you're after, the MBA is surely not for you. It's targeted for specific groups - folks doing a major part of their work on a laptop surely ain't among them. Saying "I'd rather get laptop XY instead of that" is like comparing apples and oranges. It's an ultra-portable for crying out loud. If you want to compare it to anything, take some tablet PC for a reference.

Of course you can't stuff -everything- into that tiny a shell. But hell, it's enough to impress me.

On the financial side of things... oh, well - nevermind.

__________________
"iPhone? Well, due to Meizu prolonging the release of M8 further and further and cutting it's specs more and more, I just found myself buying that over-hyped, over-prized piece of yesterday's technology. In fact, it's pretty cool - even with the half-eaten fruit on it..."

DimaMP4

The PC's hardware is too shitty for being so expensive. It has no optical drive(yes it is important for some people), or ethernet port, no removal battery -that's just lol. If it would cost half of it's price then I'd say that it's a nice little lappy, but STILL to expensive for being what it is.

__________________

DusL

Please do ignore the fact it is the thinnest notebook ever. I think that people that really want a MEGA-thin notebook are prepared to pay such a price.

Optical drive importance is a matter of opinion. Some use it more than others.
Ethernet port.......you'd kinda break the entire portable part of a laptop -> buy a normal computer.
Removal battery........old discussion about this.

__________________
The m8 should be released for you guys soon right?

Owns a 16gig iTouch and 16 gig iPhone3G, everybody must hate me right now :D

DimaMP4

I don't see how making the laptop a little slimmer & removing a lot features makes it so special and worth 3x more.

Hendrik

Actually, Toshiba, HP and I think Fujitsu-Siemens have had thinner notebooks in their portfolio. But they were even more expensive and you can't buy them anymore.

I like the design and I don't care about the missing DVD drive or the missing ethernet port - but the HDD is too small and only one USB port is too little.

DusL

You're supposed to use a laptop while on the way. I agree more USB-ports are better but i dont see myself plugging 3 things in my laptop while sitting in the train. It kinda breaks the mobility thing.

Stick a usb-hub in it while you're @home. Problem solved.

__________________
The m8 should be released for you guys soon right?

Owns a 16gig iTouch and 16 gig iPhone3G, everybody must hate me right now :D

kadajawi

It is expensive, but that's the price you have to pay. Compare the thing to other ultra mobile notebooks. They cost just as much, have 1,06 or 1,2 instead of 1,6 or 1,8 GHz CPUs, and still are thicker. Making a notebook SO thin is quite an effort, they had to use a special HDD, a special CPU that is supposed to be made extra for Apple, ... And the thing has a decent sized screen and keyboard, not a miniature keyboard that is extremely hard to type on. For people who have to travel a lot and work there it's a nice device, as long as what you want to do runs on it (of course not games or maybe 3D software, though Cinema4D runs just fine on a slightly less powerful speced Mac Mini).

Yes, the thing has a few compromises to many. Why not integrate some sort of miniature ethernet port, if you need it, plug in an adapter that is supplied. And for crying out loud, at least 2 or 3 USB ports. I'd want to use at least a graphics tablet or mouse. Now what if I want to use the optical drive, or an external HDD? Plug in my MP3 player? 2 USB ports are a must, even on the go.


And why they had to go with a glare display just boggles my mind. This is a mobile device, right? There is nothing worse on a mobile device than a glossy display. At home you might have a chance on placing the device in a way that it isn't tooo disturbing (ok, it would even disturb me when sitting in a totally dark room, because the screen would shine on my face and my face would be reflected in the screen), but when you're not at home?
Maybe sitting outside? Good luck seeing what is on the screen. Even with LED backlight it will probably be a pain in the a**. Not to mention the stress you place on your eyes.

SteveMB93

I'm sorry, but yes an optical drive is necessary. I guess you are right when you say that we don't need Ethernet? Wait... what's that? Apple is selling an adapter for $29? 1 USB port is a joke and at that price (starting at $1800), it should at LEAST have a removable battery.

SteveMB93

Let's see... the Dell XPS m1330. Specs are 10x better, has optical dirve, RAM is upgradeable, removable battery, cheaper, bigger hard drive, and well, you get the rest.

Graymalkin

It's more than 1 cm thicker, and half a kilo heavier. ONE USB port more and a DVD drive (which I for one never use in my portables. When at home or at work there's network storage and when on the way I simply refuse to drag along a box of CDs/DVDs). No backlit keyboard, no generously proportioned multitouch trackpad (which means one would have to bring along a seperate mouse to work comfortably). On top, the MBA is green (a big plus in my eyes). 10x better specs? Sorry, I couldn't see that when comparing them.

Well, there's a right of existance for both devices, and in my opinion those two aren't even geared towards the same audience. So it's still comparing apples to oranges here.

Plus... I simply refuse to bash Apple just because it's Apple, as popular it may seem in these forums. True - they're snotty, they're pricey, and the Apple fanboyism is sure a hell of an irritation... but - damn! - they make some fancy stuff.

__________________
"iPhone? Well, due to Meizu prolonging the release of M8 further and further and cutting it's specs more and more, I just found myself buying that over-hyped, over-prized piece of yesterday's technology. In fact, it's pretty cool - even with the half-eaten fruit on it..."