MacBook Air missing more than an optical drive
The new MacBook Air is svelte-as-can-be, but it's also missing some key, traditional Mac functionality that might leave some users disappointed or in a lurch. First off, the battery is apparently not user-replaceable. This means you can't swap out batteries to extend operating life, and you'll likely need to seek authorized service to get the battery replaced when it inevitably loses capacity or if it fails altogether.
Since the MacBook Air lacks an optical drive, you can't boot from an inserted DVD like the Mac OS X Leopard install disc unless you purchase the optional, $100 external SuperDrive. It's not yet clear whether the MacBook Air can boot from an optical drive in another Mac via the "Remote Disc" function, but we doubt it. Further, if you can't boot from an installer disc, how will you be able to install the next major iteration of Mac OS X? Traditionally, Mac OS X installers have required the system to boot from a disc.
There's no built-in Ethernet port. This means you can't (apparently) network-boot unless you purchase the $30 USB-to-Ethernet adapter.
The MacBook Air also lacks a FireWire port. This means you can't use FireWire target disk mode -- an invaluable troubleshooting tool and data transfer tool. In addition, some peripherals (including a host of digital video cameras) that are FireWire-only will be left out in the cold.
Finally, you can't upgrade the MacBook Air's RAM (you're stuck with 2GB, the default) and there is no audio input port, though a built-in microphone is included.
it does support all of those (mentioned on apple website) and even thru' a PC machine.. wireless'ly.. neat feature but not so useful for daily usage.
question: login to leave comments on crave blog.. not so great
No optical drive, no Ethernet, no battery replacement. Even Fireport is missing? Just like the pitiful excuse for a phone the iPhone is, here's a pitiful excuse for a laptop. But, it's Light! it's Big! it's Pretty! Yes, it's expensive, but Light! Portable! Shiny!
Upgrade? You want to upgrade? That laptop is obviously so last year - buy the new model. Battery out after 4 months? We'll see you in 4 weeks... Why not get a Pro while you wait? It's planned obsolescence at its best.
The reason PCs will never be overtaken is because of one word: Modularity. As long as the consumer can swap out parts, the computers may be a bit bulkier, but will last twice as long and continue to run at or above the required 80% efficiency after 2-3 years because of upgrades. The Air is not designed with updates in mind: it's not even designed with the user in mind. It's designed to sell, and like so many Macs, it'll sell... and become another expensive (lightweight!) paperweight
If you want to benefit of the wireless features you will need a Mac desktop, which is a something around 2000 bucks.
Call me an Apple basher, but really, who will buy the MacBook Air ? I think that the MacBook Air will be a disappointment for consumers and Apple. It might the G4 Cube of the laptops... but I have to say, it looks HOT !!
iPhone -- I couldn't agree more! I love my iPhone (and I've had three other
smart phones that don't begin to compare) and I'll probably be buyng my tiny
Mac laptop later this year. I already have a fairly lightweight laptop, but
lugging it around is still a pain in the neck (literally). As for no this or no that,
in the six years I've had an Apple laptop, the only thing I've ever plugged into
it are headpones, the AC adapter and the occasional software CD/DVD. And
for the very rare times I need to physically go on my network, a cheap
Ethernet to USB bridge doesn't seem to be a real problem. As for the memory
limit, I do high-end Photoshop work with 2.5GB on my desktop system, so I
don't think a 2GB limit will really bother me. If you folks don't think this is
gonna be a huge seller -- especially in colleges and high school -- you have
no idea what's about to hit you!
The real innovations follow:
1. There is an option for a solid state hard drive. Simply put, (so the average reader understands) this is a built in, high capacity "USB Flash Memory", placed instead of a traditional hard drive. This means that booting the computer, access to files and loading of programs will be a LOT much faster. People will have to try this to understand it. It also makes the drive more reliable and durable. In a way is like having a huge RAM memory that doesn't loose its data when power is cut. The only downfall for the time being is that the Solid State Hard Drive offered is limited to 64 GB; but to me that is not so important these days when you can share hard drives through a wireless network when there is the need for more space. By the way, the new wireless access points have USB ports that allow you to connect printers or USB hard drives and share them on your network. There is also the option of the ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR cheaper 80 GB hard drive that you find in notebooks today!! ... a good option for cost sensitive consumers. But I honestly think the time we spend waiting on hard drives while using our computers is far more valuable. This will not be a constraint once prices fall.
2. The screen is a LED backlit display, instead of a electroluminescent back panel that notebooks currently carry. LED light is the most efficient, reliable and durable. Compare it to the new LED flash lights that you can buy and power with wrist watch batteries. These flashlights are brighter and last longer than traditional flashlights that use higher capacity alkaline AA or AAA batteries.
3. It gets rid of all the hardware that most users barely use and proposes an alternative for the few times you'll need it. You don't have to live without an optical drive, you'll simply access it differently. Using either an external drive or accessing one in your wireless network (either from another computer or from a Hard Drive/Access Point like the "Time Capsule". You don't have to live with 1 USB port, you'll have as many as you like, but differently (use a USB hub). You don't have to live with a single video out port, again all these ports are there, but differently (through adapters).
4. The above innovations by saving power traduce themselves into a smaller, lighter and therefore cheaper battery that actually will last longer!
5. It comes with a bigger multipoint touchpad, who's technology was introduced to consumers with the iphone. This makes it easier to interact with the computer. Its hard to explain, my suggestion is TRY IT OUT.
6. All these innovations come in a very thin and lightweight notebook. There is never enough in this area and therefore its always better to have a thiner and lighter notebook, specially if you don't sacrifice the 2 things you use the most: the screen and the keyboard.
7. Software improvements and accessories that allow you to take full advantage of todays wireless connectivity. These improvements compensate for the lack of optical drive and some of the ports eliminated.
I've been wanting a notebook like this for a while. The only thing not included in this notebook that I wish was available is a battery that you could swap with a power adapter so you have the option to leave the battery and incorporate the power adapter to the notebook. This way you don't have to carry the power adapter separately on those occasions when a battery simply is not necessary.
Don't forget you still have a bunch of other features already included in previous Macbooks like the backlit keyboard, magsafe power adapter, built in isight camera, 802.11N wireless card, bluetooth, etc... I'm excluding the comparison between MACs and PCs and limiting this post to the innovations made in this piece of hardware. There is plenty of information regarding Pros and Cons of MACs vrs PCs.
I give Apple A+ for being pioneers and standing up above all the other players in this industry. This allowed me to make one of the hardest decisions in my business, to migrate from a PC to a MAC.
Regards,
Luis Bueso
How can you call those "innovation"?
1. SSD is not "much" faster than a good 7200rpm HDD. Check out the performance tests on the web. At this point, it's a big disappointment.
2. Backlit LED is nothing new. I'm using one (Sony VAIO SZ6x) while writing this...
3. Ridding the CD/DVD is ok but not great idea, certainly not innovative. There're always people who want one and those who don't need one.
4. Cheaper battery? Unless you use a smaller battery. Longer battery life, yes, due to the LED backlit screen, but not because getting rid of the CD or using SSD.
5. Multipoint touchpad. Not sure which is more convenient. I use Ctrl, touchpad-scroll to enlarge/shrink the screen.
6. My Sony is 1.6kg which is on par with the MBA. Yet it has a 2.4GHz CPU, 160GB HDD, DVD writer, camera, Ethernet port, 1394, USB, multi card reader, CardBus slot, 3GB RAM (yes 3GB is not a waste, 4GB is in most cases), a replaceable battery when needed, 802.11n... at almost the same price... I can of course swap in the SSD if needed, but for now, not worthwhile.
The way I look at the MBA? There NO INNOVATION. Slow CPU, cuting this and that out to save form factor, weight etc. It's trite.
One thing they can add to it? UWB wireless USB for an external monitor. That'll be true innovation and really helpful.
you can at least be fair about it and also mention that this is intended to be a
secondary computer to a desktop; a computer completely for mobility. It's
not meant to be a primary and only computer. And you're primary computer,
your real workstation, should have all that stuff you're mentioning is missing
from this.
But I will admit, not including an optical drive is lame. Most ultrportables sans
optical drives I've looked into have included the optical drive with them.
http://electronrun.wordpress.com/
- I love the air
- by andrew10000 January 18, 2008 11:03 AM PST
- This is the device my group has been waiting for...we have actually ordered
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(11 Comments)10 of them. I work for a private advertising agency and they will be used for
travel and on the run projects. It is a brilliant piece of travel electronica and
will serve its purpose beautifully. I do agree it has a few key missing items
but we all agree the optical drive is only used out of the office rarely. I do
wish it had a firewire port but I believe we will overcome this easily. So the
air is revolutionary but still has a lot of tweaking to overcome. So ultimately
it is the light weight, solid state drive and on the go features that won us
over. I do believe most people are mystified by this device but you would
have to be someone who is in this lifestyle to understand. Cheers to apple
for understanding.