Woz: 'I'm trying to figure out a way to make the Air part of my life'

(Credit: Al Luckow/Woz.org)

Apple co-founder and sometimes Steve Jobs antagonist Steve Wozniak was characteristically outspoken when talking to reporters this morning in Sydney at a tech conference. According to a transcript posted by APC Magazine, on the subject of the new MacBook Air, Woz minced no words, telling a group of reporters:

"At first, I thought, it's so feature-missing...I burn DVDs a lot to pass files to other people. I watch movies on airplanes. I need one that will go an entire flight and switch batteries, when there's sometimes no power on the plane."

But he liked how the keyboard worked with the thinner design, saying, "For some reason, the way its keyboard is, I can type faster, it's a more comfortable, positive experience," and he extolled the virtues of the backlit LED display: "I love the whiter-whites of the LED backlighting, which I don't have in my laptop yet." The stripped-down features seemed to be the biggest deal-breaker, with Wozniak saying:

"So I'm trying to figure out a way to make the Air part of my life, because I'm a one-laptop-only person. I've got to now change my approach and have a desktop tower computer at home, keeping all my big data, which I don't have enough disk space on the Air for, and I can finally take my Air around with me and use it."

His final word on the subject pretty much mirrors what we've heard from talking to both current Air users and potential customers, with Wozniak saying, "I don't think it's going to be a hit; I know some people love it and it works great, they have a computer at work, and they use their Air to give presentations, but I don't see a mass swing over to them."

[Mac User Too]

Neither does Apple ...

Since Apple continues to sell 5 other laptop model configurations, my guess
is that Apple does not "see a mass swing over to" the Air either. Why must
EVERY review of the Air compare it to a laptop that 'does everything'. I
recently purchased a Porsche Boxster. Prior to making my decision, I read
many reviews. Not once did a reviewer write "it only seats two", or "couldn't
grocery shop for a family of 6", or "does not fit 4 x 8 sheets of plywood".
They assumed that if you were considering this car, those features did not
matter, or you had another car that could do those things for you. I can not
imagine anyone saying something as stupid as "I don't see a mass swing over
to" the Boxster. This sounds an awful lot like sour grapes from the Woz. It's
easy to be a critic, harder to be an innovator.

[mcharge]

Good Laptop

The MacBook Air was not designed to be the computer that replaces all other
computers on your house, if it was then it would have many more features,
but you know what apple has done? They have created a laptop that would
suit my mum! She doesn't burn CD's or DVD's she just chats to people on
IRC she doesn't need hard drive space, and though the air is a little on the
expensive side its well worth it! Woz is obviously an idiot.

[tldizard]

Macbook Air - not for Joe-Average

So, I've been reading article after article about the Macbook Air, comparing and contrasting the super-slim notebook with every conceivable laptop on the market - with the MBA coming up short time after time. Why? No CD drive, no super huge hard drive, no super-fast energy-hog CPU.

I can't help but see so many comparisons of the MBA being made to mainstream, full-sized notebooks - most of which clock in at 4lbs or more. It's wrong; just wrong.

The Macbook Air is designed to carry your critical data, be extremely portable, and be a fair performer. It is not designed to be your personal entertainment center, gaming machine, or mobile desktop replacement. It isn't plausible and it isn't a fair comparison.

I bought a black 2.0 GHz Macbook in January of 2007, after three weeks of use, I sold it. I'm disabled with a muscular disease and weight is the FIRST thing I examine when buying a notebook, and I carry a Toshiba R200 everywhere I go. It's light - 2.5lbs light - and it has 60 Gigabytes of storage, no CD drive and a 12 inch screen. I carry it because I need a professional and able machine for school and work. I need something that I can carry from place to place and not over-tax my abilities or sacrifice my independence. But I miss my Mac. Windows XP and Vista are often poor performers for notebooks and I do miss the streamlines OS and instant response I get from a Mac.

The Macbook Air is the laptop that I have dreamed about since the very first Intel based Mac was announced. I am the target market for this notebook. People like me who need the basics at the ready - all the time - and without the bulk and stress. I need my laptop in a thin sleeve, not some piece of luggage and the MBA meets every single one of my needs in rare perfection. I sound like a fan-boy and maybe I am, but this is the laptop that I've dreamed about and lusted for and craved since my first Pentium 133 9lbs monster over a decade ago.

Maybe Woz needs to think about the freedom the MBA gives to those who can't lug a 5+ pound block of metal and silicon everywhere they go - we deserve mobility too.