Comments on: Is the MacBook Air overpriced?

A look at competitive offerings from Dell and Toshiba reveal that the MacBook Air may not be so expensive by comparison.

[Perry_Clease]

Are you serious!

Do you have any idea of the flame war you probably started?

[_Jae]

Indeed! You saying Apple is now as cheap as DELL AND TOSHIBA??

[witheredmind]

To compare the Air or any of the other laptops mentioned in the review to a "more general laptop with more features" is like comparing an electric car to a gasoline car. Sure they both do the same thing (get you some place), but the electric costs far more and doesn't deliver the same "features" for the money.

Can the gasoline car go without fuel? No. Just like a "general" laptop cannot be ~3lbs and less than 0.8" thick.

Is an electric car for someone buying on price? No. Just like an Air is not for someone who is looking for the most X, Y and Z specs for his or her dollar.

So to say that the Air is overprices "just because its a Mac" is completely invalid. RTFA and you'll see that when its compared to other laptops in the same category, (electric cars to electric cars) then its really not overpriced in the least.

[mediocrates--2008]

*snicker*

It's a Mac! Of COURSE it's overpriced, silly!

[Perry_Clease]

Yes, but it is Mac which makes it way better than the ones running Windows, Vista, Linux even if they were half the price of the MBA.

Brooke, go get a fire extinguisher and have someone call the fire department. :)

[joetesta70]

It's overpriced with no software

No Google Chrome
No Games (Fallout 3, Far Cry)
No Business Software (without Microsoft's Office:Mac "welfare" effort)

Even Adobe is focusing on the PC as its long term platform.

So little market share...

[Perry_Clease]

No software! A Mac comes with software that is hell of a lot better, and more useful ,than the crapware that comes with your PC. Did your PC come with Office or did you have to buy it?

Games, yeah I will give you that, PCs have more game titles.

[kelmon]

No Google Chrome is the most peculiar argument against Mac adoption that I have seen. I'd also be interested to know more about this lack of business software - how much do you need?

The games comment is also quite entertaining given the subject of the article. Do you think that gaming is a high priority for someone buying a thin-n-light laptop? Do you think the Windows-based laptops will run these games as well?

[BlitzBoy1120]

No Business software? How about OpenOffice? It's FREE and better than Mircosoft Office. Google Chrome is soon coming out with a Mac version. And no games? You can run Vista on a Mac to play games, so stop your whining nonsense.

[Mark_Anderson]

OO better than MS Office?

Sorry, I like OO but let's not get carried away here.

[ballmerisanape]

The Mac runs Windows. The Mac actually runs MORE SOFWARE that ANY "PC" because of this. Not only is the "Mac runs less software" tired... it's absolutely FALSE! On the contrary.. "PC" run less software than a Mac.

I'm amazed how people, whether for Windows or Mac, resort to their old knee-jerk responses. When laptops get into this super thin, small and light category the price goes WAY up compared to laptops of a more general nature. This article seems like a fairly objective review, comparing prices for specific features. When configured similarly the prices are similar - then the reviewer notes the pros and cons within that price range, i.e., screen size, processor speed, media drive, expansion ports, etc. To claim the Apple sucks because it doesn't currently run Google Chrome, which was just introduced as a beta doesn't make sense - especially, as noted, that it WILL be available for OSX eventually. Same with games: correctly noted that users of this class of computer doesn't use them for games. Microsoft Office? Probably have to buy it regardless of which laptop you buy. You may not like Apple, but when objectively compared to the similarly equipped competition, it's not outrageously out-of-line with it's pricing like it used to be.

[ncalishome]

"better than Mircosoft Office" lol

OpenOffice is kinda cool and all (I use it currently) but this statement made me laugh

[kelmon]

@BlitzBoy1120

"How about OpenOffice? It's FREE and better than Mircosoft Office"

With respect, comments like that don't help to dispel the FUD. I have nothing but admiration for what the Open Office project is attempting to achieve but they are considerably behind Office for Windows and will likely be for some time. This is not to say that Open Office is bad, or that there are not other alternatives for the Mac. Office:mac may not have all the features and applications of its Windows counterpart but that is not to say that you cannot use it for business and that it does not have features that the Windows version lacks. Even better, the Mac Business Unit listened to its customers and didn't implement the Ribbon interface in Office:mac 2008 that no experienced Office user likes.

My personal bugbear at the moment is MS Visio, which used to be a nice application until Microsoft wrecked it. Omnigraffle Pro for the Mac is so much less frustrating to use to produce diagrams.

I will, however, note that Microsoft does produce a great platform of business software and services. It's just that you don't NEED them in order to be involved in "business".

[rnaoncfixd]

Because you're going to be playing hardcore games on an ultraportable? Please list which of the laptops would have been able to play any of those games in the recommended settings.

Google Chrome is great, but so is the new Firefox. A web browser should not dictate your computer buying habits.

The Air can also run windows, thus windows explorer. Keep in mind that at a certain point, Macs were the fastest running vistas machine.

Understand that off the bat, you have to buy most of those things or download stuff off the internet to make Windows better. With a Mac, it's pretty much all there already.

[goodspeed8701]

Its over priced, and its for people who thinks mac is more secured than windows.

Its over priced, and its for people who do nothing but chat with and post stupidly on cnet.

Its overs priced and you have to throw in another $100 or more to get windows so you can be productive.

MAC = little or nothing. But windows is the ultimate.

[nbvail]

Overpriced? Check older Macs on eBAY and see how they hold their value. Windows is like American designed cars, oversized, bloated, uninspiring, don't hold their value, and mostly are irrelevant.

[kelmon]

With all due respect, this is nonsense. I switched to the Mac to be productive since Windows just gets in the way. That was 5-years ago and I've seen nothing from Microsoft during that time to imply that a switch back would be worth my investment.

[Mark_Anderson]

Ah so you switched prior to the release of XP SP2. That would explain things.

*Shudders at the memory*

[SevenVII]

Windows is the ultimate disappointment, sure.

[Hunnter2k3]

It is a paper weight to me to be honest.
All these silly "sub notebooks" with stupidly high prices are terrible, period.
You'd be better off getting a cheaper, regular laptop that has more features than all of the ones you looked at in here.
"All looks and no personality" comes to mind.

I'd honestly rather buy one of these (which i am)
http://www.fit-pc.co.uk/meet-fit-pc.html
And despite the fact there is no screen that comes with this, or battery portability (easy fix to both), i'd be better off with it.

p.s. you forgot your link for the updated Air

[kelmon]

I'd agree with the comment except in one situation - for those people who need a light laptop. If weight is important then these kind of laptops are pretty good (Mac or Windows). Other than that, I'd agree that you can get more for your money elsewhere.

[billid83301]

I would rather pay for dependable and stable versus crappy Vista. I used to have a lot of PCs but even with regularly updated antivirus software...they were crippled by a virus. I started using an Apple then and would never go back. What a shame I lost all that money because of a virus. So I don't mind paying more for quality. Apple's market share has increased. They are one of the largest businesses as they are ranked 6th. What I find amazing is that people criticize Apple but can't seem to come up with a reasonable alternative. Google Chrome is coming out soon. BTW: Google uses Apple computers. Many of the companies are going to Apple due to the undependable nature of Vista and Microsoft. Apples tend to keep their value when compared to PCs. Vista costs a lot more than Leopard. So PC users get it in the end when they have to upgrade to the next version of Microsoft failure.

[Hunnter2k3]

Yes, but Apple hasn't done much to take advantage of the "Vista = bad" mentality, which was a pretty stupid thing to ignore.

[goodspeed8701]

I'd come to realise that you know nothing about computers. MAC is not safe compared to windows(vista) its just that no one has time to waste writing virus and trojan for the MAC cos no one use it.

When they did the MAC vs WINDOWS vs LINUX which one was the first to be hacked?

there is a shopping that sells all kind of stuffs and there is a MAC that is on a showcase for 2years now and still no one give a f about it. It takes Apple 2 to 3 years to sell 1 MAC. But vista sells thousands every day.

[Alex Alexzander]

Mac easiest to hack, says $10,000 winner
Security researcher Charlie Miller exploited Safari in two minutes

March 28, 2008 (Computerworld) The security researcher who walked away with $10,000 yesterday by hacking a MacBook Air in less than two minutes said he chose to attack Apple Inc.'s operating system for one simple reason.

"It was the easiest one of the three," said Charlie Miller, an analyst at Independent Security Evaluators (ISE), a Baltimore-based security consultancy. "We wanted to spend as little time as possible coming up with an exploit, so we picked Mac OS X."

On Thursday afternoon, Miller breached a MacBook Air, one of three laptops up for grabs in the "PWN to OWN" hacker challenge at CanSecWest, a security conference that wraps up today in Vancouver, British Columbia. For his efforts, he got the computer and a $10,000 cash prize.

The MacBook Air was running the current version of Mac OS X, 10.5.2, with all the latest security patches applied.

Read the rest of the article at the following link. Secure huh? LOL... Please, the hole had been there for a year and Apple did nothing.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9072959

Alex Alexzander

[Alex Alexzander]

Oh and the iPhone is so secure too. It's been hacked how many time? Can you say "Jail-Broken". What do you think that means exactly? It means the phone was hacked! It gets hacked in seconds.

Alex Alexzander

[kelmon]

@Alex Alexzander

It is perhaps worth noting that OS X was selected by the researcher because that is what he was most familiar with as he was a Mac user and discovered the exploit some time earlier.

I really doubt that this event, or others like it, really prove anything. When exploits enter "the wild", then I will worry. I do not consider the Mac to be impervious but I do confess that the current lack of exploits does give comfort. Perhaps this is "security through obscurity" but until the Mac gains a significant market share, or exploits appear, we just don't know.

[bob1xxxx]

This is a straw man , most windows users are still using xp and havent "upgraded" to vista. One of the major reasons why I bought asus eee pc over another netbook or notebook is I could get it with xp and not vista. Uh and any decent free anti virus and free fire wall like zone alarm will take care of most security issues that and not opening attachments in email your fine. Please apple fan boys get a grip Ive got 1000.00 bucks in my pocket because I got the more flexable eee pc 1000ha over crapple airbook and now I have money to spend Have fun you apples S&M spendthrifts

[eburnz]

its called down grading you retard you dont run vista i admit i am a pc user but i will never run vista because it sucks but i would NEVER ever buy a mac because they are OVER PRICED AND I WILL NEVER SUBCOME TO BEING A MACFANBOY

[HlLLARY CLITON]

They would sell more if they were more reasonably priced. They don't offer that much of an advantage over a Windows machine to justify the price

[cyberDJ-2038765336053745013836]

The Air is a POS.
Buy a MacBook or Pro and get a REAL lapper.

[Tech Diva XXX]

I agree! I'm not paying that much for a limited laptop, Windows or Mac! Even if they are more portable, they are not cost effective, unless you're a weakling who can't lift a mere 7lbs.

[kelmon]

@Tech Diva XXX

If you carry a laptop all day (e.g. reporter) then I expect the weight is pretty important.

[ballmerisanape]

FYI, Macs run windows natively..... And the do it better (faster) than any similarly equiped "PC".

[eburnz]

how about neither and you save some cash and still get something way better also in a similar laptop to a mac is like 400 bucks

[Mark_Anderson]

@ballmerisanape

Care to substantiate that statement?

They should run it just as well. They won't run it any better.

[eburnz]

how about neither cause there wole line up is overpriced and uncapible of doing minor tasks such as working

[AppleSuxLeo]

All Apple products are overpriced AirPharts.

[goodspeed8701]

Hey leo whats up? Can i join your apple haters club? lol.

99% of nigeria dont know MAC and 85% know windows 15% dont know what computer is.

33% know ipod only 0.5% buy it and 90% buy sonyericsson or nokia music phones.

At the end of the day MAC sux. End of discussion

[nicmart]

That's amusing. What percent of the Nigerians who "know windows" actually own a legit copy? You are right, really. Windows is the OS of necessity for third world countries, and there is a genuine need for a third world OS. There is also a need for a first class OS, which is where the Mac comes in. Just as Nigerians live with the plague of malaria, they can't afford an OS which isn't infested by malware.

[myles taylor]

nicmart, I think you missed he sarcasm in goodspeed's post.

[eburnz]

see the thing is no matter how much we try an explain to them in a logical way that Aplle sucks they will never understand they are in denial about being part of a crapple community.

long live PC!!!!!

[D3vildog699]

"There is also a need for a first class OS, which is where the Mac comes in"

Roflmao

[goodspeed8701]

nicmart There is no big deal living in new york or LA whats. Malaria well i got it few times and i am still posting on cnet what about you? can you survive a single bite of a mosq... I can tell you are fat that you can die of cholestrol in anytime.

If apple's MAC is for first class people like you, then you people are very poor cos;
england
france
america
spain
italy
germany and many more are all first class as you may categorise them, then why is it that MAC has atmost 5% of the computer market share world wide.

I know you can't last 3 days in Africa. You wont die of Malaria. But the heat of the sun will kill you in 6hours.

[Joe Force]

Naw, not overpriced. There are plenty of iSheep out there willing to pay whatever Apple asks.

[D3vildog699]

Amen

[bob1xxxx]

Uh yes, anything with crapple oops apple's name on it is over priced. All companys know that the mac fan peep zombies are willing to pay to much for anything apple (if it wasnt for apple fools toyota would have only soild one prius in the US, in fact some of the prius orginal marketing was in apple publications, before it was in any auto trade publications ). A great example at FRY's the other day I was looking for lap top case for my new eee pc 1000ha and saw two identical lap top cases , same manufactor, only difference one was in MAC white and on the tags it said it was designed for the macbook pro and 50.00 bucks more.Ane naturally as Im checking out I see apple fan boy buying the needlessly more expensive case just because it said apple on it ....... LOL. Dumb Crapple fan peeps. Even non crapple manufactors want you pay the apple tax LOL and you continue to do so, are all apple fans in to S&M..... got to wonder?

You're right, there are people out there that will pay more money than they need to because of the Apple brand. There are also people that will buy the cheapest computer they can find because they don't know the difference. There are people that will buy a BMW because it's a BMW and drive it like it's a Camry. If you've got the money to buy what you consider to be a higher quality brand, then do it. If price is the most important thing it's unlikely you'll ever own a Mac. People make buying decisions based on what's important to them, whether you consider it a smart choice or not, or even whether they put any thought into it at all. That holds true whether you spend mindlessly on Apple (based on perceived quality or image) or Windows (based on economic considerations.)

[billid83301]

goodspeed....shows what you know of me...haha...that is funny...guess the same applies to what you know about macs too...i am never said that apples were perfect but they have been shown to be less vulnerable over time (something microsoft can't say at all) and if you are talking about how many copies of vista are being sold has no bearing on the quality of the product...just that a lot of people are suckered into buying junk...

[BlitzBoy1120]

MacBook Air sucks. Not all Macs though. The MacBook/Pro and the iMac rock.

[kelmon]

The MacBook Air might not be overpriced but compared to the competition (and other Macs) it is lacking a bit in the specifications. The computer is all about compromises but it is doubtful that all of those that the Air is imposing are really necessary. I see no reason why it could not include a full ethernet port, or a removable battery, for example. The lack of other expansion ports beyond a single USB and the missing SuperDrive aren't that important but are again compromises that other computers in the same category show that you don't have to make.

Basically, you are paying more, but perhaps not in currency, simply to have a thin-n-light Mac.

[professionaladventurer]

So, ah, if you think it is not worth it, don't buy it. Vote with your $ I use macs in my office. I could have bought emachines with 30 inch monitors instead. To me it was worth it.

[Auruspro]

Just as a direct response to the title of the article, [I]everything[/I] Apple is overpriced. But it's also the best product available.

[eburnz]

best you say its the best have you ever heard of alienware or an asus laptop there the best regardless of what you want to do on them. Macs are **** there not worth 700 bucks let alone 1700

[WhuzYoDaddy]

I love my MacBook Pro! In fact, the only time I spend away from it is when I take a break to suckle from the teat of Steve Jobs.

[ballmerisanape]

The Macbook Air is the only one out of that group that can run Windows and the Mac OS. That in itself makes it a better buy than the other choices.

[rapier1]

And why is that? Thats right, because Apple is a closed environment and they go to great pains to make sure you have to use their hardware platform.

[Mark_Anderson]

Actually if you have to run two operating systems to do your work then you've made the wrong choice.

[ballmerisanape]

Mark. Ever heard of software development? Web development?

I don't need both OS's... OsX does everything and more for me.. with less 3rd party software needed than my old windows box.

[eburnz]

how about you buy a windows computer due to the fact there cosiderable cheaper and they can do everything plus more than a mac