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Apple CEO Steve Jobs wowed the crowd during his Macworld keynote address by introducing an ultrathin laptop called the MacBook Air, which the company touts as the world's thinnest notebook.
The MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch LED-backlit screen and a full-size keyboard, and measures 0.76 inch at its thickest and 0.16 inch at its thinnest.
The MacBook Air weighs about 3 pounds, comes with 2GB of standard memory, an 80GB standard hard drive, and 802.11n wireless connectivity. It will cost $1,799 in that configuration, and shipments are expected to start in two weeks.
However, as CNET News.com's Tom Krazit points out, most people will have to make too many compromises with the MacBook Air, from lacking an optical drive, FireWire, and an Ethernet jack to the battery, which, like those in the iPhone and iPod, can't be replaced by the user.
And as News.com's Michael Kanellos points out, we've seen thinner laptops before.
Jobs also announced iTunes movie rentals, which he said has the support of all major Hollywood studios. Films cost $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases. They can be watched on any device, instantly. Renters have 30 days to watch a movie after it's downloaded, but only 24 hours to watch it after it starts playing.
News.com readers were on the fence as to whether the movie rental service would be an attractive option, with some accusing Apple of being "greedy" and others defending the convenience of the move.
"Why would I want to pay that much to download a movie that's not even fully high-def?" wrote one reader to the News.com TalkBack forum. "I can go to the nearest video store for the same price or less, and that's for a full-fidelity movie.
In addition, Jobs announced Time Capsule--a "backup appliance" that looks much like the Mac Mini or Apple TV. It's basically a wireless access point with a hard drive, enabling consumers to back up their notebooks wirelessly.
The iPhone also got some new features, including an application called Maps, which you can use to approximate your location. Users can also now customize their home screen and send text messages to multiple people.
Go-go green machine
Toyota Motor surprised many by unveiling a plug-in hybrid Prius on the floor at the 2008 Detroit auto show after previously resisting the plug-in hybrid movement. But there has been quite a bit of interest in plug-in hybrids from individuals and even power companies.
Plug-in proponents claim to get 100 mpg by modifying Priuses and recharging the batteries when the cars aren't being used. Toyota seems to have finally given into the plug-in pressure, starting up its own plug-in program and handing over a couple of prototype plug-in Priuses to the University of California.
Ford Motor also got into the game, showing off a plug-in Escape Hybrid. Ford is working on the plug-in technology in conjunction with Southern California Edison. The plug-in Ford Escape Hybrid uses lithium ion batteries, giving it fuel economy of 120 mpg, according to Ford.
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Sure, but the MacBook Air was not designed for "most folks". "Most folks" should buy a Macbook or Macbook Pro.
The MBA is a premium-price, special-use, prestige product to showcase design, technology and perhaps push present products toward the future. just like a "concept car"...expect people can actually buy one.
Don't plan on buying one myself, but it is unfair to criticize it for not being something that it was never intended to be.
Simple!
However, I have never ever had to replace a Mac battery. I have an old wallstreet laptop from 1997 who's battery is fine. My orignial iBook from 2002 is fine. All my laptops are fine.
As far as the usefulness of the "air" I think it goes back to the original notebooks, a replacement for a paper notebook basically. These days most laptops have replaced desktops and do everything, but maybe someone just wants something for meetings and to lug on business trips, small thin and light.
But people will protest "but but but there's nothing!" and the Mac fanbois will scream them down - as usual.
between thin laptops as hardware without software is nothing. Take
bott time, OSX is 4 times faster. Take all other functionality needed
for computer user. If you take everything into account it is possible
that Apple has thinest solution that any other company. Very
elegant.
Message to Apple:
You REALLY screwed the pooch, Steve! The loss in stock price
to date is going to be nothing compared to the end of the year
if you don't turn this one around! (I personally have already
lost thousands in share value).
When will you learn, Steve, that YOU are not the person driving
the innovation, it is the Apple customers. They wanted better
notebooks, you gave it to them, they bought them. They
wanted video on the iPod, you gave it to them (grudgingly I will
add) and they bought it. They wanted a smartphone, you
fought it for years, gave in and gave them a crappy product
(Rocr), then finally gave them what they wanted, they bought it.
You have put out nothing spectacular here. People are
clamoring for a touchpad portable, a DVR, a PDA, game
machines, UPGRADE-ABLE and REPAIRABLE products. GIVE IT
TO THEM!
I beg you as a shareholder and customer, give the people what
they want! Or do you just not hear them? Or do you just think
you are smarter than them and think you have to tell them
what they want?
I am almost done with you and Apple. I am not sure where to
turn at this point, because MS doesn't seem to get it either!
Linux is sounding better and better...I will just build my own
machines if you don't get off your high horse and make the
equipment I know you can.
Apple thought the iPhone would sell 10 million units by this time and it would be a hit in Europe. They missed on both marks.
I thought the iPhone would be too limited of a device and the service contract locked to AT&T would make it a product without a market. I missed on that one. People still bought it.
The AppleTV was stillborn from the outset. Hopefully the new version will help revive the flagging product.
It's a hard market to guess. Sure there have been ultrathin laptops before, thinner and ligher than the Air. Even now, there are several laptops out that have all the features the Air is lacking, plus being lighter (See the Toshiba Portege R500 for example), but none of those have the infamous Apple logo. There is something to be said for people who buy by brand name only.
I don't know how well this will do. It definitely have a market, but I'm not sure that it will be big enough for Apple to keep producing it. If they can't make their money back on the design and production work on it due to slow/poor sales, then it might get pulled purely for financial reasons. It might also do very well and they will release new models.
People might also want to wait two months before buying it to see if there will be a price drop or new improvements to the base model. People are a bit more wary after the iPhone debacle.
Of all the comments I have read here defending the Air, the general concensus is that it's a great product, it has a market, but no, they won't be buying one. I haven't seen any posts from someone who intends to buy one yet. That has me worried about its future.