Just read PC Pro's review...

[nichomach]

...of the Macbook Air; well worth a gander, but a paragraph that leapt out at me and damn near caused a C&C violation was:

But what was truly surprising is how sluggish OS X felt compared to Vista Ultimate. Apple iMovie stuttered awkwardly into view after a worrying pause, and manipulating pictures with the much-touted MultiTouch interface was far removed from the slick, responsive feel of the iPod Touch. Even Mozilla Firefox proved snappier running under Microsoft's OS.

PC Pro: Product Reviews: Apple MacBook Air

Seriously, folks, they reckon it runs Vista better than OS X... :LOL:

[pollaxe]

LOL. They're often fairly complimentary about Macs over there too although Barry Collins has a good column about Apple and some of their erm.. ways.. in this month's mag.

[dangel]

I like the close: "As a centrepiece to adorn a coffee table, or simply a fashion accessory, the MacBook Air will attract admiring glances from everyone who claps eyes upon it, and deservedly so. Be under no illusions: this is one of the most gorgeous ultraportables ever designed. But can we recommend it to all and sundry? Absolutely not."

Well put.

[MadduckUK]

what product could be recommended to "all and sundry". cop out statement

[nichomach]

what product could be recommended to "all and sundry". cop out statement

No, it isn't. There are ultraportables that you could recommend to anyone who needed one. This isn't one of them.

[CMC]

tbh i dont really think ultraportables have a huge market, they are probably great for business people who are constantly going to meetings presentations etc... and for that I'm sure the macbook air is fine, but not for regukar laptop users like myself...

[Splash]

I have to admit it looks pretty, but I just can't see the value of this over an Eee

[dangel]

tbh i dont really think ultraportables have a huge market, they are probably great for business people who are constantly going to meetings presentations etc... and for that I'm sure the macbook air is fine, but not for regukar laptop users like myself...

Students too. Or people like me who just like their toys. Asus underestimated the market for the eee too - and now look at how many cheap ultra portables are being developed.
I'm surprised how much i use the eee as compared to my full-sized lappy.

I'd love an air but it's a: too expensive and b: too compromised. Looks great though.

[CMC]

yea i mean if someone gave me one i wouldnt say no, lol

[DR]

I have a Sony TZ and I was recently in an Apple shop (more reasons for that coming soon!) anyway I took a look at the Air - sure it looks nice - but it's not actually as thin as people think - my laptop is slightly thicker sure but the feature set makes the difference for me, also my battery life.

The Air also looks thin due to the way it has been engineered - it has thin sides and they gentle go in to a thicker part.

But - No Ethernet? No Optical? c'mon - I am on the road, my laptop has died and I need to reload it.

Or, I am in a hotel (likely!) and there is no wifi - I have to pull out a dongle? carry more junk (and more accurately - something ELSE to forget, or break!) didn't dongles die in about 95 when people realised you could just fit an ethernet card inside the notebook and have a socket?

When travelling - or using a laptop anywhere I want an all in one solution - I often use them in my garden - laying on my sofa - bed etc - I don't want to have things hanging out them.

It's kind of archaic also - a desktop you expect to plug things in to - keyboard/mouse etc.... a laptop is an all in one solution.

So - for the *tiny* extra size - I get:
3G
Ethernet
Voice Modem
Optical Drive
Longer Battery life.

It's a no brainer.... don't get me wrong - I love Apple kit - I've used a fair bit of it - I'm on my 3rd Mac now. However - this product is marketed for the arty farty type rather than a practical market.

I'd like a refresh on the MBP which can be thinner (easily) but has the features and functions which makes you wanna smile

[TheAnimus]

Seriously, folks, they reckon it runs Vista better than OS X... :LOL:

I don't get why your laughing at that statement! Try vista on an SSD

[Marcos]

For the same money, 300g extra weight, and 1/4" extra thickness i can get all this extra:

Speakers,
2x USB,
Firewire,
DVD+/-RW,
Ethernet,
Modem,
Gaming graphics card,
PCMCIA Slot,
Better battery life,
Removable battery
etc

The Air is a nice design, but Sony's SZ and Dell's M1330 pack such a punch in comparison.

I get so annoyed that Windows-based laptop manufacturers are so lazy in design, Dell are so disappointing, who the hell are these designers?

[nichomach]

I don't get why your laughing at that statement! Try vista on an SSD

One, the Mb Air doesn't ship with an SSD by defaults, it's an option (an expensive option) and they didn't test on one; yes, it'll be fast - anything run off SSD will probably be fast.

Two, the reason why I was laughing was...it's a Mac. OK? A Mac. Not just any Mac, but probably one of the highest profile Mac launches in recent years, right? And despite having full control of the hardware, so much so that they even got Intel to do some custom packaging on the C2D in it, it runs the hated and reviled Vista faster than Apple's own OS. Are you telling me that you really find nothing even remotely amusing in that?

[nichomach]

I get so annoyed that Windows-based laptop manufacturers are so lazy in design, Dell are so disappointing, who the hell are these designers?

I don't think they are; you hit the nail on the head - the M1330 packs WAY more punch in terms of power and connectivity for very little more weight. And it's a shedload cheaper. How is that lazy?

[DR]

The issue is if you control the entire system you have more chance to refine things

So Apple do this, and do it well

- Hardware
- Software

It's controlled by Apple - they only work with companie who can work with them in 'there way' so it is a total win for them.

[TheAnimus]

but the question is do they?

if an off the shelf operating system, by another vendor runs faster?

Is the price premium, and obvious innovation premium (missing out on many little things that other platforms take for granted) acceptable?

If apple had entered the mobile phone world 4 years ago, then yes. But as it stands now, even the mobile phone world won't tolerate their practices.

Remeber how badly burnt they where when they tried to make a games console.