New Macbook Air

[Arrqh]

Here's an article on Ars... they don't feel it stacks up favorably compared to the other ultraportables on the market, especially the Toshiba which is lighter, a touch smaller, has a built in optical drive and 8 hours of battery life... and is a bit cheaper.

Macworld.Ars: MacBook Air spec shootout

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

TerriO said:
While they look cool, I wouldn't want to try to have one fixed if something went wrong.

Not that I've been jaded by having to fix my own Mac thanks to AppleCare sucking like a black hole or anything.

I actually had a very good experience with this a few years ago, when the iMac I had at the time was overheating (it would spontaneously shut down). Not only did they fix it free of charge, it was ready *the next day*. And this wasn't even AppleCare as such - just their standard repair policy, even though the computer was out of warranty at the time (this had been a common problem).

As for the Air: I like it. I doubt anyone would buy one as their only machine but it's good for a second one. Wish I could afford one, actually.

 

[Deleted 2]

I think Apple is (once again) fairly consciously targeting the fashion addicts with this laptop, and most of those people will have fairly limited expectations of their computer.

It may be expensive, but it has a high 'shiny toy' factor, like most Apple products. I think they'll sell well. Fashion addicts outnumber us geeks.

 

[Flavius]

It's called industrial design, my friend.

 

[Arrqh]

No, it's called form over function.

 

[Flavius]

That would be form follows function.

 

[Arrqh]

...no, this laptop is pretty clearly a case of form over function. They've put so much effort into the visual design that they'd had to shed components that their competing products have and wound up with a higher price tag. Apple typically is over in that general direction, and there's nothing wrong with that as it certainly appeals to a lot of people, but in the case of the Air it's a little extreme when you compare it to the competing products in the ultraportable space.

 

[The Doctor]

Arrghman said:
...no, this laptop is pretty clearly a case of form over function. They've put so much effort into the visual design that they'd had to shed components that their competing products have and wound up with a higher price tag. Apple typically is over in that general direction, and there's nothing wrong with that as it certainly appeals to a lot of people, but in the case of the Air it's a little extreme when you compare it to the competing products in the ultraportable space.

I disagree.

This notebook is by far the fastest in its segment, and it provides the largest screen and the most usable keyboard coupled with very low weight and scant dimensions. I've worked with ultraportables and they are invariably slow and clunky due to the undervolted processors that drive them and the screens/keyboards are terrible to use due to their size.

The Macbook Air will be a hit with executives and business people who travel extensively, I have no doubt. The benefit of this is that when execs start using Macs as their computer, the trickle-down effect can be profound.

Also, it's pretty and I wants it.

 

[Arrqh]

Except that the Air loses in many important specs compared to it's competition.

Compared to the Toshiba Portege, the Air wins in thickness (by only .2"), screen size (by ~1") and CPU speed. And sexiness.

It loses on length x width (by 1.5" x .4"), weight (by .6 lbs), optical drive (it actually has one), battery life (by 3 hours, and you can remove it!) and price (by several hundred before you count the external optical).

So I stand by my point. If you don't count the sexiness of the design, it certainly isn't the best ultraportable. It's main draw is its style, and it looks like they had to sacrifice in specs to keep it. Therefore, form over function. Are there people who will still buy it? Certainly. But that doesn't mean it isn't outclassed by its competition in several key areas.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

If we are arguing form over function I'd have to disagree. Form over function is when something is difficult or impossible to practically use because of the way it is designed with looks overriding usefulness. For example, putting a couch in the middle of a hallway because it looks good is form over function...you have to go out of your way to get around it to enter the hallway.

This laptop is not crippled. It isn't more difficult to surf, type, etc than other computers. Now, it may be more of a hassle to download a movie or rip a dvd over the network, or to plug in the external drive, but that in itself does not make the machine THAT much more difficult to use.

As a test - can a guy on a plane work on his documents sitting in his seat? Can he comfortably type? Does the computer overheat, stop working, or is it impossible or difficult to use because of it design? Nope.

It's not form over function in this case. It looks fantastic and is perfectly usable. In fact, if you count that it uses Mac OS over windows it's probably easier to use and virus free, etc compared to that other notebook anyway.

 

[Arrqh]

Chess Piece Face said:
If we are arguing form over function I'd have to disagree. Form over function is when something is difficult or impossible to practically use because of the way it is designed with looks overriding usefulness. For example, putting a couch in the middle of a hallway because it looks good is form over function...you have to go out of your way to get around it to enter the hallway.

In much the same vein, removing an optical drive and having a battery that lasts less time then your competitors because more preference was given to the exterior design of the laptop is also form over function. Functionality, compared to the competing products, has been lost.

Does this mean that the Air is crippled? No, of course not. But it has less functionality then it's competition and instead has a much more attractive form. Apple's priorities clearly laid with the visual design of the Air and not the specs. Hence, the form was given more priority then the function. Therefore, form over function. OSX vs. Windows in terms of usability is extraordinarily subjective, and it isn't really worth getting into that argument.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

Arrghman said:

Chess Piece Face said:
If we are arguing form over function I'd have to disagree. Form over function is when something is difficult or impossible to practically use because of the way it is designed with looks overriding usefulness. For example, putting a couch in the middle of a hallway because it looks good is form over function...you have to go out of your way to get around it to enter the hallway.

In much the same vein, removing an optical drive and having a battery that lasts less time then your competitors because more preference was given to the exterior design of the laptop is also form over function. Functionality, compared to the competing products, has been lost.

Does this mean that the Air is crippled? No, of course not. But it has less functionality then it's competition and instead has a much more attractive form. Apple's priorities clearly laid with the visual design of the Air and not the specs. Hence, the form was given more priority then the function. Therefore, form over function.

Ok, it is my understanding of the use of the term form over function is that you use the term when the design of the form is impeding the use of the device. So is the machine technically impeded because you can use the optical drive over a network vs in itself? I say no. Is it impeded because you have to plug in the external optical drive...again I say no...that one you could argue but it's less of a hurdle and more of a different way of doing the same task. In fact, some could say that having an external drive that you can choose not to bring in order to have a smaller form factor is a plus, not a negative.

If you are saying there are other machines that have better tech specs, I agree! However to my understanding of the use of the phrase "form over function" I believe it only applies when something is desgined in an impractical way in favor of looks.

Which is not the case here.

Edit because I am trying to make sure I am being clear:

If you say that functionality has been lost by removing the drive I would agree...if there were no other way to use the drive. So did they make a compromise choosing the form (looks) over the function (tech specs)? Yes. But the functionality of the drive is still there via network drive or external drive.

If they have taken out the optical drive altogether with no way to plug in an external and they never invented the new network drive protocol then I would agree that it is form over function as I understand the term, because in that case one would be losing function in favor of looks in such a way that it makes the use more difficult or impossible.

Sorry if I am not being clear. I am having trouble articulating my point.

 

[Nightfall to-Ennien]

You have to consider the functionality as it pertains to the job it is meant to do. The MacBook Air is meant as an extension of the person's existing computer, a midstep between an iPod Touch and a full-sized laptop. It comes with a power adapter and display adapter, yes, and you can get the Ethernet adapter and SuperDrive, but really, this isn't meant to be a full-bore laptop.

This is meant as a machine for you to carry around with you when you wouldn't be carrying a full laptop, but you don't want a compromised experience for basic functionality like word-processing, spreadsheet, database, the internet, that sort of thing.

No, the optical drive isn't supposed to come with you, because really, what are the primary uses of an optical drive? File transfer, software installation, and accessing media. File transfer is better suited with a USB thumbdrive, or, better yet, 802.11g/n. Media, in general, relies less and less on physical storage. Finally, when was the last time you decided to install software while away from your workstation.

As for the non-removable battery... Do you use a second battery with your laptop? I don't, and I don't know anyone who does. When I'm at home, I plug my laptop in and charge it. If I'm not going to be home for more than five hours, I have a tendency to bring the AC adapter for my laptop with me anyway because it's quite light, and I can simply toss it in my backpack with my other stuff. It sure is a heck of a lot cheaper to carry it with me than buy another battery, and a charger for it.

It's larger than a normal ultraportable because it's not expected to be used exactly as most ultraportables are used, as miniature laptops. It's meant to be put in with your other stuff, and used when you normally wouldn't even have a laptop with you. It is the size it is because they reduced weight and thickness, but kept it large enough in dimension that they could put in a full-sized keyboard, and a screen easily viewable by the whole population.

No, it doesn't have all of the features that other laptops have. It's a Porsche Boxter to the other laptops Mercedes SLK. Both are small and light and about the same price, but the Boxter isn't compromising it's tossability and driving experience by trying to be both a roadster and a coupe.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

You make some great points. Though it has to be said, if you have enough room to toss a macbook air in your bag, don't you probably have enough room to toss a macbook in? I know for 800 diff, I would.

 

[Amaris]

But it costs as much as both. I believe $1800 is the retail price for the low end, and $3098 is for the "high" end. For $3098 you could buy 3 Dell Vostro slimline laptops fully loaded with double the specs, and have money left over to get three laptop cases. For a business, the Macbook Air is just impractical.


J.

 

[Saturn0660]

It's funny everyone talking about it not coming with a built in superdrive.. I remember back when I got my first laptop it didn't have a built in floppy drive.. I remember thinking "what the hell no floppydrive??". Now, only a few still have them.. Things change. I still want one.

 

[Arrqh]

saturn0660 said:
Now, only a few still have them.. Things change. I still want one.

Disc based media is not anywhere close to being depreciated yet for a lot of people.

 

[Saturn0660]

True enough. But the fact that you can use media in other computer for your air, at least to me seems fine.

 

[David cgc]

J. Allen said:
But it costs as much as both. I believe $1800 is the retail price for the low end, and $3098 is for the "high" end. For $3098 you could buy 3 Dell Vostro slimline laptops fully loaded with double the specs, and have money left over to get three laptop cases. For a business, the Macbook Air is just impractical.

$1000 of that $3098 is added on by the 64 gigabyte solid-state drive. Believe me, if you could get a Vostro with an SSD, that price difference would wither and die.

 

[Arrqh]

David cgc said:

J. Allen said:
But it costs as much as both. I believe $1800 is the retail price for the low end, and $3098 is for the "high" end. For $3098 you could buy 3 Dell Vostro slimline laptops fully loaded with double the specs, and have money left over to get three laptop cases. For a business, the Macbook Air is just impractical.

$1000 of that $3098 is added on by the 64 gigabyte solid-state drive. Believe me, if you could get a Vostro with an SSD, that price difference would wither and die.

If you check the Ars article I linked to a few posts back, you'll see that even with an SSD the price of the Air isn't favorable and most of the specs are still outclassed when compared to the competition... also with SSD's.