Yes, it is beautiful, ground breaking, and novel. And, yes, Apple does lead in ergonomic design.
But, I still don't like working on a Mac. The technology transfer seems to go one way, from Mac to Windows, with little movement back the other way. This is the downside of Jobs' NIH (not invented here) fetish. There are just a number of Windows features I would love to have on my Mac, but none the other way.
At first I wasn't sure about the lack of an optical drive...and then I tried to remember the last time we used the drive on my Bride's iBook and I couldn't.
As one of the few people I've come across so far today who seem really jazzed about the new MacBook, I have to ask: what about it does it for you?
I see that it's thin and pretty, but the lousy graphics card means this is a document editor and web surfer only. Yes, that means you can blog from it, but with a non-replaceable battery you can only do so for 5 hours.
It just seems to me that a Asus EE PC can do 95% of what this can for a 1/3rd the price. I know and accept the Apple Tax, but $1200 tax on a $1800 computer seems a bit steep.
I can't get over the lack of a DVD drive. Yeah, theoretically you could just buy movies from Apple's new movie rental service, but they only have 1000 titles and you have to watch the movie within 24 hours. I'll stick with netflix, thank-you very much!
So, Apple announces its Vaio/Portege clone with great fanfare. Sub-4 lb PCs with 1280 X 800 pxl screens have been available for quite a while now. In fact I had a light-weight Vaio with nearly the same functionality as the new Mac Air almost 8 years ago. As for Apple TV, Steve Jobs and everyone else has got it backwards. By the end of the next decade or so, TV content will be delivered largely over the Internet to your computer, normal TV cable service will fade away, and TVs as we know them will go the way of the BetaMax. So what is the point of watching computer content on your TV using Apple TV? For watching DVDs, I'd prefer to do away entirely with my TV tuner and replace it with a huge Mac-mini driven 50" display that dwarfs the displays I have on my Mac Pro. That's the direction Apple should be going. All the signs now point to the fact that Apple is transforming itself from a computer company into an entertainment company. What a waste that will be.
I don't think USB ports are anywhere near going away. Do you use an iPod/other mp3 player? Digital camera? Thumb drive? Some digicams have built in wifi, but my DSLR doesn't.
If you can get by with one USB port, great, this is probably the best traveling laptop ever conceived for you. I just can't fathom why they wouldn't include at least another port or two for basically no cost and a negligible size/weight increase.
Wait, what's ground-breaking and novel about it? It doesn't seem to have any features I haven't seen on other ultraportables, like the Samsung Q40 (the Q40 came out a bit over a year ago -- the link is to the upgraded Q40Plus), or even the much older Sony VAIO X505. It's not even appreciably thinner (the measurements on the VAIO and SENS are fractionally thicker, mostly because of the heavy-duty hinges). Iapetus is right -- there's nothing new about this at all.
The elegant design is a blessing and a curse. It is a beautiful looking machine, but usability has been compromised to make it so. As Brock pointed out, there's no ability to swap out a battery for road warriors. A 5-hr battery life (which is usually inflated) means that at some point you'd need to find a power outlet. The single USB port is a handicap, because it means having to either swap devices constantly or bring a hub with you. There's no excuse for the lack of an ethernet jack. Steve Jobs may be blessed by ubiquitous high-speed wireless networks, but I'm not. I have to plug in at work and at school. That means monopolizing the USB with a ethernet dongle. I'll stick with my ThinkPad X-series laptop. It's not as slim, but it's vastly more flexible and customizable.
The hard drive is a thousand extra and has 64 GB. If you keep a lot of stuff on your computer you are out of room and no way to get more without an external.
The whole thing to me is just eye candy and not much more. If you do carry the externals to plug into your single USB then you are losing the whole lightness of it anyway. Useless.
Click here to enter Amazon through the Althouse Portal.
Amazon
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Support this blog with PayPal
Make a 1-time donation or set up a monthly donation of any amount you choose:
৩৪টি মন্তব্য:
Steve Jobs for President.
OT/ Will there be Idol blogging tonight? /end OT
I agree - it's beautiful. I wish I could sell my house and just live in a MacAir. (Second link needs an h in front of the ttp.)
Apple is one of the few companies left that lead in innovation and creativity.
My next computer will probably be an Apple.
The second link (fixed to http) crashes Firefox on windows XP. Apparently not the target audience.
A thing of beauty, 'atiz.
Yes, it is beautiful, ground breaking, and novel. And, yes, Apple does lead in ergonomic design.
But, I still don't like working on a Mac. The technology transfer seems to go one way, from Mac to Windows, with little movement back the other way. This is the downside of Jobs' NIH (not invented here) fetish. There are just a number of Windows features I would love to have on my Mac, but none the other way.
Sorry, that was "industrial" design, not "ergonomic" design.
Link fixed. Sorry.
Bruce, you don't understand what love is.
Love is agreeing to terms of service without actually reading the fine print.
LOL, Peter! How true. Anyway, I'm with you on this one Ann - looks like Apple has done an outstanding job. Elegant. I may even buy one.
So did you place your order yet? Let me know...
Steve Jobs next invention? The iShave.
Love is agreeing to terms of service without actually reading the fine print.
Ah. My first marriage...
Temptress! You are responsible for my iPhone purchase! Do not tempt me again!
Sent from my iPhone.
At first I wasn't sure about the lack of an optical drive...and then I tried to remember the last time we used the drive on my Bride's iBook and I couldn't.
Ann:
As one of the few people I've come across so far today who seem really jazzed about the new MacBook, I have to ask: what about it does it for you?
I see that it's thin and pretty, but the lousy graphics card means this is a document editor and web surfer only. Yes, that means you can blog from it, but with a non-replaceable battery you can only do so for 5 hours.
It just seems to me that a Asus EE PC can do 95% of what this can for a 1/3rd the price. I know and accept the Apple Tax, but $1200 tax on a $1800 computer seems a bit steep.
A pretty case with the same lousy keyboard as the low end macbook and low end graphics. It's a cool toy for people with money to blow.
Underpowered. Overpriced.
I don't care how thin, one USB port, to say nothing of the lack of Ethernet and swappable battery, is a deal breaker.
Bruce, you don't understand what love is.
Love is what a boy has for his dog.
...but I'm pulling for you in your new fling, really, I am.
Love means never having to say "Sorry, An Unexpected Error Has Occurred."
If you are not on a network, how would you ever be able to play a CD or a DVD?
Mark, remember when Apple got rid of the floppy drive? Did you bitch about that too? The point is: everyone's going to go wireless.
Palladian: "Temptress"? Are you watching American Idol?
If you are not on a network, how would you ever be able to play a CD or a DVD?
Image on the hard-drive from when you WERE connected.
I can't get over the lack of a DVD drive. Yeah, theoretically you could just buy movies from Apple's new movie rental service, but they only have 1000 titles and you have to watch the movie within 24 hours. I'll stick with netflix, thank-you very much!
So, Apple announces its Vaio/Portege clone with great fanfare. Sub-4 lb PCs with 1280 X 800 pxl screens have been available for quite a while now. In fact I had a light-weight Vaio with nearly the same functionality as the new Mac Air almost 8 years ago. As for Apple TV, Steve Jobs and everyone else has got it backwards. By the end of the next decade or so, TV content will be delivered largely over the Internet to your computer, normal TV cable service will fade away, and TVs as we know them will go the way of the BetaMax. So what is the point of watching computer content on your TV using Apple TV? For watching DVDs, I'd prefer to do away entirely with my TV tuner and replace it with a huge Mac-mini driven 50" display that dwarfs the displays I have on my Mac Pro. That's the direction Apple should be going. All the signs now point to the fact that Apple is transforming itself from a computer company into an entertainment company. What a waste that will be.
Anne,
I don't think USB ports are anywhere near going away. Do you use an iPod/other mp3 player? Digital camera? Thumb drive? Some digicams have built in wifi, but my DSLR doesn't.
If you can get by with one USB port, great, this is probably the best traveling laptop ever conceived for you. I just can't fathom why they wouldn't include at least another port or two for basically no cost and a negligible size/weight increase.
Yes, it is beautiful, ground breaking, and novel.
Wait, what's ground-breaking and novel about it? It doesn't seem to have any features I haven't seen on other ultraportables, like the Samsung Q40 (the Q40 came out a bit over a year ago -- the link is to the upgraded Q40Plus), or even the much older Sony VAIO X505. It's not even appreciably thinner (the measurements on the VAIO and SENS are fractionally thicker, mostly because of the heavy-duty hinges). Iapetus is right -- there's nothing new about this at all.
The elegant design is a blessing and a curse. It is a beautiful looking machine, but usability has been compromised to make it so.
As Brock pointed out, there's no ability to swap out a battery for road warriors. A 5-hr battery life (which is usually inflated) means that at some point you'd need to find a power outlet.
The single USB port is a handicap, because it means having to either swap devices constantly or bring a hub with you.
There's no excuse for the lack of an ethernet jack. Steve Jobs may be blessed by ubiquitous high-speed wireless networks, but I'm not. I have to plug in at work and at school. That means monopolizing the USB with a ethernet dongle.
I'll stick with my ThinkPad X-series laptop. It's not as slim, but it's vastly more flexible and customizable.
That's what I'm talking about.
I wonder how many engineers are reverse-engineering it around the world.
Blake,
The hard drive is a thousand extra and has 64 GB. If you keep a lot of stuff on your computer you are out of room and no way to get more without an external.
The whole thing to me is just eye candy and not much more. If you do carry the externals to plug into your single USB then you are losing the whole lightness of it anyway. Useless.
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন