If you’re in need of a new notebook and are considering the Macbook Air, then you should probably consider some key points first. Is the Air worth spending your money on? Should you go for a cheaper alternative such as the Macbook? And just what could the future bring for the Macbook Air?
The Macbook Air is the newest addition to Apple’s notebook line, and it’s arguably the best looking, but there are many reasons why a Macbook Air probably isn’t right for you…yet.
Weighing in at just three pounds and sporting the “thinnest notebook ever” tag makes the Macbook Air undeniably irresistible, but only for those reasons alone. The Macbook Air is the slowest computer that Apple currently manufactures, and one of the most expensive. I guess that tag-line comes at a price. Can you justify paying $1,799 for something that is less powerful than a Mac Mini ($599)? Okay, that’s obviously not a great comparison since the Mini is a desktop machine, but from a power point of view, surely you catch my drift.
Marketed as an extremely portable machine, the air doesn’t exactly come up trumps here, either. 13″ is a little on the large side for an ultra-portable, as its foot-print is the same as a Macbook. And what do you get for almost twice the price of the lovable Macbook? Well, half the height certainly, but also half the storage, half the USB ports and half the power, not to mention the lack of a disc drive and any upgradability.
So, the Air might not be such a great buy as it stands, but that’s not to say Apple should discontinue it. It’s what lies in the future for the Air that’s really interesting. Here are some of the things that might make the Air a little more attractive (obviously, not aesthetically speaking):
- Price. This has got to be a big issue for a lot of “wannabe” Macbook Air owners. As prices of components drop, so will the Air. O,r instead, Apple will give the Air little boostsin the form of periodic upgrades. If you’re really not desperate for the Air right now, then you’ll certainly get more for your money the longer you wait.
- Memory. 80GB is okay, but that’s for the slow P-ATA drive. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the sound of one of those oh-so-reliable iPod hard disks storing my data. The 64GB SSD is fast, but too small, and way too expensive. The price is understandable, since large solid state drives are relatively new, but this won’t always be the case. SSD prices will drop, and I’m confident that the P-ATA option will, in the future, cease to exist.
- Power. Been looking at some of the Macbook Air/Pro comparison benchmarks that make the Air look not all that bad? Sure, the Air can probably power through many tasks, such as duplicating files and encoding an MP3, but opening multiple pro applications at one time probably isn’t so smooth. Since the Air is arguably more portable than the Macbook, I’m guessing lack of power may just be one of those sacrifices you have to live with. But a slight power-boost (perhaps a 2.0GHz processor option) certainly wouldn’t go a miss, and perhaps make that price a little easier to swallow. For now, if you use a lot of CPU intensive applications such as Photoshop and Aperture, the Macbook could probably do a better job. Anything 3D, and you’re definitely going to need the Pro.
Whether the Air will remain targeted at an extremely niche market or make its way into a mass market, only time will tell. What do you think lies in the future for the Air? What will it take for you to consider one?
If I still worked in the corporate setting where I traveled across the U.S. several times each month, this would have been a non-issue I would have purchased it. I didn't want to lug around a bigger computer, and I definitely didn't need something that had all the bells & whistles as my MacBook Pro.
I do attend a lot of meetings and would really like something slim that I could fit into a larger bag or purse. I used to carry around a PDA but I wanted a larger screen.
Oc course the MacBook Air is not meant to be a replacement for your primary computer. Its main target is the busy professional/road warrior. A few of my friends have the MacBook Air. They love it. Will Apple change the target audience? Perhaps, or they might make something similar and add additional features.
I like what I see with the MacBook Air. I'm renting a MacBook Air next month if I like it I'll purchase one when the next update rolls around. If you are an employee or, a student or working in education you can get a discount. A few years ago I decided to go back to school to receive up another degree thanks to Apple's education discount I've saved over $1000 easily on My Mac computers and software applications.
Apple is always pushing the envelope. Apple isn't always first when it comes to new technology (multi-touch is a good example) but many people remember Apple because of how it incorporates current technology into the products made.
I bought one in April and love this little thing to death.
It's not about about the processing power, the storage, the lack of an optical drive.. it's about portability. I have a 13 inch macbook as well and the difference in size and weight may seem minimal to some, but 2lbs less on your shoulder makes a big difference.
I know a lot of people don't get it… "you can buy a macbook pro for like $200 more thats 3x as powerful!!!" – it's a lifestyle choice. Sure a Honda civic gets me from point A to point B as much as a brand new Audi R8 would, but the beauty of the R8 vs. the honda is incomparable.
I am continually amazed how stories like this come out and point out all of the negatives of the Macbook Air.
The Macbook Air is a specialty product. Think of the Mazda Miata. Can you imagine how many comparisons could be made (lack of seating, storage, HP, etc OR for less money you could by a much more practical car).
The MBA is priced competitively with its' competition – other 3 pound notebooks and has more GHz.
The moral of the the story is that there is a portion of the public that is willing to pay more $$ to get something small. It's not just the Apple Marketing Machine or Steve Jobs' Reality Distortion Field – people have been buying low powered but very lightweight PC laptops for years.
In fact, I was shocked when I met with a client just yesterday, this is the computer that prompted another switcher to buy an Apple. This woman has at least 4 PCs in her house but after getting an iPod and then and iPhone, she decided to buy the Macbook Air.
There is no doubt, that the MBA will get a faster CPU, more storage and possibly a lower price but that is most likely going to be due to improved technology and falling commodity prices rather than Apple needing to follow the advice of columns like this.
sfmitch – thank you for your comment. You have hit the nail on the head and explained it much better than I had attempted.
@sfmitch, I know it is a specialty product but remember that it is designed for road-warriors. The two key requirements for a road-warrior (IMHO) are weight and battery life.
Clearly the MBA succeeds in the weight department. Not only that but the design is flawless, with little sacrifices, who really needs a DVD/CD drive 100% of the time (or ever).
My major issue and deal breaker is the lack of a replaceable battery. I am not talking about when the battery dies, but on a regular basis. The battery life is better than most notebooks, but wouldn't it be great to be able to double or triple that with additional batteries? I would.
Until then I am content with my machine (with 1 3.5 hour battery and 2 5 hour batteries).
This must be the 709th article that says exactly the same thing! "I don' like the Macbook Air because …….., so nobody else will, and it is all wrong, and Apple has let me down … Yada, Yada!" Who are these people and why is this news worthy?
Apple makes gear for sale to people who want what they make. It is all expensive or inexpensive depending on the size of your wallet and the amount of desire you have worked up for whatever they make. Here is a real secret, they do this on purpose! Second big secret, they make stuff to sell at a "profit"! There it's out. Apple is in business and the idea is to make money! It's a shocker, I know, but you are going to have to get over it. They think quite a few of us will want a Macbook Air and if history serves, they will probably be right.
I may buy a Macbook air later this year or not. Nothing you present here has any thing to do with my purchase. You have no idea what I want in a computer or how I might use it. Your "expert" assumptions on what a "road warrior" might want or need have no relationship to real life. Please give it a rest!
Thanks! Now go write something someone can use that hasn't been written by others before you.
Wow, someone must be a bit frustrated by Apple. I suggest talking to someone about the bottled up anger.
Although the MacBook Air may not be the product for you, steve, (and it isnt for me either) I can recognize that it does have a legitimate market niche (size aside).
From what I can tell, the market for the MBA is someone who has a primary machine (usually a desktop) and wants a small, portable, sexy machine for doing little more than web browsing, email, and light document editing. Think about what you, and most other people do, when they are on the road. Do they really need a DVD drive? no. they have a desktop at home they can use. If u need a DVD, Handbrake+Flash Drive+Sneakernet=Movie on MBA. Do you really need more than one USB port when you are on the road? No. How many peripherals do you need?
As for the price, people can justify the price when they have a powerful desktop when they take into account what they use it for, the lightness when carrying (this does make a difference) and what I call the "sexy factor." Sure a MacBook is hot, but a MacBook Air is a sure ticket to getting laid. Joking aside, if it is the right product for them, they can easily justify the price.
Regarding the power and storage space, this goes back to my original point. Yes, if this was your primary machine on which your whole digital life resided,a 1.6 Ghz Processor with an 80 Gig harddrive would be woefully lacking. But if all you are keeping on it is an abbreviated itunes and iPhone library, and your documents, email, and calenders, 80 GB or even 64 GB is more than enough. I have my entire digital life on my MacBook 160 Gig drive, and I only use 64 Gigs! Another thing I would recommend to all MBA owners that I do myself, just so i always have my documents with me, is to get a .Mac (soon to be MobileME) account, and have your Documents (or entire Home) folder live on your iDisk, then just use iDisk sync. That way, not only are my documents everywhere, but i also have a local backup and a cloud backup (yes time machine does back up your idisk if you keep a local copy). I love doing this and find it very helpful.
So the macbook air (by the way I HATE that name) may not be for everyone, but it certainly has a place in the market.
Connor
http://www.connorp.com/
I think the MBA is just a prototype, a bridge to what should become future macBooks (Pros) and other, smaller, portable devices.
Thanks for all your comments guys. I just wanted to say that this article to discuss what may lie in the future for the Macbook Air and was really written for people who don't already own one.
I realize that, if you have already taken the plunge then obviously you are going to defend your decision and I don't disagree with your decision at all. If I had the money I would be tempted but would most likely go for the Pro, but that's just my choice.
I'm not saying that Apple should take advice from my article and I realize that a lot of people would be happy with the way it is. The article was purely to point out what may happen in the future and help prospective buyers see what they could get if they wait.
I can't see how the Air is targeted at road warriors when it's footprint is that of a Macbook and it has no replaceable battery. Most people will buy the Air purely based upon looks but if looks don't bother you, then perhaps the air isn't right for some people right now, hence the article.
@Lueders
Please quote where I claimed to be an expert about 'road warriors' and I'm not sure what article you have been reading but I didn't say anywhere that the Air is all wrong and that Apple has let me down.
And when did I state that I wished for Apple to sell the Macbook Air at a loss? I wasn't bashing the Air and saying no one should ever buy one, I was trying to provoke discussion between people who don't already own and to see what is holding them back.
You have the right to disagree with my article but it's not stopping from buying a Macbook Air so how about calming down a little, has my article about what I would like to see in the Macbook Air's future really got you that riled up?
If you don't agree, then all you have to do, is disregard it.
I think the future of the MacBook Air should resemble something like the floors at the VW factory in Dresden, Germany. Look up "VW glass factory" on YouTube and you'll see what I'm talking about. If we could power our notebooks like the floors of the factory can power those machines that build cars, then that'd be where the "money" is.