[dlbyron]

cmdahler said:

None of these comments are even remotely convincing. You're an outdoors exercise nut carting a bike all over the place a

Eeer, uhm, aahh, not trying to convince you of anything -- I'm selfish in my fondness for the MBA, if Apple built that just for my demographic, great and I hope that keep making it so I can rev it in 2 years "I really don't know why Apple is even continuing to bother making these things" is what I responded to and when you travel with as much stuff as I do, reducing what you carry, and weight makes a huge difference. The exact opposite of, "oh I'm carrying around a lot anyway" so I just carry a white macbook. To the tradeoffs, the screen and keys allow me to do what I do: blog, write, video, create. For email and browsing, I've got an iPhone.

You're TSA line spot check method is probably going to turn up way more Toshibas and Dells and so on. My wife has a Toshiba and I have to admit it's a nice, snappy machine. XP SP2 is a solid OS, but it ain't OSX or an Air. What she noticed was the keyboard was fantastic on the Air and it is and what I'm finding myself doing is spending a lot more time writing on it.

So if you're convinced or not isn't my concern. Expressing how I'm using it is.

[osxholunman55]

one problem about these thin macbook, is that since it is too thin, the screen will be very easy to be cracked with a little bend, if you put it in a back bag or you drop it on the floor, the screen will be the first to go into pieces, the result? apple will make you spend alot to replace it

[TheSeanWilson]

I'm a high school student, and for a while, I strongly considered a MacBook Air. Since October, I'm looking back at the MacBook, but the Air provides things that no other Mac does. Extreme lightweight, portability, quite a lot of power for a subnotebook and great design (something I happen to like).
There is a premium, but don't pretend it's Apple's idea. Subnotebooks, by their very nature, are pricier to build (and pricier to build well). It's amazing how much Apple got into something that small, while still keeping the price close to the ground (as far as the ultraportable market is concerned).
Now for some people, no optical drive, limited ports, no expandability and the like will be a dealbreaker. But don't pretend that the people who find value in the MacBook Air's pros don't exist.
If you move around a lot, and don't have the computing needs of a nuclear scientist :), the Air may be a great machine to use day-to-day.

[john_macworld]

My macbook 1.86 tends to run very hot when playing internet video's...or doing something cpu intensive.
They should have not put the vents on the bottom, but on the top where the heat can rise out easily.

[NMoore]

well, I travel quite a lot, and was happy to trade my previous heavy 15" macbook for the light MBA (airbook), with the 64 GB SSD. Of course i've got the external DVD drive, which I leave at home and use about once a month to archive photos. Ror the rest I have a portable USB 250 GB Drive (a red flask-like thing) on which I keep the extra files. and at home I use time machine on a 750 GB hard drive on a USB hub, which also connects to the printer (or shared on an imac). The airbook is ultralite, hides in a pocket in my satchel (in a large envelope, of course!) so nobody notices it exists, and when I take it out in meetings, it does have a certain wow factor.
So no DVD who cares (except once a month); I have the USB-Ethernat adapter for hotel rooms in china when there's no wifi. Could also travel with a airport express to surf from my bed. One USB is fine most of the time, ultraportable hubs from time to time. and the drop door when closed gives the machine an incredibly sleek look. One battery but 3-4 hours life is enough for transatlantic flights (have to sleep a little)
I just ordered the new airbook with the 128 SSD and especially a better video (the major problem on the one I have now).
So yes it's expensive, and probably it'll get cheaper with decreasing ssd prices, but it's the closest thing to my beloved first powerbook100 (with external floppy drive), a tiny B/W portable (2/20 for memory and HD, MBs, not GBs...) that I used in the early 1990's and still sits on a shelf in my office with a PB165, 5300C, and others...
If you don't see them in airports, it's because theyre stashed away?

best

NM

[jimcord]

cmdahler,
It might be wise for you to not comment on something you don't own, can't afford or never used such as the MacBook Air. As a owner of a MacBook Pro and a new SSD Air 1.86 and I almost never use the Pro nowadays. It is a great machine that is great for almost any need. Don't be a hater! Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean that it isn't great for others. BTW, you might want to reassess your opinion of these machines........Apple, Lenovo/IBM and now Dell with their Adamo are all competing for the super lightweight full size computer market. Sounds like someone is selling something to someone!

[IM_RON]

To add another .02
It really boils down to what you feel is the right tool for the job. Like any other laptop, camera, or cellphone, some tools meet the needs for some and not others.
The original 1.6 MBA was my first Apple/Mac purchase. I'd been looking for a very lightweight laptop that I could use mainly for travel, communication (Skype, etc) and photo editing while on the road.
I had looked at the various Windows and Mac machines out there but didn't really see anything that caught my eye. In most cases every extra under the sun was either crammed into the device, had some type of clunky docking station for expanded features, or was outrageously priced (for what it offered).
After reading about the Air, I clicked the "Add to Cart" button the day it was made available on the Apple site and haven't looked back. This tool meets my need. I can't think of a time I ever needed more than one USB port and even in the Windows world I never/rarely needed the CD/DVD drive. I backup to my little Passport drive when on the road and then through the network when at home.
For me, the weight savings can allow me to carry an extra lens, flash, or camera body. Or just give my feet a little relief.
It's all relative.
I agree that it is a little pricey (most Apple products are) and I wouldn't mind having a little extra ram. But, it meets my need and I'm glad I picked it up. I'm sure most of the other MBA users would probably say the same thing.
Message was edited by: IM_RON (found a few typos)

[Podesta]

I am glad a few people get it. I would no more part with my MacBook Air than I would part with my iPhone.

In fact, I upgraded to the new 1.6 Ghz MacBook Air a few hours ago. I just read the review and I am responding on my new computer. (Haven't even gotten around to naming it or migrating data yet.) I was mainly gratified with my original MacBook Air because of its light weight and ability to do most of what I use a computer for - writing, surfing the Internet, light photo management, etc. I upgraded because I was not pleased with the slow frame rate when I played video. The new Nvidia graphics should prove satisfactory.

Apparently, it hasn't crossed the detractors' minds that many people have more than one computer. My MacBook Pro, not yet two years old, can handle any heavy lifting the MacBook Air cannot.

I rarely use my SuperDrive. I don't even notice the absence of a built-in optical drive.

For a computer some people thinks no one wants, the MacBook Air sells out rather often.

[jimcord]

Podesta,

Welcome to our club, glad to hear that you are enjoying your machine! Loving mine as well, took it recently to a meeting and even though this is the 2nd generation of the Air line, everyone there was envious of the size and portability. And surprise of all surprises........I , and the PC people with their laptops with cd drives, didn't need a cd-rom drive the entire meeting! Go figure!LOL Much success with your new baby.

By the way, my favorite cases so far are the neoprene sleeve case from Incase (goincase.com) the chocolate one is sweet looking, not the normal black case as well as the radtech optex sleeve from www.radtech.com.

Keep in touch, let me know how its going

jim

[NMoore]

Hot-swappable bays is what I had in the 5300c back in '96: so I carted around an extra battery, a CD drive, a zip drive (40 meg -remember those? before memory sticks):

that did make a lot of stuff to carry, and in fact I almost never used them.
On the other hand you always recognize the protable computer guys when they enter a meeting-room they immediately identify where the power outlets are and go straight to them. Years of practice. Recharge the computer immediately for the trip home.
If you really need extra batteries, there are third-party flat battery backs I believe

NM

[NMoore]

And if you'd ever done any cycling you'd now that 1.5 pounds is a lot. Why else would people pay a premium (massive) for the ultralight bikes. after all, from 15kg to 14 kg is not really alot: come back after 50 kilometers; same for a computer: when you've carted around a 3 kg computer, moving to 1.5 halves the weight. And that's not nothing after a full day's traveling.
I have an airbook, my wife has the white MB: when I pick it up, it feels like a load of bricks.

Now of course if you think computers are a nice substitute for bellbars and pumping iron, then to each their preferences.

[NMoore]

i drop my computers a lot, and in fact the airbook is much stronger than the previous 15" MBP: it is incredibly stiff (the unibody concept) and when closed probably much stronger than the plastic PC counterparts (part of the cost?). My MBP was completely battered after 1 year. The MBA now has one year and is new: also lighter means less dropping, and the shape and texture for some reason (slightly velvety) gives it a much better grip than the bigger ones.

[NMoore]

i use a bubble envelope from the office, of course: it's like the ads, it's dirt cheap, and it works very well. and in meetings, when I take out the envelope, and pull the computer out, I get a lot of interesting reactions :-). (Is there one of these for a smug smile?)

When it's frazzled (about every month), I just pick up a new one.