[west29]

I got one of the first SSD MBAs in the UK this morning. It's up against a conventional drive model for assessment and will be swapped back if there isn't distinct benefit. I'm looking for clear water between the two but can live with a price premium.

If this were a personal purchase, I'd say that it is definitely not worth the money - wait for the prices to fall and retrofit.

FWIW on first impressions. This is a nice laptop to work and travel with. It is quiet and coolish. I have previously had a Vaio T series for more that a year and I am delighted with the extra screen space and keyboard. My current machine is a MBP and I love the form factor and weight in comparison. I have already noticed a distinct difference in battery life (MBP 15 months old) and that's despite me turning the Pro's wireless off and brightness down ... and not on the Air. The Air's also takes longer to charge.

In 5 hours today, My MBP started feeling like the ugly sister; the MBA is the machine that I want to work on. I've not been on a plane yet but on a train I appreciated the slight reduction in height of the screen when open as compared to my MBP. Parallels build 5584 seems to be working just fine. I'm synching against .Mac Web Galleries to get my best photos across into iPhoto and iDisk for a relevant subset of my personal documents. I'd love an automated way to sync a subset of my iTunes library but that's a work around for tomorrow. [Note to Apple I would like to see an MBA option in iTunes on a main machine - it can be one of my 5 registered computers!] No worries about space yet but I do have the Pro as a mother ship for domestics like Aperture, iTunes etc...

[spinoza2]

I've been using my MBA for a day now and I feel the same way--when I returned to my MB Pro it felt a bit like a somewhat overweight, doting aunt in comparison. The MBA is a joy to work on with its strikingly sharp display and full-sized, comfortable keyboard. After working for a while you realize what kind of sleight of hand Apple pulled off with the MBA: it feels in every way like a 'normal' laptop when using it, and only when you close the lid and pick it up do you realize that it's an ultrathin ultralight notebook. For normal computing like file, word and image processing, as well as the Internet and wireless networking, the MBA performed very well for me, with no sluggishness or power problems. I now realize why such an ultrathin notebook doesn't weigh less than three pounds: it's definitely because of the solidly built aluminum casing. Apple clearly decided not to compromise on this, and to be honest, it's so thin it somehow doesn't feel like it's three pounds. Being an Apple product, so far everything just works with the MBA, even the Remote Disk has worked flawlessly for me after several uses. One thing to keep in mind, as far as being productive is concerned, is that you should expect people to stop and ask you about it. But this is understandable, it is an amazing work of art...

[Jason Snell]

nmouncey said:

You really can not get through 5 or 6 hours without 3 separate devices?

On an airplane.

[Jason Snell]

Don69 said:

Thanks for a great and thorough review. I'm just surprised however, that you didn't discuss the fact that the MacBook Air only comes with a glossy screen. I just can't stand glossy screens. It's a real deal-breaker for me.

I don't know what to tell you -- I was initially skeptical but have come to love the glossy screen. In fact, I now find myself slightly disappointed when I sit down at my Cinema Display's screen and see the coated anti-glare screen. With the MacBook's backlighting (and the Air's backlighting is even brighter!) I've not found glare to be a problem. I can even use the sucker outside in my backyard, in broad daylight. Love it. I wouldn't go back.

I hear what you're saying, though. It's a shame it wasn't a BTO option, but I think this is the direction Apple is heading...

[Jason Snell]

jaff74 said:

Any word on when the MBA with SSD is coming out? Is it really worth spending $ 1000 extra?

It's out and I'm going to write it up at some point. Using one right now.

Preview: Can't see spending $1000 on it.

[Dan Frakes]

Don69 said:

Thanks for a great and thorough review. I'm just surprised however, that you didn't discuss the fact that the MacBook Air only comes with a glossy screen. I just can't stand glossy screens. It's a real deal-breaker for me.

If that's the only thing keeping you from getting one, consider Power Support's Antiglare Film; the version for the MacBook also fits the MacBook Air:

http://www.powersupp...php?category=pb

I've had one on my MacBook Pro since we did our article on laptop protection. It's a bit tricky to put on dust-free, but it looks great.

[Mister Snitch]

Apple did this thing exacrly right. As things stand, it's probably a bit pricey. Buth the design is standout - people notice. Result: It's a computer for those few who want something different, exclusive, and a bit elite. Same people who shop at Prada and so on.

Time passes, the expensive stuff gets cheaper, Apple tweaks the product from user feedback. The trendsetters move on to something else as the machine settles into wider use. The elite pay for most of the R&D that went into the product, the wider audience now reaps the benefits. Eventually, all laptops are thinner, use solid-state drives, and superior LED screens. All but heavy power usesrs (who will simply use a different machine) prefer devices without DVD drives, as they find they rarely use them. The machines are always online, one way or another, as the macine invisibly finds the cheapest way to connect. (Cell connections are built in, but the service is mucvh cheaper.)

Apple is all set up to pursue this direction, through this machine. They almost HAD to build it. It's not a matter of 'build it and they will come', but more like 'build it, they're coming'.

[spinoza2]

Companies like Apple do a lot of market research regarding the pricing of their products. The MacBook and MacBook Pro prices have remained relatively constant since they were introduced (as well as the iPods, for that matter), with each new generation adding power and features rather than a lowered price. As others have noted, the MacBook Air is several hundred dollars cheaper than comparable ultralights, so the price 'sits' well in terms of the general market. On college campuses across the country you see students walking around not with MacBooks, but with MacBook Pros, since they recognize the added value of the better machines. Students are not rich, but they know their priorities and for them a solid laptop is a 'mission critical' tool. So I doubt if Apple will lower the price of the MBA; after using mine for a week now I feel the price is really fair for what one is getting. This of course was not the case with the iPhone, an exception to the rule, because it was an entirely new device and market sector for Apple, and pricing it right has been tricky with it being tied to the AT&T contract and all.

[Dan Frakes]

KPO said:

My only complaints so far are that the screen doesn't tilt back further (that's common to regular MacBooks, as well)...it is something I think Apple can learn from PC manufacturers. I like to use a notebook while standing up on occasion, and it's nice being able to open the screen up wider. It doesn't need to be 180 degrees like my old Dell, but 135 or 150 degrees would be nice.

I agree. The limited angle is also an issue with many laptop stands for working at a desk; some assume the laptop screen is able to open much further.

[Mister Snitch]

I also agree re the hinge.

I had a Titanium laptop whose hinge did open much wider.That hinge, in the end, gave way, and the monitor separated from the keyboard. So I suspect Apple deliberately chose to give up some flexibility in exchange for a sturdier hinge, Still, I do wish my MacBook opened up more fully.

[cgrscott]

Jason,

In one of your recent video blogs or podcasts you said you thought the Macbook Air seems to have the most attractive display of all the Apple Laptops. Yesterday evening I was in the Cincinnati/Kenwood Apple Store and saw the MacBook Air in the flesh for the first time. The display seemed to look like the brightest, crispest, and glossiest screen of any laptop in the store. Despite of the slower specks, the MacBook Air is easy to like visually and in touching it's keypad and touch pad.

It really does have a bright and sharp display.

Rob

[phacker]

As an owner of a MBA I am amazed at the comments I have read. I love this notebook. I travel about 150,000 miles a year. Before the MBA I would carry my macbookpro15" with an extra battery, mouse, etc. lots of "just in case" stuff. Turns out I never used any of them. The macbook pro is heavy. 5.4 lbs plus accessories starts to weigh a lot when you are carrying a backpack with other stuff in it like a book some files, maybe some snacks, etc. With the macbook air I can pretty much do anything I need with a thin light notebook that has a nice large screen and a back lit keyboard for low light. As for usb, I rarely need more than one and if I did, I could bring a tiny hub with me. the video out works fine for ppt. and the adapter is even smaller than the one for my mbp. The battery life could be longer but in the 4 years I have been traveling I have swapped my battery about 5 times. Mostly because I wanted to watch a movie and work at the same time. I use a verizon wireless data card for my internet. In the long run it is way cheaper than paying for wired internet in a hotel, and most of the time, just as fast. Most hotels now offer wireless in their lobbies if you really need it. I do have the internet adapter for the MBA just in case. I am running Adobe CS3 and i can tell you a 13" screen is much easier to work on than my old 12" powerbook. The wide screen is so much better and brighter. Remote disk works great for installing software. for everything else I have an 8g flash drive that I can use to transfer on the fly. I also run macoffice 2008 which i have no issues with on performance. I have a USB drive that I use for Time machine and used that to originally put get all my music and movies and other files on the mba. I don't have everything but enough to keep me busy and to use while I travel. I do have a .mac account so I can keep tons of files there and just download the ones I need on the fly. I can also send them back for pick up at my desk.

This is not my only computer. I have a desktop that I use for my daily work. The MBA is fantastic for travel, thin, light and slips into almost anything. It looks and feels great. It is a first generation product and I realized that when I bought it. that said, I love it and gave up my macbook pro 15" and have not regretted it yet.

As for running windows, if you need it that bad, buy a pc.

ph

[edmetric]

DF, you must not have received the memo. Just turn the tilt base around so the high point is toward you. The hinge is lower at the back and the screen is more at an angle away from you. ;-)

[phacker]

I have both matte screens and glossy and this screen is surprisingly low on glare. I have had no complaints at all. The display is so beautiful.