The Apple Core

Jason D. O'Grady & David Morgenstern
Home / News & Blogs / The Apple Core

MacBook Air: Observations on its technical note

By | January 24, 2008, 7:09pm PST

Summary: Apple recently posted the MacBook Air’s technical notes on its Developer Connection site. While comparing and contrasting the new ultralight notebook with the MacBook Pro isn’t fair, the differences between the two machines makes for interesting reading.

MacBook Air: Observations on its technical noteApple recently posted the MacBook Air’s technical notes on its Developer Connection site. While comparing and contrasting the new ultralight notebook with the MacBook Pro isn’t fair, the differences between the two machines makes for interesting reading.

Both the MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Pro technical notes are located under the Hardware & Drivers section in Apple’s online Developer Library.

Here are a few items that caught my eye:

Video. Both machines are based on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and use the North Bridge memory controller and South Bridge I/O controller ICs. However, their memory and graphics controller architectures are very different.

On the MacBook Air, the North Bridge chip incorporates the Intel GMA X3100 graphics subsystem. When connecting an external monitor to the model’s micro-DVi port, the maximum resolution in extended desktop mode is 1,280 by 800 pixels (60Hz) for both analog displays and digital displays. In the mirroring mode, the highest resolution possible is 1,280 by 800 (that’s the native resolution of the internal display).

The MacBook Pro uses a separate NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor that’s connected to the larger dual-link DVI connector. In the extended desktop mode, the maximum resolution for the external display is 2,048 by 1,536 px at 60Hz or 75Hz. And in mirroring mode, the maximum size is 1,680 x 1,050.

Speakers. The MacBook Air has mono output to its speaker, while the Pro has stereo speakers. So, if you want stereo on the MacBook Air, you have to use headphones, either with the headphone jack or BlueTooth — really, with this notebook, one should use the wireless solution.

Storage. The Air uses a 1.8-inch PATA (parallel ATA) drive off of a standard PATA bus. The MacBook Pro uses larger, faster SATA (serial ATA) drives off of a 1.5Gbps SATA bus. It also supports SATA II protocols.

Of course, the MacBook Pro also has an Ultra ATA interface for the SuperDrive, a FireWire controller, an ExpressCard/34 slot off of the USB controller, oh, and an Ethernet controller. The MacBook Air relies on USB adaptors for those functions.

EFI Boot ROM. The MacBook Air uses a 4MB flash Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) boot EEPROM, while the MacBook Pro only has 2MB.

Selected Apple Core articles on the MacBook Air:
Why does the MacBook Air make so many so dumb?
MacBook Air: thinnest but not lightest (Updated 2x)
Putting your HDD on a 80GB diet

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

More from “The Apple Core”

Topics

Apple MacBook, Apple MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Air, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, David Morgenstern

David Morgenstern has covered the Mac market and other technology segments for 20 years.

Disclosure

David Morgenstern

Freelance journalist/blogger David Morgenstern has nothing to disclose.

Biography

David Morgenstern

David Morgenstern has covered the Mac market and other technology segments for 20 years. In the recent past, he founded Ziff-Davis' Storage Supersite, served as news editor for Ziff Davis Internet and held several executive editorial positions at eWEEK. In the 1990s, David was editor of Ziff Davis' award-winning MacWEEK news publication as well as its successor title, eMediaWEEKly, which focused on multiplatform professional content creation. His byline can be found online and in print publications including CreativePro.com, Peachpit Press' Mac Bible and Popular Photography.

59
Comments
Add Your Opinion

Join the conversation!

Just In

Perhaps it's time to upgrade..
msalzberg 28th Jan 2008
since you just posted an almost identical message. Is it because your antiquated HP is
so slow?
View in thread
0 Votes
+ -
Really...
D T Schmitz 25th Jan 2008
...the MBA is nothing more than an overly-priced exceptionally-thin dongle.

Buy it and put it in a manila inter-office envelope or something.
0 Votes
+ -
Dongle envy
MarcB_z 25th Jan 2008
Dude,

You need to go back to your psychoanalyst. You have a serious dongle fixation to deal
with.
0 Votes
+ -
This episode of Dr. Phil
James Quinn 25th Jan 2008
Meet Dongle Boy. He sees Dongles everywhere and has a very rare form of terrets
can't stop saying and or writing the word dongle. Dr Phil will attempt to
cure/manipulate this person to health or greater ratings. Preferably the later.


Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
I like where this is going
Prognosticator 25th Jan 2008
Thin is in - no question about it. What prevents the super thin laptops from taking off in sales has been is it;s high premium price point. I believe this is going away.

On cellphones, the Razr sold like hotcakes until the "thin" arms race started and drove prices down for thin cellphones. The same will likely hapen in laptops. This is very exciting for a traveler like me that wants truly thin and light. The relatively low price of Apple Air is very encouraging. Intel will surely provide the capabilities for other notebook players to respond.
0 Votes
+ -
I don't see this as innovative
bhartman33@... 25th Jan 2008
Sure, it's thin. It's very thin. It's very, very thin. But so what? How often do you really need to mail a laptop in a manila envelope, or slip one under a locked door? I mean, what's the innovative feature -- the ability to play Frisbee with it? For all you don't get with it (an optical drive, FireWire, speakers), you'd think they'd throw in some killer apps. Instead, they throw in...MultiTouch? I mean, seriously...
0 Votes
+ -
Common too Apple....
James Quinn 25th Jan 2008
it's not the hardware or the software it's the concept and the way it's put together the
whole widget. I would not say innovative but different. All you mentioned is true it
does not have those items but Apple did think that through and came up with creative
alternatives to said. Now you may disagree. You might think "wireless" is not there
yet a legit argument but I would say the jury is out.

Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
Different to what?.
magallanes 25th Jan 2008
1 inch less do the difference?.

For mac guys the answer is yes.
For the rest of the persons is HELL NO!.
0 Votes
+ -
Again it's not the size that matters (bet you've heard that one)
James Quinn 25th Jan 2008
It's the whole widget. Not the hardware, not the OS, not the software bundled with
it but the whole thing put together. Apple kept the full sized keyboard and sceen
but dropped the optical. However Apple thought about and gave alternatives to the
optical including for entertainment users the ability to now rent movies through
iTunes. It's not the lack of a wired network connector it's the fact that Apple gave
and points to an alternative which is growing faster and more prevalent on an
almost daily basis. It's thin granted but that is but a piece of the puzzle.

Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
Huh?
mlambert890@... 25th Jan 2008
What does this mean "the whole widget"?

I mean what are we talking about here? It seems the insanity is complete. So its not the hardware. Its not the software. Its just the "Appleness" of it then?

That completely confirms the arguments made by the wave of Mac backlashers. When people make the serious argument that "yeah, the hardware isnt so innovative, and yeah, the software is nothing new, and yeah, there are a lot of flaws and compramises... BUT... its still AMAZING anyway due to the intangible "ZEN" quality of it!" we have reached the point where objective debate is impossible.

People are bending over backwards making rationalizations for Apples every decision as if there is a NEED for whatever they release to be "world altering". Its REALLY cultish.

Cupertino should crank the next one out without a battery at all... Or perhaps without a display. Id LOVE to bear witness to the insanity that would ensue on forums where people make the argument that "you just dont understand the GENIUS of it!"
0 Votes
+ -
Because you may get a kick out of it
laura.b 25th Jan 2008
Your post made me think of this one I read last week.

http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12554-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=43365&messageID=802512&start=0
0 Votes
+ -
But in truth no one has asked me
James Quinn 27th Jan 2008
To burn a CD or DVD. Honestly that's a fact. As for installing software well I have
used a lot of .dmg files of the company network and yes I've used CD's but I've also
used pre-created "images" off the internet because it's simpler for company
standard setups so I can easily see that installing software can be done without the
need of an optical drive.

Can't you understand that things are a changing? Apple is trying to both catch the
wave and perhaps push it along. iPhone wireless, all Apple's computer systems
wireless, iPod Touch wireless. Starbucks and Apple wireless deal. Seems there is a
theme going on here don't you think?

Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
The Total Package
bhartman33@... 25th Jan 2008
I do understand that the total package is what's important. At the same time, I can't shake the feeling that the MBA is less than the sum of its parts. It's thinner than what's gone before, but my understanding is that it isn't any lighter because of the decision to go with the aluminum case.

Sure, the ability to use another computer's optical drive wirelessly is novel, but that's just compensating for what Apple left out. It doesn't really add anything, compared to other notebooks.

I'll admit that the full-sized keyboard is a nice touch, but how much is that really worth?

IMHO, the MBA looks like a nod to the Mac chic set: all style, little substance. I guess it's brought them some limited success before, but if they want to replicate the success of the iPod -- which, despite my not liking them personally, are decent MP3 players now (as long as you don't care about recording or FM radio) -- they've got to start putting substance over style. To me, this is the equivalent of an iPod without the iTunes or video playback.
0 Votes
+ -
Nice touch...
msalzberg 26th Jan 2008
Interesting. People are screaming that there's not optical drive. How often do you
use the optical drive? I haven't used mind since I installed Leopard. What was that
- September, October? There's no card reader. Who needs that? And, if you do,
how often do you use it? I could go on and on, but...

"The full sized keyboard is a nice touch, but how much is that really worth?"

Sorry, pal, while you may use all of that other stuff every once in a while, you use
the keyboard all the time. While you may enjoy using a computer with a toy
keyboard while you play Doom, some of us who actually use their computers for
work actually understand that the keyboard, display, and mouse are at the top of
the list of necessary features, and that compromising them can't be offset by a
card reader.
0 Votes
+ -
Yes, as I said...
bhartman33@... 26th Jan 2008
Hi, msalzberg. You said:

Interesting. People are screaming that there's not optical drive. How often do you use the optical drive? I haven't used mind since I installed Leopard. What was that - September, October? There's no card reader. Who needs that? And, if you do, how often do you use it? I could go on and on, but...

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I use the optical drive in my machine often. Optical drives come in handy for things like installing software, burning CDs and DVDs, using CD-based databases, creating archives, etc.

As for the card reader, I can agree that that isn't such a big deal. Card readers for laptops aren't all that common. Still, the lack of at least a PCMIA slot is somewhat puzzling.

You also said:

Sorry, pal, while you may use all of that other stuff every once in a while, you use the keyboard all the time. While you may enjoy using a computer with a toy keyboard while you play Doom, some of us who actually use their computers for work actually understand that the keyboard, display, and mouse are at the top of the list of necessary features, and that compromising them can't be offset by a card reader.

I didn't say the full-sized keyboard wasn't nice. I used a laptop several times a week in my old job, so I do understand that it's a nice ammenity to have a large one. My question was, how much is that keyboard worth, especially to someone who's accustomed themselves to typing on a standard notebook keyboard? I don't think it's worthless. I'm just puzzled as to why there are some people who are acting like the apes looking at the monolith at the beginning of 2001: A Space Oddysey. The MBA is a thin laptop with a nice keyboard and a bunch of sacrifices thrown in to get it down to that thinness. That's all it is.

Apple has no shortage of innovative products to its credit, but this is not one of them.
0 Votes
+ -
I think you're missing my point.
msalzberg 27th Jan 2008
A full size keyboard isn't just a nice touch. It's one of the two things you use all
the time. Compromise on the keyboard or the screen, and it doesn't matter how
many gadgets you add to the computer - the entire package has been
compromised.

Again, for your usage pattern the MBA isn't for you. But note what you said. "I used
a laptop several times a week in my old job." I use mine several hours a day,
and I'm not as heavy a laptop user as many. A full sized keyboard isn't just nice;
not having one would be a deal-breaker for me.

As I said, I rarely use the optical drive. I don't install software all that often, and
much of it these days is downloadable. I use USB flash drives, or online storage, for
temporary backups, and burn CDs and DVDs on my desktop.
0 Votes
+ -
I should've been more clear.
bhartman33@... 27th Jan 2008
What I meant was, I used a laptop several times a week for several hours at a time. And for a while, my main computer at home was a laptop, too. (That didn't last too long, since I started missing the expandability more than I'd anticipated.) My point is, yes, I can understand how someone might think that a full-sized keyboard is of utmost importance. I just don't see anything here that's so jaw-dropping, other than the thinness. Other companies have put full-sized keyboards on laptops before.

Obviously, there will be some degree of a market for this. I just don't see it as that innovative or as much of a "must-have" as an iPhone or an iPod, and it seems like since the announcement from MacWorld, there are a lot of people trying to believe that it is.
0 Votes
+ -
I think...
James Quinn 27th Jan 2008
That a great many of Apple's alternatives say the sharing of an optical drive or an
external is the "Just in case" option and that Apple feels in the long run the need for
such will prove to be not so much.

Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
I'm sure you're right that they think that...
bhartman33@... 27th Jan 2008
...but the question remains: Is that true?

I can tell you from personal experience that the trade-off of ports for thinness wouldn't have made sense in my last job. We needed at least one USB port to log in to the internal network (for the VPN dongle). With only one USB port to speak of, the MBA would've required the use of a USB hub (which would be yet another thing to bring to a meeting, when you might in reality only need two USB ports). And the lack of an optical drive would've made things like archiving much more difficult. (I can't imagine the IT dept. would've been too happy with the idea of shared optical drives, but I could be wrong.)

The way I see it, a good notebook has to have at least these three things:

1) Acceptable weight
2) a decent keyboard
3) good connections

The MBA does well on the first 2, but woefully lacks in the connections department. The optical drive is more than a "just in case" option.

Yeah, I know that the optical drive is a common sacrifice for light notebooks. And I know they'll sell you a SuperDrive separately. But for less than an extra pound of weight, you could get a Dell XPS 1330 that doesn't sacrifice the ports or the drive. And the base configuration is less expensive.
0 Votes
+ -
And my whole point regardless of the "theory" of
James Quinn 28th Jan 2008
Apple's design with the Air is in the end the consumer will decide. There are valid
questions but that is it they are only speculation and the assumption that what you
or I feel are needs translates to not only others but in some cases it seems the
assumption is that my ( You or I ) needs are universal and no they are not.

Pagan jim

(I would guess that based on location and work habits that there is a small market
for these devices and as wireless gets faster and more prevalent that core group
will increase. I do think it is a growing market)
0 Votes
+ -
Thin = less material in the case &
j.m.galvin 25th Jan 2008
Less material in the case equals less weight.

If you want to preserve a larger screen and full sized keyboard, you have to shave the material from the thickness to reduce weight.
0 Votes
+ -
So I guess in this case less is more ....
mrOSX 25th Jan 2008
$$$ happy




Note: This is a joke.
0 Votes
+ -
Sure, I Get That...
bhartman33@... 26th Jan 2008
Thinner laptops weigh less. Sure, I understand that. But I think the MBA has crossed the point where there are diminished returns. Cut enough stuff out, and you're decreasing functionality. Having to hijack another optical drive on your network is a sure sign that that line has been crossed.

Granted, the MBA is hardly the only notebook in the world to be sold sans optical drive, but it's hardly a piece of tech to be oohed and ahhhed over. It's a piece of boutique tech.
0 Votes
+ -
It's about where Apple is taking the industry
Prognosticator 25th Jan 2008
You can argue whether this is innovation. Personally, what I think is significant is not so much if a super thin laptop is innovative but rather where where Apple taking the industry.

Sony, Lenovo, etc will not yield the innovation halo to Apple. That is the beauty of what I mean by "I like where this is going".

I'm delighted Apple will do to the notebook market what they did to the MP3 plater market. Yeah, iPOD was not "innovative", but look where it did. I am totally impressed with Apple and I'ma PC geek.
0 Votes
+ -
WHAT?!
mlambert890@... 25th Jan 2008
So Apple is "taking the industry" towards laptops with no removeable batteries and huge sacrifices?

"Taking the industry" there when SONY *already* demonstrated its not necessary with the X505? Which was basically very nearly as thin, with far fewer bits missing, and a SMALLER FOOTPRINT and LIGHTER....... FOUR YEARS AGO!

So you're saying basically that Apple is taking the industry backwards? Great!

The amazing thing is just how MANY people that fancy themselves technophiles basically only see the tech world through whatever prism Jobs holds up.

With the racket he has going he MUST have made a deal with the devil. They should just start taking off the shelf Sony, Fujitsu, Toshiba, etc parts, painting them white, slapping a logo on them, and reselling them. All of those Japanese firms have a MOUNTAIN of parts that no one seemed to care about that would be HUGE sellers (or at least capture HUGE BS web "mindshare") if only they had that Apple logo and the turtlenecked "wizard" holding them up.
0 Votes
+ -
Thin is good for some
grail@... 25th Jan 2008
I lug my laptop around with me for light programming work (Ruby on Rails), and I'd
sure appreciate a laptop that weighed less than half my current one.

I don't use Ethernet, the work and home networks are wireless. I don't use optical
drives - all my stuff is on server drives.

The closest I'll get to needing external drives is to do backups - but that's why I
have source code management. The stuff on my laptop is only ever "work in
progress" that is then committed to the code repository.

Apart from the hideous price, I'd be getting a Mac Air today. As it is, I'll wait till the
price comes down about 50%
0 Votes
+ -
i
Boxarox 26th Jan 2008
Great...just when we find the only guy for whom the MacBook Air is perfectly suited, he tells us he can't afford it.

The search continues...WANTED: computer user with no need for optical drive, no need for ethernet, no use for ports, card readers, or fast processors, no need for more than 85 gig to store data, movies, photos, or music. MUST BE willing to locate AC power outlets every 3.5 hours while traveling or attending meetings. MUST BE extremely fashion conscious and vain. And... most importantly, MUST BE wealthy enough to commit an initial fee of $1800.00 to demonstrate a stylish commitment to compromise.
0 Votes
+ -
The interesting part of the MBA
Ken_z 25th Jan 2008
is that it appears to be the first notebook in Apple's line that was
designed to end up as a SSD HD based notebook. Bit ahead of its
time in terms of pricing, but as prices of SSD goes down I think it
will end up as the primary HD.

Two other design points that i believe will push the market are
the larger display (compared to other 3 pounders) and the use of
aluminum for a case. The aluminum adds weight (and costs)
over plastic, but makes a stronger case.
0 Votes
+ -
The buzz on the music sites...
musician88 25th Jan 2008
... is the MBA won't fly for us as we need FireWire.
Probably won't fly for filmmakers either, given the specs
on video out.

Nice on a plane... but I'll take my Mac Book Pro over the
MBA anyday.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: MacBook Air: Observations on its technical note
hansoff 25th Jan 2008
A waste of space...no matter how small it is....
0 Votes
+ -
Care to explain?
James Quinn 25th Jan 2008
Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
MacBook Air: Observations on its technical note
hansoff 25th Jan 2008
Your obviously a die hard apple fan....go away...
0 Votes
+ -
So you don't have an explination and it's possible you
James Quinn 25th Jan 2008
are a die hard Apple hater?

Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
Don't feed the pigeons
Prognosticator 25th Jan 2008
If you feed pigeons, they keep coming back happy
0 Votes
+ -
haha, it seems you dared to offend "the master" 's creation
markbn 26th Jan 2008
You will suffer the persecution of the apple-fanatic-forum-police, as you may have seen

Disclaimer: I am not an -hater
0 Votes
+ -
The "Air" is highly specilized
SteveMak 25th Jan 2008
If you *really* need a Mac, and you really need a notebook, and you *REALLY* need an ultra-thin notebook, and you ware willing to sacrifice a number of things many users take for granted, then the Air just might be an amazingly good fit.

The things you'll sacrifice have been well documented in ZDnet postings. As long as the plusses outweigh the minuses for you, then getting an "Air" is a good decision.
0 Votes
+ -
Can I get an "AHMEN"!
James Quinn 25th Jan 2008
Pagan jim
0 Votes
+ -
Yeah for all you give up...
mrOSX 25th Jan 2008
Ethernet port, FireWire, built in optical drive, replaceable battery, second USB port, you get to pay an extra $500 dollars.
0 Votes
+ -
Forgot about the smaller 80GB hard drive....
mrOSX 25th Jan 2008
NT
0 Votes
+ -
So then it doesnt deserve the ridiculous hype it has gotten...
mlambert890@... 25th Jan 2008
I mean really... If you are somehow in the category of people who "need" a sub 1" thick Mac (WHAT could POSSIBLY *require* THAT dimension to be so small???????), and you are willing to place performance, flexibility, connectivity, battery efficiency/life/convenience ALL in the backseat to get a sub 1" thick notebook (vs the 1.08" 5lb MacBook regular) and that is worth $500 to you, then yeah, it makes sense.

But heres the rub... With ANY other vendor, a 14 caveat long list of "Ifs" leads to a bad review. With Apple? Nobel prize. Ridiculous.
0 Votes
+ -
So, MLambert - Is This REALLY B/c You're A Repiglican Gore-Hata?
drprodny 25th Jan 2008
::shakes head:: It's not like a RATIONAL person who hates M$FT and Dell b/c they're in bed w/The Traitor Bush....

Whatta nutjob....
0 Votes
+ -
RE: MacBook Air: Observations on its technical note
sedwho 25th Jan 2008
Is Apple trying to position the MBA as a MBP replacement. Why are they even writing this blog??
0 Votes
+ -
Missing the point of the Macbook Air
top100developers 25th Jan 2008
This is a perfect system for the likes of the president of the company I work for. It is light; fast; and unencumberd.

The missing features will not be missed by my user. He will also not require a really high resolution on his laptop or any external device.

He does need a laptop that travels well and is able to support him on the road.

Though we do not currently use Apple as a platform we have purchased systems simular to this in the past for this user.

Not everyone needs a turbo charged SUV to drive to the grocery store.
0 Votes
+ -
well then...
mlambert890@... 25th Jan 2008
Thinkpad X
Sony X505
Sharp MM series
Toshiba Portege
Fujitsu P series
Sony TX
Dialogue Flybook
LG C1

All are way more tenured than this. Some are even CANCELLED they're so old. So why is the MBA now "savior of the boardroom"? Seriously... This is all internet buzz since "buzz" these days is the exclusive province of Apple combined with the cachet they have coopted as a result of that buzz.

There is NOTHING in the MBA that is revolutionary... AT ALL... Yet all day long stalwart defenders are finding ANY angle to prove that THIS is what the world has waited for.

If the press were REMOTELY objective, they would take a step back and COMPARE this thing to its competition rather than make HUGE leeps of logic desperately bending over backwards to manufacture scenarios where its the perfect fit.

"WHAT IF THERE IS A FIRE, AND YOU *NEED* TO SAVE YOUR CRITICAL WORK... AND THE DOOR ONLY HAS .77" CLEARANCE??? THE SONY X505 WOULD *NOT* FIT UNDER!!! ITS .99" AT ITS WIDEST!!! *THAT* IS WHY YOU NEED A MBA!!!" (smug look)

Its like the twilight zone
0 Votes
+ -
Exactly!
snow_man@... 25th Jan 2008
if the features of the MBA aren't for you then buy a different machine.
0 Votes
+ -
I "gave up" a lot with an X Series ThinkPad
Ken_z 25th Jan 2008
Had to carry external optical & floppy drives, dongles all over the
place, never used a second battery and loved the original X Series I
used for 2+ years. The only improvement I would have liked to see
would have been a larger display.

On the dongle side, I put them in my roll on. The one battery was not
a problem, even on 11 to 15 hour flights and the weight reduction
was very much appreciated.

As for the MBA, I think it will work very well for those targeted
customers. For others, the MB or MBP will be a better option.

So all the MBA is for me is another option for users. It is said to be
selling well so I guess that Apple did something right in the design
area, and that's what counts.
0 Votes
+ -
I was wondering.
LBean 25th Jan 2008
I knew there had to be some tradeoffs somewhere to get a notebook under 1" thick. Thanks for sharing the info.

My only complaint on the article? The graphic on the right. It should link to a larger READABLE version.

Heh!
0 Votes
+ -
RE: MacBook Air: Observations on its technical note
phatkat 25th Jan 2008
I assume they did these things to MBA so everything will fit in the circuitboard within MBA case. Gizdomo has one that they tore apart already: http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/Macbookairteardown/
You can see the circuitboard is takes less than on quarter of the space and every millimeter of space it taken by critical part. I could understand why Apple want sa "technically" astute person replacing the battery since any misplacement will damage the MBA or not allow the case to close properly.
0 Votes
+ -
A Compromise
Rich2020 25th Jan 2008
You pay for the ultra-thin chassis with less bang. You
are buying ergonomics not power or expandability.
Basically the Air is an MacBook on a starvation diet.
Although tempted I did look a the spec and conclude that
it simply isn't powerful enough in any sense for me at
least. Its another MBP for me when the time comes.
Thicker yes. But more powerful.
0 Votes
+ -
Agree. But many will accept the compromise
Prognosticator 25th Jan 2008
I completely agree with you. It is a compromise design but a compromise many are willing to live with.

Like you, I would likely get a thicker notebook with optical drive and ethernet port, etc today. However, I hardly use my optical drive, have wifi most everywhere I go and have removed my laptop battery twice - on both occasions it was to reset that POS operating system, Windows from a blue screen.

I think this will do well.
0 Votes
+ -
here we go...
mlambert890@... 25th Jan 2008
So you are an anti-Windows enthusiast... Thats fine. That doesnt change the fact that the comrpomises on the MacBook air are indefensible.

WHAT does "thin" do for you? NO ONE has articulated that to me. I can tell you now that it wont help this thing open on an airplane - thats for sure. The footprint is still too large for cramped coach.

I can also tell you that 3lbs is really NOT light. There are a ton of sub 3lb notebooks.

Since you cant get Windows to operate properly (I can honestly say I havent had a bluescreen on a notebook since the days of NT4), you are limited to the Mac universe. Thats also fine, but these articles are putting the MBA in a BROAD perspective.

In the context of the MAC unviverse (where everything is gigantic and heavy), SURE... The MBA is almost impressive (almost b/c it has no removeable batter).

In the context of a world where Japanese firms (and Lenovo) are pushing out TONS of interesting devices in ALL KINDS of form factors, the MBA is a "huh?"

But by all means enjoy it. Some day when the non-removeable LiOn battery has lost efficiency (which doesnt take long with LiOn) you can enjoy bringing it in for service. or maybe buy a new one! Even better!

In the meantime, when you cant make it the entire way on a NY to CA flight, you can always read a book while others go to their second battery.

Of course I forgot, 99% of Macs are used exclusively at Starbucks on top of the AC outlet.

I generally like what Apple cranks out - but the hyperbolic hysteria over their stuff is always offputting,. With the MBA, its just NUTS. Its almost like they said "lets see how FAR we can push these lemmings".

Sony would have been BUTCHERED for this thing and the (yellow) journalists KNOW it. But of course publishing is the stronghold of Apple, so can we expect objectivit? Hell no.
0 Votes
+ -
Perhaps it's time to upgrade..
msalzberg 28th Jan 2008
since you just posted an almost identical message. Is it because your antiquated HP is
so slow?

Join the conversation!

Formatting +
BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums
  • [b] Bold [/b]
  • [i] Italic [/i]
  • [u] Underline [/u]
  • [s] Strikethrough [/s]
  • [q] "Quote" [/q]
  • [ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
  • [ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
  • [pre] Preformat [/pre]
  • [quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]
ie8 fix

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Facebook Activity

Blog Roll

Blog Archive

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources
ie8 fix
ie8 fix