MacBook Air Reviews Already Trickling In
18Jan2008 Filed under: MacBook Complaints Author: BrianB
The reviews are in but we’re still several days from the first shipment of Apple’s new MacBook Air notebook. I’ve read quite a few of them, thinking it might convince me to consider MacBook Air, even though I suspect there’s going to be a worse “heat issue” in the MacBook Air compared to a MacBook pro or even my MacBook White. The reason is given here.
I find it curious that most if not all of the “advance” reviews of the MBA lay a lot of emphasis on the MacBook’s weight, belaboring the fact that the MacBook Air is not the lightest book out there. The Toshiba Portege R500 and the Sony VAIO VGN-TZ150N are two of the often cited ultraportables that are lighter than MBA.
1. PCMag review of MacBook Air: perhaps the most positive and pro-Apple review, yet, of the new ultraportable Mac.
The MacBook Air weighs in at 3 pounds and includes features that the rumor sites had long been predicting, including a 13-inch LED screen and an optional SSD drive. It lacks an internal optical drive, and the (very) limited number of connectivity ports will raise eyebrows, but the $1,799 starting price, standard-voltage processing parts, and full-size keyboard make up for its few limitations.
A statement that flies in the face of disillusioned Apple fanboys expecting a 12 or 13-inch MacBook Pro but got a notebook that fits in a Manila folder instead.
2. The USAToday points out the marketing problem of MBA. It agrees with PCMag that the larger-than-usual screen on the MBA for an ultra-portable is a plus but points out the new thing would be a tough sell to the core market of ultra-portables: business users.
3. ZDNET – Russel Shaw saying there’s no point to a light Mac.
4. Danny Dumas of Wired reiterates the key issue for me: an under-powered MacBook is such an odd-thing.
5. CNET says the MacBook Air makes no compromises. Really? What about that wash out screen (see pic above)?
10 Responses to “MacBook Air Reviews Already Trickling In”
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Apples
January 18th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Ok, this Mac fan is keeping her mouth shut.
Drake
January 18th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
So sorry to hear your feelings are hurt. Apples. I take it you’re an Apple fan?
Za
January 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Meh, I have to agree with the comment on the R500 and the Sony TZ. Those are all lighter, have better battery life, and optical drives. They also have multiple USB ports, Firewire, Gigabit ethernet, and replaceable batteries. They are available with SSD harddrives and at least the Sony has an LED backlit screen. They also have B/G/N/Bluetooth like the Macbook Air, and the TZ has practically an identical keyboard [same color too].
I used to have a Sony T-series until someone broke it. I now use a Macbook even though it’s too big. It’s still better than the Air though since, well….even the Asus eeePC seems less crippled, and for $299-$399 than the Macbook Air. They should have made it a bit thicker and smaller length and width-wise. The 13″ size is a liability, not a feature.
Jordan
January 19th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I Can already hear my Apple Zelot friend chanting the revolutionary design of the MBA now.
Yeah… where’s the heat going? It’s still a Core Duo, and while those particular CPU’s run cooler, it’s only COOLER. Doesn’t mean cool – the SSD is also… interesting. That’s mainly for a business sort of deal… and most Business’s stray from Apple’s premiums on sheer principle. What would a normal user want with an SSD now, when the price is so amazingly steep?
I got to say, as soon as I saw “4200rpm” I was done. That is an ancient speed – with all of Apple’s “Revolutionary design” They couldn’t make a 1.8″ 5400rpm drive? Come on now… Contrary to popular belief as well, I doubt the SSD will be much faster than the 4200. The price of the SSD reflects a Super Talent drive part – not the Micron part which actually rivals faster drives, granted to get that speed you pay 1000 just for the drive. Either way, this is not something I can imagine paying a lot for.
If I meet someone with this, it’ll be the same reaction I have with a PS3 when I see it in someone’s home collecting the proverbial dust. “Oh, you got one… Good for you.”
Villa Park
January 19th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I believe Apple will grab the first “thin” 5400 rpm SATA that gets announced, no matter what the cost.
Jordan
January 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
That would be nice – except that the Air uses PATA – not SATA. That would require a new board. Not that that’s an issue, Apple’s near famous at this rate for releasing a product, watching the saps who pay top dollar for it, and then releasing a newer one which addresses all user complains (or most) within a few months time. I’m sure by spring there will be a new MBA out there that has SATA and actually has a 5400rpm drive… maybe they’ll also figure out a faster CPU in all of that too – anything to make the “1799″ worth it.
Tom
January 19th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Yeah, I hate to say I’m disappointed. The new software to let the Air read drives from other computers is ingenious. But also inconvenient to anyone who rips or burns a lot of music.
Also, whay no firewire port? What’s up w/ that?
Overall it looks like a great machine but needs more power & memory.
I’ll be waiting for the next generation and see how that looks.
MacBook Air Review
January 20th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Hello, I’m really tempted to buy a MacBook Air and was wondering when the real reviews of this laptop will be published?
BrianB
January 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
We’re waiting for it ourselves. If you look at the notebook review site (http://www.notebookreview.com/price/default.asp?productFamilyID=1126&display=priceDetail), the don’t seem to have it either. CNET’s review is nothing more than the details given in MacWorld.
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