From blog.known

I must say that I am a little confused by the release of the MacBook Air. As far as I am concerned the 15 inch MacBook Pro is the perfect laptop, maybe minus a bit of weight and heat, but for a laptop computer with enough power to do reasonably processor demanding tasks it is perfect. And the soon to be released MacBooks I am sure will be even more perfect.

The Air just seems to be a bit of a whimsy. Big enough that it still has to be lugged, yet with a feature set that makes it a little weak to be the only computer you own. I think the MacBook Air is the kind of computer I would buy if I already had an iMac at home.

When the hype and rumour of an ultra portable started to circulate I was expecting Apple to deliver something super unique, not just a smaller laptop. I did expect it to have touch screen like the iphone and I definitely expected it to come sans keyboard. So on the release of the Air my expectations have been a little mis-matched, such are they when I have so much faith in a company that develops the best technology in the world.

Steve, if I could just have your attention for a second I think this should be your next move. The Star Trek PADD style computer. You know we have been waiting for them since we first saw them on The Next Generation and knew that one day this is what a portable computer would look like.

This is the computer that I want. Something big enough that it reads like a book and fits neatly in my bag. But not something small enough that I have to take it with me everywhere and drop it on the ground every five minutes. I want a computer that I can take with me where I usually take the news paper first thing in the morning. A computer that I don't have to squint at for an hour on the bus on my way to work. I want a computer that I can touch and caress in order to see the things I want to see.

Jonathan, I know you can design this, Steve, I know you can make it happen...I believe in you. Apple...let there be Light!

Maybe Apple aren't ready to take risks as such as Tablets. They might be playing it safe. But yes, I agree, The MBA is small but too big. It is fast for its size but still slow. I think Apple went out of their comfort zones with the Air. Could I just have this message quoted with 'Me' written under it to get a general idea of who wants Apple to take a risk and go for a Tablet?

Be careful what you wish for. The iPhone required an entire rethink of the UI. A lot of the normal computing and phone conventions have gone due to the input method. Building the device you're after would require the same thing... meaning it'd probably be no good at running OS X apps. And if they used the iPhone's OS and input methods then that would have to be reworked a lot too, as it's fixed to the screen res of the iPhone/iPod touch.

I think Apple got the Air just right. I'm not saying a mid sized touch screen Mac wouldn't be nice, but I find using my iPhone pretty easy for most things like net surfing etc, so I don't know if it need the screen to be bigger. And if it was bigger, then it may as well be a small, light laptop so I can do some real work.

Which is fair enough, considering they've never sold that well in the past.

Agree on the tablet, Windows PC makers have been pushing them for a while now and they haven't really taken off.

I think once you use the air you may change your mind.

Also when the iPhone and iPod Touch get an e-reader they will be meet a lot your needs.

I think a Mac tablet is coming sooner than everyone thinks.

I thought THAT was what everybody thinks...

yes I definately agree.

Hey Brad, I've been a bit bored this arvo so I'll give you my thoughts:

I agree, insofar as the 15" MBP is concerned.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

I think you're right; there'd be few out there purchasing an Air as their primary computer, I'm sure. In fact, are there (m)any out there using other ultra-portable devices as their primary comuputer?

But that's the thing, it was all rumours and hype. Nobody in the general public knew anything concrete until the damn thing was announced by Apple themselves. How can you invest so much expectations in the unknown?

Forgive me here because I don't watch Star Trek, but is this the sort of thing the majority of the potential marketplace would want?

Oh, I see.

But you can't always get what you want.

Perhaps you should be more careful.

Such as the toilet.

They've made one already. It's called the iPhone. Will there be a Mac Tablet? Who knows, but if Apple make one it'll be because they think it's a viable opportunity to make money, not because a small minority fantasizes about one.

Cheers,
Matt

Quote:
A computer that I don't have to squint at for an hour on the bus on my way to work. I want a computer that I can touch and caress in order to see the things I want to see.

They've made one already. It's called the iPhone. Will there be a Mac Tablet? Who knows, but if Apple make one it'll be because they think it's a viable opportunity to make money, not because a small minority fantasizes about one.

Cheers,
Matt

tommy: Maybe a tablet with a screen perhaps bigger than 3.5"??

You spend more time telling us what's wrong with the Air (in your opinion, which I pretty much completely disagree with) and not enough time explaining what you really want, which is an entirely different beast.

As Marc points out, in addition to real hardware obstacles, the software to operate a tablet is a much bigger challenge, even for Apple.

Apple has done these:
1. I bought a MBA to work with my iMac at the office. It's superb.
2. I read the newspaper in two places. The kitchen over a morning coffee: the MBA comes with me. On the toilet (as someone else here said), my iPod Touch comes with me. It's a great read!

Andrew

I'm not really sold on a tablet. Apple should have released a UMPC with an 8.9" screen. Would have been useful to many more people than a squashed Macbook that fits in an envelope.

mayb ppls r forgetting that the MBA isnt designed to be a main computer...its designed for corporate types who do alot of word processing, internet work, spreadsheets, music, and 'low end' movie watching and mayb at a stretch movie making and a lot of travelling...get with the program!

I actually prefer using my better halfs MacBook Air to my MacBook Pro most times.

The only time that the MBP feels better is when it's being used on a desk, and that doesn't happen much since I got the iMac.

Oh... and for playing games the MBP is still the best mobile apple solution.

As an MBA user, one has to understand it's support role to a primary machine. In my case it's a 24inch iMac Aluminum. Paired together these things rock.

In reality, the supposed shortcomings of the Air just do not figure in real life use. I have not once felt like or needed to stick a DVD in the thing, and yet I have often benefited from just how light and useable it is.

It's just such a slick little unit, inside and out.

I think Apple know what to leave out sometimes, the MBA works. It's like a BMW convertible, not for everyone, but damn good at what it does. If you understand you are not buying a station wagon then you can appreciate that it does fulfill it's role very well.

One can't judge an Air from it's specs, you need to take one home for 2 weeks and use the thing, more likely than not you'll find it works real well.