So is that new thin Mac really any better....

[WCGreen]

Or is it just a really thin cool looking thing for people to look cool when they WiFi at the local Starbucks...

Just curious...

Cause it that's all it is, then it really is all about the looks, the neat factor, the OMG, he's so cool he has one of those thin mac's...

I wish to bear his child...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I suspect the electronics are just getting better...

And the laptop will be lighter to carry around...

Those babies can get heavy!

Sex appeal always sells too...;-)

[Initech]

2. No, they just want people to buy shit on iTunes.

I figured out why the Macbook Air has no CD drive and that is it.

[boilerbabe]

11. are you kidding me? it has no cd drive??

don't even bother buying that then! You have to have at least a cd drive!!! That's like having arms but no legs? OK, that was not the best way to put it...What the heck, we had a computer at work that had no cd drive, and we had to get rid of it. I keep finding that the older systems want me to use the "A" drive, and my new laptop doesn't have it, that 's bad enough...

I have an account with ITunes, and my brother tells me that I am totally stupid...it's probably true, since I don't own an ipod. Just paranoid about downloads. So if you know of a good download service which is legitamate, please fill me in!

[boilerbabe]

12. oh, yeah, my other theory is this..

they want to keep it "skinny", so it has like no internal organs. I heard that you can get some of your ribs taken out surgically so you can be skinny (I would like to find a cheaper way, like do a bunch of speed and starve)...

Got this new laptop at WallyMart a couple of weeks ago...it's small screen, works just fine (unfortunately, it's windows vista, can't get around it now, there's no choice!) but it's small, easy to tote around, probably takes up just about the same amount of space, and it looks cool!! It's an ACER 4520. Has just about as much memory (if not more) than my Dell desktop computer. Check it out! I got it on sale for $500.00...have been setting up wireless networks all over the place. Am hoping to get around a little better in Vista, as I am also taking online courses to get a degree in I.T. Wish me luck!!

Check out the ACER if you are into portability, looks (it's a nice shiny black computer, ..sexy!) and functionality! Right now I am actually using this as a laptop, literally. I can burn cds, have already set up 2 wireless networks with very few problems, and am planning on traveling and using this to access my online school. It does not have a thingy to tell me not to drink too many beers before proceeding. Oh well, can't have everything. But I would recommend this to anyone that doesn't want to spend a million $$ on a laptop. I would have never bought one, either. Graphics are very clear and colorful. Haven't tried music videos yet, can't tell you how that is...but it does sound ok if you are playing music and have headphones in...

let me know if you actually buy an ACER and how you like it. I am not a sales person, got better things to do...

XXXOOO
Jo-lee

[mondo joe]

14. CD drives are the way of the past.

And if you are buying one of these babies to burn CDs it's kinda silly.

[laconicsax]

3. I'd say it's about as much of an improvement as Vista is over XP.

[WCGreen]

6. In other words it is worse....

Let me have my XP, thank you very much...

Sometimes I think they tinker around the edges in order to make obsolete in the minds of consumers what is still perfectly usable in a utilitarian way...

[laconicsax]

8. I wouldn't say that Vista is worse than XP

It certainly isn't any better, but when I look back at XP before SP2, Vista works about the same, only flashier.

As for the MacBook Air, it's little more than a big iPhone that you can't make calls on.

[Omphaloskepsis]

10. Get back to me when I can run Final Cut Pro or Photoshop on a iPhone.

[Kutjara]

4. Depends what it's used for.

It's not a replacement for a MacBook or a MacBook Pro, and certainly no substitute for a desktop machine. It is, however, an excellent tool for people who need to access the Net, use email and productivity applications, listen to music, watch video, make presentations, and generally do businessy sorts of things. It's very thin and light, so it's a pleasure to travel with.

If you need to do heavy duty video editing or other processor-intensive activities, this is not the machine for you. It's basically the same spec as the base-level MacBook Pro from two years ago (disregarding the SSD drive), so it's hardly cutting edge in terms of performance.

[WCGreen]

5. But is it more expensive than th MacBook pro...

[Kutjara]

7. The hard disk version is a bit cheaper.

The cheapest MBA is $1800, while the cheapest MBP is $2000. Of course, it's probably better to compare the performance of the MBA with the MacBook model range (rather than the Pro range). The MacBook still outperforms the MBA, but it starts at $1100, so you are definitely paying a premium for the MBA's sexy shape.

The top of the range MBA includes a solid state drive (basically flash memory) in place of a hard drive, but the $3000 price tag on that is out of most people's ranges. For that money, you could have a fully specced, top of the range MBP, and still have a couple of hundred bucks to spare.

[boilerbabe]

9. It does look cool

Don't know anything else about it...I would not want to bear Steve Job's child unless he fully funded me haha. He would not want to inseminate me either, I'm sure! He has a lot of better choices than this...(ok, you don't need me to go on...)

It sure does look nifty...just got a new laptop at WallyMart (sorry I went against the consumer aggregate, neccessity brings me..). it is very small, but the most unfortunate thing is that I had no choice but to have Windows Vista as my operating system.

Now as to the advantages of having a very slim wicked cool looking laptop? Let me count the ways! Am not familiar with the Apple operating system (last time I used Apple was in the '80s..was considered the best as far as graphics, the rest is "long story")I also have "I-Tunes" but no "I-pod" ..though right about now, am having just about as much fun trying to get my new Vista in line. I plan on getting a tetanus shot just to have a "control" item to compare to all of this new technology they are trying to cram down our throats. I would love to hear from others who have braved the cell phone universe to tell me how they like the new i-phone also.

After all that, (sorry so long), my thing is that I am afraid to stray away from Microsoft (that must be a planned marketing thing), so if you get an Apple com;puter, be prepared for those who would attempt to thwart you. But if you dare, just go for it! I would love to own a nice skinny laptop like that!! Otherwise, if you want a cheap,small screen laptop that works just fine..here's what I just got at Wallymart a couple of weeks ago...

Acer Aspire 4520
has a built in webcam, dolby sound (get headphones otherwise it's shit..)
14.1' screen (ggod enough for sitting on a plane)
It has great resolution, and a built in webcam (tried that, I looked like shit, so didn;t tell anyone I had it!)
etc...got it for $500.00

Am totally happy with this laptop, just having a hard time getting used to Vista...which if you buy any Windows based computer, you probably have NO choice!! I would be afraid to try Apple, though you would do better with it..just remember that the Microsoft Demons will always make it hard for you!!

[mondo joe]

13. It's a wonderful thing if it meets your needs and budget. NT

[meegbear]

15. It's a Mac notebook but ...

There is only a CD reader/player, no DVD R/W
There is only 1 USB port
There is no Ethernet jack, so wireless only

While one can argue the necessities of the above, one should keep them in mind before purchasing.

[Chovexani]

16. It's a tool to separate yuppie hipsters from their money.

And I say this as a long time Machead. Airs are useless if you want to do any actual computing on them.

Steve is a fucking genius. The man could stick bread in a sexy package, call it iBread, and make a fortune.

[mondo joe]

17. Hm, I am having to prevent my partner from getting one.

To be fair, he travels all the time, and has never burned a CD in his life.

No reasoned argument can stop him. I must hide the money in buried mayonnaise jars so he can't afford it.

[Crabby Appleton]

18. I wouldn't have read this if I knew it was about computers

thought "thin Mac" was a new hamburger offering at McD's.