Steve Jobs took the stage this morning at the Macworld Conference & Expo to exhort the Mac faithful and announce a handful of new products.
MacBook Air
The rumors were true. Steve Jobs unveiled Apple's latest portable, the $1,799 MacBook Air, which he called the "world's thinnest notebook." Dissing Sony's TX series, Jobs said that other subnotebook manufacturers inevitably compromise on the display, have mini-keyboards, and run too slowly due to heat issues.
MacBook Air
The rumors were true. Steve Jobs unveiled Apple's latest portable, the $1,799 MacBook Air, which he called the "world's thinnest notebook." Dissing Sony's TX series, Jobs said that other subnotebook manufacturers inevitably compromise on the display, have mini-keyboards, and run too slowly due to heat issues.
Specs:
- 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo
- 80GB 1.8" Hard Drive standard, optional 64GB solid-state drive
- 0.76" thick at thickest point, weighs 3lbs.
- 2GB RAM
- 5 hours of battery life
- $1,799 for 1.6GHz, 80GB HD model; $3,099 for 1.8GHz, 64GB SSD model
- Full aluminum case
The MacBook Air is silver, weighs 3 lbs. and has a wedge-shaped profile that's 0.76" thick at the fattest point and 0.16" thick at its thinnest point. There's a full-size keyboard, a 13.3" widescreen display with LED backlighting, and a built-in iSight. The keyboard has an ambient light sensor similar to that of the MacBook Pro, and the trackpad supports multitouch gestures for panning, zooming, and rotating.
On the hardware side, the MacBook Air comes standard with an 80GB 1.8" hard drive, with a 64GB solid-state drive available. It's powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo running at 1.6GHz, with an option for a 1.8GHz model. According to Jobs, the Core 2 Duo in the MacBook Air is 60 percent smaller than standard C2D CPUs.
There's no optical drive or Ethernet port on the MacBook Air. The new laptop only includes built-in 802.11n, USB, DVI, and a headphone jack. Software installations can be done remotely using "Remote Disk," which allows the MacBook Air to access the optical drive of a networked Mac or PC.
Jobs also touted the environmentally-friendly nature of the MacBook Air. It has a full aluminum case, which he said is "highly desired by recyclers," a bromide- and PVC-free motherboard, and the retail packaging takes less than 50 percent of the volume of the previous packaging.
View: Full Story @ ArsTechnica
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Link: MacBook Air - Home Page
Last edited by Steven on 15 Jan 2008 - 20:37
wow, thats low. not only its overpriced, but they also find another way to cheat a customer.
wow, thats low. not only its overpriced, but they also find another way to cheat a customer.
Well, seeing how they are not hiding this, they are in fact not cheating anyone
wow, thats low. not only its overpriced, but they also find another way to cheat a customer.
Well, seeing how they are not hiding this, they are in fact not cheating anyone
no they are simply scamming them.
On a serious note, sometimes with laptops it is required to remove the battery to solve problems...how the hell is that goign to work..and befroe you say it not just PC laptops..or for long trips when you need more battery life.. you can't just take a spare battery with you..
hell apple even recommends removing it under certian circumstances
http://www.apple.com/au/batteries/notebooks.html
It is a bit of a worry that they havent learnt their lesson on user replaceable batteries by now....
wow, thats low. not only its overpriced, but they also find another way to cheat a customer.
Well, seeing how they are not hiding this, they are in fact not cheating anyone
no they are simply scamming them.
On a serious note, sometimes with laptops it is required to remove the battery to solve problems...how the hell is that goign to work..and befroe you say it not just PC laptops..or for long trips when you need more battery life.. you can't just take a spare battery with you..
hell apple even recommends removing it under certian circumstances
http://www.apple.com/au/batteries/notebooks.html
It is a bit of a worry that they havent learnt their lesson on user replaceable batteries by now....
No, they're not scamming either, a scam would also be where its hidden, this is not hidden, you know it upfront and its your choice
wow, thats low. not only its overpriced, but they also find another way to cheat a customer.
Well, seeing how they are not hiding this, they are in fact not cheating anyone
no they are simply scamming them.
On a serious note, sometimes with laptops it is required to remove the battery to solve problems...how the hell is that goign to work..and befroe you say it not just PC laptops..or for long trips when you need more battery life.. you can't just take a spare battery with you..
hell apple even recommends removing it under certian circumstances
http://www.apple.com/au/batteries/notebooks.html
It is a bit of a worry that they havent learnt their lesson on user replaceable batteries by now....
No, they're not scamming either, a scam would also be where its hidden, this is not hidden, you know it upfront and its your choice
Yes you are absolutely correct. They are not scamming. They are just ripping you off.
agreed, the hardware in macs are just so far behind that of a pc
i can get alot more than that for 3 grand
maybe if i was one of them rich mac fanboys...
Last edited by X'tyfe on 15 Jan 2008 - 19:47
+1
Looks good..
but just found that it didnt have optical drive :-( (not a big issue though!
too much pricey :-(
no ethernet port either.. what if i want to transfer files FAST...
no ethernet port either.. what if i want to transfer files FAST...
no ethernet port either.. what if i want to transfer files FAST...
so that uses up the one and only USB port, so now i dont have USB port!!!
I'm not saying this is cheap, but compartively, it's cheaper.
I can't believe I said all this, I hate Apple...
I'm not saying this is cheap, but compartively, it's cheaper.
I can't believe I said all this, I hate Apple...
Apple also lied about the size of their one compared to others... Sony has one thinner then this
I'm not saying this is cheap, but compartively, it's cheaper.
I can't believe I said all this, I hate Apple...
Apple also lied about the size of their one compared to others... Sony has one thinner then this
Air
Intel Core2 Duo @ 1.6GHz
2GB RAM
80GB HD
No Optical
0.76" @ thickest
3 lbs
$1,799
TX
Intel Core Solo @ 1.2GHz
1GB RAM (Max 1.5 GB)
80GB HD
DVD+-RW
0.83-1.23"
2.84 lbs
$1,999
Apple standard RAM is higher than the maximum you can get for the TX, a much better CPU, and the Air is thinner/sleeker in profile. The sacrifice for the reduced size is no optical drive, which might be a deal-breaker for some people. The cost is also $200 less than the Sony TX list price.
Seems in roughly the same pricing ballpark, yet some lament the Apples as being "way overpriced". I'm not seeing it here.
Last edited by markjensen on 15 Jan 2008 - 20:23
I'm not saying this is cheap, but compartively, it's cheaper.
I can't believe I said all this, I hate Apple...
Apple also lied about the size of their one compared to others... Sony has one thinner then this
Link to what? watch the key notes when Jobs says the size of the smallest Sony laptop he didn't talk about the SMALLEST sony laptop... which is a tad bit thinner then the mac
I'm not saying this is cheap, but compartively, it's cheaper.
I can't believe I said all this, I hate Apple...
Apple also lied about the size of their one compared to others... Sony has one thinner then this
Link to what? watch the key notes when Jobs says the size of the smallest Sony laptop he didn't talk about the SMALLEST sony laptop... which is a tad bit thinner then the mac
Provide me with a link to the sony site, otherwise you fail.
I can't believe I'm defending a Mac... yikes
Last edited by tsupersonic on 15 Jan 2008 - 21:25
I'm not saying this is cheap, but compartively, it's cheaper.
I can't believe I said all this, I hate Apple...
Apple also lied about the size of their one compared to others... Sony has one thinner then this
Link to what? watch the key notes when Jobs says the size of the smallest Sony laptop he didn't talk about the SMALLEST sony laptop... which is a tad bit thinner then the mac
Provide me with a link to the sony site, otherwise you fail.
I can't believe I'm defending a Mac... yikes
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/65163
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/65163
And that, for a stab at a 0.01" thickness advantage. Better not set that on a piece of paper.
I take it your deal-finding persona drives one sweet ass Hyundai Pony!
The sad part is you probably think that's an insult.
Anyways, I always like to see Apple get caught fibbing. Just like the 'World's fastest PC' commercials they had to stop airing.
I take it your deal-finding persona drives one sweet ass Hyundai Pony!
Uh no I buy used cars
Last edited by neufuse on 15 Jan 2008 - 20:13
Last edited by FusionOpz on 15 Jan 2008 - 20:49
and get myself one of those..
sweeeet...
A white keyboard with an aluminum finish? Yuck!
A white keyboard with an aluminum finish? Yuck!
Thats exactly what the current Apple keyboards look like?
I agree, it would have looked much nicer with white keys.
This was probably the worst keynote for apple in a long time.
no 3g for iphone, Amazon beat them to the punch with movie rentals as did Netflix.
you got an upgraded Apple tv that no one wants anyway.
and the biggest announcement is a thin overpriced laptop.
This was probably the worst keynote for apple in a long time.
no 3g for iphone, Amazon beat them to the punch with movie rentals as did Netflix.
you got an upgraded Apple tv that no one wants anyway.
and the biggest announcement is a thin overpriced laptop.
Dont forget charging existing ipod touch users $20 to get stuff that is free for new owners even if they bought it yesterday! (heck in that case I'd return it and get a new one *LOL*)
But at that price, I'd rather be carrying around my MacBook Pro and burn a DVD wherever I want, without doing it wirelessly with another computer.
But at that price, I'd rather be carrying around my MacBook Pro and burn a DVD wherever I want, without doing it wirelessly with another computer.
A 3000 doallar "sub" notebook? I'd rather go get an EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEpc, as far as a "sub notebook" goes... and I can save oh... about 2,800 dollars.
How so? Both are "sub notebooks".. both have no optical drive... both have SSD... and yet... one is 2800+ more than the other. I know, I know... the Mac is more powerfull than the Eee PC, but is it worth 2800 dollars? Hell I could buy the Eee, another laptop, and build two desktops at the price of that thing.
edit:
just saw that it only has one usb port, that sucks, they should have had two atleast (eee has 3 which is pretty impressive)
Last edited by Shadow Dragon on 15 Jan 2008 - 22:32
btw a 32GB SSD costs $400 from newegg, I can only assume a 64gb would cost over $800. Why you are comparing that model to the EEE pc is beyond me (which has a 4GB ssd, worth what, $60?)
How so? Both are "sub notebooks".. both have no optical drive... both have SSD... and yet... one is 2800+ more than the other. I know, I know... the Mac is more powerfull than the Eee PC, but is it worth 2800 dollars? Hell I could buy the Eee, another laptop, and build two desktops at the price of that thing.
You can do that with the Sony as well, which is more expensive then the Apple
btw a 32GB SSD costs $400 from newegg, I can only assume a 64gb would cost over $800. Why you are comparing that model to the EEE pc is beyond me (which has a 4GB ssd, worth what, $60?)
Because it's a "sub-notebook" take that 800.. no, let's call it a 1000 dollars and upgrade the Eee with that SS drive. Ummm... a total of about... $1400 after all is said and done. IS that CLOSE to the 3 grand Apple wants? NOPE.
Just because you call both of them "sub notebooks" doesn't mean they are equivalent and should be the same price. Just because a bicycle and a car are both "transportation" doesn't mean they have the same performance and features, and should cost the same.
Just because you call both of them "sub notebooks" doesn't mean they are equivalent and should be the same price. Just because a bicycle and a car are both "transportation" doesn't mean they have the same performance and features, and should cost the same.
Mark, while I respect you AND your tech knowledge greatly... I don't think comparing a bike to a car is accurate in this case. More like... a Geo Storm to an Acura NSX. Both are cars.. and yet.. one is WAY better than the other. Sure you can put a new engine, exaust and ECM in the Geo and make it as fast as the NSX, but it will never be as good. That's why I compaired the Eee to the Air. I don't think the fetures of the Air are worth the price. For $299 you get something "similar" to the Air, granted not as powerfull or stylish. Yes no maybe so?
I like the idea of this Mac Air. I think it looks nice and has very good tech qualities, but it's not for me. Add a Super Drive to that setup, and I'd think it would be something to consider for less than two grand. Untill then, my next lappie is going to be.. a Mac Book. Only then, will I be legaly able to boot my four favorite OSes!
btw a 32GB SSD costs $400 from newegg, I can only assume a 64gb would cost over $800. Why you are comparing that model to the EEE pc is beyond me (which has a 4GB ssd, worth what, $60?)
rarely used by You maybe, i could not do a lot of work without an optical drive.. and a docking station makes the whole portable thing a joke, as a dockign station aint portable... i need to burn stufdf while i am away and onsite, not to mention when im a way i like to watch movies to pass the time, on planes in hotels etc etc
...
...
Some people won't let a little thing like logic get in their way
...
Some people won't let a little thing like logic get in their way
Yeah ok. Please show me where I'm wrong.
...
Some people won't let a little thing like logic get in their way
Yeah ok. Please show me where I'm wrong.
The two machines that you're comparing. It would be like comparing a low end eMachines, around the ballpark price of $200-$300, to a quad Xeon based Precision Workstation. Sure, they're both computers, but they are not on the same spec level.
...
Some people won't let a little thing like logic get in their way
Yeah ok. Please show me where I'm wrong.
The two machines that you're comparing. It would be like comparing a low end eMachines, around the ballpark price of $200-$300, to a quad Xeon based Precision Workstation. Sure, they're both computers, but they are not on the same spec level.
YES I KNOW THAT! I'm saying the DIFFERENCE DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE HIGHER PRICE!!
but at least they are trying to do something new and cool
cant say the same for others!
also how uses optical drives?!!! its USB external HDD's and flash!! we all download stuff now!
Last edited by neufuse on 15 Jan 2008 - 20:59
but at least they are trying to do something new and cool
cant say the same for others!
also how uses optical drives?!!! its USB external HDD's and flash!! we all download stuff now! !
wierd the amount of PC users that come out and say "I hate Apple" thats as strange as people coming out and saying "I love apple" Its just a company, you either like or not like its products. MS has done a lot of dodgy stuff in the past, but can't say I'd waste any thought on hating them, they have good things and bad things.
This Air, quite nice, but it, like the iPhone is too compromissed, so if I was going to spend that money on a Apple laptop I'd get a Mac Book Pro for the price. The price as mentioned I don't think it is too bad when compared to other ultra portables, but..... until I see it in real life, I prefer the Sony Ultraportable, the Airs should maybe have had more then one option, the 13" down to a 11" screen, now that AND a 11" screen I might have being tempted.
Last edited by neufuse on 15 Jan 2008 - 20:59
p.s. he probably edited the quote part, if you hadent noticed he edited the top one too....
Last edited by whocares78 on 16 Jan 2008 - 01:33
He edited the post you responded to. You quoted it, so he had to edit yours, too.
(I had to edit this just because everyone else is doing it.)
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 16 Jan 2008 - 03:58
I'll wait and see what other companies come out with.
I'll wait and see what other companies come out with.
No, costly, but not overpriced compared to similar manufacturers sub notebooks, the sony is more expensive.
I'll wait and see what other companies come out with.
No, costly, but not overpriced compared to similar manufacturers sub notebooks, the sony is more expensive.
Interesting... what about the Asus EEEPC? Kinda close, sub notebook, no optical drive... but how much is the EEEPC? $299... how much is the Mac Book Air? STARTS AT $1799. Not overpriced? Oh you want the SSD... starting at $3098!! WOW!!! You're SOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT!!! THAT'S NOT OVER PRICED!!! THAT'S A ****ING RIP OFF!!
I'll wait and see what other companies come out with.
No, costly, but not overpriced compared to similar manufacturers sub notebooks, the sony is more expensive.
Interesting... what about the Asus EEEPC? Kinda close, sub notebook, no optical drive... but how much is the EEEPC? $299... how much is the Mac Book Air? STARTS AT $1799. Not overpriced? Oh you want the SSD... starting at $3098!! WOW!!! You're SOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT!!! THAT'S NOT OVER PRICED!!! THAT'S A ****ING RIP OFF!!
THEN WHAT ABOUT THE BLOODY SONY, COME ONE?????????????????????????
I'll wait and see what other companies come out with.
No, costly, but not overpriced compared to similar manufacturers sub notebooks, the sony is more expensive.
Interesting... what about the Asus EEEPC? Kinda close, sub notebook, no optical drive... but how much is the EEEPC? $299... how much is the Mac Book Air? STARTS AT $1799. Not overpriced? Oh you want the SSD... starting at $3098!! WOW!!! You're SOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT!!! THAT'S NOT OVER PRICED!!! THAT'S A ****ING RIP OFF!!
THEN WHAT ABOUT THE BLOODY SONY, COME ONE?????????????????????????
I wouldn't buy that POS either. I only have one laptop, it's a Compaq and it's not fast.. but it only cost me $599. My 3 other PCs, I built myself. Later this year I am looking at the Mac Book only because I want to quad boot OS X, Ubuntu, XP and Vista. Makes for one nice all-in-one machine.