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Why notebook PC makers will be happy about the MacBook Air
When Steve Jobs stepped up to the podium at Macworld earlier this week, I’m sure notebook PC makers were -- how can this politely be expressed? -- demonstrating signs of trepidation. Today, they’re going to be a lot calmer. Calmer and happy too.
Apple has done an amazing job on the PC industry ever since Jobs’ return. For once, the term "messianic" might be appropriate, or as close as it ever becomes in terms of technology. Where Apple had not executed in the Jobs 2.0 era was in mobile computing where its products often looked heavy and unwieldy. Little wonder that most of us expected a subnotebook that would offer a truly portable alternative for rail commuters and others who need something that really does sit comfortably on the lap rather than perch like a suitcase on beer pump. We were expecting something wonderful, disruptive and market making
The MacBook ain’t it.
With a 13.3in screen, this is a device that sits halfway between what I would have thought would be the two main target audiences. Hard-core graphics workers will lament the lack of an even larger display and feel that processor and RAM options are limited. Generalists will wonder why they need such an unusual mixture of lightweight product and full-size format.
Adding to the list of caveats, there will be big concerns about external optical drives, lack of fixed Ethernet, and the sole USB port. OK, so you can buy add-in extras but this is a specification that has “compromise” written through it like Blackpool rock. It is also a product that screams like a catwalk vamp about Apple's old failure -- a preference for style over substance.
Both sets of users will be thinking long and hard about the price. The US sticker is harsh enough but the UK tariff is just abusive. Whatever happened to the special relationship, you guys?
Apple has been on a golden run for a long time and the MacBook Air would appear to have redeeming features interms of its trackpad and screen. But this is product would appear to be more iScrewedup than iPhone.
Woe is me, another PC user that sees Apple adopt a sensible minimalist approach to products that should be sensible and minimalist and instantly dismiss them as style over substance without thinking enough to look through the style at the substance behind. The Macbook Air is not a product for everyone, sure, it it targetted at the ultralight/subnotebook niche. And in that niche it is among the most powerful, lightest, thinnest, most ergonically designed machines around. It comprimises on physical features by stripping away the unnecessary and bumping the necessary - processor speed, wireless, RAM, screen, keyboard. What else do you need for a lightweight machine? Maybe a couple of things, sure, but the Air is priced competitively, so these things can be added as bolt ons, and thereby suit all customers without loading them up with crap that they don't need.
The Air excels at what it aims to do, and sets a new bar for PC notebook makers to strive to beat, as they inevitably will attempt by adding superfluous nonsense like untold legacy ports, drives, and their own brand of comprimise - user experience, something that Apple does, and has always, excelled at.
Posted by :Adam | January 31, 2008 11:54 AM
I agree entirely if only the screen was bigger and the thing was that snow white colour or black annodised aliminium, the keyboard is a bit naff anyhow I will not be buying one might just go for the imac 24" and the tiny snow white coloured mac ibook as well. Could have been brilliant instead its compromised, it does have DVI port which can be conected to the Apple Screens sized 20" & 23" only
that however its a saving grace along with the WIFI.
Posted by :Chris | January 18, 2008 11:40 AM
I whole heartedly agree with your review, however its written, it appears, from the slant of someone who would look to buy a Laptop PC before they looked at a Mac. yes for the cost, spec, and design, to a PC user, this product is, design over substance. However to a mac user, this is liquid gold, and they will love it. Because they are a different beast, an animal looking for an alternative feast, not the usual meal of the Serengeti. Look at the iPhone, the list of real world faults is as long as the List of Newcastle managers over the last few years, but they still go out, and buy it. Why, because at its basic level, its a cool product. With a WOW interface, and some groovy tricks. and the fact it doesn't take videos, use 3G like a Nokia or Siemens phone, well.. thats neither hear nor there really is it.. and did you notice, didn't mention Vista or OSX once, because its got nothing to do with the Os anymore..
Posted by :David Field | January 18, 2008 9:19 AM
Who needs an optical drives these days? I mean seriously, high-speed internet, USB memory stick or drive, shared drives over WAN or on remote PCs... downloading ISO's over the web and using MagicDisc to mimick a drive...
But anyway, i'm glad Apple is leading the way. If it wasn't for them, well...
Posted by :Natasha26 | January 18, 2008 1:04 AM
What ever happend to the 10 and 12 inch screens that the iBooks originally had?
3 words:
Asus Eee / Cloudbook
These are truly portable, great for trains too. Perhaps the 220 pound price is a big pull over other small laptop prices.
Posted by :Nigel Stoner | January 17, 2008 10:15 PM
Unfortunately you have not done your market research.
Writing this on a Vaio TX2, not entirely dissimilar in concept to the Air, I can say that I almost never use the inbuilt DVD nor ethernet. Also the a 0.8/1.2GHz processor is actually sufficient for my needs...
Posted by :Greg | January 17, 2008 9:07 PM
"rather than perch like a suitcase on beer pump" - What a metaphor!
Posted by :Andrew Jaques | January 17, 2008 10:51 AM
I have two things to say about this article.
1. The writer is a PC user. Optical drives and USB ports remind me of floppy discs and serial ports. Only PC people talk about such things.
2. The writer should proof read his work, grammatical genocide could and should be avoided.
Posted by :Steve | January 17, 2008 8:54 AM
Lack of Performance?!?!?!?
The sony tz is the next nearest competitor to this amazing product and it has a 1.2 GHZ processor and is the same price and less memory and resolution etc.
and it LOOKS UGLY!!!
Posted by :Anonymous | January 16, 2008 7:57 PM
I give it another day before you have the mac fan boys threatening your mum ! lol
"a preference for style over substance"
Very true !
Posted by :david | January 16, 2008 7:15 PM