[samanthalueus]

http://blogs.computerworld.com/anoth...killer_emerges

you read that right, 3600$ for less than what you get with the MBA

[Rapiddude]

Gimme the Macbook any day - one reason MacOS [thumbup] So what if it's megabucks, no stupid activation software, considerably less security risks / viri / trojans written for Leopard (yes it's not immune but a hella lot better!), etc..

[yes]

[Mboxmaja]

Are you joking? The $3000 version includes a DVD burner, weighs about 30% less and the $3600 version weighs half of the Air...

[Rapiddude]

Are you joking? The $3000 version includes a DVD burner, weighs about 30% less and the $3600 version weighs half of the Air...

Nope, I'm not joking.. Seen the video with the 'Touchpad'? It's about time more manufacturers started getting an imagination again as it seems that technology these days is rather stagnent apart from the odd product nowadays. Mind you, Apples touchpad idea will no doubt be copied which is usually the case with good ideas...

Edit: Also, I wouldn't need a DVD burner as I've one in my Desktop and if I wanted to burn anything I'd just copy onto my NAS

[samanthalueus]

Are you joking? The $3000 version includes a DVD burner, weighs about 30% less and the $3600 version weighs half of the Air...

Doesn't come with a SSD disk, so it is up against the 1800$ MBA.

So it is 1200$ for a smaller screen, slower CPU a DVD-Burner and 40 GB more HD space.


Also battery life isn't stated, which is a big factor (infact, the most important one in a recent survey).

[tweriaroats]

Are you joking? The $3000 version includes a DVD burner, weighs about 30% less and the $3600 version weighs half of the Air...

And is 600mhz slower with a 12 inch screen and looks like a tractor...

[samanthalueus]

Also the MBA is Aluminium, which I would say is a lot nicer than plastic even if it adds a bit to the weight (but at the 3 pound mark, less weight isn't really needed)

[exeftWabreava]

Screw the MacBook Air. It is an obvious flop. Far too many limitations. I'd take my hackable, more customizable, much lighter and FAR CHEAPER, Asus EEE pc any day.

This is coming from an avid supporter of the excellent OSX and an owner of the current IMAC. It is an amazing company but this seems like the re-release of the G4 Cube.

[Skete]

I own multiple Apple machines and really like the direction they have gone with their latest lines, except for the MacBook Air. While it is a very nice looking piece of hardware and has some great features like the LED backlit screen, multiple input trackpad, incredibly slim design, etc. I just don't see it making its mark in the area of ultra-portables. It does make a nice gap filler between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro I just think it might be too much of a compromise for most consumers.

[tweriaroats]

I own multiple Apple machines and really like the direction they have gone with their latest lines, except for the MacBook Air. While it is a very nice looking piece of hardware and has some great features like the LED backlit screen, multiple input trackpad, incredibly slim design, etc. I just don't see it making its mark in the area of ultra-portables. It does make a nice gap filler between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro I just think it might be too much of a compromise for most consumers.

Most people really wanted this, didn't they?

[Skete]

Well, I think the best gap they could have filled is an aluminum cased tablet.

[BebopVT]

Call me crazy, but my thoughts are... Apple just killed the optical drive.

The more I think about it the more I think Apple is way ahead of everyone else.

[Green_Monkey23]

Call me crazy, but my thoughts are... Apple just killed the optical drive.

The more I think about it the more I think Apple is way ahead of everyone else.

I'm all for the killing of legacy components but killing a drive all together, how do you get data on it? You can't even rip your CD's to iTunes with it if you want. You have to rip them elsewhere, then transport them via a network connection or external storage like USB drives or external hard drives. Throw a BR/DVD/CD combo drive in there.

[BebopVT]

I'm all for the killing of legacy components but killing a drive all together, how do you get data on it? You can't even rip your CD's to iTunes with it if you want. You have to rip them elsewhere, then transport them via a network connection or external storage like USB drives or external hard drives. Throw a BR/DVD/CD combo drive in there.

Well thats just it, you can plug in an external drive if need be, but that need is gonna be less and less as time passes. Right now it seems crazy, but when you really think about it? .... not so much, again call me crazy.

[mikajuise]

Well thats just it, you can plug in an external drive if need be, but that need is gonna be less and less as time passes. Right now it seems crazy, but when you really think about it? .... not so much, again call me crazy.

For the things it lacks your going to end up spending more on stuff to use it.
[surrender]
I am not a mac pro by any means but isn't there software that requires you keep the disc in the drive while in use?

[Equackasous]

you can borrow another computer's disk drives through software with a macbook air.

[samanthalueus]

Call me crazy, but my thoughts are... Apple just killed the optical drive.

The more I think about it the more I think Apple is way ahead of everyone else.

That actually depends on the quality of Apple TV. For PCs, Optical drives are going to stay.

[Mboxmaja]

Doesn't come with a SSD disk, so it is up against the 1800$ MBA.

So it is 1200$ for a smaller screen, slower CPU a DVD-Burner and 40 GB more HD space.


Also battery life isn't stated, which is a big factor (infact, the most important one in a recent survey).

My point was that they are completely different notebooks for different uses. I wouldn't want one without an optical drive, hence the Air is definitely a no-no for me, and the weight does put me off, but I am sure there are people that prefer the Air's features. Saying that it's a wannabe macbook air killer is plain simply stupid.

[Skete]

For the things it lacks your going to end up spending more on stuff to use it.
[surrender]
I am not a mac pro by any means but isn't there software that requires you keep the disc in the drive while in use?

All of the big software suites like Final Cut Studio 2, Logic, Aperture, the iLife bundle etc. don't require the disc to be in the drive. Come to think of it the only software I can think of that needs the disc in the drive is games, which has never been a strong suit of Apple and I don't see anyone considering an Air for mobile gaming.

[mikajuise]

All of the big software suites like Final Cut Studio 2, Logic, Aperture, the iLife bundle etc. don't require the disc to be in the drive. Come to think of it the only software I can think of that needs the disc in the drive is games, which has never been a strong suit of Apple and I don't see anyone considering an Air for mobile gaming.

Ah ok.