Apple MacBook Air review- CAN A LAPTOP BE TOO THIN?

TechWorld UK ^ | 23 Jan 2008 | By Ryan Faas

[Swordmaker]

Macbook Air review from Great Britain... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[doc1019]

Can a women be too beautiful? Can a champion horse be to graceful?

[blu]

When I first saw this new ultra-thin Macbook, I was almost regretting my post-Christmas purchase of my Pro. I’m used to my little iBook, it really did fit in my purse! Then, when I really thought about it, I realized I would probably break such a little thing!

Not that I’m rough on laptops, and I certainly don’t let the grandkids use my new one (they get the old ones to play on), but I take my computer a lot of places...which is, I’m sure, the major draw of the Air. However, how flimsy is it? I mean, if a large dog or an inattentive spouse forgot it was sitting on the passenger seat and sat on it, would it break? Would it survive a fall onto the deck? (Hey, does Letterman still do that thing where he tosses stuff off a building?)

But the real reason I’m glad I made my Pro choice....the dvd player! No more schlepping a DVD player AND my laptop thru security at 5-6 airports! Only one item to pull out of the carry-on! So, I get the criticism about not having any kind of drive on it. I’m trying to get away from peripherals, not have to buy new ones!

[Spktyr]

Who watches DVDs on a laptop?

The hard drive is a much more efficient user of power. Rip the DVDs to the hard drive, and you can still watch your movies - only you can carry more.

[blu]

Rip the DVDs to the hard drive,

Ah, but master, I'm still learning. I make myself do something new every weekend, and this weekend is for DVD burning. But first, I must finish watching Jericho...on the laptop, in the office, where I can smoke and watch movies. It's the only smoking room in the house.

[Richard Kimball]

It sounded like a fair review. The Air has a lot of advantages. I used to do sales, and one of the biggest issues is not letting your sales tools get in the way. There's nothing to make a bad impression like walking in to make a sale with two suitcases and a dozen manuals. This would be perfect to store all that stuff in digital format. It would be like walking in with a small portfolio. If I was doing outside sales in a high end environment, this would be a serious contender.

The no dvd thing tells me it's not supposed to be the only computer. For movies, I suspect they expect you to download them from iTunes. I also think that the one USB port states pretty plainly that if you need more than one, you get a hub. It may not be in Europe, but in the US, ethernet is dying, and wifi is in.

[antiRepublicrat]

However, how flimsy is it? I mean, if a large dog or an inattentive spouse forgot it was sitting on the passenger seat and sat on it, would it break?

It's an all-aluminum enclosure, probably pretty tough.

[antiRepublicrat]

This space-saving design prevents users from carrying multiple batteries and simply swapping in a fresh one when needed.

True, simply swapping is out of the question. You can't put a big-enough quickly-swappable battery in something that small. But it only takes a minute to replace it using a screwdriver.

[Swordmaker]

Not that I’m rough on laptops, and I certainly don’t let the grandkids use my new one (they get the old ones to play on), but I take my computer a lot of places...which is, I’m sure, the major draw of the Air. However, how flimsy is it? I mean, if a large dog or an inattentive spouse forgot it was sitting on the passenger seat and sat on it, would it break? Would it survive a fall onto the deck? (Hey, does Letterman still do that thing where he tosses stuff off a building?)

I handled one at Macworld... they even let me try to bend it. It seems as strong as my Macbook Pro.

[Old Flat Toad]

“-and living without no CD drive-”

(Shakes head and walks out of the dealership)

[Prophet in the wilderness]

But aluminum can still bend.

[SunkenCiv]

living without no CD drive and only one USB slot

This is just some nitpicking, but really, "living without no"? Anyway...

Apple also included a mercury- and arsenic-free LED backlit display. The display packs a lot of brightness and clarity that really has to be seen to believed - it may be one of the best laptop displays ever created. Its immediate full brightness is a nice feature, though the real value comes in the power savings when compared with traditional laptop displays... The MacBook Air has a full-size keyboard that supports ambient light sensors and backlighting, the same 13.3-in. screen size used in the MacBook line, and low power to reduce heat and conserve juice.

Let's see, what do we use for more hours of the day, an optical burner, or the keyboard and display? Hmm, let me think. :') Sounds like Apple did this right.

[SunkenCiv]

Firewire didn’t appear on one of the latest iPods, if memory serves. Sounds like Firewire is goin’ bye-bye.

[SunkenCiv]

1394a and 1394b (Firewireâ„¢)
http://focus.ti.com/analog/docs/gencontent.tsp?familyId=361&genContentId=32541
In 1995, Texas Instruments pioneered the introduction of 1394 in the consumer electronics market with the first 1394 silicon in a digital camcorder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FireWire

IEEE 1394 has been adopted as the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual) component communication and control[1]. FireWire is also available in wireless, fiber optic, and coaxial versions using the isochronous protocols. Wireless FireWire is being integrated into the WiMedia Alliance’s WiMedia Ultra-Wideband (UWB) standard. Almost all modern digital camcorders have included this connection since 1995.

What is a Firewire to USB Adapter?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-firewire-to-usb-adapter.htm

Firewire (IEEE 1394) and USB (Universal Serial Bus) are two separate high-speed bus technologies that allow multiple devices to be connected to a computer. The two technologies are not integrated, and it is not possible to connect a USB device to a Firewire port either directly or through the use of a Firewire to USB adapter.

[dayglored]

> "...does that mean that it's the perfect portable Mac for everyone? Probably not... Several factors may limit its overall effect on the market...

* sigh *

Silly writer. Apples are not for everyone.

Like ALL Apple products, this new portable was never intended to be "perfect for everyone". Apple designs products for those who want something OUTSIDE the norm. Those who want to push the envelope and take risks.

Most people to do not want to take risks, like foregoing a built-in optical drive, or Firewire. Or especially wired Ethernet. Yet risks are what advance the market!

Tech writers predicted the Fall of Western Civilization when the original Mac used a 3-1/2" floppy instead of a 5-1/4". And again when Apple removed the floppy drive. This is no different. Steve is asking people to take risks again, for the sake of advancing the market. Why are writers surprised???

If Apple were designing a product that was "perfect for everyone", they'd have the same old boring mush that the other manufacturers put out.

[jalisco555]

Perfect machine for my wife who will use it at home or her office or classroom. She’s been begging for something smaller and lighter than her 15” Powerbook. And I can borrow it when I go on the road to give presentations. I’m tired of lugging my 17” Powerbook around airports.

[NoCountryForLiberals]

They look kind of fragile to me. I need a sturdy laptop that can take getting bumped around a bit.

[jalisco555]

Who watches DVDs on a laptop?

My wife and I often do, especially when the kids and their friends are using the good TV with the surround sound. My home is the local Teen Central, so having an alternate way to watch movies is appreciated.

[antiRepublicrat]

But aluminum can still bend.

Depends on the type and the shape. It can be made quite strong and light.