[starman]

Looks good! 64 GB SSD option!

.16" to .76" thick. Wow!

[slugslugslug]

Looks friggin awesome. I'm glad they went with the choice of 1.8" HD or SSD. Scared to see the price (probably up as soon as I post this).

[skacoreimplore]

im waiting on a few more things...

-price of macbook air
-will there be an update on the macbook pros
-video card of MB air

[TheoCryst]

Don't count on anything more than Intel graphics.

[Mrjinglesusa]

MacBook Air is the stupidest name Apple has ever come up with.

[slugslugslug]

$1799, available for pre-order now, shipping in 2 weeks.

[slugslugslug]

Other cool details:
- Ships w/2 GB RAM
- 2 ways of dealing w/no optical:
-- $99 USB SuperDrive (decent price, eh?)
-- Remote Disk lets you use optical from another Mac or PC
- new multitouch features on trackpad
- 5 hrs battery!
- backlit MacBook-style keyboard
- seems like Intel designed this chip for Apple (though I'm sure they'll sell it to other PC makers eventually)

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

MacBook Air is the stupidest name Apple has ever come up with.

I hated the whole MacBook idea when they introduced the MacBook Pro. But then and now, the actual product seems to cool to make me care.

[skacoreimplore]

It seems really nice, but not for me

I'm hoping there is an update in the MBP line!

[Andy8]

Yummy

[Dork.]

The price with the 64 GB Flash is over $3K!

I am definitely getting one of these..... used, in 2 years, once the price goes down

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by skacoreimplore 

It seems really nice, but not for me

I'm hoping there is an update in the MBP line!

Same here, but I doubt it. Oh well, this means I can go tomorrow and pick up a new MacBook Pro without worrying.

[Chongo]

The Ad
Apple - MacBook Air

[Dork.]

No embedded numeric keypad on this one, either.

[mdc]

At first I didn't think it would work for me since I need ethernet here at work, but for $29 you can get a USB ethernet port. Now I running WhatSize to see if it's possible to be limited to 80gb.

I think the harddrive size is going to be my deciding factor. I would love to buy one, but I don't know if I can have 80gb.

[olePigeon]

Ok what the f*ck? An integrated battery? Screw that. I'm never buyin a laptop with an integrated battery. That's just flat out stupid.

[slugslugslug]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Same here, but I doubt it. Oh well, this means I can go tomorrow and pick up a new MacBook Pro without worrying.

No it doesn't. I can't remember the specifics, but I know Apple has released minor updates to Macs from 2-4 weeks after the keynote. And given that pretty much every other computer maker has put new Penryn chips in their laptops, the MBPs are going to have to get that upgrade soon. I'd be really surprised if we didn't see refreshed MBPs by mid-February.

Originally Posted by mdc 

..Now I running WhatSize to see if it's possible to be limited to 80gb.

I think the harddrive size is going to be my deciding factor. I would love to buy one, but I don't know if I can have 80gb.

I was thinking for a second that they should've had a 160-GB option, but then I realized that those drives are dual-platter and a tiny bit thicker than the 80s. It seems entirely plausible that the Air's case is engineered so tightly that it can only use a single-platter 1.8" HDD. I thought I remember hearing that 120-GB single-platter models were on their way from someone, but I guess they didn't make it in time for the first version of the MBA.

[lpkmckenna]

Awesome machine. I think this might be the one for me.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Intel Core 2 Duo processor
2GB memory
64GB solid-state hard drive
Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi2 and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Ships: 2-3 weeks
Free Shipping
$3,098.00

That is INSANE.

[mdc]

slugslugslug, I agree about the 160gb option. A friend and I were talking about it and it's probably the size of the 160gb that stopped them from putting it in the Air.

A friend had a good idea about using one of the Western Digital Passport drives (which I have a 120gb) and using that for iPhoto libraries and other things that aren't critical to have on the MacBook at all times.

I'm interested in seeing some benchmarks for everyday usage on the 1.6 with 80gb drive.

[jaimem]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

MacBook Air is the stupidest name Apple has ever come up with.

agreed!

[skacoreimplore]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

That is INSANE.

Or as Stevie J would say, its unbelievable!

[slugslugslug]

Seems to have only one SO-DIMM slot. Wonder if/when 4GB DDR2 sticks will come out.

[ChrisB]

Does anyone here remember the PowerBook Duo days?

Since portability is that game here, and thinness is part of this class of product, that means that:

No optical drive is thin enough - that's not Apple's fault. They don't manufacture the optical drives.

Ports take up motherboard space, and demand a certain level of thickness

A removable battery can't be made thin enough - it's not possible yet.

You can't fit anything more than the integrated graphics onto this motherboard - space is an issue.

There isn't room (height really) for upgradable RAM slots, so it must be permanently placed on the motherboard

Again, because of height, a 2.5inch HD can't fit. It sucks that 1.8 inch drives aren't faster, but what do you expect.

Apple's goal was to create an ultraportable that fits the class specs. Just like the PowerBook Duo's did, this one meets the goals, and does it pretty well.

- They gave us a Core 2 Duo chip instead of single core, way to go! 1.6GHz and 1.8GHz is nothing to complain about
- We get the same Intel 3100 GMA as the MacBook - not bad
- 2GB of RAM standard - great!
- 80GB hard drive, great, could be better, but for cost effectiveness, anything larger would add more a of a premium price
- Same size 13.3 inch screen with LED backlit technology - great
- LED backlit keyboard - awesome
- We can still get an optical drive, just like the PowerBook Duos, and the price is very reasonable
- Video out, USB, and full wireless - great - it would be great to have 2 ports, but that's ok. You can add ethernet if you want via USB, not a bad way to do it

Only thing really missing is a dock - but that might be coming with Apple's recent patent filing

$1799 isn't a bad starting price for this class of product. Plus remember, Apple hasn't had one of these notebooks out for YEARS, so this is a safe price to gauge demand. The more sales, the more they can lower margins and give us a better price and more features.

Way to go Apple! Freaking awesome! This is exciting.

[ChrisB]

Go check prices - Newegg has a 128GB SSD for $3000ish - so $64GB for $999 is a good price. You need to do some market research. That's a fair, and good price.

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by ChrisB 

Go check prices - Newegg has a 128GB SSD for $3000ish - so $64GB for $999 is a good price. You need to do some market research. That's a fair, and good price.

64 GB of flash for $999 is reasonable. In fact, it's more than reasonable. I'd wager that Intel is making these for Apple, and that Apple is getting a good deal on them....

[Eug]

So, no target mode anymore?

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

MacBook Air is the stupidest name Apple has ever come up with.

No. That would be Airport Extreme and Quartz Extreme, and maybe MacBook Pro.


EDIT:

You can't replace the battery yourself. Ouch.

MacBook Air: non-user-replaceable battery - MacFixIt

[jaydon34]

While I love the style, its stii gives me no reason to sell my macbook pro and run out and get one of these. I feel like apple tried to enter the sub-notebook market but the price point is way too high. Instead of this impulse buy looks like I will be purchasing an 2nd generation EEE pc from asus and leaving the macbook pro at home.

P.S. - It is a dumb name sounds like a pair of outdated nike's.

[Cadaver]

Drank the koolaid...

Ordered the 1.8GHz model with the 64GB SSD, plus the optical drive and the USB-ethernet dongle.

[desertmac]

Does anyone have a thought about how you will do diagnostics or repairs on this? For example, Disk Utility or DiskWarrior? I use a backup FireWire HD to boot up my portables now, or sometimes connect them via FireWire in Target Disk mode to another computer. Will the optional SuperDrive be the only option for MBA?

[ajprice]

Originally Posted by desertmac 

Does anyone have a thought about how you will do diagnostics or repairs on this? For example, Disk Utility or DiskWarrior? I use a backup FireWire HD to boot up my portables now, or sometimes connect them via FireWire in Target Disk mode to another computer. Will the optional SuperDrive be the only option for MBA?

Option 1 - Remote Disc. It can 'borrow' the drive from another mac and connect over Wifi, using the macs drive as its own.
Apple - MacBook Air - Wireless

Option 2 is the optional USB DVD-R drive.

As there is no Firewire, the Firewire target mode for system migration is replaced by a kind of 'Wifi target disk' mode.

[mitchell_pgh]

It's a good idea, can't wait to see one in person.

[desertmac]

Originally Posted by ajprice 

Option 1 - Remote Disc. It can 'borrow' the drive from another mac and connect over Wifi, using the macs drive as its own.
Apple - MacBook Air - Wireless

Option 2 is the optional USB DVD-R drive.

As there is no Firewire, the Firewire target mode for system migration is replaced by a kind of 'Wifi target disk' mode.

Under Option 1 though, you will still have to be booted in OS X on the MBA, right? Which means that you can't do diagnostics that require you to be booted on another drive. Which means Option 2 is the only option under this scenario, yes?

[butterfly0fdoom]

I think the lack of a docking station is the most disappointing aspect of the MBA. An integrated battery, I could live with. But something like this NEEDS a docking station.

Originally Posted by slugslugslug 

Other cool details:
I hated the whole MacBook idea when they introduced the MacBook Pro. But then and now, the actual product seems to cool to make me care.

I agree. I hated the MacBook Pro name, but it makes so much more sense now. I still think "mini" makes more sense than "Air".

[ChrisB]

I agree. I'm surprised there isn't a dock yet. That's what made the Powerbook Duo system so great.

[ajprice]

Power on the left side, USB/Video/Audio on the right and they drop down from a panel. Good luck making a dock for that!

[Don Pickett]

Too little computer for too much money, for me, as form factor isn't a deal breaker. I am sure they will sell a squillion of them, though.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by jaydon34 

I feel like apple tried to enter the sub-notebook market but the price point is way too high.

Not really. Have you priced the machines this is supposed to compete with?

Sony VAIO TZ-series

[jaydon34]

Originally Posted by Cadaver 

Drank the koolaid...

Ordered the 1.8GHz model with the 64GB SSD, plus the optical drive and the USB-ethernet dongle.

You sure did. If this same laptop started at 1299 it be a deal. i just cant justify the low specs for the price.

[mdc]

Originally Posted by Cadaver 

Drank the koolaid...

Ordered the 1.8GHz model with the 64GB SSD, plus the optical drive and the USB-ethernet dongle.

Very nice, congrats.
I want to see one first hand, and then I'll probably make the purchase.

[butterfly0fdoom]

Originally Posted by jaydon34 

You sure did. If this same laptop started at 1299 it be a deal. i just cant justify the low specs for the price.

See this:

Originally Posted by Person Man 

Not really. Have you priced the machines this is supposed to compete with?

Sony VAIO TZ-series

Originally Posted by ajprice 

Power on the left side, USB/Video/Audio on the right and they drop down from a panel. Good luck making a dock for that!

It's possible. Just have the microphone jack, USB plug, and micro-DVI plug on a hinge. Stick the side of the MBA in, and flip it down so that the MagSafe plugs into the port since the MagSafe is already at an angle.

[0157988944]

Only one speaker...

And no So DIMM slots. 2 Gb SOLDERED to the motherboard, not upgradeable. On this machine, if somthing fails, it's not gonna be pretty. Or cheap.

[Eriamjh]

I wonder if they use adhesives to hold this thing together like the iPod nanos and classics?

I can't wait to see the disassembly pics.

I think "thin and light" rather than "small" make a laptop more portable. I'm not surprised at the price, but I am surprised at the lack of ports (FW, ethernet). The wireless optical drive option is cool (works even with stupid windows PCs!) and I hope this becomes a feature in other macs (like my C1D MBP!). I wonder how reformatting and reinstalling will be done (or if that requires a USB drive).

I just realized that the reason that this is a 13" notebook is because apple probably couldn't squeeze it all into a 12" package. At least not one that Jobs liked.

[Kyros]

The thing that bothers me the most is the integrated battery. That's going to be a pricey replacement every 1.5-2 years if my (and my friends and family's) experiences with modern batteries is anything to go by.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Kyros 

The thing that bothers me the most is the integrated battery. That's going to be a pricey replacement every 1.5-2 years if my (and my friends and family's) experiences with modern batteries is anything to go by.

Haven't you read? The replacement will be done free of charge, the battery costs the same as a standard MacBook battery.

[Hi I'm Ben]

Originally Posted by adamfishercox 

Only one speaker...

Nothing is better than listening to my favorite music in stereo sound on my laptop! If you were really concerned about sound on a laptop you would use headphones.

thin notebooks have been out for a long time, they have a niche market that appreciates them... the rest will complain because they want it and it's just too expensive for them. Or they don't want it for all sorts of whiney reasons like... "I can't have 4GB of RAM in there one day!" and "my gosh.. that thing isn't upgradeable".... which means in laptop terms you can't upgrade... Hard Drive and RAM.

There's nothing new with this type of notebook - it's a little thinner, better processor than others, same (cheaper) price; Oh and it's the first Mac.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh 

I just realized that the reason that this is a 13" notebook is because apple probably couldn't squeeze it all into a 12" package. At least not one that Jobs liked.

And even at 13" they had to go with that comical MacBook bezel.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Don Pickett 

Too little computer for too much money, for me, as form factor isn't a deal breaker. I am sure they will sell a squillion of them, though.

Personally I think it will be Apple's poorest selling laptop.

It will sell less than the MacBook and 15" MacBook Pro by a long shot, and probably much less than the 17" MacBook Pro as well.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Personally I think it will be Apple's poorest selling laptop.

On the other hand, those waiting for another 12" PowerBook were given something even better. The 12" was a terrible value but people bought them.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

On the other hand, those waiting for another 12" PowerBook were given something even better. The 12" was a terrible value but people bought them.

The 12" PowerBook was an excellent value. It was the cheapest Apple laptop.

The MacBook Air costs lots more than the MacBook, and offers significantly less functionality.

This is the Cube all over again. (Well, maybe not that bad.)

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Eug 

The 12" PowerBook was an excellent value. It was the cheapest Apple laptop.

No, the iBook and 14" iBook were cheaper. In fact, I seem to remember a price of $1799 for the 12" PB.

Originally Posted by Eug 

The MacBook Air costs lots more than the MacBook, and offers significantly less functionality.

Unless being really light-weight is a function, or a large multi-touch trackpad is a function, or backlit keyboard is a function, ...