Dissecting the MacBook Air
Readers discuss the pros and cons of Apple's MacBook Air and the characteristics of the average Mac fan.
Kellie Parker, PC World
Macworld Expo took place last week, and our forums were buzzing about Apple's MacBook Air and the differences between Mac and PC users.
Analysts say that the Macbook Air is lacking, but many readers disagree. Is this the perfect computer for on-the-go professionals, or will many people miss some features? Let us know what you think.
In another article, PC World Editor in Chief asks the question, "MacBook Air: How Incomplete Is It?" Some readers replied "very," while others said "not at all." What do you think of the slimmed-down feature set? Give us your opinion on the MacBook Air.
Are Mac people fundamentally different from PC people? Our article says "yes," but many readers disagree; join the discussion.
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MacBook Air Lacks Features, Analysts Say
fortheclueless says: Analysts, by and large never get it. Expensive? Compared to what? If you looked at its competition and configured them the same, the Mac is the same price or cheaper. Many of the executives in my company use Macs and almost none of them will ever use the power or ports of the MBP. Many of them travel constantly. The Air is a great product for that type of user...and gives Apple a whole new market.
Visarulez says: I think the MacBook Air's purpose is escaping most people's grasp of what it really is: a secondary computer. This is not meant to replace your main computer with its many USB, FireWire, and other ports to connect to any number of devices you so wish it to; this is meant as a space-saving computer to type something up quickly, surf the Internet, and watch/listen to the digital media you've collected. I view this as something perfect for taking notes in a lecture, not as a desktop replacement.
Scrud says: Except the price, Apple got it right. Most all of the time you don't need all the ports they left out. You can always add a USB hub for all the gear you use once a month.
Merdith says: I have never owned a Mac but I think the Air with the chip drive and two USB ports and a headphone jack is all the features most would need. I think the optical drive is close to extinction anyway.
Read the posts in this thread and contribute your own opinion.
MacBook Air: How Incomplete is It?
patspeak says: I find it humorous that people are concerned with what the MacBook Air is missing. I recall the same arguments and concerns when Apple removed the floppy drive from its systems. Nobody is going to care about the omission of an optical drive. If you really want one, Apple sells a thin external drive. As for ethernet, I haven't plugged my MacBook Pro into an ethernet port since I bought it. I have wireless in my home, and have found that most hotels, restaurants (including my local McDonalds), and even car washes all have wireless connectivity. As for the battery, I seem to recall the same complaint about the iPhone. Of course, that hasn't seemed to hurt sales on that front either.
CrowTRobot says: My only beef with the Air is lack of a Firewire 400 port (for my video camera), and the lack of larger internal hard drives. Other than that, I think that Apple nailed it for the on-the-go crowd.
SlotcarBob says: This machine misses the boat. The price is way out of whack--way out. It has nothing to do with missing things. Also, by the time you add everything, you no longer have a 3-pound computer. It's now over 4 pounds.
Ffakr says: What you and everyone else doesn't realize is that there is a robust market in place for devices exactly like the new MacBook. Just because you don't want one doesn't mean it's not a nice product. I don't want one either, but it's a brilliantly designed computer.
Read the posts in this thread and contribute your own opinion.
'Mac People' More Open, Liberal Than PC Users?
Yert says: I'm more assured of my superiority over anyone who turns their computer choice into a religion. There's a reason people use alternatives, and that's choice. If you choose to use a Mac, more power to you; but don't be an ass about it like some of the Mac users are.
JonathanSwift says: Obviously, the author doesn't watch Fox News during the day. The daytime anchors who have laptops on their desks have changed from Dells to Apples in the last couple of months. By comparison with the other networks, Fox News is more conservative, even though they would say they are "fair and balanced." Conservatives can be open minded. You have to be open minded to chose the less popular operating system.
BobMutascio says: The user base of Mac compared to PC users is so small, and have (mostly) been lead by the nose since their Mac days in college/design schools (which have Macs because Apple either gave them away or made it lucrative for them to buy them) and have been following that lemming ever since.
Read the posts in this thread and contribute your own opinion.
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