MacBook Air : Disgustingly Thin
Disgustingly thin images from apple.com
I hate to say it, but I think it’s time for me to cross over. Not because of its disgustingly thin form factor, but the way it is optimized for wireless networks and the increased usability in its touchpad that is very similar to the gesture features found on the iPhone. This gestural control is going to be a trendsetter.
With its relationships with Intel and other vendors, they have essentially managed to push the envelope of engineering and manufacturability, and thus able to deliver this thing beauty to all of us. It is interesting to hear that “challenge” their vendors to push the limits, something very rare in these days of outsourcing. This, I believe, is a strategy that other product development companies and component vendors can learn from to make better products.
Finally, I have always believed that is all you need on a notebook, screen, HDD and a damn good wireless connection for all your online needs. (I’ll keep my ugly pc for my 3D stuff!) Apple has shown that they understand this, and delivered a product (with all software included, iLife etc.) that is easy for converts to move over.
But there are a few downsides though. Firstly don’t get conned on all that marketing hype about the battery life. Fewer components mean less battery consumption. Not only that, most of their environmental friendly aspects (recycled body, clean PCB etc.) already come standard in many other electronic products. 
Furthermore, a smaller product also means smaller packaging. The reality though is an environmentally friendly packaging comes in the brown box with no external printing. However, all in all, it comes together in a pretty good Eco package and a decent effort in response to getting slammed by the Green groups recently.
If you have not already, check out its greatness at the official Apple Macbook Air website. Time to get your MBA?
Edit 2: If you are like me, are interested in Steve Job’s Keynote at MacWorld, but don’t have the 90mins it runs for? Check out Mahalo Daily’s 60 second edit! Everything important is in there. Via: Techcrunch
Edit 1: Additional information added.
Brian
March 18, 2011 at 9:18 pm@Ken: Hi and thanks for asking. I know how you feel, but do check out my full review on the MBA 2010 version:
http://designsojourn.com/thoughts-and-insights-on-the-new-macbook-air-2010/
Good luck.
Ken
March 18, 2011 at 4:11 pmHad been trying to decided if I should either get a MBP or MBA recently.
But I am not too sure how well the programs like Solidworks, AutoCAD 2011 or even Rhino would run on either.
MBA? afraid that its underpower.
MBP? afraid that its too heavy to lug around.
Any advise on this?
macbook air
March 13, 2008 at 10:34 amthe macbook air is great! but its too expensive for me, maybe for… next year!
DT
January 29, 2008 at 6:23 amHey Spayced,
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comments.
I’m not sure how you got this impression! The discussion here is on its thickness, weight and computing specifications. I can’t find any evidence of someone saying that it’s smaller?
spayced
January 29, 2008 at 5:53 amI’m going to point this out for people who have poor vision and math skills. It’s wider and longer. It’s actually much bigger than a lot of laptops on the market. I have a lot of other gripes but seriously guys, it’s not smaller.
DT
January 18, 2008 at 10:11 pm@Olls, heh-heh I know its so nice huh? But yes it is just too expensive!
@Drew, good to hear from you, I hope you are feeling better. SONY! Gets my vote all the time. The other PCs of my choice is actually Asus, they have a huge design team and actually make great PC laptops.
@Jasper, I am starting to think so as well. A standard Mac book Pro might be a better solution in terms of price vs specifications. The reality is it all that heavier that you would break your back on anything other than a MBA? I doubt it. There is a critical weight and most laptops are already there.
@Cybrpnk, Thanks for your comments, my biggest WOW was really the interface and that’s about it. Yeah if it can dual boot it can but apparently Rhino 4.0 has running in a Mac/Intel environment. Let’s wait and see what the market says?
cybrpnk
January 18, 2008 at 12:25 pmAs with all things 1st generation-al for Apple…there is immense potential here…especially with the gestural control interfacing. About time they ported this technology over to a laptop i say…
Will I be getting one? Depends…can it run Rhino 4.0? Solidworks 08? I highly doubt it…
Jasper
January 17, 2008 at 12:12 pmWell – it is nice but i would rather buy a standard Mac book, it’s cheaper with the same specs – ok it weighs twice as much but at least i get a faster processor, dvd burner and more usb and firewire connection slots. The MB air dosent have the connections slot you are used to like an eathernet-port. You also can’t change the battery.
drew kora
January 17, 2008 at 2:49 amYeah, the MB Air is pretty nice, but definitely a one-trick pony for extremely mobile people with extra money to blow. The small HD and lack of an optical really limits its use for most users right now.
And yeah, PCs are getting better and better. As the competition wises up, Apple won’t be the only one making beautiful, interior decor-friendly computing scultpures anymore.
olls
January 17, 2008 at 12:43 amhey dt.
boy oh boy. i might have to end up a convert with the MBA too!!!
the only thing i can’t get around is the small hard drive capacity.
DT
January 16, 2008 at 8:32 pmHi Jacob,
Hah-hah I have to say PCs are getting better and better. Ah well we can’t have it all.
Thanks for visiting and please keep in touch?
Jacob Cass
January 16, 2008 at 8:12 pmWow, that is massively thin! Pity about the battery life. I am still a PC fan through and through – strange for a designer 😛