coolraoul

The external optical drive at 99$ is a separate device that you connect to your laptop, it is not an option to integrate it into the laptop!

This is just useless. Much too expensive for the very limited use it can have.

And I think this thing will not help enhancing the image of the Macs, which begins to be very unserious, trendy, expensive and only aimed to show off. Furthermore Mac lost a key advantage when going to Intel for the chips instead of having the typical integrated structure....And Leopard seems less reliable than Vista, which is a shame...

A Mac just does not look professional or serious. And such useless design pieces, are not helping.

I was very impressed. But I was hoping it to be a real laptop, too...

That said, it still looks very impressive. The touch pad is very innovative too. And how brilliant to put it in a briefcase, this is just an awesome idea!

Curb Zone

 

Centurion

Yupp. Apple are very aware of their situation and know that people will pretty much buy anything, at long as it has an Apple logo on it. The Shuffle is a good example of that, it sold like crazy despite the fact that there were even better products on the market with the same form factor and price.

Apple TV has been a very mediocre product as well, which is why Apple has cut it's price every year now. Other over priced products are Apple HiFi, Mac Mini. The iTouch could also have been a better product with tactile volume buttons and perhaps a slightly thicker body in the form of a better battery.

The cool factor and aesthetics is what Apple is focusing on these days. A little too much if you ask me.

The Diva

I strongly dissagree... all our Apple products ( Including Apple TV )worked flawlessly so far, and despite my abuse.

Again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, if you believe Apple products are ovepriced, mediocre, etc... there plenty of other less expensive products are on the market for your enjoyment

NarutoRamen

I don't want to sound too harsh but this was only designed for the shallow people in mind who are willing to dish out retarded amount of money for something that lacks many basic features at the sake of "looking good".

NSL

Naruto,
Apple are to computers what Mercedes-Benz are to cars, they are pretty much the original ones, the pioneers in their respective industries...

I don't think it's for 'certain people' like you harshfully say, but to demonstrate the rest of the computer industry that they are still ahead of the game, both in design and capabilities. Now they are showing the computer world they are also making the thinnest laptop in the world.

Yes, Macs are more expensive than the other brands, just like Mercedes is to other brands...

Also, for those of you that still think they are computers just for show, I guess you could say that a Mac compared to a PC is like comparing a Lamborghini to a Kia. They both run, but the Lambo is the one that can be used for show (cause its drop-dead gorgeous!), plus if it needs to deliver, it kicks ass, just like the Apple products when compared to the average PCs... I guess the adage 'you get what you pay for' applies very much to Macs just like it applies to Benzes, BMWs, Lambos, etc

BTW, imho, I don't think this new laptop has the 'it' factor.... i.e. the screen frame is too thick... I still think the 'it' factor is still being held by the laptop benchmark of the industry today: the MacBook Pro -- yes, drop-dead gorgeous, and extremely capable (did I mention before, my most reliable Windows XP machine today is my Mac? ).

The Diva

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPFFFFFFFTTT!

I've been called worst.

BTW: I would not buy the air just because I already have a Macbook Pro; if not it would fit devinely in my favourite bag ( the one that matches the 6-er).

NarutoRamen

Would you buy a benz if it still retained it's V8 engine but came with hubcaps, plastic body work, missing radios and other amenities, and to top it off you couldn't even put gas in it yourself but had to take it into the dealership to do that?

Centurion

I pretty much agree. This is probably the worst product I have seen from Apple in years. You can "borrow" an optical drive from a Mac or PC over WiFi but you can not do what ever you want to. For example you can't use it to watch a dvd, play music, rip a CD or even burn a disc. Steve Jobs basically wants you to buy music and movies from iTunes instead. Basically Apple is on a mission to maximize profits by milking their most hypnotized customers who should never eaten the forbidden fruit.

The battery life is pretty much a joke as well, only 5 hours. Beside the low weight this product has got nothing going for it and IMO only someone riding on the Apple Bandwagon would buy it, because it is one very expensive product which lacks in features and is not very functional. There is really zero innovation in it except for the multi touch track pad. You simply don't get what you pay for.

Va Va Voom

I do like it alot but i would never buy it (I'd end up breaking it by accident) They look soo weak but they are very stylish

coolraoul

Agree every word.

I have a PC laptop, because it is less expensive than a Mac and because you can do everything with a PC.
A MAc is an excellent product, innovative and all what you want.

This Air, however...yeah it's beautiful. Impressive.
But a computer with ONE usb and NO CD is just stupid, especially at this price.
And for a second computer to use when travelling...

1) 5 hours is crap,
2) do you wish to send it to Mac every two years to change the battery for 160$?
3) You usually take a second battery to have the double autonomy? Forget it!
4) even when travelling, it can be useful to watch a film and not to pay Mac for it or spend two hours sending it via wifi, same goes for the music.

This is crap. Beautiful crap, but crap.

Curb Zone