10 Reasons why you shouldn't buy a Macbook Air

In grim's defense, he seems genuinely happy with this MBA, and isn't flauning it around to everybody like he's better than they are. He made that new purchase and it's satisfying for him, all is well. I have no beef with anybody who buys a Mac and likes it. I have a problem when those same people who know less (much, much less) about computers than I do trying to tell me how their Mac is so much better than my computer.

So for people like Grimslade, who cares? The guy is happy with his purchase, more power to him. It's the assholes that are trying to convert everyone into Mac-lovers that get on my nerves.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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In grim's defense, he seems genuinely happy with this MBA, and isn't flauning it around to everybody like he's better than they are. He made that new purchase and it's satisfying for him, all is well. I have no beef with anybody who buys a Mac and likes it. I have a problem when those same people who know less (much, much less) about computers than I do trying to tell me how their Mac is so much better than my computer.

So for people like Grimslade, who cares? The guy is happy with his purchase, more power to him. It's the assholes that are trying to convert everyone into Mac-lovers that get on my nerves.

If it came off like I was attacking grimslade, that wasn't my intention.

No that's not how it seemed at all. When I said "in grim's defense" I meant "in defense of people who like their macs without being pricks."

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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No that's not how it seemed at all. When I said "in grim's defense" I meant "in defense of people who like their macs without being pricks."

Gotcha.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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In grim's defense, he seems genuinely happy with this MBA, and isn't flauning it around to everybody like he's better than they are. He made that new purchase and it's satisfying for him, all is well. I have no beef with anybody who buys a Mac and likes it. I have a problem when those same people who know less (much, much less) about computers than I do trying to tell me how their Mac is so much better than my computer.

So for people like Grimslade, who cares? The guy is happy with his purchase, more power to him. It's the assholes that are trying to convert everyone into Mac-lovers that get on my nerves.

+1

I'm just curious as to why some ppl in this forum get so pissed off just because I (we) don't like the new mac. Each brand has their pros and cons. I've had a mac for years, but I just don't think the new macbook air suits me. Besides, I wouldn't get all upset which brand of computers ppl buy, its not my money.

Just to derail a little and possibly to future buyers' use:

I've been on a quest for a new subnotebook i.e. less than 4lbs, DVD drive optional and decent battery life. I'm a power user, heavy Excel, Photoshop, the usual office things and a lot of multi-tasking. For myself, there are are four major criteria for selecting subnotebooks that so far have not been completely satisfied by what's available/coming up in the next few months.

1. Hard drive speed and interface. A lot of people overlook this. With processors as fast as they are these days, the hard drive and its interface are probably the number one bottle neck. These piddly 4200 RPM 1.8 inch HDs that you find in a lot of subnotebooks these days are a real false economy. The slight saving in battery life and size will be lost in having to wait twice as long for things to load. SSDs are not all created equally and so far, the ones that manufacturers, including Apple, have been deploying are not impressive examples of the breed. See the X300 below for the best hope right now.

2. Screen size and resolution. 12/13 inch widescreens with at least 1280x800 and above resolutions. 12 inch 4:3 format XGA screens at 1024x768 really don't cut it for having a lot of things on screen at once.

3. Keyboard size. The closer to a standard sized keyboard the better.

4. Processor. Not quite as important as the last three but faster would be nicer.

The closest cutting edge subnotebooks that fit these criteria are:

Fujitsu P8010 (avail since last week) - 12 inch screen in a 10 inch laptop's chassis, average 1.2 Ghz CPU, very svelte, excellent build but cramped keyboard, 2.5 inch HD means you can put in a 7200RPM HD if you so wished.

Macbook Air (avail since two weeks ago) - 13 inch screen, average resolution, full size keyboard, very fast processor for its class, limited ports but the biggest problem is the HD. Slower 1.8 inch and the SSD option is an old model PATA based Samsung. It is NOT a modern SATA drive and does not even meet a 7200RPM HD's speed. Had they put in a higher speed 2.5 inch SATA HD, I would have been happy with the design.

Thinkpad X300 (Feb 26th announcement, probably March/April avail) - 13 inch screen, new 1440x900 resolution not previously available in this size before, full size keyboard, average 1.2 Ghz CPU, unfortunate 1.8 inch HD but with the latest Samsung SATA-II based SSD which should at the very least meet 7200 RPM drive speeds.

Sony TZ series (Avail now, recently had a design refresh) - 11 inch screen, excellent 1366xsomething resolution, 1.33 Ghz CPU, option for two hard drives (unique!), cramped keyboard and that screen might be a bit too small even for me :/

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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The bottom of the line X300 has the exact same 8mm SSD. Did you not read my post? This is why we are comparing the top of the line MBA with the bottom of the line X300.

No, they are not the same. Look at the dissections of X300 vs MBA. MBA is an earlier gen Samsung PATA SSD, X300 is a later gen Samsung SATA-II SSD.

I think what's interesting is how Apple and Lenovo both started with a very similar goal i.e. make an ultrathin laptop that really shows off how far they can go in terms of engineering and production expertise and how different the results ended up being. A lot of Apple's decisions compromises seem to be based on 1. the design aesthetic (which is beautiful) and 2. getting the product to market first (the lower res 13 inch LCD, the PATA based SSD). Lenovo made their own compromises and ended up with a laptop that isn't as stand-out as Apple's and also later to market but, for me at least, more usable.

I still think both are really impressive in terms of engineering and production as are the Fujitsu P8010 and the Sony TZ. The ultraportable world has some really nifty things going on.

Thanks guy. I'm too new to this whole Mac thing to be a superior jerk about it.

It does seem to me, though, that a lot of the slagging off of the MBA amounts to griping that they made different trade-offs than the writer would have. I would take an ethernet over a DVI port, on the margins, but someone else might have chosen still differently. To point out that an ultraportable--any ultraportable--leaves stuff out is simply to state the obvious. Whether the particular things left out make the computer unsuitable to your needs is up to everyone to decide for themselves. I don't imagine that most people have my particular set of requirements, and mine might themselves be different in 18 months to two years. But right now, it works for me.

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

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Wow, you appleheads are so touchy.
You MS Fanboys are so provocative.

It looks like the X300 vs. MBA fight isn't so clear:

http://gizmodo.com/359014/lenovo-x30...erg-bitchfight

Surprises for me: the X300 is slower, and has shorter battery life.

--Andre

Interesting stuff, particularly yftf's post.

I've had 2 computers in my 16 yrs of owning them: a Mac classic 2 for 10 yrs and a white iBook for 6. Loved them both, but am not too excited by what they've got available now. One perk of the new job is a new computer every 3 yrs. If version 2 of the airbook comes out in Sept, that may be where I go. My favorite aspect of the macs has been their reliability/durability, in both hard and software.

Originally Posted by ghulkhan

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if you actually think that guy has anything valid to say youre an idiot

Words to live by.

I could not rely on a MacBook Air, but it certainly would be a nice luxury...

Originally Posted by mbc

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And then there's Windows PowerShell, which pretty much puts every other command line interface to shame. But M$ Windoze sucks so you probably shouldn't pay much attention to it.

Alright, I've been using PowerShell for the past 2 weeks. It is a huge improvement over the standard cmd, however, I still find it to be a poor substitute for a real computer interface.

I have a macbook now and it feels like plastic, i still love it though. I can't even imagine how fragile the Air is.

Originally Posted by mmhollis

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I have a macbook now and it feels like plastic, i still love it though. I can't even imagine how fragile the Air is.
Have you felt the Average PC? The Thinkpad feels like a Macbook. The metal Powerbook I have feels indestructible. All laptops should be made of metal.