MacBook Air: Good, Bad, Any owner's out there?

[NYC_SKP]

I've broken the screen on my black MacBook and need to replace it.
The MacBook Air is soooo tempting!
Most of my use is business, email, presentations.

Are there any owners out there willing to share their opinions?

[Kutjara]

1. Factor in the cost of an external DVD drive.

The MBA doesn't come with one. It's got a feature that lets you use the drive on another PC or MAC to run CDs and DVDs over the network, but it can be a little slow for installing big applications or streaming movies. And you might not always have access to another PC when you need it. The drive you need is specific to the MBA, so you won't be able to use an existing or generic drive with the MBA.

Some of the early MBAs had a slight warping of the case, so that the four legs didn't sit level. This imparted a slight wobble to the machine, so you might want to check this out before you leave the store.

Finally, the performance of the MBA is about in line with a year-old MB. The iPod-derived hard drive makes the MBA a little bit worse than this (seek and read times are slower), but it's otherwise on a par. The solid state disk is a nice option, but its limited capacity and high cost make it poor value, particularly with 200GB+ SSD drives coming "real soon now."

I'd be tempted to hold off on a MBA, unless ultraportability is your sole concern. The new MacBooks are fantastic (there's an even newer one due in August that rumored to be getting an aluminum chassis) and much better value.

In any event, Apple's WorldWide Developer Conference starts tomorrow, so look out for big announcements this week.

[NYC_SKP]

2. thanks, I didn't know but wondered.

I've got others notebooks if ever I need a DVD, and lots of external drives for transferring files.

Yes, that solid state hard drive adds a grand, I'd pass on that.

Thanks for the tips!

[Kutjara]

4. I edited my post, so you might not have read it:

You have to buy the "special" MBA Superdrive from Apple for $100. Regular external DVD drives won't work (surprise, surprise). A nice little way of jacking up the price on the sly.

[AlCzervik]

3. we have one, i've used it twice, it's great for the internet but you have to have an external drive

if that's ok with you than you'll like. Here is a pic of ,ac book vs. the air book.

[NYC_SKP]

8. You take that picture for me?

You're awesome (even if you didn't take it for me)

So, wow, it's slim....does it feel like about half the weight?

Also, I'm not worried about the lack of Superdrive or Firewire, I just want a travel laptop and the old MacBook would cost $800 just for the screen.

[AlCzervik]

9. yes i took that pic for you. It is way lighter than even my little mac book.

it feels like less than half the weight so i think it would be good to travel with, the one i don't like is taking my laptop with me because my shoulder always ends up aching.

[NYC_SKP]

11. You Rock!

Yeah, I'm thinking weight--I lug it around all over and it gets heavy after awhile. The screen and resolution is the same, more RAM.

I sent my boss an email about the cracked screen and she said to go ahead and replace, upgrade if I want and keep it under $2000, so I think I'll go for it.

Thanks again!

[alfredo]

17. I think Apple is doing to the DVD/CD what was done to the floppy.

Instead of carrying the weight of the player, you rely on the network. You can make accessible all media you need online and access it while on the road. On my desktop I only use the Super Drive for burning CD's for my wife's computer and stereo system. She's not online or networked.

[MorningGlow]

5. Mr. MG, computer guru, scoffs at it

As does his computer guru best friend. I asked why--because I thought it was soooo preeeettyyy--and they both said "power". As in, it doesn't have enough. Can't comment beyond that, as they didn't elaborate.

Mr. MG got me a regular MacBook for Mother's Day, and it is kickass. Didn't kill our budget as bad either. So I don't regret not getting an Air. Although it is soooo preeeettyyy....

[AlCzervik]

6. it's cute a light but i like my plain old mac book better.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Ahhh, guru opinions

Thanks for sharing his thoughts....I know the processor is slower than the MacBook but the two gigs of standard RAM is nice.

Gurus are purists, sometimes they are gamers and really need the speed. On processor speed I've actually seen little difference between my 1Ghz Titanium and the Core2Duo Macbook, and the Titanium seems to hang up less often.

For my apps, the top of line processor may matter less than the RAM.

Thanks!

[Kutjara]

14. Remember, though, that 2GB isn't upgradable.

If you use memory intensive applications, that could be a limitation. I've got 4GB in my late '07 2.2GHz Santa Rosa MacBook. I used to have 2, but found that some of my bigger Final Cut or Aperture projects could still slow the machine down. With 4, it flies.

[MorningGlow]

18. Purists is right

These guys don't use Macs or Windows PCs--they build their own instead. They like speed, but as grand poohbahs of the 'puters (hubby is a database admin and his friend is a sys admin), they like freedom (and black screens with lots of code) best of all. A different breed, for sure.

[Fredda Weinberg]

7. Gianni's not a techie. He loves his. It doesn't do everything, but he doesn't mind

So, if my partner's opinion matters ... I know what he'd say.

[NYC_SKP]

12. Well then I'll get one...

I know I'll be happier carrying the lighter load and having the same screen size and more memory...

[Fredda Weinberg]

16. Enjoy! n/t

[CreekDog]

13. James Fallows did a semi review on one, the verdict --not that practical

http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/the_next_three_points_about_ma.php

here's the key excerpt:
1) Is the MacAir suitable as your "real" computer? No.

OK: that's a spoiled-sounding thing to say. What I mean is that this machine is optimized for ease, convenience, and elegance as a portable computer, at the expense of features that would make it better for day-in, day-out stuck at the office use.

Most obvious illustration: this is one of the very few modern computers with no CD/DVD drive at all. (Unlike its closest PC counterpart, the new Lenovo ThinkPad X300.) You can work around that with a convenient utility to read from another machine's DVD drive, over a network -- but that means you have to have another machine. Similarly: you can work around the absence of an Ethernet port (with a separate dongle), and the presence of only one USB port, and the absence of a microphone jack. But they are workarounds, and there is no getting around the limit on the hard drive, which holds a maximum of 80GB. Not a huge amount, by today's desktop computer standards.

The MacAir remains elegant and beautiful; it has stood up well to travel (protected by this neoprene sleeve); I have no complaints about fit or finish or any other mechanical feature. But just as some resort properties are suitable mainly for those who can consider them "second homes," this is suitable mainly for people who can consider it a second computer. Though a nice one....

[NYC_SKP]

15. Thanks, it'll be my traveling computer...

For other apps I use a 20 inch iMac, and my favorite other machine is the last issue Titanium, loaded, beautiful design and I wish all the new powerbooks were as sleek with the thin bezel.

If it were to be my only machine, I'd have to pass.

Thanks again!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

19. no dvd drive

I have a macbook pro.

It is the best.

I urge you to buy one and forego the air... unless you never intend on using a dvd for anything.