But if the horsepower is beyond what you currently use... and you carry a laptop everywhere, it may in fact be worth the bucks (to save your shoulder). This is not a machine targeting power users or designers. But, I know a ton of designers in small shops and even at the corporate level who are doing say... print design and production with slower machines and less than 2Gig. Frankly, were I in the market for a new laptop right now, this would likely be my purchase.
Mark On Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at 12:02PM, "Ari Feldman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >i concur. this has cube written all over it. >the new macbooks are a much better value. space and weight are important but >for $1799, you can damn near buy a refurb core duo 2 macbook pro with 2GB of >RAM and 40% better performance plus much more expandability. > >the macbook air is a design achievement but seems more of a toy for the >affluent than those who work for their money or just want the latest toy. > >On 1/15/08, Diamond Eric <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> I can't help but think they've missed the boat on this one. Yes, it is >> beautiful and technolust-inspiring but the flaws are many. to wit: >> >> No user-removable battery. This is a guaranteed trip to Apple in a >> year or two, and when traveling, one will have to carry a dongle- >> enabled external battery if one needs extra power away from a wall >> outlet, 5 hours of battery life not withstanding. >> >> External DVD drive. I remember when I had my Powerbook Duo. When >> commuting I never worried about the external drive, but when traveling >> I always carried it. Why? It seemed like there was always software to >> install, or offload to a client or video to watch. So in the bag it >> goes, along with the cable. Didn't really save much space. And then >> there is the external connector--a possible failure point...unless it >> is magsafe too. >> >> A single USB port, and no firewire. This limits the disks and >> peripherals you can connect to, and will inspire a plethora of USB >> hubs meant for the MBA. Which will go into the bag. Again, space saving? >> >> The RAM disk version is $3k. I'm not sure you're gonna save a lot of >> weight because of the extra stuff you'll have to carry around (Is the >> AC adapter as sleek?) and purchase. The Duo failed because it while it >> was beautiful and cool as hell, it underperformed as laptop and was >> limited as a desktop. >> >> I can't see anyone who is in a creative field purchasing this unless >> it is a luxury. I can't see this being a primary machine and at >> $2k-3k, it is a very expensive peripheral. I see this as targeted >> toward executives who want a sexy meeting accessory, or someone who >> just uses her MBA to blog a little, and surf a lot, or a writer. >> >> It is a beautiful machine but it smells like the Cube. It too was a >> beautiful, limited machine, a feat of engineering. But with the lack >> of expandability and it's cost, people could not justify it. It died, >> as did the 10th anniversary mac, the other "executive" mac. It's >> really funny but Apple from time to time comes out with these products >> that are meant to show off their engineering prowess, but don't really >> address that sweet spot intersection between cost, utility and >> aesthetics. Each time they do, the product usually fails, but serves >> to inform other products. For example: >> >> Failure: Apple Lisa >> Value: Precursor to the Mac, proved the concept of GUI interfaces and >> the mouse >> Evolution: Mac Plus >> >> Failure: Macintosh Portable >> Value: Introduced the trackball >> Evolution: Powerbook >> >> Failure: Mac 10th anniversary edition >> Value: First example of a vertical computer built around a screen >> Evolution: iMac G5 and later >> >> Failure: Cube >> Value: Compact design, fanless ducting, limited technology, desktop >> eye candy >> Evolution: Mac Mini >> >> Failure: Newton >> Value: PDA, synchronization, touch screen >> Evolution: iPhone >> >> In each case the failed product was sexy and groundbreaking, but >> failed to meet a need. I can't help thinking that is what happened >> with the Air. >> >> From a strategic perspective they targeted the wrong target. Instead >> of out Vaio-ing the Vaio, they should have targeted and out eee'd the >> eeePC. Small, light, Linux capable and cheap. ($400) An excellent >> machine that bridges the gap between smartphone and laptop. Imagine >> the eeePC running OS X with a svelte polycarbonate shell with aluminum >> trim. I'd jump on it in a second, just to have something with me at >> all times. For $400 it is a no brainer, but for $2k? I'd have a hard >> time justifying it and I think others will too. I'll have to let the >> Air breeze by. >> >> Now of course, I'll be proved completely wrong, and it will be a >> raging success and I'll feel really dumb about this email. But that's >> Karma, and she's a tough old broad. :-) >> >> --- >> Eric Diamond >> F I R S T W A T E R >> strategic design + planning >> >> 847 674 6568 office >> 847 414 6467 mobile >> 847 380 1887 SkypeIn >> ericdiamondmm AIM, Skype >> >> >> >> On Jan 15, 2008, at 12:45 PM, Murli Nagasundaram wrote: >> >> > There's probably going to be at least one person on this list who's >> > got a glimpse of MBA today: >> > >> > http://www.apple.com/macbookair/ >> > >> > Any reports on this, particularly the multitouch interface would be >> > appreciated. >> > >> > Another issue -- there are some similarities here to the design >> > parameters for the Tata Nano -- strip the dang thing down to its >> > essence. MBA, of course, has a more elitist market than the Nano. >> > There's unlikely to be any issues raised regarding the possible >> > downsides of proliferating the Air. Incidentally, Apple claims that >> > they've gone the extra mile in making the Air eco-friendly (in >> > disposal). >> > >> > Thanks. >> > >> > Murli ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
