I understand that perspective Ari. But look at another scenario. I have a macbookpro that cost about the same (maybe a bit more), and I no longer work in design aps or any other resource intense aps at Starbucks, or on an airplane. I would gladly trade that extra computing muscle for the light weight. But, and this is a big but, it is my second machine. I have a very fast workstation at my desk where I do most of the heavy lifting.
All I am saying is that there is a market for this product and it is not the designer. Mark On Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at 12:14PM, "Ari Feldman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >i have a macbook pro and with accessories it weighs a ton. however, it cost >not much more (refurb) than this machine and my shoulder is hardly aching. >i'm sure there are people who can justify the expense but i can't given the >lack of features - no ethernet port? one USB port? c'mon! > >On 1/16/08, Mark Schraad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> 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 >> >> > > >-- >-------------------------------------------------- >www.flyingyogi.com >-------------------------------------------------- > ________________________________________________________________ *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
