It just works.

Anybody else feel like the swipe gesture should be reversed to match the iPhone?

I'm still not buying it.

Now, could I stick a DVD into my PC (or mac!), use remote drive and watch that sucker on my air?

It just misses the mark guys, sorry. You tried hard and all, and it is pretty, but well, how do i say this, it's just not worth it man. Hope you can appreciate my frankness.

Gizmodo - you blew it on the mixed video.... try again. The Apple video is wayyyyy better.

There's one problem with the Remote Disk concept...Comcast (my humble cable/internet provider), blocks the ports that Leopard uses for VPN, "Back to Mac" and I assume the new "Remote Disk" function. Hell, they don't even let me remotely log in to my office from home via my Dell.

@cardboardbelt: Yeah...that's the idea.

Remote disc is kinda cool. Video was too damn long. How about they make gesture-based software that loads pron when i pull my pants off.

I'm just not convinced of this multitouch trackpad technology (although, admittedly, I have not tried it yet). I absolutely love my iPhone touchscreen and may be spoiled because of it. I'm anxiously waiting for the day when that type of functionality is incorporated into bigger products.

@daftrok: way to contribute to the discussion.

@tamoko My question was about WATCHING DVDs. As in episodes of 30 Rock. All the demonstrations so far today have just shown somebody installing software. And only Office at that.

Every recent MacBook has serious quality issues ranging from overheating, melted power connectors, yellowing cases and expanding batteries. I wonder what Apple have lined up for this model. Judging from the thinness of the device, I predict we'll see all kinds of stories about fatigue cracks in the hinges, connectors or the case.

Yes, it's sexy, i admit. I understand that they target the road warrior with this, but what are the advantages of the air compared to a EEEpc that cost a grand less ???

At this price, get a Vaio G2 with optical drive and swapable battery, wich is almost as thin...

So let me get this right. I buy the MacBook Air as a portable notebook for business trips. I'm stuck on a 5 hour flight and want to watch a movie. I need to find space on my already cramped tray or lap for the Superdrive? Or I can pay Apple more money for a digital version? Awesome.

@ TWOEIGHTNINE : or you can buy Fox DVD'S and have an extra digital copy for your viewing pleasure. :)

@twoeightnine:

Rip the DVD before the trip. It would save your battery life on the trip, anyway. o_O

Come ON!
I can't take it anymore!
Someone be honest, puhLEASE.

I mean: okay, it's as anorexic as a 15-year old model on crack, but that's IT, everything else sucks ass. This is just some crazy concept model come to life. This is just apple saying 'look at us guys, you fantasise about it, we make it'.

And now we know why no-one else wants to make these things: it has a way too small harddrive, midget screen, fugly keyboard and NO disc reader!!!

WTF? No reader? Wat if I'm to cheap to buy an external reader with my overpriced laptop? What if I'm stuck in some strange country with no computers (If I was dumb enough to even buy this piece of plastic) and I have to re-install or some other crap? And how are you going to connect if you are the one modern laptop in a house full of windows '98 pc's who've never even remotely heard of the concept 'wireless'?

This really *is* a way too big iPhone. If it would have been a tablet all this crap would have been acceptable, but now it's not.

No disc reader! Ha! I feel insulted.

@JPQsat: OS X.

Why do they still call it 'pinching' when you're moving the fingers apart?

In for 10!

Palm Folio, anybody? Dodo?

Overpriced, too skinny, also on features. I stay with my Powerbook 12" until they get it right. That is my primary computer, and I don't need a) a bigger system sizewise (I'm talking footprint, not girth) nor b) a smaller system featurewise.

The optical can become external, no sweat. But 80 GB HD? For video? Almost no cables (I like at least my RJ45, and a second USB wouldn't hurt either) nor Edge or UMTS to make up for the lack of network connectivity (WLAN just doesn't cut it when you're caught up in the middle of nowhere and hotels are also still more likely to have Ethernet than WLAN).
And NO way to open it up and replace RAM or battery without technical personnel? You got to be shitting me. But those folks who have the money weighing them down to buy this machine also have the money to go see the genius, so maybe that's the marketing reasoning.
But this is definitely not for video editing on the go, for starters. Some nice features bundled together, but as a whole, I don't see a coherent picture who would want this apart from the wow-factor, blurry marketing.

Eh. I'm a road warrior. This machine will work for me. I'll just have to have the ethernet dongle in my bag for when I hit a hotel that doesn't do WiFi. I moved from the 12" Powerbook to the 15" MBP, and while it was the right move technology wise, the 15" is a pain to open up on a plane if I'm flying coach and the person in front of me is reclined. This should solve that. I never need my optical drive on my laptop. Once everything is installed on my work machine, nothing much changes on it. I'll just have to rip with Handbrake at home and toss on my iPhone and laptop for those times when I'm too fried to work at the airport. 64G of space isn't an issue, as this isn't my media server (and why would you want a laptop that was?) And hell if I can nab the flick for $3 or $4, why bother to rip anyway?

So yeah, if you're wondering who their target audience is, its me.

I watched the video and all I could think of is Steve has "jumped the shark"

The web site crashes my firefox.

@sidmuchrock: ok, happy to know that they will at least sell a few;-)

BOOM i just sold my old macbook on ebay, Boom i just order this new Baby

Feels too much like a proof of concept to me.

I'd be majorly disappointed if I found out the fan is terrible or the case snapped straight in half.

I for one prefer my laptop that resembles Galactus, for it's incredible bulk has given me biceps capable of crushing cantelopes.

What was that sound at the end? I'm sold though. GaddamyuApple. You got my soul. Now for the money. mmm yeaaaaaaah.

@tamoko: what does Comcast have to do with a local network?

you aren't supposed to be using Remote Disc over the GD internet.

sweet feathery jesus i can't even imagine trying to install like the CS3 Design Collection... over a *internet-connected* DVD.

the internet and Remote Disc are two things that are not supposed to work together to begin with.

Funniest Apple sanctioned video ever....
"Remote disk, load into PC (or Mac...)"

Shouldn't it show "load into Mac.. or PC)?

By the way remote shared devices has existen in PC since... what? ever?
Is this new for Macs? Really?, get outta here... You're kidding right?

@tamoko:
Get a PC @ both ends and GotomyPC.com.
I've been VPN'ing for years now.. from PC's, Macs, linux boxes and half way across the globe...

I don't like the black keys.

@aec007: Sure it has, but i bet you wont be able to do it with just 2 or 3 clicks and have it work flawlesly at the same time, its like the same thing with screen share on leopard, microsoft has have remote assist on XP since it came out, but guess what?? it does not work right or nearly as good at it does in leopard.

@snitch29. Sorry. You can. You'd know if you had some sort of experience, comparatively speaking, but you obviously don't. Wait a while. Explore this "new" feature on a mac you don't yet own and then get back to us. I'm sure everyone will be holding their breaths. I know I am.

Back on topic ... thanks again, Giz, for the excellent coverage. You really have taken the lead in terms of blogging "shiny new toys." This edited movie is just another example ... all substance, no fluff. Kicker at the end.

Number of people currently with a laptop who have never bought a second battery and use wireless internet easily surpasses those that have bought a second battery and use wired ethernet. No contest.

Lack of optical drive ruined it for me, otherwise it would have been my first mac. Perhaps soon....Macbook air Version 2 at Macworld 2009?

Wow! Apple has discovered how to share a CD-Rom drive over a wireless network?! What will they think of next? Only $1800 man, what a steal. When you're giving your keynote presentation on the 13.3" screen of your laptop it'll be bright enough that even the people in the back of the room can see it! Egads, a single USB port, apple sure doesn't skimp. I could go on all night but I'll spare you.

I feel so stupid for buying an EEE PC.

I don't know why they bothered making a computer generated model for this video. All they need to say is "its thin and new; buy it."

@nosauten: The sooner we get rid of all moving parts in laptops, the better. Good riddance, optical drive. I can't wait until your magnetic cousin and red-headed-stepchild cooling fans join you.

Hah, does this guy look familiar?

[www.tdameritrade.com]

Work at an apple retail store...sure....

What, no sexual jokes about the three finger gesture? You disappoint me, Gizmodo commenters.

Its all fine and well that your willing to throw out your flawed magnetic storage but with blue ray doing what its doing optical media aint no frisbee...50Gb on soon to be inexspensive reliable yet disposable medium... to sweet to pass on

I'm really in the market for a laptop thats like this they were so close on pulling the switch on me(pc guy) but the footprints to big. This doesn't fit either category of machine for me. not mobile enough -- not stacked enough. Id still need a huge laptop bag Id be loosing all I/O except for wifi and a single usb port and its not enough machine to get my AV work done on in a bind. Its a damn shame too..... It looks really sexy