i have a MacBook Air and i'm really pleased with it

WOW! It depends on MY preference? I would have never thought I even had a choice in the matter.

Too bad Mossberg is such a Mac slappy that having the Mac OS (or not) is a characteristic of his evaluation.

I expected nothing less (or more).

Is there a link to his original article?

Geeez, everyone knows Mossberg's a sellout.

(Not that I disagree with the conclusion), but Mossberg works for KatieC right...

How about:

Has 3 USB ports and a Mic slot. Winner: Lenovo X300.

Or:

Up to 4 GB of RAM. Winner: Lenovo X300.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X300 can technically run OS X, just not legitimately.

@Biggy:

What about : Has way more ports. Winner: Lenovo X300. dont you understand ?

And RAM ? 4 GB on an UMPC ? Lulz

how about..
what the fuck is that little red nipple in the middle of my keyboard.. winner macbook air..

or..

i wanted my "ultraportable" to be symmetrical(ie: the same thickness throughout) winner: neither. i know.. moot.. but it's one of my favorite things about my mbp..I hate leaning laptops..

i'm beginning to think that our desires as nerds just surpass the technology. I remember a time, when upgrades would surprise and delight me, and I wouldn't even know precisely what they meant.

now all I want is a 5nm 16 core laptop with multitouch, a bezel less oled screen, and ai, all wrapped up into a thickness of .25 in...

It's not 7 to 7 tie. When you say that MacBook Air has MacOs Leopard and it's a point, it's very subjetive, I work with Leopard, Vista & XP, and I do all the same things with the three OS, Photoshop, 3D, Illustrator, Quark, Premiere, waching movies, iTunes, organize photos & media and all common day by day operations. And the uper position of the screen is very "cogido por los pelos".

Anyway "Maxshanly" ir right (but don't forguet that tha MB Air can run Vista, ah, no, it can't load de install DVD :p)

Valis

@Redwraithvienna: My bad on the ports point. Also, what's wrong with 4 GB of RAM on a Notebook? Or because Apple doesn't have it we should consider it as a bad idea?

In another note, I can't call these as UMPC's, they aren't Ultra portable yet. they are still huge considering the footprint of each device.

That picture was the first funny thing I've seen today, that actually made me laugh.

Lenovo wins for me hands down. i wont look like a tool carrying that around.

Has a screen that stands up higher, leaving less viewing angle while travelling on plane. Winner: MacBook Air.
WHAT?! you guys really wanted a tie didn't you?

@Biggy:

4 GB on a kickass notebook with a huge HD, the best graphics card money can buy and much more processing power then a 1.8 Ghz Core2duo can supply : OK

On this very nice, very sexy, very specialised machines it makes no sense.

Dont get me wrong. More RAM = Good. But does it really matter ? I mean you (hopefully) wont run AutoCAD or something similar on it which really needs it.

Even other RAM hoggig stufflike photoshop would be much more limited by the 1,8 Ghz Processor then by 1 or 2 GB RAM.

So in my opinion : With those two machines more RAM is not the dealmaker or breaker.

On the UMPC Part : I am working in a museum and teaching at university. Which means that i always carry around my laptop and "other Stuff"(Which is not much but just too much for my small laptop bag) from workplace to workplace.
At the moment i have too use a big laptop bag cause i just cant fit in books, papers, and so on in the small crumpler bag i own. (this is due to the macbook i own being a lot thinker and in an additional cover so it wont scratch :) ).

If i got a MacBook Air or a X300 it would get much easier. I could use my small bag again, wont have to worry about scratches and still have enough space in the bag for "Other Stuff"

So Long story short : UMPCs in my opinion are not only about footprint or how high a laptop is built. Its about one of them. Either its high and has a small footprint, or really thin and has a large one. In both cases it frees up a lot of space in the bag. And that is what it is all about.

I am a fan of "big" screens so an Air or X300 would be great for me ... a EEE defenitly wont do.

(If ever a EEE with a roll out OLED display comes along i will reconsider)

just my2cents

Who the h*ll cares what a journalist working for a profit center has to say? They all pander to the whims of their advertisers.

@flame500:
I'm w/ Flame500 on this one. Now it's not too surprising to find Giz favoring Apples (from the tones of most apple related post, as opposed to windows) but it's quite apparent you guys were really trying to give the MBA more points than needed. It should also be noted that I am not an apple/msft/lenovo fan. I just think that every now and then, it'd be nice to have a post that was a little more objective.

@kooqeem0nsta: Read the post.

We just went through Mossberg article and made a bullet point of each of his arguments, one by one. In fact, if you count all the expansion as one advantage, there will be less points awarded to the Lenovo than to the MacBook Air.

The fact is that Mossberg's article doesn't make the Lenovo or the Air a clear winner over the other, but leans towards the Air for a number of reasons, explained above.

You can agree or disagree with Mossberg. We are just reporting HIS opinion (which I personally happen to share but others in Gizmodo won't).

Again, this is the most worthless gadget-fight I've had the misfortune to encounter. Both the X300 and the Macbook Air suck in price, power, functionality, and expandability to the regular Macbook. The portability factor isn't a slam dunk for the X300 or the MBA either. over the Macbook.

7 to 7? all you gotta do it pick ONE MORE comparison and you decide which you want to win.

for me, neither one is a winner. i think the air is way overpriced, and underpowered for the price you pay for it. it may not be as sexy looking, but the macbook is a better choice. on the other hand, i hate lenovo for reasons too long to list here.

i think it is a little cheap to inlclude both size and weight in the categories as well as the software in a hardware comparison. but i agree that it is merely personal preference.

@firesign

RACIST!

Can run more software and compatible with your office network standards:
Winner, Lenovo X300

Doesn't pan you out as the latest trend setting metrosexual twit:
Winner" Lenovo X300

I think the price alone should be a huge factor in this.

@Denver_80203: does the Lenovo make up for the fact that you don't have a girlfriend / wife? And who in the world refers to people as "Twits" anymore? Your not the custodian at IBM are you?

@Redwraithvienna: AutoCAD doesn't require that much ram I've got a vaio tz90 with only 2gb and it runs it fine. I can even get it to model in 3dsMax, just not render. I find that an ultraportable is great to have on a job site when for some reason the hardcopy of a drawing gets lost or the contractor conveniently misplaces it.

I read the article on WSJ.COM last week and the biggest advantage the MBA had was price as ninjatales stated. The Lenovo is starting at over three grand while the MBA is under two grand. We all know that SSD is a bunch of hype right now so without all those bullet points I think its safe to say that the MBA is the clear winner here.

@Stacky Botrus:

LOL, i sense sarcasm?

@imTheKing: *yawn*

They both appear to be quality notebooks but I would disagree with Walt's conclusion (which from reading this article, is a draw). I don't see the logic in marketing a mobile device ("work anywhere PC") and omit 3G or a "reliable" way to upgrade (from what I have read, the MBA's USB port doesn't play nice with most USB-based connectivity cards).

Don't get me wrong, I think Lenovo could do a LOT to make the X300 more desirable (better battery life, better processor, more competitive price, etc.) But I just see the MBA missing the boat on a core competency of an ultra mobile sub-notebook.

@Denver_80203:
Denver you got that backwards.... the Air can run windows nativetly... so more software here you go.

Also is proceless to watch your eyes follow the person with the Mac Air while bitting your lip while holdind a plasticly Dell in your lap.

>Can run more software and compatible with your office >network standards:
>Winner, Lenovo X300
>Doesn't pan you out as the latest trend setting metrosexual twit:
Winner" Lenovo X300

For about the price of a MacBook Air, I got myself a Lenovo X60s more than 18 months ago, which runs rings around it, in terms of speed and functionality. The x60s scarcely weighs more, has awesome battery life and outspecs the Air in pretty much every way.

I expect the Air is a good laptop for folks who believe the iPhone is a good phone...

I'm very happy with my macbook air. It is more than capable performance wise for what I use it for (i still have the trusty ol' win XP desktop), and its design makes it a pleasure to use.

As much as we geeks have trouble admitting, subjective factors like design make gadgets more enjoyable to use.

Interesting to observe the differences in interpretation and presentation. Over at Engadget, they clearly make it sound like Mossberg is leaning towards the X300:

[www.engadget.com]

Oh, and those few of you up there trying to spin the good looks of the MBA as somehow a universal negative (as opposed to personal preference) are amazing. You should work as spin-masters for politicians. I know one camp that really needs help right about now ;-)

I think we all can tailor a "head-to-head" to come out any way we want...hell, I could make my HTC Titan PPC phone come out ahead of the MB Air if I controlled the questions:

+ Small physical dimensions :: Winner = my PPC phone
+ Infrared :: Winner = my PPC phone
+ Mobile internet :: Winner = my PPC phone
+ Touchscreen :: Winner = my PPC phone
+ etc etc etc :: Winner = my PPC phone

the only reason to throw in something that allows the MB Air to win is just to make the comparison "look" subjective. Also, grouping up the results to make *another point* should not count as another point.

+ Small physical dimensions, Infrared, Mobile internet, Touchscreen :: Winner = my PPC phone

Also, when talking about OS in regards to hardware...that seems a bit tacky. While I like that hte MB Air can run Windows and OSX, there is always the Linux option. Makes it look like your grasping for +++.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the X300 has a 2.0GHz Santa Rosa Core 2 Duo, and the MBA has either a 1.6/1.8GHz Core 2 Duo.

Sooo..."• Has slower processor. Winner: MacBook Air." Isn't so true so much as it's false. Unless you take it literally, which is to mean that if you want a slower processor, buy the MBA.

@Redwraithvienna: These are not UMPCs. These are notebooks. Very thin and light notebooks, but notebook computers nonetheless. Actual UMPC's, like the Sony U70, are about 1/4 the physical size of either of these.

Really, you're not going to want to dual-boot on a 64GB SSD. Personally, I'd have the Vista-based X300.

Was just thinking...Inthis day-&-age, isn't there a comparison template that can be used to be more objective that these media flunkies to use...I'm sure there is somewhere.

But then again, if you're trying to control the outcome...

Nuff said.

@lithivm:
I've read a LOT of amusing comments on Giz, but yours takes the cake!
Ill take a "plasicly"(whatever the f@ck that means) lap top before overpaying for some pos that doesn't do half the things I need/want just because I cant cope with the .8 inches more in thickness and a few pounds in weight.
I don't mind the price aspect of it; Ill pay for quality, just not an over priced status symbol. Although I have bitten my lip whilst looking at an MBA; kind of makes me think about going poop.

Lets all stop drinking the Cool-aid here. The MBA is just plain not for anyone who has to do any kind of serious computing of any kind. Its like buying a diamond.
It's very shiny.
It's pretty looking.
But it doesn't do much of anything. It's for the status of saying you own one.
If you want the Jessica Simpson of laptops go right ahead......attractive on the outside with nothing of substance on the inside what-so-ever.......(go for it x! LOL)

@SAVAGER: I happen to like the "little red nipple" over the touchpad, so for me, winner=X300 on that one.

This, along with several of the other points (os) are all subject of your preference obviously.

Well check this out: cnet comparison of the SSD version of the Toshiba Portege r500-s5003 with the Macbook Air:

[reviews.cnet.com]

They point out that the Portege is more than a pound lighter, has more ports, is cheaper, and has the option of adding an internal optical drive (though that lessens the weight difference).

It's easy. Both support Windows. One is ugly and has a dvd rw, the other is not ugly, but has no dvd rw, and has only one usb. I'd take the lenovo, as the apple is kind of useless. I need more usbs and I don't want to think about forgetting my dvd rw.

@lithivm:
"Also is proceless to watch your eyes follow the person with the Mac Air while bitting your lip while holdind a plasticly Dell in your lap."

You may find it interesting that I don't own a plasticly Dell unless the article and my earlier response left you wondering. I care as much about my image as you care about you spelling.

@FreakyExecutive: Yep!

One minute he's a PC whore and the next he's puckering up to Steve_ You have to look at him more like the "mickey mouse" of news reporting for tech gadgets_

He's more of an icon or figure head_ He's a Journalist that covers technology - just like some of those "sports" announcers that have never actually played sports_ Or a movie critic that has never acted or written/ directed/ produced a movie ever_
-----------------
Here's my query for the topic at hand:
"• Doesn't use Mac OS X Leopard. Winner: MacBook Air."

Was this messed up in some manner?

Should this not be either:

DOES use Mac OS X Leopard. Winner: McBook Air

or

Doesn't use Mac OS X Leopard. Winner: Lenovo X300

The last time I checked - the MBA uses Leopard and the Lenovo X300 is a Win box - so what am I missing?

-

If I wanted to get an ultra-portable with some good functionality and specs, along with being very light and easy to use, I would have to go with the Lenovo. If you're getting an ultraportable, it means your willing to spend the extra coin on the laptop anyways, so the Lenovo at it's $3,000 price tag when fully loaded would be reasonable for someone looking for an ultra-portable. And I like Vista, having Mac OS is more fo a con to me, I don't really know how to use the OS, as do many PC users, so there's a bit of a learning curve.

For people living in reality and not some make beleve land, the lenovo x300 makes 1000x more sense. it functions with real live things and have more conetivity. yes osx is cool and all but what os gets the work done in the world? XP, as sad as that might be its the truth.

Never quite sure why anyone needs more than one USB port at a time on a Laptop? What have you got hooked up that can't be switched out in a few seconds by plugging into the same port? I seldom use one of the three ports on my MBP.

DVD drive? I seldom EVER use that. I download everything, movies, software, music.

Ethernet? Seldom use that either... I almost always connect wirelessly at home and at work, and on the road. Most hotels these days have wireless in the rooms.

2 Gigs of RAM works great on my MBP. The MacBook Air doesn't really need more than 2.

The big deal-killer for me is (and will always be) Windoze. I hate it. I would never go back to such an unnecessarily clunky and complicated OS again. I don't care if the Lenovo has 20 gbs of Ram and 3 optical drives... and cost $450, I wouldn't want one. The OS makes all the difference in the world.

"Serious Computing?" Come on. 99% of you do nothing more than surf the internet, read email, and work on word processor/spreadsheet docs. Judging from the lack of spelling skills, I'd bet that there aren't many nuclear engineers or rocket scientists complaining about the MacBook Air, just nerds in their parents basements.

@maxshanly: "The X300 can technically run OS X, just not legally" - This is the main point of my next PC build. Getting OS X to run on generic PC hardware. Best of both worlds really. Options where there were none before, and total choice of OS's. It's the stuff computer-dreams are made of.

@vinny2cubes: Classic, absolutely classic Mac-user post. 'I can't think of any reason why someone would want more than the bare minimum.'

To give a simple example, let's say I want to copy a USB drive to another (something I do quite often). MBA will do that in...double the time of another computer with just one more USB port.
I'd say there are dozens of scenarios where I use two USB ports on my lappy nearly every week. Now three....that's a bit excessive.

@vinny2cubes:
LOL, I must be in that 1% you mentioned because all the stuff you listed I use almost daily. Hell, just the simplest of tasks like trying to download something at more than 54 Mbps is a joke....laughable. Kind of like a novelty lap top. Only a novelty lap top you pay as much for as a lap top you could use instead of admire how thin it is. You know for the guys who have to make sure EVERYONE knows they own one.........

Although Windows does suck, for me its way better than the alternative of owning an apple of any kind; except for the Granny smith. I love those apples.

It's the same crap I hear from almost every apple user....."It's too complicated, please simply everything for me Steve, I'll only ever need the bare minimum!" Hilarious……. I think your right. You should definitely stick with apple.

I think using MacOS X as an evaluating point is far too biased for me to take the comparison seriously. I don't really like a lot of things about Windows (and I hate Vista...). However, I can run linux and enjoy all sorts of great eye-candy and system stability. All in all I don't really like the MB Air, but I base that on the hardware. As many have already pointed out, you can make both run either operating system - comparison should stick with HW.

• Has less battery life in both tests and normal use (so much for SSD.) Winner: MacBook Air.
• Has slower processor. Winner: MacBook Air.

How are those wins for the MBA? You love Apple that much?

> the Lenovo X300 is a "notable engineering accomplishment

and the "Air", I bet, is another substantial milestone in evolution of the mankind.

Biased. Needless to say more.

• Doesn't use Mac OS X Leopard. Winner: MacBook Air.

actually, that's a win for the X300. it's a professional machine, and since most workplaces use Windows, you're ensuring compatibility.

• Is more expensive at $2,476 with half battery and without DVD. It has SSD, but it doesn't add any advantage. More popular configuration is $3,000 with full battery and DVD drive. MacBook Air base model is $1,799. Winner: MacBook Air.

the comparable macbook, with the SSD, is $3250. again, a win for the X300.