It's a roadster.

Small trunk, not huge power, style, "notice-me" top-down action, light on not-quite-every-day features that you still commonly want, and relatively high price.

It, like a roadster, is really only good if you have something else, like a hatchback, when you need to get real and do more than have basic fun.

I'd say that it's a match for that type of person (roadster owners, like me), but it's not small enough (thin isn't everything) for me, and it's not powerful enough to replace any of my other machines (can't burn blu-ray, slower proc, light on ports, etc.).

That is to say that, while this machine is not for me, Apple will sell buckets, and the first version will, as always, have hardware problems.

chaboud

There's still room in the MBP lineup for something like the MBA, but with dual drive bays (2x64GB SDD or even 80GB HDD for data + 64GB SDD for OS and apps would be do-able and cool), a graphics processor, swappable batteries and 3G modem. The 15" MBP is just too big to really use on the road comfortably. The MBP's are due for a redo soon anyway.

whibeyben

tchangtx

Hello_Newman

Been holding off my laptop upgrade waiting for a Mac Ultraportable. 13" is not ultraportable not matter how thin it is. It is a thin and light. Looks like I'm going with the Fujitsu P1620.

BTW, ultraportables are NOT desktop replacements. Many of you are comparing completely different categories of laptops. I use an ultraportable so I can travel fast and light. If you travel a lot you'll appreciate the weight savings and the flexibility to stuff your computer in any bag you want. When I want a big screen or to play games, I have a Quad core Shuttle XPC with a 8800GT sitting at home.

durian

If I was still in college I would love having something like this that I could take with me and take notes on, and check the internet. It could easily slip in a regular bag, be light, great.

I think it makes a great extra computer for people (richer ones) with desktops or just want something "simple" for class/coffee houses etc. It wouldn't cut it for storage/gaming/editing media...but people know that.

Daveed

firesign

rednecktech

Playstation3

pevans34

Power wise, that VIAO will probably mop up the MBA

Carbon

Oh and I agree with you the X300 looks sweet. Although I would personally hold off on the FTW till we get the most important spec: price.

Dearhaw

Is the experience of one or a hundred people enough to project sales? Of course not. Is this enough to get a good idea of what may probably happen? I think it is.

Jesus Diaz

But you're not getting the point of my post. Most of the "different complaints" you see are mutually exclusive, hence there's no way you can satisfy all of them. Take that together with the fact that some people actually see the MBA as worthy of their money. What you should take away from that are two things:

(1) There is a market for this machine;
(2) You're not in it.

and leave it at that. Why continue to bitch and moan because of point #2? Do you do that for every machine that Apple releases? (If you answered yes, you're just a worthless piece of shit troll loser of a hater) do you do that for every machine that every computer maker releases?

Dearhaw

Did anyone see how everyone went APESHIT over the magsafe? That was interesting to me. Also the way everyone in Japan was so much more interested touching. The synaptic part of it was VERY important. Different way of sensing the product than westerners.

oo0EveryoneElseWasDoingIt0oo

They wouldnt buy this because they already have a thinkpad x-series.

archercc

tnkgrl

I do make that much, so I guess it's targeted at me. And I wouldn't buy it. It is still a big deal when I won't be able to do what I want with it when I'm sitting in the terminal or at the hotel. Or if I need to swap out the battery because it won't last for 10 hours while I'm at a client's. Or when I need to grab something off an optical while I'm at a client's and I can't access their network.

wraith808

That's not the only thing I play... and no, you can't play EQ2 on a MBA, nor can you play COD4, Stranglehold... the only reason I said WoW is because of the fact that it's the only cross platform comparison I have? And the fact that I can play WoW on my SZ with *no external accessories* other than my mouse. Can the MBA do that? Like I said, I'm not putting down the MBA, I'm just saying the comparison to an SZ isn't valid. Can you agree with that point? If not, there's no point to this- you're firmly in the land of denial.

wraith808

Xenocide

The MBA is targeted for the kind of person who already has a Mac Pro at home and makes $100 an hour. The international finance guy who lives on Long Island and takes the train to Manhattan every morning will buy this. The pharma executive who takes the BART to San Francisco will buy this. Japanese salarymen and chaps who work in The City will buy this.

They can work on business reports, spreadsheets, check e-mail, etc. while on the train. Then slip the MBA into their briefcase and walk wherever. When you're hauling it around all day, being light and able to fit in a manilla envelope (and thus a briefcase) is paramount.

When you make $200,000 or more a year, $1800 is not a big deal.

Sihanouk-s-Poodle

Xenocide

What I find interesting about this is that, while we all westerners theorize about what's good, big, small and whatever, these guys in Japan have been chasing the portable Holy Grail for ages, with an obsession with light, thin and small. They know what's too small, too frail, too underpowered, too big or too heavy. And judging from the ooohs and aaahs in the video and her opinions, it seems to me like the Air may become a huge hit in Japan.

Now, I don't know if this will translate to the rest of the world. But for sure, it seems very interesting to me.

Jesus Diaz

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

Then we agree regarding the optical drive (which some people just won't let go of ;-). I agree with you on RAM, don't agree with you on removable batteries. I've written this elsewhere, but in the past 10 years I've owned around 10 laptops, both Wintel and Apple. Never have I bought an extra battery, and never had I wanted one, knowing that I'd have to lug it around at all times because the only time I'd need it is in an emergency, and one thing about emergencies is that you can't predict when they'll happen.

Dearhaw

Some people say the CPU is underpowered, while other people, apparently, are OK with ULV 1.2GHz, so long as it's lighter. Some people say it could be another 1lb heavier, so long as it has an optical drive. Some people don't care about how crappy the keyboard is, so long as the footprint is the size of a paperback.

If Apple had chosen to go with any one of those, the rest of you still would be bitching about it to no end, because it doesn't suit your needs.

It's the same deal here. Yes, Apple sacrificed a lot of things to make the MBA. They had to in order to get it a certain way (weight, thickness, horse-power, battery life, etc.). They made choices based on market research and design philosophy. If it doesn't suit you, move on, and let the market decide if this is a winner or a loser. I would bet my money on it being a winner, but that's just me.

Dearhaw

Right, because you can't play WoW on an X3100. Come on now.

HAGE

celloids

clevin

True, the 8400 is not as big a step up as I'd like. But more than enough to play many games, i.e. WoW, Everquest 2, and others that I play regularly on my box. That's not really an option on the MBA. So no, it's no real comparison. And add the fact that the CPU on my SZ is much faster than the MBA, even the 3k .2GHz upgrade, and its more able to game than the MBA. That's not my primary purpose of this box, but that it's able to handle it is definitely a plus.

wraith808

daftrok

slingblade

ANoel

Current SZs have the same X3100 GPU that the MBA has, with an external GPU option of a 8400M GS, providing that same gimpy upgrade if you want to use an external GPU. The 8400M IS a step up from integrated, but a modest step at that, I'd be hard pressed to say your gaming world would open up moving from one to the other.

HAGE

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

wraith808

Wrong. I have an SZ, which they are comparing the MBA to on this page, and play plenty of games on it. Heck, I have a UX and play WoW on it in the middle of nowhere... can you do that on the MBA?

wraith808

rednecktech

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

sexyj

timerider42

dylanjin

HAGE

Yeah, I think it will.

Although I'm a current gen. MacBook user, and I love it, and won't buy this MBA because my MacBook trumps it, spec-wise, in almost all points, I'm personally ready to ditch the optical drive on my portable if it means it'll shave 1.5-2 pounds off the weight. In a year or 1.5 years from now when the Rev. B MBA will have higher specs than my current MacBook, then I will seriously consider it, regardless of how the MacBook would look like at that point.

Dearhaw

MrBlahBlah

Also, enough with the MBA=$3,000 crap. That's only if you get the 64GB SSD.

@jamar0303:

I'm pretty sure the Akiko Wada you're thinking of isn't a blogger ;-)

Dearhaw

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

Certainly looks to be an amazing piece of engineering, especially when compared to this Sony.

MINI Driver

You're looking at an enthusiast desktop-replacement range to get anything resembling a gaming GPU.

HAGE

HAGE

I play quite a few games on line that I'm not sure the MBA would even support. Setting aside the fact that even after I spend over 3k for it the 1.8 GHz MBA processor, it won't even run the games.

Even I can see the benefits of an ultra-thin lap top but when you factor the complete shit internals the MBA has for the price, along with having absolutely no unique features other than its skinny physique, and having a few extra detriments as well, you come to a harsh truth that Sony already knows:

"Thinness is not the holy grail. Making something that thin and sexy costs it too much usability."

Out2gtcha

jamar0303

All alliteration aside, (damn!) You don't think that selling purple hued laptops, and advertising pretentious lines like "Vaio" "Wega" and "Bravia" is any less art-school dropout than Apple?

SHAMR0CKER

So the 3# weight, optional SSD, backlit LED display, wireless n with BT + EDR, and .16" thickness *isn't* impressive, but an optical drive *is*? Really?

On a day to day basis, what do you use an optical drive for that can't be substituted with a thumb drive?

It's 2008, tell me the last non-software "purchase" you made that required you to pop in a CD?

SHAMR0CKER

kingsnake

SFCritter

random1970

GumbyJump

Pretty sure it comes standard with more RAM than the MacBook, and is the *only* Mac-Top that has an option for a SoldStateHDD.

What are you missing out on? An Optical Drive? For what? To listen to a CD? Watch a DVD? As if people even own those anymore.

What the crap do you need an optical drive for, on a day to day basis, that can't be done by a thumb drive?

And its priced completely un-ridiculously between a juiced up MacBook and barebones MacBookPro.

...All things aside, I'd break it in half unboxing it, but that dosn't mean its not cool. =)~

SHAMR0CKER

JOOSH

Rhew

plwh888

I don't hate that thing, I just don't want one, and it's actually "targeted" at me. And no, I'd need more power! :)

kendra68

I think the main draw of MBA is it's ultra-portable-ness... everything has its target audience. If it's not targeted at you doesn't mean it's no good at all... Have an open mind!

ipodee

squirgle

Lots of gadgets give me "gadget envy" I'm proud to say this one does not, I cannot believe something that thing would be powerful or durable. I'm new to laptops in general, (thanks Santa) but man, I'll keep mine happily. I'm with someo of the other posters, it will be interesting to hear how well these hold up.

kendra68

As much as I like to carry a cool laptop, I will never get past the issues of non-user-replaceable critical components (e.g., memory - which can go bad; battery - which is just plain stupid I always carry an extra battery "just in case" I don't care if it claims 10 hours of uptime; HD - these go bad, too, plus it's always nice to be able to take advantage of faster, bigger or solid state at my discretion).

BTW, I currently use one of the small AlienWare laptops (don't remember the model) - it has kept me happy for quite awhile and it's looks are still "cool". Oh, and I did my own memory upgrade of course.

huygir

In the end of the day, the thing I care most is the weight. If I'm in the go, then I'll want to be as light as possible. And when I can get a hell lot more futures with the SZ6 with an extra pound... Hell with MBA...

I will buy one so I can annoy people around me and browse while having a nice coffee... Oh wait, I don't live in the US with wifi in every corner... I'll use 3g then... on wait... well at least I'll look like a postmen carrying my envelope!

PMPP

xint

endrewsmith1

BoinK

elliotness

Its like saying "Its so easy even a caveman can do it." You see, cavemen don't actually exist, and if the church has anything to say about it, never did. Saying that even a caveman can do it is what we call in the marketing industry a paradigm shift vis-á-vis the caveman is like a manilla envelope in that they both represent the complexity that is the human psyché.

What was I saying? Oh right. Manilla envelope.... Those aren't really made in Manilla, are they?

homerjay

itouchgadgetsinappropriately

Coop

strider_mt2k

BadBoyNDSU

sublimnl

Winters

DrXym

Also, does anyone remember the cracked screen issue with the iPod Nanos? Remember this comment a week after they start shipping.

reckless_inoz

metonae

In my opinion the VAIO beats the Air in 80% of the features.

AC3

zach

aussie

regnez