News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

January 24, 2008

hardware

MacBook Air: The first reviews are in!

Posted Jan. 24, ’08, 10:00 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar
Category | Hardware

MacBook AirWhile we’re still waiting for the review from the Mothership, New York Times, Newsweek, The WSJ and USA Today all have their reviews in.

Decidedly, it’s a mixed bag, with the Journal’s Mossberg calling it: “beautiful, amazingly thin computer, but one whose unusual trade-offs may turn off some frequent travelers.”

That said, his battery test (not surprisingly) doesn’t quite live up to the hype:

In my standard battery test, where I disable all power-saving features, set the screen brightness at maximum, turn on the Wi-Fi and play an endless loop of music, the MacBook Air’s battery lasted 3 hours, 24 minutes. That means you could likely get 4.5 hours in a normal work pattern, almost the five hours Apple claims.

USA Today: Given the compromises, I don’t expect anyone to use Air as their only computer. But it is a yummy machine for people who spend a lot of time traveling.

Newsweek: The Air shines most, of course, when it’s out in the open—on an airplane seatback tray, on a conference table, beside your latte in a Starbucks and on your lap when you’re sprawled on the sofa. (Bonus: the Air doesn’t run as hot as Apple’s other laptops—it’s actually possible to work for an hour with the device on your lap without the feeling that your fertility is at stake.) The gentle curves and the absence of protrusions make this an instant object of techno-lust, another notch in Apple’s belt of design triumphs. Most importantly, its diminutive dimensions pretty much evaporate the eternal quandary of whether or not to take your computer along with you.

New York Times: Even so, the Air isn’t for everyone. Bargain hunters, feature counters and people who don’t see the value of elegance — in general, the same people who despised the iPhone before it came out — would be better off with a bigger, less expensive, more complete laptop. Thanks to the small drive capacity, limited connectors and missing DVD drive, the Air doesn’t make a great primary computer, either.

But as a satellite machine for travelers, executives and presenters, it’s spectacular. Full-size screen, full-size keyboard and five-hour battery in three-quarters of an inch? Get psyched; this laptop is a razor-thin slice of heaven.


1 Comments

Don Sheehan said:

The critiques were about the MacBook Air not being full featured.

I think the MBA has plenty of features that a traveler would want.

In the Fall of 2006, I spent 5 weeks riding the rails and looking for family ancestors in 5 countries in Europe. Because of its weight, I left home a 5.5 pound Apple Titanium laptop. It would have helped me as I searched for relatives.

My daily needs, camera, passport, Eurail pass, maps, snacks, etc. were kept in a fanny pack. A laptop would have been a big help.

a. I would have all my ancestors information right in front of me in the Reunion genealogy application.

b. For emails and surfing, I would be using an English keyboard, rather than Spanish, German or French keyboards, which are different. Finding a nearby Internet Cafe was not always easy.

c. I could show photos of places, buildings and people who might be related to the persons I was seeking.

d. I could use one of the many machine translators that are available on the Internet.

e. Every train I rode on had electric hook-ups and Internet access, usually at no additional cost.

As I ponder a return trip to Europe this summer, I am considering an MBA, which has more features than I will need.

Don Sheehan

January 25, 2008 6:26 AM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: