The keynote at this year’s Macworld in San Francisco did not disappoint. Steve Jobs introduced a completely new paradigm in computing – the ultra-light, sealed, laptop computer. The MacBook Air (MBA). You can even get it with no moving parts with the Solid State Drive (SSD), which is the whole idea of computers to come. You saw history being made at that keynote, folks.
I love the idea of the thing, being so thin and light. I would have hoped for something a bit smaller, say 11 inches or so. That formfactor would have had the same size keyboard, But something that small would have fit in my lap or curled up with me on my couch, just a bit more comfortably than one with a 13.3 inch monitor. The lighted keyboard is a great feature, though.
Yes the MBA is sealed. but the battery is the same as the one in the MB Pro and will be replaced for no charge by Apple when the time comes to replace it. The cost is about $120. Life expectancy of the new battery is supposed to be exceptional.
Is there anything wrong with it? I think the MBA is very cool and desirable, but my first impression from the SPECS page at Apple is that they will need those 2 GB of RAM because of the iPod Hard Drive. To me, that drive is just not a good fit for a laptop, regardless of the speed of the new CPU, because that iPod hard drive is doggy-slow (4200 vs. 5400 RPM). If I bought one, I would be stuck with the slow HD, because the SSD is $1000 extra smackeroonies!
However, that is to be expected, mainly because the SSD is the smaller version from Samsung. A bigger SSD would only be 5 or 6 hundred more, but then it wouldn’t fit in the MBA.
Look for more sealed computers in the future from everyone else including Apple. This is an evolving paradigm that just makes sense, when you think about it, along with the idea of no moving parts. But they are making these computers so reliable and long lasting now, that the only way they will be able to get us to part with them is to make the next generation that much better and more desirable. The same is true for feature sets – things we used to pay a premium for, are now being included in the base model. (like cars used to have options, where they are all now included and expected in the base models). Most of the features you find on the MacBook Pros are on the new MBA.
I have looked around the web today and I am surprised at all the pundents who are whinning (que nasally voice) “oh, its too different” “oh, its too new” “oh, the case is locked” etc., etc.
Seems to me that the case is locked for a reason – that of (1) cost of production and (2) risk of breakage by owners (who are sometimes a bit ham-handed and not so careful with thin and delicate things). Apple is replacing these batteries at cost and without charge for labor, but with trained people. Who knows? Perhaps it will be handled at the Apple Store while you wait? I am sure they are going to bend over backwards not to make it a five day affair. After all, they do seem to have an excellent track record with Apple Care and fixing things gratis, right?
Pundents not withstanding, I maintain that a locked case is the future of computing (and cars). Let us not join all those pundants and nay-sayers just yet, and take a wait-and-see approach to this. The high road, and all that. The cost is so high there may not be many buyers right away, anyway. Does anyone have any data on battery useage, cycles and lifespan with devices that use SSDs? Seems to me that the battery cycle would be much gentler.
One more point about those complaints of all the pundents – The idea of the MBA is that it does everything wirelessly. Think about it. It does not need a media drive since it can get anything it needs from the web, or from another computer, say your desktop iMac. Even adding new software is fast and easy. Apple made sure of it. So why are all these guys crying in their beer because it doesn’t have a media drive? They even complain that there are no ports, and no way to bring in audio. Dummies. All of that can be accessed wirelessly too. Or if you must, you can use the USB port that the MBA has. Yeah, I know. new paradigms require new ways of thinking. But once everyone gets over that curve, they are going to love it and never look back. Do you think any computer in the future will have ports at all?
To a completely other point – Randy Newman, not withstanding, Those last ten minutes of the keynote were filler, right? There was supposed to be ONE MORE THING and it did not happen, for some reason. Anyone got some clues what it was supposed to be?
Regards to all you road warriors at Moscone on the home front for MyMac tonight!
All this is my opinon, of course. your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. That’s my take on it anyway. Sorry, no refunds. Film at 11.
Regards,
Roger Born
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