The biggest complaint I’ve heard about the MacBook Air is not the fact that it only takes three plugs (headphone, USB, and an external monitor); but that the battery is not user replaceable.
This is a non issue for most people as most people don’t mess with the battery. The average person will never replace the battery at all. For about a quarter or less of users, in about year or so it stops holding a full charge and you get it replaced. A good percentage will be able to get the battery replaced at the Apple Store or a Best Buy* “while you wait.” A smaller number will have to send it in to have the battery replaced and then there’s the smallest number (like me) who will do it their own selves.
The MacBook Air is not for everyone. I place it beside the 15-inch MacBook Pro in the pantheon of Apple laptops. The entry point continues to be the MacBook. Buyers of the MacBook can’t, won’t or don’t want to spend the money for the bigger or faster laptop. Great big old power users and those who just want to impress people plunk down the big bucks for the top of the line 17-incher. That leaves the middle ground. The geekier will choose the 15-inch -Pro over the -Air. They have lots of stuff to plug in and need all those ports.
Who wants the -Air?
There’s the office road warrior. They mainly use Microsoft Office to do Word files, spreadsheets, and give PowerPoint presentations. They already have a briefcase full of papers in file folders and if they can lighten their load with a skinny, stylish laptop . . . then by the ghost of Zig Ziegler, they will rush right down and buy one.
The fashion conscious will also line up behind the -Air. Pictures don’t do it justice. This is one sexy laptop. Pick it up at the store and even without opening it, you want to hug it to your chest and take it home.
Caution!
But then again, its thinness may also be a problem. Most laptops have a heft to them that prevent you from ignoring the delicate electronics. Slide it safely into your padded computer case and treat it carefully. Pulling my aluminum -Pro from the bag, I’m conscious of how slippery the case is and take care not to drop it.
As computers get lighter, I fear that they will not receive that level of care. Road Warriors will squeeze them into briefcases and drop them onto desktops harder than they should. And there will be a rash of bent laptops.
I hope I’m wrong.
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* I spoke at length with a representative of Best Buy at their MacWorld booth. Watch for my next blog where I’ll report on that meeting.
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