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Early Review of 11" Macbook Air
adeelarshad82 writes "Apple's latest entry into the ultraportable space is no netbook, even though it's the closest the company has come to making one. Its chassis is, amazingly, even thinner than the original MacBook Air, with a screen two sizes smaller. Moreover, the MacBook Air's 11.6-inch widescreen is not the only first for Apple; so is its 1,366-by-768 resolution. Although Apple found a way to squeeze in two USB ports and a speedy solid-state drive (SSD), the MacBook Air (11-inch) is not nearly as feature-packed or as fast as the rest of the MacBook family, primarily because its 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 Ultra-Low Voltage (ULV) processor is running on previous-generation Intel technology. Still, it will give the latest batch of Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) laptops a run for their money."
I thought Steve said they don't make netbooks?
I like having a thin laptop, but I think this one might be a bit too thin. There comes a point where sturdiness plays a role. Even if it's as solid as a rock, I would constantly be worried about it being cracked due to it's crazy-thin profile.
I like the fact that it comes with a USB stick instead of the standard "recovery disc"...good call on that one, Apple.
Living With a Nerd
Cool, an Ipad with a real keyboard.
And why exactly is the new 11" Air *not* a netbook? Sounds like we are mincing words here...
Its a damn netbook, and not even a full year after Steve claimed at the iPad keynote that netbooks have no use...
I'm typing this on a Mac Mini (running FreeBSD), but still the MB Air seems like a lot of money to me for a netbook running OS X. Especially when you see how nice Ubuntu is (for n00b types, anyway) on a netbook that costs half as much or less...
Caveat Utilitor
Just because someone says it isn't a netbook doesn't make it true.
In case you're interested, Ars has a good piece on why Apple chose the Core 2 instead of an i-series chip. Basically it boils down to
a) Graphics performance. The integrated graphics on the i-series can't touch Nvidia's 320M, and Nvidia hasn't come out an equivalent for Arrandale yet.
b) Arrandale needs a separate memory controller, and there's no room for it on the MBA's tiny motherboard.
Good points, though I still want to see head-to-head performance numbers to see if the choice was a good one.
Dislike the Electoral College? Lobby your state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
No ethernet? No laptop.
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
But, I bet you read the article about the new version of the Linux kernel and didn't whine about that, right?
Just turn off the Apple section or stop clicking the links.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
So, it's pretty much just like a Lenovo Thinkpad X series laptop from 2 or so years ago - screen size
Biggest quantifiable differences appear to be:
* price (after two years of market change, you'd think the same thing would be cheaper)
* no repairable/replaceable parts (battery, etc.) as is easily done on a Thinkpad
* Ergonomics of the device itself
* White instead of black
* negligible external interface ports
* thin enough it can tentatively be used to cut veggies in the kitchen or sever one's penis in an accident (intentional? design flaw? you decide.)
~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
If you think a link to a review is an ad, that suggests you simply don't like Apple and don't want to see them reviewed favorably in any form. What other reason could you possibly have? Otherwise, you would have just not replied to the story out of disinterest. In other words, though you accuse the site of bias, the only bias is from you.
I thought I checked that "Ads disabled" option checkbox at the top of /. page
I hate to break it to you, but we geeks really do have an appetite for blinky things that cost money. I can only imagine the amount of emotional turmoil this site is causing you.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
I heard rumours of this system and held off on a new laptop purchase until after the announcement in the hopes they'd release something at a reasonable price tag and with hardware I'd like.
And they didn't.
$999 for the 11" cheap version of a system with a CPU that is already outdated? No thanks.
Instead, I bought an ASUS U30Jc: Core I3, 4G of RAM, 13.3" screen, aluminum, replaceable battery, relatively light, albeit not as thin as the macbook, and all for $200 less. Throw in an SSD and we're still at $100 less.
I mean, 1.4GHz? The used laptop I sold for $200 last week had a 1.6GHz dual core.
How about "why did they focus on making it one tenth of an inch thinner instead of upping the hardware inside?"
Living With a Nerd
Is that what constitutes a review today?
It reads like an ad for Toshiba. The battery life wasn't compared, they performed a test, declared it awful while acknowledging the test was completely unfair and they didn't do the same on the other devices compared. Statements like that in an article are intended to put a bad taste in someones mouth, while its dismissal is intended to imply they are being fair by not using it in the comparison.
Complete lack of professionalism.
did I miss any?
Only one: "LOL IT'S A NETBOOK".
I have an Acer One. It has a screen that is only 600 pixels tall which makes most browser use a pain in the ass. It comes with 1g memory and supports a maximum of two gig. It is tiny but its not thin. It is powered by an Atom processor, weak internal Intel Graphics, and has a 4200rpm drive (120 or 160, I forget - its fairly large). Comparing this to the MBA 11.6. The new MBA has better processor power, incredibly better graphics ability, and its damn small. It also appears more sturdy than netbooks which all I have seen are just black plastic jobs with an odd battery hump. Now my Acer's screen is pretty , its LED lit, but the 600 resolution in vertical really hampers its usage. I found Chrome to be ideal compared to other browsers which hog a fourth of the screen for the top bars and title.
That out of the way, the Air is very high priced in the standard 11.6 configuration. My Acer One with Windows 7 Starter was only $200 dollars at Target. Granted it was a sale but damn, throw on a monitor/kb/mouse for another $100 and you have a wonderful little machine to read mail/surf/etc at home for anyone. Something that takes up hardly any space. Still I would like to buy the Air. It comes with OS X, I can bootcamp to 7 or possibly use Parallels with it (not sure - will need to see some performance tests). The boost to 4g memory and flash drive should really kick up performance.
Not a netbook, its an ultra portable notebook. It has a real screen and a real keyboard and that is what separates the two
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Yes - "It's beauty justifies the $1000 price tag"
"Who needs ethernet/cd rom/othermissingfeature"
"I can cut cake with it though"
Etc.
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. This comment may not be copied in any way including, but not limited to caching.
I want you I need you But-there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you Now don't be sad 'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Am I going to buy one? Let me sleep on it, baby, baby Let me sleep on it... Let me sleep on it, I'll give ya my answer in the morning. Apple Clerk: "I gotta know right now!"
Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
Steve Jobs:
"Hey, remember when I said that netbooks aren't good at anything and that they're just cheap laptops?
Well... I fixed the cheap part!"
http://twitter.com/object404
1) because it has a real laptop processor in it...netbooks are usually characterized by their anemic Atom processor.
2) because it is too thin and high quality to be a netbook
3) because it has a full sized keyboard and a large touch pad
It competes with the Viao-Z and other CULV high-margin lightweight laptops.
Netbooks, from my direct experience, have major issues with hardware quality (trackpad false clicks, keyboard crammed, screen too small, you name it). An Atom chipset does not compare to C2D+320M in capability.
Even when running the nice Ubuntu Unity, the hardware quality really does the OS no favors. I don't see the use of having to plug in a mouse to avoid the false-click-fest. Let's just assume that Win7 (No) Starter is not a option.
You pay for what you get, apprently.
Make sure everyone's vote counts: Verified Voting
Because now you can shave with it.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Actually, Ars answered that.
What it boils down to is that Intel is trying to take over the entire integrated graphics market and we're suffering the consequences.
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
That doesn't answer my question about why Apple tried to make it thinner vs. better internals, ESPECIALLY considering the cheapest one still costs $999. Why not keep it the same thickness as the previous models? That way, there would be more aluminum, which would allow for better heat dispersion, which would allow for a better processor.
Living With a Nerd
Machines like this don't need the latest and greatest CPU. There were very few things that I do on my original air that tax its CPU. That's because I'm not editing video, etc on it. You basically have grown-up machine that you can do actual work on and it's not much bigger than an iPad.
Do I see a need to have both an ipad and an air? Probably not. If you have an ipad already, then chances are you would be better served with a larger laptop.
As far as the ethernet port. On a machine like this, it's not that important. I have a USB ethernet dongle and I've used it 2-3 times.
As much as people want to kvetch and moan about this, I can see the 11" MBA decimating the basic Plastic Macbook sales. They are priced the same yet here you get slicker design, more portability, SSD, aluminum case. I don't think either serves as a main computer, so why not go for the extra portability.
As far as Jobs building a netbook (I hate that designation) after saying Apple wouldn't, what he actually said Netbooks are just cheap laptops, all they did better was be cheaper. Clearly this isn't Apple moving into sub $500 laptops (and it also not Atom powered with horrid graphics). This is not Apples Netbook.
I think they are viable options that will move a lot more MBA, but naturally the same people that complain about every Apple product will complain about these.
Meanwhile, we nerds really do have an appetite for making blinky things, noisy things, silent things, and things that go BOOM.
Free Martian Whores!
...a few words.
First, all who are saying that thickness is unimportant should try one. This thing is thin and small enough to slip into a bag all by itself and once in there it's light enough you hardly notice it at all anymore. What's not to like about that?
The keyboard is the same size as all Mac keyboards and feels very much the same, the trackpad the same width as in the other MacBooks but not quite as high. Works perfectly well though and I did not miss a mouse. The screen is a bit smaller of course, but has the same resolution as the 13" MB and MBP.
The machine felt surprisingly snappy, the SSD and rather fast GPU seem to compensate for the not so fast CPU just fine.
There's no TRIM support in the (Apple-branded) SSD according to System Profiler.
All in all it feels like a real laptop when you use it and almost like nothing when you carry it. I liked it very much and had my credit card nearly jumping out of my pocket.
for one of these - or one of those pointlessly thin TVs - to suddenly roll up while making that 'twup-twup-twup' sound of a 1940's cartoon window shade; possibly also ensnaring a luckless house cat.
I'm pretty sure Linux kernels don't cost $1k a pop.
Why? .n is faster than 100- and slower than Gigabit. If you want a wired computer... a MBA is probably not for you.
It is in keeping with the current design language: my current gen MacBook Pro has a silver bezel - it's a custom order option if you get the high-res matte display. I actually think it's nicer than the black.
I was thinking the same thing. I bought an Acer Aspire One in April for $300. The Mac version with the eleven inch screen has a slightly faster processor, twice the ram, and about the same drive space. The Apple web site says it has "room for" a webcam, the Acer has one built in.
The Apple is a lot thinner, but the Acer's thin and lightweight enough. The Acer's battery acts as an easy-carry feature.
The Apple costs three times what the Acer costs. I don't think I want one.
Free Martian Whores!
Fuck everything, we're doing 1 big blade. (or maybe 2 when in the open setting - shhh don't complicate things)
And I thought I turned off the retarded new discussion indexing system (the one with the meaningless sliding bar on the side that lets you make more comments pretend to show), but it turns itself back on for no reason, no matter how many times I change the settings or try different ones.
Set to "classic" --> revert back automatically
WTF??? Can't you retards just leave well enough alone?
Information theory is life. The rest is just the KL divergence.
I'd love to see a review... this was a (slightly) remixed press release.
Ok, to be fair TFA is actually a pretty decent early review, and actually gives the machine a somewhat lower score than I would expect to see on anything Apple (3.5/5, for those too lazy to look). The summary, however, is just an ad.
Try not to take me more seriously than I take myself.
I think Classic is gone. I set mine to classic ages ago, only seeing the craptastic version when I visited without logging in, but here it is and I didn't do anything to any of my settings.
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
Burma.
But you have the Apple section enabled on the front page, so it's your own fault really.
The computer they're running on does.
Preemptive: yes, you can buy older mac hardware too. You can get macs sub $500, and even sub $200 depending on what you want.
+5 funny. Only thing is I bet most of the /. crowd is too young to know the song.
As opposed to your personal distortion field that insists it is iCrap because it is made by Apple. :)
Awww, how sweet. ;-)
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
More _REAL_ news:
" Apple To Remove Java from Mac OS X?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 21st Oct 2010 09:13 CET
After the news that the new MacBook Airs do not ship with Flash pre-installed (which is news considering Flash has been part of Mac OS X for a very long time), we now have news that Apple is also taking what appears to be the first steps towards removing Apple's own Java runtime from Mac OS X.
1 Read More 88 Comment(s)"
Apple knows better than you do what you really want to do and use your computer/gadgets for. Enjoy.
I assume you can install Flash and an old version of their JRE yourself. And I guess Oracle will want to provide a JRE of their own.
Your Aspire One with no SSD, smaller screen, lower resolution, twice the thickness, 6 ounces more weight..
It does include a web cam (Now called face time camera). I can not find your reference to room for in any of the specs..
I of course failed to mention the Aspires Atom processor..You know half the cores and all kinds of other interesting deficiencies.
Because on Apple's website they keep saying flash storage...
I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
The computer they're running on does.
I've never put Linux on a computer that was worth more than a couple hundred dollars. Some cost more, but had been used for years as Windows machines, and were therefore either going to be junked or turned into Linux boxes; i.e., effectively free. The Linux itself cost the price of a few minutes of broadband download time, plus one or two burnable discs. Since I have a stack of several dozen blanks left out of a hundred CD-R's that I bought several years ago, those are essentially free as well.
Really, the most expensive part of Linux for me so far is explaining to you how cheap it really is if you don't go out of your way to throw money at it.
No, the Aspire is quite a bit slower. It runs at a higher clock speed, but a Core2 Duo is going to get more (much more!) work done per time unit.
You can't just look at the clock speed and say "the one running at a higher megahurtz is faster lol" because that only worked in the old days, or when comparing processors of nearly identical internal design.
Good. Flash sucks and there is NO reason for it to be installed by default on any computer.
Java, take it or leave it, but maybe Apple is getting a bit wary of Ellison and his attack lawyers.
Either way, this is a good move. Bundling Java and Flash is stupid anyway, as both are updated so frequently that you'd be resigned to shipping a product with two big security holes.
Clock for clock, an Atom core is slower than a C2D core. I doubt your 1.8 GHz Atom performs anywhere near as well as a 1.4 GHz C2D. Not sure if your Atom is dual core, if not, that's another big factor. That said, a 1.4 GHz C2D is still quite anemic and is the major downside of the MBA. Not sure that Intel had anything more attractive to offer, though, unless you're willing to deal with their craptastic integrated graphics (which would have been okay with me).
Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
OT: My login did that yesterday, now it is back to classic discussion again today.
>>>Your Aspire One with no SSD, smaller screen, lower resolution...
Oh here we go. You remind me of when I visited a car lot a few years ago. I told the salesman, "I told you all I wanted was a basic car for around $15,000. Why are you trying to sell me a $30,000 luxury model with a lot of ____ I don't need? Good bye." - Same applies to your Aspire v. 11" Macbook comparison. Some people don't want to spend almost $1000 on a machine. Some people are perfectly happy with $200 PC or $300 aspire.
Another thing: 768p screen? Really? Mine has 1024p and it's a few years old. I'm not sure I understand why Apple is going backwards? (Uh oh... here come the Applefanboys to mark me "troll") (Not even allowed to give an opinion anymore... like dealing with damn Bible-thumpers.)
.
>>>Feedback on this comment system?
It sucks. I hate this dynamic index.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
The Apple costs three times what the Acer costs.
Because the Apple device has higher specs? Gee, imagine that. A device with a better processor, more RAM, an SSD vs HDD, has a bigger screen with higher resolution costs more!
check out the dell m101z, for 500 bucks you have an 11,6 screen, a decent size hdd (which you can replace with an ssd if you want) and an AMD dual core CULV CPU
Granted, the cpu probably is slightly lower then the intel CULV in this new apple, but there is no way the apple is twice as good in terms of specs
People, what a bunch of bastards
The point is, you don't have to pay for the Linux kernal, so it's not a commercial product, which (in my mind at least) means it isn't an advert. You have to pay for a Mac.
That said, it's a valid story, and it's been picked by a crowdsourced editing system in many ways, so it's all our fault. You and me, plus them.
Please consider this account deleted, I just can't be bothered with the spam anymore.
Not defending either machine, just straightening your facts.
The Acer is more extensible, with user-replaceable battery, savvy-user-replaceable hard drive and RAM (though the RAM is a total pain to get to, not just a door on the back, everything has to come out to get at it) and the possibility for a lot more storage as laptop hard drives get bigger. If it gets stolen, and your data on it is backed up and protected from malcontents, it's $300 and not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.
The Macbook is much thinner, a little lighter, significantly more powerful with it's 64-bit dual core processor, has reportedly better battery life (Apple's reporting has been pretty close to reality lately) and a full-sized keyboard and almost full-sized multi-touch trackpad (compared to the postage stamp Acer calls a trackpad,) slightly larger screen with quite a bit higher resolution, higher resolution webcam, much faster but more limited storage, can be configured with 4gb RAM (must be done at config time, part of the logic board) and for those that care, Apple's customer service and reliability are rated much higher (per the keynote video.)
Between the two? I'm probably going with the Macbook Air. I don't mind the premium for what I think will be better usability. I'm a larger gentleman with larger hands, and I haven't found a netbook keyboard and/or trackpad yet I want to use for more than a few minutes at a time... too small, slash key and period/comma keys are half size, etc. While the machines are similar in size, the MBAir has it beaten quite soundly in specs. It's really easy to say "haha, Jobs-o made a netbook after putting them down..." but he really didn't. This is no netbook. I had a netbook for two months, gave it to my mother, and I'll never own one again.
Of course it's iCrap because it is made by Apple! Otherwise it would be Krap, GCrap or MS Crap.
But... the future refused to change.
Even with one core disabled a 1.4 GHz Core2 Duo is faster than an Atom 1.8GHz with hyperthreading. Much faster.
check out the dell m101z, for 500 bucks you have an 11,6 screen, a decent size hdd (which you can replace with an ssd if you want) and an AMD dual core CULV CPU
Granted, the cpu probably is slightly lower then the intel CULV in this new apple, but there is no way the apple is twice as good in terms of specs
Not meaning to argue, just ask a question... What kind of display is in the Dell? I don't believe Apple uses the low-end TN panels that are found in most netbooks.
A friend of mine was bragging about his new HP 27" display (not on a netbook obviously!) as "just as good as the Apple Cinema Displays, but cost hundreds less", but you get a few degrees off-center from his monitor and the color goes all wonky. Display quality does make a difference (FWIW I've got my Mac laptop plugged into a very good quality Dell monitor right now).
#DeleteChrome
Another thing: 768p screen? Really? Mine has 1024p and it's a few years old.
Who makes an 11" ultraportable with a 1080p screen ?
Heck, I'm not even sure I'd want such a thing. 1366x768 on 11" will be squinty enough as it is.
Hmm, well I absolutely love the 1920x1200 on my 15.4" HP workstation laptop, and thats 147.02ppi.
This new MacBook Air is only 135.09ppi. Not bad at all but it's still a bit less than I would be used to in a laptop.
If it was 1440x900 on 11.6" it would be 146.39ppi. That is actually what I would love to see.
Acer's processor is 1.8gHz, the Apple is 1.4. So the acer is faster.
It depends - is the Acer running Windows? Windows could slow this machine to a crawl.
That is all.
Costs around $250 less than a Maxed 15" Mac Book Pro
(including Apple Care)
Food for thought.
Although that is mostly due the cost of the 512GB SSD in the MBP.
Like anyone can even know that
It may have a faster clock speed than the 11" MacBook Air but it does *not* have a faster processor. Your Aspire One has an Atom processor while the 11" Air has a Core 2 Duo processor, which does more, clock for clock. Looking at the GeekBench Results Browser, It looks like the 11" Air scores are at least double what your Aspire One's score would be.
It was running Win 7 when I bought it, but it still ran snappy. Booted quick, loaded apps quick, ran full screen video flawlessly even when other stuff was running. It's running kubuntu now and I haven't noticed any difference in how fast it feels. But it sure as hell doesn't feel anemic.
Free Martian Whores!
Your Aspire One with no SSD, smaller screen, lower resolution, twice the thickness, 6 ounces more weight..
Alternatively, you can buy a higher-end Acer ultraportable with a similarly sized screen (and the same resolution) to the 11" Macbook Air, a faster processor, better battery life, more RAM, etc... for almost half the price. No SSD as standard, but that does have the nice benefit that you actually have a decent amount of storage space - and unlike the Macbook Air, the drive can be upgraded.
And I guess Oracle will want to provide a JRE of their own.
Possibly, though I expect they're missing critical stuff such as GUI code (and other OS-dependent code) that actually works on Mac OS X. As far as I'm aware, Apple owns the rights to that code.
I have a first generation MacBook Air. Although it's generally pretty good, if I try to watch video for any length of time (netflix or skype video) it always overheats, turns off one of the cores, and then becomes unusable for video (one core on its own can't keep up). If the new Airs are better at video I'd love to get one to replace mine!
I don't get what is so difficult. If you don't want a $999 11" machine, then don't buy it. Who cares? This machine isn't for you, any more than a Porsche 911 is for me. I don't spend too much time going in depth about cars I'll never own. So why spend time bitching about a computer you'll never own? For the specs, and in comparison to the Sony 11" machines (of which the Air is the closest to) the price is very much on par. it's not a 1.4" thick plastic laptop with a cheap Atom processor and slow hard drive.
It happened to me (and apparently everyone else too) yesterday.. but I am back in classic mode, using the little icon next to the Logout & Why Subscribe links.
Though I did find out that 'feedback@slashdot.org' bounces, which it tells you to email. I then emailed webmaster, which didn't bounce, but I have no idea if anyone that reads it got it.
check out the dell m101z, for 500 bucks you have an 11,6 screen, a decent size hdd (which you can replace with an ssd if you want) and an AMD dual core CULV CPU
It's also 3x the volume and (at least) 50% heavier.
Granted, the cpu probably is slightly lower then the intel CULV in this new apple, but there is no way the apple is twice as good in terms of specs
Depends on which specs you're measuring. If size and weight are important (and if you're entertaining buying either of these machines then they must be) then the MBA probably is nearly twice as good.
Of course it's iCrap because it is made by Apple! Otherwise it would be Krap, GCrap or MS Crap
Shouldn't that be Krap, gnome-crap, or Microsoft Crap Foundations, Enterprise Edition?
The MBP and the Cinema displays are all black bezel. I'd have thought, since they want you to bundle this with that display, it would match and not look like a lead weight.
As for the desktop monitor you mentioned, just sounds like the usual IPS vs. TN. HP does have their own IPS monitors, in fact they actually are one of the very few companies that actually make the panels (And supply them to e.g. Dell).
Strange. In the computing world, Mac OS is known to perform all tasks given to it slower than any Linux distribution or NT based Windows OS.
Oooh, nifty new interface. I wonder how that happened... I'd like Apple more if it was cheaper and simpler to upgrade RAM on their laptops. The unibody design sucks in that regard.
Damn! If this was the Spinal Tap edition of /. I'd be able to give you another mod point.
if apple aren't interested in maintaining it, please Larry, ask your friend Steve for the code and the openjdk 'soylatte' community will do the rest.
yes, if weight is an issue then the MBA wins, no doubt.
I personally think thought that with any modern 11,6 the weight wont be the limiting factor for my use. My current laptop weighs in at slightly over 2kg, and i lugged that thing half way around the world.
People, what a bunch of bastards
Comment removed based on user account deletion
That they don't know about the PowerBook 2400c is clear.
Fandroids hate facts.
And, AMD Radeon video cards as well. It's not like Slashdot doesn't review hardware.
Whining that it's an ad for Apple basically glosses over every other product story we see which is essentially an "ad".
Unless we're going to try to say that hardware stories are good unless they're about Apple.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Okay, I'll call your bluff. Name something (an ends, not a means) that can be done on Windows or Linux that I can't do on my mac.
Atom is an in-order processor.
You know what else was an in-order processor? A 486. You know what was out-of-order? A Pentium Pro.
It's like that difference.