The Pros and Cons

It’s been a couple of months since the brand new Macbook Air was presented, yet scandals and disputes still go on. When it became available in shops the first thing to talk about was its tremendous glamour. People think that this laptop was designed exactly for those ready to break their neck only to show off. There some true lovers of Apple ready to buy the brand for whom the most important advantage of Macbook Air is that it is Apple’s. But is it worth of?

First of all we should give proper respect to Apple’s designers. They did a good job. There is nothing to add – hardly there is a person able to criticize Macbook Air for its design, here Apple is perfect as usual. They have not only called this laptop a “thinnovation”, but also one of those must-have things for true fashionists. Someone said it is ideal for housewives. But does it make any sense? Would you pay 1799$ just to keep Macbook Air at home? No, you would better take it to Starbucks at the morning and let everybody see how you check your mail.

Apple’s new product was just fine in terms of design, but its functionality was purely shocking for many of us. Indeed, the number of ports is not sufficient, no fireware, no Ethernet, the volume of hard disc is terribly small, and no built-in optical drive… Even if you want to change the battery you have to take it to technical service. It is not simply unusual, it is disgraceful! But think a little… They had to sacrifice something, hadn’t they? The developers counted on future. They removed everything one could do without; they created a thin ergonomic laptop and issued an external DVD drive, USB-adapter for Ethernet and other devices at once. Purchasers are extremely happy with such a care even though they have to pay extra money each time.

If speaking about functionality it is worth mentioning that many users are not satisfied with Macbook Air not only because it is made of slightly out-of-date components but because it is worse than other laptops of the same price category. The majority of customers is not willing to pay a good deal of money simply to get a very thin stuff that does not look like a computer at all. But its principal advantages are design and portability. Those who like Macbook Air say that it is meant to be used mainly as the second computer. One may enjoy this laptop on the journey, in classroom, during their vacation. It would be strange to expect that such a handy small thing has enormous functionality and extremely powerful components.

It is because of unreasonably high expectations of public that Macbook Air has not received many favorable reviews. First they say that the design is great, and then start to comment of disadvantages of the laptop and laugh that this is just a brand new accessory for blonds. It is a common opinion that we have to wait another year to see something worthy on the next MacWorld exhibition. But could such a failure really happen to Apple?

The case is not so simple. As it was mentioned by one of the visitors of the worldwide most popular news site CNN Macbook Air has become a golden apple.

To those that this computer would interest most will ignore most of the previous post because they lack insight or fact. If you dig deeper [...] you will find Apple has already thought your concerns through and has developed a clever, and soon to be copied, system to answer them
If you want ethernet, buy the little usb adapter. The USB Superdrive add-on is pretty cheap but if you already have a computer, which I assume everyone does, use the remote install feature. This feature will work for system upgrades as well though it isn't specified anywhere yet. The Touchpad is genius and right up iPhone's users alley.

My suggestion is to wait and play with the machine first and see that what you give up for ultra-portablility is minimal compared to other computer makers. Again, Apple strikes gold.

Of course this raises arguments, and those arguments are reasonable enough.

Obviously not a true USER opinion, but more of a prospective user/consumer opinion...

I can see that, at some point in the future, the optical drive will be obsolete and you won't need an ethernet port (or Apple's proprietary $30 USB-to-ethernet dongle). But that's not going to happen before this new laptop from Apple becomes a relic. In the here and now, I have to figure this laptop will appeal to a very narrow niche of self-pronounced "high-end" users (which is a joke considering its lame processor and smallish hard drive), or more likely, people whose self-esteem is directly tied to owning the latest overpriced Apple gadget on the market.

Here we have two opposite views, each of which is valid in some sense.

Apple has developed a good plan how to get money from those revolutionary products. In that Air goes far beyond Ipod and Iphone.

The most obvious example is non-user replaceable battery. Give them 129$ and enjoy Apple’s service. No optical drive? No problem, Apple will sell you an external one, for some 49$. You want to watch a film, but you have not bought a drive yet or you do not want to go out to buy a DVD? That is alright, you may purchase the video you want in iTunes. Now this shop sells not only tones of music, but also films. Want you a SSD or more powerful processor for your MacBook Air? Oh, it will coast you a ridiculous sum of 3100$. Simple calculations will show you that real price MacBook Air may turn to be much more than those 1799$ they announce.

It would be great to see more objective and reasonable opinions on the Net, but there are only debates. Right after the exhibition they only talked on the design, but then they lavished their dissatisfaction on Macbook Air. But it is likely that this furious crowd is going to calm down soon. One will understand that the product is not perfect only for it is the first try to do something like that, another one will go and buy Macbook Air, somebody will find another object for their bitter criticism, and somebody will wait for the next exhibition to find out if the developers will manage to make this ultra thin laptop better.

Before you buy something you always consider if the item is worth of its price. There is no definite answer for MacBook Air. If you have money and concern about your image, if you are fond of Apple, at last if you have a good computer and you want to buy something pretty to match it, why not? But if you do not want to buy only the Apple’s trademark, thinness and people’s jealousy, if you want a computer, not just a fashionable toy with some functions of computer, you should better buy something more appropriate to your needs. Or you may choose to wait until Apple improves its “air”. Of course if they are going to do that.