I actually wanted to get the jump on Phil for once posting a thread like this. 8•P
Apple unveiled their new lineup today including the impressive looking MacBook Air. Too bad all it really does is LOOK impressive.
A quick scan of the specs (click "Compare Specs" on the gray bar in the box below.) however reveals it's really all a shell game. Not only can you get a more powerful, better spec'd machine (the top end MacBook) for a significantly better price, but there's actually difference between models in the other lines. Selecting the lower priced Air and changing the 1st 2 options to the higher end versions results in - the exact price and configuration of the higher model.
Now some people might feel in these days of portability that they don't really need a CD/DVD drive - but offering an add-on external option for those who want one seems like a nice idea. Not a bad price either - but would all those who would like a Firewire as opposed to a USB connection please raise your hands? It's rather silly to have an external drive which needs the access and connections speeds of a DVD drive and pick the slower of the 2 readily available connection options.
Sure, it looks cool - but form factor is secondary to usability in my book. Prettying up the package and tanking the function - asking me to pay more for less - is just one big shell game.
Apple unveiled their new lineup today including the impressive looking MacBook Air. Too bad all it really does is LOOK impressive.
A quick scan of the specs (click "Compare Specs" on the gray bar in the box below.) however reveals it's really all a shell game. Not only can you get a more powerful, better spec'd machine (the top end MacBook) for a significantly better price, but there's actually difference between models in the other lines. Selecting the lower priced Air and changing the 1st 2 options to the higher end versions results in - the exact price and configuration of the higher model.
Now some people might feel in these days of portability that they don't really need a CD/DVD drive - but offering an add-on external option for those who want one seems like a nice idea. Not a bad price either - but would all those who would like a Firewire as opposed to a USB connection please raise your hands? It's rather silly to have an external drive which needs the access and connections speeds of a DVD drive and pick the slower of the 2 readily available connection options.
Sure, it looks cool - but form factor is secondary to usability in my book. Prettying up the package and tanking the function - asking me to pay more for less - is just one big shell game.