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.
"Prettying up the package and tanking the function"
um .. (how can I say this without coming across wrong?)
haven't the Lords-on-High done this before? .. and come out smelling like a rose .. iMAC anybody?
the iMAC was the carebear of the computer world .. the 'barney-the purple-dinosaur' ... and mac-o-philes everywhere said "YES!! I want some more please" ... instead of shunning the company and driving them out of business ...
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.