Filed under: Macworld, Apple, MacBook Air
Engadget reviews the MacBook Air
Taking you through all the innovations (and compromises) it comes highly recommended especially with the galleries. Even as someone who was at Macworld, I remain astounded at the engineering involved in getting this machine just as thin as it is. Ryan Block makes some excellent points, and his concluding sentence (not wanting to ruin it for you) will undoubtedly resonate with a lot of people -- TUAW staff included.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bwhaler said 8:04PM on 1-25-2008
I bought the SSD 1.8 model.
I don't get all of the hating on this.
It's not a desktop replacement. All portables have trade-offs.
You decide if these trade-offs are worth the weight loss.
Pretty simple, eh?
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Victor Agreda Jr said 8:37PM on 1-25-2008
bwhaler, you forget: people want all their groceries in one bag, but they don't want the bag to be heavy.
Jacob said 5:36PM on 1-26-2008
"I want all my groceries in one bag."
"uhh, ok."
"and I don't want the bag to be heavy."
"uh, I think that's impossible."
"who are you, the impossible police?!"
Charles Hamilton said 1:45AM on 1-26-2008
I (pre)ordered one. I still don't know if it is the replacement for my 12" powerbook. I guess I will find out.
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LittleJoe said 10:29AM on 1-26-2008
Ive been reading for a couple years and I still cant get over the fact that AOLs Apple-specific blog never actually gets to review this stuff themselves.
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Victor Agreda Jr said 11:57AM on 1-26-2008
LittleJoe, we find it rather amusing as well.
TexRob said 3:13PM on 1-26-2008
I am pleased that Engadget did a good review, and didn't bias it for or against the MBA. People have unrealistic expectations for how this thing should perform. What we really need is to load boot camp on one, load Vista, and then do a comparo with it's competition like that Sony TZ (I think that is the name) and other like models.
Sure, I wish it was at least as quick as a Macbook, but the fact of the matter is, the Macbook is really only a slouch when it comes to it's GPU. The gap between the Macbook and Macbook Pro is further blurred by the fact that the MBP is due for a processor update.
I for one will be getting a MBA and a Time Capsule within the month. 95% of what I use a laptop for is very basic, web surfing, email, word processing, etc. For this, it's perfect. I also like the fact that it doesn't have an enormous screen. The 17" MBP might be good for someone who truly wants it to be their only machine, but the 17" MBP is far from what I would call a laptop. It's a tabletop mac, it's way too large for me.
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Uncle Mac said 3:16PM on 1-27-2008
I had a heated email exchange with one of my Winbloz friends that sent me this link in case any of you'd like to scan it over, I posted the link below from Paul's Super Site Blog.
I told him that most MBA "previews" are negative, most "reviews" are mostly positive but the biggest problem most people have is they assume this is the new Replacement Laptop not a different model, to supersede all others. A misconception that this will be the near future of all makes that will eliminate the optical drive and other I/O ports. It might happen one day but I believe that's at least a decade away before that will come to pass.
http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/01/16/the-morning-after-the-macbook-air-is-a-joke.aspx
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John Ahrens said 5:51PM on 1-27-2008
I for one say nice job Apple! Job (or should I say Jobs) done and for these things
1st and for most-weight, if your on the road this is so nice 2nd has a good size screen and full key board.
3rd It is a start to the green side. We need to think green- waste foot print is way to big on all these throw away electronics. Apple has done some great packaging, some past packaging I could even expect to see as art work in the Guggenheim. Hats off to Apple to start a more is less and recycle is better then anything. I for one love the hikers saying leave only foot prints or leave it better then you found it.
This laptop does not replace or remove the need of a desktop computer, BUT it is a stunning design, light and offers easy of portability. I am not convinced that any laptop would completely eliminate or replace all needs of a desktop.
On the down side there are things I can't wrap my hands around- Battery why no self replacement? One USB thats going to get old fast I do believe. I haven't heard if you can do any upgrades at all on your own but I am betting against that. Those few things will drive people crazy I believe. BUT as bleeding edge goes apple again not only pulls the rabbit out of the hat, this time the hat they pull it out of is a thimble.
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