Very nice.

I'm not an Apple cult member, though...

/ducking

Mmmm, geek stuff...

Capitalist oppressors!

Oddly resembles a levitating flying carpet!

I guess this take on Steve Jobs is not undeserved (just wait for it...)?

re: #4 alegrias

Oddly resembles a levitating flying carpet!

--- It's the continuous air stream out the bottom ports that keeps it off the table.

If it doesn't come with the anti-grav hover mode pictured, I ain't buying! What ever happened to truth in advertising, man?

But can it support the video card cajones required to play Battlefield II?

now all they need is some software!

First second-life avatar virtual mugging over new MacBook Air in 3...2...1...

/

I can absolutely guarantee that in my in-box is a link to this from my mac cultist brother-in-law who lives and breathes for the next "Mac and PC" commerical...

Yes it was introduced while Randy Newman sang anti-America songs.
"Aaaand it’s over. Holy crap. Who knew Randy Newman, the guy who makes the songs your kids play over and over and over again, would sing such crazy crap about our government?" (from live gizmodo)

I'd ask for one but the folks at my job by Dells by the thousands. I do like the latest sleek model I got recently but that looks really nice.

Looks like hot air to me! :P

I don't know anything about Mac, but that is a gorgeous laptop!

Dont we have enough anorexic models out there as it is?

Another interesting announcement related to the MacBook Air is remote disk. There's no optical drive internal - but with the software - one can use the optical drive on any PC or Mac that has remote disk software installed. The use of an external optical drive has always been a achilles heal for ultraportables.

ABC radio just mentioned it. Not a bad price @ $1700 and it fits in a manila envelope.

I still like my Vaio TX series. Just as small and light.

Laptops get thinner, whilst laps get thicker.

/It's a zero sum-sum world, mack

GRR. I just bought a cheap Vista notebook for the wife so I can have my MacBook Pro back. She uses it while staying at home with our newborn daughter.

(MacBook Pro 15"/ MacPro quad core xeon / iMac Core Duo 2007 24" / G5 Dual 2.5 Ghz owner)

ohhh, its green too!

well, that's worth an extra $500 right there...

I thought I was reading Instapundit by mistake for a moment given how you used the term "technoporn."

It's good news and no accident that Apple Co. has produced this beauty during the presidency of Bush--who says it's all over for America? It ain't over, people, cheer up.

It would really be great if these notebooks were produced in Michigan by unemployed auto workers...

Pity CompUSA just went byebye... that's where I usually window-shop stuff like this...

I'm gonna miss that place... :-(

It looks skinnier than my cell phone.

re: #24 alegrias

Maybe that's what Mitt has planned. After all, he says he will get them new jobs, right?

re: #26 Sharmuta

Heck, it's skinnier than my ex-supermodel trophy wife

Not crazy about the lack of a DVD drive. Seems like they did that in order to hype their iTunes movie rentals, among other reasons.

They're still trying to ram Randy Newman down our throats after four decades? And I-Tunes features Patti Smith. Rudy Vallee wasn't available?

now thats what i called notebook... but I already had brought a Mac book pro... :(

It is nice, but I really like my Macbook Pro better. Give me 15" or give me death!

Does this mean the prices on other MacBooks will suddenly get more reasonable?

Does it come with the magic hovering ability, or does that cost extra?

Relishing the thought of it accidentally getting recycled curbside with the paper.

/Mmmm, relish!

Well, I see that it uses a 1.8", 4200rpm IDE hard drive, which isn't exactly screamin' fast, when compared to a 2.5", 7200rpm SATA drive. As for the solid state drives, they read fast, but write slooowly. I assume it also uses an ultra-low-voltage (ULV) processor (because of space and heat-dissipation requirements), which isn't fast, either. Basically, it's a cute executive toy.

is the price gonna drop soon, like the iphone did?

I'm quite happy with my black macbook, but the part about wirelessy accessing optical drives from PC's is awesome!

All your Macs are belong to us

Unfortuately for Apple, Wall Street expected more of them, their stock is down $8 on the lack of news and down almost $25 from the end of last year.

What have you done for me lately is a hell of a way to value a business. Last year they introduced the iPhone, expecting them to top that is just not realistic.

my computer has an on/off button and a pretty green light...

/channeling Ralph Wiggum

re: #35 rappmandu

Relishing the thought of it accidentally getting recycled curbside with the paper.

/Mmmm, relish!

LOL, yeah. Ultraportable also means ultra-loosable

Yeah... Did not see a firewire port, and not too many options for connecting things to it.

For my money the regular "macbook" starting at $999 is the money ticket.

re: #42 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

re: #35 rappmandu

Relishing the thought of it accidentally getting recycled curbside with the paper.

/Mmmm, relish!

LOL, yeah. Ultraportable also means ultra-loosable

And ultra-stealable.

Does this laptop make me look fat?

re: #27 jjmckay1216

re: #24 alegrias

Maybe that's what Mitt has planned. After all, he says he will get them new jobs, right?

* * *

We can hope it's not just hype--welfare payments haven't brought the place back to life so far. And if Mitt can't get Michigans unemployed or underemployed to make tech products, then perhaps he can get Americans to use them for new purposes. Natick, Massachusetts used to be where computers were made in the 1970s and 1980s.

We have to wonder how long can Chinese workers produce these products under the toxic conditions of Chinese factories? Today's Wall Street Journal talks about Chinese workers' illnesses, really awful third world.

re: #12 FreeIowa

Yes it was introduced while Randy Newman sang anti-America songs.
"Aaaand it’s over. Holy crap. Who knew Randy Newman, the guy who makes the songs your kids play over and over and over again, would sing such crazy crap about our government?" (from live gizmodo)

But on the SFGate live-blog they said he sang PRO-America songs.

WTF?

I don't usually drink Apple's Kool-Aid, but this machine is pretty tits.

re: #40 Ayatollah Ghilmeini

And did you notice how entertainment-centric it was? All the business news was last week. This week was all about "how can we keep you anesthetized entertained?"

Our dog ate one of our cell phones, we dropped two others mid river, and had to dry them out after which they did work fitfully for a while. We have since upgraded to those military grade cell phones for the family - dust-water-shock resistant ... so ... apart from the fine new enhanced woohoo computer features I'm quite sure this new laptop has, it wouldn't last a week in our house. And we really don't trash anything - we just are active around here. Can't image what a few days in a kid's backpack would do to it - mixed in with all those heavy textbooks.

So, great product for metrosexuals.

(;-D)

re: #50 wanumba

My daughter is hard on her computer; it looks pretty banged up, so I can see where you're coming from here.

re: #21 zonekeeper

Wife will be demanding her own macbook to replace that Vista thing in 3...2...1...

She's pretty.

Nope, still doesn't beat my Panasonic Tough-book (model w-5) which also weighs 3 pounds and has the dual core processor. Mine also has a built in CD/DVD burner and more USB ports plus an aluminum an magnesium re-enforced case for the around the same price. But seems that Steve has another market corned before the release of a product like he did with the iPhone. You see, I bought my computer in Hong Kong and in the next store were iPhone copies that worked better than the real thing with more features...and cheaper. BTW, I do NOT work for any computer firm!

re: #51 vxbush

hehehe

It's only wafer thin!

re: #47 zombie

Pro-america to the SF gate means anti-Bush.

It's thin enough to mainline.

/mac junkies rejoice!

re: #51 vxbush

re: #50 wanumba

My daughter is hard on her computer; it looks pretty banged up, so I can see where you're coming from here.

That's where the polycarbonate MacBook comes in, tougher shell. The MacBook Air is aimed at professionals who don't need the Pro set of features.

One thing I'm disappointed about is that, side-to-side, it's still not any smaller than a regular small notebook. Yes, it's unbelievably thin, but it has the same table-top-footprint.

I was hoping for one of those Japanese-style teeny-tiny sub-sub-notebooks.

I have owned Apple computers since my model IIc.
I am here at the Expo now, typing this on my MacBookPro.
(A fellow lizard told me the Intel chips for that model are manufactured in Israel). Full report later.

Apple Releases World's Thinnest Notebook Computer

Computer obesity is a serious problem. I hope this one doesn't suffer from computer anorexia.

re: #60 zombie

People like those larger displays.

And at 13.3, it's still smaller than most notebooks.

I like large displays too. At home, my laptop pushes a 30" Cinema display.

Soon they come out with holographic screens with the CPU injected into your skull.

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes will finally be reality.

Charles -

Elegant technology - AND - at a price point 3 times that of a decent Windows Laptop - OR - 2 times that of a Mac Book it should be.

-S-

re: #61 rawmuse

Oh, yes please! Dish the dirt!

re: #40 Ayatollah Ghilmeini

I think a big part of this is the non-announcement of a 3G based iPhone.

The more 'consumer' friendly devices appear to be seen as the ones that will really move profitability.

OT

Ever heard of this guy? Former editor at the NYT (!)

It is the end of the road for George Bush. The world takes less and less notice of him. He strutted and swaggered across the stage. He bellowed and raged. He plundered and murdered. And now he wants to be anointed as a peacemaker. His presidency, like his life, has been a tragic waste. But he at least he has a life. There are tens of thousands of mute graves in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan that stand as stark testaments to his true legacy. If he wants to redeem his time in office he should kneel before one and ask for forgiveness.

Chris Hedges, the former Middle East bureau chief for The New York Times and author most recently of “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America,” can be found every other Monday on Truthdig.

[Link: www.truthdig.com...]

Damn, now I wish I had gone to the keynote just so I could have recorded the Randy Newman song. I can't get the story straight as to what the exact lyrics were.

I had a pass to the keynote but didn't want to get up that early. Hmmmpph.

re: #61 rawmuse

I have owned Apple computers since my model IIc.
I am here at the Expo now, typing this on my MacBookPro.
(A fellow lizard told me the Intel chips for that model are manufactured in Israel). Full report later.

I'm on my Pro now also. I use it at work in a PC environment, completely transparent except for my CAD tools.

I'd die to get a 8 core desktop to run my CAD stuff on.

The West (East?) creates and the Jihaddis will find a way to use this kickin' tchnology to destroy.

re: #61 rawmuse

I have owned Apple computers since my model IIc.
I am here at the Expo now, typing this on my MacBookPro.
(A fellow lizard told me the Intel chips for that model are manufactured in Israel). Full report later.

Ah. What's the scuttlebutt on the Randy Newman song? Were you at the keynote speech?

Looks expensive and fragile.

My brother, who has 5 Macs already, will no doubt be camping out in front of the Apple Store for this one.

re: #46 alegrias

Natick, Massachusetts used to be where computers were made in the 1970s and 1980s.

Yep. Remember Wang Laboraties in Lowell? They had a lot of government contracts in the 80's, IIRC - sold them most of their computers.

re: #60 zombie

One thing I'm disappointed about is that, side-to-side, it's still not any smaller than a regular small notebook. Yes, it's unbelievably thin, but it has the same table-top-footprint.

I was hoping for one of those Japanese-style teeny-tiny sub-sub-notebooks.

You may have to wait for the foldable displays - and the ability / technology to wirelessly transmit the video from the CPU to the display. But then, we still have the issue of the input - far too many people dislike the ultra-small keyboards on the ultra-portables. Perhaps the true ultraportable is the one with the foldable keyboard, foldable display, and the CPU / case that can stay in a pocket, on a belt, in a briefcase...

re: #69 Wm T Sherman

Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges is a joke. A hero to the Left, but if you want to see him utterly humiliated by Christopher Hitchens, check out my...

Christopher Hitchens vs. Chris Hedges debate report.

Hitchens completely disemboweled Hedges.

Okay, I'm over my initial ooohs and aaahs. The people who note that it's probably pretty fragile are right; this is strictly for adults who will take care of it. The lack of a built-in optical drive and firewire are drawbacks too (although their solution to the lack of an optical drive is kinda elegant, IMHO). I guess when my penney jar gets full I'll go for a refurbished MacBook, as originally planned. Still, the cool factor is high on this thing (sigh.).

Completely OT, but...

35 year ago today, President Nixon Orders Ceasefire in Vietnam

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]
* * *
pity those politicians today still stuck in a mental quagmire--NOT ready for primetime

Re: #60
Right on. They completely missed the mark on this. It's pretty, but really, what's the point? You're going to stick your laptop in a manila envelope? The hot portable these days is the Asus EEE for $400 with a 7 inch screen (being bumped up to 8.9 inches). They should have come out with a Mac version of it for $800.
Andy

re: #59 jcm
Sounds great.
The hinges are the Achilles Heel of these sorts of machines. Very nice sitting on one of those super modern, abstract tabletops - ultra bleak, ultra spare, as if the space around for miles and miles is devoid of life. Plunked on a desk with coffee, bills, homework, whatever, uneven, wobbling, a little torque here, a little torque there ...

Hmmm...my only concern is how FREAKIN' HOT that thing is gonna get...is there even room for a heatsink and fan? yeesh! :)

re: #76 loppyd

re: #46 alegrias

Natick, Massachusetts used to be where computers were made in the 1970s and 1980s.

Yep. Remember Wang Laboraties in Lowell? They had a lot of government contracts in the 80's, IIRC - sold them most of their computers.

* * *
Hi Loppy, keeping my fingers crossed for your Governor Mitt Romney in Michigan today, speaking of the future.

re: #80 alegrias

Completely OT, but...

35 year ago today, President Nixon Orders Ceasefire in Vietnam

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]
* * *
pity those politicians today still stuck in a mental quagmire--NOT ready for primetime

Good thing that ended the war & brought peace & freedom to Southeast Asia!
/

re: #60 zombie

One thing I'm disappointed about is that, side-to-side, it's still not any smaller than a regular small notebook. Yes, it's unbelievably thin, but it has the same table-top-footprint.

I was hoping for one of those Japanese-style teeny-tiny sub-sub-notebooks.

If you want to be able to type comfortably, though, there's no way around that width footprint. Even with a foldable keyboard.

I hate typing on smaller keyboards myself.

re: #69 Wm T Sherman

OT

Ever heard of this guy? Former editor at the NYT (!)

It is the end of the road for George Bush. The world takes less and less notice of him. He strutted and swaggered across the stage. He bellowed and raged. He plundered and murdered. And now he wants to be anointed as a peacemaker. His presidency, like his life, has been a tragic waste. But he at least he has a life. There are tens of thousands of mute graves in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan that stand as stark testaments to his true legacy. If he wants to redeem his time in office he should kneel before one and ask for forgiveness.

Chris Hedges, the former Middle East bureau chief for The New York Times and author most recently of “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America,” can be found every other Monday on Truthdig.

[Link: www.truthdig.com...]

What an idiot that guy is. Truthdig: Hit bottom, and keep digging.

re: #85 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

re: #80 alegrias

Completely OT, but...

35 year ago today, President Nixon Orders Ceasefire in Vietnam

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]
* * *
pity those politicians today still stuck in a mental quagmire--NOT ready for primetime

Good thing that ended the war & brought peace & freedom to Southeast Asia!
/

"Peace in our time!"

/yeah right

/tell it to the south vietnamese

re: #83 Owl

When they showed the pictures on the MacRumors live blog I saw one of a fan right on the board. And presumably they've got SOME kind of heat sink, or people are going to be singing their legs.

Yeah, it doesn't have all the cool stuff, is probably on the slower side compared to a MacBook Pro, but it's kind of the ultimate portable blogging tool. To keep up a blog you don't need cutting edge video software and Firewire 800 ports, just a good browser and a reasonably fast innernut connection.

re: #81 ABerman

Re: #60
Right on. They completely missed the mark on this. It's pretty, but really, what's the point? You're going to stick your laptop in a manila envelope? The hot portable these days is the Asus EEE for $400 with a 7 inch screen (being bumped up to 8.9 inches). They should have come out with a Mac version of it for $800.
Andy

I actually sort of agree.

Look how small the Asus EEE is.

Yes, there is a computer in that picture.

re: #82 wanumba

re: #59 jcm
Sounds great.
The hinges are the Achilles Heel of these sorts of machines. Very nice sitting on one of those super modern, abstract tabletops - ultra bleak, ultra spare, as if the space around for miles and miles is devoid of life. Plunked on a desk with coffee, bills, homework, whatever, uneven, wobbling, a little torque here, a little torque there ...

The TiBook had hinge issues, I replaced. The MacBook Pro hinges are solid. We'll see on this thing. It doesn't fit my needs, I push my Pro to the limits.

I'm ready to jump on Time Capsule, wireless back up, 802.11n, 1TB storage. I'm dumping my desktop and going all laptop.

The Air would be good for my wife.

re: #85 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

re: #80 alegrias

Completely OT, but...

35 year ago today, President Nixon Orders Ceasefire in Vietnam

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]
* * *
pity those politicians today still stuck in a mental quagmire--NOT ready for primetime

Good thing that ended the war & brought peace & freedom to Southeast Asia!
/

* * *
Oddly enough! And oddly enought after we abandoned Vietnam, OPEC ganged up on us and embargoed OIL so we had long lines of pathetic people dependent on petroticks~then we had stagflation and finally adding insult to injury, the man who would "never lie" to us, sunday school teaching DJhimmy Carter.

re: #89 joncelli

PIMF: or even SINGEING their legs. (If my leg starts singing I'm going to chop it off.)

re: #86 Charles

If you want to be able to type comfortably, though, there's no way around that width footprint. Even with a foldable keyboard.

I hate typing on smaller keyboards myself.

I have incurable fat finger disease, I have trouble on a standard keyboard. *that my excuse and I'm sticking to it*

This looks nice, especially if you enjoy over-paying for technology.

Wang Laboratories? Talk about a blast from the past. I remember that place, right off the Lowell Connector. I'm a U-Lowell (now umass-lowell) alum.

re: #86 Charles

re: #60 zombie

One thing I'm disappointed about is that, side-to-side, it's still not any smaller than a regular small notebook. Yes, it's unbelievably thin, but it has the same table-top-footprint.

I was hoping for one of those Japanese-style teeny-tiny sub-sub-notebooks.

If you want to be able to type comfortably, though, there's no way around that width footprint. Even with a foldable keyboard.

I hate typing on smaller keyboards myself.

Well, they could have at least gotten rid of the extra width on the side of the Mac Air -- there seems to be almost two extraneous side-to-side inches there. The keyboard edge should be the edge of the computer as a whole. Then shrink the keyboard by, say, 10%. They could have had it be 9" or 10" wide at the most. Without any noticeable keyboard usability diminishment.

re: #90 Charles

Given the pricepoint - I think a few hundred more for a 15.4 MacBook Pro would be a far better investment. Less 'cool' factor - but better 'bang'.

With ultraportables, another concern is the weight of the powerbrick and the duration of the battery.

I'm quite comfortable with a 6 lbs 15.4 notebook that has a 5-6hr battery life and a regular sized keyboard for PC use - and my smartphone for email / simple surfing when I don't have or need my notebook.

re: #96 Shanimal1918

This looks nice, especially if you enjoy over-paying for technology.

Wang Laboratories? Talk about a blast from the past. I remember that place, right off the Lowell Connector. I'm a U-Lowell (now umass-lowell) alum.

Apple is a hardware company and lives off the margins on the hardware.

In their defense, they buy higher end components to go in. I work on components that go into Apple and they are one of the toughest on quality, Sony being the other. How many other laptops are in aluminum enclosures? That costs a lot more than the plastics most use.

Sorry, but yawn. I have yet to see a notebook or laptop with the power I can find in a desktop for the same amount of money. I don't care if it's a PC or a Mac, I just find laptops to be painfully slow compared to desktops.

re: #95 jcm

See, I'm lucky there, I guess. Small keyboards don't bother me. Laptop keyboards work fine.

re: #101 vxbush

re: #95 jcm

See, I'm lucky there, I guess. Small keyboards don't bother me. Laptop keyboards work fine.

*sticks tongue out*
I've got small hands too. But I am not going to blame the operator. heh.

re: #100 Honorary Yooper

Well, you're paying a premium for portability. I like my Mac Mini but right now I'd rather take a small performance hit in return for being able to pick up my computer and read LGF someplace where I can't hear my stepson trash-talking his brother while they play Halo 3. (Great kid, HIGHLY competitive. ;-))

re: #95 jcm

re: #86 Charles

If you want to be able to type comfortably, though, there's no way around that width footprint. Even with a foldable keyboard.

I hate typing on smaller keyboards myself.

I have incurable fat finger disease, I have trouble on a standard keyboard. *that my excuse and I'm sticking to it*

Agreed. I think keyboards are designed for small, thin hands. Bigger guys like me have a very hard time trying not to hit the other keys on the keyboard while typing. The keys need to be about 25% larger, IMHO.

MacBook Air - Hands On Report

re: #103 joncelli

That's it, there's a market for portability, I would like to have more portability but the need for horsepower out weighs that.

re: #60 zombie

One thing I'm disappointed about is that, side-to-side, it's still not any smaller than a regular small notebook. Yes, it's unbelievably thin, but it has the same table-top-footprint.

I was hoping for one of those Japanese-style teeny-tiny sub-sub-notebooks.

How the hell do you type on one of those tiny Japanese-style notebooks? With tweezers or toothpicks?

re: #105 Athos

Looking at those pictures, the keyboard reminds me of some of the bad keyboards we've seen over the years.

re: #105 Athos

MacBook Air - Hands On Report

Hinge looks like a mod of the Pro hinge, that's good.

re: #108 vxbush

Doesn't lokk much different from the one on the MacBook, which is okay but not great.

can you say... "vendor lock in"?

re: #108 vxbush

re: #105 Athos

Looking at those pictures, the keyboard reminds me of some of the bad keyboards we've seen over the years.

Same keyboard as on the current MacBook.
I don't like the tactile feedback on that keyboard, I like a nice positive click at the bottom of the key stroke.

re: #108 vxbush

Yeah - it doesn't seem as if it will have much 'feel' to it.

re: #84 alegrias

Thanks.

He's probably going to need some luck...

At least he isn't asking for the Communist vote, like McCain.

“I need Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, vegetarian, Trotskyites,” he said, laughing. “I need them all. But, look, we’re going to go, as we did in New Hampshire, to our Republican base ... I’m upbeat and optimistic, but I think this is going to be a very close race here in Michigan — and may be up late tonight.

re: #112 jcm

Well, the Macbook Pro I have has a more substantial keyboard, where the keys almost touch each other; seems more natural than that keyboard, which seems to float over the computer.

I've gorged myself on Apple koolaid since my father first brought home a 128k back in '84, so I'm always amazed and pleased by Apple releases. The one thing that continues to tick me off about them is that they always seem to release something incredibly new and awesome RIGHT AFTER I get something from them.

Sigh.

In any event, as a MacBook Pro owner, I hope that this new laptop addresses the insane heating troubles that the MacBook Pro seems to have. My Mac generates an absurd amount of heat on the underbelly and, considering it lacks any fan that I can see or feel, having some means to cool it is absolutely a necessity. I don't know if anyone else is having this problem, but my Uncle (also a Mac enthusiast) had to replace his battery for his Pro because the battery overheated and became distended.

I haven't read the hands-on so I'll check that out.

Blah blah blah, words, who cares - I'm going to go stare at Apple gadgets and wipe drool from my mouth.

It's cool except it's a Mac.

re: #116 SonOfLiberty

It makes me wish there was an Apple Store closer to my town. Sigh.

re: #116 SonOfLiberty

Last summer I got a nice red mark on my lap from my Pro. Sucker is hot.

This is a biggie (not on the plus side) - MacBook Air Does Not Have a User-replacable Battery

re: #119 jcm

Global warming...

Hot Lap? Try Fan Control.

re: #120 Athos

This is a biggie (not on the plus side) - MacBook Air Does Not Have a User-replacable Battery

I carry multiple batteries for swaps, not good.

re: #119 jcm

re: #116 SonOfLiberty

Last summer I got a nice red mark on my lap from my Pro. Sucker is hot.

I ended up buying a portable table fan for the damn thing because it was overheating the video card and casing net disconnects and all kinds of other "I'm overheating, you idiot!" problems. I know many, many PC users who tote a fan station with them and, where I'm not pleased with the prospect of doing so, it gets the job done. I recommended the same to my Uncle who has also found the fan counteracts the problem.

Kind of defeats the whole purpose of a thin, light notebook though, if you're lugging around a damn fan.

Consternation, etc.

re: #118 vxbush

re: #116 SonOfLiberty

It makes me wish there was an Apple Store closer to my town. Sigh.

I've been hella lucky in this regard - one of the first Apple stores went into Tyson's Corner in Virginia, which is about 15 minutes from my folks' place. I've had access to Apple stores for a while and have been utterly spoiled by it.

Though, I'd give up the store access if it meant I could move away from 495 and get the hell out of Maryland!

I'm always impressed by the design and build quality of Apple products. The Ipod nano for example (which is the only apple product I own - that's why I'm talking about it) which is just such a perfect and beautiful little object.

Geez, it is sure purty! Too bad its a Mac!

re: #122 vxbush

And there is a second option if you don't want a preference pane: SMC FanControl2.

re: #126 realwest

Pistols. At dawn. Just outside town.

Bring your second.

Solid-state wearable computers are just around the corner. What if your entire computer were in your belt, your keyboard a mat that unrolls, and your monitor a small keyfob projector or a HUD built-into your eyeglasses?

It's not revolutionary, it's all been done so it won't be long before we are wearing our computers.

#19 "I still like my Vaio TX series. Just as small and light."

Vaio TX: 1" thick, 11.1" display, $1999.
MacBook Air: 0.76"-0.16" thick, 13.3" display, $1799.

I'd like it... except I'm not that much into ultra portables. There's no question this is a fantastic piece of engineering. I just need a Macbook Pro.

Anyone want to donate?

I break these things for a living. All very scientific, I assure you.

Unless that thing's made of non-obtainium (which is lighter than air and stronger than steel), I give it no hope of survival in any sort of real portable user's environment.

BTW, I do work for a computer company*, and I did own a 128k in 1984, later a IIci and a PowerPC Mac, so I have lived on both sides of that street.

*Hint - I worked for a company which (foolishly) ate a company in Massachusetts and was then in turn eaten by another company from the dawn of Silicon Valley.

re: #132 OldLineTexan

I still shake my head over the decision to acquire DEC.

I've been planning for years (I'm a slow shopper) on buying a Mac portable comp as a supplement to my Engulf and Devour desktop. I think I may be buying one of these cute little things. :)

Looks like the same crap keyboard that's on the MacBook. Toss in a non user replaceable battery and it's just an expensive toy.

re: #132 OldLineTexan

Isn't Non-obtainium in the same category of "Noble Metals" on the Periodic Table as "Upsidasium" (unique, with an atomic weight of -1) and "Unobtainium"?

re: #129 Thanos

Solid-state wearable computers are just around the corner. What if your entire computer were in your belt, your keyboard a mat that unrolls, and your monitor a small keyfob projector or a HUD built-into your eyeglasses?

It's not revolutionary, it's all been done so it won't be long before we are wearing our computers.

I don't want to hear about details of the personal HD or FD, please... This is a family board... LOL

re: #32 vxbush

Give me 15" or give me death!

I can't BELIEVE nobody else has called you on this... or am I the only one with a dirty mind?!

re: #133 Athos

re: #132 OldLineTexan

I still shake my head over the decision to acquire DEC.

As do I. Talk about a disaster; they wanted one piece of DEC's business...just buy that piece. Sheesh. It was like me buying an old, tumbledown car dealership with no business because I liked a truck they had.

re: #136 FlyingTigress

I see you have studied engineering change requests made by marketing.

It is comforting to meet a fellow sufferer.

Balloonium is another priceless material that actually reduces the weight of the final product.

This is the joy inspiring post of the day. The rest are depressing. I keep thinking Charles and Glenn should do a joint venture on a technology blog (entered through LGF and Instapundit). There are lots of them, but they are for people in the biz and usually have a conflict of interest (selling a brand, getting commissions, ad revenue, etc.). Re Mac vs PC, I've been a mac person since the beginning. I see Microsoft as the mass commercialization department for Apple, which is the R&D, demo department.

Wonder if the solid-state drive option increases battery life any.

You might think so, seeing as it has no moving parts.

I really want to comment, but if you only knew...

IN a semi-related note:

Hamas just perfected the skipping Throwing Rock. Super slim, and it can take out two Merkavas and an all girl's school with one throw.

re: #129 Thanos

your keyboard a mat that unrolls

Ugh! How low-tech. Two words, dude: Holographic keyboard.

Nice hardware, but too bad it's a Mac.

re: #138 Occasional Reader

The correct answer would be the second one, sir.

Oooo...Tech porn.

Hard drive.

sealed internal battery (i.e. NON-user replaceable)? no pcmcia/express card slot? no built in WWAN? no internal optical drive? no gigabit ethernet? and still 3 lbs?

PASS. what else you got?

re: #13 JammieWearingFool

Wife had a custom Dell XPS M1730 built for me for Christmas. Apple, no thanks. Value=weight, my Dell weighs in over 20#s.

Does anyone use Parallels with a Mac to run Windows?

I need a new home desktop and would buy a Mac if I could transfer my entire current XP Pro desktop to this new Mac and run it under Parallels.

I am led to understand that can be done.

Hmmm, battery is not user replaceable. I read where Apple was installing a SSHD to reduce both weight and power consumption.

re: #91 zombie

That image looks kinda unnatural. Looks like somebody just stamped that computer and camera in there. It might just be the weird gamma that is fooling my eyes though...

Hey, another Mac. Does this one almost work like a real computer, like all the others?

And do the Birkenstocks and the Kucinich bumper sticker come with it, or are those extra?

re: #151 Opinionated

Should be possible, using the Windows XP Professional Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use a network share that both machines can see.

(I haven't migrated any applications using it yet, but it works all right for documents and settings. I would usually take the opportunity of moving to a new machine to upgrade software anyway.)

re: #138 Occasional Reader

re: #32 vxbush

Give me 15" or give me death!

I can't BELIEVE nobody else has called you on this... or am I the only one with a dirty mind?!

The first thing I thought was that Jenna Jameson had joined LGF. So no, you are not alone.

Your minds are all in the gutter! How juvenile!

My contribution:

You better not sit on that...

re: #155 Dar ul Harb

Parallels also has its own transferral wizard, so you could check into that as well.

It's ok, I guess.

But, does it compute?

(just raising some Mac-heads' blood pressure for no reason)

Mama, buy me one, pretty please! I'll hold my breathe until you do and you know what'll happen then. Pretty please, please! Please, I'll never use my PC again, promise!

world's thinnest laptop announced...

...after which Apple stock dropped dramatically today because, really, how thin does a laptop have to be and who really cares.

How about a Mac made to military specs: that is...impervious to EMP!

Charles, I'll agree with you in that this is a pretty slick looking machine. And I'll probably buy one once they have all the gremlins fumigated out of it by the end of the year.

However, my prediction is that this new Mac is going to be little more than the spiritual successor of their cool designed yet destined for EoL'ing very soon Mac G4 Cube.

The Cube was cool. The Cube was really ingenious in it's design. It's price, however, and it's target market, were never really matched up. With the lack of a user accessable batter, only one USB port, no firewire, and only an ethernet jack if you get a USB plug in version, I think this computer is almost too niche. Nice if you need ultra ultra ultra portability, but otherwise, it's kinda meh.

I'll end up getting one, though. B/c much like the G4 Cube, it'll end up being something of a collectors item.

My 15" Mac Book Pro 2.33 C2D and 256 meg video card ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon, however.

Very cool machine but I'll stick with my HP Pavilion. It boasts a 17" HD Ultra-Bright View display, a full size keyboard w/numeric keypad, dual Centrino 1.83 ghz processors, 2 gigs ram, 2 120 gig SATA hd's, a DVD-RW drive, 4 USB ports and every other port you can imagine. I purchased it for $1499.00 7 months ago from HP, complete with a Vista Home Premium upgrade from XP Multi-Media Edition and a tv tuner that allows me to use it as a TIVO. Thanks but no thanks.

Some other rather nice things from the "Stevenote" -
Software Upgrade for iPhone - "Gps-like" Google Maps, Rearrange Icons, Add your own icons to Homepage, some tweaks here and there
Movie rentals - Watch movies is SD and HD on your Mac/Computer, AppleTV, iPod and iPhone - Huge Upgrade in software for AppleTV, rent movies and buy music directly etc. and price drop.
The Time Capsule - Airport Extreme with built-in 500g/1tb hard drive, allows for a central back up using Time Machine in Leopard. (This personally kinda chaps me because you currently can attach an external drive to the AE, but Time Machine will not back up to it)
I think the MB Air will do fine, it's geared towards business travelers and to finally get the 12" PowerBook users to upgrade.

re: #163 ARCountryBoy

My 15" Mac Book Pro 2.33 C2D and 256 meg video card ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon, however.

That's another good point.

It has the same Intel shared-memory graphics as the non-Pro MacBook.

Might as well call it the "MacBook Touch"...

Well, I'm writing this from my brand, spankin' new neural implant (beta)... All I have to do is think of what I want written, and Windows pops up on my retinal HUD... Full mobility, baby!

The only problem so far is that when I go to respond to a post while driving, this paperclip-guy keeps interfering with my field of vision with inane suggestions.

re: #167 Son Of The Godfather

Let hope you don't get "The Blue Screen of DEATH"!

re: #166 Dar ul Harb

re: #163 ARCountryBoy

My 15" Mac Book Pro 2.33 C2D and 256 meg video card ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon, however.

That's another good point.

It has the same Intel shared-memory graphics as the non-Pro MacBook.

Might as well call it the "MacBook Touch"...

Exactly. Warhammer Online is coming out this year and I'm defecting from World of Warcraft to Warhammer Online. So I need* a good graphics card in my laptop so I can watch tv in the living room and be gaming on the laptop at the same time. (Yes, I am a nerd...the rumors are true) And I'm thinkin integrated graphics sharing 2 mb of ram that soldered onto the motherboard ain't gunna cut it for me.

*That is if you define "need" in such way.

re: #165 Ichef

Movie rentals - Watch movies is SD and HD on your Mac/Computer, AppleTV, iPod and iPhone - Huge Upgrade in software for AppleTV, rent movies and buy music directly etc. and price drop.

Those are the really big announcements.

I think the MB Air will do fine, it's geared towards business travelers and to finally get the 12" PowerBook users to upgrade.

Yeah, and it also shows they probably could build a 12" MacBook Pro, had they wanted to...

re: #167 Son Of The Godfather

he only problem so far is that when I go to respond to a post while driving, this paperclip-guy keeps interfering with my field of vision with inane suggestions.

You are coming to a sad realization. Cancel or Allow?

re: #171 Dar ul Harb

LOL... Not only that, but it's difficult to navigate while the HUD asks if I want to "verify my Microsoft product".

re: #168 iChef

Control-Alt-Fasten seat belt!

Small, light, powerful, reliable, inexpensive? Sure.
But "thin"? Who cares?

What does the Apple TV / iTunes Movie Rental announcement do to the BluRay / HD-DVD hi-def format war?

I'd say it makes both formats a lot less relevant.

(I wonder if Apple's gonna announce some sort of special deal on AT&T broadband service for Apple TV customers?)

The 2008 Macworld Stevenote is now posted on Apple's website.

re: #159 D'kian_

It's ok, I guess.

But, does it compute?

(just raising some Mac-heads' blood pressure for no reason)

I think the real question is,

Will it blend?

re: #69 Wm T Sherman

OT

Ever heard of this guy? Former editor at the NYT (!)

It is the end of the road for George Bush. The world takes less and less notice of him. He strutted and swaggered across the stage. He bellowed and raged. He plundered and murdered. And now he wants to be anointed as a peacemaker. His presidency, like his life, has been a tragic waste. But he at least he has a life. There are tens of thousands of mute graves in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan that stand as stark testaments to his true legacy. If he wants to redeem his time in office he should kneel before one and ask for forgiveness.

Chris Hedges, the former Middle East bureau chief for The New York Times and author most recently of “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America,” can be found every other Monday on Truthdig.

[Link: www.truthdig.com...]

I think he was one of the toolmothers who were reporting for CNN on the Jenin "massacre" that later turned out to be a complete hoax. (Or was that a Chris Holmes? Very affected British accent.)

I'll never forget that Fox News was the ONLY network that rightly treated the story with skepticism right from the start.

For those interested in the lyrics to Randy Newman's tune "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" that he sang at Macworld today, here they are.

Short version: America is a dying empire and Bush is making us all afraid for his own nefarious reasons. But he's not as bad as Hitler or Stalin!

re: #174 Kim Hartveld

Small, light, powerful, reliable, inexpensive? Sure.
But "thin"? Who cares?

I may agree with your final analysis but I have a problem with your take on "inexpensive". I have been involved with computers before they were on his agenda. Apple's products have always carried a premium price tag for something that have always dis-couraged evolution out-side of his control. The PC environment has encouraged forward motion of development of the PC platform. The evolution of the PC has driven Apple to compete and attempt to jump ahead. I found it interesting that the demo Charles linked showed the use of a PC's optical drive to install software on their latest and greatest laptop. WTF?

Yeah, fine. But, can it toast bread?

Ha! I think not.

re: #119 jcm

re: #116 SonOfLiberty

Last summer I got a nice red mark on my lap from my Pro. Sucker is hot.

I've never been totally happy with my Pro, and I've owned Apple laptops basically since they came out. Wireless never worked well enough, machine overheated (despite SMC Fan Control and downclocking with Coolbook), battery runs out in no time flat,... And 15" is really big to use on an airplane unless you routinely fly business class.

My wife's 13" Macbook, despite being MUCH cheaper, is a superior machine on all these counts. Max out the memory and hard drive, and, unless you absolutely need a really high-performance graphics card, this is the best laptop deal Apple has. (Also nice: memory and hard drive are user-replaceable in practice, instead of "in theory, but not for the faint of heart" in the Macbook Pro.)

I had high hopes of this Macbook Air, but this just isn't for me. No wired Ethernet (a must for work), tiny hard disk (heck, my legal MP3 collection is as big as the hard drive), and I could frankly give a rat's backside about how thin it is. If only I could have a Panasonic ToughBook run Mac OS X...

Gag! The more I read about it the more it's unattractive! No pcmcia slot, no card reader, no user replaceable battery, only one USB port, no lan hook ups...come on! If I am going to spend $1700 on a laptop, I want it to be more connectible than my iPod. I know I said this earlier, but the toughbook has the same weight, longer battery life, built in cd/dvd burner and is an all around better system. yike! Just because it's thin doesn't make it better or more usable. I wonder how long this mac will last in someone's backpack at school when they pile on a couple of books and then walk home.

Me @164:
I forgot to mention that it runs as cool as a cucumber.

re: #179 DUCKofDEATH

For those interested in the lyrics to Randy Newman's tune "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" that he sang at Macworld today, here they are.

Short version: America is a dying empire and Bush is making us all afraid for his own nefarious reasons. But he's not as bad as Hitler or Stalin!

Actually, I'd expected worse. Of course I emphatically do not agree that the US is a dying empire or that Dubya is its worst ever president (Jimmy Carter, anyone? Andrew Johnson, the only president other than BJ Clinton to be actually impeached?), but at least he offers some perspective to leftist loonbats.

re: #180 GeeWiz

re: #174 Kim Hartveld

Small, light, powerful, reliable, inexpensive? Sure.
But "thin"? Who cares?

I may agree with your final analysis but I have a problem with your take on "inexpensive". I have been involved with computers before they were on his agenda. Apple's products have always carried a premium price tag for something that have always dis-couraged evolution out-side of his control. The PC environment has encouraged forward motion of development of the PC platform. The evolution of the PC has driven Apple to compete and attempt to jump ahead. I found it interesting that the demo Charles linked showed the use of a PC's optical drive to install software on their latest and greatest laptop. WTF?

I didn't watch the demo, but I believe the point is, that between fast network connections and cheap drive space, the optical drive is rapidly becoming superfluous. The very fact that they used a PC in the demo just points out the simplicity of the solution. Just reading a Mac disc in a Windows machine used to be a somewhat pricey (and buggy) proposition.

I'll admit it may be a deal-breaker for a lot of people. Me personally, I pretty much only use my dvd burner to archive old audio and video files (and no, it's not ALL porn! Maybe 30, 35 percent, tops.).

Remember, a lot of people freaked when Apple dropped the floppy drives, until the Zip drive and cheap CD media obviated their need. Maybe it's too soon, maybe not, but one thing you can never accuse Steve Jobs of is being behind the curve.

re: #186 mikefln

I'll admit it may be a deal-breaker for a lot of people. Me personally, I pretty much only use my dvd burner to archive old audio and video files (and no, it's not ALL porn! Maybe 30, 35 percent, tops.).

Remember, a lot of people freaked when Apple dropped the floppy drives, until the Zip drive and cheap CD media obviated their need. Maybe it's too soon, maybe not, but one thing you can never accuse Steve Jobs of is being behind the curve.

The optical drive is expendable. Wired networking, in "strictly no wireless" workplaces, is not.

If I could custom-build a Mac laptop, it would have the LCD-backlit screen, keyboard, and trackpad of the Macbook air, would be thick enough to accommodate standard 2.5" SATA drives (available in 250 GB and even bigger now) and a network card, have EVDO built-in, no optical drive, and double the battery capacity. I would perhaps have added an 8 GB solid state disk (need be no more expensive than a disk-on-key) to hold nothing but the OS. And of course a "tabletable" screen would be even better.

And yes, I know I could get something like this if I just put up with Windreck or Linux...

Oops: LED-backlit screen --- PIMF...

Screw the apple. Randy NEWMAN!?

I like my m1330. Run's Fedora 8 beautifully, and with Dell's Linux repository, I have a modicum of support. Run's a 2.2GHz processor. A full-on 3D accelerator. 200GB7200 RPM hdd. Run's Vista 64 beautifully as well with 4GB ram, and plays GAMES (like FSX, HL2, and others). Plus, It's slim, sleek and sexy.

Oh, and I know how to use optical drives from other systems without special "mac" software. I am not locked down to crummy Mac OSX (the GENIUS bar told me running Linux with Xen would invalidate my warranty).

Plus, I have an expresscard slot, EVDO, biometric support etc. All for quite a bit less for this MAC Air, and no terrorist loving Randy Newman to go with it.

Plus, Dell planted me a tree to "offset" my carbon. 3 years warranty too. Apple charges another 250 bucks for that.

And Apple thinks they are first with everything. Time Machine? I guess they never heard of shadow copy services...

Vista is actually a decent OS, and better than Leopard in my opinion. I could care less what the NYT, Washington Compost, or Walt Mossberg say.

Oh... and Randy Newman is a racist.

Imagine if a well known conservative said this about Obama...

And the "brother" well pluto is no longer a planet too.

Yeah. There'd be a virtual lynchmob sic'd on the conservative.

Now imagine if this conservative said this at an event sponsored by a MAJOR corporation, like an Oil Corporation...

yeah.

Bunch of f'n doublestandards in this verse and it bites.

re: #180 GeeWiz

You make it sound as though Apple's been lagging the PC market in innovation. On the contrary, it's their tight control over the integration of hardware and software that has allowed them to lead the industry in many instances.

Were there any PCs with 3 1/4" floppy drives before the 128K Macintosh?

Were there any PCs without a floppy drive before the original iMac?

Apple popularized 802.11b wireless networking with AirPort in July 1999, months before the standard was officially published in October 1999.

Came back to chuckle - only to discover that alert posters have already noticed the fatal arrogance of Apple popping up again - gots to get an "expert" to replace yer battery.
Liberals no matter what just want to force everyone to be dependent of on them. Have a Mac sitting on the work room floor - disk drive don't read no more - but can't pick it out of there, and the stupid unit weighs a ton for its size, so we abandoned it and went for the "old fashioned" desktops that we can customize ourselves with a screw driver.

re: #187 Former Belgian

This is not a desktop replacement machine by any means. But you can get a USB-ethernet adaptor that along with a small USB2 hub would accommodate most needs.

It would be nice if you could treat it like an iPod for video and audio, let it update to the mother-ship and down load new content and the like. I do not have anywhere near 60 gigs of audio but it does not take too much video to fill the free space up.

re: #193 Fredlike

It would be nice if you could treat it like an iPod for video and audio, let it update to the mother-ship and down load new content and the like. I do not have anywhere near 60 gigs of audio but it does not take too much video to fill the free space up.

Time Capsule acts the same as a regular Time Machine backup drive, so you're able to store other stuff on it besides the backups, and just treat it like a wireless NAS.

Just to throw a little cold water on our IBM lovin' lizard friends, Apple Passes IBM in Market Cap. As much as I dislike Randy Newman, Apple is full of employees that don't agree with him or Al Gore politically. I am sure Steve has some relationship with him through Pixar. As a very long time user of both platforms, I love going into work and using Leopard (and keeping Windows in a Parallels space when needed for Oracle). Neat to use command + right arrow to navigate between 2 OSs on one box. And my Mac Book Pro rocks.

Maybe a solid single, but not a home run.

Slim, light - but the compromises to get there...

No optical drive isn't a surprise sacrifice to get the thinness they were shooting for - but, having dealt with them on other hardware, external accessory devices quickly become annoying. Particularly when they don't have advanced capability (Blu-Ray? Where's the Blu-Ray?) So do dongle connectors (such as for for the Network Interface - and only 100Mbit?)

Also, considering that the 'competitively' priced version is the stripped down, bare bones (4300RPM? the slow duo?), and getting the faster processor and (smaller capacity) faster 'hard drive' adds around 40% (putting it in the range of the mid equipped MacBook Pro)...I'm reminded of the 72/73 Duster my Dad bought - AM radio, straight six, three on the tree...

Cool looks are about the only thing Apple seems to have gotten right with this one. Play to the strong suite, I guess.

As for this Macworld, color me under-impressed. Ok, I admit I fell for the tablet pre-hype, and was really expecting the rollout of the Blu Ray solution (but, of course, that was probably put off to clear the path for the iTunes Movie rental action...)

I guess I'll just go perv the new quad core XServes and Pros...

re: #192 wanumba

You obviously have never had to return Gateway machines by the truckload because of failing hardware and general totally poor quality control. My Mac Book Pro had a hard drive die last year. Big whoop. Unscrew the top, yank drive, insert new one, done. The issue about the battery is not one of a "liberal" company. The issue is simply that at 3lbs, there is probably a bit of work required to get into a very tight space without damaging the logic board. Where Apple had to engineer a space for the battery placement had nothing to do with "liberalism". Every other PowerBook, Mac Book, Mac Book Pro, has allowed the user to easily remove the battery.

re: #196 Wind Rider

The Blu-ray drive hardware is available right now if Apple wants to make it an option. IMHO, I think they are simply waiting for the final 2 HD-DVD studios to announce they are dropping HD-DVD for Blu-ray. I think Apple simply wants the platform battle to settle before they offer the drive. It certainly isn't a hardware or software issue.

re: #183 conrad

It simply wasn't designed with you in mind. It is designed for Mac users who have been screaming for 10 years since the Duo days of a very lightweight portable Mac. They are not watching DVDs or attaching a dozen USB devices. They are not children throwing it in a backpack. They are people traveling constantly, and every pound off the device makes them happier. We have 17" PowerBooks that are slimmer than the screen of our Dell notebooks and nobody wants to carry them because of their weight. Apple is not discontinuing the MacBook (a great device) or the MacBook Pro. They are simply offering a 3rd choice for those where *weight* is the main issue.

I seriously love this thing... but I don't understand why there is such a difference in the prices of the two models.

re: #200 littlesquirt
$300 for a processor speed bump and *$999* to switch to a Solid State Drive (SSD). I would never pay for that, but some want to be on the bleeding edge... I am glad they did not standardize on this drive, as many people wanted Apple to do. You are definitely paying to be an early adopter of this technology.

On a side note, I just finished watching the keynote and the embarrassing ending with Randy Newman. He looked and spoke like a drunken uncle, stumbling over words, loosing his train of thought, and cursing. After that wretched first song, the audience responded with applause, but it was more tepid than I thought it would be in S.F. Part of me felt sorry, because he does appear to be incoherent or drunk or stoned or *something*. I can't believe Jobs thought that would be a great ending to the presentation. Other musicians have come out, performed, and said goodbye. At times, I couldn't even follow what his point was concerning CNBC, Kramer, gambling uncles (you have to watch it, if you can stomach it). His anti-corporate spin makes me want to puke. Who, exactly, writes checks to him for his scores? One of the best examples ever of how incredibly stupid the far-left comes across when they have an audience.

I think Laura Ingraham said it best.

Re: #60
Asus EEE PC is the winner here.

This mac book has awesome aerodynamics for a frisbee, but smaller and lighter beats thinner any day. And for $300 for a true "desktop companion" system with 3 USB ports and a real ethernet port why throw your money on this MAC ?

Is it fanless? I'm not buying it if it isn't fanless.

It has a 13 inch screen, so it's too big anyway. What's the point in thin if it's that big?

The next version of the Asus EEE PC (April?) is supposed to be fanless.

While Steve Jobs & Apple are creating innovative life-enhancing products Bill Gates and Microsoft are doing just the opposite.

While Steve Job and Aplle are creating innovative life-enhancing products,
Bill Gates and Microsoft are doing just the opposite.

[Link: technology.timesonline.co.uk...]

Apple never ceases to amaze me with their products. I have a Powerbook G4 that is almost 3 years old and a 1 year old HP Pavillion notebook. There is no contest as to which one the members of my family want to use. They will choose the Mac every time. Ease of use and the integration of software (even better with a .Mac membership) are just a couple of reasons why I love my Mac. I get teased sometimes about my love of things Mac. My brother told me that Macs are similar to bicycles with training wheels. Knowledgeable people use PC's. I have been teased in the same manner by other people as well. It's funny to them until I come and troubleshoot their PC's for them when there's a problem. The ironic thing about Mac users is that even though Mac users have an "easier" operating system, they have to learn how to navigate between the worlds of PC and Mac, resulting in greater overall knowledge of how computers work. I have seen two other Mac users like me school their PC friends on how to troubleshoot PC's. I can go on and on about Macs, but you won't know what they're like until you try one yourself.

I have to mention the Randy Newman performance at the end of the Keynote. I felt kind of dirty after the performance. It was really bizarre and it just didn't add up. Here you have this competitive American company Apple with some amazing competitive products letting some goofy, slurred- voice, anti-American, anti- capitalism, circus freak, one- man sideshow, Hollywood- in- a- snowglobe loving creep sing songs at the end of the Keynote. All I can say to Apple is that was very poor taste and to let your products define your identity not some Hollywood huckster.

To #199, rightwingva
I know of hardcore Mac users who will love this because of its weight and size as well as the newness of it all. What I was trying to point out is that where most people can spend $100 on an iPod with all the limitations it has compared to better designed mp3 players, spending $1700 is a bit much. As for myself, I travel constantly and really do not have a choice of throwing my laptop into my backpack and going. That is why I switched from a heavy Fujitsu, even though it is a great computer, to the toughbook. That brings me to the second point. There are other comparable Duo model computers in weight and size with more options and a better repair record such as the Panasonic (only sold via their website in the US) and the Sony Vaio. Mine has shock absorbers and metal plating and still comes in at just over 3 pounds. But your point is right in one sense, they did not make this with me in mind. I live out of my laptop and must have a durable computer that I can use in a multiple of different settings and environments. This Mac would not survive my job. However, the other Mac books would.

What's missing?. . . . A user-replaceable battery (in my book a major faux-pas). Apple supposedly will offer a "reasonable price" for an in-house replacement. Hmmm

I haven't had a chance to read all of the comments in this thread, so someone may have mentioned this, but I think the real highlight of this MacWorld Expo is the redesigned Apple TV. If you watch the keynote, this product is the revolutionary one. It will probably be slow to catch on because the Apple TV from last year is nothing special and they have to overcome the unimpressive reputation it has... but to have a Blockbuster Video store on your television as the new Apple TV brings, that is truly amazing.

I predict that this is the next ipod, but it will take about a year to really catch on.

I think this is a "laptop too far". It's too thin, so it doesn't have a DVD drive. Bad idea. A Jobism redux.

re: #154 Ceemack

Hey, another Mac. Does this one almost work like a real computer, like all the others?

And do the Birkenstocks and the Kucinich bumper sticker come with it, or are those extra?

You mean with the BSOD's and the need to edit arcane files simply to remove ad/spyware? That kind of almost-work-like-a-real-computer? Sorry - I know better but if people insist on saying stupid things they should expect snarky, stupid answers back.

And for all those bitching about lack of this or that, ttake a look here. Apparently Apple may have something in the works to address some of your complaints.

re: #161 dcbatlle

world's thinnest laptop announced...

...after which Apple stock dropped dramatically today because, really, how thin does a laptop have to be and who really cares.

Buy on rumor, sell on fact and/or announcement. That happens every.single.time. I've followed Apple stock for years and, without fail, you can set your calendar to the stock drop after a MacWorld keynote.

Ntropy,

Vista was and is more secure than OSX over the past year.

BSODs have been a thing of the past since Windows 2000 / XP.

I run Linux on my Dell Laptop + Vista. I have Xen kernel as well and run other OS on top of Linux.

My laptop was 1700 dollars. 4hrs battery life. 2.2GHz, 4GB ram, DVD Writer, ETHERNET (wired and wireless), HDMI out, etc.

It weighs about 1lb more than the MacBook air and is a thousand times more versatile.

I tried using OSX... One mouse button? How is that intuitive?

re: #201 rightwingva

Oh, I see... thanks for explaining. It seems a little overpriced for that "solid state drive". The MacBook Air is pretty cool, but I'm definitely going to wait to get one (especially considering I have an almost brand-new MacBook Pro).

re: #214 earthwirm

Why do you say Vista is more secure? I have heard the security is absolutely horrible in it. And OSX is a bit different at first, but it's amazing once you get used to it.

re: #214 earthwirm

Ntropy,

Vista was and is more secure than OSX over the past year.

Drinking the C|NET koolaid are you? I'm assuming that's where you got your "facts" since you didn't provide a link. It's rebutted here at Roughly Drafted.

BSODs have been a thing of the past since Windows 2000 / XP.

Perhaps you missed the part where I said I know better and that stupid statements deserve stupid, snarky answers. Sort of like your one button mouse comment below. You can use your PC mouse, assuming it's USB, with any Mac. But don't let that get in the way of your prejudice.

I run Linux on my Dell Laptop + Vista. I have Xen kernel as well and run other OS on top of Linux.

My laptop was 1700 dollars. 4hrs battery life. 2.2GHz, 4GB ram, DVD Writer, ETHERNET (wired and wireless), HDMI out, etc.

It weighs about 1lb more than the MacBook air and is a thousand times more versatile.

I tried using OSX... One mouse button? How is that intuitive?

I don't care whether or not a person uses a PC with Windows or Linux or BSD or whatever. Technically speaking, I could be doing the same in addition to OS X. I don't care whether or not a person likes OS X or not. To each his own. Your comparison is inappropriate since the MacBook Air isn't aimed at what you (or I for that matter) do with your machines. What bugs the crap out of me is seeing all the FUD and just plain idiotic comments spread by people who are ignorant, stupid, malicious or all of the above. I fail to see how a Mac is somehow not a real computer especially since at one point in the past year the MacBook Pro was the fastest Windows laptop available.

re: #217 NTropy

Pwned!