MacBook Air

[Raven]

Apple are shit.

A good point, well put.

Only dicks buy Apple products

 

[Chilly]

So its a £20 labour charge that you wouldn't otherwise have. Sounds like a ripoff to me. But to be honest, that's not the point. Laptop batteries start to degrade pretty much from the moment you start using them. You don't necessarily want to replace the battery when its completely dead, so you get a spare before you reach that point. Plus, if you're actually using your light, thin sub-notebook in the real world, you know, like travelling and stuff, the ability to swap in a spare battery to keep working, (watch movies, whatever) is an absolute boon. It feels like this is a device designed to be used around the home or office (close to a wireless network), which makes its thinness much less valuable; I don't really care about having the lightest/thinnest lappy when I'm at home/work, but I do care about it when I have to carry the damn thing, and that's when this is at its least useful. Don't get me wrong, I actually really fancy the idea of a Mac sub-notebook but this is misconceived.

Thats a good point actually. The product does sound a bit misguided. A removable battery would massively improve usability.

 

[xane]

The general consensus from The Register is because the Air is so underpowered it's not worth getting for regular graphics/games anyway, if you want a super portable which is totally solid state, go for an Asus Eee, in fact you could go for five or six Eees for the same price.

 

[SawTooTH]

Apple sell shiny plastic with buttons. A bit like the play centers you see for babies. You get some enjoyment out of pushing the bright new buttons and listening to the squeaks...but at the end of the day its just a Mac and you just cant do anything interesting on it.

 

[nath]

Apple sell shiny plastic with buttons. A bit like the play centers you see for babies. You get some enjoyment out of pushing the bright new buttons and listening to the squeaks...but at the end of the day its just a Mac and you just cant do anything interesting on it.

Typical nerd opinion and Apple do sell quite a lot of consumer bollocks but Mac OS is better than XP/Vista. It just is.

This isn't coming from a fanboy standpoint either - I don't even own an apple machine

 

[ford prefect]

Typical nerd opinion and Apple do sell quite a lot of consumer bollocks but Mac OS is better than XP/Vista. It just is.

This isn't coming from a fanboy standpoint either - I don't even own an apple machine

When I first looked at the final release of vista, I was actually quite shocked at how little it had moved on. You have to wonder what the microsoft developement boys and girls have been up to for the past seven years really.

Mac OS on the otherhand always brings something new an innovative the the table every release. I mean look at Time Machine, or the new file preview stuff, boot camp, not to mention the improvements in finder.

Vista (which apparently was more or less coded from scratch), could have been a slim, fast memory efficient operating system. Instead its full of bloatware and eats system resources for fun, and well the 64bit version isn't exactly inspiring a lot of support from hardware manufacturers atm is it?

 

[Raven]

Typical nerd opinion and Apple do sell quite a lot of consumer bollocks but Mac OS is better than XP/Vista. It just is.

It may well be but if nothing useful actually works on it then its a bit pointless.

 

[Kryten]

More than just the OS. APple had next to nothing to do with the dev of MacOS 10 onwards - and the hardware just aint worth the hassle or money.

 

[TdC]

It may well be but if nothing useful actually works on it then its a bit pointless.

tbh a mahoosive amount of software works for the Apple. because it's not useful to you doesn't mean it's not useful to everyone.

oh god, now you have me defending them, and I'm known at work as they guy who hates them

 

[ECA]

What I dont understand is that if OSX is sooo much better than any windows OS ever, wouldn't they make a lot of money NOT locking you into their hardware?

If Apple felt secure in
A) the looks selling overpriced shit ( you'd get more sales from people buying them as a "PC" on which you can install whatever the fuck you want ) [ yes I know you can do that now - but who would buy that ovepriced crap?! - and the people who buy shit like that dont know you can do that anyway ]

B) Mac OS X being good ( because selling a lot of OS units = $$$ )

then they would make more money not-bundling them.

They don't want people to be able to buy the OS seperately and evaluate it honestly, all you have is the rabid apple nutters who cant see that apple is WORSE than MS in terms of being restrictive.

Its like MS buying alienware and only letting you run windows on their selfsold hardware - it would fail so badly because its a shit idea, and yes there is a small but stupid band who do not see this and like donating money to Steve Jobs.


Its the same reason the ipod/iphone will dissapear - only a small band of wankers will be left buying it - everyone else will be using players that dont restrict formats/personal usage no matter how good the interface is.

The second apple loses its pseudo elitism is the second all the pseudo elitists abandon it and will move on to something else to be elitist about.

Its the same people who like bands when they are new but then become mainstream and suddenly they dont like it anymore.

Its that bunch of twats wankers and ***** who buy apple.

 

[nath]

This is a guess, but I'd assume one of the benefits of selling on just your own hardware is that you can tailor the software to that specific hardware set. They always know what hardware it needs to run on whereas with Windows it needs to support an infinite combination of hardware setups.

Like I said - I'm not an apple fanboy, I don't even own one. I'm just capable of looking at things objectively and Mac OS is a very decent (read: better than windows) operating system.

Also you maybe right about that bunch of wankers buying apple, but that doesn't say anything about the software. The iphone is ridiculous but it has its merits. They've completely revolutionised human interface and hopefully other companies will follow suit.

 

[ECA]

I'll give them credit for great interfaces ( ipod/iphone ) but they dont actually want to compete.

In terms of the ipod your limited to THEIR store, THEIR format and FUCK YOU if you dont like it.

If you want an iphone you cant just have one, they have exclusive network deals wherever they can because they dont want to compete.

Also: I am responsible for purchasing a mac

Some doofus photographer at work was bringing in his own macbook w/ a 12" screen to do graphics work claiming it was superior to windows ( despite the fact he would be using only adobe photoshop regardless of the system ) and I actually wanted results so he got an imac w/ a decent sized monitor so the company didnt have to suffer for his fuckwittery.

 

[ECA]

Also has anyone met a mac owner that isnt a stereotype?

I've never met a male mac owner who I havnt wanted to stab in the face and never want to speak to again. They just dont exist.

The female mac owners are ALWAYS dumb middle aged women who want to be thought of as middle/upper class intelligentsia and/or just dumb people who think they are "pretty".

 

[Raven]

needs a hair cut (but styled like that) cheap suit jacket over a £50 T-shirt, jeans. a sort of confused "cool" facial expression. Probably a chelsea fan


dickheads

 

[Kryten]

Or rather fond of black polo necks and blue jeans.


/me coughs

 

[Embattle]

Drive M3s too maybe

 

[SawTooTH]

Typical nerd opinion and Apple do sell quite a lot of consumer bollocks but Mac OS is better than XP/Vista. It just is.

This isn't coming from a fanboy standpoint either - I don't even own an apple machine

I have one at work and its shite. Ive been using them for almost 10 years and they are not easy to use in my line of work.
Most applications are developed for PCs. I think XP with all the service packs is as stable as old boots, runs faster and is compatible with, well a few million more programs that can run on an apple...including emulation...a joke if you've ever tried to run scientific programs on one.

So I have a fairly balanced view of them. I see them as style over substance. looks nice in the home but what would you run on them..oh i Tunes.. I have a PC that does that better and plays all formats...hmm


I wouldn't buy one.

 

[TdC]

What I dont understand is that if OSX is sooo much better than any windows OS ever, wouldn't they make a lot of money NOT locking you into their hardware?

no, because just that is part of the reason the OS is good. they have a very reduced set of hardware variables to go with so they can work very exactly, and with MS having to cater for everybody else, part of the reason that Windows has become a bloated horror, and the really good things are being left out or fucked up.

I see them as style over substance. looks nice in the home but what would you run on them..oh i Tunes.. I have a PC that does that better and plays all formats...hmm

me too. I've never seen one that I thought was anything but pretty. I like the OS, but the hardware is under the level I require, and once it reaches what I use, it's so hellishly overpriced that I may as well make my own computer. The only reason I run XP is for games mind, otherwise I'd be just as pleased with whatever OS my email, browser and graphics proggy can run on.

 

[nath]

I have one at work and its shite. Ive been using them for almost 10 years and they are not easy to use in my line of work.
Most applications are developed for PCs. I think XP with all the service packs is as stable as old boots, runs faster and is compatible with, well a few million more programs that can run on an apple...including emulation...a joke if you've ever tried to run scientific programs on one.

So I have a fairly balanced view of them. I see them as style over substance. looks nice in the home but what would you run on them..oh i Tunes.. I have a PC that does that better and plays all formats...hmm


I wouldn't buy one.

The thing is, it sounds to me you're saying this coming from someone who knows how to use a computer well. I know how to use a machine well and I have zero problems with XP. However when people get viruses, spyware or just don't know how to use there computer I don't think they're stupid I think XP hasn't been designed well enough for them. I think we need to shake off this attitude that people should bend to the computer, computers should be designed with HUMAN BEINGS in mind, not IT nerds. In my experience Apple products do this - sure they're very stylish which is very irritating but besides that they're just designed better.

It sounds like you're doing some fairly specialised work on your system and fair enough, that precludes you from ever using a mac but the VAST majority of computer users just want to browse the web, receive emails, fiddle with photos, listen to music etc. For those people, a Mac is *far* more suitable.

 

[Bodhi]

I ha a go of an iPhone during the week. It was the shittest thing ever. All the flashy bells and whistles couldn't distract me from the fact that I could only text one person at a time, or the fact that if I wanted to send a photo message I'd need another phone. I didn't find the interface anything special, but then I'm not a complete and utter retard who can't use a phone properly, so I'm guessing it wasn't aimed at me. Anyway, the onscreen keyboard was utter garbage without a stylus and ringtones are pointless if you have to pay for them.

So basically, if you're a bit thick and want something shiny, get an iPhone. Oh and spend 270 quid on a phone then 600 quid on a contract.

Or, if you can tie your own shoelaces and don't get confused by something as simple as a menu button, get a SonyEricsson W960i. It'll be free on a 450 pound contract (400 quid on its own) with twice the minutes and you'll be able to do crazy futuristic things, like make a video call or bluetooth a file to somebody.

 

[nath]

Bodhi in supporting sony shockah!

The iphone has a great many flaws, and you'd be a bit of a loon to buy one in its current state but the interface is absolutely fantastic. You'd have to be a bit of a loon not to recognise that

Also the keypad thing is ace, it's easy to think it's shit when you first use it - if you do as they suggest and just trust it to work out what you meant when you mashed the wrong button it works an absolute treat.

Of course it may not be so good at the "wen r we meetin at the cinema 2nite" type of message. But if you type that sort of message then you're a fuckwit.

 

[ford prefect]

The female mac owners are ALWAYS dumb middle aged women who want to be thought of as middle/upper class intelligentsia and/or just dumb people who think they are "pretty".

The Mrs owns three macs, and has just finished her Phd, so ermm, would disagree lol

 

[Jonty]

Hi guys

Nothing original, I'm afraid, just my two cents:

• Dimensions: Okay, so it's strikingly thin, but the overall length and width aren't anything special. If I couldn't physically fit a 13.3" system into my bag before, the Air isn't going to help me by virtue of it being thin.
• No Ethernet: Many people praise Apple for ditching the floppy drive early to push the market forward, but I think Ethernet ought to be here. All major sub-notebooks have it, and although WiFi is cool, it's not always available and connecting in busy areas isn't always practical because of the interference. Yes, you can buy a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, but then adds bulk to a system sold for it's portability, extra cost to an already expensive computer, and bang goes your sole USB port. Which brings us on to ...
• One USB port: Come on, even the EeePC manages to pack three USB ports into its diminuitive frame. Again, you can buy a USB hub, but at this rate you'll need one bag (or manilla envelope *sigh*) for the Air, and another for the myriad of accessories needed to make it useable.
• No optical drive: Again, this is crazy, as a great many sub-notebooks manage to squeeze in an optical drive. Yes, you can use your Mac or PC's drive, but what use is that when you're out and about? Of course you can buy the add-on optical drive, but it's the same old story: more money, more weight, more things to carry.
• Poor hard-drive: An 80GB 4,200rpm PATA drive is quite pathetic in this day and age. The only other option? A 64GB flash drive with a huge price-tag. I know there are technical reasons behind this, but it seems like a compromise too far just to make the system thin.
• Sealed battery: Personally I've never owned or needed a second battery, so this isn't a big issue for me, but I know many people who travel like to take a spare battery in case they're not near a power outlet. It seems that with a screwdriver it may be possible to change the battery yourself, but it will void the warranty, so in effect you're forced to further line Apple's pockets if/when your battery eventually dies.
• General specifications: I don't think it's too bad for a portable system, but the processor, graphics, RAM etc. certainly aren't going to be setting any speed records. If you compare this to, say, a Dell M1330, for a little more bulk you get a whole lot more power and functionality at a price that won't break the bank. Furthermore, only offering two options is classic Apple marketing: the base model is relatively slow and disappointing, the other option slightly better but exorbitantly expensive.

Of course the Air has its positives too. It's beautiful and strikingly thin; it has the very well-respected MacOS (TdC et al. are right, it's good because of the limited hardware set, not in spite of it); backlit keys are nice; multitouch via the touchpad is interesting (but obviously it's more intuitive when used with a display) etc.

However, for me, it's just too expensive given the anaemic hardware. If they had included a sophisticated touchscreen, like the Dell Latitude XT (sorry, lots of Dell examples, but the touchscreen on this model is special), then I could understand the hype. As it is, though, it's like virtually every other Apple PC: stylish, not overly-concerned with raw power, and very expensive (which is by design, since they're supposed to fit into a differentiated market position, not bargain basement).

Kind regards

Jonty

P.S. Four Real-Life Uses for the MacBook Air

 

[Kryten]

Nice post Jonty - I think that sums it all up pretty well

And as for the comic - excellent :>

I think I've been around laptops for long enough and demolished so many of them that I tend to get a feeling about how sturdy kit is, how many different ways they cram hardware into a small space and keep it all cool. There are laptops already as thin as the Air with better portability and better connectivity - the example I gave a couple of posts ago is an aging P3 - hardware has shrunk since then.

I can't stand watching people getting ripped off, and Apple personifies that dislike. When there's so much better around for so much less money you just have to wonder why so many people cut their nose off to spite their face "just because its a mac" or "just because it looks pretty".

I'm a lover of technology. Looking pretty has never, or at least very rarely had any input into the value and hi-tech of some hardware. If the hardware can't cover some of the major "what if's" then it's not worth the hassle.


Mind you, on a slightly different note : El Reg posted a link the other week about certain Dell laptops giving people large shocks because of the aluminium palmrest. I receive a LOAD of these as returns/refits from Dell, and I've noticed a large increase in the amount of that particular palmrest being returned. Makes you wonder how thick these Dell engineers have to be to believe that the palmrest is soley responsible for dispensing shocks to users :/

 

[DaGaffer]

I'm a lover of technology. Looking pretty has never, or at least very rarely had any input into the value and hi-tech of some hardware. If the hardware can't cover some of the major "what if's" then it's not worth the hassle.

Spoken like a true engineer. Actually, spoken like a true British engineer, an Italian engineer would never agree with you. Of course looking pretty has "value", and more often than not, "ordinary" people will value aesthetics more highly than absolute specifications. This is why Apple succeed, along with the likes of Bang & Olufsen, and Aston Martin for that matter. Personally I'm quite happy to sacrifice that last 10% of performance for something that doesn't offend my eyes, and I'm pretty sure that's the majority view.

What stops me buying Apple is simply price and the fact that there are plenty of PCs that satisfy my aesthetic needs AND have more performance than a Mac. I'm not tempted by the Air because, as quite a few people have pointed out, its so compromised its a joke, but that's not to say if Apple bought out a decent sub-notebook with ports and a removable battery I wouldn't buy it. Of course Apple won't, because that's the other thing I dislike about Apple, the breathtaking "we're always right" arrogance.

 

[xane]

I really don't know what to believe when people spout off about how wonderful MacOS is, I suspect they have very low standards deciding "good" software.

My only experience with Apple software is the dreaded iTunes. The iPod would be quite a nice unit without it, it's expensive, but there are very few 40+ Gb "jukebox" MP3 players without a huge screen on them, the biggest let down is the foul iTunes that you have to use, I'd have ditched the iPod long ago but I can't find a suitable non-Apple replacement (if anyone can recommend another small, 40+ Gb MP3 Player, then go ahead).

Admittedly, I had a change of heart when I started using Podcasts via iTunes, that changed quickly when I'd notice Podcasts I'd listened to months ago coming back, and the fact that a connected iPod is not automatically updated with a Podcast once it gets downloaded. The same basic faults that apply to the music management side of iTunes, never addressed.

It really has made me very suspicious ant less likely to part with £1,000 or more for an unit that I can only use an OS designed by the same people who did iTunes.

 

[soze]

I looked at buying a Mac Book for a laugh and to try something else. Seeing more and more idiots coming to us for mac support knowing nothing about the machine they just got but wanting in on a windows network. Thing that put me off was upgrading ram o get 4gb took it up over £500 lol and only 5400 speed drives. There is nothing i have seen it can offer me (games internet email msn) mainly on my laptop that makes it worth it. I never have problems with my machine games install the internet opens MSN works and i can read email so i start to wonder how can OSX improve that. Give me a flashy inteface im not used to but i might grow to love?

I would give OSX a try IF i could run it on a virtual machine.

 

[Kryten]

It really has made me very suspicious ant less likely to part with £1,000 or more for an unit that I can only use an OS designed by the same people who did iTunes.

Not really - as I keep saying, Apple didn't have as much to do with OSX as you'd think - it's basically just another version of KDE/Gnome etc on top of an already established system (BSD I've heard?)
So other than the graphical interface and the logo - it's no iTunes, which is no bad thing - I share you pain with that

 

[ford prefect]

In my experience Mac OS is a nice fast OS, which is easy to use. I will be the first to admit that I hated it when I first started using Apple machines some years ago, but then I have been using windows since 3.11.

People that have only ever used windows seem to think that Windows is the way an OS should be. Personally my favourite OS for work is Fedora Redhat, it looks quite nice and does everything I need it to do, with much less noise and fuss than windows.

I think the point that people often miss is that Macs are designed with more specific funtions in mind than a windows machine. Sure they make good every day office machines, but where macs really come into there own is handling large files like video and audio, or in the more creative aspects of webdesign.

A mac is a tool designed to do specific jobs, whereas windows is there to try and please everybody, which results in a slow (comparatively speaking, often buggy system). Obviously that means they don't suit everyone especially gamers, but then again when I edit video, I wouldn't dream of doing it in Windows.

As I said eariler, the hardware isn't exactly state of the art generally, but then the OS is designed specifically for that hardware, so the OS is inherently more stable than Windows.

 

[Tom]

You know what puts me off Apple stuff?

The people who won't shut up about how great it is. I mean, just shut the fuck up already.



PS Not you Ford.