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Comments on: The MacBook Air is the Cube 2.0

Why the new MacBook Air is just like the G4 Cube: fetishist sexy, underfeatured, overdesigned, and doomed to commercial failure.

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by Nantela January 18, 2008 2:36 PM PST: I've been thinking the exact same thing for the past two days...of course I'm not an internet personnality ;-); Like this Reply to this comment


by fugawe January 18, 2008 2:39 PM PST: I agree 100%. At least with the iPhone I can use the edge network, such as it is, when there is no WiFi. With the Air I'm SOL. And until I can legally rip all of my existing DVDs to disk, I'm going to want that optical drive.

For me the regular MacBook/Pro is thin enough and offers so many more options.

OT: Veronica is *still* in that picture?; Like this Reply to this comment

by Milpool78 January 18, 2008 2:45 PM PST

Hey Molly! I had thought about that comparison too, and I thought it held water, but a couple things changed my mind:

1) Size doesn't matter much in a desktop, but it does matter in a portable. For some portable users, it's the #1 most important thing.

2) The price is actually quite comparable to the rest of the MacBook product line, and also other similar products in the marketplace.

I'm not claiming it'll be their best selling laptop ever, but I don't think it'll fail miserably either.

(Also the top-of-the-line MacBook Air is just over $3,000, not "nearly $4,000." You may want to correct that.)

Like this Reply to this comment


by mollywood January 18, 2008 2:51 PM PST: Oops, you're right, $3k. Corrected! Thanks!; Like this


by rgunther January 18, 2008 3:56 PM PST: I think you have something here. The lack of Ethernet and FireWire ports are deal killers for me. Ironically, I think the introduction of this new machine has convinced me I need a MacBook Pro!; Like this Reply to this comment


by hysteric.redcoat January 18, 2008 8:59 PM PST: Molly-
I completely forgot about the Cube! This makes me wonder if Apple thinks it can slap some pretty onto a failed project and pass it off to the ogling fanboys. I don't hate Apple, but come on, the Air serves no purpose at all! Anyway, it's good to see that your writing style perfectly mirrors your ranting style. I love it!
Jay; Like this Reply to this comment


by Teneilia January 19, 2008 5:48 AM PST: Molly...I generally agree with you on a lot of things, but I disagree with on the Air. I think Apple has a real winner here. The initial pricing is high, but I suspect they will lower the price later in the year. The lack of ethernet port and CD drive is not a big deal. On my current laptop, these are things I rarely use.

Apple is really positioning itself to take advantage of "cloud" computing. Most of the apps I use these days are internet apps, they make life so much easier when you're constantly moving around from computer to computer.

Clearly, Air is not for power users. It's geared to users such as myself who just need something really portable. Yes...weight really matters.; Like this Reply to this comment

by reviewer19 January 22, 2008 10:31 AM PST

I believe MacBook Air will have its own share of market. Apple is just trying to have sth for those with specific taste and I think MacBook Air is really a piece of art.
If I need optical drive or Ethernet it is certainly not for me, but if I need a prestigious laptop to accompany me in conferences or business meetings it surely do the job.
http://decentreviews.blogspot.com/

Like this Reply to this comment


by s29lax January 22, 2008 4:54 PM PST: Aargh!! This discussion seems reasonable but no one has addressed that one can buy an ethernet port that connects via USB for $19. Also no one has addressed that while their is no optical drive, Apple created this new remote disk software that allows the Macbook Air to borrow the optical drive of any other mac with the software installed or even a PC for the installation of software...maybe in the future this will even work for watching DVDs. This saves on space. And weight. Also no one has mentioned the giant track pad that it comes with that has Apple's multi-touch user interface. This review seems biased to me because of the poor research done. Simply to say 'no ethernet port' without mentioning the $19 adapter for those who need it (I don't) is being a little lazy in the research area. The MacBook Air in my opinion is a pricey, though luxurious supplement to a Mac Pro or an iMac or even another laptop like a MacBook Pro or a MacBook.

It could be your only computer if you use it mainly like most people use their computers...to run applications that are not that processor intensive. The shared graphics memory, slower processor and lack of firewire mean you will not be using MacBook Air for running very processor intensive apps, you won't be hardcore gaming and you won't be importing video through a camcorder via firewire. And if it's your only computer, you'll have to spend another $99 on an external superdrive.

I agree with the reviewer in that I don't think the MacBook Air will be a success as it is being sold because it is too expensive for regular consumers and not powerful enough for pro-sumers.; Like this


by s29lax January 24, 2008 1:50 PM PST: Aargh!! This discussion seems reasonable but no one has addressed that one can buy an ethernet port that connects via USB for $19. Also no one has addressed that while their is no optical drive, Apple created this new remote disk software that allows the Macbook Air to borrow the optical drive of any other mac with the software installed or even a PC for the installation of software...maybe in the future this will even work for watching DVDs. This saves on space. And weight. Also no one has mentioned the giant track pad that it comes with that has Apple's multi-touch user interface. This review seems biased to me because of the poor research done. Simply to say 'no ethernet port' without mentioning the $19 adapter for those who need it (I don't) is being a little lazy in the research area. The MacBook Air in my opinion is a pricey, though luxurious supplement to a Mac Pro or an iMac or even another laptop like a MacBook Pro or a MacBook.

It could be your only computer if you use it mainly like most people use their computers...to run applications that are not that processor intensive. The shared graphics memory, slower processor and lack of firewire mean you will not be using MacBook Air for running very processor intensive apps, you won't be hardcore gaming and you won't be importing video through a camcorder via firewire. And if it's your only computer, you'll have to spend another $99 on an external superdrive.

I agree with the reviewer in that I don't think the MacBook Air will be a success as it is being sold because it is too expensive for regular consumers and not powerful enough for pro-sumers.; Like this Reply to this comment


by jeff6664 January 30, 2008 8:40 AM PST: how do i get cnet tv on my pc; Like this Reply to this comment


by October 29, 2008 8:54 PM PDT: Commenters FAIL!; Like this Reply to this comment


by shane--2008 October 31, 2008 9:08 PM PDT: haha! this is a funny find.....

so, 9 months later the airs are selling very well thank you. i wonder if cnet fired the moron blogger?

oh wait! this IS cnet! they handed out a bonus!; Like this Reply to this comment

(13 Comments)

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