MacBook Air - Going Anywhere?

uvox

Any opinions on the MacBook Air? Other than internal revs (the initial release was anaemic to say the release), there's been no update. RAM cannot be added, and other limitations on expansion.

Are the Air's days numbered?

Sad Professor

The limitations aren't the problem with the current Air imo. The super compact and light design make them a necessary a trade-off. The real problem is the price and the fact that it's probably not thin and light enough to make it worth getting over a Macbook Pro.

There was a rumour a few days ago about the next Air sporting an 11.6 inch screen.

fguihen

uvox wrote: »

Are the Air's days numbered?

Every laptop's days are numbered due to planned obsolence, but moreso with Apple. You will get a good deal longer out of a dell latitude which has a life cycle of 3-4 years, than a mac which has a max life cycle of 18 months.

Apple are terrible for releasing new functionality and technoloy in dribs and drabs. Dont get me wrong, all companies do it, but apple are notorious, with iPad being the most recent example (space for camera built in to frame but no camera until iPad version2!)

Sad Professor

fguihen wrote: »

Every laptop's days are numbered due to planned obsolence, but moreso with Apple. You will get a good deal longer out of a dell latitude which has a life cycle of 3-4 years, than a mac which has a max life cycle of 18 months.

Huh? That's not true. The Macbook Air in its current form has been around for 2 and half years. The spec have been bumped several times since then, but it's not like Dell sell the same spec laptop for 4 years either.

Apple do two kinds of updates to their computers. A refresh, which happens every 9-12 months that bumps the specs. And a redesign, which happens every few years and usually offers a substantial jump over the previous generation. However, unlike Dell, when Apple releases a new Mac they stop selling the old ones. It keeps the product line simple, but has its downsides for anyone who buys late in the cycle. It's just a different sales model to what Dell uses. It's more or less the same with the iPod and iPhone.

uvox

Agreed. Hence this problem we see of "Will I buy? Will I wait?" argument. And then, "how long will I wait?"...:)

Generally every 8-9 months there is an update (though the MBP rev was longer due to other factors).

What I was alluding to was where does the MacAir fit into the product line - now with powerful 2.66 MBPs 13 inchers, and iPads. The limitation to 2GB ram rules it out for any heavy duty work, and I don't understand the rumour of the even smaller Air at all (what's the selling proposition?). As you point out, it's not even the thinnest machine out there. However, there have been updates (are we on Rev.C or D? can't remember) but no major increases in horse power in the Air since release, unless I mised something.

At two and half years and a max of 3 years non-renewable Apple extended care, I am not not the only one wondering where the Air is going. I'll stick with the MBP. Can't seen a 2.66 I5 4GB+ Ram Air coming, but if it was in the offing the waiting would begin....:)

I'd say the Mac Air will disappear into thin Air myself...:)

Sad Professor

I still think there's a place for it. Personally, I'd love an Air for college. I use a 13 inch MBP at the moment, but I'd prefer something lighter. I'm not sure an iPad would be sufficient.