Bought a MacBook Air!

From what I'm given to understand, the TimeCapsule replaces your airport, instead of attaching to it...

 

i charge both my cellphone and BT headset with USB as well

 

Oh. You're right. Cool. Now I don't need an Airport extreme. AND it's backwards compatible with my older desktop. Now I won't need to replace that either. Just set it up using the new MacBook Pro running leopard. There is a confusing part about it running with an airport extreme. I'll have to ask the apple store for more info.

 

Theoretically, high-speed USB 2.0 and gigabit ethernet are almost equal in speed. But my concern is about the speed of the ethernet-to-USB converters. The ones I have seen in use were much slower than both the speed of USB or ethernet alone. And everything has to pass through that single USB slot. Imagine that you want to copy something from a network drive onto an external drive attached to your laptop.

It's a bit ironic to have the coolest and flattest laptop in the world, but also to have to carry a bag full of ugly converters, adapters, hubs, etc... to make it properly suited for your work. Also, don't forget that most USB devices are bus powered these days (e.g. external hard drives). But with a USB hub you can forget about hooking multiple such devices to your computer (unless you carry an extra external power adapter for that hub of course)

I think that Apple could make a great addition to the Air by selling a clean, specifically designed docking station for it, offering a full range of ports at the outside, and ensuring fast data transfer to the laptop. That may greatly enhance the value for professional users.

 

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Let phrase again what I'm trying to say...

The Air is an expensive laptop that is ultra thin and light. Traditionally, that appeals to the niche of professionals that travel a lot ("road warriors"). But, the way I see it, those people also expect their laptop to integrate seamlessly into the corporate network, at full speed. After all, you have to keep your travel laptop in touch: sync it, download new data, etc... In many places, all corporate data are kept conveniently on servers, thanks to gigabit networks and nice tools like roaming profiles. You don't want any compromise in the way your travel laptop has access to your corporate network. That's how I see it, other people may have different opinions. Maybe a good docking station can address this.

Of course, there are also many potential customers that are willing to pay a premium for the coolest looking laptop on the Earth. My feeling is a bit that this is the market Apple is addressing in the first place with the Air. Might be a clever strategy. Apple is more and more becoming a brand that sells coolness.

 

If the Air were truly designed to maximize mobility it'd probably have a weaker CPU and a user swappable battery (if you're mobile, you want longer battery life and you won't always have access to a charger).

The Air is the second coming of the Cube, a computer built around form not function. As a cube owner I can safely say I've seen this before, and history is repeating.

 

But there isn't a compromise. The moment you plugin that one USB port you are in for everything. In that sense its even better than separate USB and ethernet jacks.

 

I don't believe that. I explained before why, but let me just repeat it once more. Maybe we can stop arguing in circles.

First, all ethernet-to-USB convertors that I have seen were very slow compared to a proper gigabet ethernet card.

Second, all the communication (network, external hard disk, ...) has to be tunneled throught the bandwidth of that single port, making the less-than-stellar USB bandwith the overall bottleneck of the laptop connectivity.

Third, in almost every real life situation, an external USB hub will be needed. (I for one always use a decent, external mouse whenever possible). Bus-powered USB hubs exist, but they leave virtually now power for the devices connected to it. Certainly forget about connecting several power-eager USB devices to it. The only solution is to carry with you an USB hub with its own external power adapter.

This brings you to the somewhat ironic situation that you have a cool superthin, light laptop, but that you have to carry a bunch of ugly extra cables, external devices and converters with you to give it the connectivity power you really want as professional.

But again, Apple should be able to address some of these issues with a good docking station for the Air. I expect them to bring one out soon.

 

One could also argue that it can't make a good grilled cheese either. I don't think it is designed to be the computer for all. It was designed for, well, me (or those like me).

I gave up carrying a six-pound info-brick several years ago. I travel at least weekly and a laptop was no fun to lug around. I've compromised with a good PDA since. I do all my processor-intensive work at home. While on the road, I need wireless internet access for staying in touch, entertainment and work-related info updates. I also review technical documents that reside on the HDD. I have no need to transfer mankind's total knowledge base from portable to network in a nanosecond.

This thing will do more than I need, and it won't send me to physiotherapy.

 

Excellent post!

I propose the creation of the grilled cheese principle. Judge the merit of new products based on what they are able to do. Not by the entire subset of things that it can not do.

 

I am just saying you are looking it the wrong way. I have a similar setup at the office and it has not been an issue in any of the three ways you describe.

You use the hub at the office and not when travelling. Its not an issue.

Look at the grilled cheese sandwich principle.

In the end I am buying an Air not for myself but for my wife. Just for walking around the house, read email and browse the web. For St Valentines... I doubt she'll say "But what about the Gibabit!"..

Come on! You don't even use a bluetooth mouse?

Cheers,

 

I simply predict that this machine will not appeal to many professional laptop users. And I know what I am talking about.

Sure. That will be the principal market: people who are willing to pay a premium to have the coolest laptop. That's clearly what Apple is targeting.

Definitely not. The idea of having to charge your mouse separately is unaccaptable for me. Way too clumsy. Just give me a simple cable mouse. Totally reliable, light, and you don't have to think about recharging it, our about having the charger with you. When you take your laptop with you to 4 continents, you appreciate simplicity and reliability. You don't want to think about adapters, convertors, hubs or external chargers.

 

I use a wireless mouse with a graphics tablet. Wacom.
If they had a bluetooth Wacom tablet, I'd use that.

I'd go with an Air but I do want a firewire. Maybe in the future. I might change my mind once I get my Timecapsule.

 

I just picked one up and love it. It's slick. Yes, it probably won't appeal to professional laptop users, but as others have stated that's not its target. It's clearly meant to be a casual use laptop and it's awesome for that. Spendy? If you get the SSD, for sure, otherwise? Mildly. But I love it.

 

Hey! I am a professional and I could use this laptop for all I do. I just don't travel enough to justify it..

 

I stopped by the Apple store on Michigan Avenue this weekend in Chicago. The crowd was around the MacBook Air and everyone seemed very impressed. My first test was to see how responsive the keyboard was for such a small form factor. To be honest the keyboard and display were outstanding.

If you have a need or want for a small light Mac computer this may be the ticket for you.

Personally, I'll take my OQO with built in Verizion, WIFI and USB for travel. Though the keyboard is thumb based you won't even know I'm carrying a computer with me with a 4 hour battery life.