Reasons why I don’t like MacBook Air

When I first saw the new MacBook Air laptop on the 2008 Macworld, I was really impressed with the design, until I checked the specifications. The new MacBook Air models (see the previous post for details) are ultra-thin and light. Having that in mind, Apple had to sacrify a lot when it comes to the computer overall performance. First, the screen size of 13 and 14 inches is just too small for today’s standards. Due to the fact that MacBook Air is so thin, there wasn’t any room to squeeze an optical device into it, so if you buy one you won’t be able to read or burn CD’s and DVD’s.

Apple is trying to compensate that by adding a rather interesting feature called “Remote Disc” that allows you to access the DVD or CD drive of a nearby Mac or Windows PC. If you can’t live without having an optical device on your Mac (and who can), Apple offers an external SuperDrive for MacBook Air models (sold separately – $US 99.00). These models are equipped with 65 and 80 GB hard drives and the 13” model has 80GB while the 14” one has only 65 GB. It’s a bit odd that the higher performance model has less storage space.

Glossy widescreen TFT LED backlit display supports millions of colours, but Apple could at least add some touch-screen technology and tablet-like feature to it. When it comes to peripheral connections, Macbook Air has micro DVI, USB 2.0 and an audio output. I am not saying that MacBook Air is bad, it’s just that I think technology is not yet ready for something that is ultra-thin or ultra-small because there are so many features that can not be implemented, or have to have very limited support. I am sure that MBA will be loved among travelers, journalists and business people who want decent features combined with light design. Others who want more power from their laptops better wait for the new MacBook Pro models.

Watch the guided tour >>

Events: Keynote 2008 highlights

MacBook Air

13-inch: 1.6 GhzIntel Core 2 Duo processor,2GB memory,80GB 4200-rpm PATA hard drive, 1Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi2 and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDRShips: 2-3 weeksFree Shipping

$1,799.00

14-inch: 1.8 GhzIntel Core 2 Duo processor,2GB memory,64GB solid-state hard drive, 1Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi2 and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDRShips: 2-3 weeks,Free Shipping

$3,098.00

---

Flat-out stunning

Between 0.16 to 0.76 inch thin and weighing only 3.0 pounds, MacBook Air sets new standards for ultra-portable computing — without the usual ultra-portable compromises.

Widescreen display

Its 13.3-inch widescreen LED backlit display delivers 1280-by-800 resolution which produces vibrant images and rich colors. The LED technology also conserves battery life.

Full-size keyboardThe full-size, illuminated keyboard is perfect for staying productive on a plane or in a conference hall.

The genius of multi-touch

The MacBook Air trackpad adopts many of the innovative multi-touch gestures from the Apple iPhone, so you can pinch, swipe or rotate by simply moving your fingers.

Remote Disc

An innovative feature that allows you to access the DVD or CD drive of a nearby Mac or Windows PC. It’s perfect for installing software and retrieving files.

Latest Intel mobile architecture

MacBook Air features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor up to 1.8GHz — custom-built to fit within its compact dimensions.

read more >>

---

Apple TV2

Apple TV turns your living room into an on-demand movie theater. After a free software update, with a few clicks of the remote, you can rent HD movies from the same place you watch them — your widescreen TV. 40 and 160 GB models available.

Features:

- Buy TV shows and music.

- Watch YouTube on your TV.

- Show off your photos.

Requirements:

- Widescreen (16 x 9) enhanced-definition or high-definition television with an HDMI, DVI, or component video input port

- Wired or wireless network- iTunes Store account- Broadband Internet connection (fees may apply)

read more >>

---

Time Capsule
Time Capsule uses the 802.11n draft 2.0 specification, so you can rest assured that it works with certified 802.11n draft 2.0 products. And it’s compatible with Macs and PCs that use 802.11a, b, or g technologies, as well as wireless devices such as iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV. Time Capsule includes a wireless 500GB or 1TB hard drive1 designed to work with Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard. Just set Time Capsule as the designated backup drive for Time Machine, and that’s it. Depending on how much data you have, your initial backup with Time Capsule could take overnight or longer. After it completes, only changed files are backed up — automatically, wirelessly, and in the background. So you never have to worry about backing up again.

read more >>

---

iPod touch models have also been updated. More information and opinions about the keynote soon.

Courtesy: Apple inc. – All rights reserved

A quick update

Happy New Year everyone! I haven’t been blogging for ages. I am still feeling a bit hungover after the holidays. I spent them with my family, playing games, reading and watching Christmas movies. January is a month of joy for every Mac user worldwide. Traditionally, Steve Jobs announces new Apple products on January 15th. keynote. Ultra-thin Mac Book Pro models have been announced for this year. The new MBP should be as twice as thin with faster CPU and OLED screen. I’ll be posting more about Keynote later this month. In the world of gadgets, “Tux Droid” is the new robotic toy quite similar to Nabaztag but with more advanced features and it’s fully programmable. Wii Fit is another interesting add-on for Wii that is becoming popular these days. Wii Fit connects with your Wii playing console and enables you to go through various different exercises and keep in shape while having fun. See you all after the Keynote.

Tux Droid demo via YouTube by kysoh