January is peak season for techno-lust with three trade shows that
set the pace for what's going to happen for the rest of the year. In
quick succession, the Las Vegas-based Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
is followed by the San Francisco Macworld Expo, which is followed by
Detroit's International Auto Show.
Macworld always gets coverage outweighing the Mac's relatively
modest market share. At the 2007 show, Apple CEO Steve Jobs got
headlines introducing the iPhone. This year, the company's news was
relatively modest: online movie rentals, a software development kit for
the iPhone, five new applications for its iPod touch, and much needed
updates to Apple TV.
One More Thing...
Oh, and one more thing: Jobs introduced a new notebook model. Added
to the company's two lines of notebooks - the entry-level MacBook, with a plastic
case and 13" screen, and the more expensive, metal-clad MacBook Pro series, with 15" and 17"
models - was what Jobs referred to as the thinnest notebook ever: the
MacBook Air.
Tapering from 0.76" (19mm) to 0.16" (4mm) at the front, and weighing
in at about three pounds (1.36 kg), the aluminum-clad Air offers a 13"
display and full-sized keyboard; it's a stunning design that fits into
a mailing envelope.
I think I'm in love.
But wait: In order to be ultra-thin, Apple had to treat the Air like
a supermodel forever on a strict diet.
Before rushing off to slap down US$1,799 (or US$3,098 for one with a
no-moving-parts solid state drive) for one of these, pay attention to
what's been left out. To slim down, the Air is missing a number of
things common in heftier, but more capable models - even ones priced
much lower.
For instance:
- No built in CD or DVD drive. You can get an external CD/DVD burner
from Apple for US$99, but that's one more thing to tote around - and
awkward for watching a DVD on a long plane flight. Alternatively,
clever software let's you share the drive on a nearby better-equipped
desktop or laptop (Mac or PC), although not for watching DVDs.
- No ethernet. It's WiFi networking or nothing. Bluetooth is also
built in.
- Only one USB port, so plan on toting around a USB hub if you
commonly connect more than one gadget.
- No FireWire ports, unlike every other Mac model since about
1999.
- No removable battery. When (not if) the battery starts to lose
charge or ups and dies, Apple will replace it for US$129. If you're in
the habit of carrying around a second battery to double battery life on
the road, don't bother. (Though the Air's promised five-hour battery
life is better than many laptops with two batteries.) Update: Later
info shows that the battery is removable; just unscrew 10 screws on the
bottom of the case, then another 9 on the battery itself. Oh, did I
mention that the screws are of a variety of lengths? Pay attention to
which goes where!
- RAM is soldered in; the built-in 2 GB is fairly generous, but
if you need more, too bad.
- At 80 GB, the iPod-sized hard drive is relatively modest in
capacity and relatively slow. The US$1,000 more solid state (flash
memory) drive is even smaller: 64 GB.
With all those limitations, the MacBook Air isn't going to work for
most users as their main work computer. I know a number of disappointed
owners of Apple's very portable (but long in the tooth) 12" PowerBook G4 who had hoped for a more
modern replacement. This isn't it.
Instead, the target market seems to be users who already have a
capable and powerful computer who can afford to compromise on
functionality to get something that is stylish and easy to carry
around. There are suggestions that it will be mostly bought by those
looking for the technology equivalent of a pair of Gucci shoes. (To be
fair, ultralight notebooks from PC manufacturers like Panasonic,
Fujitsu, and others also include many compromises, and they often cost
$1,000 more than the Air.)
I've asked Apple for the loan of one; maybe when I have it in my
hands, my mind will be changed, but for now, love isn't enough. I think
I need something with a few more pounds.
First published in Business in Vancouver January 29-February 4,
2008; issue 953. It is republished here with permission.
