My Turn is Low End Mac's column for reader-submitted
articles. It's your turn to share your thoughts on all things
Mac (or iPhone, iPod, etc.) and write for the Mac web. Email your
submission to Dan Knight
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For a product that many claim to not like because it "falls short"
or "is lacking in feature" (e.g., no DVD drive), there are tons of
article to read about everyone's opinion. It's like by broadcasting
their opinion, they can they say to the world how right they were if
the product doesn't sell.
What fools to have the hubris to think that their opinion is that
important.
The truth is that the product will succeed or fail based on timing.
Did the features meet needs of users today in enough numbers? Apple and
all the PC suppliers out there have plenty of laptop models with DVD
drives built in. Will they all someday lose the drive in favor of lower
weight? Apple is betting that they will - and that the time to start
selling this way is now. Apple is the (only) company with both the
thinking and capability of delivering this future.
What is the big deal, you may ask. Anyone can leave something
out.
How wrong you are. All the PC vendors are competing with each other.
They all compare on specifications. What happens if Sony or Dell
"forgets" to install a drive - their machine specs appear low compared
to the competition. This is especially true is the other guy sells the
same thing with a DVD for $5 less. Then you are getting less and paying
more for the privilege.
Apple has no competitors (if you want to legitimately run Mac OS X).
Apple offers only one ultralight model, and it comes without a built-in
DVD. If you don't like it, then buy something else. It really doesn't
matter to the Mac user what other PCs are available. There is no other
ultralight, OS X compatible computer on the market.
Reason number two: Apple is not Microsoft. Sony and Dell would have
a hard time making a wireless boot computer without some major help
from Microsoft. If Microsoft is busy or not interested, then Sony and
Dell are SOL. Apple can change the OS to match the hardware. They have
no third-party reliance to get things done. Sony and Dell pretty much
follow where Microsoft leads them. Unfortunately Microsoft is worried
about its own profits, not its customer's business model.
So what makes Apple think that the timing is right? Apple has seen
the hole in their product lineup. They have the consumer laptop,
MacBook, and they have a couple of choices for the professional with
the MacBook Pro. They needed an ultralight to appeal to the business
and top-end consumer. They want a product that makes a statement about
values.
If you ever go visit the office of a sales person or business
executive, you will find a laptop and two pieces of paper on their
desk. Everything else is filed away, and this gives a clean,
uncluttered look. They are important, and they are not buried under the
weight of a ton of paper like the rest of us.
So how can you make this same statement for the person outside of
the office? The phase, "less is more" covers the design goal. You want
a laptop that is thin as a knife, light as a feather, free of cords,
quiet as death, and with the fewest features. Fast as lightning would
also be great, and for a little extra you can get the solid state drive
upgrade.
The MacBook Air is not for the average consumer. I still want my
DVD, and I am a cheapskate too. I'll go and buy the white MacBook and
be happy. Two extra pounds is not that important. Besides, my kids will
be using it, and I want something solid they can't break.
But for the image conscious person, the MacBook Air calls to their
sense of self importance. They can live without the drive if they must.
And Apple is so nice to sell a drive if they really need it. They can
throw that into their bag when they travel. These are the people who
shrug off the question of what is not included to get across their real
statement of "I don't need to pile my desk high with unimportant
things."
The truth is that I want to be one of those people, but today I am
not. Based on the number of websites and comments, there's a bunch of
people out there who wish they were. The feel better complaining to
cover up their confusion. To these people I want to say I feel your
pain, but just shut up about it already. Move on to comparing graphics
cards or something.
Share your perspective on the Mac by emailing with "My Turn" as your subject.
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