MacBook Air Amiss: Time to License Mac OS X?

Apple's doing just fine without letting their OS appear on ugly peecee boxes. And please stop throwing around the 'monopoly' word! There is no monopoly. OS X is theirs and it competes openly with many other readily available operating systems (as hobbled and unreliable as they may be).

A few things:
1. Ultraportables in general are a niche market, but a fairly large one. When I worked in a computer store, I can't tell you how many times I've helped customers who were interested in buying a Mac but held off because Apple had no lightweight offering. I think something along the lines of the ThinkPad X60 would have been a better way to go, but so it goes.

2. I don't think the hacking community will gain critical mass anytime soon. Geeks are a small percentage of the total number of users, so I don't see hackintoshes really hurting Apple much.

3. Would licensing Mac OS X do any good? Maybe. The Mac is more mainstream than it was in the mid 90's when Apple tried it last time. At that time it ate into Apple's sales, and since the Mac accounted for something like 90% of their revenue, it meant trouble. Today, Apple is more diversified, so they would be able to absorb a drop in Mac revenue better. And its higher popularity helps. But I'm not holding my breath.

I just don't understand this article.

First, from a business standpoint there is not one NEED to license the Mac OS. In fact the Mac OS is becoming the key to every Apple product, so why license it?

Second this laptop will sell great. The ?geek? community (that includes tech writers) need to wake up to the new world of consumer gadgets. They have to be small, they have to be stable, and they need to work all the time. No longer are gadget?s success dictated by geeks. It is the masses that will drive the new generation of devices.

I think if you can not find one laptop in Apple?s product line then you are very picky. And that is ok. But not everyone is.

MN

No, no, a thousand times no: "This product begs a bigger question of Apple". It raises a question, it sparks a question, but it does not not not beg the question. To beg the question means one thing only: one begs the question when one attempts to make an argument in which the conclusion is snuck in as a premise. All such arguments fail. And all other uses of the phrase "beg the question" are misuses.
Signed, disgruntled philosophy prof.

All the PC manufacturers and Windows users made their beds now let them lay in them. They sold their souls to Bill Gates, they opted for "good enough", they chose price over quality and innovation. Too bad, so sad. If you like OS X so much then buy a Mac. Otherwise bugger off. I hope you're thrilled with Vista.

I don't understand how one journalist's opinion about the relative value of one product should have any bearing at all on a multi-billion company?s potentially foolish decision to license a core product that may severely cut into its' revenue and profits in a core division.

First and foremost, Apple is a profit-generating machine. They make their profits selling more stylish kit than most others, but profit is still priority number one. That they have multiple successful businesses and can more easily afford the drop in revenue and profit should they should license the OS is no reason to take any action that could result in a drop in sales and revenue.

You may not like every product that Apple makes. That is no reason for them to reduce a multi-billion dollar revenue stream so that a journalist can feel better about himself and the world.

Licensing the MacOS so that other companies can produce budget Macs is not an obvious business decision to be taken lightly.

You may not like the MacBook Air, but Apple will sell a whole lot of them nonetheless. They will sell quite a few not because of the Airs -- not because they are terrible products as you suggest; but because they are cool, stylish and redefine a category in a way that will make sense to many consumers.

On what planet is an Ethernet port more valuable than screen real estate. I only use the Ethernet port on my MacBook Pro every so often, but I use the wi-fi connection and the large screen real estate EVERY day. I think it is an acceptable design tradeoff to design a light laptop with a relatively large screen, but without an optical drive and ports that are used rarely.

I also happen to think that a MacBook mini would make sense as well. It would be nice to have a cute little MacBook. But it is more functional to have a light laptop with a larger screen.

I was a bit surprised by the lack of Ethernet. But then again, I don?t recall ever using the Ethernet port as a necessity; I?ve always had a wifi network readily available. Wireless networking is the future, not the past. Apple has regularly set aside legacy for forward-looking design.

Remember Apple creates trends, instead of following them. Apple was the one who popularized the USB port. Parallel port/ ISA hell done away with in one swoop. Apple was also first to remove the floppy. Guess what, in time every one followed because it made sense. It is not easy to be a technology leader. But once a bold company like Apple creates the opening, others follow.

Apple is also the one who is doing away with the optical drive. It is not on the Apple TV and not on the MacBook Air. It see this as a trend. Why decide between DVD/ HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, when they will be relegated to the dust bin of history in short order. The internet is becoming a better distribution platform.

?No one has ever done it!? and ?It?s not how others are doing it!? and ?Oh no, the sky is falling!? are not acceptable defensible positions for not trying new ideas at an Apple design meeting.

Apple takes chances. It is this ability to embrace risk that allows Apple to hit so many home runs so frequently. So many other companies just plod along in mediocrity making stuff that is good enough sometimes.

Apple has talent. They don't just take risks foolishly. They take risks to get to where the ball is heading, rather than where it?s been.

Apple is meticulous. They use proven processes of designing and redesigning until everything is perfect. They consider all aspects of a product.

Apple creates each product as a whole; not as a collection of parts or features. This is the reason their success rate for new products is so high. They succeed because of the rigorous and critical review process that each product must undergo before any of us gets to see or even know about it.

Typical PC rag can't see the forest through the trees. Did you see the size of the chip Intel built for Apple...Does that say anything to you? Did you see the gesture based touch pad? Does that say anything to you. Do you see OSX being used across a variety of devices? Does that say anything to you? The future is slowly taking shape...and you sit there with your head up your _ _ _.

I don't want Apple designing an OS that runs on cheap Chinese hardware. Cheap hardware deserves cheap software.

I'm sick of reading articles like this. There is a reason why Mac OS X is superior and reliable - because Apple doesn't have to support and test 15 billion different drivers and computer configurations. This is why Windows has so many reliability and compatibility problems.

Apple hardware also has a high resale value. Using cheap parts will degrade Apple's image and there's not an ounce chance in hell Apple will let that happen.

If you want an OS other than Windows for your $600 laptop, then get Linux.

The Air is overpriced but very cool.

Except the price, Apple got it right. Most all of the time you dont need all the ports they left out. You can always add a usb hub fotr all the krap you use once a month. usb ethernet, dvd burner ......whatever. Geeks want as many ports as possible, most consumers don't.

Many peecee laptops look sooooo klunky with a gazillion ports. Lets see, how about a 4 usb ports ethernt, modem, 2 ps2, firewire, ,two video, printer, pcimi, expansion, battery, floppy and whatever else. It looks like a geek with four cell phones, 3 beepers, walkie talkies, thick glasses, tool belt and a zune.

I would buy a macbook because I really think it's much better deal. The Air should start at $1499. I migh buy it then.

Over the last 8 months, I think I've used the ethernet port on my Macbook twice. In both cases it was because I wanted to transfer a large video in four minutes instead of 40 minutes.

This shouldn't be an issue with 802.11n.

I use the DVD player more often but really just for software installation. My Mac Mini, which acts as my home server, could do the trick there, too, especially when I upgrade my home router to 802.11n.

My only objection, which had me hold off being an early adopter of the iPhone, is price. But if I were a road warrior, 3lbs would make me consider springing for it.

What's with backing Apple's business model? I am arguing from a consumer perspective, looking for choice in products to run a better OS. The business model is the problem. Sure, some people will buy these but Mac will remain a niche in computing. That is sad for computing at large, because having a real rival in Apple to Microsoft would benefit all.

With prices dropping on Windows laptops to under $800, and that looking to settle at around $600 soon for very capable and well-built machines like the $600 ThinkPad R61i I am typing on now, Macs will become more elite. Again, maybe that is good for Apple's bottom line but not personal computing.

I hear you on Apple pushing the envelope -- it just went too far and lost the plot on the Air. This is just my opinion, and pretty obviously a dream. Clearly hackintoshes will too remain a niche. I am not suggesting Apple not continue down its fashion-focused product development line, just that it offer some more choice through licensing.

"I hope you're thrilled with Vista."

I am. Beyond your wildest imagination.

Why can't an Apple fan comment on an Apple product without deriding competitors? Why can't an Apple commercial actually speak to the product? Why can't the company stand on its own merits? It's like a never-ending political campaign, with one side throwing mudd continuously. The only Microsoft "advertising" I am exposed to on radio and TV are mentions of yet another contribution to a worthwhile cause by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Apple has no dignity. I occassionally lay my hands on Apple products--mostly to trouble-shoot problems for their hapless owners--but it will be a cold day in hell before I ever buy one.

Why are you knocking consideraation of the business model. the fact is that the R61i exists in the marketplace and Apple has to compete with it. As the cost of the Core2 Duos comes down, they should be able to lower the price of the MacBooks. Based on the numerous reports of laptops selling for under $1,000 (including yours) and on basic market dynamics, Apple will likely have to offer something to compete in that space.

It will likely not be a 6.4 lb clunker that you chose for yourself. They will more likely continue to move the MacBook's price point downward as the component costs for the laptop move downward. They may

The MacBook Air is clearly not the computer for you. It is too light, too sexy, too stylish, too forward-thinking, and clearly too expensive for you. That is exactly the same reason(s) that the fashion conscious will gravitate toward it and make it a success ? the very fact that you won?t have one. The real value of MacBook Air will not be to please journalists at PC World. The MacBook Air exists to drive the brand. This product will be successful and it will be profitable, but most people will not purchase a MacBook Air.

The Airs will be reserved for the trend setters who will pay any price to have the best stuff. Most people will buy the MacBooks since they are better balance of performance and value. But even the MacBooks too will feel sexier because of the Air?s existence.

The MacBooks are for the masses. But unlike some other competing clunkers out there, Apple makes an attractive, slim, decent weight laptop for the masses in the MacBook. Consider it.

Apple can continue to move the MacBook's price point downward as the component costs for the laptop move downward. In the future, when the MacBook Pro moves to a newer generation of chips, the MacBook may remain with the Core2 Duos, which by then should be selling at a more reasonable price point. This can allow Apple to offer the MacBook at more reasonable price points as well.

I did a quick search. Most sub$1000 laptops were not Core2 Duo or were heavy. I foresee Apple offering a better-balanced MacBook replacement that is not as heavy as the cheaper laptops and with at least a Core2 Duo. I hope that it will also start under $1,000. That combination should compete quite well with the other under-powered and/or clunky and heavy laptops that are available under $1,000.

Plus as you say, MacOS X is superior to Windows. If the better laptop alone doesn?t do the trick, the better OS will nail the deal more often going forward.

The irony is that the MacBook will likely get cheaper by becoming more like its? more expensive sibling ? the MacBook Air. Apple can strip out the optical drive and other legacy ports from some, if not most of their laptops. This will strip out weight, reduce the cost and make them thinner. It?s a trifecta ? like winning the lottery.

You just don?t get it. Your complaints today are exactly the reasons why the MacBook Air is such a visionary product that will revolutionize the laptop market. The Air will not get Ethernet-so yesterday- can you say wireless. Nor is a user-replaceable battery likely ? 5-hour battery rating, hello!! Going forward, solid state drives will also help battery life, though not price. Firewire is also likely out; most anyone who actually needs Firewire, will likely be in the market for a MacBook Pro with its? greater performance.

The MacBook Air is leading the way. Laptops from Apple (and other manufacturers) will follow the Air?s lead sooner than you expect.

Your assertion that there is no competition is on its? face false. Many Apple supporters out there would like to believe that there is no competition for Apple?s products. But the reality is that there are many individuals, like you, who will buy the lesser expensive product. They will do this, even when they admit that the cheaper product is inferior, as you have admitted in the article. In fact this assertion is mistakenly the basis for your entire premise -- that Apple should commit financial suicide so that you can get a super cheap laptop with MacOS X.

There is competition ? people have free choice in the market. No way that anyone can claim that Apple has a monopoly because they have MacOS X. The same way you can?t claim that Audi has a monopoly because Quattro is the best all-wheel drive system and you can only get Quattro on Audis. I feel that Audi should be forced to license Quattro to all car manufacturers. That way you can get that Yugo you?ve always wanted with Quattro.

In fact, you don?t need to get an Audi to get to get the Quattro all wheel drive system. VW also puts the same all wheel drive systems in their VW models. Instead of calling it Quattro like on the Audis, they call it 4 Motion on the VWs. The Quattro on the Yugo still illustrates perfectly the questionable nature of a company giving away its? core intellectual property in the name of global harmony or journalist feel-good day.

Don?t get me wrong. I understand why you think the world would be a better place if MacOS X were available on $600 computers. In fact, if MacBooks cost $600, I would buy every one of my employees a MacBook.

I?m a consumer too. So I also want good stuff as cheaply as possible. Just don?t hold your breath for $600 6 ? lb laptop clunkers with MacOS X, nor for Yugos with Quattro drive.

Apple would have to sell a lot of Macs to reach a dominant market share level where they could consider licensing MacOS X. By then their rationale for licensing will be diminished.

If they ever reach 50% market share, or see a good chance of being to attain majority market share, then may be forced into licensing out of practical necessity. They would probably look for a partner to make the VWs with 4 motion to compete at the lower end of the computing market. This way they wouldn?t have to tarnish the Apple brand with lower end kit. This would probably not lead to open-ended licensing.

The lower-end partner brand would be on a short leash. Apple would have standards that even the lower brand would have to meet. You would still be very unlikely to get MacOS X on your Yugo. You?d have to settle for a VW made by Dell or some other partner.

Right now Apple makes the Audis that drive the brand ? iPhone MacBook Air, and the VWs that drives revenue and profit - Nano, MacBook, iMac.

I have this strange feeling that Apple has something up its? sleeve. It feels like they are holding something back. For the under $1,000 with-a-small-screen, you?ve get the iPod touch and the iPhone; the latter with an always-on cellular internet connection. The over $1,000 with-a-large-screen-but-light is now covered with the MacBook Air.

In time they will introduce the in-between product that so many people were waiting for. It will be a not-quite-a-laptop but larger-than-an-iPhone mobile computing device/ internet appliance. It will likely connect to the Internet easily, all-the-time and from-everywhere; it may or may not be cellular. It may be described as the descendent of today?s tablet-like ideas. It may likely use touch as the user interface.

In the mean time, Apple will sell many MacBook Airs. Apple will sell many more MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Their prices will come down; all three will get lighter, thinner and faster. Then when no one is looking: MacBook mini/ iTouch.

You seem out of touch with the future of technology. When the iTouch does come out, you?ll still be disappointed. You still won?t get much of the legacy hardware that you seem to want, but most people don?t seem to need.

You won?t get your Ethernet port; the future of mobile networking is wireless. Nor will you get Firewire; as it is not a mobile technology, it will remain on desktops and desktop-replacement laptops only. Nor will you get a user-changeable battery. In typical Apple fashion, the user-changeable battery will be sacrificed for the sake of form.

The design freedom will result in iconic devices with better form factors. This way each of our mobile devices, whether iPod, iPhone or iTouch, will be more svelt and easier to carry around and use on a daily basis. Once or twice in a product?s lifetime, when necessary, Apple or any number of third parties will offer services to replace the battery, as is now available for the iPod.

Don?t miss the future by staying in the past.

And just forget about an optical drive. You?re just not going to get any kind of optical drive in an Internet appliance; certainly not from Apple. They?re too busy trying to establish the future with an Internet distribution platform to worry about legacy hardware support.

You will be able to access the Internet. You will be able to check your email. You will be able to view Internet pages in their full glory. You will be able to listen to music, watch videos and even movies.

But you won?t see the alphabet soup of letters: CD DVD HD DVD BLURAY. You won?t need plastic coasters and a big heavy and expensive optical drive to read these plastic coasters with a laser so that you can consume the digital media of the future. You?ll get all your media from the Internet/ network connection.

You?re a technology journalist. You should be trying to outsmart Apple at envisioning the future, not stuck in the mud of the past. If you need some real columns and blog posts, drop me a line. I seem to have a better handle on technology and I?m not a professional technology journalist, nor do I have secret access to Apple board meetings or top-level design meetings.

I have a sense for how the parts fit together. I?m not afraid of looking at any situation from the perspective of a consumer of technology, nor afraid of tackling the larger issues with which the technology corporations must contend as they create, manufacture and distribute products in a digital age.

Dear Mr. Balmer aka Mike Barton.
IT is our party and you have to join us. We do not change our party plans to include you. You can look over the fence all you want and cry, but it still wont get you in. All the good looking and smart people are here. You can join the Apple party by buying Apple products.

Pssstttt...maybe I can sneak you out a roast beef sandwich.

I love these troglodyte articles.

MacBook Air strikes a cord. It's NOT your full-tilt do everything computer. It's not meant to be! Although when the third-party developers start designing peripherals specifically for the Air, it may just become so for a few users.

NEVER underestimate the genius of third-party Macintosh developers. They complete the mac experience.

I had initial complaints about MacBook Air's dearth of ports, battery issues, etc., I guess I suffer from the geek utility belt mentality to a certain degree. But then I realized something. We already HAVE an Air in my house!

My girlfriend sold her iBook to a friend in need. I resurrected a 1Ghz Titanium PowerBook, w/dead optical drive, for her. We have 2 adjacent apartments w/weak wireless signal is, so I added a $70 QuickerTek 802.11n PC Card to connect to our new Airport Extreme.

So, I take back my initial pooh-poohing of the MacBook So, there IS a market for the MacBook Air... apparently, I'm IT!

relax guys, it's just a piece of metal that'll oudated in 6 months; so what's the big deal ?
you like it ? good for you. you don't ? just look the other way and get a pc brick. get what fits yoou needs and desire and eventually your buget to ! :))
i'm a mac and pc user. i chose my "side" since there seem to be one for the pc guys that i meet. these guys are just like the imperialist governing this country: "you(re with us or against us"; well guess what ? i'm with myself and what's fits best for me. that's it. i don't give a cr.. if you think that the new "air" is too much likr that and not enough like this. you're a tech joournalist and you're acting like a people magazine reporter.
dude, if mac users were so critical of your sacred pc world, we'd go down in the street and draw the guns !
the "air" is a beautyfull machine and has it's downsides, for you at least. i took a look at what you got: used, ugly outdated drive, boring. but hey ! if this is what you like...
peace brothers !

It's a product that fills a niche. Tons of market research went into this product. They felt (Based on MR) that people don't need/want the Ethernet and they want to push N Wireless. The only downside to the product is the lack of an Ethernet port. From a IT standpoint, you can't practically image the darn thing!

Apple has done a fairly good job of staying just ahead of the bleeding edge, Would podcasting have taken off so quickly if Apple had put a radio in their iPod? They provide a safe, but daring environ by showing the way with USB, no 3.5, no Ethernet- AND providing alternatives, like quickly embracing podcast feeds for free. That's their allure.

Apple price points? Who cares? If it sells for sticker, do it! Look at market share growth, etc. Apple is not hurting.

Show me a better product and I will but it- It has to look good, great GUI, Hackable, Run anything, & Secure.

Apple lacks Enterprise flexibility and support that Windows has had for years. Licensing would fix that...

I believe that this article points out important issues surrounding apple, specifically the mac operating system. Unfortunately, the writer chose to be biased in his opinions. It's a shame!

First, I agree with his opinions about the macbook air. I think that it's also full of air. It's basically a half-baked macbook with a price tag of almost the same as the entry level mbp.

1. I thought that I would never see the day that apple would abandon its beloved firewire, but it did and swapped it with a single usb port!

2. Thin but heavy! What's the deal Steve?

3. It's outdated already! Slower CPU, non-expandable, battery is stucked in its trunk and still no dedicated graphics card?

The macbook air may look good closed looking like a mini UFO, but when you open it up and reveal what it has to offer , it leaves everyone saying, Do you think I'm stuipid to fall for this sh**?

Secondly, apple doesn't need to license their OS. Just like Leo Laporte said in his tv show, Apple is a hardware company. Their business is hardware! It makes their hardware work. Mac OS is also what makes their company competitive in the home computing industry.

Apple is already seeing better marketshare in the business industry as more and more businesses employ more creative staff like web developers and designers. I know for a fact that highschools and colleges are now equipting their labs with macs.

Don't forget that the macs recent popularity is not mainly because of mac os x. It's mostly due to iPods and bootcamp, which allows windows os to be installed and run on macs legally.

Therefore, there is no monopoly in terms of operating system.; it's more of a strategic business planning. Sticking with your guns if you will! However, monopolisation is evident on apple hardware and not software. Apple is extremely persistent and determined to control its product line.

Thirdly, people will hack anything that that they can get their hands on. It doesn't matter whether it's an iPhone or a PSP. Unlike other portable devices though, I don't think that hacking the Mac OS would go unseen.

Running and even installing mac os on a non-apple hardware is still ILLEGAL. I'm quite sure, in many people's dismay including mine, that apple will either go the Napster route or take advantage of it. Unfortunately, I think that it would most likely go the Napster way.

Apple's MacBook Air is perfect for the consumers it is designed for!

When traveling, I carry an Airport Express to connect to ethernet. That way, I can continue to use Wireless. An ethernet port is not needed on the MacBook Air.

Apple does not need to license Mac OS X. Apple is doing fine and making a profit with its products. Apple is a hardware company. Licensing Mac OS X would only reduce its hardware profits.

Mac OS X is so good, it is adaptable to other products including the iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. Why would Apple give an advantage to any other company?

Apple is doing fantastically as it is. This is from a long-time Apple Stockholder - i.e. an owner of Apple.

You people keep saying that the macbook air is perfect for whomever it was designed for. I would just like any of you to say it out loud to yourselves and hear how ridiculous your and apple's specs of this almost non-existent targeted consumer.

it's one thing to suport new technology and another to support useless garbage. Macbook air isn't the first ultra portable in the market. There are plenty of comprable ultra portables to compare it. It may win in a design competition, but it's definitely not much a competition on features and specs even if you compare this to sony ultra portables released one or two years ago.

Hold back OS X? You've got it backwards. Putting it on PCs would hold it back in way many more ways. Apple would have to wast way too much time trying to make it compatible with all the thousands of hardware permutations. And yet, if they left it up to the manufacturers of computers and parts, you would complain that Apple is slacking off. They couldn't get a break from you no matter what they did.

Besides, the genius of Apple is the combination of software and hardware made for each other. That you don't get that is painfully obvious. That you don't get the MacBook air? Well, a lot of geeks who can't think outside the box feel the same way. They can't imagine there are people who don't want to use computers exactly the same way they do. Get over yourself already.

To all the geeks on this thread that prefer bricks and will never be in the market for a stylish laptop: Get a life.

If you don?t like the MacBook Air, and think that it is too stylish, too thin, too light, with too large a screen for an ultraportable, and without enough ports for your taste; that?s ok. Don?t buy it!

Go and and buy a Winblows brick without MacOS X. Don?t expect Apple to produce a Yugo with MacOS X. It won?t happen. Apple doesn?t make ultra low-cost heavy ugly laptops that will take revenue from their other well-designed kit at reasonable price points.

Don?t expect Apple to license MacOS X to other brick laptop manufacturers. That makes even less than Apple making bricks themselves. Apple would be forced onto a never ending conveyor belt of support for these lower quality machines with greater support costs without the requisite hardware revenue they would get from the sale of Apple units. It just doesn?t make financial sense, so it would be unlikely to happen.

There?s a lively competition out there. There are buyers for the latest, greatest sexy laptop. There are also buyers for the cheapest, ugliest brick laptops. Both choices are valid. Just make your choice and stop bothering the rest of us.

The MacBook Air is not meant for brick buyers. If you are an unrepentant brick buyer, go ahead and buy your junk. Just leave the rest of us in peace.

I?m not going to run out and buy a MacBook Air. I?ve already got a MacBook Pro that suits me just fine.

Nonetheless, the MacBook Air will be a phenomenal success. It is a highly profitable sexy laptop for those who want to show of their ability to buy an expensive sexy laptop.

If you want a bigger hard drive, ethernet, firewire and a user replaceable battery, then just get a MacBook or MacBook Pro and quit your whining.

Hey, they're even CHEAPER than the Air, and they don't have anywhere near as much "style" which you appear to be allergic to.

This gets mentioned from time to time, but there are a couple of things that people always overlook.

First, Apple thinks of itself as a hardware company, it makes choices to make money selling hardware. Oh, it likes the extra money it gets from things like iLife and OS X upgrades, but the focus is always on hardware sales. The iTunes store was created to sell iPods and other hardware, they like the money made off it, but they've done nothing to interfere with Amazon.com's downloader adding songs automatically to the iTunes library.

Secondly, there have been many companies that have had some success selling their own hardware with their own OS, and said "we can make a ton of money by unbundling the software and just selling the OS." These companies ran into the behemoth called Microsoft. NeXT tried that, and Jobs remembers just how well that worked. As a computer maker, Apple is a market for Microsoft software. As an OS maker, Apple is a competitor to Microsoft's OS.

The MacBook Air is the thinnest laptop and it?s the ultra-portable with the biggest screen. At a respectable 3 lbs, it?s not the lightest. Given its? roomy 13.3 screen size, it has the best combination of weight and screen size. Overall, it?s a well-designed package from usability and aesthetic perspectives.

The MacBook Air isn?t even the most expensive laptop in its? category ? the ultra-portables. Its? pricing is actually quite reasonable given the pricing of many other ultra-portables, without the large screen and the forward-looking design principles that were introduced with this model.

Many geeks here are arguing against he concept of smaller lightweight laptops. All they want is cheap bricks. The argument isn?t against the MacBook Air per se, but against the entire category. Just because they don?t see the value in lighter laptops, doesn?t mean that there aren?t others who cherish the ultra-portables.

The target MacBook Air buyer doesn?t want a brick buyer to also be able to afford their special sexy kit. This is nothing new and it happens in all industries. There will always be BMWs, Audis, designer clothing, designer furniture, mansions and all kinds of exclusive kit that sets the well heeled apart from the rest of us. These people like it that way. It would be wrong for companies not to produce kit for these folks.

If this isn?t you, you may never understand. But it makes sense for Apple. That can produce kit for the masses as well as for those who want to set themselves apart. If you don?t feel special enough to deserve the latest, greatest, that?s ok. Just stop knocking Apple for also servicing that market.

Don?t get me wrong; the MacBook Air doesn?t seem overpriced. As a category break-through product, the Air is actually much less than many other ultra-portables; most with screens just a fraction of the size. Plus these trend-setters get a lot of cool with their purchase.

For those of you who praise the macbook air but profess that you yourselves won't buy the damn thing, just one word, hypocrites. If none of you would or can buy it then who the hell would. This is exactly my point! Remember the Mac G4 Cube? No, for good a reason! Well, it was too expensive at the time and was given the boot. Do you guys still remember the mac mini? Well, rumours say it too will soon get the boot because it lacks what most PC users can get for the same price and that its updates trails behind its cousins. In other words, the air has no future if it doesn't have a big chunk of the market! I know this isn't a news flash for everyone, but Apple doesn't exactly have a big chunk of the market itself. And that's for Apple's entire product line!

Obviously, those of you who defend it are obsessed with design,and obviously the criticisms are not targeted at that. It's about the future of Apple and where Apple plans to lead its future products and possibly other tech products; overpriced products with less features!

If you people like to overpay for products just because it looks like what people see when they drink too much, they go for it! You people seem to forget that it's a freaking notebook. It's meant to function as one! Apple has designed and made stylish products without sacrifice too much before then why the hell start now?

Apple likes to control its products, and to do that, Apple tries to control its audience. Drop the price of the air to 1000 bucks, and consider all my arguments against it dropped!

Poor dumb Apple. Chasing profits rather than growth. Not giving away their products to other people. Making all that money and growing their market capitalisation like that. Selling quality products for a premium.

Poor dumb Apple. If only they listened to advice like this, then they'd really be going somewhere.

is it too late to say it? I guess so, but here goes:

DON'T FEED THE TROLL
...
again:

DON'T FEED THE TROLL

just because this is PC World does not mean this isn't just cheap trolling for hits from indignant mac users... Don't be sucked into it like so many above.

I like to challenge anyone to post info on any 13 inch ultra portable that is close to 3 lbs and has a core 2 duo processor with better specs that the MacBook Air. Oh yes also include the price with 2 gigs of ram.

The closest I can find are 11 inch Sony's which plenty of ports but are underpowered. And these start around $1800.

Sony's with 13 inch screens and core 2 duos are well over $2000.

Good luck!

It's ironic to see the same people who've abused the Mac for so many years ("toy computer", etc. etc.) now complaining that Apple won't give away its most valuable asset, Mac OS.

Yes, I can agree that Apple probably ought to offer a smaller sub-notebook; maybe they will in time. But the company also has bitter memories of what happens when the product line gets too complex, so they're very careful about trying to please everyone's nit-picking detail wants.

Anyway, if you're happy with your $600 ThinkPad, fine. If not, you can get a Mac. The real world seldom offers an infinite range of choices.

Here's an idea: If all the people who keep trying to coax Apple into licensing OS X (not gonna happen) would get together, pool their resources, and get behind a project like Ubuntu Linux, I bet they could come up with some real competition for Mac OS X. That's what I'd really like to see: How about an open-source OS that rivals OS X and runs on Apple equipment?

It's ironic to see the same people who've abused the Mac for so many years ("toy computer", etc. etc.) now complaining that Apple won't give away its most valuable asset, Mac OS.

Yes, I can agree that Apple probably ought to offer a smaller sub-notebook; maybe they will in time. But the company also has bitter memories of what happens when the product line gets too complex, so they're very careful about trying to please everyone's nit-picking detail wants.

Anyway, if you're happy with your $600 ThinkPad, fine. If not, you can get a Mac. The real world seldom offers an infinite range of choices.

Here's an idea: If all the people who keep trying to coax Apple into licensing OS X (not gonna happen) would get together, pool their resources, and get behind a project like Ubuntu Linux, I bet they could come up with some real competition for Mac OS X. That's what I'd really like to see: How about an open-source OS that rivals OS X and runs on Apple equipment?

It's ironic to see the same people who've abused the Mac for so many years ("toy computer", etc. etc.) now complaining that Apple won't give away its most valuable asset, Mac OS.

Yes, I can agree that Apple probably ought to offer a smaller sub-notebook; maybe they will in time. But the company also has bitter memories of what happens when the product line gets too complex, so they're very careful about trying to please everyone's nit-picking detail wants.

Anyway, if you're happy with your $600 ThinkPad, fine. If not, you can get a Mac. The real world seldom offers an infinite range of choices.

Here's an idea: If all the people who keep trying to coax Apple into licensing OS X (not gonna happen) would get together, pool their resources, and get behind a project like Ubuntu Linux, I bet they could come up with some real competition for Mac OS X. That's what I'd really like to see: How about an open-source OS that rivals OS X and runs on Apple equipment?

It's ironic to see the same people who've abused the Mac for so many years ("toy computer", etc. etc.) now complaining that Apple won't give away its most valuable asset, Mac OS.

Yes, I can agree that Apple probably ought to offer a smaller sub-notebook; maybe they will in time. But the company also has bitter memories of what happens when the product line gets too complex, so they're very careful about trying to please everyone's nit-picking detail wants.

Anyway, if you're happy with your $600 ThinkPad, fine. If not, you can get a Mac. The real world seldom offers an infinite range of choices.

Here's an idea: If all the people who keep trying to coax Apple into licensing OS X (not gonna happen) would get together, pool their resources, and get behind a project like Ubuntu Linux, I bet they could come up with some real competition for Mac OS X. That's what I'd really like to see: How about an open-source OS that rivals OS X *and* runs on Apple equipment?

Sorry for the multiple posts; I kept trying and nothing showed up, so I tried again. Please remove the duplicates.

It's disingenuous yellow journalism to say "
Apple's monopoly power over the Mac OS is holding back better software." Would you say that "PC World's monopoly power over the it's content is holding back better journalism".

BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Acura also have an "elitist product line up" but I don't see any car industry pundits suggesting that they produce a cheap piece of crap.

One of the challenges with any of the flavours of Windows has been hardware compatibility. By licensing out OS X, Apple would be creating weaker links in its OS armour. Who will become responsible for compatibility at that point? One could argue that it should be the hardware manufacturer but can they use their license as potential leverage to interfere with how Apple engineers their OS X. I never thought of this as a good position in the past but given their current success I do not believe Apple should license their OS. It would be akin to letting lobbyists have their say at how the government should be run. And we know how much of our interests lobbyists have in their heart. The blog's comment about lack of software support is pretty ludicrous given the support from Adobe and Microsoft - not to mention various game companies. Good thing a PCWorld blog does not appear to have a requirement of being thought out before posting.

One of the challenges with any of the flavours of Windows has been hardware compatibility. By licensing out OS X, Apple would be creating weaker links in its OS armour. Who will become responsible for compatibility at that point? One could argue that it should be the hardware manufacturer but can they use their license as potential leverage to interfere with how Apple engineers their OS X. I never thought of this as a good position in the past but given their current success I do not believe Apple should license their OS. It would be akin to letting lobbyists have their say at how the government should be run. And we know how much of our interests lobbyists have in their heart. The blog's comment about lack of software support is pretty ludicrous given the support from Adobe and Microsoft - not to mention various game companies. Good thing a PCWorld blog does not appear to have a requirement of being thought out before posting.

1. I find it COMPLETELY fair that you're price comparing a refurbished, lesser spec'd (in some areas), thicker plastic, been on the market for a while product, bought @ an overstock "dealz".com against a brand NEW product not even on the streets yet... score one for unbiased journalism...

2. When the MacBook Air was announced... I PERSONALLY wasn't in love because of the lack of several key features for me (things mentioned above like ethernet etc.), but upon polling the types of users I thought this machine was built for, I realize that it fits their needs pretty well... the traveling exec, sales person, higher end consumer...

3. Build quality. Apple laptops are typically very durable, high-quality, pleasurable to use machines. The MB Air seems no different. If you don't CARE about these things, that's fine. Don't pay money for them. It is a lot like buying a car... if you don't CARE that a Mercedes door has a higher quality feel don't buy it!!!

I was just checkin out the hackintosh page, really impressive. You'll get a $600 OS X laptop with replacable battery, ethernet and all the other ports you'll probably need every day.
One thing struck me as the most advanced feature: "The only problem with the install at the moment is that it won't boot without the Leopard DVD in the DVD drive at boot?meaning that every time you reboot you'll need to make sure that the Leopard DVD is sitting in the DVD drive."
Sorta reminds of the bootfloppies used 20 years ago, maybe you're just nostalgic?

I was about to chime in with some things that have already been said, but you made an intelligent point at the end: "why doesn't Apple at least offer the Mac OS to business-focused companies"
This is the only place where licensing MIGHT make sense--if Apple decides (finally) to get serious about Enterprise and take on MS. But as many pointed out, Apple really is in the hardware business (well, they think they are, but I might argue against that), and this sort of goes against the grain. I would also agree that Apple probably recognizes the nightmare of supporting 5 zillion PC configurations they would have to support (not to mention all the legacy crap out there).
I would love it if my company licensed OSX. I'm just happy they have made it possible to order Macs (on an exception, fight for yourself basis). It's a start. It's kind of hard for big Company to fight thousands of engineers who are driving this change.
I agree though, the Air is a great, for the right person (not me tho).

Mike, you're being a tad boring with all this "form over function" blather! I suggest you read this for another take: http://lonelysandwich.com/post/24065936

What is it that makes people think any of the innovations Apple makes are "fashion". That is a huge red flag that the person is out of touch \ an old fart. People, especially technology journalists, need to consider everybody's lifestyles when judging a product.

Not everyone has a huge SUV they can throw their giant junk into. Apple just made a product that is going to be able to get taken on many more business trips, and many more short-term trips, and much more often around the house. The lighter something is, the more *practical* it is to carry to more places.

This is the same reason I buy Ultra-Compact cameras. Not because they look nice (even though they do tend to look cooler), but because I can slip it into a pocket, not even feel that it's there, and take it to so many more occasions that you would avoid take a bigger camera to.

If you could get the new Portege R500 (see find.pcworld.com/59867) with Leopard, would you want it rather than the MacBook Air?

So i just use my wifi when watching a movie on an airplane? Oh wait, that doesn't work. As for the so called 5 hour battery life....yeah maybe in dreamworld. Apple is notorious for over estimating battery life. This product might appeal to a small group of people, but its not the most appealing tiny laptop.

As for Apple licensing OS X? That'll happen when hell freezes over. I like the product but I'll never see it on a whitebox. And for the arguments that mac uses superior parts, please. They use the same crappy parts as everyone else and their products fail just like everyone else. There are only so many motherboard makers in the world. Just because the computer is branded apple doesn't mean anything. Grow up and quit being fan boys.

Toshiba and Apple sites reveal:
1) the cheapest Protege R500 is more expensive than the MacBook Air, R500 cost as much as MacBook Pro, MacBook costs about half.
2) PC World compares weight of Toshiba with 64GB solid state drive; vs weight of MacBook Air with 120GB HD hard drive.
3) Solid state drive is very expensive option and will not be available on Toshiba until the second half of this year. MacBook Air ships within 2-3 weeks (if ordered today) for either drive option vs close to 7 months for Toshiba solid state option.
4) R500 has smaller screen 12.1 vs 13.3 for MacBook Air or MacBook or 15.4 or 17 for MacBook Pro.
5) R500 has slower processor 1.2 Core2 Duo vs 1.6 or 1.8 for MacBookAir or 2.2 or 2.2 for MacBook or 2.4 and 2.6 for MacBook Pro
6) R500 has thicker case (1.0) than Air (.16 -.76) (R500 is closer in size to MacBook (1.08) which costs about half with better specs; and similar thickness and price to MacBook Pro (1.0) with 15 and 17 screens and all the bells and whistles)

Toshiba and Apple sites reveal:
1) the cheapest Protege R500 is more expensive than the MacBook Air, R500 cost as much as MacBook Pro, MacBook costs about half.
2) PC World compares weight of Toshiba with 64GB solid state drive; vs weight of MacBook Air with 120GB HD hard drive.
3) Solid state drive is very expensive option and will not be available on Toshiba until the second half of this year. MacBook Air ships within 2-3 weeks (if ordered today) for either drive option vs close to 7 months for Toshiba solid state option.
4) R500 has smaller screen 12.1 vs 13.3 for MacBook Air or MacBook or 15.4 or 17 for MacBook Pro.
5) R500 has slower processor 1.2 Core2 Duo vs 1.6 or 1.8 for MacBookAir or 2.2 or 2.2 for MacBook or 2.4 and 2.6 for MacBook Pro
6) R500 has thicker case (1.0) than Air (.16 -.76) (R500 is closer in size to MacBook (1.08) which costs about half with better specs; and similar thickness and price to MacBook Pro (1.0) with 15 and 17 screens and all the bells and whistles)

The Toshiba R500 is not thinner than the MacBook Air. The spec sheets of both at their respective websites confirm this. To argue otherwise is to defy physics and question our intelligence.

If one wants all those ports and an optical drive, the MacBook is a great alternative to the Toshiba R500, plus the MacBook is about half the price in a very small package even if heavier and with a bigger screen.

The MacBook Air is about a new laptop paradigm. In a truly wireless world, all those ports and optical drive are not necessary. Apple is able to make the MacBook Air extremely thin by not including them. The technologies Apple developed in making the MacBook Air will filter into Apple?s other laptops.

Finally competition is good. Apple makes good stuff, but I wouldn?t want top pay more than necessary.

But can you say ?Vaporware?? When a company feels they can?t compete (ehem.. Toshiba) they talk about an imaginary product that isn?t shipping till the end of the year.

Some people will want one laptop; some will want the other. That?s what competition is all about. That means we all get better laptops for less as the companies compete for our business.

But, please don?t insult our intelligence. We are all capable of checking actual web sites. Most people are too busy to check or could care less. That?s why there is a journalistic responsibility to tell the truth and not mislead the readership.

For the real facts check their websites. This blog post is just troll bait looking for hits. Nothing to see here. Please move along.

"Apple's monopoly power over the Mac OS is holding back better software. If you want Mac OS, Apple says, love it or leave it."
How idiotic. A monoply is "the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service". The Mac OS is NOT a commodity or service. It is the crown jewels of Apple, Inc. They don't have to license it, any more than you have to license the right to use anything you create, either as an individual or a corporate entity. Microsoft choose to license Windows (perhaps because their hardware skills are limited to mice and game machines), and that's fine. Use it if you want to. Our company has already ordered three MBAirs, complete with solid-state drives, external drives and USB Ethernet adapters. I'm not upset that it won't drive a 30" display. It'll work where I need it to work. You're free to not buy it, and I'm free to not use a Thinkpad or Vaio.

Wow. I have spent the last couple of hours reading through the many varied views surrounding this topic. The comparison of the Sony ultra-portables to the Mac air for example. How can you compare two things like that is comparing apples to oranges, to use the addage. Your talking about an almost totally IT driven product to an exercise in design. True, the mac air doesnt have the accesories of ports, or an optical drive like the sony, but it also carries a price tag roughly half of the sony. So with that in mind, for those who would rather have ports and such, for that kind of money, you can have a mac air and another with all the "other" items you can't live without. Also, lets talk weight. You guys are squabbling about 3.3 lbs. 3.3Lbs. Roughly the equivalent of a burger and fries that people enjoy for lunch. And I suppose you would complain about a cell phone that weighs more than a remote control and won't let you check your email.

I am very disappointed with this MacBook Air.

I saw their cute little advertisement and said to myself "I'm getting this one" but when I saw it in-person it lacks special details such as CD Drive and other stuff. Sorry I'm not a Mac person who knows everything but it really disappoints me. And its HUGE! meaning I will need a bigger laptop case for this.

It wasn't that light at all too.