Positioning the MacBook Air
Earlier today, Apple unveiled the MacBook Air, their ultra-thin and light notebook. At only 3 lbs and only 3/4 of an inch at its thickest point, it is certainly an engineering marvel when you consider that it still boasts a full-sized keyboard and 13.3″ screen. Yet, this new offering occupies a somewhat awkward position in the market. It has the high-tech glamor, but does it have a large enough niche?
By shrinking the thickness while keeping the other dimensions in line with 13.3″ notebooks the danger of causing damage under high-torsion conditions seems like a big concern. Gizmodo’s hand-on report described the Air as not only “superlight” but also “superfragile”. With the main point of ultra-light class notebooks being their easy portability, the possibility of damage can be a deal-breaker. Further, the keyboard and screen sizes limit the advantage of the smaller thickness and weight. One of my professors has a notebook that’s small enough to fit in a purse, but the 13.3″ screen on the air keeps it stuck in the familiar land of backpacks, briefcases, and attache bags - the same market the 13.3″ MacBook already serves. While the reduced thickness and weight could certainly be a boon for those who tote the notebook in their backpack, the questions about the fragility of the Air might force it into well-padded laptop bags where its reduced size will give little advantage.
Well, even given that, the weight alone might be a big enough advantage to warrant a few hundred dollars more over a MacBook, but the thin form-factor again forces the Air to make concessions. Most notably, there is no optical disc drive and the external ports are limited to a single USB, a mini-DVI, and a headphone jack. These sacrifices might seem acceptable when you’re dealing with an 11-12″ ultra-portable, but in the Air’s form-factor, you can’t help but wonder if a little extra weight and thickness might not have been worth the extras offered by the MacBook (not to mention a few hundred dollars more in your pocket). Beneath the surface, there are further concerns. The battery is non-removable, so travelers can not buy an additional battery to extend their power and the battery remains one of the first points of failure in most notebooks, calling the usable lifetime of the Air into question.
Don’t get me wrong, from looks alone, the MacBook Air is a very desirable device, and I’m sure it will enjoy some brisk sales from the techno-fashion conscious, but I can’t help but wonder why they didn’t make it a real competitor to the ultra-portables by making it a 12″ screen rather than trying to cut out an uncertain niche between the mainstream and ultra-portable markets.
Not that I expected to purchase this computer, but I too was disappointed by the size. Since an 80 gig hard drive is not enough to make it my primary computer, I would still be tied (somewhat) to my computer now. And since it’s not significantly smaller (just thinner and lighter), it’s not quite easy enough to (as you mention) put in a purse or pocket and take on an airplane (or other cramped situation). So, if I want to have a computer with me, I’m still stuck putting something in a bag. I guess my MacBook doesn’t seem so heavy or bulky that the Air would solve all my problems.
Still - what design! I can’t wait to take a look at one in person.