The Air Isn't For Everyone

The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg has reviewed the MacBook Air and determined that it's not for everyone.

Which to my mind should be obvious.

But it's amazing just how many people fail to appreciate the Air for what it is, and want it to remake it into something else.

Here's an excerpt from a comment on MacNN, "I think I will wait for 3 things to be addressed, Firewire port, 2 USB ports and GB ethernet port or 2 USB ports, GB ethernet port and a Cardbus [sic] slot..."

The same individual also mentions the lack of an optical drive and removable battery, which means that by the time we cram all of the "missing features" back in we essentially have a machine with the feature set and footprint of a MacBook Pro...

Which we already have.

Another common fallacy seems to be the idea that if it doesn't fit my job or my working conditions, then it won't fit anyone's. Therefore Apple failed, the Air will fail, and anyone who buys one is a failure too.

This usually comes from someone whose only real-world experience with the Air is reading the spec sheet.

In fact, the controversy surrounding the Air reminds me of the firestorm that surrounded yet another Apple product. The iPhone.

And that, in itself, tells me that the product is going to be a success.

Because that's the hallmark of successful design: Invoke passion. Make something that some people love and that some people hate and you'll have a market.

Too many companies design by committee and focus groups to the point where the end result is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Others seemingly design by comparison chart, cramming in feature after feature, and often for no more reason than to fill in the blanks.

Apple, on the other hand, is famous for the exact opposite.

Simplicity is the essence of that is knowing what to leave out. To paraphrase an ancient Chinese quote on sculpting, "to eliminate everything that's not elephant."

Or in this case, everything that's not needed in a truly portable computer.

So repeat after me: The Air is not for everyone.

And as such, the Air may not be right for you. Or for your brother, or mother, or uncle.

You may even hate it.

But that doesn't mean it won't succeed.

[via WSJ]

Comments

[James R. Taylor]

It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me. Have had mine on order since the 15th...