The MacBook Air: Apple's Latest iPod - Part 2

Since the MacWorld keynote I've had several discussions about Apple's newest notebook and have roamed the Apple blogosphere looking at reactions and—perhaps more importantly—the comments to those reactions.

As such, I'd like to touch on an obvious point that some people seem to have missed.

The MacBook Air isn't meant to be your only computer.

In fact, in some ways we'd all be much better off if we considered it to be an oversized iPod Touch with a big screen and a better keyboard.

Let's touch on the "isn't meant to be your only computer" comment before we go further.

Like many of Apple's products, the Air is defined primarily by it's size, and as I noted in The MacBook Air: Apple's Latest iPod?, its design draws heavily upon cues taken from Apple's newest iPods.

And because the overriding design goal was "thin", Apple had to make several choices. First, and most obvious, was the decision to drop the internal SuperDrive.

During the keynote Steve indicated several reasons why Apple (Steve) thought that was a good idea: People don't need it for DVDs, they now have iTunes. They don't need it for backups, they have Time Capsule.

And they don't need it for software installations from CDs or DVDs. They can use Remote Disc to wirelessly “borrow” the optical drive of another Mac or PC in the vicinity.

Another Mac.

They also eliminated more ports than a cruise ship a week behind schedule. Ethernet, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, extra USB ports, mic in, all gone.

Another constraint imposed by size and space limitations was the type of hard disk the system could hold. As such, they chose (as I predicted last week) to use iPod-sized 1.8" drives, with 80GB standard and with a 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD) as an option.

Now for some people 64GB may be a lot of room.

But I have, quite literally, terabytes of files on my iMac: documents, projects, photos, videos, music, audiobooks, TV shows, movies, applications, and more. My current MacBook Pro has a 250GB drive in it and I'm still continually managing space, deleting files and folders and swapping things hither and yon.

For me, and for a lot of people just like me, 64GB or even 80GB just isn't going to cut it.

You could say I'm not typical, but I believe the average consumer faces the same exact issues. Take the proliferation of low-cost high-megapixel cameras as an example. With no film costs holding them back, every birthday party can generate hundreds of new images that need to be gathered, sorted, filed, stored, and then safely backed up.

And don't even think about editing and storing digital video and home movies. (Besides, no FireWire, remember?)

One could carry around a USB-powered external drive if need be, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having the world's thinest notebook, doesn't it?

Now I will admit that maybe, just maybe the average college student has a mere gig of term papers and maybe 10GB of tunes... but a $3,000 notebook isn't designed for students.

No, I think the Air is designed for the professional who already has a desktop or desktop replacement, but wants something super-thin and ultra-light to throw in a bag for a meeting or perhaps to take on a quick plane trip to Chicago.

And like any trip, one has to decide what to pack. What clothes to take.

What files you need.

And that's why, in my opinion, we should think of the Air as an oversized iPod.

Plug it in (or in true Air fashion, just turn on WiFi) and then sync the documents and music and videos and photos you think you're going to want. Not all of them. Just a subset, like we were trying to sync a nano.

That is, assuming we could just plug it and sync to it like it was an iPod.

Apple, are you listening?

* * *Read Part 1: The MacBook Air: Apple's Latest iPod?

Comments

[Cheap Computers]

This awesome gadgets seems that Apple is capturing a market rapidly in the music as well as in laptops so well other brands should improve it self.........
http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Computer Repair toronto]

I really like Apple. it's the best

[cheap computers]

these are the complete example of how Apple cares for its customers because it knows someone wants Apple in cheap rates so Apple provided them its product in a little cheap rates with a limited features as well but if someone wants big battery back up and memory so Apple is available for them also,So enjoy Apple in any range..........Good luck

[gaming mouse]

Thin is better, as has been proven time and time again. Apple is growing their user base by leaps and bounds year after year by being the stylish, easy to use gadget makers.

[Pctechoutlet]

Well, I have been reading your blog posts daily and the reason I come on your blog frequently is its compelling content… Regards… http://www.pctechoutlet.com

[Urbanverve]

Now that's freagin thin! Wonder it called the new ipod.

Michigan Shiloh Cabinets

[wow account for sale]

Plug it in (or in true Air fashion, just turn on WiFi) and then sync the documents and music and videos and photos you think you're going to want. Not all of them. Just a subset, like we were trying to sync a nano.
wow accounts for sale