ComputerWorld's Seth Weintraub just published an article detailing ten reasons why you might want to wait before buying a MacBook Air.
Assuming, of course, that you haven't already placed an order.
Among the "concerns" listed are the processor, wireless, "glitchy" components, the drives, docks, speed, expandability, size, and price.
But are those concerns justified? Let's take a look.
I'm just going to summarize his concerns first:
1) The Processor: Intel is late delivering 45nm processor chips, so the Air uses a 65nm chip on a special socket. Newer chips, due perhaps mid-year, could use less power and increase battery life.
2) Wireless: According to Seth, Apple will probably build in support for WiMax and 3G wireless technologies in version 2 of the Air.
3) Glitchy Components: The first version of any new product is bound to have problems.
4) 80GB Hard Drive: Too small and too slow.
5) 64GB SSD Drive: Too small and too expensive. Sizes will increase and prices will drop.
6) Docks: Or the lack thereof.
7) Overall Speed: Too slow.
8) Expandability: Lack of a 4GB RAM option and no battery options.
9) Size: Seth maintains that thin isn't the only important dimension. The Air has roughly the same footprint as a MacBook and won't open as comfortably on a tight airplane ride as a "true" ultra-portable.
10) Price Drops: As this is an Apple/early adopter device, the price will drop significantly for the next round.
And so?
He's right. They are concerns.
Let's touch on a couple of these though, starting with wireless support. Apple will probably, eventually build 3G technologies into their notebooks, though I have to question his idea of doing a deal with AT&T. We saw how well that "exclusive" agreement went over with the iPhone.
And besides, there may be other alternatives there.
Gliches? Maybe. Then again, my version one iPhone seems to be doing quite well. And this is far from being the first notebook that Apple's built.
No dock? Small drives? Too slow?
I still maintain that the Air is a secondary "on-the-road" or "away-from-your-desk" machine, and not really suited to being your one and only computer. That being the case, aren't most of your videos and music and photos and documents going to be on your main machine? The one with all the RAM and the terabyte drives and the 24" or 30" screen?
Besides, with Time Capsules and File and Printer sharing and AirPort Express "air-tunes" streaming, who needs a physical dock these days?
Size? Sorry Seth, but Apple's not going to budge on this one. There WILL be something smaller... but it won't be a notebook.
But leaving that aside, do you really want something smaller? I think Jobs is right in that most people would prefer a more "comfortable" form factor for day-to-day use. And I see plenty of MacBooks with the same footprint sitting on tables at Starbucks and on airline trays. So I'm not sure that it's size is a limiting factor at all.
Price? Could drop. Especially on some of the components. But Apple's traditionally keep notebook prices relatively stable, preferring instead to increase functionality.
And as such, there will be newer models.
But you know what? That's also true of the MacBook Pro, and the MacBook, and the iMac, and even the Mac Pro.
And even true of the iPhone.
I bought the iPhone back in June knowing that Apple could easily introduce a newer model six months later at MacWorld.
They didn't, of course. But even if they had, I still would have had the use of one of the best productivity and entertainment tools on the planet for those six months.
And to my mind, that's really the only question you need to consider.
[via ComputerWorld]
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