Which Is Smaller? The Air Or The Eee?

Some people have complained about the footprint the Air needs to support that 13.3" screen and full-size keyboard, saying that they would have prefered a smaller notebook like the Asus Eee PC.

A "true" subnotebook.

Well, their wish has come true, because by my calculations the Air is actually both thinner and smaller than the Eee PC.

You do the math.

According to published specifications, the Eee's dimensions are 8.9x6.5x0.9~1.4, or a total of 66.52 cubic inches in volume. But at 12.8x8.94x0.16~0.76, the Air is only 52.63 cubic inches in volume, making it over 20% smaller than the Eee.

True, the Air does weigh a bit more, and it obviously costs a lot more.

But if small is what you want, then we've got you covered.

* * *Continued in: The Air Vs. The 12" PowerBook

Comments

[Todd]

Then how come my eee pc fits into a bag that smaller than 12.8" x 8.9", which the air wouldn't be able to fit into?

[ML: How come the Eee doesn't fit into a bag or box that's only 0.76" thick? (grin)]

[Spedsta]

So by that theory, if they create a paper thin A3 sized flat laptop, it would be better to carry around with cause its thinner. More portable doesnt have to mean thinner. (:o) please comment.

[eeeuser]

Volume wise the Air may be smaller. But, you would still be carrying a laptop sized object under your arm. With the EEE, its more like just a small paperback book. I mean come on why would volume matter? It's all about the dimensions and the weight.

[ML: First, volume makes a big difference in a briefcase, as any given case only contains a finite number of cubic inches of space. I can even slide the Air into the top with the file folders.

Secondly, I agree with your comment about dimensions... but in a different way. I'd have to say I'd rather have a larger screen and full-size keyboard than work with the paperback book.

After all, if size were the only consideration I'd type blog entries on my iPhone. ;) ]

[eeeuser]

Also, I forgot to mention, is the Air that thin when you are actually using it? Does the volume make any impact to the space you are using it? Isn't the footprint more important when using a portable laptop in a Starbucks shop? I would like you to now think about the article you've written and ask yourself whether or not the volume really matters.

[ML: As I currently see plenty of MacBooks in use at my local Starbucks, I don't see how a machine with the same footprint is at a major disadvantage. Heck, even my 17" MacBook Pro manages to fit in.]

[potentialeeeuser]

Is the MacBook Air a "wedge" design that evenly goes from its thinnest width to its thickest width, or is it more of an "axe", thin to reasonably thick quite quickly, then thickening evenly to its thickest width?

I guess the best way to find its volume would be to wrap it in clingfilm and measure the volume of water displaced when you dunk it. Anyone want to risk $1700 to get the true volume?

[matt]

You're taking the average of the thinnest part and thickest part of the MBA to calculate its volume? Go and look at photo of the profile of the product and it will be clear that your calculation is not accurate.

[ML: Examining the cross-section, and calculating the top, back of the bottom, front, and midsection separately as discrete elements, and accounting for the radius curves along the sides, I get a combined total of 56.81 cubic inches. Larger, but still smaller than the Eee.

Of course, that got me wondering if what was fit for the goose was fit for the gander, and lead me to examine a cross-section of the Eee, which isn't a simple trapazoid either. In fact, the Eee bulges rather sharply about a third of the way back to nearly its maximum thickness, which means it too is larger than I first calculated.

Shall we run those numbers?]

[j-son]

One is almost 5 times the cost of the other. And only the Eee can be thrown in a large coat pocket, like a doctor's white coat. The air would be more like a high end sony.

[Jon T]

If it's smaller you want then just wait, 'cos Apple is surely going to be bringing out:

- smaller screen Air versions

and from the other direction..

- larger screen iPhone/iPod Touch computing.

All comes to he who waits! In the meantime I'll enjoy my MacBook Air and watch you fiddling with your Eee.

[j-son]

I will be cruising the Internet with my Eee looking for cool things to buy with with my spare 1400$.
cheers

[THarms]

Don't be obtuse. You know that people aren't talking about total volume, they are talking about footprint. Footprint is all that matters, particularly to travels. To try to come up with a bunch of fancy calculations is just disingenuous.

[ML: So if I came up with a notebook that's 5" D x 8" W ... and 6" thick, the 5x8 footprint would be "all that matters"? I think not.

And as I've said before, my iPhone has a smaller footprint that the Air or the Eee, but I'm positive I don't want to spend much time writing articles on its cramped keyboard and screen. Ditto for the Eee.

Footprint is NOT all that matters.]

[ET]

This is ridiculous. Four inches longer -- that's one and a half TIMES the width of the Eee. Almost the same proportion in width.

So it's lower in volume. So what? As has been said (and ignored) here, while footprint is -not- all that matters, it certainly -does- matter.

Considering it's lighter and gives more versatility in how it can be stored and carried (there's that footprint thing), the only portability consideration in which the Air wins is height... if you have a long, wide -and- thin space to carry your laptop in, then the Air clearly wins.

However, for coat pockets, purses, auxiliary backpack and luggage pockets, glove and console compartments, and anything that -isn't- over a foot long and almost a foot wide... the Eee, which will very nearly fit into half the space of an Air given an extra .7" in height, wins.

Your technicality loses.

[jaim]

Wow...you guys are sad...they are just laptops...who cares that much