The Apple thread

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:16 pm 0

gravy wrote:It's got an Intel GMA X3100 in there which is a step up from the Macbook / Mini's

I reckon this is the start of something awesome though I'm not sure I want the 1.0 version of Apple's subnotebook range

Right now it looks a bit iffy. A very crap HD or a very expensive SSD.
You'd have to be nuts to buy the HD model, it's almost certain to have
awful disk performance and when you get rid of it it'll be the one nobody
wants. Great hardware but right now not mainstream at all, though it'll
no doubt become the executive notebook du jour.

I was sort of hoping for an Apple Menlow based 'Eee'. Maybe later
in the year, assuming Apple doesn't ignore that niche, on the basis
that it's too low cost.

WiteWulf · Post by **WiteWulf** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:17 pm 0

HGFB wrote: So. Has anyone caved and ordered one?

One of our PhDs just posted to the Mac support list at work saying he wanted to order one and should he use the Further or Higher Education selection on the Apple Education Store

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:20 pm 0

WiteWulf wrote:...and the gouging continues:

Time Capsule 512GB Â£199, 1TB Â£329 vs. $299 and $499.

$299 dollars + VAT = Â£178.80
$499 dollars + VAT = Â£298.40

Normally they add roughly 10% on top. So it's about what it normally
costs for the UK. I don't think those are bad prices myself.

Deckard · Post by **Deckard** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:21 pm 0

I cant get my iphone to connect thru itunes to get its update

and I like the look of these - http://www.apple.com/webapps/whatarewebapps.html

WiteWulf · Post by **WiteWulf** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:22 pm 0

Kemper_Boyd wrote:
$299 dollars + VAT = Â£178.80
$499 dollars + VAT = Â£298.40

Normally the add roughly 10% on top. So it's about what it normally
costs for the UK. I don't think those are bad prices myself.

Fair point...I always forgot to add VAT on when I do the currency conversion in my head.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:23 pm 0

You can't replace the battery either in the MBA. Like the iPod.

I'm sorry, but that just makes it a laptop for 1 year, and an overpriced desktop indefinitely after that. My MBP battery only lasted about a year. Now I'm lucky to get a 1 hour charge out of it.

Not being able to replace it, for a notebook, is retarded. UNLESS Apple has a replacement plan for the battery which:

1) Lets you go into an Apple store.
2) Drop off the laptop for 1-2 hours while they swap the battery in-store (nobody likes losing their computer for days/weeks on end - not acceptable in today's society).
3) It costs about as much as a new battery would ($100-ish).

Not being able to swap it out with a spare when your first runs out makes it almost useless for mobile professionals too.

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:25 pm 0

WiteWulf wrote:
Kemper_Boyd wrote:
$299 dollars + VAT = Â£178.80
$499 dollars + VAT = Â£298.40

Normally the add roughly 10% on top. So it's about what it normally
costs for the UK. I don't think those are bad prices myself.
Fair point...I always forgot to add VAT on when I do the currency conversion in my head.

You're not the only one. Generally Apple prices are the converted
amount + VAT + roughly 10%. There's a few things that are considerably
more expensive, but not many. The way the dollar, euro and pound have
been moving getting the prices right and hedging against movements
must be a full time job for some poor bugger.

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:28 pm 0

Dave wrote:Not being able to swap it out with a spare when your first runs out makes it almost useless for mobile professionals too.

I do agree but the sort of person who buys the thinnest most expensive
notebook won't care, it'll be somebody else's problem. People with work
to do will still be buying Thinkpads and MacBook Pros. Apple just wants
their share of a very lucrative niche.

gravy · Post by **gravy** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:30 pm 0

Kemper_Boyd wrote:
WiteWulf wrote:...and the gouging continues:

Time Capsule 512GB Â£199, 1TB Â£329 vs. $299 and $499.
$299 dollars + VAT = Â£178.80
$499 dollars + VAT = Â£298.40

Normally they add roughly 10% on top. So it's about what it normally
costs for the UK. I don't think those are bad prices myself.

And you get 5% discount for biz purchases made in an Apple store

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:40 pm 0

Kemper_Boyd wrote:
Dave wrote:Not being able to swap it out with a spare when your first runs out makes it almost useless for mobile professionals too.
I do agree but the sort of person who buys the thinnest most expensive
notebook won't care, it'll be somebody else's problem. People with work
to do will still be buying Thinkpads and MacBook Pros. Apple just wants
their share of a very lucrative niche.

You're probably right.

I still find it odd to create a laptop that's design specifically for mobile use, and kill it with a crappy battery design. No Ethernet (WiFi only), thinnest laptop ever (looks really nice), no optical drive (external costs extra - WiFi streaming of CD/DVD's is the way to go), etc...

It's like a really expensive toy for someone with a lot of money to blow, who probably is going to use it, get sick of it, and toss it in 12 months, I'd imagine.

If they changed that one battery issue, I, and probably a lot of others, would buy one. Cause it's sexy as hell.

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:44 pm 0

Dave wrote:It's like a really expensive toy for someone with a lot of money to blow, who probably is going to use it, get sick of it, and toss it in 12 months, I'd imagine.

For next years even slimmerer model. Steve is that evil.

VNVObit · Post by **VNVObit** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:55 pm 0

While I like the idea of the MacBook Air wouldn't convince me to change from my Sony SZ5 (which is heavier I accept but is also faster) as i really need windows when mobile (work unfortunately).

I'll stick to the Mac for my desktop though

The airport extreme does look nice though

Am a bit pissed off that the new software for the iPod Touch is Â£12.99 as these should have been there all along (that's what I get for reaching for my credit card too quickly).

still could do with mail and notes as they are both useful to me and make it my iPod more like a replacement for my palm T3.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:57 pm 0

Kemper_Boyd wrote:
Dave wrote:It's like a really expensive toy for someone with a lot of money to blow, who probably is going to use it, get sick of it, and toss it in 12 months, I'd imagine.
For next years even slimmerer model. Steve is that evil.

You know it's going to happen.

Jimaroid · Post by **Jimaroid** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:57 pm 0

VNVObit wrote:While I like the idea of the MacBook Air wouldn't convince me to change from my Sony SZ5 (which is heavier I accept but is also faster) as i really need windows when mobile (work unfortunately).

It can run Windows, silly.

VNVObit · Post by **VNVObit** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:06 pm 0

Jimaroid wrote:
VNVObit wrote:While I like the idea of the MacBook Air wouldn't convince me to change from my Sony SZ5 (which is heavier I accept but is also faster) as i really need windows when mobile (work unfortunately).
It can run Windows, silly.

wasn't completely clear was I

invested in SZ5 in may last year as it had the combination I needed speed, windows and light (less than 2kg) otherwise would have plummed for a macbook