Apple has long stated that it has no plans to offer a netbook, instead suggesting that the iPhone or the iPad served the same niche as Windows netbooks. But the truth is, before the first consumer netbooks launched, Apple already had a very netbook-like product: The MacBook Air. It’s thinner, lighter, and generally smaller than a typical Mac laptop. It doesn’t have an optical disc drive. There were only two things really keeping people from calling it a netbook: The 13.3 inch display and the high price tag. The original MacBook Air cost about $1800.

Sure, the notebook offered more power than a typical netbook, thanks to its Intel Core 2 Duo processor and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics. But really, the MacBook Air was sort of the overpriced netbook of the Mac world, since its specs tended to trail behind those of other Apple laptops. In fact, it’s been about two years since the MacBook Air received a major update… so you could say it was about due for one — and that’s exactly what it got today.

Steve Jobs today introduced the next generation MacBook Air, which he described as “what would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up.”

The new model has a unibody construction, much like like other MacBook laptops. Despite rumors that the new MacBook Air would have an 11.6 inch display, there are actually two models, one with a 13.3 inch display and another with an 11.6 inch screen.

The larger model is 0.68 inches thick at its thickets, and just 0.11 inches thick at its thinnest. It weighs 2.9 pounds. That makes the new model a tiny bit smaller than the original which weighed 3 pounds and measure 0.76″ to 0.16″ thick.

It has a 1440 x 900 pixel display. It has a full sized keyboard, and a webcam. The laptop still has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M chip has also been replaced with an NVIDIA 320M chip.

The new MacBook Air models have solid state storage and no optical disc. Apple says like the iPad, the McBook Air will feature “instant on” capabilities and up to 7 hours of battery life while surfing the web over WiFi, and up to 30 days of standby time.

The 11.6 inch version has a 1366 x 768 pixel display and a 5 hour battery that also offers 30 days of standby time. It weighs just 2.3 pounds.

Both models come with 2GB to 4GB of DDR3 memory.

The 11.6 inch model starts at $999 with a 64GB solid state drive, while the 13.3 inch model starts at $1299 with 128GB of storage. That’s not exactly netbook money, but it’s a lot better than the pricing for the original MacBook Air.

Apple has a comparison page highlighting the differences between the 11.6 inch and 13.3 inch models. It’s not just size and screen resolution. The smaller model will also have a slower processor, with a choice of a 1.4GHz or 1.6GHz chip, and a choice of 64GB or 128GB of storage, while the larger is available with a 1.83GHz or 2.13GHz processor and 128GB to 256GB of storage. Perhaps the most surprising difference? While both models have 2 USB ports, only the larger version has an SD card slot.

The 11.6 inch model has a 35Whr battery while the 13.3 inch model has a 50Whr battery. As far as I can tell neither battery is user replacable.

The new MacBook Air models are available for purchase starting today.

You can find more photos from the launch event below.

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24 replies on “Apple launches new MacBook Air ultraportable laptop”

  1. Semantics aside, if you’re willing to pay the premium cost for an Apple computer, knock yourself out. I have a Macbook Pro that’s about 2 yrs old now. It’s a great book, but personally, it’s not worth the 2 grand I paid for it. I have plenty of computer power on my desk…do really need to bring ALL of it with me when I travel? Not even close. I did a lot of research, and for $400 bucks I bought a Toshiba T215D. It’s only capable of 90% of ALL the things I do overall, and 100% of what I do on the road. Did you hear what I said…$400 bucks. Sure, it doesn’t set the world on fire, but it’s a sweet little book for the price. And in 2 years when I get the itch for something new, I’ll have saved myself a bundle of cash. Apple products are great, I have many of them, they’re just way overpriced and just not worth the ‘outlay’ with the swiftness in with technology moves. The Macbook Air is a very nice machine, it just costs way too much.

  2. After owning Macs that broke, I’ve used a Hackintoshed Asus netbook for 18 months (as primary computer for school with a good desktop at home; yes it can be done!) before switching to my current UL30VT. I love how they can connect to VGA and now HDMI without adapters, and how the USB ports and card reader are not limited.

    They got 5 and 10 real hours of battery life too. And replacement ones are easy to buy when the battery inevitably degrades. (of course some want you to believe it won’t and to buy a new computer before the battery goes bad)

    Oh and when I finally find time to Hackintosh my UL, it will probably kick the new Air’s behind, thanks especially to 4 GB of RAM. Now that’s where – with only 2 GB of RAM, what I had in my netbook – we see Apple is only after profit and LOOKING good before actually performing like it could-should.

    As usual, you can add the fruit tax to the price you need to pay to own such a cute conversation starter, but also 100$ for RAM and God knows how much to move the processor away from pathetic (considering the price) speed territory.

    The only good thing about it is that it is pushing the thin and light trend, and that it even does so with decent video while everyone else is stuck with Intel’s highly non-premium hardware. I guess someone will do it right and use the 11.6 inch format without all the compromises and thus include a real battery and standard ports for a .6 lbs weight increase and a 40% price cut (basically removing the fruit tax). That’s what I would have gone for instead of a 13 incher if it had existed.

  3. “Apple launches new 11.6″ MacBook Air ultraportable laptop”

    Apple are absolutely right to introduce an 11.6″ platform, it is the smallest useful size that can accommodate both of the following:

    1. Some serious processing power for genuine computing tasks (i.e. not Atom)
    2. A screen with a usable minimum resolution for desktop apps/games (1366×768)

    https://jedibeeftrix.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/redefining-the-netbook-%E2%80%93-how-gaming-and-productivity-tasks-broke-the-atom/

  4. Earlier this week I said on this site that I’m a Mac user but not an Apple fanboy. I would also like to add that I’m a fan of Apple’s design and build quality, in both hardware and software… and packaging for that matter; I don’t like stickers all over my computer, or the box it comes in.I have a Mac mini hooked up to a 23″ display as my main desktop computer but I have a HP mini 110 as my mobile computer, on which I have installed the Ubuntu 10.10 netbook OS. And this is where I begin to wonder how well OS X would work on a small screen. I’ve never tried to Hackintosh my netbook as I’ve been satisfied enough with Ubuntu’s approach. On my desktop I often place two Finder windows side-by-side to copy files from one place to another. I’ll have a browser window and a Word window open side-by-side. I rarely have a window take up the entire screen but when working with only a 11.6″ screen then I imagine that this would be the most common window arrangement – I suppose this is where Expose would really show its worth – but by default when an application, such as the Safari browser, is opened it usually only takes up maybe a third of the screen and the Maximise button at the top of the window doesn’t make the window fill the screen like in Windows, instead it will adjust to the size of the information in that window.What I’m getting at is that although the 11.6″ MacBook Air looks great and is super light there maybe some inconveniences one will have to live with when using OS X at this screen size. Apple may have already recognised this, as some of the features they showed off from Lion, the next OS X version (https://www.apple.com/au/macosx/lion/), would be useful in overcoming these niggles: ie. Launchpad, Fullscreen Apps and Mission Control.I will have to see for myself how it all comes together before I decide that a MacBook Air is a worthwhile replacement to my HP Mini… and the extra cost.On a final note: It sure is interesting that Apple has said it would never make a netbook and yet the 11.6″ MacBook Air seems to be exactly that… excluding the cost of course.

    1. Netbooks are still predominantly 10″, priced less than $500 (some even below $300), and have longer average battery run time with some even exceed 10 hours with extra large capacity batteries.

      The MacBook Air will only manage up to 5 hours max, like the iPad you won’t be able to replace the battery, it’s priced equivalent to even more powerful CULV systems, and uses a ULV processor. So it’s a CULV and not a netbook.

      CULV’s already range from 11.6″ to 14″ and thus already overlap netbook size and weight ranges. The Air will just be lighter and thinner than most. Some CULV’s will go even smaller next year.

      Not counting UMPC’s and tablets that already uses ULV processors of course.

      1. With respect, stuff ULV or CULV or ultra thin or thin and light. You’re buying into what Intel, Toshiba, Dell etc want. They want, or should I say wanted to create this illusional market of laptops that cost more than netbooks. Sorry but you’re sounding like a rep from one of those companies. Premium netbook is a much more appropriate term. Less confusing. And honestly it’s what an expensive netbook is. Asus is wrong about their 12″ Eee PC when they say it’s a netbook. That’s 12″ so what’s the big deal there? The Apple is 11.6″. The 1215N isn’t gutless, isn’t 10.1″, isn’t 6 hour battery, but…. guess what? It’s still a SECONDARY COMPUTER.This is Apple’s premium netbook. That’s what it is. Now of course blogs can keep on with the netbook means gutless category and then no manufacturer will want their laptops called netbook. Afterall, who wants to sell an expensive 11 or 12″ laptop that is really sized as a secondary computer? If it’s gutless it MUST be a netbook. Pigeon hole “netbook” and within a year you will have squat to talk about in the “netbook” category because geez THEY ARE ALL CULV’s, ULV’s, notebooks, laptops, thin and lights and….what’s next?Netbook is secondary computer. That’s it that’s all. I will give up trying to beat this drum soon. In summary, you will find 40% of the internet will call this Apple’s netbook. I call it Apple’s premium netbook. Anyway you slice it, 11.6 is a SECONDARY COMPUTER. Laptop was the name for secondary computer in the 80’s and 90’s. Now in 2010, netbook in reality should be what means secondary/portable computer.gemasteraka gman

        1. Sorry but if that’s the case then 40% of the internet doesn’t know what they are talking about. The CULV/ULV market has been established for quite some time and yes Intel has ensured a distinction between netbooks and all higher end systems.

          The basic point of a netbook is for a affordable computer that in most cases will serve as a secondary computer. Though for a matter of fact it depends on the person whether it will serve as a secondary or a primary computer. Not everyone needs that much power to get what we need done.

          While your argument appears to be that just because of the size that this will automatically be a secondary computer and that alone should identify the MacBook Air with netbooks.

          But in that case then you should identify most CULV’s as netbooks despite the significant differences in performance and pricing and that by itself invalidates your analysis.

          Sorry but there is really more separating netbooks from other notebooks than just size and weight. Like one of the reasons they are called Netbooks is because netbooks are very basic and aren’t intended to do much more than surf the web and get basic things done.

          Netbook specs have in fact hardly changed in over 2 years and only just recently have they started to advance. But still even a basic CULV can be over twice as powerful as even the latest dual core ATOM.

          So you can do quite a bit more with a CULV processor than a ATOM. Really, look up their benchmarks and you’ll see a wide margin between netbooks and CULV’s.

          CULV’s also use more power than netbooks. So you’re definitely not going to match a netbook’s battery run time with a given same capacity battery.

          Primarily, CULV’s are just under clocked notebook CPU’s that are in a different league from ATOM’s.

          Really, comparing netbooks to CULV’s is like comparing apples to oranges, they may look similar but they aren’t the same!

          1. With respect, and I hear what you’re saying.

            My point is simply this. Netbook moving forward is a secondary computer that is built for portability. I do believe, and Cnet did start coining the phrase ‘premium netbook’.

            The point is ulv and atom based computers are ducks. They walk, talk, look like ducks. Instead of distinguishing the category of secondary computer by multiple terms, netbook is what makes sense. The ulv’s that you speak of are actually netbooks, but premium netbooks.

            What makes a secondary computer? How about screensize? There would be about 5% of the population who would use 12″ screen or less as their primary home computer. A modest 30 minute computer user, sure that’s possible a 12″ could work as primary but in most cases, 12″ and under is secondary computer.

            See the real problem is this. Intel and bloggers created the rigid guidelines regarding the netbook category. They were only powerless because Intel wanted it that way. People started buying netbooks and not full power laptops. Intel stunted their speed. So this creates the “netbook means underpowered” mentality. But see, when you now have dual core Atom and AMD robust processors coming, those computers aren’t underpowered anymore. So therefore, by continuing to feed this asinine definition that “netbooks are underpowered” simply will choke out netbooks all together. It’s stupid.

            What I’m saying is that ulv, ultrathin, etc are not called netbooks or premium netbooks because why? How did we get to a place now where an 11.6″ laptop is not considered a netbook or premium netbook? Reread. It’s bloggers and it’s Intel. Together they have been doing their best to stunt the growth or expansion of the category. What it really does, is simply confuse the crap out of consumers. The CEO of Apple probably wouldn’t mind call this new release a premium netbook but the problem is, everyone (netbook experts with blogs) want to tarnish the image with netbook having to be “cheap” and “underpowered”. Great job everyone.

            A little long winded there but my point is 12″ and under should be really considered a netbook across the board. You have Win 7 Premium? Faster than Atom processor? 2 gigs of RAM? ION? If it’s 12″ or less why can’t it be a premium netbook? Not my term, but it does seem that Cnet are about the only ones who have forward thinking on technology. Make it simple for consumers. Sure, we can all go back to “laptops” and “notebooks” which I guess some would prefer. But yeah, enjoy the death of netbooks if you do.

          2. CNET hardly has a record of being always accurate or really forward thinking. They are just as prone as anyone to mixing up terminology. And the CULV’s I spoken of are not netbooks. Fact is Intel did create a separation between netbooks and CULV’s and it’s not an imaginary difference. CULV’s don’t match netbook price range (never mind netbooks are sold almost at cost compared to the rest of the market that maintains much higher profit margins), CULV’s perform far better than netbooks can even over clocked (even a low level CULV can be over twice as powerful as even the latest dual core ATOM), and they definitely don’t match netbook power efficiency for battery run times as many CULV’s only achieve similar run times by using larger batteries.Really, it would be like trying to call a netbook a smartbook… The majority of features simply don’t overlap and confusing terminology will only confuse consumers to the actual differences between these product categories.Really, you don’t buy a netbook expecting it to run everything a more powerful notebook can but a CULV like say the Dell Alienware M11x can run just about anything you throw at it. Even a basic game like Civilization V can barely run on even a 1215N at a playable level. Or a game like Starcraft 2, would get maybe 5-10 fps on a typical netbook and is only really playable on the 1215N because of the ION. While even a 2 year old notebook can run it better.So you can try to call a sub notebook CULV/ULV a netbook all you want but it takes more than looks to call something what it’s not! Your opinion not withstanding there is a specific difference between what can be called a netbook and what can be called either a CULV/ULV on up to notebooks.Really, anyone confusing a netbook for a CULV will be in for a rude awakening when they try to use a netbook as a CULV.Besides everyone is missing the other category it can fall into if it were any smaller and that would be UMPC!Neither UMPC’s or CULV’s have to be limited in performance like netbooks. Aside from natural limits of technology, size, and costs but also unlike netbooks both UMPC’s and CULV’s can be priced as high as needed to compensate the manufacturers on the cost of making those products.

            The closest thing to true overlap right now between netbooks and CULV’s are AMD’s Neo processor systems with pricing and size matching netbooks, performance in-between netbooks and CULV’s, and CULV like battery life and maybe next year when AMD starts offering Bobcat systems we can start debating what makes a netbook but for now there is a quantifiable distinction.

          3. I appreciate your counter points.

            With everything said, I hope that Apple paves the way for 11.6″ Atom netbooks being the “norm”. That’s my point.

            Our side debate about CULV? For me it’s simple.

            Netbook = secondary computer. The 1201N is 12″ and can blow the crotch and pants of these crummy wannabee laptops called ULV and Asus and most other people call it a netbook. For me, under 13″ is a secondary computer. Period. It’s nothing about price and guts. It’s everyone’s choice who runs a blog to do whatever they want. Of course I’m just pointing out that such narrow minded definitions will spell the end to netbooks in the near future. I guess the last true part of netbook that exists today and in 2011 may be the cheap price. Then again, you can buy an expensive computer that is a netbook and you can exclude it from “netbook” class because it’s “expensive”. Pretty weak view, but hey, it’s a free world out there. I just wish that the people writing about netbooks would not underestimate their influence on what’s going down. It’s sad a comical to me that they are, with their own hands, killing off the great netbook category.

          4. You are right men !!!!!
            They try to create a thick separation line between netbooks and other computers, but that lineis artificial, for marketing reasons !!!

          5. Hang on you’re agreeing with me? I need to pinch myself! Thanks for the support. It’s an impossible quest for me trying to convince people how they are falling into silly lines drawn up by the people sending them computers to review.

  5. All I can say is that this device will create a stiffer competition for the premium ULV notebooks/netbooks whatever!. This will make other manufacturers to create better devices at lower prices. The fact that the entry level is around $1000 makes it more affordable to more users. With the presence of this machine in the market, I’m sure that the windows market will be forced to upgrade their premium ULV products and keep it at a low price range. Gone will be the days consumers will have to pay a hefty premium price for those thin machines (i’m referring to notebooks like the Dell Adamo)

    In the end, we consumers are the ones who will benefit from it. As long as its a great device and it will stir up a better competion, then its KUDOS!!!. Kudos to the new macbook air

  6. Tthe Sony Vaio X which is a year old is only 0.55″ so it beats the Mac by 0.13″.

    You used to expect indusrty beating design from Mac…I guess that has past away too.

    1. The Vaio X also has a Menlow Atom processor with GMA500 grapics…far from the C2D (im assuming CULV) and nVidia 320M in the Air.

      I don’t think this should be compared to a netbook at all…people seem to have instantly forgotten how big CULV notebooks have gotten over the past year just because Apple is releasing a 11.6″ notebook today.

      The speed (in terms of processer, hard drive, graphics) is completely out of a netbook’s league. The price is also not far from typical CULV pricing when you consider its thickness and build material.

      Does no one remember what price Lenovo tried to sell their Ideapad U160 for? The 11.6 Air won’t be in a niche market anymore (like the 13.3 was/still is). It’ll be a premium CULV and I think there’s a market for that IMO.

  7. Trust me, I would have to win a lottery before I would buy Apple computers.

    With respect, it’s common knowledge in 2010 that 11″ computer are about the smallest you can get with putting in a full size keyboard. 11.6″ keyboard > 10.1″ keyboard. End of story in that regard.

    Apple isn’t creating a category. Just like there were tablets right? Now the iPad comes out and? Yeah, where are all the other tablets? The category existed, but what? Apple tapped into it and now everyone is following.

    That’s my point with the 11.6. Sure there have been some out there. But I would suggest Apple sort of pwned the competition in that category. You don’t think, just like the iPad, that the other manufacturers will change what they are doing? A good chance they will. But I’m not sitting here saying their 11.6″ is a best seller. If it does become a top seller, not doubt, the others will ask themselves about releasing 11.6″ Atom netbooks.

    It’s giving props to the fact that if there is smoke, then there is fire. Apple coming out with 11.6″ form factor tells me one thing. Don’t deny they created the tablet craze, the smartphone craze. Products existed but in reality they created the fire. Just wait and see. There is no logical reason as to why the 11.6″ Atom doesn’t exist. I personally do hope that the 11.6″ Macbook Air ignites the first. Like the iPad and tablets, I think that it will. Logic tells me that.

    Who cares who made the first this or that. It’s really the one who popularizes a catagory that means something. Asus you could say created the netbook. No they didn’t, but yes they did. Apply the same logic to the 11.6″ form factor. ULV firestarters can eat you know what and die. The 11.6″ Atom is really where I hope this Apple product moves the market. And as I mentioned, that spells the end of “netbook” according to short sighted netbook experts.

  8. I’d give more props to Lenovo. I used to own Toshiba Porteges mostly, as I couldn’t afford ThinkPads when they were still made by IBM. When Lenovo took over, they became more affordable. I
    started with the X61 and haven’t looked back since. (My last
    Porteges were M400s, both Core Solo and Core Duo.)

    The Porteges simply coldn’t match the ThinkPad’s keyboard
    (Portege keyboards are cramped and caused me numerous typos),
    pointing stick (prior Porteges had a poor excuse for a Trackpoint),
    and design.

    I now own several ThinkPads. My workhorse is the 12″ ThinkPad X200s, which, with 4 cell battery (slightly over 2 hr batt life given
    an SSD) weighs 2.4 lb. It suits me for work up to 4 or so hours
    before I start to get claustrophobic with the 12″ screen. I have
    all 3 battery sizes (4, 6 cell up to 6 hr batt life, 9 cell), and take whatever battery(ies) I need.

    If I need a bigger screen, I also have a 14″ ThinkPad T400, which
    weighs under 5 lb.

    I’m thinking of getting either a 15″ T500 or a 17″ W700 for times I need to work more than 4 hours, or just bringing a 20+” monitor to hook up to the laptop.

    I’m most concerned about weight and battery life. Price is a
    secondary consideration as long as it’s not outrageous (Sony and
    Panasonic offerings are in the outrageous category).

    I can’t wait for Lenovo to bring out a dual core Atom ThinkPad
    which weighs up to 2 lb with a 4 cell battery, the
    same great keyboard as the X200s or X100e, and a 6 hour
    battery life. Or 2.4 lb with a 6 cell battery, and an 8 hour
    battery life.

    I could conceivably get used to the 11.6″ screen if achieving
    the 2 lb and 2.4 lb weights required the 11.6″ screen, although
    I would prefer the 12″ if not a 13.3″ screen.

  9. Sweet machines. Not that similar to netbooks. It’s basically a high end ULV, like the Asus UL series. I am coveting.

    1. The new Air can only manage for up to 5 hours though. So expect less for average use, and battery is non-user replaceable.

      This can be a deal breaker for many who won’t accept anything less than 5 hours as the minimal and not being able to replace the batteries means you can’t swap batteries for extended use and brings into question the long term viability of the product and/or add the annoyance of having to send you system in for support.

      Still also a question of whether users will prefer this over getting an iPad, and whether other users will consider it a viable option compared to the other 11.6″ CULV’s that are available.

      1. I would expect to get the full 5 hours. Apple seems determined to get their test times to match real world usage, even if it makes them look bad when compared to other brands. This is all about their customer satisfaction thing.

        I’d like to have a CULV for playing with (Linux), but my work requires OS X, so for ultra-portable and work-related, it’s the only game for me.

        I’ve never swapped or replaced a battery before, so I guess I wouldn’t notice. But I don’t take long trips without a power source. I can see how this would be a big problem for some folks.

        My wife has an iPad. I love playing with it, mostly music apps. But I can’t do work with it. And to be honest, I love keyboards. If only I could get OS X on a Thinkpad, I’d be very happy.

        1. Unlike the iPad a regular computer system is unlikely to always meet it’s specified run time because a regular computer doesn’t always use the same amount of power all the time and Apple specifically states up to 5 hours, which indicates you can get less and 5 hours is likely the maximum you are expected to get.

          For most laptops run times can vary as much as a few hours between full power use and minimal use, depending on the system and how you use the system.

          Though with the SSD and usual Apple optimization, it shouldn’t get too low even with heavy usage but should probably wait till someone can post proper runtime tests under load to see if it’ll still fit your needs. But consider Li-Ion batteries deteriorate over time and even if you get 5 hours out of the box, it won’t remain that way over time.

          For light use though it is definitely a nice system. The combination of optimization and SSD even grants it an instant on from suspend and only about 15 second boot from complete shut off. So as long as you remember to keep it charged it can be used much like your wife’s iPad.

  10. I’m not a know-it-all and I’m not smart enough to run Apple, but perhaps I’m a fit as an Apple executive. I’ve seen this market going in the same direction and the 11.6″ model tells me so.

    Apple proved a couple things. There is a market for premium netbooks. They wouldn’t have build an 11.6″ model if they didn’t think smaller and lighter is what people wanted from Apple. Price is NOT the point. Smaller, lighter and not gutless is what the consumer, or at least enough consumers, that Apple would release it.

    I’ve said all along, 10.1″ doesn’t make sense. Maybe in 2009 it did, but in 2010 and 2011 it doesn’t. Apple will prove this. HD display makes sense at this size and full size keyboard makes sense at this size. What the freaking hell is the advantage of 10.1″ Please somebody tell me. It utter crap. More Intel restrictions is more likely culprit. The fact is 11.6″ is the best because you aren’t making it heavier, you aren’t making it suck battery more and it’s not more bulky. It’s just better. There is no counter argument to why a 10.1″ is better other than about $50 cheaper.

    I’m not an Apple guy in the least but I give props. They are making everyone look foolish. If they have built a product, be assured it’s going to sell and there is demand and a market for it. I’m just waiting to see if we are still going to see and hear people raving about 10.1″ when in fact 11.6″ is the best size.

    Now of course, this comes full circle doesn’t it? The netbook “experts” are going to kill off netbooks because hey, they aren’t more than 10.1″ in size and they have to be cheap and gutless to qualify. So, there you have it. I’m not saying I’m smarter than other people but it does seem that I understand how this is shaking down. So, if Apple starts the 11.6″ trend, have sites like this and netbooknews.com going to kill off netbooks? Quite possibly. You can’t ever get people to change their minds regardless of the argument or the baffling logic behind it. So most likely you will see a nice split on the internet and the consumer confusion about what is or what isn’t a secondary computer.

    gemaster
    aka gman

    1. Not an Apple guy? I’ll take your word for it. However, you’re also not a computer guy either.

      Go back. Look at the Sony TX/TZ/TT. If you’re giving Apple props, then you’re simultaneously “high-fiving” Sony for breaking ground and holding the torch in that arena as well as yourself for a showy lack of knowledge or appreciation of computing and its history. Like almost everything Apple has EVER done, including the iPad, iPhone, and iPod, Apple isn’t creating (in fact, most of what Apple has done has been an homage to Sony, which isn’t a big surprise in light of the news this week that Steve Jobs wanted to turn Apple into Sony). Sony isn’t involved in the 11 inch space anymore, but lots of players still are. Apple is walking into an already identified territory, erecting a fence, and inviting in the people who don’t know any better to live in the well organized camp that they provide. It’s not new. It’s not good. It is prototypical Apple.

      FYI: It has been well known since before the netbook craze that the value of a 10 inch display was that it was the smallest possible screen size that enabled a full-size keyboard. This was the logic behind devices like the early Fujitsu Lifebook P-Series models, but even reaches back to the earliest Sony picturebooks and even the Toshiba Portege 320CT, which was perhaps the first ever “netbook” which eventually gave rise to the old Toshiba Portege 3480CT and 3490CT, which are 9 years old. However, unlike netbooks, these were premium computers with cutting edge processors and dedicated graphics cards. Apple really couldn’t compete at the time as they were busy trying to stay out of bankruptcy. I don’t think being nine years late to a party is anything to give Apple “props” about, especially for a self-proclaimed “not an Apple guy”.

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