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Sat, Jul 04, 2009 - 08:57 PM EDT — AAPL: 140.02 (-2.81, -1.97%) | NASDAQ: 1796.52 (-49.20, -2.67%)

Mobile Tech Review tests Apple MacBook Air: We love it; runs Windows Vista Ultimate shockingly well

Thursday, February 07, 2008 - 02:40 PM EDT

"When a new notebook model or line comes out, it rarely raises a cacophony of debates between lovers, haters, pundits and grandmas. Such is Apple's ability to engage the emotions. For the January 2008 MacWorld trade show in San Francisco, Steve Jobs announced the world's thinnest notebook. Indeed it's hard to imagine a notebook could be so thin," Lisa Gade reports for Mobile Tech Review.

"And at the sweet spot of 13", the Air is mainstream ultraportable: its light and small but still usable. It didn't replace the MacBook or MacBook Pro line of computers, it's simply a new option for those who need or love ultra-light computers. But folks were up in arms, or in love just a bit too early for Valentines Day. Those who wished for a revival of the 12" Mac notebook complained that 13" was just too wide and tall for an airplane coach seat, those who wanted it for cheap complained of the price, especially the SSD version. And all the while, veteran Mac users who hadn't perused the Windows ultraportable price tags lately were suffering sticker shock. I suspect that Windows users, including would-be switchers who hadn't yet done so because they wanted an ultralight, were thrilled," Gade reports.

"We installed Windows Vista Ultimate on the 1.6GHz Air," Gade reports. "We were shocked at how well Vista Ultimate ran on the 1.6GHz MacBook Air. It was snappy and responsive, unlike most ultraportables we've tested and reviewed. We installed the 64 bit edition of Vista on the 1.8GHz SSD and were likewise pleased. Our 1.8GHz tester swore off his Vaio TZ after using Vista on the Air thanks to the serious performance improvements." (Benchmarks in the full article)

"We're ultralight lovers here and we love the MacBook Air. While it makes compromises as all subnotebooks do, 3 key elements are uncompromised: display size, keyboard and processing power. The Air is thinner than numbers can express, so gorgeous it belongs in the museum of modern art and light enough for those with bad backs or chronic jet lag. Ultraportables aren't for everyone: they cost more and lose features in the process of getting small and light, but for those who want or need one, the Air is among the best. We're thrilled that Apple has joined Sony in the the 'Think Different' subnotebook camp. Once you use one, you just might find it hard to go back to a traditional laptop," Gade reports.

Much more, including MacBook Air 1.6GHz, 80 gig HDD vs. 1.8GHz, 64 gig SSD benchmarks, in the full review here.

Apple Get a Mac Ad: Misprint

Direct link to video via YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87lZa8EiEqc

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Feb 07, 08 - 03:45 pm Comment from: loopy_nj

Buying a MacBook Air to run Windows Vista is like buying a Ferrari to go off-roading.

Feb 07, 08 - 03:47 pm Comment from: Ampar

Or buying a Ferrari to use as a circus clown car.

Feb 07, 08 - 03:53 pm Comment from: Spark

As we will see, those that understand the needs of mobile computing are going to see a lot more in the MBA than all the whiners here that wanted something else. The MBA is a very competitive player in the target market for which it was created, without being a me-too product.

Feb 07, 08 - 03:54 pm Comment from: ken1w

Once again, Apple does Windows better than PC makers who specialize in Windows. Don't forget to install iTunes and Safari for Windows on it.

Feb 07, 08 - 04:02 pm Comment from: Gavron

The on-line Apple Stores in the U.S., Europe, and Japan are all showing the MBA as the 'Best Seller', which is really impressive when you consider how many of the previous best seller - the MacBook - get sold every day.

Feb 07, 08 - 04:22 pm Comment from: 84 Mac Guy

As I read the article I was thinking that using Vista on the Air was like driving your new BMW through a cow pasture. But loopy_nj and Ampar beat me to it.

Feb 07, 08 - 04:29 pm Comment from: OpJ

It really is amazing how many people here (and elsewhere) expected Apple to have a knock-down fight with Asus for the $299-$399 laptop market.

Feb 07, 08 - 04:48 pm Comment from: Paul Zune's Buttocks

That's a good article - at last someone understands what makes the MBA a serious contender in this category: usability and power.

Feb 07, 08 - 05:16 pm Comment from: TowerTone

So it runs something that is "shockingly crappy" shockingly well?

Feb 07, 08 - 05:16 pm Comment from: Wun Dum Gai

Does "shockingly well" mean that it didn't crash every two minutes?

Feb 07, 08 - 05:37 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Funny that a PeeSea-centric magazine gets the MBAir and so many Mac users don't.

Feb 07, 08 - 05:38 pm Comment from: Excuse My French

First Jacqui Cheng bashes everything from poor battery life and wireless to unusable wireless migration, then declares it can fit one of her purses and she therefore decides it's a keeper. Now Lisa Gade. I think this machine will be a huge hit amongst women, gay men, and the Japanese. All are huge marketing opportunities for Apple.

Feb 07, 08 - 05:48 pm Comment from: Gosh

Mr Reeee

You got it in one! It was the change to Intel that has blown Mac users minds.

"Hay, it's less than 2GHz - must be like crap"!

Feb 07, 08 - 06:04 pm Comment from: Predrag

As I had said the day it was released: this will be BIG with women! (gay men too, but that's not much different from other Macs before - or Sony VAIOs - if I were to stereotype).

Every time I walk into a (now defunct) CompUSA and walk around the PC laptop display, a woman would be picking one up, asking: "how heavy is this?". This is the first (and only) question they ask. They don't care about GHz, RAM, GB. They main concern is lbs (or kg).

This will sell like hot cakes.

Feb 07, 08 - 06:31 pm Comment from: Connor MacBook

It's tragic how the first thing these magazines do when they get hold of a Mac is install Windows. It's a reflex action.

Feb 07, 08 - 07:04 pm Comment from: elgruga

Is this the new secret strategy from Apple?
Become a PC-clone manufacturer?
Its the ultimate Trojan horse strategy.
They buy the MBA, they install Windows (reflex action, as Connor MAcBook says), then they try Leopard and they are hooked!

After a while, they remove Windows to create more space for files and another one bites the dust. Cool.

Oh, btw, I dont see Apple marketing to 'gay men' - style is something anyone can enjoy - you dont have to a woman or gay to like the MBA.
OK?
Good.

Feb 07, 08 - 07:59 pm Comment from: shen

rotflmao!

how many "this thing is going to flop big time" comments have we heard from people in forums like this.

browse the store and notice it is currently the number 1 seller.

muahahahaha!

Feb 07, 08 - 09:11 pm Comment from: Mac4lfe

@ Predrag
I did not believe it myself until both my ex wife and my girlfriend said that they wanted a Macbook Air. They could not stop talking about how thin and light it was. No mention was made of what specs it had.

Feb 07, 08 - 09:26 pm Comment from: Jay

Some people are easily shocked.

Feb 07, 08 - 11:00 pm Comment from: jonricmd

@Mac4lfe
Were your ex-wife and girlfriend in the same room? If so, you've got some kind of balls!

Feb 08, 08 - 12:01 am Comment from: TheConfuzed1

@jonricmd

Maybe they're light too, eh? :p

Feb 08, 08 - 02:57 am Comment from: iLuvMyMacs

<< @Mac4Life
They could not stop talking about how thin and light it was.
>>

Are you sure they were talking about the laptop?

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Sat, Jul 04, 2009 - 08:57 PM EDT — AAPL: 140.02 (-2.81, -1.97%) | NASDAQ: 1796.52 (-49.20, -2.67%)

Mobile Tech Review tests Apple MacBook Air: We love it; runs Windows Vista Ultimate shockingly well

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Current Headlines

Sat, Jul 04, 2009 - 08:57 PM EDT — AAPL: 140.02 (-2.81, -1.97%) | NASDAQ: 1796.52 (-49.20, -2.67%)

Mobile Tech Review tests Apple MacBook Air: We love it; runs Windows Vista Ultimate shockingly well

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