On the Air

Before going onto the food blogs, I want to show you my new laptop I just bought last week. Yes I bought the Macbook Air, the new version with SSD, and I must say it is really cool!

You may think that my comments on the Air must be good since I am like a loyal Apple fan, but while I love the designs from Apple, I can still think objectively. Let me show you some pros and cons on this machine, but first, let's take a look at the unboxing process!

Even the box is really thin, and then I can't wait to just open it!

This laptop is basically just a sheet of metal, it is so thin that it is really like a book, qualified to be called as a "notebook".

And let's check the thickness compared to my Octopus card...so thin!

So why thin then? How does it compare to other small netbooks which have smaller dimensions but thicker?

Thin is small
Let me tell you, the Air does not go into the direction of being small in two dimensions because they want to keep the full size screen and full size keyboard. I must say that it is a very good decision. There are so many netbooks out there and the first comment you would make when you see them is, "That is too small to read!" Then you try to use it, and you will be like, "I can't type properly!" See? But with the size and thickness of the Air, you won't say, "Hey, that's too big!" Instead, the thinness has already shown that it is more important than anything else. If it is thin, it is easy to be carried and placed in a bag, and that is a big big advantage. And the other netbooks? Still bulky in your bag, isn't it?

Impossible Space
And even more, it becomes an object to be desired. It is so thin that you cannot stop yourself from being amazed. When people see a small netbook like HP Mini, you won't be that amazed. Yes, it is small, but it is not in the wowing stage because everything in the world is getting smaller now when it comes to electronics. Phones are smaller and cameras are smaller. However, Macbook Air goes into another direction that you will be shocked when you see it. Why? Because no one believes all the chips can be stuffed into such a tight space! It is new and innovation!

Faster than you think
One must be reminded that this is not a netbook actually. It runs on Core 2 Duo chips (mine is 2.13GHz) and this one I got runs on SSD (solid state drive) too. It is definitely faster than other netbooks which use Atom usually. With SSD, I have never experienced such fast loading speed when I load up programs. It boots up faster than my previous Macbook Pro (2.5GHz) and iMac (2.4GHz), can you believe that?

Before I bought this, I expected this machine to be a little slow. Looking at the spec, it is probably the slowest in the Mac lineup (though I get the higher end of two Macbook Air options). Now, after using for more than a week, I must say this speed is more than enough for me. I don't just surf the net on it, but do web-design, coding, photo retouching and watching videos. Everything is smooth and very responsive, and the system animations are smooth too. I am very satisfied!

No Support and Ports?
Yes, the Air only has one USB and one LAN port. There is no drive and everything is based on a wireless concept. However, why not?

I agree with Steve Jobs that people seldom use their CD drives in their laptops. I only used my Macbook Pro's drive for less than 10 times in 15 months. When I am using my Air, I didn't have the need at all for a CD drive. There are assumptions though. First you must have a wireless network at your place. Second, you had a Mac already before the Air. If that's the case, you will have no problem with your Air. In reality, people who buy the Air won't be those who are looking for their first computer at all!

The only problem is the USB port. I believe that if there are two USB ports, it will be much better, but at this stage I am all fine because my Mighty Mouse connects my Air via Bluetooth. My USB port is then reserved for any flash drives.

Heat Problem
Some people are very concerned about the heating, but I have no problem with that so far. It does get quite hot when I am watching a lot of videos or installing something. The CPU heat diode once reaches 75 degree Celsius! However, after the update Apple provided several months ago, this problem was somehow alleviated, making the fan turn on when the inside is too hot. However, if you are using it for casual work, there should be no problem at all.

This computer is really made for those who need to carry a computer around. I won't go for a netbook if I need a laptop for my business, because it looks cheap. A netbook does not look professional to me compared to the Macbook Air. The Air is clean and stylish, and it gives a much better presentation too when you are meeting your clients with it. If you are only looking for something to surf the Internet on the street, of course you can get a netbook. However, while the netbook is small in size, a Macbook Air still fits better in a bag than a netbook.

I am very satisfied actually, and now the price has dropped a lot to a level that it makes sense, I think those who look for a easy-carry and professional laptop should seriously consider one.