MacBook Air: The Laptop As Fashion Accessory
9:44 pm, January 22nd, 2008, Leander Kahney
The tech press is missing the boat with the MacBook Air.
All the grumbling about the price, the absence of an optical drive, the irreplaceable battery, shows that the technical minded misunderstand the machine.
Of course it’s not practical, it’s a fashion computer.
But it seems the target audience — fashionistas — are taking note. A quick Google shows that fashion blogs are raving about the Air.
Coquette, a blog about ‘digital fashion and style by natalie zee drieu, raves about the Air’s potential as an accessory: “This little thing is ready to tote around in your Balenciaga or Gucci bag,” it says. “I’m so getting one!!!!!”
Judging from the comments on those blogs, lots of their readers are bonkers for it too.
Compared to a $1,800 Prada handbag, the MacBook Air is a steal.
Expect long lines at the NYC Soho and Meatpacking stores.
Via Carl Howe at Blackfriars: The MacBook Air is an ideal product — in the right market
Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, Hardware, Macintosh, Macworld | Comment on this article
“Of course it’s not practical, it’s a fashion computer.”
Doesn’t that pretty much just sum up Apple as a whole?
Scott., on January 23rd, 2008 at 4:27 am
In all honesty, it seems like Apple fans have begged for this product for so long and now that they finally have it, they don’t see the usefulness of it. My current laptop feels like it weighs about 8-10 pounds — seriously. I never tote it around with me due to its size. The Air is a step forward for portable computers, not merely a passing fashion trend.
C Rolls, on January 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 am
It will be one of those products that years from now, when they do a time line of the company history, will scream 2008. In the future, we’ll all be carrying super thin laptops not just the rich and famous.
Having said that, you really can’t get excited by this laptop till you hold one in your hands. All the specs in the world can’t beat the feeling of holding this unit deftly with one hand. I didn’t get to hold one till the thris day of macworld, due to the crowds, but when I did, it was impressive
Ian, on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
“Doesn’t that pretty much just sum up Apple as a whole?”
Do you even know how many mac pros are used – Ya know what? I’m not even gunna waist my time on that asinine comment.
Anyway,
so you guys are finally coming around on the Air are you? I really don’t realize why this was so hard to figure out. Perhaps all the whiners I’ve heard aren’t Apple stock holders and don’t realize that Apple’s goal is to profit, not dedicate every research dollar to please computer geeks.
The ONLY legitimate gripe I have heard this whole time has been that Apple didn’t release a sub-MBP. Obviously if there is demand for it they should maybe make one. But that argument is shaky at best considering the MBP is, by definition, a PRO machine designed for PRO customers who want all the juicy PRO hardware and are willing to pay a premium for it. And what do you think all that pro hardware is for? complex computer models? No, its for visual based applications, video and photo editing and so forth. Now why the hell would someone want to do that on a tiny screen? A handful of cheap geeks who just want a less expensive pro machine is hardly proof of a real demand for such a product. Profit-wise it doesn’t make sense. If someone’s gunna put up for pro hardware, they’re going to want pro hardware. A large screen is pro hardware. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills here.
The MBA is not for geeks.
Surprise!
There are other people in the world who aren’t command-line junkies for whom form exceeds function and, realistically, they don’t NEED all that function; even though you do. And guess what else? Those people have money and want a computer too.
I know, the humanity.
Rant over.
Church of Apple, on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Like a lot of Apple products, it is the beginning of technology that will lead the industry. It is the wave of the future. Apple truly innovates.
Jimmi, on January 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
The only complaint I have with the MacBook Air is the screen size. I believe they could have brought it out to the edges of the case. Other than that I think it’s a great computer and plan on buying one. I currently own a MBP and an iMac, I’m a graphic artist, and I rarely use the MBP for real work. I also can’t remember the last time I burned a CD or DVD, I always transfer files via thumb drive or over a wireless network. Also since I’m planning on going back to school this will be a great laptop to do it with.
Bobby, on January 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am
No matter what a new product might be, there will always be those who whine that it’s not exactly what they wanted. Well boo-hoo-hoo. The MacBook Air is a niche product. Get used to the idea.
Alan Christensen, on January 28th, 2008 at 7:24 am
A “fashion” computer?
This is a ridiculously short-sighted, naive assessment. Do you really believe Apple would invest so much in the development of this new product in order to create an accessory for fashionistas?
Apple’s industrial design prowess – of which their ability to make “lustworthy” products is a subset – should not be so completely confused for an end rather than means.
The Macbook Air signals a conceptual shift in computing – one which will see the continued dematerialization of our hardware interfaces with what’s really important, the network. That is, the tremendous amount of data and computing power we can access via – but decentralized from – the hardware interface.
Jarrod, on January 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm