Did anyone follow MacWorld? The new MacBook Air is a sub-3 pound really thin laptop. Cost is around $2k.
Meh, I was hoping for something like an EeePc. I don't need or want another laptop, I want something uber-portable.
Meh, I was hoping for something like an EeePc. I don't need or want another laptop, I want something uber-portable.
posted by Greg | 2:06 PM
5 Comments:
Believe me, as my stock in Apple has declined over the early weeks of January, I have had a very keen eye towards the developments at MacWorld.
I too am relatively unexcited by an ultralight laptop, but apparently, according to industry analysts, this is the only sector the industry that is growing at a significant pace. So Apple needed to get in in order to compete.
I'm even less excited by the developments with Apple TV and the movie rental service. As you say: "Meh."
As history continues to show us, we disagree.
The Apple TV is genius. People just haven't figured it out yet.
Apple TV is the future of Tivo. Tivo is essentially dead. And in time, internet based TV (almost like podcasting) will gain a legitimate foothold.
The Apple TV is genius, albeit before it's time.
Now--when you can connect the Apple TV to some time of network slingbox (digital cable over your home network) so that your AppleTV can work like your TIVO, then we've got a product.
But until then, people continue to use MacMini's as Tivos.
And I probably will too--once they dump analog, and I lose functionality out of my analog TIVO.
Actually, I misrepresented myself. I'm actually in favor of the CONCEPT behind the Apple TV. I just think they rolled it out before it was ready to function in the way that it needs to function.
If this thing is going to fly, it needs to be able to connect to cable. It needs some sort of digital viewer. AND -- and this is huge -- it needs to solve the jumpy viewing. I remember seeing this thing in an Apple Store and they had it hooked up to a sweet flat panel. The content was twitchy and highly pixelated. When I asked one of the folks at the genius bar, he said that they were still working out the kinks. Not a good plan when you've got the thing sitting on your shelf. Quite honestly, the sloppiest intro to a product that I have seen Apple do.
So again, I love the IDEA of a digital hub for the home. And I think your right about internet based TV (heck, Jobs announcement of the movie rental service is nothing more than the first step for early adopters). I just think it came up short in terms of ports, down conversion problems (from 1080) and capability to record.
Interestingly enough, when Jobs first announced Apple TV, he announced it as the "fourth leg" in their arsenal (Computer, iPod, iPhone and Apple TV). By the time a few months had passed, he was already publicly referring to it as a "hobby" for Apple. This alone should tell you that even he realized that it lacks some of the same features that the XBOX 360 has.
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