Comments on: Is the MacBook Air a Dud? http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:13:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Trevor http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-53157 Trevor Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:52:03 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-53157 Great SEO Mark! I found this post via Google while searching for how MBAs have been selling. Anecdotally, I've never seen an MBA in the wild, and I live in the heart of downtown Toronto. I've seen iphones aplenty, so I figure it's the right demo. Personally, I think the mba is ugly, particularly that nasty Hasbro keyboard. (Why black Steve? Why?) But who cares what I think. Sales matter. Mark, why didn't you link to some interweb reports? Here's one that's mildly negative http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/02/12/piper.on.macbook.air/ and one that's positive http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/16574/ Despite being an Apple fanboi, I don't think there's much wiggle room in the ultra-slim market, not at the MBA's price point. Bottom line? I think the jury's still out. Great SEO Mark! I found this post via Google while searching for how MBAs have been selling.

Anecdotally, I’ve never seen an MBA in the wild, and I live in the heart of downtown Toronto. I’ve seen iphones aplenty, so I figure it’s the right demo.

Personally, I think the mba is ugly, particularly that nasty Hasbro keyboard. (Why black Steve? Why?) But who cares what I think. Sales matter.

Mark, why didn’t you link to some interweb reports? Here’s one that’s mildly negative http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/02/12/piper.on.macbook.air/

and one that’s positive
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/16574/

Despite being an Apple fanboi, I don’t think there’s much wiggle room in the ultra-slim market, not at the MBA’s price point.

Bottom line? I think the jury’s still out.

]]> By: Michael Barry http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-52090 Michael Barry Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:01:38 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-52090 I hope my two day old MacBook Air is the exception, because it is a dud. Slowest machine I have ever used. Dashboard keeps failing and sending in reports to Apple. Programs take forever to open. Back to Apple tomorrow. I hope my two day old MacBook Air is the exception, because it is a dud. Slowest machine I have ever used. Dashboard keeps failing and sending in reports to Apple. Programs take forever to open. Back to Apple tomorrow.

]]> By: mike jones http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-52006 mike jones Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:53:21 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-52006 How do you think the macbook air inst inovative? THe macbook air is way ahead of anything, its brining the micro processing chips out sent from: fav.or.it [FID86239] How do you think the macbook air inst inovative? THe macbook air is way ahead of anything, its brining the micro processing chips out

sent from: fav.or.it [FID86239]

]]> By: Jim Courtney http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51780 Jim Courtney Sun, 23 Mar 2008 09:53:16 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51780 Informal observational survey during a week spent at communications tech conferences over the past ten days in Silicon Valley saw several (purchased) MacBook Airs being pulled out of knapsacks, backpacks and other geek toteware. And narry a negative word heard. Lightweight and well selected functionality says a lot. Informal observational survey during a week spent at communications tech conferences over the past ten days in Silicon Valley saw several (purchased) MacBook Airs being pulled out of knapsacks, backpacks and other geek toteware. And narry a negative word heard. Lightweight and well selected functionality says a lot.

]]> By: Mark Evans http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51657 Mark Evans Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:36:19 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51657 Mickeleh: That's an interesting perspective that I didn't take into consideration. It makes sense from a marketing and MacBook brand perspective. Mickeleh:

That’s an interesting perspective that I didn’t take into consideration. It makes sense from a marketing and MacBook brand perspective.

]]> By: Mickeleh http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51636 Mickeleh Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:00:19 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51636 It's impossible to answer the question in your headline without knowing Apple's goals for the product. Even when you get the sales figures, you'd need to be able to compare them to plan. At the minimum it has enhanced the Mac and Apple brands, gained a lot of free coverage, and driven traffic to the Apple store. When the sales figures come out, don't just measure sales for MBA. Look at total sales across all Mac notebook lines. If a new customer comes into Apple's orbit, enticed by MacBook Air, and winds up with a MacBook (lower price, higher performance) or a MacBook Pro (max performance and specs)... that would make it a very savvy "dud" indeed. It’s impossible to answer the question in your headline without knowing Apple’s goals for the product. Even when you get the sales figures, you’d need to be able to compare them to plan.

At the minimum it has enhanced the Mac and Apple brands, gained a lot of free coverage, and driven traffic to the Apple store.

When the sales figures come out, don’t just measure sales for MBA. Look at total sales across all Mac notebook lines. If a new customer comes into Apple’s orbit, enticed by MacBook Air, and winds up with a MacBook (lower price, higher performance) or a MacBook Pro (max performance and specs)… that would make it a very savvy “dud” indeed.

]]> By: william http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51628 william Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:16:19 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51628 Of course the Macbook Air could be made more cheaply, so could all of Apple's products. The reason Apple's products don't feel cheap is because they weren't made that way. Of course the Macbook Air could be made more cheaply, so could all of Apple’s products. The reason Apple’s products don’t feel cheap is because they weren’t made that way.

]]> By: Mark Evans http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51624 Mark Evans Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:36:57 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51624 Eric: We'll see on April 23 how well the Air is selling. Maybe Wu's on the mark. If so, I'll be among the first to admit I was wrong. Mark Eric: We’ll see on April 23 how well the Air is selling. Maybe Wu’s on the mark. If so, I’ll be among the first to admit I was wrong.

Mark

]]> By: Eric http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51517 Eric Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:10:20 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51517 Initial sales analysis from Shawn Wu (AmTech analyst) suggest the MacBook Air is selling extremely well and he predicts it will be 20-25% of portable sales. Additionally its not majorily cannibalising MacBook sales. At least he does research to back up his claims. Initial sales analysis from Shawn Wu (AmTech analyst) suggest the MacBook Air is selling extremely well and he predicts it will be 20-25% of portable sales. Additionally its not majorily cannibalising MacBook sales. At least he does research to back up his claims.

]]> By: Jack http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/comment-page-1/#comment-51511 Jack Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:30:20 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/03/21/is-the-macbook-air-a-dud/#comment-51511 Bought one for my wife; she picked it out, however. It replaces an old Powerbook "Pismo" still chugging along. We live on a 37 foot boat. She's using it now, working on some genealogy. I'm typing this on the boat's built in PowerMac G5 with a 23" Cinema HD display, soon to be replaced by a 24" iMac. She love's the Air, and it is not only stunning to look at, but easy to stow. Who gives a s*** how many screws hold it together? Enough, I suppose, but they also give it the look of a precision machine rather than some cheap toy. Apple will sell a zillion MBA's, I believe. Bought one for my wife; she picked it out, however. It replaces an old Powerbook “Pismo” still chugging along. We live on a 37 foot boat. She’s using it now, working on some genealogy. I’m typing this on the boat’s built in PowerMac G5 with a 23″ Cinema HD display, soon to be replaced by a 24″ iMac. She love’s the Air, and it is not only stunning to look at, but easy to stow. Who gives a s*** how many screws hold it together? Enough, I suppose, but they also give it the look of a precision machine rather than some cheap toy. Apple will sell a zillion MBA’s, I believe.

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