Thinking of getting one of these ultra-thin apple.

[Fragony]

They bees sexy. Anyone here got one? My main concern is battery life, and of course performance, can it run a decent game?

[Lemur]

"Can it run a decent game"? Two words: Integrated graphics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_graphics#Integrated_graphics_solutions). There's no such thing as an ultra-lite that's a great gaming laptop.

For the rest, here's Ars Technica's review (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/macbook-air-review.ars) of the Air.

[Fragony]

Many thanks, battery-life sounds pretty bad and I need at least 4 hours on a full charge, I think I'll be being for the regular. If I can control myselve sooooooooooo awesome but 1700 euro is a lot of money :sweatdrop:

[Che Roriniho]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, AVOID! Seriously, there are ****. 1 USB port, soldered RAM, no Disc drive, the USB port it has got has a shape that makes it imposswible to plug anything in, the headphone socket needs an adapter to actually plug in some headphones, and the HDD is criplping slow, with the SSD being cripplingly small. The Remote Disc crap (apples 'replacement' for a Disc dreive) is just awful, and the actual possiblity to do anythiing is BASICALLY impossible, plus, I rather wouldn't tote 2 utterly vital discs around with me wherever I go. Oh, anfd the migration assistant is simply AWFUL with the air.
Oh, and the non-removable battery lasts for 2 and a half hours when just surfing the internet, which would be bad anyway, but Apple *spits* are advertising it as 4 hours of 'wireless productivity'.

It looks the shiz, it is shiz.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Fragony, I can recommend the Air since I have one but not for games. It is a fantastic work machine and unlike the previous poster, I have found it to be both reliable and fast enough. I do have Crusader Kings/Deus Vult (Mac version) installed on mine for those long flights and it runs that fine, but that's not exactly cutting edge graphics.

I use mine to write and work with spreadsheets as well as web research. Its form factor is the biggest plus as you can take it almost anywhere and hardly know you have it. You also get a very decent keyboard and sizeable screen. The Air is not a desktop replacement by any means - though Leopard has a neat little feature that enables you to use system resources of a more powerful Mac nearby. The Remote Disc is slightly weird, but then so was it when Apple dropped the floppy. And you can get a SuperDrive external if you need it. And of course, it runs Mac OSX.

I've found that with judicious use of energy saving settings, I can get four hours of battery life with it - but again, using simple stuff like word processing.

There are certainly Windows-based competitors and I hear very good things about the ultralite Toshiba Portege from a friend. I'm fond of Macs, so I would always go for the OSX choice.

If tempted, you ought certainly to wait until this Tuesday 9th, when Apple will be announcing something, probably to do with iPods but there is also a rumour that the Air might be upgraded a bit.

If you need a very, very lightweight computer with excellent screen for the tasks noted above or similar, the Air is well worth a look. (I'm not so sure about the premium for the SSD - the standard hard disk is perfectly fine and I would worry about the allegedly limited re-writing). As with all Macs, it looks gorgeous and feels just wonderful. Of course, that isn't necessarily what computing is about, but it certainly doesn't hurt if everything else suits!

Oh, astonishingly I forgot, but the multi-touch gesture trackpad is something else. Just get it demonstrated - you'll fall in love! (But you can now get the same on the MacBook Pro, and that's a much more fearsome machine).

[Fragony]

I hope you realise that when I have to resort to eating white beans in tomatoe-sause at the end of the month it is partly because of you BG. How good is that touchscreen? Is it a valid alternative for a mouse (need the USB port for internet) in full or just a good make-do? I am a complete sucker for the visually pleasing, and that airbook has to be the coolest thing ever and I simply need to have it, but as a mistake it would be a rather expensive one.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Yes, it is expensive (isn't everything Apple?) but entirely worth it (isn't everything Apple?) :beam:

The trackpad (not a touch screen, just in case) is a delight and whilst I have a wireless mouse, I have never used it on the Air. The pad works beautifully and you just get so used to it you end up scratching uselessly at a normal trackpad on another computer. Note that if you must have a mouse, get a bluetooth mouse (like the wireless Apple Mighty Mouse) and you can still use the USB port for other things.

I don't know if the Netherlands have the same deal, but Apple Store over here allows you 14 days to return the item if it's no good. That might be a way of you testing an Air to see if it suits while still having the option of getting your money back. (Especially on the battery life - the Ars article seemed to have a real bad battery).

Disclosure: I am a self-confessed Apple aficionado so take that into account. Also, like you, I like shiny, pretty things of wonderful design. Apparently unlike you, I have enough money not to worry about beans on toast if I make a screw-up. :wink:

[Fragony]

I guess it is too late to claim that I actually like white beans in tomatoe-sause when prepared right. I think I'll just go for it when I want something a not-quite just isn't enough and I want this thing so very very badly, these extra centimeters on the regular macbook will never stop screaming in my face.

[TevashSzat]

If you aren't set on getting a Mac, I would at least look at the Voodoo Envy (http://www.voodoopc.com/#/productsenvy). It looks beautiful and is very comparable to the Mac Air

[JR-]

the only gaming chipset used in thin-n-light laptops is the AMD PUMA platform, which can be found as small as 12", but not as "thin or light" as an Air.

The PUMA platform is used in the 12" HP 2500 tablet and the 12" MSI PX210/PR211.

[Fragony]

If you aren't set on getting a Mac, I would at least look at the Voodoo Envy (http://www.voodoopc.com/#/productsenvy). It looks beautiful and is very comparable to the Mac Air

I am a bit of a snob :laugh4:

[Kekvit Irae]

apple


decent game

*facepalm*
:tongueg:

[Lemur]

*facepalm*
:tongueg:
Actually, the problem in this case is not that Apple manufactured the thing; the problem is that it's an ultra-portable. There's your facepalm moment.

If you want to game on a Mac, there are real options (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Camp_(software)) these days ... but nothing that will overcome the inherent gimpiness of integrated graphics.

[Banquo's Ghost]

It also matters as to how you define a decent game. I have native versions of the Baldur's Gate series, Civilisation, the paradox strategy games etc. If only CA would allow porting of MTW, my cup would runneth over. (Imperial Glory looks almost exactly like a modded RTW, so it can't be hard...)

I don't think I have bought a game since I threw MTW2 in the bin, so I'm probably not best qualified to speak. I guess if I wanted to play console games, I'd buy a console. ~;p

Apple Macs are certainly not cutting edge games machines, but there are some decent titles that have been ported. As Lemur said, the Air is a different tool altogether.

[Fragony]

Those are the type of games I am aiming for. But gonna get me a fattie.

[Fragony]

And I got myselve a fattie, I am very pleased. You open it, BAM you can use it. Shut it down, SWOOSH gone. No coughing up of blood when starting up, no 5 minutes of dread looking at 'shutting down' after half an hour of basicly doing nothing other then letting vista chase it's tail, screen is to die for, sound is pretty impressive, keyboard is simply amazing. Only complaint is that the USB ports are too close to eachother, I use mobile internet and the stick gets in the way, other then that, 1000 euro well spend. It took a lot of restraint to not get the airbook but only one USB port, no optical drive and a fixed battery of questionable durability made me decide against buying that ultra slick son of a dear god I want to have one even if it means killing a kitten awesomness.

[Banquo's Ghost]

What do you mean by a "fattie"? From the price point, I guess you mean a MacBook.

I hope you don't regret taking my hint, as all the signs are that new MacBooks will be launched on Oct 14th, and they may well be aluminium goodness.

Anyway, I'm glad you like your new Mac!