In a post about the Macbook Air, Webupon lists 10 issues that they’re having with the tiny machine:

1. Mono Speakers

   For a company that can attribute much of their recent popularity to an mp3 player, you’d think the MacBook Air would be friendlier to music lovers. Instead, the only way users can hear sounds in stereo is to connect a set of speakers.

2. No SD Slot, ExpressCard Slot, or Apple Remote

   The MacBook Air just provides the bare minimum for laptops. In order to achieve average accessibility for a laptop, the MacBook Air requires several extra add-ons.

3. One USB Port

   Surely Apple would realize that most computer peripherals today are connected using USB ports. Essentially, Apple has forced consumers to make a decision. Want to connect your printer? Better take out your mouse. Want to transfer some files onto a flash drive? Better unplug that iPod (for those that think they can connect their iPods with firewire, the Air does not come with that port at all). The worst part is that the ports are non-expandable, which means that no matter how much more money you want to shell out, you’re stuck with one USB port.

4. No Ethernet

   Unfortunately, the only way to connect to the Internet using the MacBook Air is through a wireless connection. An optional USB Ethernet Adaptor can be added for wired connections however its use would take up the only USB port.

5. It’s Actually Not the World’s Thinnest Laptop

   In 1997, Mitsubishi and Hewlett-Packard produced a laptop called the Pedion. At its maximum thickness, the Pedion measured in at 0.72 inches, compared to the MacBook Air’s length of 0.76 inches. More recently, the Toshiba Portege 2000 also beat the MacBook Air with a maximum thickness of 0.75 inches. Unfortunately, neither of these computers had the marketing machine that Apple has.

6. No User-Replaceable Parts

   The hard drive, memory, and battery are all encased inside the laptop. Only the battery can be replaced, but it must be done by Apple for a fee. Other alternatives are possible but most are likely to void the warranty.

7. Slow and Weak Hard Drive

   The 1.8″ hard drive only operates at 4200 rpm. On top of that, the maximum option of 80 GB is much less than the norm for laptops today.

8. No Removable Media Drive

   There is no CD/DVD player on the MacBook Air. Users can access CDs and DVDs using software called Remote Disc but it requires putting the disc in another computer. Moreover, it’s been reported that Remote Disc cannot be used to install Windows, watch DVDs, or play music.

9. Comparable Laptops Outperform the MacBook Air

   Many people feel that the Sony Vaio is the closest comparison to the MacBook Air. For about the same price, the Vaio TZ does not have many of the problems above, is 40% faster, has twice as much hard drive space and is lighter than the MacBook Air.

10. Extremely Overpriced

    1.6 GHz, 64 GB hard drive, and no optical drive for $1800? 1.8 GHz for $3098? No thanks.

I genuinely agree with a few of the points on that list, but come on. A lot of it is just Apple-hating.

Let’s start with number 4. No ethernet port? Seriously are we going to pick on that? Are we not supposed to be moving into the future here? In an age where city-wide, free Wi-Fi is being discussed I don’t think this is that big of a deal. I realize that some hotels might have a wired port and no wireless broadcast (or no internet at all), but if you’re a business traveler (or just a geek) chances are you’re going to check that your hotel has Wi-Fi before you book. I do. Hell, I won’t stay in a hotel if it doesn’t have Wi-Fi.

Number 5. Are we really going to compare the macbook air with a computer released in 1997? That’s kinda like saying, “Well, I’m not going to buy it because my kid’s Leappad is lighter and thinner!” Also, the Pedion that they’re touting? $6000 in 1997. That’s what, $8-10k today counting for inflation? Seriously?

Number 7. 4200RPM hard drive. Absolutely it’s underpowered compared to other laptop drives, but can you imagine the heat that a 7200RPM drive would put out (if there’s even one of that speed small enough to work in the Air)? This is not a gaming laptop. It’s a second machine for travel, maybe for doing presentations. You can afford a slower HDD if it conserves some heat and energy, I’d think.

Number 8. No removable media. If they’d done a little research they’d have found that an internal hard drive in an enclosure can be plugged into the one (WTF was Apple thinking?!) USB port and it works just fine. Sure it’s not as fast as internal, but there you go. Oh, also? Apple sells a superdrive (look at the bottom of the page under “Configuration Options”) specifically for the Air so that if needed the consumer can buy one. Yes, it costs extra, but if you can spend $1800-3100 on this machine what’s another couple hundred dollars? Economic sitmulation, folks.

Number 3. Speaking of one USB port. How about a powered USB hub? Anyone? Hell I have two at home now.

Number 9. The Sony Vaio TZ? Costs $3600 as well. Yes the Vaio TZ has an internal optical drive, but the processor is slower (1.33 gHz) and it’s thicker. Credit where it’s due: The Vaio has more ports, it’s .35 lbs. lighter and you can have a hybrid drive that is quite a bit larger than the Air. However, they are very similar machines. You sacrifice one thing for another in any computer. And guess what. They cost approximately the same.

Another thing that has been left out of the article (in point #10) is that the 64GB drive (on the Macbook Air) in question is in fact solid state. We’re talking about 64GB of flash memory, not the spinning HDD which is actually 80GB.

Something else that needs to be taken into account: Apple’s business model doesn’t really seem to allow a lot of overlap in their target consumer brackets. People that buy an iPod don’t necessarily buy an Apple computer. People that buy the entry level Mac Mini don’t buy an iMac. People that buy an iMac generally don’t buy Mac Pros and so on and so forth. The Air is being marketed at a higher consumer bracket than the average. It’s basically a second machine for someone that already has a Mac Pro desktop and can afford to overspend on the Air.

Do I think the Air is overpriced? Well, if you compare it to the Vaio like Webupon there did, no. Is it overpriced for me? Absolutely. Do I want it? No, I like my MacBook Pro just fine, thanks. Do I think Apple might’ve gone a little overboard here? Yes, and maybe a little underboard too. What with their only being one USB port, no firewire and no optical drive.

Do I think that there needs to be more research done for web-articles? Absolutely.

By pminton

Well, the Nintendo Wii has been out for 8 months now, and it’s consistently out-selling the competition. It’s clear proof that Nintendo is doing a lot of things right. And so are a lot of the third-party companies making Wii accessories. Some of these accessories are pretty cool, some of them just serve their purpose, and some of them are really really stupid. Let’s take a look at some of the wonders modern video game technology has churned out:

————————————————————–

The Nyko Wii Remote Charge Station

I file this one 100% without reservation under good. The Wii-motes don’t suck up a whole lot of batteries, but eventually AAs put a serious hurt on the wallet. Especially if ye be a geek. Or maybe a geek-pirate. I honestly can’t count the number of things in my house that take AA batteries. The quest for mobile power makes these alkaline horrors a necessity, so I’m always on the lookout for things that make me less reliant on disposable batteries..

Enter: Nyko. “Hey, you! With the Wii! Yeah, we’ve got this thing here that’ll charge 2 of your Wii-motes. We’ll even include 2 battery packs and the battery covers. Also, it’ll make sandwiches for lunch.” Ok, it doesn’t make sandwiches.

The best part is it’ll only run you $29.99 plus tax. I bought two.

The charger isn’t all candy kisses and licorice dreams, though. It takes about 4-6 charge cycles before the battery packs reach their full potential. Not a big deal, but a little annoying. The only other beef I really have is that the remotes don’t really fit well on the charger. I expected to just sit the Wii remote on there and it would start charging. Sometimes that happens, but sometimes it takes some jiggling to get the thing to connect to the charge leads. Mostly this seems to be a small design flaw: there’s not a good place for the remote strap to go, so you have to adjust and wiggle the thing until it works. To me, though, it’s a small price to pay for doing away with the need for 8 fresh AAs every couple weeks.

————————————————————–

The GameStop Cooler Fan

I’m going to file this one under bad, although probably a better tag would be useless. Trust me on this one, the Wii puts out the least amount of heat of all the current-generation consoles. I have a 360 as well and you could use the exhaust from it to air-pop popcorn while watching a downloaded movie rental. There are other coolers out there, like the Wii Crystal Cooler. That particular one looks cool, but I can’t really see shelling out $20 for something that just adds some shiny to my entertainment center. If you’re thinking about getting one of these, keep your Jackson, add a Hamilton and get Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition.

————————————————————–

Nyko Wireless Sensor Bar & Wii Zapper

I put these two together because I started to classify both of them as bad. The sensor bar for much the same reason as the cooler and the zapper because it just looks like it’s going to be awkward and won’t really add anything to the game experience. I’ve had to rethink both of them.

I have, actually, been able to think of a couple of circumstances in which the wireless sensor bar could be useful. Let’s say, for instance, that you have a super-mega-King-Kamehameha projection television and putting the sensor bar on top if it makes your Wii freak out because the remote is too far away. I’m sure it would be nice to be able to put the bar closer to your couch without having a cord stretched across the floor. Assuming it would reach that far. I could also see using the wireless bar for travel. I like to take my Wii to my parents’, or to friends’ houses when we go visiting and sometimes the hardest part of setting up the Wii is finding a place for the bar and wire to go.

For the biggest drawback to this accessory, in my opinion, see #1. It takes four AA batteries. Four! I have a feeling that eventually that’d be a big battery bill and, alliteration aside, that’s a pretty big deal for me.

Now, the Zapper isn’t even out yet, I know, but at first glance I was very unimpressed. Basically it just holds the nunchuk and the Wii-mote in a rifle-like formation presumable for FPS and the like. My initial reaction to this peripheral was to think, “Huh. Couldn’t I just hold them like that anyway?” The answer is yes. I could. However, I imagine that holding something in that formation for a long period of time would get tiresome. This little peripheral would be quite useful, I think, for Far Cry: Vengeance and any Medal of Honor games that come along. I suspect some affiliation with the ever-mysterious Duck Hunt rumored to be coming soon. The more I read/look at the zapper accessory the more I think I could like it. I should probably withold judgement on this one until I can find a price point. If it’s cheap and you like FPS/3PS (3rd person shooters) or Duck Hunt I say go for it. It can’t be as bad as number 6 is going to be.

————————————————————–

MadCatz Wii Remote/Nunchuck Skinz

I file these under Unneccessary. Seriously, I know it’s not in my file scheme, but they’re only useful for keeping a better grip on the remote. If you have the Nyko Charge Station you don’t need them for that.

I guess they could be used to make sure that boys don’t use the girls’ pink remote, therefore preventing the spread of potential cooties. But other than that, I’m lost for any practical use. And is it just me, or do the pink “skinz” make the remote / nunchuck combo look a little like adult novelty toys?

————————————————————–

Wii Sports Accessory Bundle

There are several different companies that make similar sets of the sports accessories. I file every single one of them under really really stupid. Like I need something that extends the length of the remote making it even more likely that I’ll destroy my TV, coffee table, pictures on the walls, and/or friends. That’s just one of the things wrong with this concept.

The most glaringly obvious one is: THEY DON’T DO ANY-FREAKIN’-THING! Nothing! They clip on to the end of your Wii remote and……look like dwarven sports equipment. Another, less obvious, flaw with this accessory is that it might make people believe that they are getting real exercise and are becoming adept at the sports which they are imitating. I. Hate. This accessory pack. It is further proof that people will buy anything.

————————————————————–

The Nyko Party Station

This one I have to tentatively file under good but with reservations. I really like the idea of this peripheral, but in practice I’m not so sure how good it’ll turn out. Thoughts of having chips and drinks right next to my remotes give me the willies. At the very least we’re talking about possible sticky buttons - and at worst ruined controllers. Also, greasy chips and competitors not wearing wrist straps make me a little queasy. Also, a friend complained that it doesn’t look like a fifth of Jack Daniels will fit in the cupholders.

However, I like that it charges four remotes, chills drinks, has a scoreboard, and provides a bowling alley-style fan on it to keep sweaty palms cool and dry. I think it’s a terrific idea and hopefully will be awesome in the flesh. Well, plastic, I guess. Nyko has put out some really good Wii extras (see #1), so maybe that experience will translate into making this a must-have party item. I really do think it’d make Mario Party 8 even more enjoyable (assuming no one bogarts all the chips, spills Cheerwine all over my remotes, or tries to dip the nunchuks in salsa). I think that we’re probably looking at a solid peripheral here, though. Even if one were to ban the drinks and chips from the Party Station it still seems like someting fun. Now I just have to figure out what to do with my Charge Stations.

————————————————————–

Well, there you go. Take my list and go out into the consumer world and buy, buy, buy. Just don’t purchase any of the sports packs. If you do, I’ll know. And it’ll make kittens cry.

Sorry about the lack of posts lately. It is the blogger’s curse that life continues outside the blog - interfering at every opportunity. But it’s also a blessing, because busy is good.

Real quick, I wanted to shuttle some hits over to this very cool, very classy blog: The Uber-Review.

There are more cool gadgets, accessories and nerdy-what-have-you’s than I have ever seen in one spot. And most of them I’ve never come across before - which is saying something.

Alright consumers, the end of the technology world is nigh:

Tuesday at the Macworld conference, [Apple] introduced the iPhone, a buttonless, black-and-chrome handheld combining a mobile phone, a wide-screen video iPod and a palm-top computer. The present Mac faithful roared in appreciation.

“Today we’re introducing three revolutionary products,” Jobs said moments before unveiling the device. “A new iPod, a phone and an internet communicator. These are not three separate devices — we call it the iPhone.”

Released in conjunction with Cingular Wireless (At&T), the actual iPhone will instantly eliminate your need to ever look forward to another portable personal electronic device. It will be available in June 2007.
Read the rest of this post »