Hi all, I'm considering buying a Macbook Air within the next month but would like a couple of opinions from those who own/use it. It's a beautiful machine in the flesh and would be brilliant for my travels, but the only concern I have is it's lack of CD/DVD drive. Is it really that much of an issue or have you been able to easily work around it? Also, does it become unbearably hot on the lap? I own a couple of powerbook G4's and I could swear they burn my leg hair off sometimes!
Hey Ponynugget, I'm thinking of purchasing the Asus Eee PC 1000 and have thought the same things - personally I've decided I can do without the CD/DVD player as I have most of my files stored externally on a HD or Flash drives. The issue about heat is diminished greatly if you go for the solid-state storage rather than the 'spinning rust' HD - I know it costs more but if you're paying the premium for a MacBook then I think you should go the whole hog One other thing I'm not sure about with regards to the MacBook Air is that it doesn't have proper USB sockets - you have to plug in a converter (that comes with the Air I believe). Seems a bit of a faff if you ask me Cheers, p.
I am about to buy the Mac Book air and I was having the same problem as you, I was unsure whether I needed a CD drive but for 60GBP you can buy an external CD drive for the maz air!
I just watched a few reviews on it, and I would strongly suggest against it. If your after a mac for the software, then hit the Mac Book or Mac Book Pro series. If not go take a look at the dell studio range. The macs have one USB port, and one other port which I can't remember. It's not a very practical laptop. It's more of a show toy rather than a tool. It will be counter productive in most cases.
i wouldn't buy mac air come on you need the CD drive so you going to spend more money on cd drive and disk space y don't you just go buy mac pro at the end it's better, stronger, faster, prettier, and cheaper what if you drop mac air on some where I bet it going to get crack I will go for Mac book pro
I certainly wouldn't miss the CD/DVD drive. I can't remember the last time I used the optical drive on my Powerbook. That being said, I don't think the Air is worth the price premium you pay. Sure, it is thin and light, but how much difference does a pound or two really make?
I'm told the Air is noisy. I can't stand noisy computers, so I don't care how thin the thing is. MacBook Pro is the way to go.
Ha! I have a dell server running in my bedroom. It has dual processors etc. Few days ago, I opened it (my warrenty was void) and it had like 20 odd fans in it! Sounds like a hoover hehe! Seriously though, don't get that mac book air!
my old dell lappy was without a CD Drive.. made the laptop alot thinner than the ones of its time.. P3-800 +\- it actually came with a plugin external drive... I FREAKING HATED IT... every time I needed to load a CD for one reason or another.. I eith didnt have the drive with me.. or just didnt want to drag the dammed thing out, reboot.. etc etc.. then.. if you were on a plane and wanted to watch a DVD... you better rip that SOB to HDD before hand.... not easy to set up all that extra gear on a plane... but to each his own.. if your looking at that macbook.. your only buying it for looks anyway right... functionality comes in at a close second...