1699 at dot edu? Ah, that's perfect. I think new employees get one of these. (OK maybe the first one gets my MBP.)<br><br>

I hope you're right and I'm completely out in left field.<br><br>But I don't know of too many corporate laptop users who don't regularly have a need to plug in an ethernet connection. And how about all the missing ports? The transition to wireless data transfers is likely to be riddled with complaints. I'm a die-hard Firewire fanboy and urge all my laptop clients to carry a FW pocket drive. USB doesn't yet cut the mustard for those in a hurry. And no user replaceable battery? Maybe in a phone, but NOT in a laptop.<br><br>$1799 - this thing might be just for those with "luxury" money.<br><br>- alec -

I'm in academia and I thought we were slow on the wireless. We have wireless on every floor in every building especially soaking conference room. We have a public link in (cancer patients and families can get on with no hassle) and a password protected link which gets us to databases and stuff. The day Apple came out with the first Airport I put one in my lab. Now it's all "official". <br>But your point is moot since a little USB2 to ethernet adapter comes with the MBA.<br><br>You do have a point with the glued in battery. That sucks not to be able to carry a second battery for emergencies. But then I really haven't carried a spare in years. I carry my talk on a thumb drive and that is all the insurance I need. Now hopefully we will be able to pry this battery out once a year and replace it. I would hate having to keep using a one hour burned out lithium battery.<br><br>

the other significant thing is the solid state static HD...this one is small and very expensive, but as far as I know it's on of the first on a wireless laptop... that's a significant step isn't it?? 2-3 years from now we'll have laptops with terabyte static drives. <br>so IMHO it's not always what this product is but what new technological doors has it opened for the future !??<br><br>example: first iPods were large, clunky, and short on storage... Now look at em !!<br><br>David (OFI)

You're right, Dave. As Ottelini said at the keynote, Apple keeps pushing the envelope, and that's all to the good. Whether a particular product does or does not succeed is less significant, IMHO.<br><br>&#63743; &#63743; &#63743; &#63743;

[color:blue]"Since I am cool already I will be getting one"</font color=blue><br><br>and you've got good taste <br><br>

Sony (and others I believe) already offered SSDs. At similarly high prices. Apple should help boost volume and thus help bring prices lower, faster.<br><br>As I think about this machine with essentially only one port, I ask myself--what can this machine NOT do as a result? Connect a camcorder is the only thing I can think of.* Other things can still be done--in a variety of different ways. External storage may be slower than Firewire, but that only matters for single long transfers. That mainly means backups, and backups (whether WiFi or USB) won't be single full-drive transfers anymore. Not with Time Machine.<br><br>(BTW, the ethernet dongle is optional, not standard.)<br><br>* The thing IS a camcorder anyway!<br><br>nagr[color:red]o</font color=red>mme<br><br>I require stroyent!<br>http://TeamMacOSX.com | http://MacClan.net

[color:blue]"I see a lot of negative votes on MR for the MBA"</font color=blue><br><br>They are driving me nuts over there!<br>I have been lurking at the MacBook Pro forum.<br>Everyone wanted an ultraportable at MWSF.<br>I swear to God that it sounded like if Apple didn't bring out an ultraportable at MWSF, they were all going to Cupertino and go postal on Apple.<br>Apple brings out the thinnest 13" notebook possible but now it's not good enough.<br>What the heck does anyone expect from a notebook that thin?<br>Those people at MR were going to be unhappy no matter what Apple did.<br>Stupid friggin' Mac people!<br><br>Okay, I've got that out of my system. <br>I'm getting a Mac Pro so why do I care? <br><br><br>

i am not complaining too much, but to me the dimension sizes (height and width) would have trumped being thin. ah well; not a big deal and i am also a year away.<br><br>

I hear you.<br>I also am a year or two away so we'll see what happens.<br>And I'm not talking about anyone in this forum. <br>There was very little talk about the ultraportable here.<br>But at MacRumors...<br><br>