MacBook Air

[DCLonghorn]

Went to the Apple store to look at the MacBook Air and its a very cool machine but I noticed that the laptop only has 3 inputs/outputs; 1) audio out; 2) 2.0 USB port; and 3) micro DVI. There was no CD/DVD drive, therefore, the only way to install software is by downloading via internet or through the USB port. Does anyone else find the lack of outputs/inputs strange? What is this laptop built to do, other than be very lightweight? I was thinking of using it for a Home Theater PC but the lack of inputs/outputs has me baffled. What makes it $1800 special?

 

[fhetw]

1) its apple so they can charge any price for whatever they want and have flocks of people buying their product.
2) it fits in a manila envelope! who cares about functionality

 

[Anastasis]

IMO, that thing would make a terrible HTPC, for the very reason you identify. I just got done putting together a HTPC for nearly a third of what they are asking for that thing. It will run rings around a Mac Air and has unlimited upgradability. The Mac Air is cool for what it is, a thin as **** laptop, but I can't see pressing it into service as an HTPC. If you must have a Mac, buy a Mac Mini. My bother in law uses one of those as his HTPC and its a pretty sweet little set-up. The Mac Air looks like it would break from me just looking at it wrong.

 

[jcazes]

Thinkpad's X series also skimps on the optical drive, but you can just get an external USB slim-drive off ebay for the fat chance you need to install something via CD (as practically all install packages are downloadable these days).

Other than that, the only necessary port it's missing is an expansion slot for pcmcia cards...

 

[scottsins]

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[Xminus6]

you can buy a usb optical drive if you like or you can "borrow" a desktop computer's optical. there's a utility for both macs and windows pc's that allows the macbook air to use the optical drive of another machine wirelessly. so there are options.

that said, the macbook air, while cool, has the exact opposite featureset that i need in a computer. it's neat but i would never buy one and i'm a big apple fan. of course, i wouldn't buy a subnotebook of any sort because i need screen real estate.

 

[DCLonghorn]

Anastasis - Can you tell where I can find instructions to assembly a good HTPC? I was only looking at Mac because their software is suppose to be really good. Can I build a HTPC using my PS3 or do I need a stand alone tower CPU?

 

[Napoleon]

There goes XMinus6 defending Mac again.

 

[Stuck_At_Work]

If you want a functional computer, don't drop 1800 on an MacBook Air. The only reason you would buy that computer is to look hip. Be serious people. The least you can do is admit that to yourself and move on...

 

[rhg84]

you buy the macbook air either to look hip as stated above or as a secondary computer. I just dont see it as a main computer due to lack of inputs and because of small storage compared to other computer nowadays

 

[SMDhorn]

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[Anastasis]

I used this thread from AVSforum as the jumping off point:

Link

Here is the setup I ended up with:

1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM
1 GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel
1 SAPPHIRE 100237L Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR3
1 Intel Pentium E2200 Allendale 2.2GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black
1 CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W Power Supply -
1 Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

Stuck that all in a CoolerMaster 690 case, and I am good to go. I might upgrade the processor at some point, but for now it is fine (and the price was right). It's been able to handle anything I've thrown at it so far without a hiccup, and I don't even have active hardware acceleration for decoding and I havent messed around with overclocking it. Right now I use VMC as the interface, but I look forward to trying some of the other solutions. Now all I need is a couple TB of storage for my DVD rips. When the prices come down, I'll throw a BluRay drive in there.

Prior to this I was using a 360 as an extender (similar capabilities exist on the PS3 without the pretty GUI), but got fed up with the limitations and the poor codec support. I haven't transferred any media directly to the box in the TV room. Right now everything gets streamed off my other computers.

 

[naijahorn]

They should have just made a 12" MacBook Pro and not have wasted time with the MBA.

 

[brntorng]

Take a look at the Apple TV for a HTPC. Only $229. A major software upgrade was released today although I've been very satisfied with mine with the original software. I'll be loading the new software this weekend, though.

The MBA is all about being light and portable for road warriors, definitely not a good choice as a HTPC.

 

[Benson32]

the macbook air is a rich mans second laptop. its that and only that.

its unbelievable that people are baffled by the absence of an optical drive or multiple outputs. that is the reason why its so small.

why do you need an air for your home theater pc? just buy a macbook pro.

 

[Xminus6]

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[DCLonghorn]

Thanks for the link and info but maybe I'll just buy a HTPC, as much as I enjoy putting stuff together, the information on the site is very overwhelming. It would take me forever to put all that together mentally and physically.

 

[YChang]

It's a toy and that's the only reason I'll be getting one, unless the new features makes it more compelling to buy the macbook pro.