@ Mark:

Why do they need a CD drive and since when does it cost $100? Apple charges $100 for the specialized MacBook Air DVD drive, but you can buy a portable drive for as little as $50, $30 if you buy an external desktop CD drive.

Why not install software over a network like ultraportable owners have been doing for years? The only thing you can’t easily (it is possible) install that way is the OS itself.

Last time I checked, most netbooks weigh a lot less than the 4.5 lb 13″ MacBook Pro, while many weigh less than the 3lb MacBook Air. The Air is Apple’s business ultraportable, not the MacBook Pro, which is a full-feature, full-sized thin-and-light.

Apple’s “Windows sucks” ads have always been a win-win. By responding in kind as they have, Microsoft has fallen into the trap of giving the Macintosh, with its relative “sliver” of the PC market, a lot of free publicity among people who may never have given it much thought. When some of those people investigate further, they discover quality that they never dreamed of. Some of them buy. Then they influence their families and friends because they almost always discover that computers can be a joy, not just a task.

@ Mark: For the PC makers, the netbook was meant, in part, as a bait and switch scheme. They add upgrades so they can jack up the price big time. They are also making them larger and bringing them closer to regular notebooks, and before it all ends, they will be regular netbooks. I’m not convinced the netbook is going to be a long-term success.

Peace,
Gene

I think Apple out foxed the the netbook manufacturers. Business neetbook users can get the similiar weight and battery like by using the 13 MacBook Pro. And it’s a real computer. Cost wise netbook are still cheaper but they have to add $100.00 because you need to buy a protable CD to add software. So you may ony be paying $400.00 more. For a business person who travels with it all the time It’s worth it.

I’ve got pulled into being the “tech guy” on a 17-inch Toshiba Satellite running Vista Home Premium over the weekend. The issue was that the HP All-in-One printer was missing again. I am well-versed in XP, but still quite green with Vista. A look in the Printer Control Program showed a problem. The printer was there along with two more of the same one.

Dealing with Vista was interesting because too many times I was not sure what it was trying to do. Either I was always pressing “OK to continue” or trying to find things like where “Restart” got moved to. The HP Support site was even more confusing trying to decipher what a critical update was trying to fix.

On the hardware side, the Toshiba was lit like an x-mas tree. So many indicator lights which are supposed to be helpful. All I really care was the flashing hard drive one. The trackpad buttons needed to be pressed with more force than being accustomed to with my Macs. The trackpad itself felt imprecise and at times losing the scrolling capability. I now understood why my friend is using a wireless USB mouse. Not only was the screen glossy, Toshiba made the entire notebook glossy (screen and case, glossy gone wild).

The Toshiba was priced $200 less than my “white” MacBook. If I had to select one, it will always be my “Apple taxed” white MacBook. Those poor laptop hunters never got to do a test drive.

I might be ready for take 5 or 6 myself.

Peace,
Gene

Waiting for Apple TV take 3.