The Air goes in the air

As much as I baby my Mac Air, I decided to take it with me to Pinehurst, North Carolina. During the ride from the shuttle lot to the airport, I busted it out to show my friend who has only seen the Air from my blog. Not only did it get his attention, but two other shuttle riders instantly started up conversation. One lady said that it was a great thing Apple created. My response, "sex sells."

Since I was flying first class, I decided to buy the airplane adapter, $49! Just like HP, they kill you on the accessories. However, it served its purpose as I watched The Kingdom, worked on some excel files, and a word document. I decided to plug it in and it was a breeze since the plane used empower. It also comes with an adapter that looks like I could plug it in to a cig lighter. The adapter fits right over the empower part. Worked like a charm! The flight was about 5 hours so there was no way that I was going to last beyond the battery life.

During my vacation, I didn't use the Air much. First the resort wanted you to pay for internet connection which I wasn't about to. Second, there was no wireless in the resort, only Ethernet and I didn't purchase a $29 Ethernet dongle.

On the trip home, I put the Air in the magazine pocket on the airplane. When the announcement came over the PA that laptops are not allowed there, I moved to rearrange the Air to fit concealed. Then it happened...it dropped through the pocket! After we were airborne, I turned it on and checked it out. Everything is fine! Tough little machine...luckily the drop wasn't more than about a foot.

Still lovin' the Air!

Think about your computing habits first

Linked to an editorial in Orlando, the Apple start page points to a review that informs customers to think about their computing habits before jumping in and getting the Mac Air. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/technology/orl-horowitz0108mar01,0,5375225.column
Is the Mac Air for everyone? Probably not. It is a sexy portable laptop that is going to capture the hearts and minds of a niche market. If you want a secondary laptop to supplement the powerhouse desktop or laptop, then the Air could be for you. If you travel often and like the portability of something light that won't send you to the chiropractor, then the Air could be for you. If you enjoy the idea of sitting on the couch and surfing the internet, uploading photos, making movies...all while watching the latest episode of Lost on tv, then the Air could be for you. If you like the idea that you can take the Air anywhere and connect wirelessly without fuss, then the Air could be for you. If you enjoy the freedom of thinking up new ideas from beyond the confines of walls or the office, then the Air could be for you. If you like the idea of taking out one of the most sexiest pieces of technology today and having several people at Starbucks turn green with envy, then the Air could be for you!

Mac Air selling well

No one can say for sure how the Mac Air is selling as there has been no news releases by Apple. However, Fortune.com posted an article recently indicating the sales of Mac Air are doing well. The indicators are short supplies in large metros as well as top seller rankings on the Apple iStore.  Here is the link Air outsells MacBook, iMac, Pro; sold out in Boston, NY, SF, says report

iPhoto and Google's Picasa

I finally learned how to use some more of the functionality of iPhoto.  I enhanced a few photos that I took in Sausalito, CA.  Since I don't have a .Mac account, I wanted to upload to my space on Google's Picasa web.  I started uploading one by one, until I saw that Google has a Picasa add-in for Mac.  While the directions were not easy to find (again), I was able to finally find and use the Picasa export function in the iPhoto export options.

Spaces

Spaces has been a good tool to use in order to manage several applications on a 13" screen.  So far I have 4 spaces configured in a 2x2 configuration.  Entourage has one as well as iTunes on another.  I put all the Office apps on one with Safari as the last.  Once I remembered the command + <#> it is pretty easy to perform the shortcuts instead of referring to the spaces icon on the menu bar.

The Mac Air is not supposed to be a production machine

I have heard a lot of feedback as well as reading posts on other forums and blogs that comment how the Air lacks functionality, memory, HD space, and a variety of other criticisms.  I guess this happens no matter what new innovation comes from Steve Jobs.  The Apple hardcore are going to have to get used to the fact that Apple is trying (rather successfully) to expand its user base beyond the traditional niche Apple-ites.  I often wonder if the criticism comes from the fact that traditionalists view Apple as theirs and therefore Apple should fold to the whims of their input.  

Well, to start, the Air is not a production machine.  Can it be used for business?  Sure, maybe small business travelers or additional machine in the office.  Is it a workhorse for the technology industry?  Maybe not.  For the personal user, it is a great machine that allows you to carry it around the house, vacation, or wherever.  I used it at my daughter's swim academy while she was taking lessons.  Is it fun to use?  You bet.  I have actually enjoyed my learning curve so far and like the new things I discover which make life easier.  Now would there be better add-ons that would make the Air even better?  Yes.  For example, to take advantage of the form factors reduction of technology clutter, the Air could utilize wireless or bluetooth with iPhone or iTouch.  Bingo, eliminated 1 cable.  The wireless bluetooth mouse is a great example.  The Air already does a great job (after working) of syncing with peripherals such as network drives and printers.

Now addressing all the Apple traditionalists.  Don't think of it as Steve Jobs going traitor and becoming like Microsoft (at least not yet).  He is really looking to expand the family and bring more people into the fold.  And after all, this is a business...the company has to be accountable to shareholders (of which I am one).  Therefore, as a shareholder, I expect Steve to increase my share price while maintaining the integrity of the Apple brand and the innovative nature of the company.  Extremism has already cost the company once...almost too much...so if the extreme Apple fundamentalists want Apple around they gotta bend a little.

Mac Air lasting 3+ hours

I am on this thing as much as possible.  I have generally found that unplugged and with a full charge, the Air is lasting about 3 hours and 15 minutes, +/- a few minutes.  I perform various activities on the Air including surfing the web, working with Entourage, an occasional look at a word or excel file.  There are times where I do walk away from the Air or I am doing something else.  This will typically extend the life of the battery.  Some days, the Air goes through two battery cycles, but that's because I am using it so much.  It's very easy to sit with it on the couch and do things during commercials or during boring parts of the program.