Lenovo takes a jab at Apple

Actually, I don't know if Lenovo actually produced this video, but it's a pretty funny knock at the MBA for it's lack of features.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hnOCUkbix0

If only the X300 had the most important feature of all: OS X.

Haha, that is funny, but why would you need all of those USB's on an ultra-portable?

But I do agree, no OS X, no good! ;D

Haha. That's pretty funny. I can't say that I was that impressed with the MBA. It was thin...that was about all it had going for it, IMO. If I was going to spend that much money, I'd just get a MBP. :2cents:

I've never been impressed with ANY ultra-portable. Which is what it is, really not sure why people expect them to be really workable without a primary workstation.

Waterpolo820 said:

Haha, that is funny, but why would you need all of those USB's on an ultra-portable?

Click to expand...

They were trying to point out all the additions to he MBA that would be necessary to equal the ports/drives already in the X300.

fleurya said:

They were trying to point out all the additions to he MBA that would be necessary to equal the ports/drives already in the X300.

Click to expand...

Yea I guess...

but what the MBA lacks in USB ports, and all other ports , it gains in style! the X300 is like a flash back to how laptops looked (minus the thickness) of computers in the early 2000's. If I pull out my Dell that was made in 2001 and put it right next to it, there isn't a big difference(same ugly track pad, that pointless blue button in the middle of the keys, and two sets of clickers) , both are fugly and no where as cool as a MBA!

although I am a big fan of the biometrics on the X300, but what ever, all you need is a USB port, for an external one ;D

^^You've been spending too much time in front of your beautiful Mac, because most laptops still look pretty horrid IMHO. To be honest, I don't really mind the look of the Lenovos, probably because I've spent so much time around them. But few laptops come close to the look of the Macs.

Waterpolo820 said:

Yea I guess...

but what the MBA lacks in USB ports, and all other ports , it gains in style! the X300 is like a flash back to how laptops looked (minus the thickness) of computers in the early 2000's. If I pull out my Dell that was made in 2001 and put it right next to it, there isn't a big difference(same ugly track pad, that pointless blue button in the middle of the keys, and two sets of clickers) , both are fugly and no where as cool as a MBA!

although I am a big fan of the biometrics on the X300, but what ever, all you need is a USB port, for an external one ;D

Click to expand...

Yes...that's exactly what they were making fun of. The stereotypical Mac person that buys something because it looks cool, regardless of its usefulness or cost. My exact thought when I looked at the MBA side by side with a MBP is "what use is this stupid little thing?" I thought it looked cool...that's about it. If I had disposable income that I didn't know what to do with and already had a new MBP and Macbook, I'd then pick up a MBA.

While I'm a recent convert from PC's and have no plans on going back, that doesn't change my opinion of the average Mac buyer. They'd pay $1,000+ for an item with a Apple logo on it. Compare the MBA and MBP and tell me that isn't an appropriate reference.

Agreed, Tyler.

It all comes down to Apple's silly obsession with form over function. Computers are tools, they should be functional. When you buy a hammer, you don't choose one based on how pretty it looks, you choose it on how well it hammers, whether it's got a claw on the back of it and how durable the handle is.

This is really the only sticking point I have with Apple and is the reason I wish that they'd license OS X out to another vendor or two. Keep on building pretty Macs for those fanboys that can't get enough, but let someone else like Dell build functional machines that are useful to those of us that do more with a computer than read email and surf the web.

Definitely lol'd at this video. Say what you will about looks, but Thinkpad's are freaking workhorses. They come in 2nd to Mac's for me.

cwa107 said:

Agreed, Tyler.

It all comes down to Apple's silly obsession with form over function. Computers are tools, they should be functional. When you buy a hammer, you don't choose one based on how pretty it looks, you choose it on how well it hammers, whether it's got a claw on the back of it and how durable the handle is.

This is really the only sticking point I have with Apple and is the reason I wish that they'd license OS X out to another vendor or two. Keep on building pretty Macs for those fanboys that can't get enough, but let someone else like Dell build functional machines that are useful to those of us that do more with a computer than read email and surf the web.

Click to expand...

I disagree. The instant OS X is available to something other than Macs, is the day mac sales will die. Cause then the other will undercut apple with hardware prices and there are a lot of people who only get a mac for OS X. So with the option there's be no need for many people to get a mac.

the8thark said:

I disagree. The instant OS X is available to something other than Macs, is the day mac sales will die. Cause then the other will undercut apple with hardware prices and there are a lot of people who only get a mac for OS X. So with the option there's be no need for many people to get a mac.

Click to expand...

There will be people that will go to the cheaper hardware if the OS is available. However, one big draw I see to Apple computers over PC's is the build quality. Having owned one, I would rather pay the extra $100-200 for another Apple computer than go with a PC. Not because it's flashy, but because it's a more solid product.

Even something as cheap/mass produced as Apple's keyboard have much better fit and finish than any PC supplied board that I've ever used. I used a PC keyboard (Dell) last week for the first time since January. I was shocked by what a POS it was compared to my Apple keyboard. Compared to mine...I had to pound on the keys to get the required keystroke. It was a newer keyboard/computer too.

The same goes for my Macbook. The computer I had a couple months before picking this up was a brand new Gateway with Vista. In terms of quality of construction, my ~2 year old Macbook is better. It's more solid in terms of construction and the appearance (layout of the buttons, track pad, accessories including USB on side, etc.) is more well thought out, in my opinion. :2cents:

the8thark said:

I disagree. The instant OS X is available to something other than Macs, is the day mac sales will die. Cause then the other will undercut apple with hardware prices and there are a lot of people who only get a mac for OS X. So with the option there's be no need for many people to get a mac.

Click to expand...

If Apple licenses the OS and hardware (EFI and OS protection technologies) to another company, they still make royalties on every machine sold. I just can't see any downside.

Some might argue that Apple would have to develop for more hardware and in doing so, doesn't own the "total package", which might result in lower quality. But I would say that as long as Apple specifies particular chipsets, graphics and sound cards, they can still have control. And if Dell chooses to have 10 USB ports on the back of an expandable desktop that uses the same basic components as a Mac Mini, so be it. The functionality (legacy ports, extra USB, extra Firewire) is all there in the chipsets, Apple just chooses to exclude it for aesthetic reasons. There's no reason Apple couldn't continue to sell pretty Macs for those that like them, and let another company use the same hardware and build more functional machines.

Of course, this is an age old argument and we can go on and on, but it's how I feel nonetheless.

well, other than it didn't work very well for Apple in the mid-90's

Remember that Apple is a hardware company, that happen to create software also. Apple sells a complete system, that works out of the box, you can install other software, but for the most part you can function as is. If was selling only software then licensing would make since. One of the reasons Apple purchased Power Computing was to stop the making of clones, if I remember correctly.

And I don't think the Lenovo had a CD/DVD drive either...

TamiRene said:

And I don't think the Lenovo had a CD/DVD drive either...

Click to expand...

Yes it does in fact. DVD R/W.

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/landing_pages/thinkpad/2008/X300?cid=us|semd|ggl|us_x300_en|t3D03|s&&s_kwcid=thinkpad%20x300|1071363721

Dysfunction said:

well, other than it didn't work very well for Apple in the mid-90's

Click to expand...

It didn't work well in the 90's, because the OS was (frankly) garbage and demand for Macs was slim to none. There is now legitimate demand for the OS, but many of those that are holding out on switching are doing so because Apple simply doesn't make hardware that they want (and in some cases, need).

rman said:

Remember that Apple is a hardware company, that happen to create software also. Apple sells a complete system, that works out of the box, you can install other software, but for the most part you can function as is. If was selling only software then licensing would make since. One of the reasons Apple purchased Power Computing was to stop the making of clones, if I remember correctly.

Click to expand...

I understand that rman, but if Apple wants to make only certain types of hardware, I don't see why they couldn't license out the OS and a hardware specification to third parties. And if it didn't work out, simply yank the license. If they collect a royalty on every box sold, how do they lose?

I can't help but ask myself what my dad would say, "Why fix what ain't broken?" Apple has gotten themselves on a good path here. There is no reason for them to license their stuff so some cheapo company can clone the Mac and, in essence, lower the value of the brand. In the end, they would lose and lose big!