To me a PC desktop or notebook is simply a tool, it is not a style of fashion statement. I tend to keep these things for extended periods just becasue there is s new model does not mean the one I am using no longer works. When I look at tools I am looking for the tool that gives the best value for the task required. In my opinion the price points of mac's do not provide the best value. This is not to say it is a bad tool it is just does not represent the best value to me. For example I can buy a Snap on Screw driver with a life time warranty or I can buy a crafsman screw driver with a life time warranty. THe second costs about 1/2 or less than the first and the screw does not care what one I am using. For general purpose business and casual use the PC due to its price points with the included software represent the crafsman screw driver to me. You can ge a fine machine running XP and microsoft office for very good prices. And if you do not like Internet Explorer get FireFox it is also free. I am not a fan of open office or neo office while free in my experience do not work well with others. What I mean is if I create a presentation in open office and sent it to someone who is also running open office (but maybe a different service level) most of the time the presentation formatting is affected such as font sizes. BTW, I work for a company that pushes Open Office hard but I use MS Office even on my mac.

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I think that many people looking for a 3rd computer buy netbooks. If netbooks did not exist they might have bought a regular notebook (PC or Mac).

Or in my case, probably nothing at all. But I think they are selling a lot to people who have a desktop but want something for surfing and email but dont want to pay notebook prices. I dont see a lot of people deciding between getting a netbook and a loaded PC or Mac desktop replacement. I think those are separate markets.

Yeah lets see if netbook sales sustain for a few years before declaring standard laptops defunct.

Every week, they have sales of regular laptops with optical drives, more RAM, more CPU, more screen and more keyboard for as low as $400.

So you pay a premium for the form-factor of a netbook. But how many netbook buyers not only have a desktop but another laptop already?

The odds of me buying a Netbook are just about 0. I was looking to slim down my briefcase, so I got a MacBook to replace my Dell D820 Latitude. I think it's just a personal thing, but the idea of less than a 100% sized keyboard is a deal breaker for me.

To me, the worst thing Apple could do would be to put out a cheap-o Netbook that cannibalizes their MacBook offering.

I bought a new Macbook (my first Mac) when the current model came out in October 2008.

Up to last week I loved it then on Monday it just wouldn't switch on. I called my nearest store (where I bought it) and was told I had to make an appointment with a 'Mac Genius' in the store who would look at it. I turned up 5 minutes late after a 35 mile journey and was told I could be put 'on standby' and might have to wait a few hours!

After creating a fuss, they deigned to look at it for me. The 'genius', who I had to correct about what my name was 3 times, clearly hadn't the faintest idea what was wrong with it so he took it in for repair.

It seems that they will call me in "the next week or two" and I will have to make a 70 mile round trip to collect it. I have been warned that I must have the receipt they gave me (on which the genius has spelt my name wrong) and photo ID or they won't hand it over.

When it was working, I loved it but I won't be buying another if my experience is in any way typical.

wow, that's unusual. usually repairs in the stores take a day or two (even same day in some cases).

and while it may be too late now, you can also call applecare directly and they'll dispatch a box to your door. you then pack up the computer and overnight it back to them (completely prepaid) and usually it's repaired and overnighted back the next day. the whole process takes 2-3 days unless there are parts shortages. it's also possible to drop off a machine at a store and have it shipped back to you.

deleted.

I'm UK based so that might be a factor? I was very specifically told that I couldn't have it shipped back to me and would have to call in person.

EDIT - It seems the collection and despatch service isn't available in the UK having been discontinued in 2006!!

I am +1 on the style thing, I will not deny it. However, in terms of utility i look at it this way. If the Netbook can get me 90% of what I need for 1/3 of the price, I will go down that route. I do have plenty of desktops at home, and a work laptop. As of now, I need a laptop when going away to Europe a couple of weeks per year, so I can keep in touch not do business work.

I will try the Netbook and if its too small and the keyboard is too tiny, then I will sell it or give it to my parents and get a Macbook. Even if I move abroad I would build myself a nice desktop so I can play Microsoft Flight Simulator, and use the Netbook for travels.

The thing is tiny, I saw it in Microcenter yesterday, I have to admit. How easy and usable the thing is going to be is TBD. But the fact that I don't need to get another laptop case to carry the thing (and just shove it in my backpack) is very, very nice.

I've only had a week to play with my Asus EEE 1000HE netbook but so far I am very pleased . The keyboard is 92% the size of a regular laptop's and is described as "Sony/Macbook" style. It's slightly heavier than most netbooks at 3.2 pounds and no dvd drive, of course, but the optimal 9+ hours of battery life is a major plus for my transpacific flights. My only wish is that it had an S-video output, but that's a very minor quibble. It does have 3 usb slots which is better than many laptops.

I haven't used an IBM since my first computer, an IBM 360 with 512K of memory. Well, it wasn't mine, but I did program Fortran and as little COBAL as I could get away with.

Been Apple since the II. BUT, I bought an MSI Wind for travel. I was going to hackintosh it, but decided it was too much work. (And besides, I'd need a USB keyboard and mouse which I didn't have. Just bluetooth.) I wanted it to store my pictures on travels and to write travel journal and keep up with FT. $250 was a whole lot cheaper than the $$$$ for the MacBookAir. If my investments ever go back up, then I might consider an Air. I think Apple has made a mistake in not going to a cheaper netbook. I downloaded Open Office so I have a few programs. I put Lightroom on it. It seems to work OK even though it only has 1 gig of ram. I really needed somthing lighter to travel with since my photo gear is so heavy.

For anyone who has the newer Mac notebooks with black "chicklet" keys, do you notice any wear? When I think black keys I automatically think the finish will look worn down.

I use one of the 13 Mac Books with black keys and dont notice any wear. I use it a lot too.

Interesting you say that. I have a big Mac at work and and a MacBook Air. A couple of weeks I bought an HP 1000 Mini because it wasn't too expensive and I was thinking I wanted a cheap little netbook for travel. Aside from the obvious Mac vs. XP difference, I have to say that the Air is really a nice experience compared to the HP. Everything from the screen size to the attention to design details. I realize that lots of tradeoffs are made to get to a $400 price point. Suddenly my Air feels like I'm driving a Mercedes Sport.