.FLYINGHEAD PRODUCT SHOOTOUT
.TITLE Laptops to consider if you’re too smart to buy a MacBook Air
.AUTHOR Joe Dolittle
.SUMMARY In this all-new product review shootout, we put five products to the test. Read on to learn how Apple MacBook Air with 80GB hard drive from Apple Computer, Apple MacBook Air with solid-state drive from Apple Computer, Apple MacBook Pro from Apple Computer, Asus U6SA1 from Asus, and Sony VAIO VGN-TZ170 from Sony stand up to our editorial review.
.OTHER
In this all-new product review shootout, we put five products to the test. Read on to learn how [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HU4DK/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Air with 80GB hard drive]] from Apple Computer, [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010OYRG8/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Air with solid-state drive]] from Apple Computer, [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013FLU96/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Pro]] from Apple Computer, [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00108ST5Y/?tag=zatzcom|Asus U6SA1]] from Asus, and [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TRKUWM/?tag=zatzcom|Sony VAIO VGN-TZ170]] from Sony stand up to our editorial review.
.H1 Apple MacBook Air with 80GB hard drive
.AMAZON_COVER B0006HU4DK|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31PuYbfOXrL._SL160_.jpg
Apple claims the MacBook Air is the thinnest notebook in the world.
At 0.16 inch at its thinnest point just 0.76 inch at its thickest point and a mere 3.0 pounds MacBook Air is so compact and light that you can take it everywhere. MacBook Air includes a bright 13.3-inch widescreen LED display built-in iSight camera 2GB of RAM 80GB hard drive and a powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 Cache.
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
Unfortunately it compromises on features and performance and most serious computer users won’t be able to tolerate this machine. Our biggest complaint is the lack of a removable battery. First this means there’s no way you’ll have enough juice for a flight across country — and where would you want an ultra-portable more than a cross-country flight?
It also sacrifices on most of the ports you’ll need including limiting the machine to a single (that’s only one) USB port. Of course, you could take a USB hub with you but, hey, if you’re going to start carrying hubs and other add-on doodads you might as well carry a real computer with you instead of this hot Air.
Apple MacBook Air with 80GB hard drive, produced by Apple Computer, has a retail price of $1,799.00. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HU4DK/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Air with 80GB hard drive]] a rating of 2 out of 5.
.RATING 2
.TEASER We abuse other Apple products as well. If you’re a Mac fan, tap here and be offended.
.BEGIN_KEEP
.H1 Apple MacBook Air with solid-state drive
For storage, this MacBook Air comes with a 64 GB solid-state hard drive. Faster and more reliable solid memory provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications while improving battery life. It’s also more reliable than a hard disk drive because there are no moving parts. Since data is written to stationary memory instead of a spinning hard disk, you have less risk of hardware problems than with the hard disk when you’re on the move.
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
If you’ve got more money than sense, this is definitely the computer for you. But if you actually want to get much done, we recommend you buy a computer that actually has some more of the basic features most users will need. We give this a slightly higher rating than the original MacBook Air above, simply because the solid-state drive is cool. Overpriced and definitely not worth it, but cool.
Apple MacBook Air with solid-state drive, produced by Apple Computer, has a retail price of $3,098.00. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010OYRG8/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Air with solid-state drive]] a rating of 3 out of 5.
.RATING 3
.END_KEEP
.H1 Apple MacBook Pro
.AMAZON_COVER B0013FLU96|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414zH1R0DiL._SL160_.jpg
You’ll never run out of space for all your important files with this advanced and seamlessly integrated MacBook Pro with 200GB of hard drive space. Multitasking is faster than before with 2GB of memory and the latest Intel Core Duo processor. Multi-Touch technology has finally come to MacBook Pro. You’ll be able to use two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, just like John King does on those CNN election night screens.
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
If you absolutely have to have a Mac, this is actually quite a sweet device. You can’t go wrong (other than having to put up with Apple’s attitude) if you get this laptop. In fact, we very strongly recommend that you get this, instead of either of the MacBook Air models.
Apple MacBook Pro, produced by Apple Computer, has a retail price of $1,999.00. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013FLU96/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Pro]] a rating of 4 out of 5.
.RATING 4
.H1 Asus U6SA1
.AMAZON_COVER B00108ST5Y|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IqFpMs6HL._SL160_.jpg
The compact 12.1″ widescreen U6 is specially designed for metropolitan professionals to stay on the move with style. Equipped with the latest Core 2 Duo T7500 processor, you get enhanced responsiveness to enjoy audio and video, playback and record, gaming, IM, and Web browsing.
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
This is a light-weight comfortable machine that we’re quite happy with. Unfortunately, Asus technical support is somewhat spotty, but that’s not unusual for any of today’s PC manufacturers.
Asus U6SA1, produced by Asus, has a retail price of $2,530.65. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00108ST5Y/?tag=zatzcom|Asus U6SA1]] a rating of 4 out of 5.
.RATING 4
.BEGIN_KEEP
.H1 Sony VAIO VGN-TZ170
.AMAZON_COVER B000TRKUWM|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VH1k60O1L._SL160_.jpg
The luxuriously sleek and ultra-portable VAIO TZ Series Notebook is incredibly small and lightweight with a robust carbon-fiber casing for enhanced durability.
This PC weighing only 2.7 pounds is less than 1″ thin and features up to 7.5 hours of standard battery life. The VAIO TZ notebook features an 11.1″ WXGA widescreen display with Sony’s original xBrite-HiColor LCD technology and white LED backlight.
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
We’re big fans of this computer. Of course, this is from Sony, so you need to decide if you like them this week, or if they’ve done something new to annoy you. Can anyone say "root kit"? Sure, I knew you could.
That said, we’re quite impressed with this unit and it’s a much better laptop than the MacBook Air. Sony VAIO VGN-TZ170, produced by Sony, has a retail price of $3,099.00. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TRKUWM/?tag=zatzcom|Sony VAIO VGN-TZ170]] a rating of 4 out of 5.
.RATING 4
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HU4DK/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Air with 80GB hard drive]].
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010OYRG8/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Air with solid-state drive]].
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013FLU96/?tag=zatzcom|Apple MacBook Pro]].
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00108ST5Y/?tag=zatzcom|Asus U6SA1]].
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TRKUWM/?tag=zatzcom|Sony VAIO VGN-TZ170]].
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
.END_KEEP
