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> The base model shipped with a 4,200-RPM hard drive straight out of an iPod...A 64 GB SSD option was available for a whopping $999. $1k is not expensive for a

> The base model shipped with a 4,200-RPM hard drive straight out of an iPod...A 64 GB SSD option was available for a whopping $999. $1k is not expensive for a high-quality Ultrabook...In fact, I'm pretty sure the Macbook Air is still around that price. Have laptops really gone up in price since 2008? ...oh wait. A little research [1] suggests that the optional SSD added $1k to the price, bringing the total to $3100. That is and was expensive. [1]: https://gizmodo.com/345101/adding-a-64gb-ssd-to-the-macbook-air-1300-extra-please https://gizmodo.com/345101/adding-a-64gb-ssd-to-the-macbook-...

mikestew 9y ago
The originals were, IMO, something for upper management to show off with. It could be argued that the machines could be used for productive work, but it was ungodly high price to pay for such an underpowered machine. For half the price and a pound more in weight, a lot of machines would mop the floor with the Air. That’s not to say that cramming it into a case that size wasn’t impressive, and it was a rough preview of the nice Airs Apple would later build. Just two years later an Air was my main dev machine.
- FabHK 9y ago
  I'm wondering whether we will see the same evolution with the current thin MacBook line - from underpowered "concept" to main working machine.
  - abrowne 9y ago
    Almost certainly that's the plan ... unless they can get you to switch to an iPad Pro instead.
- wolfgke 9y ago
  > The originals were, IMO, something for upper management to show off with. Even at that time I never could understand how the MBA could be used for showing off with. To me (lack of speed, lack of ports etc.) it was rather a device that shows to everyone that the user does not care about good technology or usability and has a desire to throw money down the drain. In other worse: A device that you use when you seriously want to be ridiculed.
Chaebixi 9y ago
> A 64 GB SSD option was available for a whopping $999. > $1k is not expensive for a high-quality Ultrabook...In fact, I'm pretty sure the Macbook Air is still around that price. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that as being $999 for the drive upgrade option itself. The total price for the laptop would have been higher.
- abrowne 9y ago
  Exactly. The whole MBA with SSD was over USD 2000. [T]he useless laptop equipped with a solid state drive can be had for the low, low price of $2,598. 2008-07-03, https://techcrunch.com/2008/07/03/apple-drops-price-of-ssd-macbook-air-by-500/ https://techcrunch.com/2008/07/03/apple-drops-price-of-ssd-m... I remember everyone thinking it was "useless" too.

mikestew 9y ago

The originals were, IMO, something for upper management to show off with. It could be argued that the machines could be used for productive work, but it was ungodly high price to pay for such an underpowered machine. For half the price and a pound more in weight, a lot of machines would mop the floor with the Air. That’s not to say that cramming it into a case that size wasn’t impressive, and it was a rough preview of the nice Airs Apple would later build. Just two years later an Air was my main dev machine.

FabHK 9y ago
I'm wondering whether we will see the same evolution with the current thin MacBook line - from underpowered "concept" to main working machine.
- abrowne 9y ago
  Almost certainly that's the plan ... unless they can get you to switch to an iPad Pro instead.
wolfgke 9y ago
> The originals were, IMO, something for upper management to show off with. Even at that time I never could understand how the MBA could be used for showing off with. To me (lack of speed, lack of ports etc.) it was rather a device that shows to everyone that the user does not care about good technology or usability and has a desire to throw money down the drain. In other worse: A device that you use when you seriously want to be ridiculed.

Chaebixi 9y ago

> A 64 GB SSD option was available for a whopping $999. > $1k is not expensive for a high-quality Ultrabook...In fact, I'm pretty sure the Macbook Air is still around that price. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that as being $999 for the drive upgrade option itself. The total price for the laptop would have been higher.

abrowne 9y ago
Exactly. The whole MBA with SSD was over USD 2000. [T]he useless laptop equipped with a solid state drive can be had for the low, low price of $2,598. 2008-07-03, https://techcrunch.com/2008/07/03/apple-drops-price-of-ssd-macbook-air-by-500/ https://techcrunch.com/2008/07/03/apple-drops-price-of-ssd-m... I remember everyone thinking it was "useless" too.