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MacBook Air is hard to find in many large markets despite high price

When Apple first announced the MacBook Air, it was met with oohs and ahs form Apple fans and non-Apple fans alike. The Air is a very attractive notebook, even if it does have a wealth of odd issues prospective owners have to live with.

Even though the MacBook Air has generated lots of praise for its design and thin construction, the notebook has taken a few hits for its lack of a user-replaceable battery, meager performance, lack of more USB ports and a missing GbE connection onboard.

According to Ars Technica, even with the caveats of MacBook Air ownership, the demand is apparently still high leading to long wait times for shipping and frequent sell outs at Apple stores in large markets. Amazon says its MacBook Air orders won’t be shipping until March 16 and Best Buy has been low on systems as well.

It makes sense that Apple resellers like Amazon and Best Buy would be low on stock since Apple is having a hard time keeping its own retail stores supplied with the Air. Some stores in and around Boston were out of stock and store employees said that some would be Air owners were opting to spend the significantly higher price on the SSD equipped Air because it tends to be in stock longer.

Apple stores in large markets like LA, New York City and Chicago get daily shipments and are still not able to keep a regular stock of the Air. However, it seems that Apple fans in smaller markets may have an easier time getting their hands on the MacBook Air -- one Apple Store in Indianapolis reported that it had more than enough stock to meet demand.

The real question behind the shortages of MacBook Air systems is if the demand is really that high, or perhaps did Apple simply not order enough of the machines making them hard to keep in stock. Whatever the reason the Air is hard to get in some areas, there is little doubt that the computer has proven to be surprisingly popular despite the issues it may have.

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Not surprised
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/3/2008 3:41:50 PM , Rating: 2
You figure Apple probably didn't make a ton of these. But there are a few million people that probably want these, so it's not really all that surprising. Give it a few months and let's see how many total were sold.




RE: Not surprised
By Cygni on 3/3/2008 3:48:27 PM , Rating: 2
Its a good looking, well polished, well marketed thin-and-light that people can walk into any Best Buy and purchase.

Despite some hardcore techies pooh-poohing it, its going to sell like hotcakes.


RE: Not surprised
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 3/3/2008 3:51:40 PM , Rating: 3
I'll admit, I walked into Best Buy and played with one. I was simply astounded by its thinness, weight and build quality... even the accessory door seemed very well built.

The pricing and lack of expandability, however, limited my time with the device to just a quick look over.


RE: Not surprised
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/3/2008 3:57:21 PM , Rating: 4
With it's price tag it won't sell like hot cakes after the initial "money is no object" crowd get theirs. If it was a few hundred dollars lower then yea, it would sell like hot cakes.


RE: Not surprised
By TheDoc9 on 3/3/2008 4:11:53 PM , Rating: 4
They like it now because of how cool it looks. Lets just wait and see how much they like it in a few months when they realize they can't do anything but type documents and browse the net.


RE: Not surprised
By eman7613 on 3/3/2008 7:53:47 PM , Rating: 3
thats kind of the whole point & intended market of the laptop, and is the major demographic of what people use computers for! No person in the right mind, is going to get a ultra portable for gaming, or for upgradability. Its like harping on someone for riding a bike to wear they need to go because thats all it does, well some people only need a bike!


RE: Not surprised
By EndPCNoise on 3/3/2008 4:16:56 PM , Rating: 5
Yeah, I agree Kenobi about the "money is no object crowd". Notice it only sold out in few major cities (LA, NY, Chicago) where most of the Apple liberals live.


RE: Not surprised
By TomZ on 3/3/2008 4:20:10 PM , Rating: 1
That's exactly what folks said about the iPhone, yet it still seems to sell like crazy.

I dislike Apple as much as the next guy, but you've got to admit they have the Midas touch at the moment. They are emphasizing form over function at relatively high price points, and it seems to be just what people want.


RE: Not surprised
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/3/2008 4:25:17 PM , Rating: 2
Not a good idea when the economy is in a downturn.


RE: Not surprised
By omnicronx on 3/3/2008 5:07:56 PM , Rating: 3
Thats what credit cards are for ;)


RE: Not surprised
By MonkeyPaw on 3/3/2008 6:25:16 PM , Rating: 3
...and foreclosures! :p


RE: Not surprised
By UNCjigga on 3/3/2008 7:52:51 PM , Rating: 2
Well I won't even look at one unless Apple lowers it to my "magic price", my internal reference price where I can justify buying one and where this machine becomes a good deal. My reference price is $1499--though I might even swing at $1599 (take the hint Apple!!)


RE: Not surprised
By TomZ on 3/3/2008 5:13:23 PM , Rating: 5
The economy being in a downturn isn't much of a big deal for most folks. On a broad scale, GDP may dip a tiny bit, unemployment and inflation might edge up a little, but for most people life just goes on.


RE: Not surprised
By treehugger87 on 3/4/2008 2:07:21 AM , Rating: 2
I think you mean that the GDP growth rate or economic growth rate will decrease, opposed to GDP in real dollars. Because the US will still be growing, just at a slower rate, because a recession means that the growth rate has decreased, and a depression could mean a decrease in GDP in real dollars ie. making it the more severe economic downturn.


RE: Not surprised
By TomZ on 3/4/2008 1:52:00 PM , Rating: 3
No, the term "recession" means actual decline in GDP, i.e., negative GDP growth rate. I believe what you describe is typically called a "slowdown."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession


RE: Not surprised
By prenox on 3/3/2008 4:34:09 PM , Rating: 5
the iphone was a cellphone with more functions.
the air is a thin laptop with less functions.


RE: Not surprised
By JoshuaBuss on 3/3/2008 6:10:16 PM , Rating: 2
excellent point.


RE: Not surprised
By Souka on 3/4/2008 3:20:28 PM , Rating: 2
two people in my department at my work have iPhones...one is a die-hard mac user...

both say.. "it's an OK phone..." "web browsing is fine if you don't have a computer handy, but slow"

and both say, "but its oool to own"

*sigh*... I'm a fat ugly bastard....I want usability/features for the $$... not "image".

Hence... if I were to buy a unltra portable laptop... I'd consider the Lenovo x300...features it has over macAir: lighter, replaceable battery, optical drive, usb ports, ethernet, video out, modem, upgradable to 4GB or RAM, multi-card reader, and IMHO will prove to be more durable.


RE: Not surprised
By hiscross on 3/3/2008 9:21:10 PM , Rating: 2
I'm the next guy and I like Apple and it's products.


RE: Not surprised