Eee PC Vs. MacBook Air, Not A Fair Comparison
Picking up from Lia’s Post over at Gadgenista, I’d like to post my thoughts regarding the Eee PC and MacBook Air comparison started by Juned on our private b5media google groups.
I’d like to take this chance to post my thoughts on this matter. I really feel that this is an unfair comparison. On one hand you have the MacBook Air which is somewhat an ultra portable computer. I can’t fully say that it’s ultra portable because while it’s thin it still has a large foot print. Although fitting it in a Manila envelope, this leaves room for argument. On the other had you have the Eee PC which is thicker than the MacBook Air but with it’s small foot print it can really fit in a small bag. You can even compare it to a medium sized book.
One costs $1800 and the other $400. If price is what you’re after, the Eee PC wins hands down. You can buy 4 of them for one MacBook Air.
The Eee PC is great if you want a small laptop that you stow in a small bag and bring around. However with this small size comes compromises. One it’s got an old celeron processor. It also has a small albeit solid state hard drive. The biggest capacity so far is an 8GB model which means that an iPod Touch 16GB has more storage than it. So that means you won’t be bringing around your music or video collection with you.
The Eee PC has a customized Linux OS installed. It features open source software that can be used to email, surf, chat and communicate. All the software bundled are open source and/or freely available. Hence the cheap cost of the Eee PC.
Unless you’re just a casual user, the Eee PC will never be your primary computer. It just has too little space for it to become a primary computer. It is however great as a secondary computer. With the affordable price if it gets lost you won’t cry as much.
The MacBook Air is simply a much more powerful computer. It’s running a current generation processor. It offers enough power to run the latest Mac OS X applications. The MacBook Air can run intensive apps such as Adobe Photoshop. In fact the MacBook Air would probably run circles around my old PowerBook G4. I was able to use that for my design work. So I’m confident that if needed the MacBook Air could probably do the same. Although it won’t be as fast as the MacBook Pro I’m using now, but it can. The Eee PC can’t do this.
The MacBook Air features a 13.3 inch screen which is perfectly usable to a whole day at work without straining your eyes. Try working one whole day with the Eee PC and I’m sure it won’t be pleasant. It’s also the 13.3 inch screen that gives the MBA a still big footprint.
Jayvee of Celphone9 said that he doesn’t need the MacBook Air since he already has a black MacBook. This is true if he already has a MacBook then he probably won’t benefit from a MacBook Air unless he travels a lot. But see, if really needed, he can replace his MacBook with an MBA and he’s still be able to do most of his work. I doubt the Eee PC will be enough to replace his MacBook. Unless all he’ll be doing is blogging. But that means saying good bye to managing photos and doing edits on them.
With all due respect to Lia’s statement, the MacBook Air is not a glorified Eee PC because the MacBook Air can do so much more than the Eee PC can. Same as the Eee PC is not a crippled MacBook Air. Both products target a different market.
In my opinion the Eee PC is suited for students, people who want a connectivity device while they travel, people who only surf, email and want to keep in contact with friends and relatives. While The MacBook Air is geared towards executives or road warriors who need a much more powerful computer for work. The MacBook Air will allow them to work on their documents, emails, photos, presentations, etc.
So it’s really an unfair comparison. What do yo think?
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POSTED IN: Commentaries, Juan's Posts, MacBook Air
13 opinions for Eee PC Vs. MacBook Air, Not A Fair Comparison
Kristen King
Jan 24, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Well, not being a computer expert, I’m not sure I’m the best person to be the first comment on this post. BUT I am intrigued by the MBA, and since I’ve recently fallen in love with Mac after purchasing a desktop to replace my craptacular PC and am now looking into a laptop as well, this is definitely worth checking out.
I’m impressed by the level of functionality in the MBA, and also by how big the screen is. Those two alone are enough to sell me on it over the Eee PC. But I’m wondering which would make more sense for me: the MBA or just a regular old MacBook.
Kristen
Juan
Jan 24, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Hey Kristen, what kind of Mac did you get? I’ve been thinking about it a lot the past week or so and if you have an iMac at home the MBA would be a great pair for it.
You can sacrifice the other things that a MacBook has for the MBA simply because you have a desktop at home and you’ll be using the MBA as a secondary computer.
So my vote goes for the MBA for the sheer portability and sexiness it brings. Hahahaha. I’m sure it will be a head turner.
From what I’ve been reading if you do decide to get a MBA it’s best you spring for the external SuperDrive.
Let me know if you do get one.
Kristen King
Jan 24, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I have an iMac and I have never loved an inanimate object so much as I love this machine. It is awesome.
Mostly I would use the laptop when I need to get out of the house or when I’m blogging or on vacay not as my primary computer. Sounds like you think it would be the perfect complement. Plus, like you said, it’s awfully sexy. ;)
kk
Juan
Jan 24, 2008 at 10:40 pm
See if you’re going to use it for blogging or when you’re on vacation the MBA will be a good option. One of the things it will certainly do better than the Eee PC is sync with your iMac at home. It’s easier to manage.
As for MBA vs. MacBook, the 2 pounds less that the MBA will give you will certainly go a long way. That’s 2 pounds less that you’ll have to carry around with you.
Vic
Jan 25, 2008 at 1:57 am
Well, here’s my take on it: I’m a diehard Mac user, and I love my MBP to bits. But face it, if I’m going to commit to a two-laptop lifestyle, the second laptop is going to have to be not just a lot lighter, but also a lot smaller. And the Eee PC fits the bill perfectly (albeit without OS X) … even if it’s a featherweight, the MBA is still too big. It’s still closer to primary laptop size than something I can throw into a small shoulder bag or satchel and forget about.
When I see the MBA, I’ll be tempted for sure. But the Eee is AMAZING value for money.
jmk 1955
Jan 25, 2008 at 5:02 am
not a mac guy but that Eee thing seems like what I need based on your review
Kristen King
Jan 25, 2008 at 7:30 am
Syncing is really important to me, so I’m definitely going Mac no matter what on the laptop. Since I usually carry an enormous bag anyway, I don’t think the footprint is going to be a big deal. And the extra 2 lbs is a LOT to not have to carry. I feel a purchase coming on…
kk
Mike
Jan 26, 2008 at 9:02 am
This comparison reminds me of those made between the PS3 and the Wii.
So which is better? It really depends on your needs. A MacBook Air is certainly more powerful (like a PS3) while the Eee PC is cheaper (like the Wii).
I chose the PS3 because I want my HD gaming, and I want it violent with all those purdy graphics. Many people seem to like the Wii better because it’s cheaper.
Me not agreeing with them (or vice versa) doesn’t mean that one of us is wrong. But is it a fair comparison? People will compare anything so get used to it.
Juan
Jan 26, 2008 at 11:41 am
@jmk - I have nothing against the Eee PC, if you feel that’s the thing that will suit your needs, go for it dude. I have several friends who have Eee Pc’s and they love it.
@kristen - Good luck with the purchase. Let me know how it goes.
@Mike - You’re right, people would compare anything. I can’t stop that. I was just expressing my opinion that the comparison is not a fair one in my eyes. But as they say freedom of speech, so compare away.
Guys, thanks for the comments I think this is the post with the most comments so far. Hahahaha.
Vic
Jan 26, 2008 at 7:27 pm
@kirsten:
Syncing is important to me too, but thanks to Google Apps and IMAP on my dotMac and Gmail accounts, I’m pleased to discover that my second machine no longer needs to be a Mac.(And my 3rd machine doesn’t even need to be a real computer - i.e. my iPhone!)
Kristen King
Jan 26, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Vic, good point, thanks!
kk
BrianB
Jan 27, 2008 at 5:00 am
“I can’t fully say that it’s ultra portable because while it’s thin it still has a large foot print”
I’ve read this argument from another blogger that though MBA is thin it has a big footprint. I think what this means is that it takes up a lot of space, unlike a true ultraportable, which it does. Manila folder leave a bit footprint, too, when it is holding something. My former office had lots of Manila folders and I barely have room to breath.
As for the Eee PC. You can compare that little thing with real computers. It’s almost only as good as a smartphone.
Dave
Feb 19, 2008 at 3:49 am
Interesting comment Brian. You know the eee PC can run OS X, Windows and pretty much any linux distro you want don’t you? Guess that makes the MBA “only as good as a smartphone” too
I don’t own one (yet) but we have been evaluating their capabilities for my company (a large retail bank) and they are mighty impressive.
(And yes, i have a Macbook pro and love it!)
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