[hackoder]

The thing with lumping all 'Android' together is that it gives the wrong picture. Similar to lumping all PCs.

When you buy anything non-Apple, you have to be a smart buyer. This can be good or bad, depending on your world view.

If you compare premium non-Apple brands, they compare favoribly to Apple. For example, my Nexus S was $300 off contract (brand new). This is much cheaper than the comparable iPhone 4 at that time, retains good resale value, and will probably be fast enough/supported for as long as the iPhone 4. On the PC side, ThinkPad T/X series offers similar (or even better!) reliability/cost effectiveness/resale value to MacBooks. For example, the x220 series configured new at lenovo will cost ~1000. Current resale puts it at around 800, which is better than the MBP (for e.g. base at $1249, refurb @ apple for $1049, and resale at around $950).

[sjs]

Even if you break out Samsung, Motorola, HTC, etc. you will still have the same problem within each manufacturer's lineup. Comparing individual phone models is logical but nobody does it for some reason.

It seems that people always want to compare the iPhone (a single hardware line) to Android (software) which is just bizarre.

[alsocasey]

Resale value is also being measured as a percentage MSRP, which makes sense for the iPhone, as it isn't really available for anything but MSRP, but isn't as realistic for most Android phones that can often be had for less than MSRP.

[schraeds]

So Android phones lose value just sitting on the shelf.

[mechanical_fish]

Problematic it may be, but I wouldn't call it "bizarre". The fact that the iPhone has a single line of hardware evolution, a single line of software evolution, and an extremely straightforward product line at any given time is a very deliberate branding and marketing decision by Apple, aimed at avoiding exactly the situation we see in the rest of the phone market: The marketplace is a confusing zoo in which the available mix of models changes every five minutes and nobody knows what they're buying unless they have the data sheet sitting open in front of them.

[sjs]

That people do not find it bizarre is the bizarre thing.

[wisty]

I'd get the MBA over either the MBP or x220. Thinness, SSD in all models, a UNIXish OS which actually runs some non-free software (and doesn't have people ask you what the hell is wrong with your computer), a crisp screen (the MBA has the same resolution as the 15" MBP) ... sorry, us MBA people are the most annoying Apple fanboys, right?

The only laptops I've seen which I've been at all envious of are later-model MBAs, and Toshiba's Satellite Z830 (damn that thing's light).

But if you don't mind a heavy laptop, the x220 does look nice. 15 hours video (with the $180 battery hump thing) definitely raises the bar.

[hackoder]

I have this year's MBA. Its pretty good, except for the 4 gigs of ram. I find the the T/X series more ergonomic for longer periods of typing though (matte screen + plastic wrist rest is more comfortable).

The T/X run well with linux, so you get all free software ;-) Also, the x220 is 3.3 lbs [1][2] vs 2.96 lb [3] for the air.

[1] http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf

[2] The 4-cell actually puts it at 2.97 lb, but the capacity is only 28 Wh compared to the Air at 50 Wh. The 6-cell on the other hand is 62 Wh.

[3] http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html

[bitwize]

I stopped giving a shit what other people think of my computer when a pretty girl told me my NetBSD laptop was "not digital enough" and I needed to buy a Mac because it was "more digital".

[Terretta]

If you compare premium non-Apple brands, they compare favoribly to Apple.

Since I'm not aware of a single Android phone that sells for more after two years than the full price two years prior, I'm not sure how any can compare "favorably" (limited run developer models excluded).

[jcitme]

>Since I'm not aware of a single Android phone that sells for more after two years than the full price two years prior

Pretty sure absolutely no phone sells for more than the full initial price, iPhone included. Remember, the price you see in ads are carrier subsidized, an actual new iPhone is approximately $650 without a contract.

On that note, I just bought an AT&T iPhone 4 for $250 a month ago. Not bad of a deal for 18 months later.

[Terretta]

Per notes elsewhere in this thread, I sold each (original, 3g, 3gs, 4) on eBay for more than full price, after the next model was out. I did unlock them before sale.