It looks like the MacBook Air might have a long, hard road ahead. Apple’s diminutive notebook has been met with more public resistance than most of the company’s recent introductions. Consumers and critics alike have seemed wary to adopt the new computer due to the compromises its small stature demands. Apple clearly knew that they were taking a gamble, but seemed to think that the lack of an optical drive, fewer external port connectors, and a sealed battery bay would be overshadowed by the sheer thinness of the thing. It looks like they may have been wrong. According to Piper Jaffray, 60% of retailers are seeing less demand for the MBA than they did after the introduction of the MacBook Pro. According to the same survey, this lack of interest should be partly responsible for a 18% drop in Apple sales over last quarter’s numbers, though the holiday season certainly gave the latter a bit of a boost. Nonetheless, Apple has some serious work ahead if it hopes to make the MacBook Air as successful as it would like.
Please note: we’re only reporting on Piper Jaffray’s findings. We haven’t had a chance to independently check this out with some of our sources, but from what we briefly heard, MacBook Airs are selling tremendously well. Go figure!
