Window Dressing

After reading the WSJ article on the changing design in laptops answer the following questions.

1. Why might it be a risky strategy to woo consumers to technology products based largely on design features?

2. Why hadn't PC makers design a priority until recently?

3. Apple recently unveiled the MacBook Air, dubbed the "world's thinnest laptop." It weighs just three pounds and is less than an inch thick. However, there are trade-offs associated with the designs. There is no removable battery, no DVD drive and fewer ports for wired connections. it's also several hundred dollars more expensive than the traditional MacBooks. Go to Apples's Web site and compare the types of laptops it sells.

a.) What type of consumer do you think the MacBook Air would appeal to? Explain.

b.) Do you think the success, or failure, of this computer will affect how Apple designs future lap tops.

c.) list the price of a MacBook Air and a standard Macbook along with thier features.

d.) Check out this apple history web site that examines apple design change. find one design Change and discuss it's importance. Provide pictures if possible.