Why Apple’s Design Is Excellent
This is the Toshiba Portege R500, which many people have been comparing to the new MacBook Air.
Even closed, it looks pretty slick:
But turn it over and it’s a horror show:
This is what the bottom of the Macbook Air looks like by contrast:
Photo by Ken Christ
And that’s why Apple’s designs are excellent and why they gets oohs and ahhs from everyone. Art first, engineering second.
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Mike Cane 2008 
January 19, 2008 at 1:33 am
Nope, you’ve got it wrong. OS first, Style second.
Actually, the Toshiba open is almost as bad as the bottom. Closed from the top is it’s best side.
January 19, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Umm…I don’t think it’s art first and engineering second. For Apple, I think it’s more accurate to read it as design is an integral element of engineering so good engineering is not without its design elements.
I was trained in professional writing in college and we were taught time and time again that communication is what we do and that does not only happen in words but also graphic design so in fact we had to learn to think how graphic design and words worked together to communicate.
Same thing for Apple. Engineering is not exclusive of design or vice versa. Design is not separate from engineering. It is PART OF IT.
January 19, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Although I agree generally with your point, these images also suggest why Apple laptops generally physically feel hot.
January 19, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Nah, it’s Apple believes Engineering is Art!