MacBook Air sales below expectations?

While Apple's MacBook Air is certainly turning heads, it's not opening wallets according to a new report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

Speaking to 20 US-based Apple resellers, the figures suggest that demand for the MacBook Air is less than that of the Intel-based MacBook released back in 2006.

"[Resellers] are noticing that customers are more curious, but less willing to buy the MacBook Air than they were the original MacBook," Munster told investors. "We believe the MacBook [remains] the most popular Mac."

The MacBook Air was introduced with much fanfare but there have been concerns over its overaly minimalist specification, such as its lack of an integrated Ethernet socket, and a single USB port. It also relies on wireless to install software from an optical drive in another machine, and requires users to purchase an external USB optical drive.

Price was an issue that was highlighted in comments Munster published alongside his reports. "The people that are interested in [the MacBook Air] are not interested in buying it," said one reseller. "MacBook Air is too expensive; it's kind of a niche market product," said another. Some described the notebook as a traveller's companion for "high income people," or an "executive tool".

Based on a recent visit to the Apple store in Regent Street, this reporter can certainly vouch for the fact that, judging from the queues, interest from consumers in getting a hands-on experience with the product the Air is high. But people may be put off by the price and the lack of features and will instead choose to actually buy a more practical MacBook or MacBook Pro.

Overall, Munster advised that he expected Mac sales in the reseller channel to be down down 18 per cent quarter-over-quarter in March but still maintains a Buy rating for the shares. This follows Wall Street marking down Apple's shares last month after the company's profit forecast fell short of expectations.

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