From ProductWiki, free unbiased product reports for the consumer.

Apple announced the new MacBook Air as the world's thinnest laptop at MacWorld in San Francisco on January 15th, 2008. Its thickness varies from 0.16" to 0.76" as measured from different points along its edge and weighs about 3 lbs. It features a 13.3" LED backlit display, a full-size backlit keyboard, and an oversized multi-touch trackpad. Apple has made use of several new technologies and design features to create an ultra-thin form factor laptop. It does not include an optical media drive.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
12 people have already voted. Do you agree?

•
Extremely thin
+8agreedisagree

•
LED backlit display
+8agreedisagree

•
Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
+7agreedisagree

•
Large backlit keyboard
+5agreedisagree

•
802.11n WiFi support
+4agreedisagree

•
Intel Core 2 Duo is a great option
+4agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?

•
Fairly expensive premium for being thin
+8agreedisagree

•
No ethernet port
+6agreedisagree

•
No optical drive
+5agreedisagree

•
Only 1 USB port
+5agreedisagree

•
Relatively heavy considering how thin it is
+3agreedisagree

•
Expensive to replace battery. (It is replaceable though)
+3agreedisagree

•
Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)
+3agreedisagree

•
Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem
+2agreedisagree

•
Battery is not replaceable
0agreedisagree

Competing products

Apple MacBook Air is ranked 3rd.  See the top picks in Laptops

Add a competitor to the list

More information

Specifications

  • 13.3" widescreen LED backlit display
  • 1.6 GHz Standard, 1.8 GHz Option -- Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 2 GB Memory standard
  • 80 GB 1.8" hard disk standard, 64 GB SSD as an option.
  • 5 hours of Battery Life
  • Multi-touch Trackpad
  • No optical drive
  • 802.11n + Bluetooth 2.1/EDR
  • 45 Watt MagSafe, 1 USB 2.0 port, Micro-DVI, Audio Out
  • Magnetic latch
  • 3 lbs
  • Thickness: 0.16" to 0.76"
  • it fits inside a envelope

Versions

There are two main options for the MacBook Air (now available for pre-order: 1) a 1.6 GHz CPU with 80 GB standard 1.8" hard drive starting at $1799, and 2) a 1.8 GHz CPU with a 64 GB solid state drive (SSD) starting at $3098.

Submit a link

Related products

Add a related product to this list

5 comments about Apple MacBook Air

1.  avatar Discordanian  Jan 17, 2008 9:17am

The premium for 'thin' is too much. I don't think I'd be happy without my superdrive and firewire. Count me as an Apple fan, but I think that this one misses the mark.
2.  avatar GT-D  Jan 17, 2008 10:13am

I'd totally go for this for school. I have a large and, for the time, fairly powerful laptop. I've found that now I want a laptop that will do word processing, surf the net and a bit of other productivity stuff and be as light as possible.

Though I'd have to fool around with the laptop a bit before deciding, it is VERY thing... I might be scared of breaking it.
3.  avatar Erik  Jan 17, 2008 11:51am

I agree with Discordanian. While you can't deny how cool this laptop is because of its thinness, I think this is more of a response to the consumer's irrational obsession with "thin" products. I would preferred a sub-compact laptop that was also smaller in the LxW dimensions as well that would weigh less than that 3lbs. On the upside, this would be a great laptop for Flatlanders.
4.  avatar Erik  Jan 28, 2008 11:11am

4 reasons you need the MacBook Air according to The Joy of Tech.
5.  avatar ruff_rugby  Feb 10, 2008 3:43am

Side note- The MBA battery is replaceable. I don't know why it says you can't. Its just like an iPod battery were you have to go through apple.
Some HTML is allowed. Your comments remain editable after you post..

    Ask an expert

    avatar

     
     
    avatar

     
     
    avatar

     
     
    avatar

     
    show more

    Who else tapped it

    GT-D

    want


     
    V-Dawg

    want


     
    ahmad

    want


     
    Erik

    uncertain


     
    show more (9)

    Key Features:

    CPU Speed 1.6 GHz
    CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo
    Manufacturer Apple
    Price $1,799.00
    Product Line MacBook
    Release Date Jan. 15, 2008
    Screen Size 13.3 "
    Weight 3 lb

    Sponsors

    Product page stats

    1575 views and 119 edits (see all)
    Created: 01/15/2008 - 13:48
    Modified: 07/14/2008 - 17:56