Apple MacBook Air

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.

Apple MacBook Air
MSRP $1,799.00
Release date January, 2008
Brand Apple
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
24 reviews
50
negative
mixed
positive
10 positive
6 mixed
8 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Extremely thin
+13agreedisagree

•
LED backlit display
+11agreedisagree

•
Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
+11agreedisagree

•
Large backlit keyboard
+8agreedisagree

•
802.11n WiFi support
+6agreedisagree

•
Intel Core 2 Duo is a great option
+3agreedisagree

•
Runs Windows XP / Vista
+3agreedisagree

•
Has a built-in camera
+2agreedisagree

•
Has a built-in microphone
+2agreedisagree

•
Can get about 5 hours of battery life with the screen dim and backlit keyboard down
+2agreedisagree

•
Runs Mac OS X (Leopard)
0agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
Fairly expensive premium for being thin
+19agreedisagree

•
Only 1 USB port
+16agreedisagree

•
No optical drive
+14agreedisagree

•
No ethernet port
+14agreedisagree

•
Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)
+12agreedisagree

•
Expensive to replace battery. (It is replaceable though)
+11agreedisagree

•
Can't stay connected to WiFi
+6agreedisagree

•
Relatively heavy considering how thin it is
+5agreedisagree

•
Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem
+5agreedisagree

•
Non upgradeable RAM limited to 2G
+4agreedisagree

•
Battery is not replaceable
+1agreedisagree

•
Screen is flimsy, it bends and creeks.
+1agreedisagree

•
Proprietary video out, should have common VGA or HDMi for this price factor
+1agreedisagree


33 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

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.

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This report was started January 15, 2008 at 1:48 pm by V-Dawg
with the last edit occurring June 13, 2009 at 10:12 am by fractalhorizon
This page has been viewed 4100 times, with 463 edits by 38 contributors.
See the full report history »

Competitors

Apple MacBook Air is ranked 2nd among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Laptops »
Lenovo ThinkPad X300

Lenovo ThinkPad X300

MSRP  $2,900.00    Released  April, 2008
Pros
  • Integrated DVD burner
  • Solid design
  • Very fast Solid State hard drive
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Not very stylish
  • Still using annoying trackball
ProSCORE
3 reviews
56
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 50% vs. vote Lenovo ThinkPad X300 50%
Lenovo IdeaPad U110

Lenovo IdeaPad U110

MSRP  $1,799.00    Released  April, 2008
Pros
  • ultra light at only 2.4 lbs. w/ 4 cell
  • 11.1" screen for it's size
Cons
  • smudges easy
ProSCORE
2 reviews
100
Vote! (5 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 60% vs. vote Lenovo IdeaPad U110 40%
Sony VAIO Z

Sony VAIO Z

MSRP  $2,000.00    Released  July, 2008
Pros
  • amazing battery life
  • 13.3" is a sweet spot - small and light but functional
  • LED backlit screen
  • the option to include SSD storage
  • the latest chipset - including 802.11N, improved Intel graphics
Cons
  • fairly expensive - like any luxury super thin and light notebook
ProSCORE
1 review
88
Vote! (5 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 60% vs. vote Sony VAIO Z 40%
Voodoo Envy 133

Voodoo Envy 133

MSRP  $2,100.00    Released  September, 2008
Pros
  • Thinner than the Macbook Air
  • Lightweight at 3.4 lbs
  • Slick carbon fiber case design
  • Voodoo IOS instant-on function for fast web browsing and Skype
Cons
  • No built-in RJ45 connection (mitigated by Aura PowerConnect)
  • No built-in DVD drive
ProSCORE
5 reviews
74
Vote! (5 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 60% vs. vote Voodoo Envy 133 40%
Toshiba Dynabook SS RX2

Toshiba Dynabook SS RX2

MSRP  --    Released  September, 2008
Pros
  • lighter than any umpc/netbook, regardless of size
  • best battery life to date of any laptop
  • semi-rugged design is water, drop and crush resistant
Cons
  • Japan only
ProSCORE
2 reviews
71
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 67% vs. vote Toshiba Dynabook SS RX2 33%
Lenovo X301

Lenovo X301

MSRP  $2,599.00    Released  September, 2008
Pros
  • Very good battery life compared to conventional laptops
  • Extremely thin formfactor
  • Very solid construction
  • Good keyboard
Cons
  • Not as stylish as some leading brands
  • expensive
ProSCORE
3 reviews
82
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 67% vs. vote Lenovo X301 33%
Samsung X360

Samsung X360

MSRP  $2,399.00    Released  September, 2008
Pros
  • lighter than the MacBook Air - only 2.84 pounds
  • LED backlit display
  • amazing keyboard
Cons
  • boring old 1,280 x 800 resolution
  • slower than average 1.2GHz processor
  • might not be such a good deal for the price - one can afford a much stronger laptop/netbook combination for less money
ProSCORE
1 review
75
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 67% vs. vote Samsung X360 33%
Toshiba 57H84

Toshiba 57H84

MSRP  $1,889.00    Released  --

The latest additions to Toshibas HD widescreen lineup represent the companys continued commitment to both quality and value. Toshiba TheaterView(R) and TheaterWide(R) projection televisions bring an end to the days of sacrificing picture quality in exchange for a large screen. With Toshibas new H84 series, you will appreciate the quality and convenience of advancements...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 67% vs. vote Toshiba 57H84 33%
Dell Adamo

Dell Adamo

MSRP  $1,999.00    Released  March, 2009
Pros
  • extremely thin (0.65-inch vs the 0.76-inch Macbook Air)
  • 128GB SSD storage
  • background-lid keyboard
Cons
  • Intel graphics
  • extremely expensive
  • regular laptop battery life (2.5 hours)
ProSCORE
6 reviews
35
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Apple MacBook Air 100% vs. vote Dell Adamo 0%

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Comments

17 taps
show more
1.  avatar Discordanian said:

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.
Jan 17, 2008 9:17am
2.  avatar GT-D said:

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.
Jan 17, 2008 10:13am
3.  avatar Erik said:

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.
Jan 17, 2008 11:51am
4.  avatar Erik said:

4 reasons you need the MacBook Air according to The Joy of Tech.
Jan 28, 2008 11:11am
5.  avatar ruff_rugby said:

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.
Feb 10, 2008 3:43am
6.  avatar gbchaosmaster said:

If it weren't for the price, I'd take this laptop over many others, but, alas, I already have it. I must say, I love the keyboard. It's large and easy to type on, and I love the fact that it's lit up. I also like the built-in mic and cam, as well as light sensors that adjust the backlight and keyboard light automatically. If only the battery lasted longer...
Apr 15, 2009 11:54am
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

iambored8907

avatar
May 28, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
43
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
8 cons
trustedtrusted
want itwant it
love itlove it
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display
  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
  • Large backlit keyboard
  • 802.11n WiFi support
  • Intel Core 2 Duo is a great option

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • No optical drive
  • No ethernet port
  • Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)
  • Expensive to replace battery. (It is replaceable though)
  • Relatively heavy considering how thin it is
  • Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem
  • Battery is not replaceable

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Omar

avatar
February 10, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
40
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
6 cons
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display
  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
  • 802.11n WiFi support

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • Only 1 USB port
  • No ethernet port
  • Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)
  • Relatively heavy considering how thin it is
  • Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Amanie

avatar
August 19, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
44
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
5 cons
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display
  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
  • Intel Core 2 Duo is a great option

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • Only 1 USB port
  • No ethernet port
  • Can't stay connected to WiFi
  • Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem

Competitors

Amanie prefers Apple MacBook Air over Lenovo ThinkPad X300
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

sebasg

avatar
March 19, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
17
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
5 cons
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • Only 1 USB port
  • No optical drive
  • No ethernet port
  • Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Jan

avatar
February 15, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
2 cons
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • No optical drive

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

ruff_rugby

avatar
February 10, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
1 con
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

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

Comments

"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."
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

mba28

avatar
November 3, 2008
ProSCORE
35
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
11 cons
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display
  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
  • Large backlit keyboard
  • 802.11n WiFi support
  • Runs Windows XP / Vista

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • Only 1 USB port
  • No optical drive
  • No ethernet port
  • Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)
  • Expensive to replace battery. (It is replaceable though)
  • Can't stay connected to WiFi
  • Relatively heavy considering how thin it is
  • Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem
  • Non upgradeable RAM limited to 2G
  • Battery is not replaceable

Competitors

mba28 prefers Sony VAIO Z over Apple MacBook Air
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

fractalhorizon

avatar
June 13, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
85
negative
mixed
positive
11 pros
2 cons
trustedtrusted
have ithave it
love itlove it
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display
  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
  • Large backlit keyboard
  • 802.11n WiFi support
  • Intel Core 2 Duo is a great option
  • Runs Windows XP / Vista
  • Has a built-in camera
  • Has a built-in microphone
  • Can get about 5 hours of battery life with the screen dim and backlit keyboard down
  • Runs Mac OS X (Leopard)

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • Non upgradeable RAM limited to 2G

Competitors

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

vanana

avatar
February 4, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
11 cons
trustedtrusted
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • Fairly expensive premium for being thin
  • Only 1 USB port
  • No optical drive
  • No ethernet port
  • Poor battery life (Ars Technica got around 2.5 hours)
  • Expensive to replace battery. (It is replaceable though)
  • Can't stay connected to WiFi
  • Relatively heavy considering how thin it is
  • Recessed USB port makes it hard to connect a 3G USB modem
  • Non upgradeable RAM limited to 2G
  • Battery is not replaceable

Competitors

vanana prefers Lenovo IdeaPad U110 over Apple MacBook Air
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

shadowtech

avatar
December 19, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
80
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
1 con
trustedtrusted
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Extremely thin
  • LED backlit display
  • Large touchpad with advanced gesture support
  • Large backlit keyboard

Cons

  • Only 1 USB port

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No
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