Apple releases the "MacBook Air," but will it measure up?

(Credit: Apple)

Apple has put the "Wow" in computing, today announcing its MacBook Air. What had been rumored to be a MacBook with wireless broadband built in turned out to be nothing so pedestrian. Apple, the Arsenal of computing, surprised many with an insanely thin new MacBook Air

Intel and Apple started collaborating on the project a year ago and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Whether it's something that you'll actually want to buy is an entirely different question, however. At $1,799.00, it's not cheap, but no one buys excellence for pennies.

Here are some of the more incredible/interesting aspects of the design:

• Dimensions: 0.16" to 0.76". 13.3" screen. As demonstrated, it fits within an envelope. It is dramatically thinner than anything else on the market.


• The option of flash-based memory.


• Multi-touch trackpad that allows users to work with on-screen windows in similar ways to the iPhone's touch screen.


• 1.6 GHz Standard, but also available in 1.8 GHz (Intel Core 2 Duo).


• Not much hard-drive space: 80 GB standard, 64 GB SSD as an option (see above).


• No optical CD/DVD drive. Jobs pitched this as a plus (i.e., you can get any movies/etc. from iTunes), but I think that's a cop-out.

Is it drool-worthy? Of course. Will I be buying one? Nope. I've never understood the interest in micro-portables, and this is no different. I want my laptop to replace my desktop and not simply be a nice adjunct to a real laptop. The MacBook Air's hard drive is too small (for me) and its processor is slow. I might get one for my kids, but not for me.

Still, it's clearly a thing of absolute beauty.

[daverosenberg]

I am defenseless against the purchase of this. It's the perfect travel machine.

[jrm125]

Actually, it's not "dramatically thinner than anything else on the market."

Check out the Intel Mobile Metro at .7" and 2.25 lbs.

[hclapp219]

@jrm125

Actually, it is "dramatically thinner than anything else on the market" because the Mobile Metro isn't on the market yet! There isn't even a date set for its release, as it is currently a "design study". Another thing going against the Mobile Metro is that it is being designed with price as no object, so the thing will be crazy expensive.

[isights]

You forgot to mention one other thing about the Air's "interesting design". It has an integrated battery, just like an iPod.

See: http://www.isights.org/2008/01/the-macbook-a-2.html

[bunnyhero]

"I've never understood the interest in micro-portables, and this is no different."

i've never understood the interest in "desktop replacement" notebooks. if i'm going to get a portable, i want it with me *all the time*, in which case, every pound counts. even my 4lb asus is a bit too heavy. this new macbook air, at 3lbs, is much better, especially if i can get away with not having to carry the ac adapter with me (i.e. if battery life is as long as advertised).

[DrtyDogg]

6 years ago the same thickness.
http://www.news.com/Thin-is-in-for-new-Toshiba-notebook/2100-1040_3-838724.html?tag=item

[piepton]

How much hard drive space do you actually need on your laptop though? You can get one of those WD passports and keep it in the bag when you're not using it or store your less security-worthy data online. I'm more worried about the lack of an optical drive and I think it's funny that Apple is including install/restore DVD's with a computer that can't read them.

[m0kume]

Built in, non user replacable battery makes the macbook air dead on arrival as far as I'm concerned.

[mpsayler]

"I might get one for my kids"
I'd consider adopting myself out..

[rhsc]

there's very few redeeming qualities in thee macbook air. it's a less-powerful, slower mac for more money, crippled by no cd drive, no ethernet, no firewire, and 1 usb port. To those who buy it: watch where you put it or you may hear the nice, satisfying crunch of a fresh apple.

[slater866]

"I might get one for my kids", now imagine everyone is thinking like that...

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