Return of the $999 MacBook Air
Oh, MacBook Air. So thin, so sexy, so crazy-expensive. Or not, if you're willing to go the refurbished route. Now reappearing at Apple's online store: the refurbished MacBook Air for $999 shipped (plus sales tax in some states).
This model sports a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and all the other standard Air goodies: 802.11n, a built-in Webcam, a 13.3-inch display, and so on. Read CNET's review for all the details.
The Air doesn't include an optical drive, which has been one of the big complaints since day one, but you do get a full one-year warranty--same as with new models.
That makes this a pretty compelling buy in my book. What do you think? Did you grab an Air the last time it broke the $1,000 barrier? If so, how's it treating you? If not, are you waiting for the price to drop even lower? Hit the Comments and "Air" your thoughts. (Geez, I crack myself up.)
Editor's note: If you're not seeing a Comments link up top, click the post title, then leave your comment. Sorry for the hassle; I'm told our engineers are working to fix the problem ASAP.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog. 
1. The wireless and bluetooth went bad within 1 week. But since it comes with a 1 yr warranty they fixed it and had it back to me in 5 days. It works fine now.
2. The wireless isn't as accurate or good as my ibook G4. The macAir doesn't seem to have as good a wireless range and will show full bars even if its not connecting or slow, while the iBook G4 bars are better represent its connection. When I flipp the lid open, the iBook G4 connects instantly to the network, while the MacAir take a minute.
3. The size is great, I don't even feel it in my backpack.
4. Gets lets of attention in school from teachers and students, always asking me about it.
it has full size keyboard which is illuminated, large 13" led screen !
a large Multi-touch trackpad,
it also has much faster processor and runs a more advanced operating system !
plus it's still the thinnest laptop ever !
it's the best ultra-portable for the price !
Me, I have 3 USB ports on my computer. I occasionally use a 2nd-gen macbook. I don't use a mouse on them because the touchpads (like the ones on the air) are huge, amazing, and cancel out the mouse. USB port 1-not needed.
I also use my flash drive, rarely. I only use this for taking this back and forth when I don't feel like taking a computer and I know that there is one for me to use. I'm not counting this because anything that is in the USB port I can unplug for a sec.
As for the clock speed, web surfing. Oooooh, its so strenuous.
The hard drive, well, that's a different story. I have 120 GB in my computer. I lived with 40 GB for around 4-5 years, and that was fine. I just clutter it with programs that I am too lazy to delete.
I think that this macbook air option would be great for me...I just need the funds.
Oh yeah....forgot the optical drive.
The using other computers' optical drives is a great idea. I rarely use an optical drive anyways. Apple could have pulled an apple and not included that app, but the overlords spared us.
/Jack
Having one USB is a compromise, and one that I couldn't live without. The Air might have a spacious touchpad but when I'm trying to get actual work done a mouse will always be more convenient. I also have a Verizon Broadband Access USB drive and an external hard drive that I carry with me just in case something happens. I would need to carry around a USB adapter with me to make up for this.
No Ethernet port is a major compromise. Many times I find myself in a hotel room where the only means of connecting to the internet is with the Ethernet jack in the hotel room. Yes, I can use the Verizon Card, but sometimes I won't get a signal. This would necessitate I carry around the USB to Ethernet Adapter!
No optical drive is a compromise. I have found myself needing to burn a DVD of a presentation for a client on the fly because he doesn't have a laptop to transfer from my external. I'll either have to tell him "tough luck, I'll email you it" or I can bring around the external super drive.
Maybe for those "business users" who don't actually do business the air would be a great portable product for most of us it most definitely does not fit the needs.
I would buy one just to have around the house to pick up and use but it is most certainly not a road warriors companion, not even CLOSE.
So I took it into the Apple Store. First thing the "genius" asks is, is it over a month old? That scares me. The good news is, it wasn't. I received it January 15th and I brought it in on February 14th. But the bad news? I ORDERED it on January 8th, so the "genius" told me the 30 day return policy expired on the 8th. So my "one month"window to return the defective product was actually three weeks, sorry about that, thanks for supporting Apple.
SO now that we've identified that dead end, he takes a look at the wireless. "Seems to be working perfectly," he says. Of course, we are in an Apple store being bombarded by point blank wi-fi. When I ask if he's interested in maybe walking into the mall to test the range, he assures me he is not.
His offer? "We can send it in, but you'll be without a computer for who-knows-how-long, and they might not even do anything because it seems to be working fine. Check your router." I try to explain again that it's the range that's in question, NOT if the antenna works when three feet from a router. So the "genius" re-recites his mental script, "Again, we can send it in, but you'll be without a computer for who-knows-how-long, and they might not even do anything because it seems to be working fine." So it's my problem.
As for performance, I am typing this on a Compaq Turion 64 that's peppier than the MBA. There are DEFINITE compromises- not for portability's sake, but for coolness factor. NO ONE (hopefully) buys this computer looking for a workhorse. But the lack of ability to upgrade the RAM or 4200rpm hard drive makes this little more than a glorified netbook-
Honestly, I use both Macs and PCs. I am a lonely moderate in the holy war. But Apple really turned me off here. According to apple forums, the wireless issue is common, and the silence from Cupertino is deafening. To repeat, in all caps:
NOT RECOMMENDED. WIRELESS ISSUES. BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
- by jabberwolf February 22, 2009 4:07 PM PST
- Wow still 500 more than the competition selling 10" or 12" models with better battery life!!
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