Tuesday, January 15th 2008

Apple introduces the Macbook Air - the worlds thinnest notebook

Apple just unveiled their new ultraportable notebook, called the Macbook Air. It features a 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo, which can be upped to 1.8 GHz at a price. There is no optical drive, but a 80GB 4200 RPM hard drive or an optional 64GB SSD drive. The battery should last around 5 hours. The front is just a mere 0.16 inches high, while the back tops out at 0.76 inches. The keyboard is full size and features the same layout as on the new Mac Pro keyboard. It is backlit and has a black finish. The optional USB 2.0 Superdrive is available for $99 USD.

The Macbook Air will sell for 1,799 US Dollars or 1,699€s.
Source: Apple
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37 Comments on Apple introduces the Macbook Air - the worlds thinnest notebook

#26
Rob!
I don't think a lot of you realize this isn't a desktop replacement, but an ultra-portable for on the go. Chances are someone who buys this already has an iMac or something at home.

Seems its direct competitor is a Sony they mentioned in the keynote, which is around the same price but with even lower specs.

I'm disappointed with it though. It's incredibly thin, but I was expecting something smaller (like 12" or less) overall, not the 13.3" screen like the regular Macbook. And there's too much of too little, putting the price point too high. Too bad they don't have a replacement for the 12" powerbooks that were under $1500.
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#27
FatForester
It's a cool concept and it looks awesome, but not worth it. I would much rather carry an extra pound or two and actually have some functionality, while saving some bucks. This thing lacks practicality for an actual work computer, because at home you'd need a whole array of USB attachments. Also... the integrated battery?! That $100+ fee for replacement is pretty much straight profit on their part, and it's a pain in the ass for the consumer. This product is most likely an experiment, because the target audience is quite small. All things considered, if I had ~$2000 dollars to blow on an ultra-light setup, this is what I would get.
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#28
Rob!
FatForesterIt's a cool concept and it looks awesome, but not worth it. I would much rather carry an extra pound or two and actually have some functionality, while saving some bucks. This thing lacks practicality for an actual work computer, because at home you'd need a whole array of USB attachments. Also... the integrated battery?! That $100+ fee for replacement is pretty much straight profit on their part, and it's a pain in the ass for the consumer. This product is most likely an experiment, because the target audience is quite small. All things considered, if I had ~$2000 dollars to blow on an ultra-light setup, this is what I would get.
The replacement battery costs as much as a replacement Macbook Pro battery, and has free installation. Only downside to it really is that you can't carry around a spare (which might not be a problem with the touted 5 hours life anyways).

I'm still pissed about it though. Light and thin, but still not small!
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#29
ShadowXP
Can't help but to think that it's a poorly-specced, overpriced to high heavens-machine with a nice design. C'mon, $1800 for THAT? Get real. I do like the SSD-option, but the rest of the spec doesn't match it's pricetag.

You're paying for the design, not for the performance.
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#30
flashstar
Bahh!

I would get one of these over the Mac book anyday.



Titanium frame, very thin bezel, ultralight, runs windows natively, Core 2 duo...

The macbook actually looks like a child's toy in comparison. You take your apple to school and the gals are like "oooh pretty". You take your Thinkpad and everyone realizes that you mean business. :)
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#31
Wile E
Power User
flashstarI would get one of these over the Mac book anyday.



Titanium frame, very thin bezel, ultralight, runs windows natively, Core 2 duo...

The macbook actually looks like a child's toy in comparison. You take your apple to school and the gals are like "oooh pretty". You take your Thinkpad and everyone realizes that you mean business. :)
Macs can run Windows natively as well. But that is a nice lappy. lol.
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#32
Dangle
Can you install Windows on a Mac computer and uninstall mac OS?
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#33
Wile E
Power User
DangleCan you install Windows on a Mac computer and uninstall mac OS?
Never tried it, but I don't see why not.
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#34
evil bill
Rob!I don't think a lot of you realize this isn't a desktop replacement, but an ultra-portable for on the go. Chances are someone who buys this already has an iMac or something at home.
I'd buy an Eee if that was the case.

Very slick machine though, they will no doubt sell very well
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#35
error_f0rce
@ ShadowXP - yeah, but that SSD drive pumps it to over $3k

Cute, but nothing special. I'm a bit dissapointed in the specs and can't help thinking that this is mainly for those people who sit in Starbucks all day checking their email and browsing the web. Plus, I've never understood the whole "lighter, thinner, is better" thing. Who cares if it weighs a couple pounds more... oh no, I might not be able ... to.... carry.... from car... to office. Seriously, this has always dumbfounded me. Are we really that lazy? The only serious practical appeal I could see this size having, is if you wanted to put it in your briefcase, or give it to a 4 year old.

I'd take my Insipron 1721 over this thing any day...
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#36
Ravenas
Mercury free and arsenic free glass, aluminum case...Motherboard is almost as wide as a pencil. The mobo is bfr-free and pvc-free. Retail packaging is much smaller. This all means this is a environmentally friendly notebook.

Intel built a processor specifically for this notebook that is the size of a dime...It has the option to get a SSD harddrive...Bluetooth enabled. Want to watch movies? Rent them on itunes or buy them, or stream them to your apple tv (the apple tv is now standalone as well as syncable). Mad you can't burn cds for your music? Use your mp3 player. Want a optical drive? Apple makes one for this laptop (Remote CD is also built in). This laptop has all of the iPhone pad gestures built in to the mousepad. Has a LED widescreen. 5 hours of battery life, more than any ultra thin laptop on the market, furthermore it has more battery life than a lot of regular battery life.

Apple has once again set a bar technologically. :toast:
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