New MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is the range of super-thin and ultra-portable netbooks released by Apple Computers, and the new model takes the concept of sleek design and slim body to a whole new level. All rivals should be packing their bags and leaving because this netbook is truly the king of the land.

The first MacBook Air was released in 2008, and the latest model was released in October 2010. There were two sizes released and these were the 13.3 inches model and the 11.6 inches model, more conveniently known as the MacBook Air 13 and the MacBook Air 11, respectively. Apple markets these netbooks as the slimmest netbooks in the market, and they are absolutely spot on with that claim.

MacBook Air Specs

So let's get right to it. What makes it so special is its slimness, and it measures in at 0.68 inches at its thickest part, and 0.11 inches at its thinnest part. When you compare this to other netbooks you will be absolutely blown away. Moreover, the form factor and the design look and feel great due to the single unibody aluminum enclosure, and the device only weighs 2.9 pounds.

As far as the new MacBook's speed is concerned, you get the fairly average sounding 1.4 GHz and 1.86 GHz clocking speeds for the 11-inch model and the 13-inch model respectively. These can also be upgraded to 1.6 GHz or 2.13 GHz as well. Apple has finally embraced Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and this makes the Air very snappy indeed. If you're wondering why Apple did not opt for the new Intel 'i' Core processors, then we will tell you why, a little later. The graphics chipsets have been upgraded now, and you will get the same chipsets as those available in the MacBook Pro 2010. This is the NVIDIA GeForce 320M and it offers very high quality graphics and animation.

The amount of RAM is 2 GB which should be sufficient for most people. You can opt to get 4 GB of RAM if you want, but you will need to pay an additional $100 for that. Now comes the most endearing factor and this is the fact that the memory on the device is flash storage. This means that there is no physical hard drive. It is this factor that enabled the MacBook Air to be as slim as it is. Moreover, this makes startup times so much lesser than other netbooks, and this why the Intel Core 2 Duo processors on the netbook work like a charm. You will save a good 30 - 45 seconds every time you start the machine in addition to faster processing speeds in general. The only downside is the lack of 3G connectivity and the lack of an optical disc drive.

As far as pricing is concerned, the 11 inch model will cost you $999 for the 64 GB model and $1199 for the 128 GB model. The 13 inch model will cost you $1299 for the 128 GB model and $1599 for the 256 GB version. Increasing RAM or getting a faster processor will cost you over and above these prices. The screen resolution on the 13 inch model is 1440x900 and on the 11 inch model it is 1366x768. The 13 inch model also comes with an SD card slot (the 11 inch model does not), and both versions also have two USB 2.0 ports and a MiniDisplayPort.

Most of the reviews that you come across will be favorable and it is easy to see why. This is a truly marvelous netbook that changes the market yet again with its unique slimness and design, and the presence of flash storage makes it even faster and smoother. If you are looking for a top-notch netbook to buy, the MacBook Air is just what you need.