Here’s the official Apple press release on the MacBook Air - “MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO—January 15, 2008—Apple® today unveiled MacBook® Air, the world’s thinnest notebook. MacBook Air measures an unprecedented 0.16-inches at its thinnest point, while its maximum height of 0.76-inches is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks. MacBook Air has a stunning 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, a full-size and backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight® video camera for video conferencing, and a spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support so users can pinch, rotate and swipe. MacBook Air is powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache, and includes as standard features 2GB of memory, an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive, and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth 2.1…without sacrificing a full-size keyboard or a full-size 13-inch display,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “When you first see MacBook Air, it’s hard to believe it’s a high-performance notebook with a full-size keyboard and display. But it is.” MacBook Air has a vibrant 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display that is energy efficient, and its spacious trackpad offers multi-touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than ever to browse and rotate photos or zoom into web pages in Safari™. MacBook Air features a full-size keyboard design in a sleek and durable aluminum enclosure. The backlit keyboard makes it ideal for dimly lit environments such as airplanes, studios or conference halls, and a built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the display brightness for optimal visibility. MacBook Air delivers up to five hours of battery life for wireless productivity and includes AirPort Extreme® 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, which delivers up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g*. Apple’s Migration Assistant software now enables users to quickly transfer files, applications and preferences from your old Mac® to MacBook Air right over your wireless network. MacBook Air users can buy the companion MacBook Air SuperDrive, a compact external drive designed for MacBook Air, for just £65 (inc VAT). The MacBook Air SuperDrive® is powered by MacBook Air’s USB port, eliminating the need to carry a separate power adapter. Many MacBook Air users will not find a need for an optical drive now that they can wirelessly backup files with Time Capsule and access the optical drives on remote PCs or Macs to wirelessly install software applications on MacBook Air. MacBook Air is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors running at 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz, and includes as standard 2GB of memory and an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive. An optional 64GB solid state drive contains no moving parts for added durability. Every MacBook Air includes a micro-DVI port so users can connect to Apple’s gorgeous 20-inch or 23-inch Cinema Displays to extend their desktop or connect to projectors and other displays via DVI, VGA, Composite and S-video adaptors. MacBook Air includes USB 2.0 for plugging in peripherals or charging an iPod® or iPhone™, a headphone jack and Apple’s acclaimed MagSafe® Power Adapter designed especially for mobile users. Every MacBook Air comes with iLife® ‘08, the most significant update ever to Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring a major new version of iPhoto® and a completely reinvented iMovie®, both seamlessly integrated with the new .Mac Web Gallery for online photo and video sharing. The new MacBook Air also comes with Leopard™, the sixth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Leopard introduces Time Machine™, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac; a redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application; Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; a brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock; and major enhancements to Mail and iChat®. .Mac members can use the new Back to My Mac feature to browse and access files on their home computer from a MacBook Air over the Internet while out on the road. The new MacBook Air embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress with its aluminum enclosure, a material highly desired by recyclers; Apple’s first mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass; and brominated flame retardant-free material for the majority of circuit boards as well as PVC-free internal cables. In addition, MacBook Air consumes the least amount of power of any Mac, and its retail box, made primarily from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material, is 56 percent smaller by volume than the previously smallest MacBook packaging. Pricing & Availability The new MacBook Air will be shipping in two weeks through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com/ukstore), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers for a suggested retail price of £1,199 (inc VAT), and includes: • 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with 1280×800 resolution;• 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache;• 800 MHz front-side bus;• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM;• 80GB hard disk drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100;• Micro-DVI port (includes Micro-DVI to VGA and Micro-DVI to DVI Adapters);• built-in iSight video camera;• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;• one USB 2.0 port;• one headphone port;• multi-touch TrackPad with support for advanced multi-touch gestures including tap, scroll, pinch, rotate and swipe; and• 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter. Build-to-order options and accessories include the ability to upgrade to a 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 64GB solid state drive, MacBook Air SuperDrive, Apple USB Ethernet Adaptor, Apple USB Modem, Apple MagSafe Airline Adaptor, Apple Remote and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also include pre-installed copies of iWork ‘08, Logic® Express 8, Final Cut® Express 4 and Aperture™ 1.5.
Apple Announce MacBook Air
12 comments


Maylin



January 21, 2008
I believe this will be the next laptop I pick up. I am a big fan of mac and think that many people do not try them because of the bit higher price. But I would like to know how many people have actually changed back to PC after using a Mac. I think that having the thinnest laptop is great, because no one wants to carry anything heavy around.
January 22, 2008
Its certainly impressive to fit so many features within such a thin laptop. But I hope that it doesnt sacrifice convenience for dimensions. If thats not a problem then its certainly good. The price is high but with the amount of functionality thats packed in the notebook its certainly worth it. I doubt if laptops can get any thinner than this.
January 23, 2008
I’m not averse to trying a Mac. Far from it. The first home computer I ever saw/used was one of my friends’ Macintosh when I went to visit his family in Green Bay, WI in the summer of 1985. In fact, when my uncle wanted to give me a computer for my 24th birthday a few years later, I asked for a Mac but had to settle for an Apple IIe because of the cost (nearly $3,000 for a Mac, compared to $2100 for an Apple IIe).
As for laptops, this one might be really nice and looks more capable than a Windows-based one, but since I’m not a big fan of “lappies,” I shall pass on this one.
February 3, 2008
I never had doubts with the quality of notebooks from Macintosh. I’m just wondering why they are now starting to use Intel processors for their notebooks. I love their notebook computers because their batteries last longer than my PC compatible laptop.
February 5, 2008
I got the impression that Intel is exclusive for computers. I guess that Intel is far from being just a processor for pc unlike its competitors who develops their hardware for only the computer. I have no doubt that Intel is the best and I’m sure that the company is just proving how it is a cut above the rest. I think that Intel is planning to develop a processor for every computing need. One day we might find out that they have develop a processor for robots.
February 12, 2008
So has anyone gotten the chance to buy one of these? Everything about the Macbook Air looks like exactly what I want to purchase. I’d be curious to read some reviews from other consumers who own one.
February 25, 2008
Good press release. I want to put my hands on one of these after reading it. What is the thickness you are willing to put up with for the trade offs that are made to save you the extra space? This seems to be a super balance with the current technology. I want to sit down and mess with this one though. It looks to be just about right.
February 27, 2008
After having played with a demo recently, I will say from my view, that it is an interesting piece of hardware. Meaning that it designed to be ergonomic, but functional as well. Not sure if I will buy one, but at least I will keep in mind, and I have seen a few people buy this. Essentially, I believe it has a future.
February 28, 2008
You really are getting what you pay for with any apple computer. Especially with this one. You have to keep in mind that with price you are getting a ton of features that you would not get in other computer systems as well as a more stable operating system, which is more advanced then any windows system would ever be.
March 26, 2008
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May 15, 2008
I finally saw the macbook air in the store. I haven’t been to the mall in forever…but I honestly don’t think I like the laptop. I like that it’s so small and everything like that…but I heard that it doesn’t have memory…is that true? I mean I like the laptop that I have right now, I just don’t think that the macbook air is good for me personally but I know so many people who would love to get it.
May 24, 2008
I think Apple has outdone themselves yet again. They are storming the industry with their products left and right. There is definitely great potential behind their company, and I think there will be more evidence of this in the future.