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Our Blogs Core Dump MacBook Air is one skinny notebook
Our Blogs Core Dump MacBook Air is one skinny notebook | MacBook Air is one skinny notebook |
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| by Stephen Withers | |
| Wednesday, 16 January 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 2 Practically all of the usual Mac experience has been brought to this remarkably slim device. The micro-DVI port supports extended desktop or mirroring. DVI and VGA adaptors are included, while composite and S-video are optional extras.Featured Whitepaper
5 Best Practices for Smartphone Support
Ethernet is only available via a USB adaptor, but given the widespread use of Wi-Fi that shouldn't be a no big deal for most potential buyers. Most of the travellers I know carry a portable wireless router such as the Airport Express so their computers aren't tethered to in-room wired connections. Two questions always asked about notebooks are "how much does it weigh?" and "how long does the battery last?" Not only is the MacBook Air slim, it's also light, weighing in at 3lb/1.36kg. That's a full 2lb/0.91kg lighter than the MacBook, and less than half the weight of a 17in MacBook Pro. While weight is easily measured, battery life is trickier. Apple quotes "up to five hours," but it would be unusual if buyers don't complain that they need to plug in more frequently than that. So, how much is this going to cost you? The $US1799/$A2499 base model includes a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor (the slowest CPU fitted to any current Mac notebook) and the 80G hard disk. Opting for the 1.8GHz processor bumps the price by $US300/$A430, but it's he solid state drive that really hurts your pocket. It might boost the computer's performance and be more shock resistant, but can you afford an extra $US999/$A1409? Depending on where and how you plan to use the MacBook Air, you might also throw in the Ethernet adaptor ($US29/$A39), modem ($US49/$A79), MagSafe airline adaptor ($US49/$A69) or the Apple Remote ($US19/$A29, normally included as standard with Macs). Small and light notebooks always attract a premium, but as long as you steer clear of the solid state drive you're not talking about outlandish prices. The 1.6GHz version sits neatly between the black MacBook and the 15in MacBook Pro. My PowerBook is showing definite signs of age, and the idea of trimming a few pounds from my hand luggage is very attractive... |
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