Apple's newest MacBook Air got a nip and tuck, a small tweak to bring it in line with the look of the current MacBook Pro. Nothing rams this point home more than the hardware inside, the fact that it's still running a Core 2 Duo being chief suspect.
This is nothing to be ashamed of, of course. Some Windows-based thin-and-light laptops still use the Core 2 Duo as a way to keep heat and cost down (although they're now transitioning to Core i3 and i5), while still being able to achieve the svelte form factor that the MacBook Air pioneered in the first place. This time around though, Apple has boosted its 9400M graphics solution to the GeForce 320M, also found in the latest 13.3-inch MacBook Pro.
Our review sample comes with 2GB of RAM and a 128GB flash drive. Apple's making a point of not calling the storage an SSD in its marketing (although OS X's Disk Utility is perfectly happy calling it thus, as is Toshiba).
Editors' note :
This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com.au. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some of other products in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia. Do check directly with your local distributor for details.
The new hardware is crammed into a unibody aluminium shell, refined since the last iteration--it has an extra large touchpad, with single button press as per the MacBook Pro. The power button has been moved into the keyboard, sitting right next to the F12 key. The annoying flip-down ports are gone, in favor of directly exposing them to the outside for easy access. There are now two USB ports instead of one, a headphone jack, SD card reader and mini-DisplayPort-out. Sadly, it doesn't inherit the backlit keyboard or edge-to-edge glass of the MacBook Pro, and there's no dedicated microphone jack or Ethernet--all features that we feel would push the Air into true luxury zone. Admittedly, it'd likely also drive up the price and push this MacBook into the unattainable zone for many as well.
And that's the new Air--while there's a little more expansion than the last version, this is still a device of minimalism. The difference is when the first Air was released, we pined the lack of optical drive, bemoaned the single USB port and admonished the performance. Now, in a post-Netbook world, the Air makes more sense than it once did, and provides a better experience than any netbook ever could. Thankfully, Apple has included OS X on a USB flash drive, rather than a disc.
When all is said, this is a laptop is built for mobility. At S$1,948 (US$1,487.14) for the base model, it is admittedly around three times more than a Netbook--but significantly cheaper than its predecessors.
The bigger keyboard, 13.3-inch, 1,440 x 900 screen (that's right folks, except for the 11.6-inch MacBook Air, Apple is still sticking to 16:10) and a fantastic battery life mean that for the frequent traveler, we think the Air makes much more sense than a Netbook's cramped conditions, despite the significantly larger outlay. In the end, it'll depend on your wallet.
The obvious question also arises: With a price so close to the MacBook Pro, which gives much better hardware, why wouldn't you opt for the bigger brother instead?
Once again, it's the travel capability of the Air. If you're not moving much, then the Pro makes more sense--it simply offers more for less money. If you are hitting the road a lot and don't have crazy production requirements, the maximum thickness of the Air at 17mm compared with the Pro's 24.1mm, and 1.32kg to the Pro's 2.54kg begin to make sense.
By and large, performance on the 13.3-inch MacBook Air was excellent, although we ran into issues with the Air not automatically resuming our Wi-Fi connection after being woken from sleep. It seems we're not the only ones experiencing Wi-Fi dropout issues, and hope a new driver will be issued soon.
While it may not have the CPU grunt of the Toshiba Portege R700, the MacBook Air has buckets of battery life, a decent GPU and frankly feels nice to use. If you're looking for something light and travel-worthy, but with enough performance to make computing enjoyable, the MacBook Air is something you should definitely look into.
Apple notebooks have a one-year warranty. At Apple's support Web site, Mac owners can download the latest drivers and manuals. In the event of simple malfunctions, the company offers an online knowledge database and support forum for troubleshooting. Should the Mac require further diagnosis or repair, Apple will send a technician onsite to repair your computer. For the first 90 days, there will be complimentary telephone support to resolve any Mac related inquiries. If such a service is invaluable, the warranty can be upgraded to AppleCare Protection Plan for an additional fee, which extends the coverage to three years with an international telephone support and hardware troubleshooting.
Tags: Air, Netbook, Apple MacBook, Alienware, Apple MacBook Pro
Dec 10, 2010
Rating: 10 out of 10 (Perfect)
Pros: Great performance, sleek design, excellent display, SSD provides speedy access time, light weight
Cons: don't really have any to comment
Opinion:
MBA 13.3" speaks for itself. It has all the bells & whistles and once you have one, you will never regret. Performance is excellent due to its unique integrated technologies.
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