SillyDog701

[Antony]

Apple today unveiled MacBook Air, the world's thinnest notebook. From 0.4 centimetres (0.16-inches) at its thinnest point to its maximum height of 1.9 centimetres (0.76-inches), MacBook Air 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 and a spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support. 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 (or an optional 64GB solid state drive contains no moving parts for added durability), and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth 2.1. It weighs only 1.36 kg (3.0 pounds).

The specifications of MacBook Air (MB397G/A):

• 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with 1280x800 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 (US$99), Apple USB Ethernet Adapter (US$29), Apple USB Modem, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple Remote and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

MacBook Air will be available in two week's time for a suggested retail price of US$1,799. For more information about MacBook Air, please visit MacBook Air website.


You can pre-order MacBook Air through Apple Store via SillyDog701's link and support SillyDog701.

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[iJohnE]

I just watched a video on the Apple website about this and when I look at the Mac OS forum I said to myself" I'm willing to bet it's going to be about the new MacBook Air."

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[Mandrake]

They fit a whole Core 2 Duo notebook (sans optical drive) in something that thin? That's just awesome. For those who are after an ultra-portable notebook, damn it would be hard to pass this up!

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[Antony]

The MacBook Air SuperDrive (MB397G/A) is optional for US$99, connected and powered via a single USB cable, and fits easily into a travel bag. It lets you install software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.

With the introduction of first iMac back in May 1998, Apple chose not to include a floppy drive (unlike all PCs in the markets). The result: the availability of USB peripherals were suddenly increased.

In 2001, Apple introduced the (then) thinnest notebook, PowerBook G4 (Titanium), only 1-inch thin. This time, it's even thinner!

Apple has once again foreseen the future: How often do we need to use CD/DVD media? Especially, how often do we need to use CD/DVD on the road?
Many people use CD/DVD to listen to music and to watch DVDs, but there's iTunes, and you can buy and even rent movies.

Introducing the groundbreaking Remote Disc.



If you ever need to install software on MacBook Air from a CD or a DVD, you can use Remote Disc that wirelessly use (or "borrow") the optical drive of a Mac or PC in the vicinity. You will have full access to an optical drive without the need to carry it with your ultra-portable MacBook Air.

All you need to do is simply setup Remote Disc on a Mac or a PC. (Remote Disc Setup software is supplied with MacBook Air.) Then, insert the CD or DVD onto the optical drive of the Remote Disc-enabled Mac or PC.

Next, select the icon on MacBook Air, use it just like a built-in optical drive.

More detail at http://www.apple.com/macbookair/wireless.html

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[Don_HH2K]

No offense, but... This is a "groundbreaking" feature? My dad and I did that a long time ago with a client running Windows 98 and a host running Windows 95...

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[Mandrake]

It's not "groundbreaking", but they've done it nicely nonetheless. Also, I've noticed a few things with this new notebook:

1) There's no ethernet port
2) There's only one USB port

There are pretty obvious things that Apple have omitted, all in the name of being a tiny bit thinner. I would have liked to have seen at least two USB ports, and what's with not including ethernet?

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[Antony]

My dad and I did that a long time ago with a client running Windows 98 and a host running Windows 95...

Macs were able to access another Mac's optical drive long time ago, never this beautifully.

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[Antony]

1) There's no ethernet port

With 802.11n wireless connection, do you still need to use slower ethernet?

Ethernet port is available for merely US$29, if you must have one.

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[beanboy89]

It's not "groundbreaking", but they've done it nicely nonetheless. Also, I've noticed a few things with this new notebook:

1) There's no ethernet port
2) There's only one USB port

There are pretty obvious things that Apple have omitted, all in the name of being a tiny bit thinner. I would have liked to have seen at least two USB ports, and what's with not including ethernet?

Don't forget about the mono speaker and non-user-removable battery. Like the iPod, you can't jsut pop out the battery and put in a new one. It looks like you'll have to give up your laptop for some time if you want a new battery.

Also, I see no place to attach a lock onto this laptop. Being so thin and small, it also looks like this laptop be will be an easy theft target.

With 802.11n wireless connection, do you still need to use slower ethernet?

Since when is 802.11n faster than ethernet?

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[Antony]

More on "groundbreaking" Remote Disc. It's like the original iMac (1998), pushing the USB technology (dropping floppies). This time, Apple is relying on wireless technology.

A huge attack from Apple-bashers back then was the lack of floppy drive in iMac, if you remember well.

Also, I see no place to attach a lock onto this laptop. Being so thin and small, it also looks like this laptop be will be an easy theft target.

Good point.

With 802.11n wireless connection, do you still need to use slower ethernet?

Since when is 802.11n faster than ethernet?

802.11n (speed) is faster than 100mbps Ethernet.

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[Antony]

Macworld has an article The MacBook Air, What you need to know with simple description and aspects on MacBook Air in plain language.

In short, MacBook Air isn't designed to be a general-purpose computer. It is designed for people who want the smallest, lightest laptop possible and are willing to sacrifice a few features or power.

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[Antony]

NBC's Today Show talked about the MacBook Air,

watch the clip on YouTube

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[Antony]

TUAW has confirmed that MacBook Air SuperDrive (USB) does not work on other Macs.

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[Dr Lobster*]

if there is one thing which confuses me about the macbook air - it doesn't seem to know which market its aimed at.

it's too expensive for the general consumer, but it seems as though it's lacking features for the professional.

one usb port is a pain. there is no ethernet as standard. sure it's got wireless but lots of hotels still have wired connections in the rooms and really 1gb ethernet should be standard - even consumer dsl routers have 1gb ports on these days. and the reportedly poor battery life - with an external bus powered cdrom, i very much doubt you'd be able even finish a dvd after catching up on your email, so for the lonely traveller, it doesn't really cut it, and the ram and cpu are both pretty mediocre.

i love the design, but there is so much more out there for the money.

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[Antony]

Very good points Dr Lobster*.

It is really a bit disappointed for those who want to equip a bit more power on the road. For those who carry their laptops to their offices or schools, they might as well go for MacBook Pro or even MacBook.

One category I can think of is professional photographers. Last year when I was taking Aperture training course, a number of us were talking about the benefit of having an ultra-compact and lightweight laptop on the go. Many of us suggested iBook G4 12-inch or PowerBook G4 12-inch, although those were no longer being produced (then), but they can provide the important quick photo checking on the spot. (the 2.5-inch or 3-inch LCD screen is not enough.) Extremely powerful machine is not required.

Somehow I think the MacBook Air will suite those photographers well.

Currently I am more towards on the upcoming MacBook Pro (15-inch) as a replacement of my beloved PowerBook G4 (12-inch). I've been deciding whether to get a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for quite a while.

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