The MacBook Air was one of the biggest launches of 2008, not just of a laptop but of any consumer product.

The gimmick, as the name suggests is its slightness and ultra-sleek design. This attracted huge interest despite complaints about overheating and it being less powerful than much cheaper (albeit bulkier) laptops.

It has also come in for criticism for being fiddly, especially with regard to its hard-to-access USB and headphone ports, with some users having to fork out for extension cables to help them attach their gadgets.

But Apple, MacBook Air’s manufacturers, recently introduced a beefed-up version of the unit, which it says is more powerful and erases some of the problems levelled at the original.

MacBook Air new spec:

•    Screen: 13.3-inch LED-backlit display
•    Resolution: 1280 x 800
•    Weight: three pounds (under 1.5kg)
•    Depth: between 0.16 and 0.76 inches
•    Hard drive: 120GB
•    Processor: 1.6GHz or 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
•    Operating system: Mac OSX with iLife
•    Battery life: 4.5 hours (of wireless internet access)
•    Durable aluminium casing

We like:

The reason to love the MacBook Air – the reason everyone buys it – is because it looks so cool when you take it out of its case. Whip it out at a meeting and command instant respect; people will look at you like you’re Steve Jobs.

It’s compatible with all the Mac software you’d expect, including Mac Office and iWork for people in business, and comes with a decent software suite as standard including the impressive iLife which lets you organise photos, movies and songs easily.

The upgraded version of the MacBook Air, released in November (in time for Christmas, how cynical!) is more powerful and features improved USB access, addressing many of the problems raised with the old model.

It’s more expensive, however, with the starter model weighing in at a wince-worthy £1,299 and the bells and whistles version caressing £2,000, but then it’s a better machine. Did I mention it was skinny? 

We didn’t like:

This laptop gives you three things: i) gravitas, ii) ultra-mobility and iii) an empty wallet. Unless you have serious self-confidence issues or a muscle-wasting condition there’s really no need to buy this laptop.

But the MacBook Air is no gimmick and on its own it looks, feels and works like a decent laptop. Stack it up against others in the same price bracket, however, and it will shrivel up and die.

Our verdict:

We love the MacBook Air – it’s just so darn cool, but then we didn’t have to pay for it. It’s twice as expensive as laptops with similar specs, so you really have to want one to justify the extra cost.

Apple recently released its heavyweight MacBook Pro, which is comparatively bulky but about the same price as an Air and has a lot more clout in the real world. Okay so the MackBook Pro is two-and-a-half-pounds heavier – but that’s not going to trouble you – is it? 

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Rating

By Review Team  on   Nov 14,2008

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Keywords

computers    laptops    software    mobility    communications   

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