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New Apple MacBook Air 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/2GB/80GB
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| Price: | £1,099.00 |
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Dispatched from and sold by ajelectronics
23 new or used available from £885.00
Average customer review:
Product Description
Apple unveils the worlds slimmest laptop: the MacBook Air! The Macbook Air is nearly as thin as your index finger and its curved edges and tapered shape are unlike anything youve seen before. The Macbook Air is just 4 mm thick, because practically every detail has been streamlined, and its even thinner when its closed. It still has a 13.3 backlit panoramic LED display, a full-sized keyboard and a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, making graphics bigger and brighter than ever, and it comes with multi-touch technology, a feature that was successful on the iPhone and the iTouch, so you can crop, rotate and zoom in on photos and text quickly. The MacBook Airs keyboard is lit up, making it easy to use even in the dark, and its wireless connection means youre free to go anywhere, without cables. A new Remote Disc application allows you set up an optical drive with a nearby Mac or PC in seconds, while its 1.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and its 80 GB hard drive meet all your needs. The Macbook Air is even equipped with the latest version of Leopard X from Mac. Youll be floating on Air with the MacBook Air!
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1958 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Apple
- Model: MB003B/A
- Released on: 2008-02-16
- Dimensions: 3.00 pounds
Features
- 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 13.3" widescreen LED backlit display
- 1280-by-800 resolution produces vibrant images and rich colours
- Full-size, illuminated keyboard is perfect for staying productive
- Zoom, rotate, and scroll with a pinch or swipe of the multi-touch trackpad
- Blazing-fast 802.11n2 and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR wireless technologies built in
- Between 0.4 cm and 1.94 cm thin, weighing only 1.36 kg
- Remote Disk feature that allows you to access the DVD or CD drive of a nearby Mac or Windows PC
- Pre-installed with Mac OS X Leopard and iLife 08
Editorial Reviews
Manufacturer's Description
What makes the Air so thin?
MacBook Air is nearly as thin as your index finger. Practically every detail that could be streamlined has been. Yet it still has a 13.3-inch widescreen LED display, full-size keyboard, and large multi-touch trackpad. It’s incomparably portable without the usual ultraportable screen and keyboard compromises.
Amazingly thin. Amazingly full-size.
The thinness of MacBook Air is stirring. But perhaps more impressive, there’s a full-size notebook encased in the 0.16 to 0.76 inch of sleek, sturdy anodized aluminum. And at just 3.0 pounds,1 MacBook Air is more than portable — it’s with you everywhere you go.
The glossy 13.3-inch, widescreen LED backlit MacBook Air display is the same viewable size as the screen on MacBook. The 1280-by-800 resolution gives you vibrant images and rich colors at full brightness the moment you open MacBook Air. So you get full-screen performance with all the benefits of a slim design.
The brilliance of multi-touch.
MacBook Air includes an oversize trackpad with multi-touch technology. You can pinch, swipe, or rotate to zoom in on text, advance through a photo album, or adjust an image. This gesture-based input so successful on iPhone and iPod touch now comes to MacBook.
Full-size, full-feature keyboard.
The keyboard is full-size with crisp keys just like the ones on MacBook. But MacBook Air goes further by adding backlit key illumination, making it easy to work in low-light settings such as airplanes and conference halls. A built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts keyboard and display brightness for optimal visibility. And with the oversize multi-touch trackpad, it just keeps getting better for fingers.
A smart LED display.
The backlit LED display allows for an even thinner build. It provides instant full-screen brightness the moment you open MacBook Air. The mercury- and arsenic-free display is also more power efficient, which translates to longer battery life.
Thin is in the details.
The innovative now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t port hatch flips down to reveal (and closes to hide) all the ports you really need: a USB 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a micro-DVI port that supports DVI, VGA, composite, and S-video output. Even the MagSafe power connection has been reconsidered and slimmed to fit MacBook Air.
So thin yet so expansive.
MacBook Air comes with a way-more-than-generous 2GB of RAM built in — ample memory for working with your favorite applications. The 80GB hard drive provides plenty of storage space. And you have the option to upgrade to a 64GB solid-state drive, which has no moving parts for enhanced durability.
Micro. Chip.
MacBook Air performance is as impressive as its form, thanks to its 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This chip was custom-built to fit within the compact dimensions of MacBook Air.
Built-in iSight camera.
Unlike most other ultraportable notebooks, MacBook Air includes a built-in iSight camera. It’s so smartly integrated, you hardly notice it’s there. The iSight camera and iChat software make video chatting easy anywhere there’s a wireless network.
The battery is slimmer. The performance isn’t.
The MacBook Air battery is our thinnest ever, yet it doesn’t compromise power. You can access the web wirelessly for five full hours.
Without wires, you’re free to go anywhere.
MacBook Air is the notebook that allows for a fully wireless lifestyle. It all starts with the fastest-available, next-generation 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR built in. And that’s just the beginning of the unprecedented wireless capabilities of MacBook Air.
Ahead of the curve.
In redefining thin, MacBook Air has shed something you no longer need: the optical drive. That’s because MacBook Air is built for the wireless world. So instead of watching DVDs, you can rent movies wirelessly from the iTunes Store. And instead of backing up files to a stack of discs, you can back up files wirelessly using Apple’s new Time Capsule. However, for those times when you still need to install software on MacBook Air from a CD or DVD, a new feature called Remote Disc lets you wirelessly use or “borrow” the optical drive of a Mac or PC in the vicinity. So you can have full access to an optical drive without having to haul one around.
Remote Disc: How it works.
Set up Remote Disc on a nearby Mac or PC.
Select a nearby Mac or PC with an optical drive. On that computer, install the Remote Disc Setup software (found on the supplied Mac OS X Install DVD). It is now permanently enabled for Remote Disc.
Insert the software disc you want to install.
Insert the DVD containing the software you want to install on MacBook Air into the optical drive of the Remote Disc-enabled Mac or PC.
Install the software on MacBook Air.
In the Finder on MacBook Air, under Devices, select the icon that says Remote Disc. Click on the computer you enabled, and then double-click to open the software DVD. Now proceed with the installation just as if you had a built-in optical drive.
Even migration is wireless.
How do you transfer all of your files, music, photos, and other valuable content from your old Mac to your new MacBook Air? Forget the FireWire cable — that’s the old way. MacBook Air lets you migrate everything wirelessly.
When you turn on MacBook Air for the first time, Setup Assistant walks you through the initial setup. Install the Remote Disc Setup software on the old Mac, and it will then be available to transfer information onto your new MacBook Air. It’s all wireless. All simple. And all secure.
Box Contents
Customer Reviews
So gorgeous
I love this machine! When it arrived it was even smaller than I remembered it in the shop. Plug it into a 21" widescreen monitor and add the bluetooth keyboard and bluetooth mighty mouse, and it makes an excellent desktop machine. Quickly whip it off the desk and stick it in the bag, and it's the most beautiful sub-notebook I've ever seen.
We run a suite of five Macs, and bought this one for someone who needs to run Parallels Desktop + Windows for total connectivity with the IIS network, but also needs to be able to access QuarkXpress and Adobe applications transparently in the same way the Macs use them.
We made our buying decision based on our own business requirements, which are naturally different from everyone else's. What thrills me is that this machine is perfect for requirements, but is also so gorgeous!
consider an ultraportable alternative
I know the hardcore Mac fans love this machine, and I'm not saying it's bad by any means. However, for those not absolutely wedded to the Mac OS, and willing to consider Windows, a great alternative for the same price range is the Toshiba Portege R500. I've had the predecessor model (R100) for a while, and am planning to upgrade to the R500 asap. It's advantages over the Air:
* Ultra-thin and LIGHTER than the air - only 998 grams!
* Has a built-in (removable) DVD R/W drive - something people have been complining about on the Air
* Has good general specs (memory, HDD, WiLAN, ports, etc)
* Comes with either SATA or SSD drives - depends on whether high capacity or low power/mobile robustness is your priority
My R100 (lower spec that the new one) is a fabulous machine - built to the kinds of standards one would expect of Toshiba; has great battery life - also has optional extra batter that clips on the bottom of the unit, and gives up to 8 hours use! I use my machine a fair but while travelling, and it's perfect - size, weight, performance and reliability. I hope Tosh carry on producing this range for years to come - I'll never bother with anything else!
So, before plunging for the Air, why not consider an alternative?!
Brill! But a mistress not the master when it comes to Apple laptops
I have been a user of Apple for over 18 months having lost my cool with the endless crashes and poor launch of Vista proving to me Gates & Co were losing it. I started with the Mini Mac, buying a Mac Book and an i Mac in the short period afterwards and I cannot get my kids off them now at home!
All that kept me going with a Windows system was I needed an ultra-portable laptop given my travel by air a lot and the Sony Vaio I had was fine for this purpose. With the launch of the Air I at last had the missing piece.
After 6 weeks using with the 1.8 Ghz upgrade, I am very satisfied and suspect I will never be going back to Windows based laptops. I do not propose to repeat others comments on its features but would comment on a few aspects that any buyer should consider:
1. The item as with all Apple models is beautifully designed. Be prepared to invest in a safety sleeve for travel and avoid scratching the aluminum cover - I found the Huzzk range the best for the job with their "open up and zip around" and rubber stud design cover design perfect for this model.
2. The case being aluminum does get heated especially when resting on top of your knees! Another reason for buying a travel sleeve and investing in one which is thick enough to help on this point - again a reason why the Huzzk range was my choice.
3. The comments on battery replacement are lacking in understanding that when traveling a lot the key is being able to carry and insert a spare battery. However technology moves on and I have offset this problem by investing in the portable Power Monkey kit which is both small and light plus provides several hours power if a mains supply is not available.
4. On battery life the personal experience and many of the Apple magazine reviews are now also stating the same point, that the Apple batteries seem to take some time to build up to their maximum life/charge, so expect only just over a few hours in early days of portable usage. Whether it makes the 5 hours target remains to be seen but again the Power Monkey option addresses if needed.
5. However much people rave about the looks and the great Leopard OS, be prepared to accept this is an ultra portable and so speed, performance and storage will not be as great as larger Macs (including the Mac Books at cheaper prices) - that is not a criticism just the reality. The beautiful screen and excellent size and feel keyboard however leave all other ultra portables (including Sony Vaio range) in the shade.
Overall I am thus very satisfied and would strongly recommend this model long as you are happy with the above compromises - I just wish Apple in their publicity and claims would accept that in terms of comparability it cannot match the rest of their laptop range but as an ultra portable it is KIng versus the competition (hence my "mistress" title to this review!
