Summer has always been a time of change and renewal in the Apple universe. This year has proven to be no different. Mac OS X Lion was just released, the original entry-level MacBook was quietly yanked from the lineup, and a significantly revamped MacBook Air hit the scene. With the MacBook gone, the Air is now officially the lowest priced Mac on the market. The 11-inch version starts at $999, the same price as the old MacBook it replaced. But for a few dollars more, you can get a significant boost in power and performance with the Apple MacBook Air MC965LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop.
The MC965 model of the latest MacBook Air family of notebooks features a significant boost in raw performance. Boasting a hearty 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU backed up by 4 GB of quick 1333 MHz DDR3 RAM, it’s got enough muscle to handle any tasks you’d plan on accomplishing on a laptop of this size. In addition, the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics deliver the kind of stunning visual performance you’ve come to expect in a Mac to the crystal-clear 1440×900 widescreen display. And the Air comes with 128 GB of speedy flash storage for a quick and responsive computing experience.
Aside from the usual hardware upgrades, the MacBook Air offers a few new features that you’ll notice immediately. The biggest change is the addition of the Thunderbolt I/O port. Thunderbolt allows data transfer speeds up to 20 times faster than that of the USB 2.0 standard. It’s also compatible with USB and FireWire devices and peripherals via a simple cable adapter. Another nice touch is the integrated FaceTime Webcam. Using the FaceTime application, MacBook Air owners can make video calls to phones and tablets in addition to other Mac computers.
On the software side, the big story with the Air is the new operating system. OS X 10.7, codenamed “Lion”, is a solid leap forward for Apple. Whereas Snow Leopard focused on “under the hood” tweaks, Lion focuses on user applications that make your computing life easier. With over 250 new features including improved recovery capabilities through Time Machine and full-screen application support, Lion feels like a total overhaul rather than a mere facelift. One of the nicest additions to OS X Lion is the inclusion of Mission Control, which gives users an overhead, bird’s-eye view of all processes and programs running at any given time.
Nothing’s Perfect
Though a superb machine overall, there are a few drawbacks that potential customers should be aware of. As you may already know, the Air lacks an optical drive and does not include an Ethernet port. Also, the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, and there’s no removable battery. As such, any required maintenance must be performed by an Apple Certified Technician. And like most Macs, the Air can run a bit hot under a heavy workload. None of these details should come as a surprise to long-time Mac users. But it’s important to point out what you don’t get with this notebook.
Who Should Buy It?
The new MacBook Air will no doubt appeal to a broad spectrum of Apple lovers and mobile workers in need of a compact laptop for when they’re on the go. Obviously, this machine isn’t the one to beat when it comes to heavy computing tasks like media editing or number crunching. So if you spend half your day working in Photoshop, your best bet would be a full-size MacBook Pro. However, if you need a great piece of hardware that’s fairly reasonable in price when you consider the reliability and support that comes with it, look no further than the Apple MacBook Air MC965LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop.
The Best Ultra Mobile On The Market
Like a lot of other Apple devices released over the years, the MacBook Air sets the standard for all other products in its class. It’s easily the best ultra-thin notebook on the market today. And the MC965LL/A is the perfect blend of performance and price in the lineup. It’s got plenty of muscle to perform all your everyday tasks with speed and grace, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg at the same time. Long story short, this Air’s a winner.
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