MacBook Air
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Type | Laptop or Notebook |
| Release date | January 15, 2008 |
| Introductory price | USD$1,799, EUR€1699, GBP£1199, YEN?229800, AUD$2499, NZD$2988 |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6 or 1.8GHz |
| Website | Apple — MacBook Air |
The MacBook Air is a lightweight Macintosh notebook computer by Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs revealed the computer at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. Apple claims it to be the "world's thinnest notebook"[1] at 0.76 inches (1.93 cm) thick at its thickest point and 0.16 inches (0.41 cm) at its thinnest. However, CNET noted that the thinnest notebook ever was the now-discontinued 1998 Mitsubishi Pedion, which was 0.71 inches (1.80 cm) thick. [2]
Overview
To reduce the computer's size and weight, Apple engineers omitted certain features long standard on their laptops. It is Apple's first notebook since the PowerBook 2400 without a built-in removable media drive. Users may purchase an external USB SuperDrive, or use bundled Remote Disc software to access the optical drive of another computer. It is Apple's first notebook since the original iBook to lack a FireWire port. It also lacks an Ethernet port, although a USB-to-Ethernet converter may be purchased separately.
The laptop has the magnetic latch system of the MacBook and an aluminum casing like the MacBook Pro. The trackpad offers iPhone-like Multi-Touch gestures, an improvement over previous MacBook trackpads. Pinching, swiping and rotating are a couple of examples of the choose-able options.
Remote Disc
The MacBook Air can wirelessly access the optical drive of another Mac or Windows PC that has the Remote Disc program installed, allowing the installation of applications from a CD or DVD.[3] It can even reinstall the system software from the included installation DVD.[4] Remote Disc supports netbooting, so the MacBook Air can boot from its installation DVD in another computer's drive.[5]
User-serviceability
Unlike Apple's other notebooks, the MacBook Air has no user-replaceable parts. Its hard drive, memory and battery are sealed within the casing.[6] Apple will replace the battery for $129.[7]
Green credentials
According to Apple, MacBook Air is the company's most environmentally friendly laptop, having an entirely aluminum case and a mercury- and arsenic-free glass display. The circuit boards designed by Apple are free of BFR and PVC.
Specifications
| Component | Early 2008 [8] |
|---|---|
| Display | 13.3" glossy LED-backlit LCD widescreen 6-bit display, 1280x800 pixel resolution |
| Graphics | Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory |
| Storage | 80-GB PATA hard drive 64-GB SSD optional |
| Processor | 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Merom[9], with 800 MHz FSB 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo optional |
| Memory | 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM soldered to the logicboard |
| Wireless Networking | Integrated AirPort Extreme supports 802.11a/b/g/draft n |
| Wired Ethernet | Optional USB Ethernet Adapter |
| Optical storage | Optional External USB SuperDrive |
| Camera | Built-in iSight |
| Battery | 37 W-Hr Lithium-polymer battery 5 hours estimated run-time. |
| Physical Dimensions | 22.7 cm D x 32.4 cm W x 0.4~1.94 cm H 8.9 in. D x 12.74 in. W x 0.16~0.76 in. H 1.36 kg (3.0 lbs.) |
| Bluetooth | 2.1+EDR built-in |
| Port connections | 1x USB 2.0 1x Micro-DVI video port (adapters are included for VGA or DVI monitors up to 1920x1200 pixels) 1x Audio Out (3.5 mm stereo jack) |
| Audio | 1x microphone 1x mono loudspeaker External speakers must be plugged in for stereo. |
| Keyboard | Backlit full-size keyboard with ambient light sensor |
| Trackpad | Supports multi-touch gestures |
| Timeline of portable Macintoshes |
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See also
References
- ^ "MacBook Air". Apple. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ Kanellos, Michael (2008-01-15). "MacBook Air: Not the thinnest notebook ever". CNET News.com. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "MacBook Air". Apple. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "MacBook Air - Guided Tour". Apple. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ Gruber, John (2008-01-15). "The MacBook Air". Daring Fireball. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "MacBook Air's Fatal Flaw: Battery, RAM, HD Sealed Like an iPod". Gizmodo. 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "MacBook Air Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Program". Apple - Support. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "MacBook Air - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ Lal Shimpi, Anand (2008-01-15). "Apple's MacBook Air: Uncovering Intel's Custom CPU for Apple". AnandTech. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
