Ahh, summer. Snow cones, fireworks, baseball, and MacBook Air. Apple has decided to spice up our summers a bit with 4 brand-new MacBook Air models. Of course, just like snow cones, the MacBook Air comes in different sizes and flavors:
By the way, it's important to note that regardless of which "trim level" you select, your new MacBook Air will be imbued with a few things:
- Intel HD Graphics 3000
- A FaceTime camera
- Thunderbolt
- Wireless (802.11n) networking
- Mac OS X Lion
As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Here's how each of the Air models stacks up against each other:
Processor
The 11-inch models contain a 1.6GHz i5 processor while the 13-inch models sport a slightly-faster 1.7GHz chip. If speed's your thing, you can upgrade both the higher-tier 11-inch and higher-tier 13-inch models to a dual core 1.8GHz i7 processor.
Memory
The lower-tier 11-inch model comes with 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory. An extra 2GB of memory (4GB) comes with each of the other models, but can also be added to the lower-tier 11-inch model if you'd prefer.
Storage
Well, we can't title this section "Hard Drive" anymore because the Air has done away with conventional hard drives in favor of flash-based solid-state drives. The lowest-tier model will score you 64GB of storage, the top-tier 11-inch and lower-tier 13-inch sport 128GB, and the top-tier 13-inch sports 256GB. If you have a need to carry around huge amounts of data, be prepared to pack an external drive because you'll probably need it.
Display
The 13-inch model will get your display cruising all the way up to a resolution of 1440x900. The 11-inch model will muster a respectable 1366x768. If you're looking at the Air for casual use, the 11-inch display will fit the bill nicely. If, however, you plan to sit and stare at this thing for hours, you'll probably want a 13-inch model.
Weight
No review of a laptop with "Air" in the title would be complete without a discussion of weight, right? The 11-inch models weigh in at 2.38 pounds while the 13-inch models weigh in at 2.96 pounds. That said, if you're like us, you probably found those numbers a bit higher than you expected. If weight is a concern and you're really on the fence about the Air, go hands-on. We found that the Air's unibody construction distributes the weight so evenly along the chassis that you'll swear the thing weighs far less than it actually does.
Other Goodies
The 13-inch models come with an SD card slot built-in (which is especially handy if you're a digital photographer with a desire to show off your work on the big screen). Naturally, the 13-inch models also come with a juiced-up battery capable of providing you with an additional 2 hours of running time. Finally, the novelty of the magnetic charging cable (that magnetically locks itself into the charging port) never gets old.
Wrap-up
If you're all about portability and style, it's hard to deny the striking qualities of the MacBook Air. If you're planning to drag it around town like more of a netbook, the lower-tier 11-inch model will get you a shiny new Apple while keeping your wallet intact. If you plan to do more intensive tasks or spend more time with the Air in general, you'll want to look at one of the 13-inch models. In either case, it's clear that Apple continues to set the bar for mobile devices high enough to give its competitors a run for their money.
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