Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz, 128GB SSD, 13.3-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MC503LL/A
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- Bottom Line:
- The second generation of Apple's MacBook Air fixes many of our issues with the ambitious original, adding more USB ports, an SD card slot, and a more powerful processor.
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CNET editors' review
Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz, 128GB SSD, 13.3-inch) price range: $1,164.95
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 03/07/2011
- Released on: 10/15/2010
The good: Apple's MacBook Air is thin and powerful enough to use as a mainstream laptop. It has an excellent battery and includes an SD card slot.
The bad: The Air has limited connections compared with other 13-inch laptops, and its keyboard isn't backlit. It's outclassed by the new MacBook Pro line.
The bottom line: The second generation of Apple's MacBook Air fixes many of our issues with the ambitious original, adding more USB ports, an SD card slot, and a more powerful processor.
Apple's original ultrathin MacBook Air was the very definition of a specialty laptop: its alluring design was offset by a limited number of connections and an underpowered CPU, making it truly useful for only a small fraction of users. The second generation of the 13-inch MacBook Air addresses most of our issues with the Air, adding a second USB port, an SD card slot, a higher-resolution display, and better CPUs.
To maximize battery life, this new MacBook Air moves to an SSD-only hard drive, and like the 11-inch version we reviewed last year, the system starts up in a flash and wakes up from its sleep state even faster.
All these improvements don't come cheap, however. At $1,299 (and up), this is a premium-priced laptop, and it feels even more so when you consider that the 11-inch Air and standard white MacBook are available for $999 (to say nothing of the $499 iPad).
If you can survive without a built-in optical drive, and don't need more than the two USB ports provided, we'd be tempted to say we'd grab this 13-inch MacBook Air over the more powerful 13-inch MacBook Pro, because its slim, lightweight design makes it a lot easier to carry around, but keep in mind that the newly refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro (with Intel's latest Core i-series CPUs) both is much more powerful and has better battery life.
| Price as reviewed | $1,299 |
| Processor | 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Memory | 2GB, 1,066MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 128GB SSD |
| Chipset | MCP89 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 320M |
| Operating system | OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard |
| Dimensions (WD) | 12.8x8.9 inches |
| Height | 0.11-0.68 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 13.3 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 2.3/2.7 pounds |
| Category | thin and light |
This second-generation MacBook Air looks and feels a lot like the original at first glance. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the Air have the same thickness, ranging from 0.11 inch to 0.68 inch, but spread over the larger footprint of the 13-inch chassis, this model seems especially thin.
At the same time, the rigid aluminum construction makes the Air feel sturdy enough to just throw in a bag and carry along with you. The trade-off there is that the 13-inch Air feels a bit heavier than its thin body would lead you to expect, especially compared with its 11-inch cousin or an iPad.
The large island-style keyboard and trackpad (which is the same glass version found on other MacBooks) both work very well, although the function keys at the very top are small. The F5 key is the only function key missing an alternate function; on other MacBooks (including the original MacBook Air), it's for the keyboard backlight. It's a shame it's missing here, as we've become used to it in Apple laptops, and it's genuinely useful for couch-based computing at night.
Despite the move by other laptop makers to larger clickpad-style touch pads, we have yet to find a touch pad that comes close to the MacBook's, especially as Apple provides for useful three- and four-finger gestures. The pad is hinged at the top, allowing the entire pad to click down, but we prefer traditional tapping (which is off by default and must be activated in the Preferences menu).
While the original MacBook Air has a then-standard 1,280x800-pixel screen resolution, this new version bumps that up to 1,440x900 pixels, although, unlike the 11-inch MacBook Air, this is not a 16:9 display. The screen area lacks the edge-to-edge glass over a black bezel found in other MacBooks; instead the screen is surrounded by a thick silver bezel, which is one of the only aesthetic issues we had with the system. Interestingly, the newer 13-inch MacBook Pro keeps the lower 1,280x800 resolution, making this the highest-res 13-inch laptop Apple makes.
| Apple MacBook Air | Average for category [thin and light] | |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Mini-DisplayPort | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone jack | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | None |
| Networking | Ethernet (via USB dongle), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | None | DVD burner |
Doubling the USB ports over the original Air from one to two is a welcome gesture, as is adding an SD card slot (but the smaller 11-inch version lacks that). Those additions take the MacBook Air from being a narrow-audience speciality system to a laptop that's useful enough for almost anyone.
That said, there are still some missing features that will rule the MacBook Air out for you if you absolutely need them; dedicated VGA or HDMI outputs are no-shows (you'll need an aftermarket adapter for the Mini-DisplayPort jack), as is onboard Ethernet (available via a $29 USB adaptor) or a built-in 3G wireless antenna. An external optical drive is available for an extra $79, but there's no Blu-ray option for MacBooks.
The base configuration of the 13-inch MacBook Air includes a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (not the current Core i-series), 2GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. You can add another 2GB of RAM for $100, or trade up to a package that includes a faster 2.13GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $1,799.
The Core 2 Duo/Nvidia 320M combo is similar to what you'd find in the current $999 white MacBook (although this is a ULV version of the Core 2 Duo in this case). Though it's not as fast as a non-ULV laptop, the MacBook Air is zippy enough for everyday use, and feels much closer to mainstream performance than the original Air.
However, almost immediately after we tested this particular system, the new generation of MacBook Pro laptops was released. The Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs in those systems is a big step up from this (or almost any other previous-gen laptops). If you need raw power, a 13- or 15-inch Pro is the way to go.
 Juice box |
|
| Apple MacBook Air | Average watts per hour |
| Off (60%) | 0.24 |
| Sleep (10%) | 0.43 |
| Idle (25%) | 3.73 |
| Load (05%) | 26.71 |
| Raw kWh number | 21.51 |
| Annual power consumption cost | 2.44 |
Apple's MacBooks have always been near the top of our battery life charts, and this new 13-inch Air is no exception. Not that we'd expect anything different from a device that's probably more battery under the hood than anything else. At 4 hours and 38 minutes, that's better than nearly any (pre-Sandy Bridge) 13-inch laptop we've tested, although maybe a little short for all-day computing. Note, however, that the subsequently released 2011 edition of the 13-inch MacBook Pro ran for more than 90 minutes longer.
Service and support from Apple is always a dual-edged sword. Apple includes a one-year parts and labor warranty, but only 90 days of telephone support. Upgrading to a full three-year plan under AppleCare will cost an extra $249 and is pretty much a must-buy, considering the proprietary nature of Apple products. Support is also accessible through a well-stocked online knowledge base, video tutorials, and e-mail with customer service, or through in-person visits to Apple's retail store Genius Bars, which, in our experience, have always been fairly frustration-free encounters.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations:
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch
OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard; 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 2,048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M; 128GB Apple SSD
Apple MacBook Pro - Core i5 13.3-inch
2.3GHz OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard; 2.3GHz Intel Core i5; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook Pro - Core i7 13.3-inch
2.7GHz OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard; 2.7GHz Intel Core i7; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
User reviews
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This update makes it a potential primary computer.
by james-ta on October 30, 2010
Pros: Size and weight. 4GB RAM availability. Everything most people need and nothing they don't. Flash memory. Screen resolution. OS X. Overall design and feel is elegant, sleek and solid.
Cons: No back-lit keyboard. Standard with 2GB RAM (really?). Faster processor only available with 256GB model. No matte screen option.
Summary: I wanted a light-weight, highly portable, bigger than a netbook with a SSD hard drive. I'd purchased a 2010 MacBook Pro 13" and intended on putting in a 160GB ...
Summary: I wanted a light-weight, highly portable, bigger than a netbook with a SSD hard drive. I'd purchased a 2010 MacBook Pro 13" and intended on putting in a 160GB Intel X-25m before the Air refresh. I'm glad I chose the Air.
The price is very reasonable for what you get: the most solid ultra-thin on the market. Between the flash memory, higher resolution screen and size/weight it is definitely worth the extra $100 to go from the 13" MacBook Pro to the Air. The flash-based memory is very fast and extremely responsive. 12-15 second boot times, nearly instant launching of applications and fast read and writes make the Air feel many times faster than the Pro to the average user. My regular use consists of internet, media streaming, MS Office applications and IE based work applications which force me to use a virtual machine. The 4GB RAM option is a must if you intend to do serious work on the Air, honestly I don't see why Apple didn't make it the base configuration with a 6 or 8 GB option. I can smoothly run Windows XP (I don't like the newer renditions) along with MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint, a silly amount of browser tabs, email, iTunes, etc; simultaneously. And while the difference in resolution doesn't seem huge, it is... you have the same resolution as the base 15" Pro and everything is still very readable. There is a lot more screen space than the 13" Pro and I don't think I could readjust to 1280X800. The screen is of typical Apple quality, that is to say excellent. It isn't the best available but it is excellent indeed.
The 256GB model costs $300 more, which again is a very reasonable price for the increased memory: 256GB SSDs run about $300 more than their 128GB comrades. I simply do not need that much memory on a laptop, especially when a home server with TB-sized memory can be built inexpensively. Everything else on this model is the same except for the optional CPU upgrade.
There aren't really any irritating or disappointing aspects to the Air as a laptop, everything is executed practically flawlessly especially at the user level where experience is always different than benchmarks predict. What is irritating (extremely so) is some of Apple's decisions on options and pricing. The removal of the back-lit keyboard is unexplainable, it doesn't take more thickness (previous renditions of the Air had it). If cost was the issue as Apple likes to maintain their ridiculous profit margin, they should've at least made it a built to own option! It isn't hard to get used to the lack of it, nor do I ever look at the keyboard to type even in the dark (though it is nice for the function keys, not having to center your hands to know where keys are and also making certain key combinations) but why take away something so forward thinking and generally awesome? The most irritating aspect by far is the lack of CPU upgrade option for the 128GB model. There is no reason whatsoever for not offering it for both models and I seriously doubt the 256GB model is that more profitable to push it's sales harder. I simply do not need that much space and I'm not paying for what I don't need (like an optical drive!) but it sure would've been nice to get the faster CPU. The 1.86ghz CPU that comes standard works just fine, especially with Apple's wonderful hardware and software integration along with the flash memory... but again it would've been nice to have the option. The matte screen option's absence was to be expected as the 13" Pro lacks it as well, but again the option would've been nice. I don't see why it is so damned difficult to give people more options!
Overall I'm very impressed with my new MacBook Air. It has everything I want: sturdy, well utilized CPU; SSD memory; high resolution and not ultra-stupid-glossy display (it isn't matte but it's better than the Pro). It also lacks everything I don't need or want: optical drive (seriously think about how often you've used yours, I think I burned a few CD's before I had my car adapter for iPod), heaviness, thickness, moving parts! I would highly recommend it to anyone, though I'm sure in about a year Apple will do a refresh and add a bunch of the things I've complained about! I still wouldn't wait though.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Owned a MBAir for 4 months. It is Outstanding.
by gregorysreid on March 8, 2011
Pros: Thin and light. Powerful (relatively so). Great battery life. Nice form. Sturdy. It just works...all of the time.
Cons: Dongle required for ethernet. DVD player doesn't work that well. VMWare a bit slower. Sometimes I forget that its there.
Summary: I have owned the MBAir for about 4 months and would buy it again. I came from a MBPro 13" that was also a sweet machine. I travel all the ...
Summary: I have owned the MBAir for about 4 months and would buy it again. I came from a MBPro 13" that was also a sweet machine. I travel all the time and the reduction in weight was a key decision point for me. The MBPro 13" is a great machine, but heavier. The Air is well, like air. I have panicked countless times thinking that I have left my MBAir on a table at the airport because my briefcase is so light, only to find it tucked safely away after a frantic search. It's that light! I am an executive so I don't do development nor do I game. I can't speak to those specific user requirements.
The Good:
o It's light (already mentioned)
o It really is a laptop computer. You don't even know its there.
o The battery life is at least 6 hours, perhaps a bit more. And it charges FAST.
o The screen is outstanding! Much better than the old MBPro 13" and even the NEW MBPro just released. Video plays well on both the internal screen and the external screen at the same time. Note: I don't 'game' so I can't speak to that requirement.
o It reboots in like 20 seconds, including typing in your password. Amazing.
o It is FAST. It does have the older Core 2 Duo. But the processor is rarely the bottleneck. It's the hard drive...but it doesn't have a physical hard drive, it has a memory hard drive. Bottleneck removed!
o The thing just always works, like any other Mac, I guess.
Room for improvement:
o Need for an ethernet dongle. PITA!
o Hard drive is relatively small. (But fast... real fast)
o No internal DVD. I know that's why its so small but the external one that you buy with it doesn't work nearly as reliably as my old MBPro's did.
o I do miss the backlit keyboard. Not sure why they didn't do this.
o When running VMware, it is a bit slower (but not bad) than my old MBPro 13". I guess VMWare is a bit more CPU intensive. (but VMWare starts much more quickly)
o You can only get 4 GB of RAM.
Summary:
I would buy it again in a heartbeat. I was expecting some buyers remorse when the new MBPro's were released last week, but even the new MBpro 13" doesn't have a high res screen of the MBAir and it's video capability is less than my MBAir. Buyers remorse removed! This thing is fast even with a slower processor because of the solid state hard drive. If you're a 'moderate' user (e.g. non-developer, non-game, non-power freak) this is an outstanding machine. And VMWare still does ok on it; I use it daily w/o issues.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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CHEAPER CONSTRUCTION, BAIT & SWITCH PRICE REDUCTION
by mac-heath on November 26, 2010
Pros: Faster chip & solid state hard drive make a fast, cool running machine.
Cons: Cheaper construction and loss of aero design aesthetic, bait and switch price.
Summary: New MacBook Air has a stronger processor and does not get hot like my MBA version 1.0. the new one is also all around faster. My old MBA 1....
Summary: New MacBook Air has a stronger processor and does not get hot like my MBA version 1.0. the new one is also all around faster. My old MBA 1.0 had the hinge problem and was replaced under Applecare, also new hard drive and Apple was generous replacing the entire machine when puppy jumped up on table and spilled cup of coffee that I brilliantly left standing next to my machine. The solid state hard drive speeds everything up - very nice.
Update. The chassis is flimsy. Pick it up with one hand and hear a popping noise. The system shuts off from sleep mode/doesn't wake without restarting. This happens when the machine is left off the charger. Can't tell if it's not waking up or if it's really off because this new machine does not have an "on" light - another cost saving short cut like putting the on/off button on the keyboard. Real step backward. I'm very unhappy about the flimsiness of the chassis. Also, the on/off switch sits right above the delete key, real smart design! Loyal mac customer not happy.
Problem, though, is that the build quality seems lower. The old chassis was a beautiful rounded airstream aluminum design with a flip out door and no exposed plastic. It had a backlit keyboard and a separate metal on/off button on the chassis. The new machine has a cheaper feel with flat edges, a slight popping noise when put on a table, an on-keyboard power switch and no backlighting.
The other gripe I have is the bait and switch price reduction. The new base machine is 1299.00, but you have to add 99.00 pro-care to get apple to do the data migration and the mini-DVI/VGA and mini-DVI/DVI connectors now cost 30.00 each, where both of these things used to be free of charge, so the price reduction is a ruse.
Updated on Dec 26, 2010
Updated on Dec 26, 2010The chassis is flimsy. Pick it up with one hand and hear a popping noise. The system shuts off from sleep mode/doesn't wake without restarting. This happens when the machine is left off the charger. Can't tell if it's not waking up or if it's really off because this new machine does not have an "on" light - another cost saving short cut like putting the on/off button on the keyboard. Real step backward. I'm very unhappy about the flimsiness of the chassis. Also, the on/off switch sits right above the delete key, real smart design! Loyal Mac customer not happy.
Updated on Feb 2, 2011Cost saving measures mar functionality of Macbook Air 2.0.
The lack of an on light (the little white light on the right front of the chassis) is a problem. Sometimes the system goes to sleep and apparently turns itself off within minutes (contrary to settings). Without the light, I can't tell whether the system is asleep or off. This is a problem b/c there is delayed or non-response to the on button.
Another persistent trouble is the placement of the on/off switch from the chassis to the keyboard just above the delete button.
The chassis still creaks, even though it have been in for tightening up.
I would have much preferred my 1st gen Macbook Air with the upgraded chip and solid state drive.
The cost-cutting shows the dirty side of Apple, considering how little Apple pays its laborers in Shenzen (where, according to a Cnet article, Apple workers are dying of exhaustion).
Updated on Feb 2, 2011Cost Cutting Mars MacBook Air 2.0
Cost saving measures of removing the white on light and putting the on/off switch on the keyboard are a nuisance. Sometimes the machine goes asleep contrary to the power saver settings and I can't tell when it has been switched on again. I count to five seconds to see if the drive has come on again, but the response is inconsistent, meaning it can take a few tries and some miss starts (turning off a machine that is turning on). the on-key board on-off switch is just above the delete key and I hit it in error frequently. It does not belong there. The chassis still creaks, in spite of a tightening up at the so-called genius bar.
The costs saving measures show Apples greedy irresponsible side, considering how little Apple pays its workers in Shenzen where - according to a Cnet article - they are literally dying of exhaustion. I guess corporate will do anything to screw labor.
Updated on Apr 11, 2011I like this computer less and less. The touch pad is not as sensitive as the MacBook Air 1.0 and the chassis is flimsy and makes all kinds of creaking noises. The top half of the shell is too weak and it seems the screen is getting pushed in against the keyboard and leaving a mark on the screen. I am not happy with this machine's crappy build quality. Version 1.0 had a beautiful case and this one (version 2.0) has a cheap case. I'm really mad about this. This is my fourth mac in five years and while i think the solid state hard drive is fantastic, the cheap-o case, the lack of an on indicator light, the power switch on the keyboard (where it gets hit all the time) and charging extra for connectors and peripherals that came with Version 1.0 has me verily PO'ed.
Updated on Apr 11, 2011Oh, and lest I forget, they took away the beautiful lighted keyboard.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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More than I expected
by dsonday on April 5, 2011
Pros: I hate to be so simplistic ... but really everything so far - trackpad, screen, keyboard, sound and system performance are outstanding.
Cons: Even the price is worth it....
Summary: I honestly am in awe of this system (13', 4 MB RAM, 256 SSD). I had a 2008 MacBook Unibody, and was considering a Macbook Pro 13 or 15... I ...
Summary: I honestly am in awe of this system (13', 4 MB RAM, 256 SSD). I had a 2008 MacBook Unibody, and was considering a Macbook Pro 13 or 15... I carry my laptop with me everyday, so I wanted to give the Air a try... I'm so glad I did. Even though it's not Sandy Bridge and doesn't have Thunderbolt ... I can't imagine getting more from a laptop for my needs.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great laptop with ultimate portability
by rbbcpa on March 12, 2011
Pros: Very light
Quick boot up
Glowing Apple looks cool
Great OSCons: No backlit keyboard
Summary: This is my first Mac and, while I am still becoming accustomed to the Mac OS, I am definitely impressed with the design and solid construction. So far, I have ...
Summary: This is my first Mac and, while I am still becoming accustomed to the Mac OS, I am definitely impressed with the design and solid construction. So far, I have had no compatibility issues, but because I use Windows-based PCs at work, I installed VMWare's Fusion 3 so I can run my expense Windows apps (e.g. Visio 2010). I definitely recommend this laptop and I will buy future MacBook iterations.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It's ok, but the review embellishes
by prime203 on March 9, 2011
Pros: very thin and comfortable to use, performance much better than previous macbook air and comparable to current macbook
Cons: the keyboard is recessed so typing on takes getting used to, no backlit keyboard was annoying coming from a macbook pro which had one. My macbook air had hard drive issues within 3 months of use so Apple had to replace the drive...
Summary: The macbook air is nice if you already have a desktop or hefty computer at home. its just not strong enough to be a desktop replacement... it struggles with flash ...
Summary: The macbook air is nice if you already have a desktop or hefty computer at home. its just not strong enough to be a desktop replacement... it struggles with flash videos on the web, it gets very hot when loading flash content (or the CPU is working hard). I really like the design and I will the new macbook pro would have taken some cues from it, but for now I still cant recommend the macbook air for a day to day user that has it as a primary computer. It was my primary computer and it just wasnt enough power for simple tasks; even at 4 gig ram and the upgraded 2.13 cpu it struggled with multi-tasking apps like word powerpoint, itunes, and iphoto at the same time; I ended up selling the macbook air and purchased the new top end 15inch macbook pro... coulnt be happier, yes its abt 600 more with the upgraded ram and hi res screen but at least this unit can handle simple tasks (like flash based content which is unavoidable online) and its defenatly future proof... the macbook air is already using a antique core 2... i would guess if Apple does not upgrade it to a core i3 it will be outdated by the years end. gl!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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11" MBA for 3 months and LOVE IT!
by thedudeabides01 on March 8, 2011
Pros: Fast and light. Take it everywhere. Instant on/wakeup is probably the best feature.
Cons: Wish it had an SD slot. I also have the 64G HD and wish I'd gone with 128G.
Summary: It's the first laptop I've had that always wakes up from sleep or boot quickly and reliably. It's super portable, stylish and fast.I also have a ...
Summary: It's the first laptop I've had that always wakes up from sleep or boot quickly and reliably. It's super portable, stylish and fast.I also have a Lenovo T410, but find myself taking my Macbook Air everywhere I go and leaving the Lenovo at home
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent portable that doubles as primary computer.
by hrosenberg33 on March 7, 2011
Pros: Design - looks great
Light and Portable
Fast on from start-up or sleep
Quiet (see below)
Feels solidCons: If being overworked (eg. video, itunes, internet, word processing at same time) fan is loud!
Not 100% playback with some Flash contentSummary: This is the first Mac I have owned and so far it has been excellent.
From the start the design really caught my eye. Going to the Apple store to ...Summary: This is the first Mac I have owned and so far it has been excellent.
From the start the design really caught my eye. Going to the Apple store to pick up and IPad and Futureshop looking at my next laptop I couldn't help but be drawn to the MBA. It looks great, the thin design also makes it ultraportable and quite light. Great for taking it to work in my bag with it taking up very little room or weighing me down.
With the solid state drive turning it on either start up or from sleep is simply lightning fast. Programs run nice a quick on it when using ITunes, Microsoft Office for Mac or some of it's apps like iMovie. I have one with 2G of ram with the 1.83GHz processor and have not been left wanting for more power or memory. It is exceedingly quiet nearly 99% of the time but there are a few times where I guess I have been pushing it (it's usually video + other programs) where the fan does turn on and it is fairly loud. In contrast to how quietly it usually runs it is a significant contrast.
The one other problem is that I have had a fair amount of trouble with the live streams on cnet.com. For some reason I do not get video and only get sound on them. All the other streams (not live on CNET and all other anywhere else) work seamlessly.
Overall this is an excellent machine and I would definitely recommend it. I use it as my primary machine and for my needs (internet, email, word, power point, Itunes) it is more than enough. I'm hoping the next gen adds on the Intel core i processors in order to really take it to the next level and likely give it enough power for the fan to really ever need to turn on.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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My first mac - very fun
by butterflynymph on November 11, 2010
Pros: So fast. Love the quick startup/shut down, security, intuitive mac design. Not having to worry about viruses. And it's so fun. It came with lots of awesome software windows charges major $$'s for. Makes every windows based pc feel like a cash drain!
Cons: There is a learning curve switching from a pc to a mac. I miss my 10 key number keypad. And no superdrive can be tricky to navigate. And of course it was expensive. Accessories are hard to find.
Summary: It's fun, sleek, fast, and intuitive. Although pricey, not having to worry about expensive (and constant) windows updates and all the software that goes with every windows update is ...
Summary: It's fun, sleek, fast, and intuitive. Although pricey, not having to worry about expensive (and constant) windows updates and all the software that goes with every windows update is a huge moneysaver. Having used pc's my whole life there is definently a learning curve - but apple has plenty of support. I love the security and not having to worry so much about viruses and spyware and who knows what else. I'm a mac girl now!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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OUTSTANDING!
by robtyty2 on November 10, 2010
Pros: super mobile, very fast, boots up very fast, no problems, FULL SIZE KEYBOARD! Great battery life!
Cons: none so far!
Summary: I have had the Mac Air for two weeks! This is the laptop I have always needed! It is small, but has a full size keyboard! The battery last 5 ...
Summary: I have had the Mac Air for two weeks! This is the laptop I have always needed! It is small, but has a full size keyboard! The battery last 5 to 6 hours! Apple did a great job on the Air!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MC503LL/A
- Description: The MacBook Air is proof. It's designed around all-flash storage for better responsiveness and reliability. It features a trackpad with full multi-touch support. And though it's incredibly thin and light, its large battery gives you portable power that lasts for hours. When MacBook Air first debuted, it was groundbreaking in many ways. Chief among them was the precision unibody enclosure. Now that same engineering process comes to the MacBook Air display. Just like the main enclosure, the display housing is crafted from a single piece of aluminum, with all the structural elements machined directly into it. Total unibody construction means a less complex design with fewer parts. That makes MacBook Air exceptionally thin and light, yet still durable enough to handle the rigors of everyday use.
General
- System Type Notebook
- OS Provided Apple MacOS X 10.6
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Notebook type Ultraportable (Under 4 lbs.)
Processor / Chipset
- Processor Intel 1.86 GHz,
Core 2 Duo - Multi-Core Technology Dual-Core
- Cache 3 MB,
L2 cache - 64-bit Computing Yes
- Front Side Bus 1066 MHz
Memory
- RAM 2 GB,
( Provided memory is soldered ) - Max RAM Supported 4 GB
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM
- Speed 1066 MHz
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 128 GB,
SSD - Storage Removable None
- Optical Drive None
- Optical Drive (2nd) None
- Hard drive type Portable
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 50 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90% (non-condensing)
- Max Altitude Operating 10000 ft
Display
- Type 13.3 in
- Max Resolution 1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )
- Widescreen Yes
- Features Glossy,
LED-backlit Audio & Video
- Graphics Processor 256 MB,
NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M - Memory Allocation Technology Shared video memory (UMA)
- Max Allocated RAM Size 256 MB
- Camera Yes
- Sound Microphone
Input
- Type Keyboard,
Trackpad - Keyboard Layout English
- Features Multi-touch touchpad
Communications
- Wireless 802.11n
Battery
- Technology Lithium polymer
- Installed Qty 1
- Capacity 50 Wh
- Run Time 7 hour(s)
AC Adapter
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Connections & Expansion
- Slots Memory,
SD Memory Card - Interfaces 2 x USB 2.0,
Headphone output,
Mini DisplayPort - Interfaces 2 x USB 2.0 - USB 2.0,
1 x Microphone,
1 x Headphones,
1 x Mini DisplayPort,
1 x MagSafe power - Memory Card Reader Card reader ( SDHC Memory Card ),
( SD Memory Card ) Software
- Software Included Apple iCal,
Apple QuickTime,
Apple iTunes,
Apple Dashboard,
Apple Spotlight,
Apple XCode Developer Tools,
Drivers & Utilities,
Apple Address Book,
Apple Safari,
Apple DVD Player,
Apple iLife,
Apple Time Machine,
Apple Quick Look,
Apple Spaces,
Photo Booth,
Front Row,
Apple iChat,
Apple Mac OS X Mail Miscellaneous
- Features Aluminum enclosure
- Included Accessories Software Reinstall Drive
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
Dimensions & Weight
- Width 11.8 in
- Depth 7.56 in
- Height 0.68 in
- Weight 2.3 lbs
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year,
Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days Sustainability
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2011) 4.6
Product series
-
Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz, 128GB SSD, 13.3-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 1.86 GHz,
Core 2 Duo ( Dual-Core ),
2 GB,
/ 4 GB (max),
128 GB,
13.3 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple MacOS X 10.6,
None,
NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M Shared video memory (UMA),
256 MB,
2.3 lbs,
L2 cache,
3 MB -
Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz, 256GB SSD, 13.3-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 1.86 GHz,
Core 2 Duo ( Dual-Core ),
2 GB,
/ 4 GB (max),
256 GB,
13.3 nm,
TFT active matrix,
Apple MacOS X 10.6,
None,
NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M Shared video memory (UMA),
256 MB,
2.3 lbs,
L2 cache,
3 MB -
Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.4GHz, 128GB SSD, 11.6-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 1.4 GHz,
Core 2 Duo ( Dual-Core ),
2 GB,
/ 4 GB (max),
128 GB,
11.6 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple MacOS X 10.6,
None,
NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M Shared video memory (UMA),
256 MB,
2.3 lbs,
L2 cache,
3 MB -
Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.4GHz, 64GB SSD, 11.6-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 1.4 GHz,
Core 2 Duo ( Dual-Core ),
2 GB,
/ 4 GB (max),
64 GB,
11.6 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple MacOS X 10.6,
None,
NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M Shared video memory (UMA),
256 MB,
2.3 lbs,
L2 cache,
3 MB
Accessories
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 4 GB (34637987)9.69
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 64 GB (34581520)64.99
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 64 GB (34581564)62.99
- Apple Magic Mouse (33783857)57.99 - 114.38
- Apple Mighty Mouse (wireless) (31985391)69.89
- Ergoguys mouse (34828799)
- Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router (35098697)164.99 - 199.99
- Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router (34200558)114.79 - 135.00
- Belkin N150 Wireless Router - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (34859948)28.99 - 34.99
- Belkin N300 Wireless N Router - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (35263578)39.99 - 48.99
- Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router - wireless router - 802.11 a/b/g/n - desktop (35190484)66.57 - 104.73
- Belkin N900 Dual-Band Wireless Router - wireless router - 802.11n - desktop (35262637)194.99 - 292.17
- Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti HighPower Giga WZR-HP-G450H - wireless router - none - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (34859675)82.11 - 95.99
- Cisco 881 Fast Ethernet Security Router supporting EVDO/1xRTT - router - cellular modem - 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.0) - desktop (35026157)
- Cisco 892F Gigabit Ethernet Security Router - wireless router - ISDN - 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft 2.0) - desktop (34693849)
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Apple
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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