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Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Review
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Review
Product Features and Specifications
Apple's(apple laptop battery) Thinnest Design Yet - This is what I'm most excited about.
13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with a 1440 x 900-pixel resolution
Up to 7 hours of wireless productivity plus up to 30 days of standby time
1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6 MB on-chip shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus.
256 GB flash memory storage
2 GB installed RAM (1066 MHz DDR3; supports up to 4 GB)
NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor (with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) for an outstanding everyday graphics experience.
Built-in FaceTime camera for video chatting
Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
Two USB 2.0 ports with networking using optional Apple USB Ethernet adapter
SD card slot
Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI (requires adapters, sold separately)
Built-in stereo speakers along with omnidirectional microphone, headphone minijack
Full-size keyboard fro laptop battery
Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.68 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.9 pounds
Processor, Memory, and Motherboard
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Drive
Size: 256 GB
Cases and Expandability
Weight: 8 pounds
There comes a time when that giant, corporate-issued laptop stops fitting into your lifestyle. When dragging around a Kensington roller case just won't do. When you start to hear the siren lilt of something thinner, lighter, and maybe a bit more alluring. For years the MacBook Air(apple ibook g4 power adapter , apple macbook pro power adapter) has been that svelte temptress hollering your name, but it's always been a bit too slow -- all show and no go. It didn't have the power and the longevity to make it a serious contender for your serious affections.
No more. With its latest refresh, Apple has taken what was once a manilla-clad curiosity and turned it into a legitimate machine, not just a sultry looker. Good thing, too, because the death of the plastic-clad MacBook(apple powerbook g4 power adapter , apple macbook pro charger) means the Air is now Apple's entry-level portable. Weary traveler looking for a laptop that will lighten your load and, it must be said, your wallet too? This might just be it.
Hardware
The outside of this 2011 refresh of the MacBook Air is virtually indistinguishable from that which came before it. Yes, that means compromises(apple powerbook g4 charger , apple macbook pro 17 inch battery). On the 13-inch model you'll still have to make do with but one USB port on the left and one on the right, but now that latter one is flanked by a Thunderbolt connector, Apple's implementation of Intel's Light Peak standard. This 10Gb/sec interconnect has become standard fare on all new machines coming out of Cupertino, a fact that should help to accelerate the so-far tardy uptake in support from accessory manufacturers.
The 11-inch model is likewise emblazoned, but sadly has still not been granted an SD reader, something restricted to the bigger 13. On the left you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, the MagSafe power connector and... nothing else(apple macbook pro 15 inch battery , apple macbook pro 13 inch battery). All other ports have been deemed unnecessary by Apple's designers and therefore relegated to myriad USB adapters for things like Ethernet -- though if you start relying on those you'll likely need to start packing a USB hub as well.
Like before, the omission of these ports leaves the Air free to pinch down to a delicious taper beneath the keyboard, thin enough to make for a decent cleaver when no proper blade can be found -- or when you just can't be bothered to find one. Even on the fat end it measures a mere(apple macbook pro battery , apple 13 inch macbook air battery).68-inches (17mm) thick. Or thin, rather.
So what has changed? The touchpad, surprisingly. It's still big and glassy and situated in the middle of the full-sized palm rest like on the chunkier Pro. Now, though, it's subtly quieter, with a more refined sound and feel as you click away. The previous generation almost feels hollow and has an annoying resonance that's been banished.
The keyboard above, too, has a better feel. Keys are more springy than before, more solid and responsive than the somewhat loose, flappy ones on the last generation(apple powerbook g4 12 inch battery , apple powerbook g4 15 inch titanium battery). But the biggest change here is what's lurking beneath the keys: a backlight. Yes, you'll now be able to do things like adjust volume, change track, and hit that damned & character in the dark. And, thanks to the ambient light sensor hidden in the bezel, you won't have to worry about those keys blinding you in bed.
Internals / Display
Step inside the case and you'll find the most important changes here: new Intel Core i5 and i7 ULV processors. The backlit keyboard is nice, and the addition of Thunderbolt could be a boon in 12 months or so, but its the new selection of processors that really turn the Air into a serious machine, as you'll see when we talk benchmarks in a bit(apple powerbook g4 15 inch aluminum battery , apple powerbook g4 17 inch battery).
On the memory front, 4GB of DDR3 memory is found on all but the base 11-inch model, which gets by with half that. SSDs are standard across the board, starting at 64GB for the 11 and going up to 256GB for the top-shelf 13-inch. Intel HD 3000 graphics power the lot and stock processors include 1.6GHz and 1.7GHz Core i5's, though a 1.8GHz Core i7 is available.
When it comes to displays nothing has changed: the 13-inch model features a 1440 x 900 glossy, LED-backlit panel while the 11 still does 1366 x 768. We spent our time testing the 13-incher and, as before, it continues to impress when it comes to contrast, brightness, and viewing angles, which are plenty wide enough to enable two-person, coach-class viewing of that latest episode of Top Gear(apple powerbook g4 battery , apple powerbook g3 battery , apple ibook g4 battery). Contrast is helped by the glossy sheen here -- and no, you still can't option out a matte unit.
We still found its resolution to be more than adequate for most tasks but just a bit limiting for anyone working on photos or doing anything where pixels really count. Honestly, that wasn't much of a concern before thanks to the lack of power, but now...
Performance / Battery life
When it comes time to actually use the thing, when the Air isn't just dead weight in your bag that you want as little of as possible, how does it actually perform? This is when the previous models faltered, and this is where the new Air excels(apple ibook g4 12 battery , apple ibook g4 14 battery , apple ibook g3 battery).
When last we tested an Air, the 13-inch model with a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo processor scored a 2,717 on the GeekBench benchmark. This new 13, configured with the default 1.7GHz Core i5 and paired with 4GB of DDR3 and a 128GB SSD, nearly doubled that: 5,373. No, that won't threaten the full-bore 15-inch MacBook Pro for sheer speed, but double the performance in nine months is a welcome improvement, living up to Apple's 2x promises here, and from what we've seen elsewhere the 11-inch lives up to its 2.5x promises as well(apple powerbook g3 12 inch battery , apple A1039 battery).
We also threw Windows 7 on there, Boot Camp making it easy, and ran through a further suite of benchmarks to see how it fares there. PCMark Vantage clocked in at 9,484, actually higher than the 15-inch Pro's 8,041 when we tested it, though the Air's 3DMark 06 score was considerably lower thanks to the limited graphics prowess here, just 4,223. So, it's still no gaming rig, but it is the sort of machine you wouldn't think twice about trying to do some serious business on.
Now, as we all know benchmarks(apple A1045 battery , apple A1057 battery , apple A1061 battery) only tell a part of the story, but we're happy to report that the numbers really do fall in line with our impressions here. This machine boots to a Lion login screen in a snappy 15 seconds, apps load quickly, batch photo jobs finish much more promptly, and overall in our time with this machine we did a lot less waiting and a lot more working. But, just like before, be prepared to listen to the thing's internal cooling fan register its complaints whenever utilization rates start climbing.
Despite that, we had no issues with battery life(apple A1078 battery , apple A1079 battery). On our standard rundown test, where we'll loop a video until the machine calls it quits, the new Air clocked in at just over five and a half hours. That's well more than the Lenovo X1 recently managed on the same test and actually about an hour more than last year's model managed when we dusted it off and ran it through the same wringer. Even running Windows the Air managed 4:12 on the same rundown test, on par with the Samsung Series 9.
In standard usage, surfing and typing and Facebooking and such, you should be able to do much better. The Air routinely beat our expectations -- and its own estimates -- for battery life(apple A1106 battery , apple A1148 battery , apple A1175 battery). The seven hours Apple advertises for the 13 (five for the 11) is well within reach if you're not doing anything too taxing. And of course that's a good thing, because you won't be replacing the battery here without a screwdriver.
Wrap-up
The 2011 MacBook Air addresses nearly every concern anyone could lob at its predecessor. It's still light on ports, the missing SD slot on the 11-inch model is a drag, and no, it isn't cheap, but this machine is fast, efficient, and not to be underestimated(apple A1185 battery , apple A1189 battery). It's a supermodel with a law degree from Columbia, a hunky motorcycle racer who looks good in leathers yet is also a concert pianist -- whatever your passion it won't disappoint, all while making a lot more room in your bag. More room for what? Well, your life, for starters.
The good: The new 11-inch Apple(apple A1245 battery , apple A1278 battery) MacBook Air is dramatically faster than last year's version, has a backlit keyboard, and comes with a high-speed Thunderbolt I/O port.
The bad: The entry-level Air still has the same limited fixed flash storage and RAM as last year's version, which most people will want to upgrade from--and there's still no SD card slot, Ethernet port, or 3G wireless option.
The bottom line: This year's 11-inch MacBook Air improves on last year's model in several significant ways and is by far the fastest ultraportable you're likely to find, though some users will consider the limited flash storage space to be a hindrance.
Last October, Apple's 11-inch MacBook Air debuted(apple A1280 battery , apple A1281 battery). The tiny, slim ultraportable was the smallest laptop Apple had ever made. Its combination of size and power earned it a four-star review, with caveats: it had a last-generation Core 2 Duo processor, lacked a backlit keyboard, and omitted an SD card slot. We're glad to find the newly released, back-to-school-timed 2011 MacBook Air update fixes two of our three complaints.
Both 11- and 13-inch MacBook Airs have been updated with new, faster second-gen Core i5 processors. The new Air also, finally, has a backlit keyboard. There are more bonuses, too: Mac OS X Lion, Apple's brand-new operating system update, comes preinstalled. A Thunderbolt I/O port for high-speed data transfer and HD audio/video has been added.
Unfortunately, there's still no SD card slot, and memory and storage configurations remain both fixed and limited: the configuration still only has 2GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage, which many will consider inadequate. We recommend the configuration, which has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Perhaps the biggest change to the MacBook Air is how it's being sold(apple M8244G battery , apple M8403 battery , apple MA561 battery). Now that the white MacBook no longer exists, Apple has made the MacBook Air the entry-level laptop for everybody (everybody with a grand to drop on a laptop, at least). The 11-inch MacBook Air is the most affordable MacBook in Apple's stable.
The 2011 11-inch Air is, undeniably, an improvement over the fall 2010 version. Is it a MacBook for everyone, though? Not yet, unless you can live with the Air's still comparatively limited storage space. For a more full-size laptop with even better battery life, many might be tempted to get the 13-inch MacBook Air or even the more full-featured 13-inch MacBook Pro(Macbook Pro battery). But, for sheer portability and performance, nothing can beat the 11-inch Air.
Other 1: by Etienne
Had to return my MBA 13". Awesome piece of hardware - when unused.
Deafening beast as soon as you touch it.
Youtube (even in HTML5)? The fan spins at 6200 rpm. Flicking through pictures? 6200 rpm. A video? 6200 rpm. A game? 6200 rpm.
I "reset the SMC". The Apple "solve all" trick that of course solves nothing. Found a script that decreses the max fan speed - but then it's start to get HOT. Found a small freeware controlling the speed of the fan in a better way - but not preventing it to raise to 6200 rpm.
I know, I know, I may have got a bad one, right? But hey, I owned a MBA in 2009 and I had to sell it for the exact same reason - plus it was overheating like crazy.
So be aware of that: it's noisy. Like hell. And not under heavy use.
Other 2: byMark Smith
Here's the question I have for Apple: Why the hell does your Macbook Air (including the 11"!), have a better screen than the 13" MBP? You just refreshed the MBP line and still gave the 13" a 1280x800 display, even though the Macbook Air already had 1366x768! Now the air has 1440x900! Are you guys dumb, or just trolling your customers?
"I've got it! Give the MacBook Pro(laptop batteries) a better GPU and CPU, but a WORSE display! Brilliant!"
Other 3: mathnerd88
And what's your point?
You're not comparing laptops of the same class. Try comparing this to the Samsung Series 9, Sony Vaio Z, Acer Ultrabook, Asus UX21 in price and then let me know how "expensive" the MBA is compared to the competition.
I'll admit the specs you get aren't impressive compared to another laptop with the same price range, but come on, please compare Apples to Apples, not Apples to Oranges.
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Post je objavljen 08.11.2011. u 10:04 sati.