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Apple MacBook Air

Specifications

Apple MacBook Air
Apple MacBook Air (MacBook Air Series)
Graphics adapter
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core: 500 MHz, shared Memory
Memory
2048 MB 
, DDR2
Display
13.30 inch 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixel, LED background lightening, TN-Panel, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel GM965
Storage
Samsung SpinPoint N2 HS082HB, 80 GB 
, 4200 rpm, ZIF Interface
Soundcard
Realtek ALC885/889A
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: Headphones, Uni-directional infrared port for MacRemote
Networking
Atheros AR5007EG (b/g/), Bluetooth 2.1 EDR+
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19.4 x 325 x 227 ( = 0.76 x 12.8 x 8.94 in)
Battery
37 Wh Lithium-Polymer, cannot be exchanged by the user
Operating System
Apple Mac Os X 10.5
Additional features
12 Months Warranty, 90 days telephone support, optionally external USB super drive, optional USB network adapter 100 MBit
Weight
1.37 kg ( = 48.33 oz / 3.02 pounds), Power Supply: 0 g ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
1700 Euro

 

Price comparison

Average Score: 74.27% - average
Average of 45 scores (from 79 reviews)
price: 55%, performance: 65%, features: 53%, display: 84% mobility: 74%, workmanship: 86%, ergonomy: 84%, emissions: 74%

Reviews for the Apple MacBook Air

88% Review Apple MacBook Air Subnotebook | Notebookcheck
Want to possess it? Today's thinnest notebook is small enough to fit into an envelope and pleases by its decent design and the high-quality materials used. This review describes, whether this bundle is able to convince despite its minimum interface equipment.
60% Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch Ultraportable Laptop PC
Source: Comp Reviews English Archive.org version
The Apple refresh of the MacBook Air adds some additional performance to the extremely thin ultraportable system, but fails to address some of the design decisions that can impact the functionality. The primary differences between the previous version and the new is faster DDR3 memory and the use of an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics for higher graphics performance. Apple still only supplies a single USB port and a non-swappable battery. And of course the optical drive is external and must be purchased separately. The net result is still a system that you will either love a lot or find lacking.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/09/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
80% MacBook Air with nVidia 9400M and 128GB SSD Review
Source: Trusted Reviews English Archive.org version
For some reason we were never able to get hold of a first generation MacBook Air. That's hardly surprising; I'm entirely sure Apple knew full well it was over-priced, under-featured and would nonetheless sell simply on the basis of it's being, first, a new Apple product and, second, an awesome thing to behold. To continue the TrustedReviews tradition of dubious car analogies,the MacBook Air is rather like the Noble M600. Nobody in their right mind would buy one as their sole mode of transport. But you just know that if you could afford one you couldn't help but be very tempted, no matter how ludicrous a purchase it is.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/05/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 90% features: 60%
90% Apple MacBook Air (Mid 2009) review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
The previous generation MacBook Air was already well clear of the competition in its sleek design and uncompromised speed. With this latest 2009 update, not only has Apple made the Apple MacBook Air (Mid 2009) faster, but it’s over 30% cheaper. It comes with Mac OS X already installed, offering a virus-free and reliable platform for business or home. But for the buyer who can't forsake Microsoft Windows, a licensed copy of Windows 7 could be added to the cost, installed on the Air through Boot Camp, and you’d still have a cost-effective winner relative to other ultraportables notebooks.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/27/2009
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% features: 70% workmanship: 90%
80% Apple Macbook Air
Source: Reg Hardware English Archive.org version
Now in its third generation, the MacBook Air hasn’t had the same sort of overhaul as the rest of the MacBook range has had in recent months. The MacBook Air is by no means perfect. Its performance and connectivity options are both more limited than those of conventional but heavier laptops. However, it does perform well when compared to other ultra-portable PCs in the same price bracket. Ultimately, the real clincher for us is the weight, or lack thereof. Instead of leaving it in the office – as we tend to do with our older, heavier White MacBook – undoubtedly, we'd be carrying the MacBook Air around with us and using it, pretty much all of the time.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/17/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
80% Apple MacBook Air
Source: Techradar English Archive.org version
A performance upgrade and price drop for Apple's specialist notebook. Although Wi-Fi is still its main means of connecting to networks or the internet, you now get a USB Ethernet adaptor in the box, should you need a wired connection. Trading power for portability and connectivity for convenience means the MacBook Air will never be a machine for everyone, but improved specs at a lower price can only be welcomed. A refreshing update for a machine that just oozes style
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/07/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
70% Apple MacBook Air (Mid-2009) review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
If what strikes you about the MacBook Air is that it's overpriced and underpowered, it isn't the laptop for you. It's hobbled by having only a single USB port. Its processor is slow and it's locked into 2GB of RAM. There's no FireWire, no optical drive and the only way to connect to an ethernet network is via an included USB adapter. But if the specs that matter most to you are light weight and small size, the MacBook Air is ideal. These new models aren't much faster than their predecessors - the high-end system is actually slower than the previous model - but they're cheaper.
70, Preis 70, Ausstattung 60, Verarbeitung 80
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/25/2009
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 70% features: 60% workmanship: 80%
Apple Macbook Air A1304
Source: PC World English Archive.org version
But if the specs that matter most to you are light weight and small size, the MacBook Air is the system for you. These new models aren't much faster than their predecessors (according to Macworld's findings)--in fact, the high-end system is slower than the previous model--but they're cheaper. Unfortunately, we can't give a final score just yet--we're still waiting on PC WorldBench 6 test results--but if the MacBook Air always appealed to you, except for the price tag, it's time to reconsider the Air.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/25/2009
Rating: performance: 40% display: 80% mobility: 80%
60% Apple MacBook Air (Nvidia 9400M GT
Source: PC Mag English Archive.org version
When Steve Jobs first pulled the Apple MacBook Air out of a manila envelope, the laptop Apple touted as the world's thinnest instantly turned media pundits into starry-eyed zealots. At that point, no one knew what features it had, what parts it ran, or even its price—just that, suddenly, the Air was a must-have. Yet the limitations that came to light after the Air's announcement tarnished its luster. After all, it was the only laptop in its class with a single USB port and a non-removable battery, and many features found in other laptops were absent. One only assumed that better things were yet to come. Earlier this year, the Apple MacBook Air (Nvidia 9400M GT) ($1,799 direct) rolled out silently behind the MacBook 13-inch (Aluminum) and the MacBook Pro 15-inch (Dual Graphics). The Apple MacBook Air (Nvidia 9400M GT) is a specimen of unsurpassable beauty, but upgrades of a few parts internally won't be enough to win over converts to Mac.
60
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/09/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
60% Apple MacBook Air (2009)
Source: Laptop Mag English Archive.org version
The updated version of Apple’s strikingly thin and strong ultraportable adds plenty of graphics punch, but its battery life is too short. If you were hesitant to pull the trigger on the original MacBook Air because of the short battery life and limited port selection, Apple hasn’t done much to win you over with the latest version. Road warriors who require good endurance should pass, but the addition of Nvidia’s GeForce 9400M GPU and a larger, faster SSD may prove enticing for those looking for extra performance in a sexy, thin package. If you don’t mind a little more bulk, the latest 13-inch, 4.5-pound MacBook Air is a much better deal, because it offers nearly 5 hours of runtime, easily accessible ports, and the same graphics punch for hundreds of dollars less.
60, Leistung 80, Mobilität 60
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/26/2009
Rating: Total score: 60% performance: 80% mobility: 60%
80% MacBook Air Late 2008
Source: Reg Hardware English Archive.org version
We still have reservations about the MacBook Air. The improved graphics performance does make it feel a lot smoother and more responsive than before. However, it’s still very expensive, and design decisions such as the non-replaceable battery just seem extremely short-sighted. Yet, for all its limitations, the sheer quality of the design shines through. It’s not just the look of the machine that matters – the feel of it is important too. Being able to balance the laptop lightly in the palm of one hand, or to simply snap the lid shut and pick it up the way you would with an ordinary A4 notepad really does make it enormously convenient and comfortable to use - and we did not, as one of our esteemed colleagues suggests, feel like a tit while doing so.
80%
Single Review, , Long, Date: 12/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 80%
50% Apple Macbook Air
Source: PC Authority English Archive.org version
It’s this sort of limitation that cripples the MacBook Air. It may exude class, but the lack of performance and features mean that it struggles to compete, and that’s unlikely to change, even with better graphics on new models released just as we went to press.
von 6: 3, Leistung 3, Mobilität 5, Ausstattung 3
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/02/2008
Rating: Total score: 50% performance: 50% features: 50% mobility: 83%
80% Apple MacBook Air 1.86GHz SSD review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
If the first MacBook Air was a revolutionary take on the Apple laptop line, this is an evolutionary step - which is exactly what you'd expect from a second-generation release. Aesthetically, the two generations are virtually the same; technologically, the new one offers a speed boost and better storage options at a better price than when the Air debuted. Having said that, if you don't think you need the ultimate in thinness and style - and to my eye, this really is the ultimate in the looks department - do yourself a favour and check out the new MacBook while you're comparison-shopping. Sure, it's chunkier - compared with the Air, just about everything is - and heavier at 4.5lb. But it's faster, offers more storage and is more expandable. Oh, and it's cheaper.
(von 5): 4, Preis 3.5, Verarbeitung 4, Ausstattung 3.5
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/28/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 70% workmanship: 80%
MacBook Air Review: it’s a different beast inside out
Source: Slashgear English Archive.org version

Unlike the first time around, the SSD Air is the one we’d recommend. Yes, it’s considerably more than its HDD counterpart, but its impact on performance is what makes the second-generation MacBook Air such a pleasure to use. If budget is such a consideration as to make the SSD upgrade impossible, we’d steer you instead to the MacBook, which can now compete (if not best) the Air in style. The Air remains Apple’s niche road-warrior option; now those owners can spend more time battling the competition than their notebook. If you fit the profile, you won’t be disappointed.


Leistung gut
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/28/2008
performance: 80%
MacBook Air: User Review
Source: Notebookreview.com English Archive.org version
Is the MacBook Air for you? If you are in the market for an all-round light-weight notebook then the Macbook Air is one of the most portable and visually appealing notebooks on the market. Otherwise you may want to consider the MacBook, which is significantly cheaper and provides high performance computing, better connectivity and ample storage. The MacBook Pro will interest people who either require a larger screen, an ExpressCard slot, more RAM or a dedicated graphics card.
Mobilität sehr gut, Preis mäßig
User Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/29/2008
Rating: price: 60% mobility: 90%
Air Jobs on the rebound
Source: Fudzilla English Archive.org version
Let's start with the basics. The Air is the best looking MacBook ever, and as far as I'm concerned, one of the best looking notebooks in general. Apple designed it with fashion-minded people in mind and it did a marvelous job. The good looks come at a price, but many people will be more than happy to sacrifice USBs, Ethernet and an optical drive to enjoy Apple's latest toy. So, what are the drawbacks? Lack of ports springs to mind first. There's no optical drive, either, meaning you have to cough up an additional $99 for an external SuperDrive and that hurts. No Ethernet ? Some people won't really mind, but others will.
Leistung schlecht, Mobilität mäßig, Ausstattung sehr schlecht
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/15/2008
Rating: performance: 40% features: 30% mobility: 60%
80% Apple MacBook Air, 1.8GHz & 64GB SSD review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
The public reaction to the MacBook Air has been fascinating. Our original conclusion could probably be boiled down to “it's good for people it's good for, and not for people it's not” – this appeared to be a Rorschach test for readers, since we've received praise from MacBook Air critics and fans alike. Across the internet we've seen similar reactions, with some users embracing the product despite its compromises, and others attacking it as a product with no purpose other than to part fools from their money. Not wishing to sound like a broken record, but how you see the Air has a lot to do with your priorities. For some, the Air's lack of a swappable battery and its underpowered processor make it a terrible value proposition – like paying for black on a MacBook. We take the point, but have to disagree. For us, the value of dropping down a kilo in weight will make all the difference when on the move.
(von 5): 4, Verarbeitung 4.5, Ausstattung 3.5, Preis 3.5
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/09/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 70% workmanship: 90%
70% Apple MacBook Air 1.8Ghz
Source: Techradar English Archive.org version
The sealed unit approach means the battery is an integral part of the machine and there's no clear path for upgrading the memory or hard drive. This may work for an MP3 player, which isn't critical to your work, however, for a machine to be used for business, can you really afford to send it back to Apple when it needs updating? In field tests, where we actually took the MacBook Air out and used it until the battery died, we found it lasted for 153 minutes, which is fine for the morning commute, but isn't going to see you through a day's work. When connected to a wireless network, this dropped to 137 minutes to reflect the chipsets further power drain. The Apple MacBook Air is a fantastic looking laptop and a joy to use, but there are simply too many sacrifices.
3.5 von 5, Verarbeitung gut, Display gut, Mobilität schlecht
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% display: 80% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
80% Apple MacBook Air
Source: Reg Hardware English Archive.org version
The Air is a 'love it or loathe it' machine, but don't let the naysayers put you off if it offers the form factor you prefer. Of course it's not going to be the laptop to suit everyone - you can buy cheaper or more capable Macs and PCs - so it's not a must have for the price-conscious buyer or the power-hungry. It's pricey, but with the exception of the tiny, basic Eee, the Air's no more expensive than other slim'n'light laptops. If form-factor is your prime concern, then the Air provides a good computing experience, and if our time with it is anything to go by, its port and optical disc limitations proved no handicap at all. Again, if you think they're going to be, there are plenty of other laptops out there that'll meet your needs instead. Of course, if you want to run Mac OS X on a thin'n'light machine, this is really your only option.
80%, Preis mangelhaft, Mobilität sehr gut
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/11/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 50% mobility: 90%
This Air is not for everyone
Source: The Star English Archive.org version
As a portable computer, it excels in many areas that others can’t – such as having a large screen, full-sized keyboard and decent processing power – while staying ultra lightweight. But the exclusion of an optical disc drive, limitations of Remote Disc, and lack of a user-replaceable battery, are shortcomings that will be difficult to ignore for most notebook users. We also find the Air more suited as a secondary device to a desktop machine because it depends so much on having another computer through which to install new applications. Despite that, we feel it represents a step in the right direction towards making notebooks more portable. We hope the next version comes with a built-in optical drive; we don’t think we are ready to give up on that peripheral just yet.
Display gut, Mobilität gut, Ausstattung schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/11/2008
Rating: features: 40% display: 80% mobility: 80%
71% Apple MacBook Air
Source: PC World English Archive.org version
Ultimately, though, the air is a victory of industrial design and single-minded purpose. It has decent performance for an ultraportable, but few standout features to speak of beyond the superficial. And yet, I still can't help wanting to stop and touch it.
(von 100): 71, Leistung 57, Ausstattung 71, Preis mäßig, Mobilität schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/07/2008
Rating: Total score: 71% price: 60% performance: 57% features: 71% mobility: 40%
80% Apple MacBook Air (80GB)
Source: Digital Trends English Archive.org version
There are always numerous factors to take into consideration when evaluating a laptop, but the problem with the Air is that it introduces several intangible factors that we have never encountered when reviewing PCs. Like other Apple products such as the iPhone, the Air is so beautiful and easy to use that we found ourselves becoming one of those Mac people who fall in “love” with the Apple product. It has undeniable appeal, and even us lifelong PC users were not only impressed with its performance and usability but felt drawn to it like we are to our iPhone. In fact, despite its drawbacks, our final conclusion is that we’d buy one in a heartbeat. We acknowledge its shortcomings, but in our mind they don’t outweigh its many positive attributes.
8 von 10, Leistung gut, Mobilität gut, Ausstattung gut
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/04/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% features: 80% mobility: 80%
MacBook Air
Source: T Break English Archive.org version
All-in-all, the Air is a decent Notebook with an incredible design but not one for me. Its a bit lacking in features and performance and for version 2 of Air (does that sound weird?), I would recommend Apple to add a Gigabit Ethernet port, increase the display resolution and lose the glossiness as well as use a dedicated GPU to process graphics. A faster hard drive would be nice too but I'm sure that SSDs will decease in price. Also, CPU speeds keep going up so that wont be an issue. Yes, I might be asking too much but I am a demanding user. And from that prespective, the Air is not for everyone- especially as their primary computer. I feel that its a steup-up from MacBook so if thats what you're eyeing at or want to upgrade from a PowerPC based notebook, then you'll be more than happy with Air. However, if you're a Mac Pro or MacBook Pro type of person, you'll still fall in love at first sight but probably get over the honeymoon within two weeks time and start craving for more.
Ausstattung mangelhaft, Leistung mangelhaft, Display mangelhaft
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/27/2008
Rating: performance: 50% features: 50% display: 50%
60% Apple MacBook Air
Source: Comp Reviews English Archive.org version
The MacBook Air is a very divisive design. Either you will love it or you will hate it. Design wise it is a beatuiful system that is extremely small and light. The problem is that it lacks a number of standard laptop features that it is very hard to really recommend it to anyone as their sole system. It is really best used as a business travel system in conjunction with another primary PC.
3 von 5, Mobilität gut
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/26/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% mobility: 80%
60% Apple MacBook Air laptop review
Source: Pocket Lint English Archive.org version
Every Apple launch is something of an event and it's no different with the MacBook Air, as this is the thinnest notebook in the world. You have to admire Apple's enthusiasm and the MacBook Air is a great design statement but as a practical machine it simply doesn't match anything released by Sony. If you like style over content then you'll be happy, but we feel there are simply too many sacrifices in the MacBook Air to make it a compelling purchase.
6 von 10
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/18/2008
Rating: Total score: 60%
80% Review: Apple Macbook Air notebook PC
Source: vnunet.com English Archive.org version
Apple says that the Macbook Air is a ‘no compromise ultra-portable laptop’. That’s certainly true in some ways: the unit measures less than 2cm thick (0.76in) at its thickest point, and even the somewhat-miffed Sony hasn’t really disputed Apple’s claim that this is the ‘thinnest laptop in the world’. Sony does win on weight as its Vaio TZ weighs just 1.24kg, compared to the Macbook’s 1.36kg. However, the Macbook Air has a bigger screen – 13.3in compared to 11.1in for the Vaio. Ultimately, though, Apple’s engineers know that there’s more to good design than just a spec-sheet full of numbers. The ultra-portable design is impressive, but comes at a cost in terms of limited performance and connectivity.
(von 5): 4, Ausstattung 4, Leistung 3, Preis/Leistung 4, Verarbeitung gut
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/14/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 60% features: 80% workmanship: 80%
Apple MacBook Air Review
Source: Notebookreview.com English Archive.org version
Apple is pushing the envelope (cough cough) with the MacBook Air ... in various ways that some people will love and others will hate. On one hand they offer a super thin, lightweight design, but on the other they take away ports and give you a permanent battery. This notebook also suffers from some early release driver quirks, but those should hopefully be resolved in the near future. Overall I think this is a promising notebook that should force some other manufacturers to wake up and design some lighter and slimmer full-size notebooks.
Mobilität zufriedenstellend
User Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/06/2008
Rating: mobility: 70%
60% MacBook Air
Source: Laptop Mag English Archive.org version
When you weigh the compromises against what the MacBook Air offers, there are some good reasons to think twice and to wait for some of these innovations to grace the next iteration of the MacBook Air. But that’s reason talking. Our visceral reaction to the MacBook Air is that it’s a notebook we’d want to carry around everywhere. Road warriors who demand long battery life or a better selection of ports should pass, but this work of art is worth considering for corridor warriors who attend lots of meetings, as well as for commuters who do a fair amount of work while traveling to and from the office. You get an easy-to-use, secure, and fun operating system wrapped in the sexiest, thinnest package money can buy.
3 von 5, Display gut, Leistung gut, Mobilität mangelhaft
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/06/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% performance: 80% display: 80% mobility: 50%
Ars reviews the MacBook Air with solid state drive
Source: IT Reviews English Archive.org version
The $1,300 question is whether the SSD is worth the extra cash. The answer seems to be no. I experienced only moderate gains in battery life and not very noticeable speed differences. The one major benefit of the SSD model is that it doesn't cause the same types of slowdowns as the HDD model during times of high disk activity, and that's certainly a huge plus. Speedy read times are great, too, but they are balanced out by pokey write times. Still, even if it's more usable, it's hard to justify the huge price difference for the SSD model. If you've got an extra $1,300 to blow and, for some reason, haven't just bought a second computer with it, perhaps the SSD model is for you. For anyone else looking to buy an Air, the HDD model appears to provide the most bang for the buck.
Leistung gut, Preis/Leistung schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/05/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 80%
70% Apple MacBook Air review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
The story of the MacBook Air is a story about compromise, the decision about whether the MacBook Air is a product worth having can be answered by one question: How much are you willing to compromise? Judged merely on the cold technological specifications, the MacBook Air can't measure up to Apple's other laptops. For those to whom the tech specs matter above all else, the MacBook Air can't be seen as much more than an overpriced, underpowered toy. But there will be those who, small drive and slow processor be damned, will adopt the MacBook Air as their primary laptop - simply because they want that laptop to be as small as possible. For those who factor size, weight, and — yes, we'll admit it — style into the equation, the MacBook Air begins to make more sense.
(von 5): 3.5, Verarbeitung 4, Ausstattung 3, Preis/Leistung 3
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/03/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% features: 60% workmanship: 80%
MacBook Air First Thoughts Review
Source: Notebookreview.com English Archive.org version
As the old saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression." Somehow, I don't think everyone in Cupertino was thinking about this famous phrase when they developed the MacBook Air. While the Apple MacBook Air is an impressive design with some innovative features, the number of sacrifices that had to be made in order to create this ultra-thin notebook severely limits this laptop. The lack of ports, low-capacity slow hard drive, and slow overall performance make the MacBook Air the weakest performing MacBook we've seen in the last few years. On the other hand, the MacBook Air is the sexiest looking MacBook we've ever seen. Sure, you can fit the MacBook Air in a manila envelope ... but most consumers won't be impressed if the $1,800 laptop that comes out of the envelope isn't very powerful. Stay tuned for our full review of the MacBook Air in a few days.
Leistung schlecht
User Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/31/2008
performance: 40%
60% MacBook Air
Source: Laptop Mag English Archive.org version
When you weigh the compromises against what the MacBook Air offers, there are some good reasons to think twice and to wait for some of these innovations to grace the next iteration of the MacBook Air. But that’s reason talking. Our visceral reaction to the MacBook Air is that it’s a notebook we’d want to carry around everywhere. Road warriors who demand long battery life or a better selection of ports should pass, but this work of art is worth considering for corridor warriors who attend lots of meetings, as well as for commuters who do a fair amount of work while traveling to and from the office. You get an easy-to-use, secure, and fun operating system wrapped in the sexiest, thinnest package money can buy.
3 von 5, Display sehr gut, Leistung zufriedenstellend, Mobilität mäßig
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/31/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% performance: 70% display: 90% mobility: 60%
60% MacBook Air
Source: vnunet.com English Archive.org version
When you weigh the compromises against what the MacBook Air offers, there are some good reasons to think twice and to wait for some of these innovations to grace the next iteration of the MacBook Air. But that’s reason talking. Our visceral reaction to the MacBook Air is that it’s a notebook we’d want to carry around everywhere. Road warriors who demand long battery life or a better selection of ports should pass, but this work of art is worth considering for corridor warriors who attend lots of meetings, as well as for commuters who do a fair amount of work while traveling to and from the office. You get an easy-to-use, secure, and fun operating system wrapped in the sexiest, thinnest package money can buy.
3 von 5, Display sehr gut, Leistung zufriedenstellend, Mobilität mäßig
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/31/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% performance: 70% display: 90% mobility: 60%
77% Apple MacBook Air Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz - 13.3" TFT
Source: CNet English Archive.org version
Apple's new laptop, the MacBook Air, may not be the true ultraportable that many had hoped for, but it still easily breaks new ground for small laptops. Mimicking the 13-inch silhouette of the current MacBook line, it's only 0.76 inch thick at its thickest, and Apple calls it the "world's thinnest notebook. The design is revolutionary, but Apple's MacBook Air will appeal to a smaller, more specialized audience than the standard MacBook, thanks to a stripped-down set of connections and features.
7.7 von 10, Mobilität gut, Preis/Leistung schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/25/2008
Rating: Total score: 77% performance: 80% display: 80% mobility: 80%
70% Apple MacBook Air laptop review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
The MacBook Air has arrived, a third MacBook model that brings incredibly small size to Apple's laptop line at a premium price. After getting some hands-on time with the MacBook Air at Macworld Expo, we've got some first impressions. At the risk of sounding obvious, the MacBook Air is incredibly light and tiny. Initial impressions of the MacBook Air are almost overwhelmingly positive. It's incredibly light and tiny, and has all the features we've come to expect from the MacBook line. But there's no optical drive and the hard drive isn't the biggest.
(von 5): 3.5, Verarbeitung 4, Ausstattung 3, Preis/Leistung 3
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% features: 60% workmanship: 80%
70% Apple MacBook Air
Source: PC Mag English Archive.org version
If your weight requirements extend to 4-pounds and under, then the MacBook Air is not best of breed. The Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N and the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 are now the favorites. For those who pre-ordered already and were sold as soon as Jobs whipped out the manila folder, the MacBook Air is hands down the thinnest and prettiest laptop in the market. The MacBook Air is officially the thinnest laptop, and the lightest of those with a 13-inch screen. But there were compromises that had to be made.
3.5 von 5, Display sehr gut, Mobilität mäßig, Preis/Leistung gut
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/16/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% display: 90% mobility: 60%
Apple MacBook Air - First Look review
Source: Pocket Lint English Archive.org version
As a piece of engineering, the MacBook Air is impressive and Apple should be commended for getting all that tech into a device that is so thin. Up close and personal it's very impressive and makes our 6-month old MacBook Pro look like someone from Fat Camp. So why aren't we getting all excited about it as much as we should? Well for us it comes down to that non-replaceable battery. What's the point of having a portable device if you have to be within 5 hours of a power supply. Granted 5 hours is a long time and Apple suggest that if you opt for the SSD option you'll get even longer, but the inability to be able to replace the battery on the fly is a deal breaker for us. It might be fine when you first get it out of the box, but what happens in 2 years time when you've got to take it back to Apple because the battery is giving you below par performance?
Display gut, Mobilität zufriedenstellend, Preis/Leistung schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/15/2008
Rating: price: 40% display: 80% mobility: 70%

Foreign Reviews

Apple MacBook Air mit SSD im Test
Source: HardwareLuxx German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/06/2009
Rating: price: 50% display: 80% mobility: 80% emissions: 30%
57% Apple MacBook Air
Source: T-Online German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/24/2009
Rating: Total score: 57% price: 40% performance: 53% features: 40% mobility: 53% ergonomy: 97%
70% Apple Macbook Air
Source: PC Welt German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/16/2009
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 40% performance: 53% features: 40% mobility: 53% ergonomy: 97%
Macbook Air und seine Gegner
Source: e-media - 11/09 German
Comparison, , Long, Date: 07/01/2009
Rating: price: 40% performance: 80% mobility: 90% workmanship: 80%
Flunder auf Speed
Source: c't - 5/09 German
Single Review, , Long, Date: 01/15/2009
Rating: performance: 60% features: 40% display: 70% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 80% emissions: 90%
94% Das neue Macbook Air im Test
Source: Mac Welt German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/19/2008
Rating: Total score: 94% price: 40% performance: 80% emissions: 90%
90% Apple MacBook Air Refresh
Source: Notebookjournal German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/28/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 50% performance: 70% features: 20% display: 90% mobility: 50% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 70%
„Heiße Minis“ - Subnotebooks
Source: SFT - 8/08 German
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 08/01/2008
Rating: features: 50%
Apple MacBook Air Subnotebook
Source: Minitechnet German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/19/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 80% display: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 100% ergonomy: 60%
80% Typisch Apple - kleines Teil für viel Geld
Source: Notebookjournal German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/08/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 50% performance: 50% features: 30% display: 100% mobility: 50% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 70% emissions: 40%
Subnotebook von Apple
Source: Stiftung Warentest - 5/08 German
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/01/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 80%
Luftpost von Apple: Test MacBook Air
Source: Tom's Hardware German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/29/2008
Rating: price: 40% features: 40%
Flacher gehts kaum
Source: Stiftung Warentest - 5/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/25/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 80% features: 50%
Das dünnste Notebook der Welt
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy - 5-6/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/18/2008
Rating: mobility: 80%
Die Leichtigkeit des Seins
Source: mobile Zeit - 3/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/09/2008
Rating: performance: 70% features: 50%
60% Apple Macbook Air
Source: Chip.de - 4/08 German
Single Review, , Very Short, Date: 04/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 60%
Die unerträgliche Leichtigkeit ist meins
Source: Plugged - 3/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 03/31/2008
Rating: mobility: 80%
Die Leichtigkeit des Seins
Source: Mac Welt - 4/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 03/05/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 70% mobility: 80% emissions: 80%
Ist weniger mehr?
Source: Mac Life - 4/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 03/05/2008
Rating: features: 50%
MacBook Air
Source: AON.at German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/03/2008
Rating: price: 50% display: 80% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 100%
80% Ein Hauch von Laptop
Source: Connect - 4/08 German
Single Review, , Very Short, Date: 03/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 40% features: 60% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 100%
83% Fliegengewicht
Source: Computerbild - 6/08 German
Single Review, , Medium, Date: 03/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 80% performance: 86% features: 80% display: 84% ergonomy: 80% emissions: 88%
All you need is the Air?
Source: WCM - 4/08 German
Comparison, , Long, Date: 03/01/2008
Rating: performance: 70% features: 50% display: 80% workmanship: 70%
90% Macbook Air im Praxistest
Source: ZDNet German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/28/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 70% performance: 60% features: 50%
Mobilität in einer neuen Dimension
Source: SFT - 3/08 German
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/27/2008
Rating: display: 80%
88% Apple MacBook Air im Test
Source: Notebookcheck German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/24/2008
Rating: Total score: 88% performance: 70% display: 92% mobility: 88% workmanship: 99% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 85%
Das digitale Quartett
Source: Tomorrow - 3/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/21/2008
Rating: price: 40% display: 80%
Airotisch: Das Apple MacBook Air im Test
Source: Netzwelt German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/20/2008
Rating: performance: 40% features: 40% mobility: 60% emissions: 80%
Mini-Notebooks
Source: c't - 5/08 German
Single Review, , Long, Date: 02/15/2008
Rating: performance: 40% features: 40% mobility: 80%
74% Apple MacBook Air (Notebook)
Source: Chip.de German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/12/2008
Rating: Total score: 74% performance: 64% features: 51% display: 100% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 73%
77% Apple Macbook Air
Source: ZDNet German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/08/2008
Rating: Total score: 77% price: 40% features: 70% mobility: 80%
MacBook Air
Source: Mac Life - 3/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/06/2008
Rating: mobility: 90%
Dicke Überraschung: Dünnes MacBook
Source: Plugged - 2/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/25/2008
Rating: mobility: 80%
The MacBook Air Hands-On
Source: Tom's Hardware German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/18/2008
Rating: mobility: 90%
81% Apple MacBook Air SSD
Source: MuyComputer Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 81%
92% Apple MacBook Air
Source: PC Actual Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/16/2008
Rating: Total score: 92% price: 83%
Steve Jobs y sus cacharritos: el MacBook Air a prueba
Source: CanalPDA Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/17/2008
Rating: price: 50% features: 50% display: 80% mobility: 90%
80% Air-o-dynamisch
Source: HET Magazine Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/05/2010
Rating: Total score: 80%
70% Apple MacBook Air FM4015
Source: PCM Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% mobility: 80%
Dunste notebook ter wereld
Source: Computer Totaal Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/08/2008
Rating: price: 60% performance: 70% display: 80% mobility: 90%
70% Apple Macbook Air : le fin du fin
Source: Erenumerique French FR→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/04/2009
Rating: Total score: 70%
80% Apple MacBook Air 2009
Source: Les Numeriques French FR→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/31/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 60% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 80%
Egy okkal több a lottózásra
Source: NotebookTV.hu HU→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/26/2009
Rating: price: 30%

Comment

Series: The original MacBook Air, “the world’s thinnest notebook” was introduced at the 2008 keynote by Apple’s former CEO Steve Jobs. Key advantages are thinness, durability, high quality display especially the input device when compare with other netbook at the time. However, it was also heavily criticized for lack of Optical Disc, only one USB port, not user-removable battery among other things. At that time, nobody knows that these disadvantages of the MacBook Air series would be the pinnacle of Intel’s concept for next generation notebooks which will be the newest trend for 2012.

In 2011, Apple has introduced the latest update of the MacBook Air Series, with Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge Series, which doubling the performance. Major advantages of the 2011 MacBook Air in our reviews are the light weight, outstanding, unrivalled design and robust build quality thanks to the aluminum case, very good backlit keyboard plus glass track pad, as well as a very good performance for a subnotebook. The 2011 MacBook Air still shares some of the original’s disadvantages like limited ports, heavily reflective display, non-upgradeable memory and non-user-removable battery. Still, the MacBook Air outclasses almost every other Ultrabook out there with its advantage, save only for Samsung’s newest Series 9 model. On average, the review-ratings are very good, which always assure a place in the top 3 Subnotebook of Notebookcheck.

Rumor has it that Apple will introduce the new MacBook Air within a month during Apple’s usual WWDC with Retina-display, USB 3.0 and Ivy-bridge processor, so stay tune for the newest update of the most popular Ultrabook from the tech giant in Cupertino.

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100 is an integrated (onboard) graphic chip on a Mobile Intel 965GM chipset. It is the successor of GMA 950 and features a fully programmable pipeline (supports Aero Glass fully and DirectX 10 with newest drivers). The peformance of the X3100 is clearly better than the GMA 950, still demanding modern games won't run fluently.

These graphics cards are not suited for Windows 3D games. Office and Internet surfing however is possible.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).

The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.


SP7500: Low power Core 2 Duo based on the Merom core that was used in the MacBook Air (but due to throttling could not show the full performance).» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


13.30":

There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.

The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


Apple: Apple is a US company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the company is known for its innovative products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and manufactures computers and consumer electronics as well as operating systems and application software. Apple is also a leading provider of software and services such as the App Store, iTunes and iCloud.

Apple has earned a reputation as a company that focuses on design and ease of use. As for their notebooks, they are mostly in the high-priced segment, have their own operating system, but also run Windows on the newer Macbooks.

Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world and has a loyal following of customers and fans. The company also has a strong presence in the entertainment industry, with services like Apple Music and Apple TV+. In 2023, Apple had an approximate 8% market share of global PC sales, ranking it 4th after Lenovo, HP, and Dell.


74.27%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.


» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

 

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Similar devices from a different Manufacturer

HP Voodoo ENVY133
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Sony Vaio VGN-SZ71WN
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T9300
Lenovo ThinkPad X300
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo L7100
Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook S6410
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7500

Devices with the same GPU and/or Screen Size

Getac B300
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo L7500, 3.5 kg
Dell Inspiron 1318
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Pentium Dual Core T2390, 2.2 kg
Dell Inspiron 13
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T8300, 2.3 kg
Toshiba Satellite U400
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T5550, 1.9 kg
Toshiba Portégé M800
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T5750, 1.9 kg
Toshiba Satellite Pro U400
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T8100, 1.9 kg
Toshiba Satellite U405
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T8100, 2.5 kg
Medion MD96619
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7250, 2.1 kg
Toshiba Satellite Pro U300
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7250, 2 kg
Toshiba Satellite U300-13V
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7700, 2 kg
Toshiba Satellite U300-134
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T5450, 2 kg
Medion MD96544
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7700, 2.1 kg
Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Si2636
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7500, 2.3 kg
MSI Megabook PR300
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7300, 2 kg
Toshiba Satellite U305-S5127
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7100, 2.1 kg

Devices with the same GPU

Averatec 2700
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T5800, 12.10", 1.9 kg
Medion S2210
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Pentium Dual Core T3200, 12.10", 2.1 kg
Fujitsu-Siemens LifeBook P8020
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo SU9400, 12.10", 1.3 kg
Packard Bell EasyNote BG45-U-300
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Pentium Dual Core T2390, 12.10", 1.6 kg
MSI Megabook VR201
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Pentium Dual Core T2330, 12.10", 1.9 kg
Lenovo IdeaPad U110
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo L7500, 11.10", 1.1 kg
Medion MD96652
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T5450, 12.10", 2 kg
Maxdata Belinea o.book 4
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T7100, 12.10", 2 kg
Panasonic Toughbook CF-R7
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo U7600, 10.40", 0.9 kg
Acer Aspire 2920
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, Core 2 Duo T5450, 12.10", 2 kg
Preisvergleich

Apple MacBook Air on Ciao

Apple MacBook Air bei Notebookinfo

 

Price comparison

Reviews on Laptops at Ciao

Apple MacBook Air
Apple MacBook Air
Stefan Hinum, 2008-02-19 (Update: 2012-05-26)