MacBook Air/1.6GHz
Mac users now have a three-pound, thin laptop to call their own, but it comes with tradeoffs. The MacBook Air comes without an optical drive (though there's an optional USB SuperDrive you can buy for $99), so you'll have to install programs via the machine's Remote Disk software. There's also no Gigabit Ethernet (again, available as an optional add-on) and no FireWire port. In addition to accessories, users can also opt for a 1.8GHz processor or a 64GB solid-state drive.
| Reviewed | Full Review |
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Judged merely on the cold technological specifications, the MacBook Air can't measure up to Apple's other laptops. But for those who factor size, weight, and style into the equation, the MacBook Air begins to make more sense. Is losing several hundred megahertz, dozens of gigabytes of hard-drive space, an internal optical drive, and FireWire connectivity worth losing two pounds? Each laptop user will have to answer that question for themselves.
Pros: Weighs three pounds; bright LED-backlit 13.3-inch screen; full-size keyboard.
Cons: Slow processor; slow and small hard drive; limited configuration options; unswappable battery.
Basics
Reviewed Price: $1,799
Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Price Comparison
| Shop at: | Price |
|---|---|
| PCTechSystems, Inc. | $949.00 |
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Lab Tests
| Speedmark 5 Score | 124 |
|---|---|
| Cinema 4D XL XL 10.5 | 1:36 |
| iMovie HD 6 | 1:21 |
| iTunes 7.5 | 1:52 |
| Photoshop CS3 | 1:43 |
| Compressor | 3:25 |
| Unreal Tournament 2004 | 19.3fps |
| Tested Configuration | Mac OS X 10.5.1 with 2GB of RAM |
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