macbook airLaptops are getting supermodel-thin. They’re also getting supermodel-light. And Apple is not bucking the trend just to be different. To compete in that measurement category, Apple’s MacBook Air is here, touted as its thinnest and lightest model to date. But is it worth buying?

The New MacBook Air
MacBook Air is only the third model from the series and already, it is boasting some nice stuff. It weighs only 3 lbs., just as much as your starter dumbbell (that’s one dumbbell, not a pair). And if it doesn’t give you much of a workout, it will offer you a few reasons to like it. It’s thin, just ¾ of an inch thick and has a 13.3″ screen. It also sports more curved edges than angles and has a tapered shape that your aesthetic sensibilities will like.

The MacBook Air is so skinny that Intel had to custom-design its Core 2 Duo (1.6 and 1.8GHz) CPU just to fit the body. There’s also a 2GB DDR II SDRAM, Bluetooth and an iSight camera. It also features a roomy touchpad, which responds to multi-touch gestures. If you’re the type who likes to work with external monitors, the MacBook Air also connects through its video-out capability for secondary display.

There are some things you’ll miss, though. The MacBook Air doesn’t have an optical drive. That’s the price it has to pay for being zero body fat. It also lacks the usual slots for an SD card and an Express card, FireWire and doesn’t have an Ethernet jack on board.

Top Features:

  • Sleek, thin design. MacBook Air is the thinnest notebook in the world.
  • 13.3-inch widescreen LED backlit display. The LED screen provides a crisp picture while consuming minimal power.
  • Multi-touch trackpad. Zoom, rotate, swipe, and scroll with just a flick or a pinch – like the iPhone or iPod touch.
  • Full-size backlit keyboard. The keys automatically illuminate from behind in low-light conditions.
  • Built-in iSight camera. Video chatting is incredibly easy wherever there’s a wireless network.
  • Up to 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Get dual-core performance and the latest in Intel integrated graphics.
  • 2GB of RAM. Work seamlessly with large files and multiple open applications.
  • Internal storage options include a 80GB 4200-rpm Parallel ATA hard disk drive or optional 64GB solid-state drive.
  • External storage options incluse USB MacBook Air SuperDrive.
  • Next-generation 802.11n Wi-Fi. Access the Internet, share files, connect to peripherals—all wirelessly.
  • Remote Disc. Wirelessly use the optical drive of any Mac or PC in the vicinity.
  • Ships with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08.

The final word: MacBook Air isn’t as ultra-portable as it’s marketed to be but it is quite small and thin. If you don’t mind carrying extras like external connectivity accessories, this is a fine laptop to have. Like all supermodels, you’ll have to pay a steep price for this one just to get a hold of one. The MacBook Air can set you back by about $1,800. For faster CPUs, expect to pay about $3,000.

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