Apple MacBook Air Reviewed
January 24, 2008 at 09:39:00 AM, by Sourabh Kalantri
Sure, it\'s thin, revolutionary and cool but do the compromises made in achieving the thinnovation exclude most of the potentional buyers?
Walt Mossberg of WSJ gets his hand on the shiny new MacBook Air and reveals his findings after a week or so of testing. MacBook Air is Apple's big entry into the ultra-portable arena. Mossberg says, "Typical of Apple, the company took a different approach from its competitors. The result is a beautiful, amazingly thin computer, but one whose unusual trade-offs may turn off some frequent travelers."
Apple made the MacBook Air slightly different from the other ultra-portables in the market by making no compromises on the screen and keyboard. He says, "The three-pound MacBook Air, by contrast, features a 13.3-inch display and a full-size keyboard. It's impossible to convey in words just how pleasing and surprising this computer feels in the hand. It's so svelte when closed that it's a real shock to discover the big screen and keyboard inside."
Walt Mossberg also warned about the laptop's daring design and lack of user-replaceable battery. This is where, he believes, MacBook Air can't be recommended to all travelers and other buyers without knowing their usage patterns.
We're already aware of the trade-offs of an ultra-portable so thin: no built-in optical drive, lack of standard ports and other connectors. WiFi is the only way MacBook Air knows to connect to the internet out of the box.
Battery life tests came out true to Apple's claim and neared 210 minutes under moderate loads. So, the laptop can give approx. 4.5 hours of battery life under normal work pattern.
Mossberg's verdict on MacBook Air: If you value thinness, and a large screen and keyboard in a subnotebook, and don't watch DVDs on planes or require spare batteries, the MacBook Air might be just the ticket. But if you rely on spare batteries, expect the usual array of ports, or like to play DVDs on planes, this isn't the computer to buy.
Source: WSJ
" Page:1/1
Stay up-to-date with the latest mobile technology news and laptop reviews with our free newsletter! Get free tips, news and information from Laptop Logic and find the best laptop deals online.
Comments
There are no comments yet.