Apple Introduces MacBook Air-The World’s Thinnest Notebook
MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO–January 15, 2008–Apple today unveiled MacBook Air,
the world’s thinnest notebook. MacBook Air measures an unprecedented
0.16-inches at its thinnest point, while its maximum height of 0.76-inches
is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks. MacBook Air has a
stunning 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, a full-size and backlit
keyboard, a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, and a
spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support so users can pinch,
rotate and swipe. MacBook Air is powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core
2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache, and includes as standard features 2GB of
memory, an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive, and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi
technology and Bluetooth 2.1.
“We’ve built the world’s thinnest notebook–without sacrificing a full-size
keyboard or a full-size 13-inch display,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.
“When you first see MacBook Air, it’s hard to believe it’s a
high-performance notebook with a full-size keyboard and display. But it is.”
MacBook Air has a vibrant 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
that is energy efficient, and its spacious trackpad offers multi-touch
gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than
ever to browse and rotate photos or zoom into web pages in Safari. MacBook
Air features a full-size keyboard design in a sleek and durable aluminum
enclosure. The backlit keyboard makes it ideal for dimly lit environments
such as airplanes, studios or conference halls, and a built-in ambient
light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as
the display brightness for optimal visibility.
MacBook Air delivers up to five hours of battery life for wireless
productivity and includes AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, which
delivers up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g*.
Apple’s Migration Assistant software now enables users to quickly transfer
files, applications and preferences from your old Mac to MacBook Air right
over your wireless network.
MacBook Air users can buy the companion MacBook Air SuperDrive, a compact
external drive designed for MacBook Air, for just $99. The MacBook Air
SuperDrive is powered by MacBook Air’s USB port, eliminating the need to
carry a separate power adapter. Many MacBook Air users will not find a need
for an optical drive now that they can wirelessly rent movies from the
iTunes Store, wirelessly backup files with Time Capsule and access the
optical drives on remote PCs or Macs to wirelessly install software
applications on MacBook Air.
MacBook Air is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors running at 1.6 GHz or
1.8 GHz, and includes as standard 2GB of memory and an 80GB 1.8-inch hard
drive. An optional 64GB solid state drive contains no moving parts for
added durability. Every MacBook Air includes a micro-DVI port so users can
connect to Apple’s gorgeous 20-inch or 23-inch Cinema Displays to extend
their desktop or connect to projectors and other displays via DVI, VGA,
Composite and S-video adapters. MacBook Air includes USB 2.0 for plugging
in peripherals or charging an iPod or iPhone, a headphone jack and Apple’s
acclaimed MagSafe Power Adapter designed especially for mobile users.
Every MacBook Air comes with iLife ’08, the most significant update ever to
Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring a
major new version of iPhoto and a completely reinvented iMovie, both
seamlessly integrated with the new .Mac Web Gallery for online photo and
video sharing. The new MacBook Air also comes with Leopard, the sixth major
release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Leopard introduces
Time Machine, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a
Mac; a redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files
between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without
opening an application; Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create
groups of applications and instantly switch between them; a brand new
desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock; and
major enhancements to Mail and iChat. .Mac members can use the new Back to
My Mac feature to browse and access files on their home computer from a
MacBook Air over the Internet while out on the road.
The new MacBook Air embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress with
its aluminum enclosure, a material highly desired by recyclers; Apple’s
first mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass; and brominated
flame retardant-free material for the majority of circuit boards as well as
PVC-free internal cables. In addition, MacBook Air consumes the least
amount of power of any Mac, and its retail box, made primarily from 100
percent post-consumer recycled material, is 56 percent smaller by volume
than the previously smallest MacBook packaging.
Pricing & Availability
The new MacBook Air will be shipping in two weeks through the Apple Store
(www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a
suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), and includes:
* 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with 1280×800 resolution;
* 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache;
* 800 MHz front-side bus;
* 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM;
* 80GB hard disk drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100;
* Micro-DVI port (includes Micro-DVI to VGA and Micro-DVI to DVI Adapters);
* built-in iSight video camera;
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* one USB 2.0 port;
* one headphone port;
* multi-touch TrackPad with support for advanced multi-touch gestures
including tap, scroll, pinch, rotate and swipe; and
* 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
Build-to-order options and accessories include the ability to upgrade to a
1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 64GB solid state drive, MacBook Air
SuperDrive, Apple USB Ethernet Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple MagSafe
Airline Adapter, Apple Remote and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional
build-to-order options also include pre-installed copies of iWork ’08,
Logic Express 8, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 1.5.
*Battery life depends on configuration and use. See www.apple.com/batteries
for more information. AirPort Extreme is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft
specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection
rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple
II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its
award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional
applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with
its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has
entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.