MacBook Air Review! (56k go home!)

Alrighty! The one who has too many things to review lately (that's me) has gotten his hands on, temporarily, a brand spanking new MacBook Air. It's for my dad, but until I see him in May, I shall be using it very occasionally.

And, to make a point that this system really, really kicks the proverbial buttocks, everything to do with this review I have done ON this very MacBook Air. That means I took photos (with my trusty EOS 40D), and then edited them (big, CPU-intensive RAW files) using Adobe Photoshop LightRoom using this MacBook Air, and then typed all this jargon out on....yep, this very MacBook Air. After all, what good would a review be without actually using the system for things other people don't think it can do?

So, without further ado, I present to you.., Le MacBook Heir!

Well, actually, this is a box. A slightly crunched box, but appearances can be deceiving...



No, it really is a little crunched. Appearances are not deceiving.

And, here is the box from another angle:



And another angle:



And one more.....

Wait?

What's that you say?

You don't want pictures of the Amazon box? Well....FINE THEN!

*grumble*

*more grumbling*

Fine fine I'll get on with it....

Inside the slightly-scrunched Amazon box we have.....

A completely un-scrunched box! Another box! OMGBBQ!



And inside that box.... is a MacBook Air (not another box, much to my disappointment).

You've gotta hand it to Apple. They sure know how to make packaging look exquisite:



The system spec:

Apple MacBook Air
1.6Ghz Core2Duo
2GB DDR-2
80GB 4200rpm HD

Anyway, with the system unboxed, we're NOT treated to all the usual Apple accoutrements. What's that, you say? Yep, Apple kind-of skimped out on the accessories. All you get is the power cord, Leopard re-install discs (only 10.5, so you have to do the 10.5.2 software upgrade, unlike the 17" MacBook Pro Penryn systems which came with the 10.5.2 discs out of the box, interestingly), the adapters to connect to your external display (VGA and DVI adapters included), and er... a cleany cloth. For...err.. cleaning... your....screen.



Thanks, Apple. Now where's that remote? Or the USB to Ethernet adapter? Ahem.

Moving on, nobody I've seen has really mentioned this, but the power adapter that comes with the MacBook Air really is tiny. It's miniscule! It also weighs so very little it won't really add to the weight when you're taking your MacBook Air anywhere.

And here it is, in all its tiny glory, with the new plug end designed just for the Air. Ahh.. so cute....







OK, so everyone knows the MacBook Air is thin and light. Yeah yeah yeah. But really, when you compare it to anything else you have, THAT'S when you really appreciate just HOW thin and light it is. It's no exaggeration that when compared to my 15.4" MacBook Pro, that laptop is positively a BRICK when swapping between them.

Just look at that difference!



And from the side, it almost hurts me to look at my MacBook Pro! Oh the horror!



And here's a picture I took because Anandtech.com had a similar picture with a MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air, and an iPhone, for thickness comparison. So I decided to go one better and have... errr.. two iPhones?



Yes, I KNOW I'm compensating for something. You don't need to tell me.


Now, on the underside of Le MacBook Air, we have some unsightly rubber feet. They are practical, though, so that you don't destroy the Air's bottom, and that it passes some air (ooer!), but they are pretty unsightly. Not the end of the world, though, of course, since you never really see them.




Anyway, let's move on to some more practical stuff, eh?




With Leopard installed out of the box, all that remained was to install a few updates and applications to test this puppy out!

I got online in seconds, with no problems connecting to my encrypted wireless network, and was surfing the Internets in moments later.

See? Proof!



(Ignore the moire (wavy lines). It's just my camera adding that...)

OK, so the first thing I noticed is that the screen is stunning. The second thing I noticed is the keyboard is stunning.

Let's start with the screen:

So, usually, I don't like glossy displays. I find them harsher on the eyes and they reflect light like crazy. But, but... this display is gorgeous. LED-lit, very vibrant, and it makes my MacBook Pro feel...well.... dated, by comparison, even though it's also LED-lit.

Here's some comparison pictures...




MacBook Air:


MacBook Pro:




Webpage comparison:

MacBook Air:


MacBook Pro:




OK, so actually using the laptop?

A joy. Really a joy. The keyboard is wonderful. No missed key presses like on the MacBook Pro. The keyboard is just like the Apple BT keyboard, and that is one of the best keyboards I've ever used. It feels right at home on the MacBook Air. Typing this review is the most fun experience I've had in ages, sitting on the sofa, the keyboard illuminated in glowing white, without my legs burning.

Let me say that again, my legs are NOT burning.

Now I'd heard from people saying the MacBook Air gets really hot, but I can tell you this, I'd be quite happy to use this in shorts while typing reviews. Yes, it gets a little warmer toward the back when doing graphic-intensive jobs, but not even in the same league as my MacBook Pro, which is positively a toaster oven by comparison. The MacBook Air, right now, after being on for quite a few hours, is just barely warm at its warmest part, right by the screen hinge on the underside.

To address any fan issues, I've experienced none. None at all. When running intensive applications, the fans speed up to around 6200rpm at their fastest, at which point they're audible (like any other fan), but the rest of the time they run at 2500rpm (500rpm faster than the MacBook Pro, though I run mine at 2500rpm at all times anyway), which means they're very quiet. I had no trouble running YouTube, as some had reported. Fans speed up and then speed down without ANY issue.

The highest I've seen the CPU hit is 83C, as this shot shows. Even then, the system was not more than warm:



I also have had no CPU core shutdowns as of yet, even when dealing with RAWs from my SLR which is no mean feat.

And here it is - my editing these photos on the MacBook Air:





Now, sound quality... NOT bad at all. Again, I'm not sure where all the negativity comes from in regards to the MacBook Air's sound system. Yes, it IS just one speaker (pushing sound out from under the right side of the keyboard). I do miss the second speaker because I love listening to music, but really, it sounds DARN good for being just a tiny speaker. It's lacking some bass. Heck, it's lacking ALL bass! (does any laptop really excel in this area?), but aside from this it's perfectly usable. I always recommend earphones/external speakers anyway if you're a real audiophile.


Battery life is also excellent, and better than my MacBook Pro. Based on my usage, expect to see around 4-4.45 hours on middle brightness with WiFi/BT on. That's what I'm getting writing this review, anyway.

On a side-note, I used my Spyder2Pro calibrator to "fix" the colors on the MacBook Air, since once again they were FAR too blue compared to how they "should" look. I'm imagining this isn't something you see every day!




While difficult to photograph the differences between before and after calibration, this should give you an idea. Look how washed out the grid lines are before calibration, for example...:

Before calibration:



After calibration:


The conclusion, which concludes with concluding thoughts:

Overall, this is a stunning machine. I can't, of course, speak for it long-term, being that I've only had it half a day, but from using it for music, Internet, a few e-mails, AND photo-editing huge 15MB RAWs, I can say it performed admirably, and without a hitch. It's a VERY quiet system, perhaps the quietest Apple system I've ever used, and its keyboard is in a league of its own. I understand the complaints about it only having one USB port, no ethernet port built in etc etc, but really, I don't see it being an issue 99% of the time. The 1% of the time it is an issue, you'll work something out. You'll use a USB hub, or steal someone's WiFi (I don't condone that behavior, but seriously - they had it comin'). The 99% of the time those ports don't matter, you'll be glad you had a MacBook Air. Again, I think it's in a league of its own, and it's a more than capable everyday system for the casual user. If you're heavy into Torrents and other seriously memory-hogging applications, sure a MacBook Pro is more for you (which is why I got one). For the university-goer who needs a light and capable system, and the older generation who don't want to lug around 6.5lb Dells AND their 1.5lb power adapters, this 3lb laptop is just a dream come true.

Of course, the true test is now....



vs




Cuddle-ability:

MacBook Air : 0
Shih Tzu : 1

Winner: Shih Tzu.

 

really great notebook. I nearly bought it, but I when I saw the 15 inch macbook pro, I couldnt justify the difference in size for me...but I would love to have that as a 2nd laptop (expensive 2nd laptop!)

 

Excellent Review. Pictures look professional. This should be on the front page.

 

Yeah, on my Macbook Air unboxing vid on youtube as soon as I seen the power adapter I flung out my MBP and compared them side by side saying how amazing it was. It was a huge shocker. I'm with you on the being warm factor I heard some reviews say never use it in bed or what-not and youtube jitters.. But frankly that's all I ever do and it works perfectly! Nice Pics btw

 

Wow. Nice shots, dude. Of course, I wouldn't use it because

1) It lacks a lot of features when compared to certain ThinkPad models *ahem*
2) I like power!
3) I'm such a screen cretin I can't even tell the difference between your before and after pics and
4) It's Apple. :twitcy:

 

I would've had one of these the day they came out if I travelled a lot, and if I had a lot of money to spend. Buy one Apple product and you're going to buy them all .

 

Wow, awesome pictures, William! Very professional, and that MBA is stunning, drool-worthy. Amazing how it makes the 1-inch thin MacBook Pro look chunky .

 

Wow. Nice shots, dude. Of course, I wouldn't use it because

1) It lacks a lot of features when compared to certain ThinkPad models *ahem* (Yeah like an old re-used design from the 90's)
2) I like power! (Me to especially when it runs for 4 or so hours of use)
3) I'm such a screen cretin I can't even tell the difference between your before and after pics and It's more blue in the top corner
4) It's Apple. :twitcy: An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!

yeah... that's it

 

1) (Yeah like an old re-used design from the 90's) ( As the saying goes, "It just works." )
2) (Me to especially when it runs for 4 or so hours of use) ( Ohhhh, yeah. )
3) It's more blue in the top corner ( Ah, so that's it. )
4) An Apple a day keeps the doctor away! ( Can't blame him! )

yeah... that's it

 

I don't really dig that black keyboard other than that though i think it looks good.

Did you suggest to your dad to buy the MBA or was it all his idea? Maybe if it is going to be his main computer maybe a MB or a MBP maybe would have been a better idea.

 

Thanks for the feedback, guys/gals. It was my idea to get him a MBA. He uses only e-mail, the Internet, connects his point-and-shoot to just look at photos (no editing there), complains about the weight of the Inspiron 6000, and that's about it. This system will be absolutely perfect for him. And remember the MacBook is pretty weighty (5.2lbs?). That's getting on for double the MacBook Air. And the screen on the regular MacBooks are just...well...sad by comparison. He'll appreciate that super bright LED display for his aging eyes.

 

Nice review, WiliamG. I've handled these in the Apple store a few times and they always seemed warm. Perhaps it was because they were getting a lot of use. When the new Penryn's came out, everybody ignored the Airs for a few days but the other day I was in the Apple store and there were crowds around the Airs. It's a sweet looking machine. I'm one of those old guys who doesn't want to lug around a lot of weight. I gotta resist the temptation... must not buy it... no... not now... must wait...

 

Well i hope that he enjoys it. The Inspirion 6000 weighs close to 7lbs. The MB is substantially cheaper than the MBA and is faster with a bigger HD also it seems like it may have been suited to his needs also.
Anyway like i said i hope that he enjoys it.

 

I still disagree with the review with the notebook being the quietest apple notebook. It just too easy for it to push it to its limits to that 6200 rpm fan. You have to be kidding me about the youtube thing man! I bet you've just watched a small youtube video for no more than 30 seconds!

But when your just surfing the net with no other apps running plus of course no flash or hd content then it is quiet like any other mbp, even my 15" mbp doesnt make a sound 95% of the time unless the fan revs up highest on youtube using flash, just not as high pitched brrrzz sounding as the mba.

I also had to disagree with you on the heat, its about the same as a mb if not hotter, I remember the mba made my palms extra sweaty. I used the mba for a full week before returning it... I do love everything else though.. but I'll wait for those 45/32nm chipsets ;D

 

Just another note that I remembered...when I tried out the MacBook Air at the local Mac reseller (no Apple Store in Vancouver yet), I was amazed at how well it was built, I could say on par and even possibly more than my MacBook. At least, its amazingly sturdy considering its thickness.

Any agreements or disagreements with my opinion, William?

 

FWIW I also do think that in build quality the mba is the best out of the lineups, very solid and feels like the whole aluminum is carved out in one whole piece hard as metal.

 

Lol, I can top that with my shih-tzu her names Xena: =D

 

No!!!! MY Shih tzu wins. By a mile. Really.

Gosh darn that Xena is adorable!

Thread hijack FTW!!!

 

I think it should be 768k go home too!
But seriously, those are really nice pictures!

@Sam, doesn't the MBA have heat issues though, being so thin?

 

Yes. Definitely agreed. The MacBook Air is the best-built Apple notebook I've laid hands on. Astonishingly solid. You can pick it up from any corner and there's no flex. I'd be scared to do that with my MacBook Pro 15.4".

 

This little guy's the winner :



I want that cat!

 

No way, buddy. I was doing some intensive photo work, with editing and exporting really taxing the system for many minutes (maybe 7?) I'm now watching some Youtube videos lasting 20 minutes. Even with the CPU at 83C, the underside was no more than warm. I don't know if Apple has improved their quality control, but the MacBook Air is definitely not in the same league of hot as the MacBook Pros.

And sound-wise, the MacBook Air is LEAGUES quieter than my MacBook Pro. I can't even hear the fan running on the MBA. The only sound I hear from it (at default fan volume), is the little 1.8" hard drive running, and even then it's a VERY quiet high-pitch (i.e. I have to put my ear to it to hear it/be in an absolutely silent room otherwise).

OK, watching YouTube and monitoring the temperatures in iStat Pro, they fluctuate between 47C and 54C. The fans don't even kick up! Been watching 15 minutes of YouTube straight so far. So again, you may have had some duff units, but this one kicks butt so far.

Now over 20 minutes, and I have TWO YouTube videos open simultaneously. Peaked at 61C, but drops to 56C-or-so. Fans still at 2500rpm.

45 minutes and no issues with Youtube. Fans still silent. Bedtime now!

 

My only complaint thus far, really, is that the battery seems to be taking ages to charge. It's at 89% charge, and it's telling me it will take another 1 hour 15 minutes to full charge. I'd read similar reports online, and apparently that "fixes" itself. We'll see.

 

Wow, that's quite a computer... what about having an MBP and an Air side by side and taking pictures to show the thickness, both front and back?

 

nice review

superb professional pics

how to get that temp and RPM indicator??

 

Interesting review and nice pictures, thanks

I am still tempted... maybe after a few more payslips!

 

smcFanControl or Istat pro

 

MBP, MBA, iPhone... man, i envy you...

 

Yes, use iStat Pro or SMCFanControl to view your temperatures and your fan RPM. If you want to control the speed of your fans, you can also do that with SMCFanControl .

 

Excellent review.... Should be considered for front page inclusion on the site...

 

thanks sam........!! wanna see how much heat my macbook generates

but on use i do feel that its much cooler than my vaio

 

Thanks again for all the feedback. I'll have the Superdrive on Monday, so I'll do a small update then.

 

My wife now wants one.

And it's so cheap! Why not buy another two or three?

 

My wife keeps hinting that I'll eventually dislike lack of ports etc and swap with her.. She's polluting the mind in an attempt to get my sleek machine! lol

 

Its amazing...we're seeing Apple families sprouting up, aren't we?

 

Great review...love the pics!

 

Yeah! But as I told my wife, Apples don't grow on trees.

 

My wife is the reason we're considering one. She uses Macs at work and 'suggested' that the new computer we get be a Mac as well. Now if only they grew on trees. . .

 

Just got the Superdrive this morning. Lovely little drive. Really tiny. Does what it's advertised to do.

 

Well this got interesting. I was watching a 720p movie tonight, and after about half an hour, the video started stuttering, and so I immediately checked the CPU Monitor and could see that the second CPU core had shut down (at least I assume it had, since the bottom part of the Monitor was black). I guess I DO, after all, have the overheating issue. I'm guessing it will be fixed in software, since my CPU only hit 71C, which is below even what my MacBook Pro hits, by a good 15C.

So yeah, it doesn't do it with YouTube videos, but I guess 720p is a lot more taxing! I did have the laptop sitting on the bed, which probably didn't help things!

Hopefully Apple will release some updates to fix this issue!

**EDIT**

Wow, just elevating the system to flat surface completely eliminated the core shutdown. Very interesting. It appears the MBA is VERY sensitive to CPU temperatures, more-so than any other laptop I've used. Having it on a flat surface meant flawless 720p playback. I still think the system could use a bios update/software update to make the CPU a little less sensitive to heat...

The lesson: Don't watch HD material in bed with the MBA. The bed covered the fan vents at the back of the system which = problem!

 

I did that mistake once leaving my MBP on a pillow, partially (and of course unknowingly) blocking airflow and noticed the fans go jet speed. As soon as I put the thing on a flat hard surface, it only took a minute for everything to return to normal.

BTW, great macbook air review. Seeing those pictures have made me want one. I would get the USB superdrive accessory for sure. Although I've read some shortcomings in the design of the superdrive like being able to only connect it to the MBA's own single USB port and not through a USB hub.

It would have been nice to have a USB port on the drive itself so that one doesn't lose all USB functionality while the drive is plugged in.

Oh and my wife also wants the Air now too. I'll quote your "apples don't grow on trees" and see how far that gets me.

 

Off-topic: To OP, I was wondering how you got you customized your icons + text to display them side by side on your MBP

 

Ahh, sounds like you need one of these:

http://www.raindesigninc.com/ilap.html

 

Like all apple products it sure does look nice... too bad about the price though

 

Looks interesting. If you have one, is it comfortable and does it actually work?

 

It's part of the Path Finder application

See www.cocoatech.com . I love it.

 

Would the Air work as a main system for someone who primarily just does word processing, e-mail/instant messaging, web browsing and the occasional video clip?

 

I'm not an Air owner, but if I believe the reviews and my brief hands-on sessions at the local Apple store I say Yes!

 

It's so tempting to get but I just don't want to end up buying it and then being sorry I did...

 

There were some harsh reviews early on, but I think those reviewers just didn't get it. Nobody (in their right mind) is going to buy an Air to try and get 1000 fps in Halflife 3 or transcode 2 hours of video in under 3 minutes.

After reading the initial reviews, I shied away from the Air because weight wasn't as important to me as capability. I was also worried about the 80 gig HDD. Now that I understand the protection Time Machine affords, I would be a lot less concerned about the HDD as at most it could cause me a day or two of inconvenience. I'm using my Macbook like a desktop. I'm not sure I'd pick an Air for that task but if I were looking for a light machine I would go for the Air. Another area Apple got hammered was that optical drive issue. If I was using an Air as a road machine, it's dvd playback capabilities (or lack thereof) would take a back seat to battery life and portability.

You mention wanting to avoid regretting buying the Air. Sorry. Can't help you there. Every tech purchase I've made for the last 10 years or so is often followed by regret when the new model comes out a short time later. The Air seems well suited to your primary tasks. As long as you stick to those, your only regret would be missing out on the Air 2 with 4 gig of ram and 250 gig SSD for $999 (J/K)