The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Apple MacBook Air (2011) Review Discussion

    Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by J.R. Nelson, Mar 26, 2012.

  1. J.R. Nelson

    J.R. Nelson Minister of Awesome

    Reputations:
    338
    Messages:
    549
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    31

    Apple introduced the first MacBook Air in 2008, taking the industry by surprise. The next evolution of a company that puts design first, the MBA was a thing of beauty - but it wasn’t until 2010 that the internals really matched the exterior. But can Apple make it even better? Let’s find out.



    Read the full content of this Article: Apple MacBook Air (2011) Review

    Related Articles:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2015
    J.R. Nelson, Mar 26, 2012
    #1
  2. ninjastyle

    ninjastyle Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    It would be really nice if one of these MBA reviews could run the same battery/processor benchmarks on the MBA11" as well...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2015
    ninjastyle, Mar 26, 2012
    #2
  3. IKAS V

    IKAS V Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,073
    Messages:
    6,171
    Likes Received:
    535
    Trophy Points:
    281
    I hope we can see some Ivy Bridge version with Retina display this summer, the ipad 3's display to put it simply is beautiful and to see that in one of these would be amazing.
     
    IKAS V, Mar 27, 2012
    #3
  4. J.R. Nelson

    J.R. Nelson Minister of Awesome

    Reputations:
    338
    Messages:
    549
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    31
    It would! <space>
     
    J.R. Nelson, Mar 27, 2012
    #4
  5. psygn

    psygn Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    259
    Messages:
    460
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    As beautiful as it may be, I'd rather focus on better battery drive and a cooler laptop. :eek:
     
    psygn, Mar 27, 2012
    #5
  6. J.R. Nelson

    J.R. Nelson Minister of Awesome

    Reputations:
    338
    Messages:
    549
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I haven't really had any heat problems with either of these last two MBA generations.
     
    J.R. Nelson, Mar 28, 2012
    #6
  7. lilydreamy

    lilydreamy Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    45
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    i am waiting for refurbished one to hit $750 on apple.com (when new models show up?)
     
    lilydreamy, Mar 30, 2012
    #7
  8. zirdaj

    zirdaj Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    37
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It should be fair to mention that MBAs (don't know about other macbooks) have a wireless connectivity issue where they would not connect wirelessly to internet randomly from cold boot or after it resumes from sleep. Apple has recognized this issue and has not come up yet with a solution (and they offered a refund). Other than that, it is perfect, and I was already willing to make it as my main notebook before I had the wireless issue.
     
    zirdaj, Mar 30, 2012
    #8
  9. ralchevd

    ralchevd Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Still waiting for 2012 version :p
     
    ralchevd, Apr 1, 2012
    #9
  10. treynolds

    treynolds Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Good review.

    I have the 2010 13.3" maxed-out MBA ("Ultimate"), while my wife has the 11.6" 2010. Neither of us have ever had complaints about the battery life, although her real-world untethered time is about 5 hours. Not bad for such a small package. I routinely get 6.5 hours on my 13".

    As for running windows, I run Parallels 7.0 with WinXP Pro and have no problem at all running ACADLT 2010. I've commented to several people that my MBA, along with my 27" iMac, both run Windows better than a PC.

    While I paid a HEAP ($1795) for my MBA, I love it and carry it everywhere. The battery last for several weeks on standby if necessary, and the form-factor can't be beat. All of the other ultrabooks I've looked at pale by comparison. My work-issued, 17" Dell Precision M4600 is a friggin' boat anchor by comparison, and I hate carrying it between home and work. My shoulder doesn't even know the MBA is in my pack.
     
    treynolds, Apr 2, 2012
    #10
  11. poskok

    poskok Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    You should correct an obvious error in the review. The best 13 inch notebook is Sony Vaio Z ( has been for years ) . Its screen covers AdobeRGB, is full HD, overall better components ( full ghz faster CPU ) and performance. It's ridiculous to even try comparing the two.
     
    poskok, Apr 3, 2012
    #11
  12. mukhi

    mukhi Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    are you serious? i mean MBAs are excellent on their own but if you say those apps have no match on windows free apps side (not from MS, in general, in windows 7), you have not seen that many free capable windows apps. tell me what imovie/iphoto/garageband can do and i will tell you what free windows apps can do the same.
     
    mukhi, Apr 3, 2012
    #12