New MacBook Air (only) looks and feels like a Netbook

by Steven Mostyn - Oct 21 2010, 07:24

Apple has this week bolstered its product portfolio after unveiling the new MacBook Air computer, an aluminium unibody revamp which has an even smaller form factor than the existing MacBook Air system and also comes with a solid-state drive (SSD).

In terms of core components, Apple's latest portable comes with an LED backlit display (in sizes of either 11.6-inches or a 13.3-inches), Intel's Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce graphics (320m), a multitouch trackpad, and a front-facing camera that supports the introduction of videochat via FaceTime.

“As interesting as what's it's got, is what it doesn't have,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs outlined during an official presentation.

Jobs then went on to reveal that the new MacBook Air will be lacking both an optical disc drive and a conventional hard drive (HDD). “We have gone to flash storage,” he explained. “complete solid-state storage.”

That solid-state storage will be available in three sizing choices on the new MacBook Air, ranging from a basic 64GBs through to a more spacious 128GBs and an upper tier 256GBs.

Boasting a svelte profile of 0.68 of an inch at its widest point and just 0.11 of an inch at its thinnest, Apple's new MacBook Air also plants itself firmly within Netbook territory when it comes to the avoidance of shoulder strain thanks to a weight of just 2.9 lbs for the 13.3-inch model and 2.3 lbs for the 11.6-inch system (a smidgen over a kilo).  

According to Jobs, Apple resisted the temptation to add touch-screen functionality to the new MacBook Air because users tire quickly when navigating a touch-screen interface against a display that has to be viewed vertically.

The 11.6-inch MacBook Air will sell for $1,000 USD (64GBs of storage and a 1.4GHz processor), while the slightly more roomy 13.3-inch model will be priced at $1,600 USD. Both of Apple's new additions are available now.

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