MacBook Air 10.1"

Why MacBook Air?

Updated Dec 23rd, 2009

If you ever tried comparing MacBooks on Apple’s site, you’ll see they put on a table side by side all models of MacBooks but they don’t fully compare them. So, I decided to make another comparative, just like they did, but including some missing points, the results are presented below. Items marked in green are the best of the line; marked in yellow means two of them have the same option. Makes no sense marking where they all are equals.

Another comparison could be made between the MacBook Air and other MacBooks bearing the same price, and the results would be the same, but the possibilities are vast and wouldn’t fit here. You can do it by yourself and see what machine you’d get for $1499.

MacBook

MacBook

(MC207LL/A)

 MacBook Pro 13 inch

13-inch MacBook Pro

(MB990LL/A)

 MacBook Air

MacBook Air

(MC233LL/A)

Specifications

Processor

Default Memory

Maximum Memory

Hard Drive

Graphics Processor

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

2GB

4GB

250GB 5400-rpm

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

2GB

8GB

160GB 5400-rpm

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

2GB

2GB

120GB 4200-rpm

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

Size and Weight2

Height

Width

Depth

Weight

1.08 inches (2.74 cm)

13.00 inches (33.03 cm)

9.12 inches (23.17 cm)

4.7 pounds (2.13 kg)

0.95 inch (2.41 cm)

12.78 inches (32.5 cm)

8.94 inches (22.7 cm)

4.5 pounds (2.04 kg)

0.76 inch (1.94 cm)

12.8 inches (32.5 cm)

8.94 inches (22.7 cm)

3.0 pounds (1.36 kg)

Display2

Widescreen Size

Native Resolution

13.3-inch LED-backlit

1280 by 800 pixels

13.3-inch LED-backlit

1280 by 800 pixels

13.3-inch LED-backlit

1280 by 800 pixels

Network

Gigabyte Ethernet Port

Airport Wi-Fi 802.11n

Bluetooth 2.1

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Other Features

Battery Time

USB 2.0 Ports

Firewire 800 Ports

Mini DisplayPort

iSight Camera

Backlit Keyboard

SD Card Slot

SuperDrive

Audio Minijack

Kensington Lock Slot

7 hours

2

-

Yes

Yes

-

-

Yes

In/Out (iPhone like)

Yes

7 hours

2

1

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

One in, one out

Yes

5 hours

1

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

-

Out only

-

Price

$999

$1199

$1499
  • [1] All information taken straight from Apple Inc. site [here] on December 23rd, 2009.
  • [2] For effects of this comparison, size and display are not being considered an advantage, as all models have about the same dimensions.

I think the table is enough to make a point, so I ask: why would you buy a MacBook Air today? Is it the weight really worth a lot extra bucks and less resources? We don’t think so. We think there are only three possible ways out for Apple and the MacBook Air:

  1. Close the production line. Are they even selling?
  2. Lower its price to $899. Putting the MacBook Air this low in price would allow customers to also buy the external SuperDrive, thus making it a worth alternative to the basic MacBook (and the weight really becomes a worthy differential); or
  3. Reduce its size. Let’s face it: the MacBook Air IS a netbook. But it’s too big! A reduced size would really be a differential and maybe make it worth buying (and lower the price too).

We (obviously) vote for the last alternative. Reducing the size would also allow for a reduction in cost of manufacturing and that would also reflect on a reduction in price, thus making it more competitive. Plus, the recent effor of Apple to cut support of Atom processors (netbooks) on Snow Leopard (which I heard was in vain as some can still install and upgrade).

We are not crazy; we just would like to bring Apple to its reason. And we are not the first to talk about it:

By ignoring this market, Apple risks repeating Microsoft’s mistakes (anyone remembers what they said when the web was out?). The question is: why is Apple swimming against the stream? And a personal note to Mr. Tim Cook: if netbooks as they are today suck, people wouldn’t buy lots and lots of them.