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Apple shows MacBook Air & improves Apple TV

15 January 2008 23:09 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 25 comments

At the MacWorld Expo, Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs showed the thin and light MacBook Air to the attendees. Measuring just 0.8 inches thick and weighing 3 pounds as standard, the notebook packs impressive hardware under the hood for its size and weight. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB on-chip shared L2 cache, clocked at 1.6GHz (1.8GHz optional). A 4200RPM PATA hard disk drive provides 80GB of storage space.

An optional 64GB solid state drive (SSD) is also available. As for memory, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM is onboard. Graphics is powered by an Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory, driving the included 13.3" display, which has a Native Resolution of 1280x800. It simultaneously supports the native resolution on the built-in display and up to 1920x1200 on an external display.

By use of two included adapters, the MacBook Air supports DVI and VGA output. Two further optional adapters provide output for Composite and S-Video. For a WLAN, the notebook is IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible. A USB 2.0 port and an Audio out port is also included. Built-in to the notebook is an iSight camera. The included battery is advertised as being capable of operating for five hours on a charge.

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In addition to offering the new MacBook Air, Apple also announced the availability of movie rentals and a new update for its Apple TV device, aimed at attracting more consumers. Apple TV was originally designed as a device that effectively links the iTunes software to your television of a home network. "It's not what people wanted. We learned what people wanted was ... movies, movies movies," Jobs said.

He announced a price drop for the Apple TV models of $70 each, bringing the costs to $299 for the 40GB model and $329 for the 160GB version. A software update for the first Apple TV models will be available soon. It adds support for iTunes new movie rental service, which rents out catalog titles at $2.99 and new releases for $3.99. For $1 extra, you can go Hi-Def. HD movie rentals are available in 720p. and over 100 HD titles are available at launch.

Apple TV users will also now be able to retrieve photos from a network computer or Flickr, and will be able to watch more than 50 million videos available from YouTube, according to Jobs.

AfterDawn.com Hardware Section - Apple Products
MacBook Air	MacBook Pro MA897	iPhone (8GB)	iPod Classic 160GB	iPod touch 16GB
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Permalink to this article

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Discuss this article!
905drager (Newbie) 15 January 2008 23:31
Wow. That's a sexy notebook. I think I'd still rather a Toshiba R500 if I wanted to go thin and light. It's half-a-pound lighter and the Tosh comes with the optical drive built-in. I heard they're coming out with a new version of the R500 in a couple of months that will have the 128GB-SSD drive. Still, the look and chassis of the MacBook is nice and sleek. [ + quote]
rainofire (Newbie) 16 January 2008 6:39
Wow. that's thin like paper. It looks pretty nice, but I would stick with Sony TZ series as their just as light, thin and powerful, planning to get me a Sony Vaio TZ298 with the 64 ssd and 250gb hdd. [ + quote]
jove (Newbie) 16 January 2008 11:45
i hope its cheap, i would really like to get one for school :P [ + quote]
emugamer (Junior Member) 16 January 2008 11:49
*Originally posted by jove:* i hope its cheap, i would really like to get one for school :P I read that the base price wouldbe around $1,700. Not sure what the base specs would be and how much you could upgrade. [ + quote]
clethal (Newbie) 16 January 2008 12:04
*Quote:* *Originally posted by jove:* i hope its cheap, i would really like to get one for school :P I read that the base price wouldbe around $1,700. Not sure what the base specs would be and how much you could upgrade. The price for the Air is $1799, other notebooks for macs are lot faster than this, I like the design but it doesn't come with a cd or dvd rom you will have to used another computer's ROM wireless to load software with it or you can buy a stand alone ROM that connects with a USB cable to the air. Cool idea but im sure lots of people will be bitter about spending $1800 on a notebook that doesn't come with a ROM and is slower than other mac books. [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 16 January 2008 16:05
I would think it would be cheaper then a macbook... I guess that's adding value for ya... [ + quote]
ZimHosein (Newbie) 16 January 2008 23:09
*Quote:* A 4200RPM PATA hard disk drive provides 80GB of storage space. 4200RPM's? PATA? 80GB's? As a Windows-only user, isn't that a step backwards for a notebook PC? I know that "generally" Apple charges a premium price for their hardware, but when I personally look at the specs of their past designs I can usually understand why. [ + quote]
atomicxl (Newbie) 16 January 2008 23:25
I'm more interested in the HD stuff. I wonder if MS will respond and lower their rental prices on Video Marketplace. If MS would buy or partner with Netflix. Unlimited rentals of all HD content for $17.99 a month. [ + quote]
jove (Newbie) 17 January 2008 6:00
wow at that price and with no way to read cds and with such a small hdd, i guess il pass. i tought it was nice i kinda like this sexy looking comptuer but oh well, such is life... [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 17 January 2008 19:21
id be afarid of snapping it in half :) the price of a solid state drive for that thing is phenomenally pricey xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
mfgnet (Newbie) 17 January 2008 19:35
Apple sucks! I'f I were to buy apple, I'd have to shove a pole up my ass! Apple U-r over rated! U are for only rich people who think that they are liberals but are fucking idiot wanna bees! Apple, yo are crapple! I have this to say! Linux open source = fuck apple and M$! [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 17 January 2008 21:44
wtf have you ever enven sat and used an apple computer for at least and hour? yes Linux is the best over them all but still how could you say that about something that isn't M$. xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 18 January 2008 15:55
*Originally posted by mfgnet:* Apple sucks! I'f I were to buy apple, I'd have to shove a pole up my ass! Apple U-r over rated! U are for only rich people who think that they are liberals but are fucking idiot wanna bees! Apple, yo are crapple! I have this to say! Linux open source = fuck apple and M$! Some one has problems :S (+[PSP]%) = 3.52M33-4 "I get no respect, I tell ya!" [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 18 January 2008 18:41
he might not have a problem he just might not know how to use the thing or evan ever used one before. xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
seansdadj (Newbie) 18 January 2008 18:44
Apple used to rule, but Leopard is going to drive them down to the ground. I hope, they don't install it on the new iPhones. Sean [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 18 January 2008 18:44
Well then why would a guy talk a whole bunch of crap about something he knows nothing about? (+[PSP]%) = 3.52M33-4 "I get no respect, I tell ya!" [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 18 January 2008 20:07
@vinny that is the point exactly..... @seansdadj yea leperade is not as good as we all thought id stay with tiger if i was any one.. xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
petestock (Newbie) 18 January 2008 22:46
i love apple but this computer is such a bad idea. they say it's amazing because of it's wireless capabilities which are the same as every other apple. the lack of optical drive is bullshit, and it's far slower than their regular macbooks. it may be slim, but that's all it's got. [ + quote]
ZimHosein (Newbie) 18 January 2008 23:06
Apple USB Ethernet Adapter $29.00 to hook the Air up to an ethernet LAN? [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 19 January 2008 0:10
@petestock that is Very true. xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 19 January 2008 0:56
*Originally posted by petestock:* i love apple but this computer is such a bad idea. they say it's amazing because of it's wireless capabilities which are the same as every other apple. the lack of optical drive is bullshit, and it's far slower than their regular macbooks. it may be slim, but that's all it's got. It'll do very well just because it looks good. People will buy it just to say look at my crazy Mac! Those guys at Apple are smart at getting the dumb rich folks... BTW, who uses ethernet with laptops these days anyways? (+[PSP]%) = 3.52M33-4 "I get no respect, I tell ya!" [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 19 January 2008 1:08
right now i am .. :( cause i bricked my router.. dont know what i was thinking upgrading it over wifi .. how stupid. xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
hulud86 (Junior Member) 19 January 2008 1:21
Why would you buy this AIR computer? Its $3100 for the good one and theres nothing special about. Yeah so its skinny, Thats cool. When i need to stash my computer in an envelope maybe ill consider buying one, but until then ill stick with my regular macbook. [ + quote]
yimmmy (Senior Member) 19 January 2008 9:55
i was reading the article about this and it said � MagSafe Airline Adapter. dose this mean you can use it on a plane or is it just a pun because the macs name is air? the screen is very small on this book as well 13.3 :( xbox v 1.6 softmodded unleash x 250 segate... Playstation 3 40 gig.. ps tag= yimmmy ... pc.>amd opterion 64.>ati 2400 pro hd>150 wd raptor>500gig segate>dual hanns g 19in wide..>OSwindows xp home.Ubuntufeisty. lappy.>amd truion 64 x2 5600m>80 gig seagate>ati radeon xpress 1150>OS windows xp Home Server.>amd sempron 32bit.>512 mbs memory >40 gighdd>OS ubuntu server edition. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/Y1MMMY/Yimmmysig1copy.jpg [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 15 February 2008 17:01
The notebook I feel is overrated to me that is pretty standard and actually lacking some power in my book. The ram and speed is ok however the hard drive needs to be bigger and the onboard is standard stuff, I'll wait for the next model that will probably come with not so much onboard stuff. I'll stick with toshiba for the time being. [ + quote]