Apple Inc. has launched a new generation of Macbook Air notebooks. Apple has equipped the new notebook with a faster processor based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture and has added a new backlit keyboard to the device. The Cupertino, CA Company has also dumped the old Macbook on the same day.
Talks about revamping the Macbbok Air were on for quite a while and were mostly cantered around the new operating system i.e. the OS- ‘X Lion’. The operating system was released earlier on the same day and from now onwards all new Macbook Air models will ship with this new operating system.
The new Macbook Air comes in two sizes, one with an 11.6-inch screen and the other with a 13.3-inch screen. For both the models, two variants are available, an entry level one and another model with all the top specs. In all, four new models will be available.
Specs of ‘MacBook Air’ vary with the models; Both the 11.6 inch models are powered by a 1.6 GHz processor, RAM of the 11.6-inch entry level model is 2GB while for the high end model is 4GB. The storage capacity is 64 GB and 128 GB for the lower and higher end model respectively. Similarly, the 13.3-inch Macbook Air is powered by a 1.7 GHz processor along with 4 GB RAM. The storage capacity is 128 GB and 256 GB for the lower and higher end models respectively. Users can upgrade to a 1.8 GHz processor on demand.
Another part of the revamp was the addition of Thunderbolt port. The new notebooks don’t have any additional ports but a single Thunderbolt port for connecting to external hard drives and new Apple Thunderbolt display (with a resolution of 2560 x 1600!). Also the power supply is now inbuilt and Apple has provided with a built in speaker for Bluetooth connectivity with other iDevices.
The prices remain in the same range. Earlier the entry price for the Macbook Air was $999, though the good old Macbook Air is gone but the entry price remains the same ($999) for the lower end 11.6 inch Macbook Air. The 11.6-inch high end model, 13.3-low end model and 13.3-inch high end model are available for $1199, $1299 and $1599, respectively.