MacBook Air: live photos, new details

updated 03:20 pm EST, Tue January 15, 2008

MacBook Air Live Photos

Apple today released its hotly anticipated MacBook Air ultraportable notebook at Macworld San Francisco. MacNN is on the scene at the expo's show floor and has taken photos of the new computer and has additional details about its more intricate features. Notably, Apple explains that the notebook's battery is non-removable; the size of the system and the placement of the MagSafe connector makes it impractical, according to the company. However, buyers disappointed in the lack of built-in Ethernet can buy a USB-to-Ethernet adapter ($29) that restores the functionality at the expense of the lone USB port.

Other details (more may appear with subsequent updates):

- RAM is not upgradable; users must use the 2GB supplied with the system.

- Users can custom-order the solid-state drive ($999) and faster 1.8GHz processor ($300) independently of each other.

- There is no audio input.

- It uses Bluetooth 2.1, which adds secure simple pairing and improves power use when idle.

- The MagSafe connector is proprietary, again due to the nature of the device. Apple has not said how well existing MacBook or MacBook Pro connectors will function.

- Micro-DVI supports up to 1920x1200, which lets it connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema Display or many 23-, 24-, and 27-inch LCDs.

- The folding door with side ports likely relies on an Apple collapsible port patent that partially folds the connectors when not in use.

By Electronista Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :

computers, Macworld, MWSF 08, MacBook Air, Apple

psdenno

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2003

01/15, 03:34pm | report spam | close reply

I need to know more.....

but sounds a little wonky so far - like a big iPod. Except it won't be so easy to toss into a drawer & forget when the battery fails to hold a charge.

panjandrum

Joined: Dec 2004

01/15, 03:42pm | report spam | close reply

First iteration

Well, I agree that this first iteration definitely has a few problems. I see the non-replaceable battery as a major stumbling-block. The lack of a video chipset with acceptable performance is also a big minus. BUT, there are also a lot of great features here. The form-factor alone is enough to sell a ton of these things. Hopefully we'll see a revision in year or two which eliminates the design compromises yet retains the essence of this machine.

slaurel

Joined: Aug 2007

01/15, 03:51pm | report spam | close reply

yawn yawn

It just looks like another laptop. Nothing really exciting about it. In fact it really looks like everything else in the laptop world. At least when you see a MacBook Pro or MacBook you know it's a MAC. I might mistake this for a any laptop at any retail store. And what is new about it. Other manufactures have been making laptops similar to this for years. I can't believe a product is going to sell for one main feature - thin. Loving my MacBook right now.

Deal

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Apr 2001

01/15, 04:31pm | report spam | close reply

HotCakes

This thing will sell like hot-cakes. So many of the clients I help are clinging to their 12" Powerbooks and refused to upgrade to a larger model or step down to a MacBook.

This thing fits the bill. Finally I can quite fixing those old G4 12" Powerbooks!

The one thing I personally miss on this device is a firewire port. I really wish it had firewire—maybe in the future when a beefed up battery can handle the extra draw.

TheSnarkmeister

Joined: Jun 2007

01/15, 05:28pm | report spam | close reply

What?

Are they crazy? The battery is not replaceable? You are supposed to throw away a 1700 dollar machine after a certain number of battery cycles? And there is no audio input?, the people you iSight video conference with can see you, but not hear you?

AND all of this is sacrificed for a quarter of an inch in appearance, which undoubtedly only makes the machine hotter too!

It is time for a change at Apple -- a change at the top. Job's anorexic fixations are becoming a liability. So far Apple's stock is down over $10 on this. I have no doubt that the iTV/video announcements will bounces it back and more, but the Macbook Air is a public relations disaster waiting to happen.

moldyapples

Joined: Jul 2006

01/15, 05:36pm | report spam | close reply

no audio input

does not mean it doesn't have a microphone! From Apple's tech specs page: "Built-in omnidirectional microphone"

01/15, 05:44pm | report spam | close reply

thesnarkmeister:

Yes, that's it! when the battery dies, you throw it away! Melt it down for soda cans! Just cuz you can't replace it doesn't mean Apple can't! And Apple stock is down $9.74 today, all because of the MacBook Air! Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that the whole market is down today, could it? (DJI = down $227.04) Here's an idea: if you don't like the feature set DON"T BUY ONE! That's why there are MacBooks and MacBook Pros! I just love the attitude that if it doesn't have exactly the features I want, well they should never build it at all.

"Arguing on the internet is like being in the Special Olympics: even if you win, you're still retarded"

Geordiekeith

Joined: Aug 2003

01/15, 06:13pm | report spam | close reply

Not a 12" replacement

Sorry to disappoint the repairman who thinks all 12" Powerbook users will lap this up. As one such user I am massively disappointed - the footprint - the reason I have not upgraded to a MacBook - is the exactly the same for the MBA as the MB. I might now replace my Powerbook, but with an Asus... and as a MacHead since 1985 it hurts to say that.

testudo

Forum Regular

Joined: Aug 2001

01/15, 06:42pm | report spam | close reply

So when the battery dies, unlike every other portable, you go and return it to apple, and wait several days for it to come back (hoping they send the SAME ONE back, not just any old one like they do with iPhones and iPods).

But since its for the road warrior, where exactly does he drop it off and pick it up?

This was a complaint on the iPhone and people said "Ah, it's not a computer, who gets extra batteries?" Well, if you've got a cross-country or intercontinental flight, guess what, there's no packing that extra laptop battery so you can make it through the entire trip. Oh well, why would travelers want anything like that.

And the snarkmeister is right on one regard. Jobs is anorexic and likes his computers that way. Make that mini as small as possible, even if it requires a retarded way of opening it (yes, the famed putty knife or sharpened credit card). Keep those profiles low, even if it means taking out parts/features people might actually want/use. Size is important, and smaller is better! (Maybe that's what his wife's told him, at least).

01/15, 07:25pm | report spam | close reply

Read what is written

Yes, my comment about sound was incorrect, but it was based on sloppy wording in the original report on MacNN. A microphone is a form of audio input. If it is reported that there is no audio input (as opposed to external audio input), then it is easy to surmise there is no microphone. It was an especially easy jump, since Apple failed to include a microphone (internal audio input) in the iPod touch.

For the rash gentleman who thinks my observations were about the lack of a perfect product, I can only suggest he trying reading what was actually written.

There is most certainly a market for this product, however I suspect Apple is going to be very disappointed to discover that this device will not sell to the same crowd who loved the 12-inch PowerBook. The key issue for travelers is not thickness, it is footprint. And even more important for travelers is the ability to swap out batteries. On long flights, stays in countries with unreliable power grids, and trips into wilderness areas, a stock of pre-charged, swappable batteries is crucial. The MacBook Air is a luxury computer, not a travel computer.

The Dow was down 2.17% today, Apple was down 5.45% (it was actually down even more earlier in the day, but sprung back a little). A month ago Apple was trading at over $200, but since Expo news started to leak it is down to under $170. The market clearly isn't happy with Apple.

Existing customers have reason to be upset as well. It is now obvious that Apple's excuse for Time Machine not working with Air Disks was, to put not too fine a point on it, a lie. Clearly the feature was intentionally handicapped in order for Apple to bring their own solution, Time Capsule, to market. Many people upgraded their Airports specifically for the AirDisk feature based on their knowledge of the development of TimeMachine. Those customers have every right to be annoyed. Apple has rowed them halfway across the lake, and is now charging them twice the fee to get to the other side.

As for investors, I suspect (presuming the whole American economy doesn't take a header in the next six months) that Apple stock will rebound once analysts start to look at the growth potential of the iTV/iTunes video rental combination. The pricing structure looks good, and the solution appears upon to be platform independent, and that offers Apple the chance to significantly grow its bottom line -- assuming that offended Airport customers don't start boycotting the company the way that former AT&T Wireless customers boycott the iPhone.

JTh

Joined: Sep 2007

01/15, 07:30pm | report spam | close reply

Third party

Even though it's not perfect, I think it's quite cool. If I were in the market for something that size, I'd consider it above anything else. With any ultraportable, you're going to give up a substantial amount: CPU, keyboard, screen space, battery, connectors, you name it. I speculate that third-party accessories will address the battery issues.

VHMP01

Joined: Nov 2007

01/15, 07:48pm | report spam | close reply

MacFraud !

Couldn’t it be just another marketing MacFraud or technically speaking iFraud !

ecrelin

Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2000

01/15, 08:05pm | report spam | close reply

hey pinheads…

guess you guys don't get out much. Every other laptop manufacturer offers a subnotebook. They sell quite a lot of them, many have more than one model. Apple is selling more laptops now than most of these manufacturers, hmmmm, do you think they are missing some marketshare in this arena? I have had many clients who kept their PB duos as long as they could and then eventually did buy a PC because they want the thin and small. Yes the battery is an odd decision and will cause controversy but you can be sure that they did some serious research to determine just what features they needed and didn't. This is not a unit to buy to replace your desktop idiots. It has a mic, how many subnotebooks are being used as audio production workstations? Makes good economic and environmental sense to use the same screen as the MacBook. Here are the footprint specs, Duo 1.5" thick, 10.9" x 8.5" 4.8 lbs!, PB 12" 1.18" thick, 10.9 x 8.5" 4.6 lbs!, Air .76 thick, 12.8" x 8.9" 3 lbs. Depth difference is negligible, 1.9" wider, and the most common complaint I hear regarding size is thickness and weight. See ya geordiekeith, have fun in linux or vista land, hope the 1.9" was worth it, and testudo, what can one say? your whining is as thin as usual, a bizarre combination of personal hatred and idiotic premise, which is easier to open, a mini or an Asus subnotebook? But you may be on to something, this will probably bomb like the ipod AND the iPhone did because of that battery thing and jobs' lack of understanding on what people want… think of what wouldn't exist today if jobs didn't make things happen. he doesn't always get everything right but I bet he hits 80% on necessary features etc and it will sell very nicely. BTW I think someone already mentioned that this is just an addition to the line, if you don't like it don't get one!

msuper69

Mac Elite

Joined: Jan 2000

01/15, 09:06pm | report spam | close reply

battery....

So you get an external power supply. No different than lugging around some extra batteries that you have to pop in and out.

It's not like 3rd parties won't be making any accessories for the MacBook Air.

David Esrati

Joined: Jun 1999

01/15, 10:25pm | report spam | close reply

sorry- it's a loser

Stock price dropped. It's not a practical machine- HD size alone is anemic. This is the cube all over. Here are things that could have made a big splash at Macworld. iPod Touch with HD's- 80 and 160gb attached to big screen. Coulda sold a gadzillion. 16gigs of music? you haven't seen what these kids carry these days. The LC Mac- 2 gig ram capacity, 1 slot, 3.5 inch HD- $500, easy to open. Intel chip. iPhone adds search contacts and calender- and video capacity Price drop on Apple monitors- and move to LCD. A real 12" macbook pro. That a road warrior can work (watch DVD's, extra batteries, high performance graphics). What was released today was boutique c***.

ClevelandAdv

Joined: Jul 2004

01/15, 11:12pm | report spam | close reply

Stock Drop

Listen all you financial geniuses, the stock drop had nothing to do with the Air, it was 100% due to the fact that Steve-O spilled the beans on iPhone sales. There were many reports of 5 million iPhone sold and 25+ million iPods. Since the iPhone sold 1 million less than the lofty expectations of these 'analysts', the stock tanked.

The Air looks like a fine niche product that will sell well in a market that Apple was missing out on.

The Apple TV 2.0 and the movie rentals with broad studio support will help the stock rebound (unless the whole market stays down)

fnkybach

Joined: Apr 2005

01/16, 01:06am | report spam | close reply

@ the narkmeister

I suggest you read the tech specs before you start spouting out things like, we need to remove jobs. Perhaps you forget...or are two young to remember that almost 10 years ago macs had clunky floppy disk drives removed in 99 by Mr. Jobs, with the introduction of the iMac, Don't forget apple stock was valued at less than 5 dollars it has since split (at around 80) and gone up over $156 yea a change needs to be made, you need to switch back to a PC and leave the innovation to Apple.

01/16, 08:08am | report spam | close reply

Re: @ the snarkmeister

Oooh. Jobs removed the floppy drive. He's such a freakin' genius!

And fnkybach, I also remember when Jobs removed the floppy drive, he left in the CD-ROM drive ONLY. So his first computer had NO EXTERNAL WRITABLE STORAGE CAPABILITY. It's one thing to innovate. It's another to not innovate past your customer base or capabilities, leaving them without options.

(I also remember a big seller was a USB-to-serial device so people could still use their pre-existing hardware they already had, and not just go out and buy new hardware. But that's also another Apple thing they continue to this day. Who cares what investment people have. The Mac can only move forward. No backward compatibility is allowed).

nat

Joined: Mar 2002

01/16, 08:45am | report spam | close reply

correct

"Oooh. Jobs removed the floppy drive. He's such a freakin' genius!"

you're right. he is. everybody was bitchin about the no floppy (pc magazine loudmouths were laughing at him) but because of his genius we have the entire usb industry and no more floppies, zip drives, etc. that's right. usb had been around for a long time but nobody used it, pc's had it but there was nothing to use it on. along comes the first imac and the entire usb peripheral industry is born. before the first imac there was about 2 items for usb, now look at it.

but hey, acknowledging that wouldn't fit with your mo would it?

Clive

Joined: Jan 2001

01/16, 08:50am | report spam | close reply

not a 12" replacement

I was hoping that this "rumour" might turn into something to encourage me to replace my 12" PowerBook - unfortunately not.

No Firewire, no removable battery, no ethernet, no optical drive... and it's bigger! Are they on crack in Cupertino?

If this had been a true sub-notebook, with say a 10-11" screen, with similar specs, then maybe I would have thought that it had something to offer. But what is essentially a full-sized machine, with a low specification, does nothing for me.

And the nonsense developed by Apple to get around these shortcomings (Remote Disc, ethernet dongles... do me a favour!) just take the biscuit.

boomer0127

Joined: Jan 2004

01/16, 09:13am | report spam | close reply

A big MEH

I am not quite sure who the demographic is for this machine - the creative types that I support were really concerned about the lack of Firewire - they don't want to have to replace their prosumer FW DV camcorders. The 2D folks are wondering what about this machine makes it better than just sideloading files to temporary external storage.

I figure the demographic is a person that has a desktop at home, a desktop at work, weak arms, a need to travel but not very far and alot of cash.

For me, I'm still holding out for the 24-inch MacBookPro, all 14.8 lovable, luggable pounds. 2 HDs, 2 batteries. 1 computer for everything. Apple needs to offset all the weight gain from people carrying around the new AirBook (MehBook?) - it can be called the BrickBook or something. And have its own workout plan.

lamewing

Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Aug 2004

01/16, 09:17am | report spam | close reply

Where is my Newton

I pray this isn't what Apple was planning in regards to a Newton-type appliance. If so, I have finally given up on Apple and will find a PC tablet ... sigh (I really didn't want to do this).

NO replaceable battery on a $1700.00 machine? If Panasonic can make a nice 10 inch and 12 inch system with a replaceable battery, why did Apple choose not to?

Goodbye Apple.

shaunymac

Joined: Jan 2008

01/16, 09:25am | report spam | close reply

Extra Battery

Ok so i know the whole non-removable battery thing apple is doing to us kinda sucks, but im just curious as to how many of actually buy extra batteries? I know it would suck to know you have to find an outlet to use your computer like my sisters wintel toshiba laptop that lasts 15 min or so and has been that way from the day she got it, but in a few years what would a little curiousity hurt you in replacing it yourself and if you get in over your head you let the GENIUS take the reigns. After all, the non-replaceable batterys do offer us some pretty sleek lines on our products.

01/16, 05:04pm | report spam | close reply

Surprise!

The biggest problem with Jobs is his obsession with secrecy, and these dog and pony shows. If this information had tricked into the market gradually, it could have been analyzed and incorporated rationally, instead of emotionally. Markets become unstable every time Jobs starts playing ringmaster. Yes, the upside is great when he is able to pull off an iPhone, but the rest of the time it is positively scary. Markets crave rationality and stability. Jobs craves adulation and surprise. Rarely the two can come together nicely, and the risk in all the other times is downright nasty. Apple is down 11% in two days!!! The board should be furious. It is time to call an end to these stunts.

jh7

01/17, 02:40pm | report spam | close reply

mmm

well corrected for someone that is clearly on the wrong forum and is talking the most utterly unfounded bullshit i have ever heard. why do you bother. you need to get out a little more.......

01/17, 03:56pm | report spam | close reply

also

who is that woman that is in every pic. a sales rep from microsoft or justthe photographers mum........

05/24	Apple seeds eighth OS X 10.8.4 beta...
05/24	Motorola appeals dismissal of ITC complaint...
05/24	Apple cuts prices on refurbished iPads...
05/24	Best Buy to start month-long $50 discount...
05/24	Rain continues to cause problems at...

05/24	Motorola appeals dismissal of ITC complaint...
05/24	Best Buy to start month-long $50 discount...
05/23	AT&T GoPhone may get iPhone, LTE/HSPA...
05/23	Google posts Chrome 28 beta, integrates...
05/23	Google in 'holding pattern' with Apple...

MacBook Air: live photos, new details

updated 03:20 pm EST, Tue January 15, 2008