Does Apple’s latest laptop invention really have the edge above its competitors? And is it really worth the price for its slim light body?
With the slimmest body, the MacBook Air laptop, recently unveiled by Apple Inc. is the envy of its competitors and the boast of its creators. You’ve all been intrigued by its advertisement on television and on the Internet. It’s so slim it slides comfortably into a legal sized manila envelope.
The MacBook Air takes the edge with it's ultra thin, sleek and shiny body. It weighs only 3 pounds. It is packaged in a muted grey colour, which gives it an executive look. It can hitch a ride in a backpack, shoulder bag or briefcase. Moreover, it is environment friendly. And is the only computer invented with great respect for environment safety. Meaning, when it outlives its usefulness, it can be tossed into a corner of the yard or burned without harming the Ozone layer or people’s health.
With greater interest in electronic gadgets and computers, companies have been engaging in technological competitiveness to produce the most innovative and improved products for consumers. Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation are 2 of the strongest technology contenders that butt heads to stay ahead of the computer and gizmo rivalry. This time, Apple may have nicked Microsoft’s chip with the MacBook Air. It’s a piece of modern technology devout Mac lovers would cherish.
But is slim really better?
At US $1799.00, does the MacBook Air really have a greater advantage over its bulkier competitors? Let's examine them. It is equipped with a mobile 13.3-inch screen, 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4 MB and 80 GB. At the front, neatly embedded in its slim contour is a built-in isight camera. It is .16 by .76 in height, offers a battery life of up to five hours and it has wireless feature. In addition, the delicate MacBook Air has a micro-DVI, USB 2.0 port, an audio port and a remote disk feature, all artistically concealed in another port within the cover. In comparison to other notebooks, it’s faster and can zip from one window to another faster than one can exhale. Illuminated keys make it easy to work in poor lighting situations. Many of its parts are recyclable and one does not need a cumbersome laptop bag to take it to the park.
So how does this lightweight champion compare to other cheaper models? And what are its weaknesses?
The MacBook Air is not sold fully loaded. It contains many features as a Windows PC and users would need to purchase additional software and accessories to give it some more spunk. Its wireless connection limits one’s ability to surf the internet. The MacBook Air is built for wireless only. In the absence of a Wi-Fi network or a Starbuck’s café, there would be no internet access. And it is not equipped with a port for an Ethernet cable to connect to an external router or cable/modem, which can make one feel like he/she is lugging around a one-legged cripple.
Also noticeable is the absence of an Optical Disk Drive, a computer’s peripheral device that stores data on optical disks. It utilises electromagnetic waves to read or write data. And its ability to burn CDs or DVDs is limited by its single USB port and the absence of a FireWire port.
The MacBook Air’s most appealing features are its weight and slimness. But is it really worth spending a few hundred dollars more for less weight? At the going price, it would have been a complete package if it had not fallen short of the expected standard. At US $1799.00, one expects quality and high standard.
