Apple MacBook Air first hands-on

Yeah, pretty much sexy. Every element is super sharp, the hidden ports are a thing of beauty, and the backlit keyboard is certainly a nice touch. It's almost silly how light it is, and multitouch is smooth as butter. With the dimensions and curves Apple is playing with, we can almost forgive the lack of removable battery -- almost.

Gallery: Apple MacBook Air first hands-on

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[fanman @ Jan 24th 2008 2:53PM]

I've just read the press release. Can you really...;

Not connect to the internet over ethernet without using your one USB port?
Not perform any computing (for example installing software or establishing a music collection) involving a CD drive?
Have to buy a (rather over enthusiastically named) SuperDrive CD drive which will not work on any other machine?
Not simultaneously download iTunes songs from the (ethernet) internet with an iPod plugged in?
Pay £2,028.00, plus the cost of the SuperDrive? That the price of a reasonable hatchback car (which, incidentally, would have a CD drive for free).

Can you imagine what would happen to any other company that released this? These days we thrown upon manufactures that don't include a blu ray or HDDVD drive, yet a lone a standard DVD drive and re-writer. They would be laughed out of business. Yeah, this is thin, but it sure as hell isn't a computer.

[Justin E @ Jan 15th 2008 1:46PM]

So what'll be the Nike tie-in with this one?

[RC @ Jan 15th 2008 2:26PM]

Shoe horn?

What the point of making things so thin if they're going to look like this? Vaio stuff has always looked better than Macbooks, even with this. It reminds me of when the soap has dissolved down to a sliver and you just give up.

Wouldn't it have been nicer to add a touchscreen and a swivel hinge? It would probably make it a little bulkier/heavier, but all the slimming effort would have given them a really nice tablet, wich are more weight-sensitive than a latop since you are supposed to use them while holding them.

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 15th 2008 1:51PM]

Just watched the guided tour video. That thing is freakishly small. And light. And easily lost! Imagine THAT horror :O

[LegendZ28 @ Jan 15th 2008 2:31PM]

How would you easily lose a 13 inch laptop? It's thin, is all. If you'd have trouble keeping track of this thing, I'd hate to see you with smaller footprint devices like mp3 players.

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 15th 2008 2:39PM]

Yeah I lose things easily. It might be carelessness but I know I've never lost the MacBook Pro. Now where did I put it..?

[riggs @ Jan 15th 2008 3:36PM]

its under your hands silly! :P

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 15th 2008 3:47PM]

Oh snap! Thanks riggs. Now where did I leave those damn spectacles...

[Ipaq3115 @ Jan 15th 2008 10:42PM]

who cares about losing it? What I want to know is... Does it Blend?

That guy might need a bigger blender...

[Jeremy @ Jan 16th 2008 5:33AM]

(Typing in a cold sweat), I just had a nightmare, that I was the first person to lose my Macbook Air.... Thank God it was just a dream, I just woke up to find my nice fat Black Macbook nice and charged.

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 15th 2008 1:52PM]

Just watched the guided tour video. That thing is freakishly small. And light. And easily lost! Imagine THAT horror :O

[Wes Joyce @ Jan 15th 2008 1:57PM]

All i can say is, i learned my lesson with pre-ordering the iPod touch, DONT!! hahaha but i wish i had the $2000 dollars to spend on this, but i'll just wait until it gets better, with apple it always does.......

[rj @ Jan 15th 2008 2:37PM]

too bad, no ethernet jack. they're still useful sometimes.

[Ed @ Jan 15th 2008 2:46PM]

Seems likely you'll be able to buy a USB ethernet dongle.

[Ed @ Jan 15th 2008 2:47PM]

Seems likely you'll be able to buy a USB ethernet dongle.

[Kyle R Jones @ Jan 15th 2008 2:11PM]

I expected it to cost a little less. It is lighter and doesn't have the optical drive or ethernet, but somehow they priced it well above what I think it should be. It's an amazing device but shouldn't cost more than the macbook. Hopefully the price will go down, then I would get one.

[Brandon Pierce @ Jan 15th 2008 2:16PM]

My guess (and I'd like to emphasize guess) is the cost of the processor is driving up the cost of the unit, along with the freakishly (and disturbingly) small motherboard.

[ark_v2 @ Jan 15th 2008 3:06PM]

Not really. It's because it's uverthin and small, and it's a mac so people will buy it anyways.

[Jeremy K. @ Jan 15th 2008 2:02PM]

It's pretty thin!

[C @ Jan 15th 2008 2:04PM]

Would love to get that 64GB SSD Macbook Air for college. But $3000?! C'mon!

[max andrews @ Jan 15th 2008 3:10PM]

Wait until the third generation. Most of the bugs will be gone, it will be cheaper, and the SSD will be cheaper.

[Mke @ Jan 15th 2008 8:05PM]

@max andrews

... And college will be/almost be over. haha

[C @ Jan 15th 2008 2:05PM]

Would love to get that 64GB SSD Macbook Air for college. But $3000?! C'mon!

[AlexP @ Jan 15th 2008 2:45PM]

SSDs are pricey.

[Sean @ Jan 15th 2008 2:08PM]

Wow that laptop is so thin I can't even see it in engadget's gallery! :)
Seriously though, bring on the pics! That thing is impressive!

[kothargi @ Jan 15th 2008 2:14PM]

It looks great. some of the feature are way to awesome.. but it lack the Stereo Speakers.. it suck man..

[Stephen Lang @ Jan 15th 2008 2:22PM]

On the positive side, most speakers in ultralight notebooks suck anyways! So this doesn't suck quite as much as initial impressions indicate...

[AlexP @ Jan 15th 2008 2:27PM]

Erm, this is why you use earbuds?

I consider anyone in a public space (you don't use that as a desktop replacement, so you're mostly going to use it in public areas) with his speakers turned on to be a jackass, and I doubt I'm not the only person that thinks like that.

[Josh* @ Jan 15th 2008 2:14PM]

Hmm, I'll give it a year until the "take 2".

[Gooel @ Jan 15th 2008 2:16PM]

Eww

[Sean @ Jan 15th 2008 2:18PM]

haha, why, because you CAN'T afford one? Haha.
Now before you reply again telling me that you'll have me know you're the President of the USA or some big wig corporate head honcho and you can afford to buy the whole Apple company... I don't care and I don't believe you. I still think you're jealous you can't afford it!

:D

[Gooel @ Jan 15th 2008 2:26PM]

Nah, i just dont want one it looks pretty ugly!
If i did have the money, i would get a nicer looking laptop with double the specs for half the price.

[Mke @ Jan 15th 2008 8:07PM]

Gooel,

Price aside, I think it's funny that you think it's ugly. I thought it was quite universally beautiful.

[Mke @ Jan 15th 2008 8:07PM]

Gooel,

Price aside, I think it's funny that you think it's ugly. I thought it was quite universally beautiful.

[Jason @ Jan 15th 2008 2:14PM]

Did you turn it over and see the replaceable battery?

Oh wait, the MBA's battery is "integrated"...

[John from Buffalo @ Jan 15th 2008 3:04PM]

Don't jizz on it. the force might crack the screen.

[Austin Chesshire @ Jan 15th 2008 2:17PM]

What do you do if there is no WIRELESS internet and only ethernet plug in? I dont see a ethernet plug in on it?

[katakata @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

everyone carries around a wireless router these days.

[Paul @ Jan 15th 2008 2:20PM]

Yeah and only one USB port...? And a mono speaker?

[Jeremy K. @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

There is wireless internet.

[Alex @ Jan 15th 2008 2:23PM]

Very Good Point. I do not see a ethernet jack either.

[Yonga @ Jan 15th 2008 2:26PM]

You can buy an USB Ethernet adapter at the apple store.

[Austin Chesshire @ Jan 15th 2008 2:28PM]

ive been to hotels where there is no wireless only plug in, is there something u can buy, like a adapter?

[PDubNYC @ Jan 15th 2008 2:36PM]

yes, you can buy a USB ethernet adaptor for $30

[MatiBech @ Jan 15th 2008 2:30PM]

I Love it, I just do but danm it's pricey. And it's only slight improvements from a normal BlackBook. But it's just PRETTY! It's the Aston of electronics

[mark @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

Someone bring a Sony Vaio X505 in and compare it--the Vaio beats it on paper; let's see a real life comparison.

[Jevanzz @ Jan 15th 2008 2:25PM]

Preach brother!

I'm real pissed off at ridiculously high UK prices!

[Blaktornado @ Jan 15th 2008 3:55PM]

I agree with Jevanzz. I wasn't expecting it to cost more than my desktop. There's no way I'll buy this as a "second" computer when it costs more and isn't as powerful. I guess I'll just buy a normal Macbook instead. Cheaper, even if it is slightly heavier and bulkier. No problem with that if I save £600 and actually get more in the end...

[MatiBech @ Jan 15th 2008 2:30PM]

Thats porn for Bender! :)

[Gabriel Wolfe @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

I don't see the point in buying this product. Apple are beginning to rip UK consumers off and should be investigated for price fixing and unfair charging by the trading standards and/or the EU.

They expect us to pay £1200 for a MacBook Air, only marginally less than a MacBook Pro, yet they sell it for $1800 in the USA? £1200 does not equal $1800. £1200 is nearly $2400!

The MacBook Air, and all related products are exactly that - nothing but hot air. Avoid like the plague if you value your finances.