The
new Apple MacBook Air 2012 offers the latest PC tech, including third-gen Intel
Core processing, Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 connectivity
Back in 2008,
Apple made laptops cool again by unleashing the super-skinny MacBook Air. The slimline beauty was made even thinner in
2010, and the 2012 version – which is on review here – is the latest iteration
of that design.
Packing the
latest Intel Core processing power, alongside nippy DDR3L RAM, SSD flash
storage and ultrafast connectivity, the new MacBook Air 2012 - available as 11-
and 13-inch versions - has not only the
looks but the power to once again dominate the ultraportable notebook market.
But this time
around, it does face stiff competition at least. Apple seemingly kicked off a
slimline laptop revolution with the MacBook Air, and if you haven't heard the
word Ultrabook by now, you soon will have.
The shops are
now packed with svelte laptops, with the likes of the Asus ZenBook UX31, the HP
Envy 14 Spectre, the Dell XPS 13 and the Acer Aspire S3 wowing buyers with
their impressive spec sheets and their skinny chassis.
But has the
new MacBook Air still got enough about it to lead the pack? To find out we took
the smaller ii-inch Air model for a spin.
MacBook Air: Build
While we
welcome the new hardware inside the MacBook Air, we can't help but feel that
the 2012 models are more evolution than revolution.
That's not to
say that we don't love the Air's beautiful design – it's impossible not to.
But, as this is the third time that Apple has wheeled out exactly the same
chassis, we are slightly underwhelmed.
There's only
so long the wow-factor can last and, two years down the line, the awe
surrounding the MacBook Air has definitely diminished, especially when you
consider the wealth of new design ideas hitting the Ultrabook market.
But, and it's
a big but - the MacBook Air design and build is still one that the new
Ultrabook brigade strive for. Sure, there are a lot of refreshing new ideas in
the laptop arena, but more than a handful of Ultrabooks are clearly trying to
emulate Apple's famous design.
Despite its
age, it's easy to see why. At 300 x 192 x 17mm it's tiny. Even tinier when you
consider the graded base which helps the Air hit a ridiculously lean 3mm at its
thinnest point. The 11.6-inch model that we reviewed weighs just over 1kg as
well, making it the ultimate portable PC (the 13-inch model weighs just 270g
more).
The keyboard
that we know and love from the MacBook family, with its isolated backlit keys,
is back – alongside the brilliant track-pad which supports a plethora of
multi-touch gestures.
MacBook Air: Features
In the face
of the new Ultrabook competition Apple has responded with a major refresh of
the MacBook Air’s hardware setup, offering the latest tech at a much more
competitive price.
The biggest
change is the addition of a third-generation Intel Core platform. The 11.6-inch
model that we used for this review was running via a 1.7GHz dual-core i5 chip,
which can run as fast as 2.6GHz using Intel’s Turbo Boost tech. On the 13-inch
model it’s a 1.8GHz i5 CPU as standard; you can opt for an i7 processor on both
versions for £130 more.
Intel's
third-generation core setup, codenamed Ivy Bridge, also gives you access to
Intel HD Graphics 4000, meaning graphics that are twice as fast as the previous
MacBook Air generation. There's also 4GB of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM on board and the
overall result is a performance that is much more impressive than last time
around.
However, if
you're biggest desire with a MacBook is performance, you should consider one of
the Pro models, which substitute portability for power. If you want an Apple
notebook which boasts both incredible operation and desirability, you should
take a look at the MacBook Pro with Retina display – although, be warned, it
doesn't come cheap.
In terms of
connectivity the new MacBook Air packs a couple of USB 3.0 ports – a nice
update from the 2011 model – as well as a Thunderbolt port. There's no SD card
reader on the 11-incher, although there is on the 13-inch machine. There's also
a 3.5mm headphone jack and an updated power adaptor.
MacBook Air: Screen
Unfortunately,
the eye-boggling Retina display that amazes on the iPhone 4S, the new iPad 3
and now the MacBook Pro, hasn't found its way to the MacBook Air range yet.
Instead,
we're looking at the same glossy LED-backlit display as before, with a 1,366 x
768 resolution (1,440 x 900 for the 13-inch model). Colours appear vibrant,
especially with brightness turned up full-whack, and there are no signs of
ghosting or blurriness when playing back HD content. The viewing angles are
good, if not great.
MacBook Air: Performance
The
latest-generation Intel Core power results in a vastly improved experience when
using the 2012 MacBook Air. The lack of a discrete graphics processor means
that you won’t be able to seamlessly play the latest games, quickly edit HD
movies or anything else too demanding, but that’s not really what the Air is
all about.
It’s a
slimline machine that won't take up too much space in your bag that will be
more than up to the task for anything you demand of it when you’re out and
about. If you need to do a bit of work on the go, or quickly check something on
the web, the instant-on feature will come in incredibly handy, and the 30-day
standby life-span makes it a brilliant living-room machine.
As an
entertainment hub it thrives with photos and HD movies looking great on its LED
display. Storing your digital media may be a bit of a pain, however, with just
64GB of storage on the cheapest setup (£849). A higher price tag of £80 more
gets you 128GB on the smaller model and you can go up to 512GB of storage for
£640 extra, should money not be an issue.
This storage
is of the SSD variety though – so it's lightening fast to access your files.
The webcam has also been improved; it’s now a 720p HD one so your FaceTime
calls should be clearer than ever.
MacBook Air: Battery
Apple is
promising a battery life of five hours for the 11-inch model and seven hours on
the 13-inch one. In our test, which involves looping HD video using Apple's
QuickTime on full brightness, it lasted just under four hours, indicating that
Apple’s promise for normal usage should be about right.
Charging the
MacBook Air is a quick and easy affair using the relatively small power pack
and the new MagSafe 2 power adaptor, which is thinner than the previous
incumbent. If you want to use your old Mac powerpack, Apple will sell you an
adaptor for £9.
MacBook Air: Verdict
In terms of
performance and usability it's hard to fault the 2012 Apple MacBook Air. It may
not have the sheer power of its MacBook Pro brethren, but it's hardly a slacker
either with the third-generation Intel Core power making for a much slicker
experience than last year's range.
Its slimline
chassis and lightweight footprint mean that it is the perfect portable machine
and, despite the Ultrabook onslaught, it is still the most desirable notebook
available.
But we're not
too sure just how much longer that desirability can last. Yes, it looks
brilliant, is a pleasure to use, and it has a fantastic build quality. But
these are all plus points that could be said of both the 2010 and 2010 MacBook
Airs.
Ultimately,
we think it's time that Apple shook up the laptop market again and we're
desperately hoping that the 2013 Air refresh shows more signs of the unique
innovation that has made the Cupertino-based company the biggest name in tech.
Until then,
we'll enjoy using the new MacBook Air, albeit with a tinge of disappointment.
Apple MacBook Air availability:
Available now
Apple MacBook Air price: From £849
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar