MacBook Air – Ready For Primetime? [An Emotional Review]

As the credit card leaves the comfort of my wallet, I hesitate for one last moment. I already happen to own a Mac Pro, a MacBook Pro, as well as an iPad. All of my computing needs should be covered. Shouldn’t they? Then I remember the frustrations of publishing a blog post from an iPad and the cumbersome weight of my MacBook Pro. Maybe I could squeeze one more computer into my digital routine, afterall? Finally—with the boiling sensation of pure lust overcoming every part of my body—I hand over the credit card. $1199 later and I am the somewhat surprised owner of an 11″ MacBook Air. Wait, what just happened?

I have a strong feeling that I’m not alone with this experience. The recently unveiled MacBook Air seems to evoke a high range of emotions. It certainly is tempting, isn’t it?

That’s why this review won’t focus on technical specifications or benchmarks. You already know that the MacBook Air uses a past-generation processor, limited storage space, and virtually no opportunity to upgrade your machine down the line. Yet, we seem intrigued by this incredibly thin machine. Why? More importantly, though: will the initial satisfaction last beyond the initial buyers rush?

Know Your Expectations

Before we take a closer look, however, it is important that you know your expectations. Sit down for a moment and think about your daily usage scenarios. Also consider what type computers (and I’m counting the iPad here) you already own.

I’ve been using the 11″ MacBook Air (1.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB, 128GB) for just a few days but I can already tell you that this is by far the best portable computer I’ve ever used for writing, researching, blogging, and daily business correspondence. Yes, it’s just as portable as the iPad (as a matter of fact it even fits into the same bag) but offers all the flexibility and true multitasking capabilities of a full blown computer system. This doesn’t mean that it completely outshines the iPad in every possible way, however. In my opinion, the iPad still remains the best device for media consumption. The MacBook Air, however, beats it hands-down for light content creation.

Beyond simple text and image manipulation I also tried Photoshop CS5 to edit a full size, 21MP RAW image from my Canon 5D Mark II without experiencing any frustration, whatsoever. Was the experience as smooth or snappy as it would’ve been on a MacBook Pro? No, but at no point did I feel frustrated or restricted. Again, a far superior experience to manipulating images on iPad. The same goes for the videos in this review which I shot on the 5D (at 1080p) end edited on my MacBook Air using Final Cut Pro. Encoding may be slower, but the process isn’t painful. (One annoyance I experienced in both Photoshop and Final Cut Pro was that certain windows were too large for my screen. Hence, I wasn’t able to resize the RAW image editor window in Photoshop or the Canon E-1 plug-in in Final Cut Pro. Suddenly, that ‘any corner resizing‘ feature in OSX Lion makes a lot more sense!)

Final Cut runs adequate on the MacBook Air

Often resize corners aren't accessible on the small screen.

If you’re a creative professional, however, don’t expect the Air to replace your primary machine quite yet. Exporting the same 720p video, for example, took 11 minutes on the Air compared to 7:15 minutes on a 2.4GHz Core2 Duo, 2009 MacBook Pro and 5:45 minutes on a 2 x 2.66GHZ Dual-Core Xeon, 2006 Mac Pro. Also, remember that you’ll be limited to 4GB of RAM and that there’s no firewire for speedy data transfers. If push comes to shove, however, it’s reassuring to know that applications such as Final Cut Pro are still an option on the MacBook Air.

Hence, the 11″ MacBook Air strikes me as the perfect companion to a more powerful pro-machine. Would you be able to use it as your primary computer? Possibly. Especially if your main tasks involve writing, researching, blogging, as well as light iPhoto/iMovie usage. If that’s your plan, do yourself one favor and opt for the 128GB model. Your ever expanding iTunes library will thank you later.

My recommendation changes slightly if you’re considering the 13″ MacBook Air. I could definitely see how the 13″ model could be the primary machine for quite a few more people. Especially if you are willing to commit to the 4GB model with that 2.16 GHz processor upgrade. This configuration should be plenty powerful for most excluding creative professionals and gamers. At the same time, I don’t really see as many compelling reasons for the 13″ inch as a secondary computer.

MacBook Air – Killer Features

So far I’ve spent most of this review focusing on the Air’s appeal without actually mentioning most of its features. However, between the iPad, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air Apple hasn’t made the purchasing decision very easy so I feel this detour was appropriate. Now that we’ve set the expectations and come to understand the scope and general limitations of the MacBook air, however, I’d like to take a look at some of the features that I found most impressive.

Size/Design

After Apple introduced the iPad I was truly convinced that I’d never be able to fall in love with another laptop again. Sure, I’d have to keep using my Laptop for work, but write a 2,000 word review about one? Probably not. Leave it to the company that brought us the iPad to prove me wrong. The Air is just as portable as the iPad and the design just as sexy. The 11″ especially feels like something completely new and fresh. This is really hard to grasp unless you go see and feel it with your own eyes and hands. There’s absolutely nothing ‘cheap’ or ‘netbooky’ about the Air. This is a complete computer in an extremely compact, yet durable design. Everything about it feels just right. The MacBook Air truly brought sexy ‘back to the mac’.

Keyboard/Trackpad

Yes, it’s true. The MacBook Air features the same full sized keyboard and trackpad (even though a bit shallower on the 11″) that you’ve come to expect from Apple’s Pro machines. Writing is just as comfortable (if not slightly better) as it’s always been on a MacBook Pro and leaps and bounds better compared to the iPad.

Speakers

They’re not nearly as loud or clear as the build in speakers on the MacBook Pro, but the simple fact that Apple was able to integrate a pair of decent STEREO speakers into this thin design simply blows me away. Listen below for a direct comparison between MacBook Pro 15″ and MacBook Air 11″ at maximum volume. Surprisingly good for a computer this size, wouldn’t you say?

Instant On

Seeing is believing:

Display

Last but not least, the Air’s display truly took me by surprise. I had no idea how much better it would be compared to my MacBook Pro. The screen is so incredibly sharp that both iPad and MacBook Pro pale in comparison. No seriously, I can barely stand looking at my 15″ MacBook Pro Screen after working on the Air. It’s like the difference between iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Once you see it there’s no turning back. It’s really that much better.

MacBook Air – What’s Missing

Besides the obvious three (raw computing power, limited disk space, and virtually no upgrade path) there were a few other things that irked me. Let’s have a look:

3G Modem

As previously mentioned, the MacBook Air is just as portable as the iPad, yet it’s missing the iPad’s killer feature: an integrated 3G modem. You simply can’t slide the Air out of your bag and immediately start surfing the net unless you are in reach of a WiFi Hotspot. While the Air may be an ‘instant-on’ machine, it’s not an ‘instant-on-the-web’ machine. Of course you could always tether, or get a USB modem, but that’s neither as sexy or convenient as the integrated 3G experience on iPad. It’s time for Apple and the cell phone providers to work out some data arrangements that can be shared among all of our portable devices without having to rely on external hardware. I am not holding my breath, but the Air yearns for mobile connectivity. Perhaps Apple is waiting for the rumored ‘open sim’?

For 3G access you have to tether the MacBook Air to a wireless modem. (Demonstrated here on a jail-broken iPad)

USB 3

Sure, as of this writing, not even Apple’s pro line features the vastly superior USB standard, but with firewire MIA and storage space at a premium, the faster USB standard would’ve been a truly welcoming addition. At least Apple had the hindsight to hook up the existing USB ports with enough juice to power a portable USB drive without the need for an external power supply. I’ll take what I can get at this point, but the next revision better bring USB 3 to the table!

Backlit keyboard

On my MacBook Pro the backlit keyboard has always just kinda been there for me without me truly taking notice. And I have to admit that I’ve never really regarded it as an essential feature. Until I took the Air into my bedroom and turned of the lights. I guess you don’t really know what you’ll be missing until it’s taken from you. Also, I had apparently forgotten how hard it is to type in the dark. Bummer!

Power Supply

Okay, now I’m really nitpicking here, but I was a little disappointed that Apple hasn’t managed to shrink the included power supply even further. The MacBook Air consumes very little power, so for some reason I fully expected Apple to blow me away—yet again—with another ‘oh my god, I cant believe how small they have become’ power supply. They didn’t. It’s not large, by any means, but it’s no iPad charger either. I wish it were.

From left to right: power supplies for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad.

Bottom Line

The new MacBook Air allows us a glimpse into the future of mobile computing. Flash Storage, slimmer designs, increased portability, and minuscule power draw. If the time’s right for you to jump on board, however, depends on how you use your computer. If you’re a writer on the go, this should be a no-brainer: buy. The same goes for power-users: stay away. If funds are limited (second computer isn’t an option), and you do a little bit of everything, the decision becomes more difficult.

Ultimately, if you are of the patient kind, holding out a little longer may be worth your while. I would be shocked, if not at least some of the Air’s standout features will make their way into the next refresh of the MacBook Pro line. While we may not see an all-out SSD MacBook Pro anytime soon, I think it’d be reasonable to at least expect some sort of hybrid drive before OSX Lion is released next summer. The same goes for USB 3.

Either way, the Air proves that the Mac may still have its best years ahead of itself, even in pre-iPad times. So burn your obituaries; the Mac’s here to stay and I have a feeling that this is just the beginning. Welcome back, buddy. We missed you.

The MacBook Air is now available on Amazon. No tax. No shipping. You’ll also support our site if you order from the links below:

Apple MacBook Air MC505LL/A 11.6-Inch, 1.4 GHz, 64GB – $994

Apple MacBook Air MC506LL/A 11.6-Inch, 1.4 GHz, 128GB – $1194

Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch, 1.86 GHz, 128GB – $1294

Apple MacBook Air MC504LL/A 13.3-Inch, 1.86 GHz, 256 GB – $1594

PS: I wrote this article on the 11″ MacBook Air. I also edited all images and videos on the machine. Not once did I wish for access to a more ‘powerful’ computer.

Pro Tip: Utilize the ‘software reinstall drive‘ when you first receive your MacBook Air to re-instal OSX from scratch. This can save you a few GB’s of space. During install choose ‘customize’ and deselect all optional languages.Then install only the iLife applications which you’ll be truly using on a regular basis (in my case: iPhoto and iMovie). This will only take 25 minutes of your time but free up 2.5GB of storage. Of course you could also use ‘Monolingual‘ and ‘Appzapper‘ but then you wouldn’t have an excuse to utilize that slick USB installation drive!