Apple MacBook Air - Expert Reviews

Review summary: If light weight and small size are you top considerations, the MacBook Air is the laptop for you. The new models aren't much faster than their predecessors-in fact, the high-end system is slower than the previous model-but they're cheaper.

Pros: Weighs three pounds ; thin ; full-size keyboard ; bright 13-inch display

Cons: Slower than all other Apple laptops ; single USB port limits connectivity

Verdict: It's also Apple's thinnest, lightest laptop. And I still love it

Review summary: The MacBook Air is the slowest laptop in the Mac line and the updated model reviewed here is even slower than its predecessor. But we still love it.

Verdict: If what strikes you about the MacBook Air is that it's overpriced and underpowered, it isn't the laptop for you. It's hobbled by having only a single USB port. Its processor is slow and it's locked into 2GB of RAM. There's no FireWire, no optical ...

Review summary: The Apple MacBook Air started somewhat of a revolution in laptops. It's not a netbook per se (the spec and price will testify to to that), but at just 19mm slim, it does have netbook proportions. And now it's spawned a whole new world of thin, ultra ...

Pros: As with all Apple products a lot of thought has gone into style

Cons: Unfortunately that style has come at the expense of a load of features. Oh and it's expensive

Verdict: Apple has cut some significant corners to get the MacBook Air down to size. Undeniably beautiful, but not quite worth the high price Apple's asking for.

Review summary: The updated version of Apple's strikingly thin and strong ultraportable adds plenty of graphics punch, but its battery life is too short.

Pros: Sturdy aluminum build, Fast SSD, Good graphics performance, Multitouch trackpad, Illuminated keyboard

Cons: Short battery life, Limited port selection, Very expensive

Verdict: Our biggest beef with the MacBook Air is the lone USB 2.0 port, which doesn't properly accommodate all peripherals due to the flip-down panel. We had no problems connecting external storage drives, but an AT&T mobile broadband modem fit awkwardly into ...

Review summary: This 1.4kg sliver of a computer is truly breathtaking to look at. But here a good processor and 2 gigs of RAM don't translate to speedy performance, and aside from wi-fi and Bluetooth, the only connections are a single USB port, a headphone jack and a ...

Pros: True next-gen design. Incredible keyboard and screen. Good battery life - more than three hours. Competitive price

Cons: Lack of connectors a real problem. Some devices hard to wedge into the flip-down USB port. Disappointing performance. Pokey hard drive