Apple introduced an ultra-light laptop, MacBook Air, at MacWorld Expo on January 15, 2008.
Apple is bucking the popular trend on this. Before the MacWorld Expo 2008 started, there are rumors about an ultra-light laptop to be announced. Some blogs or articles made a connection to UMPC or Internet tablet like products. The rumor became true that there is an ultra-light laptop announced. Surprisingly, it is in the form of a traditional laptop, only much lighter and thinner. It is unlike UMPC's from Sony, Samsung, or OQO, or Nokia's Internet Tablet. It is Apple's way to tell the world that Apple does not believe in UMPC or UMPC in that form factor.
Some people think MacBook Air is expensive. I did a product search on laptops and I think it is a fairly priced product. Look at the products below.Apple is bucking the popular trend on this. Before the MacWorld Expo 2008 started, there are rumors about an ultra-light laptop to be announced. Some blogs or articles made a connection to UMPC or Internet tablet like products. The rumor became true that there is an ultra-light laptop announced. Surprisingly, it is in the form of a traditional laptop, only much lighter and thinner. It is unlike UMPC's from Sony, Samsung, or OQO, or Nokia's Internet Tablet. It is Apple's way to tell the world that Apple does not believe in UMPC or UMPC in that form factor.
| Display | 13.3 LCD widescreen |
| Processor | 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, optional 1.8 GHz (specially made for Air) |
| Memory | 2GB DDR2 SDRAM |
| Networking | AirPort Extreme 802.11a/b/g/n, no wired Ethernet |
| Camera | Built-in Camera |
| Battery | 37 W-Hr Lithium-polymer with 5-hour run-time |
| Dimension | 22.7 x 32.4 x 0.4~1.94 cm (8.9x12.74x0.16~0.76 in) |
| Weight | 1.36 Kg (3.0 lbs) |
Sony TZ series - starting at $2100 (1.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, starting at 2.8 lbs)
Toshiba R500 - starting at $2000 (1.2 GHz Intel Centrino Duo, starting at 2.4 lbs)
Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad X61 - starting at $1200 (1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, starting at 2.7 lbs)
Only Lenovo's X61 is competitive in terms of the price and form factor combination. HP, Gateway, and Dell do not have anything close to 3 lbs.
Come to think of it, Apple does have an Internet tablet and that is iPod Touch. It was a very loud claim with real products saying "We, as Apple, believe that is the way to go." No matter what Apple believes, from the view point of form factor, there is a gap from iPod Touch to MacBook Air. UMPC industry may have the form factor right but did not quite get the usability straightened out. Nevertheless, MacBook Air is a good inspiration to the industry though it stole the thunder from everyone else. I am hopeful that someone will get it right given so many players in this field. But for anything usable to appear, it will probably be some time next year or even 2010.
Come to think of it, Apple does have an Internet tablet and that is iPod Touch. It was a very loud claim with real products saying "We, as Apple, believe that is the way to go." No matter what Apple believes, from the view point of form factor, there is a gap from iPod Touch to MacBook Air. UMPC industry may have the form factor right but did not quite get the usability straightened out. Nevertheless, MacBook Air is a good inspiration to the industry though it stole the thunder from everyone else. I am hopeful that someone will get it right given so many players in this field. But for anything usable to appear, it will probably be some time next year or even 2010.
