Apple kills 13-inch MacBook, but is the new MacBook Air a good replacement?
Say it ain’t so! We heard rumors yesterday that Apple may be phasing out its entry-level laptop, the white 13-inch white MacBook, but we weren’t necessarily sure if the news was actually happening. After Apple launched a new line of MacBook Airs today, we can tell you that it is, in fact, true.
Though it hasn’t been officially announced by Apple, we can confidently say that Apple will no longer offer the white MacBook. To confirm the information, Apple has already taken the MacBooks off of its online store. All you’ll find now is the new line of MacBook Airs, the MacBook Pro, the new Mac mini, the iMac, and the Mac Pro. The URL “www.apple.com/macbook/white” now redirects us to the new page for today’s announced MacBook Air.
The MacBook was originally released in 2006 as a replacement for the iBook. In 2008, Apple released an updated version that traded Apple’s white plastic material for aluminum, but also got rid of the Firewire port and features that could be found in the MacBook Pro. The last version, released a little over a year ago, went back to the iconic white polycarbonate but in a unibody version.
We can see why Apple decided to stop selling the MacBooks. They just don’t fit into Apple’s sleek design, the one that encompasses the Airs and the Pros. The aluminum unibody has been a smashing success, while plastic had issues over the years. Plus we know that Apple doesn’t play in the entry-level market–the $999 MacBook Air is a very good system for its size while the $999 MacBook seemed like a lackluster offering compared to the 13-inch Pro (even if it did end up being a very good deal for a period).
The 11-inch MacBook Air, which is supposed to be the replacement for the MacBook, will start at $999 and boasts some pretty awesome features. The 11-inch and 13-inch models now offer Intel Sandy Bridge Core processors, a Thunderbolt port, a backlit keyboard, and OS X Lion. The base 13-inch model ships with a 1.7GHz dual-core Core i5 processor. Apple is claiming that the processors will make the MacBook Air up to twice as fast as its predecessor. It also has amazing battery life, lasting up to 7 hours during regular web usage. Plus, the machine boots up in about 12 seconds due to its Flash storage drive.
However, one thing missing that many people wanting to buy an entry-level MacBook will be upset about is an optical drive, which means customers will have to spend an additional $79 on an external SuperDrive to be able to use CDs and DVDs with their laptop. Then there is the screen size–an 11.6-inch display is no replacement for a 13-inch one. And the lack of ports on the Air wil cause headaches as well.
So, yes, the MacBook Air is close to being a replacement, but it’s not quite there. If you absolutely must have a laptop with an optical drive, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is going to be your only option, and that starts at $1199 –$200 more than the original MacBook price.
So, what do you think? Is the Air a sufficient replacement for the MacBook, a computer that’s been the “Average Joe” of Macs for the past five years? Also, will you go with the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro if you’re looking to buy a basic entry-level MacBook?
Say it ain’t so! We heard rumors yesterday that Apple may be phasing out its entry-level laptop, the white 13-inch white MacBook, but we weren’t necessarily sure if the news was actually happening. After Apple launched a new line of MacBook Airs today, we can tell you that it is, in fact, true.
Though it hasn’t been officially announced by Apple, we can confidently say that Apple will no longer offer the white MacBook. To confirm the information, Apple has already taken the MacBooks off of its online store. All you’ll find now is the new line of MacBook Airs, the MacBook Pro, the new Mac mini, the iMac, and the Mac Pro. The URL “www.apple.com/macbook/white” now redirects us to the new page for today’s announced MacBook Air.
The MacBook was originally released in 2006 as a replacement for the iBook. In 2008, Apple released an updated version that traded Apple’s white plastic material for aluminum, but also got rid of the Firewire port and features that could be found in the MacBook Pro. The last version, released a little over a year ago, went back to the iconic white polycarbonate but in a unibody version.
We can see why Apple decided to stop selling the MacBooks. They just don’t fit into Apple’s sleek design, the one that encompasses the Airs and the Pros. The aluminum unibody has been a smashing success, while plastic had issues over the years. Plus we know that Apple doesn’t play in the entry-level market–the $999 MacBook Air is a very good system for its size while the $999 MacBook seemed like a lackluster offering compared to the 13-inch Pro (even if it did end up being a very good deal for a period).
The 11-inch MacBook Air, which is supposed to be the replacement for the MacBook, will start at $999 and boasts some pretty awesome features. The 11-inch and 13-inch models now offer Intel Sandy Bridge Core processors, a Thunderbolt port, a backlit keyboard, and OS X Lion. The base 13-inch model ships with a 1.7GHz dual-core Core i5 processor. Apple is claiming that the processors will make the MacBook Air up to twice as fast as its predecessor. It also has amazing battery life, lasting up to 7 hours during regular web usage. Plus, the machine boots up in about 12 seconds due to its Flash storage drive.
However, one thing missing that many people wanting to buy an entry-level MacBook will be upset about is an optical drive, which means customers will have to spend an additional $79 on an external SuperDrive to be able to use CDs and DVDs with their laptop. Then there is the screen size–an 11.6-inch display is no replacement for a 13-inch one. And the lack of ports on the Air wil cause headaches as well.
So, yes, the MacBook Air is close to being a replacement, but it’s not quite there. If you absolutely must have a laptop with an optical drive, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is going to be your only option, and that starts at $1199 –$200 more than the original MacBook price.
So, what do you think? Is the Air a sufficient replacement for the MacBook, a computer that’s been the “Average Joe” of Macs for the past five years? Also, will you go with the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro if you’re looking to buy a basic entry-level MacBook?
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