News - Apple adds Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt to MacBook Airs

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There’s also a backlit keyboard as the Air becomes the new standard MacBook.

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Read more.

The cheapest 11.6" model is better value than Samsung Series 9 11.6" which is the same price in the US:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsu...w-210513.shtml

The pricing is actually quite decent for a high end ultralight laptop TBH.

It will be interesting to see how much the Asus UX21 and rumoured HP Ultrabook will cost.

Very tempted by the £999 11" model, higher res than my 2008 13" machine, faster (Slower clock speed but has HT, is what 3 gens ahead and will turbo up) has a 128gb SSD and is smaller / lighter and better battery life.
Still I will try my best to hold off for Ivy bridge and see if the rumours of air like Macbook pros come true.
I can see it happening, as I predicted the Superdrive is going the way of the Dodo (new mini doesn't have it)

Good point about Ivy Bridge and the GPU will be better too. OTH,there might be some good deals on the current model MacBook Air when the Ivy Bridge based ones are released.

I can't stand Apple marketing, I really hate the whole brand image, the styling is rather kitchen appliance (I prefer black)... but... if they made an Air with Windows 7 and a Windows Keyboard then I'd maybe buy one.

As it is, with OS-X (no I tried, I did, but I don't like it) and the corresponding keyboard it's a dud. Shame!

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Originally Posted by kingpotnoodle

if they made an Air with Windows 7 and a Windows Keyboard then I'd maybe buy one.

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Er, you do realise that you can simply install/dual boot Windows 7 on any Mac ?

Order using an education link, and the cheapest Air is £729

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Originally Posted by mikerr

Er, you do realise that you can simply install/dual boot Windows 7 on any Mac ?

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Probably not...

Apple fully supports and includes drivers for Windows XP/7 on their hybrid DVD [the one with OS X]

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Originally Posted by mikerr

Er, you do realise that you can simply install/dual boot Windows 7 on any Mac ?

Order using an education link, and the cheapest Air is £729

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Yes, I'm not simple :stupid:

I don't want it dual booted with boot camp, wasting GB on an OS I'd never use, even if I did it would still have a mac keyboard which isn't quite the same layout as Windows laptops. ideally I'd want an Air with black aluminium, Windows keyboard and booting Windows 7, with no OS-X at all. Not going to pay the required top dollar if its not spot on. What I like is the hardware spec and lightweight, the form factor is good.

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Originally Posted by kingpotnoodle

Yes, I'm not simple :stupid:

I don't want it dual booted with boot camp, wasting GB on an OS I'd never use, even if I did it would still have a mac keyboard which isn't quite the same layout as Windows laptops. ideally I'd want an Air with black aluminium, Windows keyboard and booting Windows 7, with no OS-X at all. Not going to pay the required top dollar if its not spot on. What I like is the hardware spec and lightweight, the form factor is good.

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The Ultrabooks are probably closer to what you may want. The Asus UX21 and and the rumoured HP Ultrabook will be the first to be released AFAIK and are supposed to be cheaper than the MacBook Air and Samsung Series 9.

The Samsung Series 9 seems to fit the specifications you want but has a slightly lower specification than the new MacBook Air:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Hands-O...w.57603.0.html

IMHO,the MacBook Air looks better value as both laptops are the same price in the US.

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Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH

The pricing is actually quite decent for a high end ultralight laptop TBH.

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Which always makes me wonder just what drugs marketing people are taking to claim its "affordable".

But then I suppose that entirely depends on the market youre aiming at.

Id think that "comparable" is the term they mean.

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Originally Posted by spoon_

Probably not...

Apple fully supports and includes drivers for Windows XP/7 on their hybrid DVD [the one with OS X]

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Bootcamp is now essentially a app, run it from the programs folder and insert the Win 7 disc when prompted.

So, who wants to buy my lat generation Macbook Air so that I can go and buy a new one :D

Joking apart I may be able to do it.. my 11" ultimate has got to be worth £800 or so, which makes the upgrade very cheap. I love how Apple products really retain their value better than any other computing product.

edit: actually looking on ebay, still has around £900 of value..thats pretty good, even if I would never risk selling it through ebay (plus they would charge me around £100 in fees!!). Still if anyone wants a mac air ultimate for less then take a look on the FS in a few days :D

The ToughBooks seem to hold their value relatively well although they are very expensive!! :(

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Originally Posted by BobF64

Which always makes me wonder just what drugs marketing people are taking to claim its "affordable".

But then I suppose that entirely depends on the market youre aiming at.

Id think that "comparable" is the term they mean.

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As I stated in my first post its decent when compared to the competition but of course still it is not a cheap laptop and this is where the Ultrabooks hopefully will come in.

I nearly bought one of the last air's as my in between ultra-portable and remotely powerful machine, the thing that put me off was the screen, just terrible on paper.

Then I used one in the flesh, and dear god, it reminds me of the grotty NEC TN panels that every office in London seems to use..... But what was worse was the keyboard. I can touch type on anything, from my VAIO P series up, I used to be able to manage 40+ WPM on a psion series 5. Didn't like the air one.

I do however like the more mainstreaming of the ultra portables.

Same as the one on the normal Macbooks isnt it? guess it depends what your used to.
Surprised you didn't like the screen on the last gen, I thought they seemed pretty good, 100% better than the screen on my old Macbook.