- Processor clock speed: 1800 MHz
- Processor family: Intel Core i5
- Processor model: -
- Turbo frequency (max): 2800 MHz
- Processor number of cores: 2
Product Description
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (Intel Dual Core i5 1.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 128GB Flash Memory, HD Graphics 4000, OS X Lion) - Apple MacBook Air 13 18GHz DualCore i5 HD Graphics 4000 4 GB 128 GB Flash 80211n Bluetooth Webcam Thunderbolt OS X Lion Portable Notebook MD231BA England... See more product details
Customer Reviews: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (Intel Dual Core i5 1.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 128GB Flash Memory, HD Graphics 4000, OS X Lion)
Amazon Verified Purchase
Having used windows vista and 7 on HP and Dell laptops before this MacBook I was finding them far too slow. I could look information up on my i Phone faster than the old laptops could boot up! So I wanted something as quick and the MacBook does just that. It is very easy to use OSX Mountain Lion and the switch from Windows to Lion is no problem at all. I wish I had bought an Apple computer years ago. If you are in any doubt and can afford the extra pounds go for it you will not regret it. Apple products are slick, efficient and cost worthy.
Help
I already own an iPad and a iMac, but wanted a more portable "real" computer and after looking at all the options, decided to go for the MacBook Air but with 8Gb RAM. I quickly found out that the memory increase was a factory only option so went for the 4Gb version. I quite technical and my philosophy has always go for more RAM (I have 16GB on the iMac) so I was really shocked to find that the Air performed so well on "only" 4GB. I've have around 5 or 6 applications open at the same time, including running a Windows installation via Parallels. No slow down, no sluggish response. Just running as quick as you'd ever expect. Certainly made me rethink my views on memory! Some of this may be down to how OSX handles memory and in use applications better than Windows, but it's an achievement regardless.
Anyhow, the Air is used for day to day computer use such as web browsing, general office work, remote client, bit of photo editing and playing the odd game. It performs excellently on all these tasks, web browsing (via Chrome) is quick and easy, RDP to other systems (using Cord) is as you'd expect, and even playing games is an enjoyable experience. XCOM plays really well on full screen with no slow down whatsoever (it does kick in the fan in the Air though). Civ 5 is playable, but you need to drop down the detail to make it responsive.
One of the best things about the Air is the battery life - can easily get 7 hours out of it on full brightness, using continuously. Quite an impressive feat and genuinely useful Closing the lid suspends the Air and it's ready to use again by the time you lift the lid. Boot from cold takes less than 10 seconds. Copying data from a USB3 stick was impressively fast - 8GB in less than 50 seconds. Wifi speeds were okay, but suspect this is down to my slow router - takes significantly longer to copy a file via WiFi than USB.
Connections are limited to the magsafe power lead (genius bit of design), 2 x USB3 sockets, headphones and SDcard reader. Anything such as ethernet is an optional (additionally paid for) extra. The finish is brushed aluminium and really looks the part - especially when you notice the glowing Apple logo on the back. First thing I did was buy a £10 clam shell to protect it!
The Air is totally silent, as I mentioned above the only time the fan kicked in was with a demanding game - before that I didn't even realise there was a fan in it.
A nice touch is the back light behind the keyboard - subtle but useful. The overall weight is remarkable - it is only slightly heavier than an iPad. No optical drive, but I've not used one for years - the App Store is a great way to get software and always available.
The only criticism I could make is the price. It would be nice if you got the 256 SSD for the price of the 128 version but as with anything Apple, you always pay a premium. However, in saying that, Apple's service is second to none and they are always ready to help out in store or online. The products are of outstanding quality and hold their resale value unlike anything else. It took me a while to get used to the OS, as I've always used windows, but I'd never buy anything else now.
Above all, it just works and lets you get on with what you want to do, when you want to do it.
Highly recommended.
I started a new job about 3 months ago and it's a bring your own kit kind of place. Everyone there is a techie and they all have MacBooks and kept at me to ditch my 17" Dell monster laptop and get a Mac. I do a lot of commuting and general travelling around with the laptop so the weighty Dell was becoming an issue and I finally decided to take their advice and buy a Mac after 20 odd years of Microsoft/PCs. After a few months of using my 13" MacBook Air I think I may be converted, it's a brilliant piece of kit. My only problem with it is that it has made all my other devices redundant, I have a 17" laptop, a desktop PC with triple monitors and an iPad, all of which never get used now. Work are just about to buy me a 27" thunderbolt monitor to plug my Air into, which I'm sure will be the final nail in the coffin for my desktop PC.
What do I love:
- Rock solid OS
- Instant on
- Small/light
- Quick
- Long battery life
- Trackpad, when I now use a MS laptop I just find myself cursing its trackpad, the Mac one is pure brilliance
- Easy to use, I have had no issues at all getting used to it coming from a Windows environment
- I do a lot of presentations and have fallen in love with Keynote, I now hate PowerPoint if I ever have to use it. Best £14 I ever spent.
- iMovie, don't use it much but it's included for free and really easy to use
- No fan noise
What do I hate:
- I now have a load of expensive kit that I never use because the Air does the job of all of them
- My wife has a brand new ultrabook but I can see her eyeing up my Air and she keeps trying to steal it, so I expect it won't be long before I'm forced to buy her one
- Once I use it with the 27" display at work, I can see me 'needing' to shell out for one of those at home as well
All in all, can't see me buying another Microsoft based pc/laptop anytime soon.
Hel
Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a recent Apple convert since borrowing my daughter's MacBook Pro. Chose a MacBook Air for myself and couldn't be happier with it - quality and ease of use are all I expected.
Keeping it simple
- light as a feather
- bright screen
- great sound for music, movies, skype
- brilliant design
- fast - i use it for downloading mp3s, twitter, fb, chat, streaming movies, word and excel docs. sometimes movie editing
Hel
Hands down the best money i have ever spent. I hve had absolutely NO problems with this product. With the emergence of cloud storage the 128 storage is more than adequate. I am university student have music and movies on their and I havd it since last august and im not even a third of the way through it. Great product absolutely recommended
Amazon Verified Purchase
Ignoring the rather exceptional price tag and the lack of any hardware upgrade options after you've bought it, this really is an amazing piece of kit. Screen is first class, OS and software just works, sturdy construction and well thought out interface (mousepad options in particular). As long as you don't need any higher spec, this really is ideal. Highly recommended.
Positives
Sturdy construction
Excellent clear screen
Light as a feather.
OSX is a breeze to set up and use.
Everything is intuitive and where you would expect it to be.
Loads of free (fully functional) software for it like Openoffice.
Negatives
They hateful and confusing software that is ITunes. I don't like software that forces your to do things their way or not at all. First task once the machine is up, install VLC and use that as your player instead. Oh, and update from Safari browser to Firefox.
Amazon Verified Purchase
I wanted to switch from PC to Apple for matching up with iPhone and iPad and so far I'm liking it albeit with reservations. There are still some things I haven't quite worked out, not sure if possible or not so still learning. File structure is one of the hardest things to grasp, especially trying to go up levels beyond the favourites. I can save to levels above this, but where and how do I get into Macintosh HD, then users then my name with more folders that displayed in my favourites? Aarghh!! I'm sure there's a way but how?? No ALT GR key for spell corrections in word is a key stroke I like to use, no delete key but a combination option (fn + backspace).
So far it looks as though I'm against it but honestly I'm not. It's just these days it should all be simple and not require a manual.
Trackpad usage is amazing and much more intuitive, so is the magic mouse. Full wired keyboard is better than wireless as has a number-pad and a DELETE key. Happy days!
So far all software and updates have worked seamlessly and Parallels is excellent for the unfortunate little work program that runs in Windows only.
Still learning and am convinced I will be a convert eventually.
As hardware it's fast, boot up is seconds, light, gorgeous single piece of metal and not a single crash.
Expensive but worth it...
Hel
Even though apple is marketing it as a light usage laptop, I bought this for business purpose as I work in client sites and got to carry my laptop everywhere. It is a I7, 8GB mean machine which is so light yet pack the powerful punch. I use it to run SAP application, MS Office and Visio. I don't find any difference whatsoever in terms of performance. I charge in the night for 45 min and the battery lasts solid 9 hours with continuous usage and I always left with 30% battery in the evening. Amazing thing about it is, it doesn't heat up as compared to my old DELL (which uses same i7, but weighs 3 times). This is a product that lives up to its claims (a machine that can be kept in your lap and true mobile device). I don't think i need an ipad or any other device, as it boots so fast (SSD device). Thanks apple...
Regards
KT
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