Apple has revamped its MacBook Air, making it quicker, smaller, and more power efficient. The Air series completely drops mechanical hard drives, shipping with only flash storage. Thanks to decisions like that, the new machines weigh as little as 2.3 or 2.9lbs depending on the size and measure 0.11-0.68 inches between the thinnest and thickest points. That compares to its predecessor's 0.16-0.76-inch, 3lb body.
Systems are available in 11.6 and 13.3-inch models with two set configurations for each. Starting at $999, the 11-inch features a 1366x768 screen, a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR3 1066MHz RAM, Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics, and 64GB of storage. For another $200 you can get the 11-incher equipped with a 128GB flash drive, while 4GB of RAM and a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo are upgradeable for $100 each.
Meanwhile, the 13-inch Air costs between $1,299 and $1,599, packing a 1440x900 resolution display, a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM (optional 4GB), and a GeForce 320M. The price difference again boils down to storage. The cheaper option has a 128GB SSD, while the more expensive iteration doubles that to 256GB. The pricier MacBook Air also has the option to upgrade to a 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo for $100.
All versions of the latest MacBook Air come with a glass multi-touch trackpad, a webcam, one Mini DisplayPort, two USB 2.0 ports, as well as 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR connectivity. An SD card slot is exclusive to the 13-incher. Battery life is quoted at five hours for the 11-inch model and seven hours for the 13-inch, while both are rated for up to 30 days of standby time. Units are available now via Apple's web store.