Notebook Hunter

For $999 the Apple MacBook Air 11in (64GB) is a well-priced ultraportable that packs a surprising amount of computing power given it weighs only 1.08kg. The all-metal exterior is pretty much the gold standard that other notebooks have to match, and while the specs are a bit low-end (64GB SSD and only 2GB of RAM) the low-voltage 2nd Gen Intel Core i5 does pack a solid punch. There are two more unique features worth remembering, namely a backlit keyboard and a Thunderbolt port. This port allows for very high data transfer speeds, and while there aren’t many devices supporting the standard currently there are likely to be more in the future.

The price we’re listing ($999) is the standard RRP of $1,099 less $100. The Good Guys advertisement suggests that the $100 price drop is from the standard RRP rather than the Good Guys normally slightly lower prices. So, while the website lists the price as $1,056 for the Apple MacBook Air 11in (64GB) we’re assuming the $100 discount is from the $1,099 RRP. It also appears that the special is in-store only.

See the catalogue describing the special here. The relevant special is at the bottom of page 21.

Also keep in mind that this promotion is only available at some Good Guys stores.

See below for a summary of the specs.

Processor
The MacBook Air features a 2nd Gen Intel Core i5-2467M (1.6GHz), a mid-range low-voltage processor that can run productivity applications and some intensive software. It can burst up to 2.3GHz using Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology if a particularly demanding program is running.

Graphics
It comes with an integrated graphics solution called Intel HD Graphics 3000. It’s on par with a low-end dedicated graphics card, and is sufficient for modern games at the lowest settings.

RAM
The MacBook Air comes with 2GB of RAM, which is enough to smoothly run a single program. This isn’t really enough for multi-tasking though.

Storage
A 64GB solid state drive is very small, but it has fast response times for reading and writing data.

Screen
It sports an 11.6in (1,366x768 resolution) gloss screen. This pixel resolution is high for the screen size.

Portability
The MacBook Air has exceptional portability, because it weighs 1.08kg and is 17mm thick.  It’s more than light enough to be taken anywhere without any problems whatsoever.

Other Features
One unique feature is that the MacBook Air has a Thunderbolt port, a new standard developed by Intel that allows for exceptionally high data transfer speeds.