As widely rumored in recent weeks, Apple introduced OS X Lion on Wednesday along with a shotgun blast of updated hardware where it will come preinstalled. The MacBook Air line got a refresh with all of the rumored features in tow, but we have some bad news for white MacBook lovers.
Apple has announced the availability of refreshed MacBook Air models in both 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch display sizes. As rumored, the smallest of Apple’s notebooks now come standard with Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture on board, including Thunderbolt I/O and yes, Virginia, the triumphant return of the backlit keyboard.
But that’s not all -- the MacBook Air also gains faster flash storage, and build-to-order customers can bump their processor speed to 1.8GHz and even add additional SSD storage as well.
“With up to twice the performance of the previous generation, flash storage for instant-on responsiveness and a compact design so portable you can take it everywhere, the MacBook Air starts at $999 (US) and is available for order today and in stores tomorrow,” the company’s press release said.
“Portable, affordable and powerful, MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “MacBook Air features our most advanced technology and is an ideal match for Lion, especially with its new Multi-Touch gestures, full-screen apps, Mission Control and Mac App Store.”
The 11.6-inch MacBook Air is available in two stock configurations, both with 1.6GHz processor starting at $999 for 64GB storage and 2GB RAM or $1199 for 128GB storage and 4GB RAM. The larger 13.3-inch models bump the processor to 1.7GHz with 4GB RAM, available with 128GB storage for $1299 or 256GB storage for $1599. New MacBook Air models are available to order online now, and will be hitting retail stores on Thursday with OS X Lion preinstalled.
Now for the bad news: Apple has discontinued the classic $999 white MacBook in favor of the new MacBook Air (and to a lesser degree, the lower-end MacBook Pro). It’s an unfortunate move for many Mac portable fans since the Air models feature a smaller display with less storage and no optical drive, which were tradeoffs to get the thinner profile. RIP, white MacBook… a moment of silence for our fallen friend!
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
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svivie
July 20, 2011 at 7:58pm
This makes me ever more glad that I chose to purchase that last incarnation of the white MacBook. It seems more valuable to me now, for some reason! I still want a MacBook Air (cause it is undeniably a beauty) but I won't be parting ways with my iconic MacBook, that's for sure!
LillyPo
July 20, 2011 at 6:59pm
I was planning on buying a MacBook! I had half the money, and then I went on Apple.com and saw they had discontinued it! Now I'm getting a MacBook Pro which is much more expensive! I am very mad at Apple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
davidtuerk
July 20, 2011 at 2:54pm
This is bad enough to piss off the pope. My macbook is discontinued. apple has lost my joy.
brandonwalkermedia
July 20, 2011 at 10:25am
well I'm not disappointed in the move (i never liked white.) Glad to see we are going to stick with aluminum! But this kinda reminds me of the MacCube, anyone else?
0-172
July 20, 2011 at 9:30am
This move makes very little sense. Sure the base 11-inch Air takes over that price point, but in terms of value it far from replaces the MacBook.
familyofmac
July 20, 2011 at 7:18am
We are a homeschooling family and will be purchasing, for our son, his first computer as he enters the 4th grade. The only one he wanted was the white Macbook. You can imagine his heartbreak when he heard this news. Steve, maybe you can call my heartbroken kid and apologize for shattering his dreams that he had for his first apple computer. (OK, a bit extreme, but you get the point.)
ebrainer1
July 20, 2011 at 7:17am
(to apple board of directors)
wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/a/a1/Heavy_taunts08.wav
Argelius
July 20, 2011 at 7:13am
Anyone know if OWC/macsales' 360 and 460 GB SSD drives are compatible with the new Airs? I'm sooo bummed that Apple didn't see fit to offer a higher-capacity drive as an option.
