Almost weightless. At a new height. MacBook Air is not the same anymore. Choosing a modern, powerful alternative Buy a MacBook Air to get a computer capable of much
- Availability of specific product features, configurations and configurations may vary by country and/or region.
- 1 GB = 1 billion bytes, 1 TB = 1 trillion bytes; actual capacity after formatting is less.
- Testing conducted by Apple in October 2018 using preproduction 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based MacBook Air units with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. When testing the wireless connection, battery life was determined while browsing 25 popular websites at a display brightness level of 75% (12 clicks from minimum brightness). iTunes movie playback testing measured battery life while playing 1080p HD content at 75% display brightness (12 clicks from minimum brightness). In the standby mode test, battery life was determined by allowing the system connected to a wireless network and iCloud account to go into standby mode. At the same time, the Safari and Mail applications were open, and all system settings were left at their default values. Battery life depends on the settings and mode of use of the device. More details on the page.
- Weight depends on device configuration and manufacturing process features.
- iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. To download applications, you need an Apple ID account, as well as a device compatible with the version of the operating system required to run the corresponding application.
- The recycled materials claim applies to the frame and is based on testing conducted by UL LLC.
- MacBook Air is EPEAT Gold certified in the US and Canada.
This is probably the last article about an old friend called MacBook Air - in the near future the line may change beyond recognition or even disappear altogether, leaving only MacBook Pro and MacBook. For the sake of my own logic, I can do anything at Apple! But, of course, we need to write again about Air. From a fashion device, this laptop has turned into a working tool for hundreds of thousands of people - from a toy to a mass device, it is rare to see such metamorphoses.
Once upon a time, when I came to any cafe or restaurant with a MacBook Air, I caught people’s glances more than once or twice - the laptop attracted attention more than any other gadget. Of course! Back then we didn’t yet know elegant laptops, Sony indulged in technological devices with a long operating time, others were engaged in productivity and gaming solutions (for example, Toshiba), but Apple simply made the most beautiful laptop. And even then, ten years ago, Apple was criticized online for the same things as now. Adapter for connecting to a monitor? Damn it! A couple more USB ports? Damn it! The size of the laptop forced the designers to get rid of not only the connectors, but even the sacred thing, the DVD drive!
Oh, there was so much crying, roaring, swearing, and angry letters addressed to Apple and Steven Jobs personally. It was assumed that those users who needed to read the disk would use a special adapter - and this made people terribly angry. Even if the Air didn’t cost a fortune, but still pay for adapters? This is nonsense!
Despite the abuse, the first Air sold very well. People liked the concept - a thin laptop with a comfortable keyboard (this is very important), good operating time, optimal display size, plus no need to discount the image charge. If Sony Vaio P buyers were disappointed in a funny toy after a month and tried to get rid of it as quickly as possible, then the MacBook Air still lives in some families - I saw a wonderful example from friends this summer, the owner simply does not want to part with it, he still carries it on trips and works on it. kitchen. Although it would seem so many years have passed! I could have bought something faster.
But there is one more nuance and another thought haunts me every time I take my laptop out of my bag, sit down somewhere and start writing, checking email, looking through documents - performing hundreds of different actions. It doesn't really matter who exactly came up with the Air concept - Jobs, Ive, a talented newcomer in some department. It is important that the very concept of a lightweight laptop for travel with balanced characteristics has proven to be extremely tenacious. The first Air was seen by many as a fragile alien toy - although it was neither of those things. It was a slow laptop, yes, but it was quite comfortable to work on thanks to the excellent keyboard and normal display diagonal. The users' cries for the drive and connectors quickly passed; those who wanted it bought an Air, people got used to this laptop in the line. I’ll repeat my thought once again, initially it was to some extent an image decision, but now, many years after the first model, the MacBook Air is perceived as a familiar tool for a variety of people, from schoolchildren to businessmen. Moreover, now the MacBook Air in some configurations is the most affordable Apple laptop. This is how interesting it can be in the modern market!
About configurations
Once again I’ll conduct an educational program on the topic of which Air is worth buying. I would immediately recommend discarding the idea of buying the Air 11 - unless you read email for 15 minutes a day and do not intend to use other functions. Your eyes are getting tired! Although the keyboard is quite ok, the speed and operating time are also fine. I would advise you to go with the MacBook Air 13, the stated operating time is about 12 hours and this is true, the device works for a long time. You can safely take the basic version for 77,990 rubles, the characteristics are as follows:
- 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz) with 3 MB shared L3 cache.
- SSD 128 GB.
- 8 GB LPDDR3 1600 MHz RAM.
- Weight 1.35 kg.
For a compact laptop, the amount of memory is not so important, especially since the price increases significantly if you buy a model with 256 GB. The Air 13 also has a slot for SD memory cards, I use it all the time; I don’t need to connect the camera with a cable - it’s very convenient. I also think that taking a version with a fast processor or doing customization is somehow stupid - the screen here is not very suitable for working with photos or videos, and it’s also not the best gadget for games. For the mentioned tasks, a MacBook Pro 13 or 15 is suitable.
The basic version of MacBook Air 11 costs 69,990 rubles, and here it is, the most affordable laptop in the line. Again, I recommend buying the MacBook Air 13.
What's next?
True, a logical question arises here: what will happen next, there is already some confusion. At the very top of the chain is the MacBook Pro, at the bottom is the MacBook Air, somewhere on the side is a simple macBook - the latter easily replaces the Air for those who are ready to put up with USB Type-C and get used to the new keyboard. I really like the MacBook, but in everyday life a thirteen-inch Air with a medium configuration is as comfortable as your favorite sneakers - the good old magnetic connector, two USB ports, a slot for a memory card, a familiar, familiar keyboard. Of course, the screen is not so impressive, and the dimensions and weight of the Air 13 are larger, but all this does not tie up your hands much when traveling. I constantly carry the MBP 15 with me in my backpack at exhibitions and presentations - even though it weighs a little, even though it’s on my back, it’s still heavy, especially when in addition to the laptop I also have a camera, chargers, etc. So, when I took Air 13 with me to IFA, I felt such a relief!
I would like to believe that Apple will not remove Air from the current line. It is likely that a simple MacBook will take the place of the MacBook Air 11, the MacBook Air will only come with a 13-inch screen, and the MacBook Pro will retain a 15-inch diagonal - and they will all look like a modern MacBook. Minimum dimensions, flat keyboards, “retina”, the entire volume inside the case is filled by the battery, no coolers, USB Type-C, Pro and Air will probably have more connectors than the others.
I believe that by the end of the year we will see an updated line, but this does not mean at all that we need to postpone the purchase of Air - new models may well become more expensive, then, the modern Air in any case remains one of the best laptops for working on the road.
Accessories
Firstly, I would advise using some kind of external drive so as not to clog up the laptop’s memory; 128 GB is very small by today’s standards, but more than enough for a portable device. Personally, I transfer photos, videos and other “operative” files to the hard drive; the Air’s memory only contains text and other documents. iCloud also helps, when you work in Pages, documents are saved in the cloud and I can access the file from any computer. I started writing this text on an iMac at home, saving occurs automatically, then in a cafe I opened Air, entered the file name in the search bar and immediately opened it and continued working. In general, this is how everything should happen in 2016.
Secondly, I advise everyone to look at Incase accessories for Air, for example, this ICON Sleeve with TENSAERLITE, a laptop case with a built-in bumper.
Sometimes I take with me only a laptop with such protection; the long operating time allows me to do without charging or leave it in the trunk. If you don’t like cases, pay attention to plastic covers; here I recommend three companies: Speck, Ozaki or the same Incase. In the photo is Speck Seethru, I want to buy myself such overlays, I can’t get my hands on them.
Thirdly, my favorite bag remains the same, this is the Cote&Ciel Isar, a large backpack with a large pocket, suitable for the city and for trips of a day or two.
Fourthly, something new. Comrade Alexander let me listen to a thing called AudioQuest Dragonfly Black, this is a small USB DAC, as you can see in the photo, suitable for use with iPhone/iPad and other devices. The universal device is quite in the spirit of our times, in short, it instantly performs magic, improving the sound. I mostly listened with Bowers&Wilkins P7 Wireless connected via cable to Dragonfly installed in a USB MacBook Air 13. Favorite Vox player, FLAC files, jazz and, even if it sounds trite, a lot, a lot of positive vibrations. You can read more about the accessory, the little thing costs about 10,000 rubles, the technical characteristics are as follows:
- Audio DAC: ESS Saber 9010 chip, 32/192 bit/KHz converter.
- Play any music files: from MP3 to high-res.
- Compatible with Apple and Windows computers, as well as iOS and Android devices (Apple Camera Adapter or Made for Android/OTG adapter required)
- Asynchronous signal transmission from the USB Class 1 input using the Streamlength protocol.
- Fixed level output for preamplifiers or AV receivers.
- The average output voltage (1.2 V) allows you to work with a wide variety of headphones.
- DAC 32-bit ESS 9010 with minimum phase filter.
- Analog volume control.
Although the Boweers&Wilkins P7 Wireless can be used completely wirelessly, connecting via Bluetooth, with DragonFly Black and a cable it is a completely different matter, the potential of the device is revealed. Without thinking twice, I went and bought myself the same one after five days of use. If you constantly use Apple laptops and want to use high-quality “lossless” headphones, I advise you to do the same. Honestly, I’m simply delighted with this set; I haven’t had so much fun in a long time.
I haven’t used anything else other than these accessories, but I can vouch for these things.
I'll end on this positive note. For many years, laptops from the MacBook Air line have accompanied me at work, school, and on vacation; it’s time to give the old guys a proper retirement and wait to see what Apple shows. But this does not mean at all that you should not buy a laptop like the one in the photographs in the article - honestly, I myself would use one for many years to come. An ideal machine for work, for working with text, for working with presentations or mail, for working at a table on a hotel balcony while the rest of the family relaxes after dinner.
I encourage MacBook Air owners to comment - please tell us about your experience of using it, which model you chose, how long you have been using it, and whether you plan to change it. Thanks everyone in advance for your feedback!
Then engineers from Cupertino equipped the computers with more powerful processors, due to which the MacBook Air should have become more productive. The other day, one of the representatives of the new generation MacBook Air came to our editorial office - a 13-inch laptop in the maximum configuration, so we decided to see for ourselves whether it is as good as its predecessor.
By tradition, we’ll start with the technical characteristics of the new product that came to us for review.
: OS X 10.9.4
Processor: Intel Core i5 (Haswell) 1.4 GHz
Memory: 4 GB DDR3
Display: 13.3 inches with a resolution of 1440 x 900, IPS matrix
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5000
Storage: SSD 256 GB
Wireless interfaces: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Ports: 2 USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 2, 3.5mm audio out
SD, SDHC memory card slot
Front camera FaceTime HD 720p
Claimed battery life: 12 hours
Dimensions: 325 x 227 x 17 mm
Weight: 1.35 kg
The equipment of the new MacBook Air is the most standard - a power supply with a charger and an adapter for Russian sockets, the laptop itself and a black envelope with brief instructions, a cloth for wiping the screen and two stickers in the form of white “apples”.
Design
The appearance of the laptop is no different from the design of its predecessors - the same incredibly thin body, a pleasant-to-touch keyboard with a characteristic quiet rustle when pressed, a comfortable trackpad and a glowing apple on the lid.
Compared to the 2013 MacBook Air, you will notice that the dimensions of the laptop have not changed. As well as the weight - still the same 1.35 kg.
The computer has one USB 3.0 port, a 3.5mm audio output, two microphones and a charging port on the left side, and another USB 3.0 port, a Thunderbolt 2 connector and an SD card slot on the right.
But the main thing that interests us now in the new MacBook Air is its “filling”.
Iron
The 13-inch new MacBook Air comes with a 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 (Haswell) processor, four gigabytes of DDR3 RAM, integrated Intel HD 5000 graphics and OS X 10.9.4 Mavericks.
The computer is also equipped with a 251 GB flash drive.
After reviewing the laptop's hardware, we ran several tests on it and the 2013 13-inch MacBook Air to compare key performance.
Tests
We'll start with a general performance test using the Geekbench 3 utility. The new product showed a noticeable increase compared to last year's model - 2760 points versus 2439 and 5364 versus 4575 points. Not bad, considering that the “stuffing” of computers is almost identical.
In the spring, many publications wrote that the drive in the new MacBook Air was slower than in last year’s model. Indeed, the read speed has dropped, but only slightly, but the write speed has increased - 565 MB/s for the new model and 392 MB/s for the old one.
In performance tests conducted using the NovaBench utility, the new MacBook Air also turned out to be great - the program assigned it 604 points on its scale. Last year's computer scored 586 points.
It was especially interesting to see how the CINEBENCH utility, which tests the performance of the graphics chip and processor, would evaluate the new product.
In the graphics performance test, the new computer showed a similar result compared to its predecessor.
As for the processor, the 2014 MacBook Air wins noticeably here - 239 versus 229 points for the previous generation (the old MacBook Air is on the right).
As you can see, in the tests the new MacBook Air, although slightly, outperforms its predecessor. If we talk about battery life, then Apple laptops are clearly unrivaled - under average load the computer lasted about 10 hours. And that's very cool.
Editorial opinion
The laptop is very thin, lightweight, runs silently and is ideal for performing moderately complex tasks. Of course, if you really want to, you can easily edit videos, edit photos, or create text content on it, but for gaming or more serious needs, we recommend the MacBook Pro Retina.
Is it worth buying a new MacBook Air? If you haven't gotten yourself Apple's lightest laptop yet, definitely. But if you already own a MacBook Air, there's no point in upgrading just yet. At least until October of this year, when the corporation
Features of MacBook Air
MacBook Air is lightweight and compact, productive and durable. The external design has remained untouched since the days of the first models: it is still the same all-body aluminum Unibody with a “recessed” keyboard. Apple developers said that no one could come up with anything better, and switched from design to “filling”. This statement is supported by a number of tests that have shown that the metal body of the devices, despite its lightness, withstands mechanical pressure and other types of impact well.
The MacBook Air is positioned by the manufacturer as a universal mobile computer. Today, Apple produces 13.3-inch devices, and they weigh just over a kilogram along with a battery that can support 12 hours of operation without recharging.
As for the “internal content,” Maybook Airs, the cost of which is slightly higher than netbooks from other manufacturers, are far ahead of their analogues.
Buy a MacBook Air to get a computer that can do a lot
MacBook Air is equipped with eighth-generation Intel i5 processors clocked at 1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz. The devices are equipped with 8 and 16 GB of RAM.
MacBook Air has proven itself to be a portable computer that is well suited for a variety of tasks on the go. Therefore, the developers did not equip the devices with a powerful video card. It is compensated by the integrated Intel processor, which has the function of borrowing memory from RAM, which allows you to play video files in HD quality.
Devices in this series are lightweight and highly responsive to commands due to the fact that hard drives are replaced with built-in flash memory with a capacity of up to 512 GB. In addition, Apple developers abandoned the use of network cards, while maintaining the ability to wirelessly connect to the network.
Force Touch trackpad. Hand in hand with macOS.
The Force Touch trackpad can recognize a variety of commands, accurately detecting the slightest differences in the pressure applied to a surface. Moreover, any Multi-Touch gestures can be performed on the entire surface of the enlarged trackpad. Your fingers will feel right at home.
Is the MacBook Air's high price justified?
The price of a MacBook Air in Moscow fully corresponds to the high quality and wide functionality of the laptop. If we briefly describe the advantages of purchasing a MacBook Air, we cannot help but note:
- Compact dimensions, light weight and reliability of the laptop. MacBook Air can withstand moderate mechanical pressure and minor impacts.
- All MacBook Air devices are designed for 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
- The gadgets have excellent functionality - they can easily cope with a wide range of different tasks.
MacBook Air remains the ideal workhorse for many business professionals, students, and other users whose work involves working online or away from a desktop PC.
MacBook Air has topped the list of the best laptops in the world for the past three years. Everything is logical: Apple managed to create a unique hybrid of technology, quality, reliability, ergonomics and design, achieving the same heights in all five parameters. Most Air owners made their choice consciously, seeing in the Air the golden mean of all the important characteristics of a laptop computer.
All the best deals on poppies (there are even 30 thousand cheaper than the market). They change something and even give it away for free.
In 2013, Apple expectedly updated this line. There are many advantages, and everyone knows the main one: huge time real battery life, which no modern ultrabook has yet come close to. But that's not all. There are several other positive and negative aspects that few people have mentioned in numerous reviews. Let's go!
Cardboard. Unboxing
Two initial modifications of the new MacBook Air arrived to me - 11.6 inches and 13.3 inches. Their delivery contents are the same. In both cases, the box contains a power supply, an adapter for a European outlet and an extension cord. Well, and a traditional set of rags, pieces of paper and a couple of large stickers. There is no disk for reinstalling the system - it is only possible over the Internet or using a pre-prepared “flash drive” with an OS X image. Here video unboxing:
Laptops were delivered to Russia through official channels ( Rostest) and therefore have a factory Russian keyboard and Russian adapters. Naturally, fans and greedy people will tell how they economically bought an “American” laptop and had it engraved. If we leave the dispute over price, experience shows that in terms of accuracy, beauty and quality, no engraving can compare with the original letters. It is worth remembering that Russian Apple laptops have a slightly different layout - for example, the L-shaped Enter key and the presence of a separate button for the letter “e”. Otherwise, the computers are identical: even if you bought a laptop in the USA, the “Russian version” of the operating system is always preinstalled there.
Design. Aluminum forever
The last time the MacBook Air was redesigned was in 2010. During this time, you have seen this laptop at least once. If you've seen him once, you've seen them All. Pointed shapes on one side, strict black and silver stripes on the other. The unibody aluminum body features a low-profile backlit keyboard and black rubber feet. Other ultrabooks can be confused with the Air, but the Air cannot be confused with other ultrabooks.
The Air line, as you know, is so named due to the low weight and thickness of the laptops. The sharp edges on the front side smoothly flow into the rather thick (about one and a half centimeters) back side. This shape creates the illusion of a thin body, which in fact is only half thin.
I’m not a fan of the redesign of the line, because I preferred the adjusted, “uniform” shape of the old MBAs. Besides, I don’t understand how people work with them in weight: the front part is quite thin, and when in weight - for example, lying on a sofa - it puts pressure on the body with the entire weight of the laptop. You can get used to the sensation, but your instincts don't approve of cold, thin metal cutting into your skin.
By the way, Apple laptops are the most dangerous enemies of the iPhone and iPad. Even more dangerous than asphalt or tiles. Two metal devices do not interact well with each other, but often end up next to each other. And then deep scratches, dents and other troubles cannot be avoided. Once upon a time, this is exactly how I put a deep scratch on the “ideal” first-generation iPhone. Brr. You have to pay for beauty with beauty.
Rare ports for external devices are located on the beveled side panels. MacBook Air has: two USB 3.0 ports with high data transfer speeds; combined 3.5 mm jack (“minijack”) for headphones and/or microphone simultaneously; Thunderbolt/mini Display port for connecting external devices and monitors; finally, a magnetic connector for the MagSafe 2 charger.
In addition to all this, the 13.3-inch model has an SD card slot, which is very useful for photographers. Sparsely.
Yes, I almost forgot: in 2013, a dual microphone with improved noise reduction appeared - it looks like two holes in the metal on the left side. He records his voice a little better than before. But without processing, the result still doesn’t sound so great. It's like you're in a cramped toilet. However, it is great for Skype calls even in noisy places.
The touchpad is deservedly considered the best in the world of laptops. Even on Windows it works fine. The signature black backlit keyboard also deserves praise. The clear but soft movement of low keys, placed wisely, forces users to buy external Apple “keyboards” for those cases when they have to sit down at a desktop computer. The backlight is light blue and shows through a little through the buttons at the bottom when viewed from a high angle. You can’t call it a minus, because the user still won’t be able to print.
Most likely, you bought or will buy Air to take it with you to a variety of places, sometimes without a lot of light. Without backlit keys, working in the dark can be a nightmare. Surprisingly, many laptops for this money - and even more expensive - still do not have a backlit keyboard. And in vain, because with it your eyes and fingers will be very grateful to you.
Air indeed easy- has always been the same and remains the same. What is 1.08 kilograms when it comes to a full-fledged computer with a keyboard and display? And the 13.3-inch version is not very heavy (only 1.35 kg), moreover, its weight in the hands is felt weaker due to the O larger size. Coupled with such a thin body, we get the perfect laptop for travel. The 11.6-inch version fits even into visually small men's and especially women's bags.
Display: hello from 2010
The screen remained the same. There is no trace of Retina: a standard TN matrix with rather weak viewing angles is installed here. Display resolution in the 11 inch model - 1366x768 pixels, and in the 13.3-inch - 1440×900. Let's face it: in 2013, smartphones have better screens than here. If you regularly use the iPad 4 and iPhone 5, you'll find the Air's display very sad. Not to mention comparison with the magnificent MacBook Pro with Retina. And in general about other expensive laptops.
This is an example of how Apple sometimes skimps on matches. But the user is ready to put up with it for now: the overall picture quality, although not up to par with top-end laptops from other manufacturers, does not interfere with work or play. Text on the screen is clear, colors are vibrant, and brightness is high. In addition, although the display is technically “glossy,” it reflects light poorly, and therefore the eyes will not get too tired when working on the Air outside or on a sunny day in general. The matrix itself and the cover are very thin.
Samsung vs LG: assets and liabilities
Testing two different Airs revealed a curious detail. Few people know that this series of Apple laptops includes displays from different manufacturers: Samsung and LG Display. It would seem, what's the difference? But the difference is not just there - it is generally huge, if there is something to compare with. The 11.6-inch model featured a display from LG, while the 13.3-inch model featured a display from Samsung.
The LG display has a pronounced cold tint, which makes the picture on the screen soft and expressionless. Working with text on such a screen is easier on the eyes, but not with images. There is another disadvantage: the black color is not black at all, but some kind of dark gray. Didn't like it, how he behaves at an angle: not only that on his own faded, so it generally becomes completely white. In general, the display from LG is not worth editing photos on, and from the outside it looks a little dry.
From one extreme to the other! The Samsung display on the 13.3-inch model has a sharp, warm tone. The colors on it are very vibrant, bright, sometimes even a little sharp. Accordingly, the black color here is really black. This screen naturally attracts the eye. Even the brightness is a little better, not to mention the viewing angles. However, the bias towards warm colors is very noticeable on a white background. Because of all this, I edited all the videos and photos during the test on the 13.3-inch model, and not so much because of the screen size, but because of its “colorfulness”.
To test your MacBook's screen before purchasing, open the Terminal program and enter the following command:
ioreg -lw0 | grep "EDID" | sed “/[^
If you see this text, then you have a display from LG:
And if this line is displayed, then your screen was made by Samsung:
I'll be honest: I would choose the option with a Samsung screen in any case. He looks very alive.
Iron. Almost universal
For the first time in the history of the entire line, we choose from identical technical characteristics of basic models of different diagonals. Looking at the configuration, a strong suspicion arises: the only difference between the two computers is the size of the display and battery capacity. With a few caveats, it is.
CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR3
Video chip: Intel HD 5000 (integrated in processor)
Storage: 128 GB PCIe SSD
Battery: 9 hours battery life/12 hours (13.3-inch model)
The 2013 MacBook Air models have slightly weaker processors than last year's entry-level MacBook Air. The difference in gigahertz is small and results in a drop in pure processor performance by about 5-10%. This will not be noticeable during system operation thanks to the ultra-fast drive. But knowing such things is useful - especially considering the fact that Apple chose not to advertise this fact.
The move to PCIe memory makes the internal SSD even faster than before. The reading speed (almost 800 megabytes per second!) and writing exceeds the requirements of the average user many times over. Because of this, the system responds to commands at the speed of light, and applications open and load faster than you can blink. No, seriously. Even on the cheapest 11-inch model.
The video chip in the new MacBook Air model is 30-50% more productive than the previous generation. This means that you can play full-fledged games from the last three years at minimum settings with a more or less acceptable frame rate. I'll tell you about a small game test below.
Performance. By scenarios
The new MacBook Airs have better video performance, 1.5 times longer battery life, and incredibly fast internal memory. The victim of autonomous operation was the processor, whose frequency was reduced. The next phrase has already turned into a kind of cliché, but nothing can be done about it. The system performance on the MacBook Air is enough for all work tasks, and even more so for travel. I'd be happy to say otherwise, but it's just fact.
Office, multimedia, network
The performance of the MacBook Air when working with files, text and web surfing will have to be measured in milliseconds and tenths of a percent: the SSD drive makes the system incredibly fast and reduces the difference with the previous generation Air to nothing. At least until you try something resource-intensive. I never saw lags, slowdowns or unjustified “thoughtfulness” of the system while I was writing texts and cutting photos for reviews. The processor and standard 4 gigabytes of RAM cope with heavy web pages without twitching when scrolling.
It's no secret that a laptop for fifteen thousand rubles - or even less - can handle standard work tasks. The MacBook Air will simply solve them even faster. This crazy responsiveness is addictive and after a while it inspires the user with a not entirely true fact: that this is a truly fast computer for any task at all. How versatile is the new MBA?
Video editing
For obvious reasons, our business requires regular work in video editors. Since 84% of the editorial team are Mac users, we use iMovie (ha ha) and Final Cut Pro X as our main programs for video. Testing system performance in the first case is ridiculous, but working in Final Cut deserves separate consideration.
How seriously are you going to torture the original footage? The fact is that by default the basic MBA model works in Final Cut very responsively and, dare I say, quickly. Of course, this is not on the level of a MacBook Pro with Retina. But while I was cutting video, combining audio tracks and applying simple effects, I had no complaints about the performance of laptops.
But then, for another review, I wanted to apply two rather complex filters at the same time, plus a mask and small text titles at the beginning. And then the laptop began to really think. My suspicions were justified when I checked the system load monitoring readings: performance is strictly limited by the processor, which is far from being the most powerful. The SSD “chews” its part at the speed of light, but the processor can’t keep up with it. Lags on the Air under high load are very peculiar: applications continue to open instantly, but they themselves begin to work slowly.
Accordingly, if you want to buy a laptop for confident video editing in some Final Cut, you definitely need a modification with an Intel Core i7 processor. Extra RAM won’t hurt either: OS X, since the days of Lion, eats up RAM once or twice, and Apple’s programs are also not very economical in this regard.
As a result, the situation is as follows: as last year, heavy software works decently, but can't completely spread your wings due to lack of memory or a weak processor. For moderate work, this, however, is not an obstacle. What about games?
Games on Windows
There are no games on a Mac unless it has Windows. I don’t consider casual things like Cut The Rope - they are so optimized that they can work on a slipper. If you are one of those who are still vegetating in hardcore toys, you will have to install the hated OS from Microsoft for someone. Fortunately, this is a very simple matter. Just find the system image and run the Bootcamp program, following the prompts on the screen.
For the first time in the history of the line, the 11.6-inch MacBook Air base models are equipped with a 128 GB SSD drive. Previously it was 64 gigabytes, that is, half as much. Doubled memory allows you to install a second OS on the built-in disk more confidently and calmly. I divided it in half - Windows does not need 60 gigabytes, but it will be very necessary for Battlefield 3, which takes at least 20.
To my surprise, the installation of Windows 8 took about 4 minutes from the moment of confirmation. I just arrived with tea, and the Mac was cheerfully booting into Win8, showing its corporate logo. Such is the hidden power of PCIe SSD storage.
All necessary drivers were installed automatically. A few hours later, Battlefield 3 was installed. With the graphics settings of my main computer. The lags were just wild until I lowered the quality to the minimum values. I didn’t lower the resolution, but left the rendering distance at maximum - in order to see and mark enemies at the back of the map. Well, I had to connect my own wired mouse - it’s impossible to play shooters on a touchpad.
In general, I somehow got through a couple of rounds. From 40 to 20 frames per second - not such a great result. But we are talking about a crowded Metro map for 64 people with constant shooting, explosions and other effects. On a small 11-inch screen, the graphics and detail in modern games seem better than they really are.
In this test, the built-in video chip - Intel HD 5000 - had to show itself. According to the technical data sheet, the performance increase in comparison with the Intel HD 4000, which was installed in last year's MBA, is about 40%. So, in principle, it is. The old “air” would be as dumb as half dead, and I would definitely have to give up densely populated servers. And I’m generally silent about the 2011 and (pah-pah) 2010 models - Battlefield 3 won’t work there, period.
The choice in favor of BF3 as a benchmark was made for a reason: if you can play this shooter on a computer, then other modern games will also run on it. But let's face the truth. Firstly, for such games you need a version with a Core i7 processor and 8 gigabytes of RAM. And secondly, Air itself is still not the choice of a hardcore gamer. Even for travel. This is a work machine with the potential for rare but meaningful fun. No more.
Autonomous operation
After a major update to the MacBook Air, Apple is indicating more or less fair battery life for its laptops. Now the new Air works more than one and a half times longer without recharging: 9 hours for the 11.6-inch laptop and as much as 12 hours for the 13.3-inch. For a laptop of this size and thickness, this is not just a lot - it is a record high.
What is 9 and especially 12 hours of battery life? This is your entire conscious working day from the moment you close the apartment door until the late night coffee, already at home (or kefir, what's the difference). This is incredibly long. Unusual. To understand this, I took an 11.6-inch laptop with me on a three-day trip. I also took the charger, but promised myself not to use it until the computer was completely discharged.
Just a couple of hours after arriving, I caught myself on a reflex - rummaging through my bag in search of a charger. It wasn't needed until the evening of the next day, although it could have waited - the battery level indicator in the corner showed about 9% out of a hundred. For almost two days I did not deny myself anything - I opened the computer when I needed to write or check something, watched videos on YouTube, even edited videos in Final Cut. Oh yes, I booted into Windows a couple more times, but not for long. If I charged my laptop once out of every four times I had the chance, it would never run out of charge at all. This is great. No ultrabook from other manufacturers can offer such crazy portability. And even more so with such a combination of other characteristics.
But then, at home, I completely accidentally conducted a different type of test. It so happened that over the course of five hours I collected a variety of videos in Final Cut. Non-stop. Why five? Because the Air was discharged and turned off. Constant load on the processor and video chip predictably reduces battery life. In this case - more than a third. The observation seemed unexpected precisely because during normal work on the Internet, even with Flash pages, this is not observed. And before it was they who “cut down” a decent share of the charge.
According to the results of tests on Western portals, with minimal load the 13.3-inch Air can withstand a little more than 14 hours. A result that has no equal yet.
So, the 2013 MacBook Air lasts 9/12 hours with balanced use, 5/8 hours under constant load, and 11/14 hours with the minimum brightness level and working with text. This is the strongest aspect of the new Apple laptops, worthy of being considered one of the main reasons for buying them.
Verdict
There are two questions you need to ask yourself after reading the review. And in general. Do you have a MacBook Air? And why exactly do you need it?
When you have a MacBook Air, the second question becomes meaningless. But a logical problem arises: the old one, most likely, still suits you. The new model is much better than the previous one in terms of battery life, but otherwise the differences are minimal. If you work outside the home a lot, it makes sense to think about buying. If you still don’t work on your laptop for more than 3 hours, stay on the old “air” for now.
If you're looking for a portable, beautiful, fast laptop as a second work machine, the Air is the best and most balanced choice of all the modern ultrabooks on the market. It's no secret that some offerings from competing manufacturers have better screens. Or better performance. For the sake of autonomous operation. Or appearance. Or the quality of materials. One big plus at the expense of a bunch of small minuses.
This is not about the MacBook Air. The combination of excellent characteristics is its signature feature. This is a strong average in the good sense of the word. The Air can handle anything you throw at it. By the way. If you're the type to boot your computers one hundred percent, then still pay attention to the “older” model with a more powerful processor and additional RAM. Resource-intensive applications and games will thank you.
(5.00 out of 5, rated: 1 )
