Are you thinking about purchasing a new computer, then one of the best options to consider today is the MacBook Air. This computer is light, thin, and portable enough that it can go just about anywhere to keep you being as productive as possible. Add in the helpful apps and programs from the App Store and users can compose music, create websites, or even animate graphics on the go.
There are some additional advantages to consider with the MacBook Air, but there are some disadvantages that come with this computer as well. Here is a look at many of the MacBook Air pros and cons.
The Pros of the MacBook Air
1. It is the lightest Apple computer that can be purchased today.
There isn’t a lighter or thinner full-service computer that comes from Apple today. This slim profile makes it easy to carry without worrying about damage to the computer. Despite the smaller profile, the MacBook Air offers a similar screen size to other Apple products, the same O/S, and the same usage profiles as well.
2. The MacBook Air allows users to go widescreen.
The 11 inch MacBook Air is the only laptop from Apple that offers a 16:9 ratio, which is what widescreen televisions use for movies and television shows. There are laptops from Apple that offer a 16:10 ratio instead, but the slightly smaller aspect ratio creates a more authentic overall experience.
3. It offers a full-sized keyboard.
If you’ve ever had to transition from a full-sized keyboard to a netbook keyboard or a tablet PC keyboard, then you know how difficult that can be. Fingers get scrunched together, keys get hit incorrectly, and it takes about a week to get into the habit of using the smaller keyboard. None of this is a worry with the MacBook Air. It offers the traditional typing experience. The keys are also backlit, which is a nice added touch for working in darker environments.
4. It offers a scalable performance.
The standard MacBook Air only comes with 128 GB of flash storage, which is similar to top-shelf tablets that are available today. It is capable of handling 512 GB of fast all-flash storage on its top-shelf models, however, which means that users can create a scalable computer that fits their growing needs more easily than they can with other computer manufacturers.
5. It offers a battery that really lasts all day.
With property battery management, the MacBook Air can last between 9-12 hours on a full charge, even if the computer is multitasking. The 13-inch model actually has the best battery results when compared to the 11 inch model. Add in the 5th generation Intel Core processors that are incorporated into the 2015 models of this computer and it becomes a powerful tool that anyone can use.
6. It has Thunderbolt technology incorporated into it.
The MacBook Air offers Thunderbolt technology which allows users to connect multiple high-performance devices together. Data transfer rates over this connection can reach speeds of up to 20 Gbps.
7. It provides easy access to iCloud, FaceTime, and other common core Apple apps.
If you have other Apple products, then the data is easy to transfer across the internet through the iCloud. Communication is easy thanks to FaceTime. The goal is to provide an all-in-one solution through the MacBook Air and Apple has done a very good job of reaching this goal.
The Cons of the MacBook Air
1. It is a little underpowered when it comes to RAM.
The MacBook Air only comes with 4GB of RAM as standard. Upgrades are available, of course, but that requires an additional price. This means that a few of the apps that users are going to want to utilize with their new Apple computer are going to be slow and plodding because of the limited memory resources.
2. Price is still an issue.
Even though the MacBook Air is one of the most affordable Apple products that is on the market today for full-service computer use, it is still priced 60% higher than Windows laptops that offer the same type of chipset, graphic displays, and other technology. It’s a lot like comparing an Apple iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy in this regard.
3. The keyboard can break down with extensive use.
One common complaint with the MacBook Air is that its keyboard doesn’t have long-term durability. Keys can begin to stop working over time, requiring the underlying mat to be replaced. Because of this issue, it is often recommended that an extended form of AppleCare be purchased, which adds more to the overall cost of the computer.
4. It doesn’t have a built-in ethernet port.
Although you can modify one of the ports to work with an ethernet connection, the MacBook Air has been designed to be a portable, not stationary computing solution. The same could be said about the fact that there is no DVD drive that is built into the machine. This helps to keep the profile thin, but it also means that any programs must be directly downloaded.
5. Retina displays are not available for stunning graphics.
If visual graphics and video streaming are your primary usage points for a laptop, then the MacBook Air is dressed to impress. It doesn’t compare to the retina displays of the Pro models, but at 1366×768 or 1440×900, the resolution is still competitive to other high-end devices which are available today. Compared to the 2880×1800 MacBook Pro 15 inch model, however, the differences are night and day.
6. It must be serviced by an Apple Certified Technician to maintain its warranty.
If something happens to your MacBook Air or you want to make some changes to your hardware configuration, then you’re going to have to pay a certified technician to do the work for you if you don’t want your warranty voided. With rates that can exceed $100 per hour plus needing to pay for parts, it is very possible that an upgrade could cost just as much as it would cost to purchase a new computer.
7. Memory upgrades must happen at the time of purchase.
The MacBook Air can be upgraded to 8 GB of RAM, but the upgrade must happen at the time of purchase according to Apple. Other part replacements, such as the battery, have also been made to be difficult so the average end user won’t be able to do it.
The MacBook Air is the Most Affordable Apple Computer That is Available Right Now.
If you want to step up to Apple on a budget, then this is the computer for you. There are several pros and cons of the MacBook Air that should be considered before purchase, however, to make sure that this is the right brand of computer to meet your needs.
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