Best Reviewed
Apple Laptops and Desktops
- Best Apple laptop 15-inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro *Est. $2200
- Best ultraportable Apple laptop 13-inch 128 GB MacBook Air *Est. $1300
- Best-value Apple laptop 13-inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro *Est. $1200
- Budget Apple laptop 11-inch 64 GB MacBook Air *Est. $1000
- Best Apple desktop 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac *Est. $1200
- Best tablet computer Apple iPad *Est. $500
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Budget Apple laptop
- Fast performance
- Price
- Thunderbolt port
- OS X Lion
- Lack of ports and an optical drive
- Not as powerful as other Apple laptops
- Small hard drive
- Short battery life
- New version likely on the way
If you want a Mac and you're on a budget, the cheapest option is the base configuration of the 11-inch MacBook Air. Apple's entry-level laptop lacks some features found on the more expensive MacBook Pro and Air laptops, but reviewers say the 11-inch ultraportable is plenty fast for typical users, although you won't be able to play many games on the machine. The base configuration has a 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 2 GB of RAM a 64 GB solid-state drive, and it comes with the OS X Lion operating system installed. Critics say that the speedy Sandy-Bridge technology Intel Core CPU combined with the solid-state drive makes the laptop feel fast and responsive. That said, more powerful third-generation Core processors, called Ivy Bridge, are due by late spring or early summer, and they are expected to be incorporated into this and other Apple laptops shortly after they are released.
Apple needed to cut corners to bring the price under $1,000, however; reviewers criticize the lack of ports and the fact that an optical drive -- DVD or Blu-ray -- is nowhere to be found, while the small 64 GB solid-state drive and short battery life irk others. Despite the quibbles, most reviewers rate the 11-inch MacBook Air highly. That said, if you've a little more to spend and don't mind a slightly less-svelte laptop, the 13-inch 2.3 GHz MacBook Pro (Discontinued) delivers good value and performance -- though serious game play is still not an option.
Mainstream publications like ComputerShopper.com and Macworld provide extensive, testing based reviews, and the multipage write-up at AnandTech.com is exhaustive and in-depth. ConsumerReports.org includes the 13-inch MacBook in its latest laptop test, but there is little analysis to accompany the ratings. MacLife also provides coverage, and users chime in at Amazon.com
| Apple MacBook Air MC968LL/A 11.6-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) | |
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Our Sources
ComputerShopper.com gives its Editors' Choice award to the 11-inch MacBook Air after conducting in-depth testing. "This amazingly thin-and-light notebook may be small, but it has some powerful performance inside. And with its super-sleek, sturdy body, it's also still one of the most gorgeous ultraportables you can get your hands on," Jonathan Rougeot writes en route to giving this Apple laptop a 9.4 rating.
Review: Apple MacBook Air (11.6-Inch, 2011 Version), Jonathan Rougeot, July 2011
Anand Lal Shimpi at AnandTech.com takes the most extensive look at the MacBook Air line. Although he prefers the 13-inch model, he says the 11-inch version is plenty powerful enough, especially for travelers. He says he's disappointed by the integrated Intel HD 3000 Graphics' lack of gaming prowess, however.
Review: The 2011 MacBook Air (11 & 13 Inch) Thoroughly Reviewed, Anand Lal Shimpi, July 28, 2011
Macworld gives the 11-inch 64 GB MacBook Air a 5-star rating. The sub-$1,000 price and the blazing-fast performance wow reviewer Jason Snell. "The 11-inch MacBook Air might not be the perfect computer, but it's as close to perfect as Apple's ever come," he writes.
Review: Core i5 MacBook Airs Approach Perfection, Jason Snell, Aug. 1, 2011
4. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The 11-inch MacBook Air is among the laptops rated here. Testing is done and laptops are ranked, but discussion is too brief to fill in the blanks for prospective buyers.
Review: Laptops, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, As of Sept. 2011
5. MacLife.comDetails/Subscribe
Ray Aguilera's write-up of the 11-inch MacBook Air shares space with a review of the 2.5 GHz Mac mini. That makes it brief, but it the report still does a great job of highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the system. Overall, Aguilera loves the laptop – especially its speedy startup and read/write times -- but he says the 64 GB solid-state drive will be too small for users who need to lug around lots of data.
Review: 2.3GHz Core i5 Mac Mini & 1.6GHz Core i5 MacBook Air Review, Ray Aguilera, Aug. 10, 2011
6. Engadget.com
The 11-inch MacBook Air earns an overall rating of 9 out of 10 from Engadget.com. "It's still light on ports, the missing SD slot on the 11-inch model is a drag, and no, it isn't cheap, but this machine is fast, efficient, and not to be underestimated," Tim Stevens writes.
Review: MacBook Air Review (Mid 2011), Tim Stevens, July 25, 2011
7. Amazon.com
Most consumers pick up the 128 GB model, but a few users chime in on the 64 GB base configuration of the 11-inch MacBook Air. The laptop maintains a 4.3-star rating, with well more than half of the reviews awarding it a perfect 5-star score. Most complaints are about spotty Wi-Fi performance and the short battery life.
Review: Apple MacBook Air MC968LL/A 11.6-Inch Laptop (Newest Version), Contributors to Amazon.com
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