It's a solid laptop, but the end result isn't that different from the previous iteration, and does little to stand out from the crowd of Windows laptops with similar specifications.ĭesign Let's start with the obvious-the current incarnation of the MacBook Pro looks just like the last. Apple's iconic laptop designs are largely unchanged on the outside, but the new model gets a bump in processing speed and can now take advantage of newer USB peripherals thanks to the addition of USB 3.0 ports.
While Windows ultrabooks are approaching the cusp of overtaking the Air - and we hope Apple's got a big surprise for us next year - it's still hard to go wrong with one of these tucked under your arm.If you don't look closely- very closely-you might not realize that the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Mid 2012) ($1,499 direct) is any different than the nearly identical models from spring and fall of 2011, like the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,499 direct, 3.5 stars). The new 13-inch MacBook Air might not be the huge revision we were hoping for, but it's still an excellent laptop, borne out of years of refinement. The 13-inch Air manages to slot in the top five for battery life - it'll survive quite well away from the wall. (Longer bars indicate better performance) Acer Aspire S3 (Core i5 2467M, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD).Asus ZenBook UX21 (Core i7 2667M, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD).Asus ZenBook Prime UX31A (Core i7 3517U, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD).Apple MacBook Air (Core i5 3317U, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD).HP Envy Spectre XT (Core i5 3317U, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD).Samsung Series 5 Ultra 14-inch (Core i5 2467M, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Radeon HD 7550M).Samsung Series 5 Ultra 13.3-inch (Core i5 2467, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD).
When Windows 8 happens, with its rash of IPS-based laptops and whether they be convertible or not, Apple's lead will be diminished, yet again. Samsung's Series 9, with a 1600x900 PLS screen is the perfect example. That's not to say that the MacBook Air isn't excellent - it most certainly is, it's just that, more than ever before, it's feeling the heat from the Windows competition. Considering the ever-dropping price of flash memory, it seems Apple's a little behind the curve here.
It's possible to upgrade to a 256GB or 512GB SSD, but this will add considerably to the price. The 13 starts at 128GB SSD, which is a bit better by today's standards. It also doesn't help that the default storage levels are small, particularly on the 11-inch version, which still starts with a 64GB SSD. It wasn't to be - what we got was a third generation Core processor, USB 3.0 ports, a new MagSafe connector and an updated webcam, but the form factor stays the same, as does the use of a 1440x900 TN-based screen.