Apple Announces MacBook Air

MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today
unveiled MacBook(R) Air, the world’s thinnest notebook. MacBook Air measures
an unprecedented 0.16-inches at its thinnest point, while its maximum height
of 0.76-inches is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks. MacBook
Air has a stunning 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, a full-size and
backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight(R) video camera for video conferencing,
and a spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support so users can pinch,
rotate and swipe. MacBook Air is powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2
Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache, and includes as standard features 2GB of
memory, an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive, and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology
and Bluetooth 2.1.

“We’ve built the world’s thinnest notebook — without sacrificing a
full-size keyboard or a full-size 13-inch display,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s
CEO. “When you first see MacBook Air, it’s hard to believe it’s a
high-performance notebook with a full-size keyboard and display. But it is.”

MacBook Air has a vibrant 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
that is energy efficient, and its spacious trackpad offers multi-touch gesture
support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than ever to
browse and rotate photos or zoom into web pages in Safari(TM). MacBook Air
features a full-size keyboard design in a sleek and durable aluminum
enclosure. The backlit keyboard makes it ideal for dimly lit environments such
as airplanes, studios or conference halls, and a built-in ambient light sensor
automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the display
brightness for optimal visibility.

MacBook Air delivers up to five hours of battery life for wireless
productivity and includes AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, which
delivers up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g*.
Apple’s Migration Assistant software now enables users to quickly transfer
files, applications and preferences from your old Mac(R) to MacBook Air right
over your wireless network.

MacBook Air users can buy the companion MacBook Air SuperDrive, a compact
external drive designed for MacBook Air, for just $99. The MacBook Air
SuperDrive(R) is powered by MacBook Air’s USB port, eliminating the need to
carry a separate power adapter. Many MacBook Air users will not find a need
for an optical drive now that they can wirelessly rent movies from the
iTunes(R) Store, wirelessly backup files with Time Capsule and access the
optical drives on remote PCs or Macs to wirelessly install software
applications on MacBook Air.

MacBook Air is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors running at 1.6 GHz
or 1.8 GHz, and includes as standard 2GB of memory and an 80GB 1.8-inch hard
drive. An optional 64GB solid state drive contains no moving parts for added
durability. Every MacBook Air includes a micro-DVI port so users can connect
to Apple’s gorgeous 20-inch or 23-inch Cinema Displays to extend their desktop
or connect to projectors and other displays via DVI, VGA, Composite and
S-video adapters. MacBook Air includes USB 2.0 for plugging in peripherals or
charging an iPod(R) or iPhone(TM), a headphone jack and Apple’s acclaimed
MagSafe(R) Power Adapter designed especially for mobile users.

Every MacBook Air comes with iLife(R) ’08, the most significant update
ever to Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications,
featuring a major new version of iPhoto(R) and a completely reinvented
iMovie(R), both seamlessly integrated with the new .Mac Web Gallery for online
photo and video sharing. The new MacBook Air also comes with Leopard(TM), the
sixth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Leopard
introduces Time Machine(TM), an effortless way to automatically back up
everything on a Mac; a redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and
share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to instantly see
files without opening an application; Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to
create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; a brand new
desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock; and major
enhancements to Mail and iChat(R). .Mac members can use the new Back to My Mac
feature to browse and access files on their home computer from a MacBook Air
over the Internet while out on the road.

The new MacBook Air embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress
with its aluminum enclosure, a material highly desired by recyclers; Apple’s
first mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass; and brominated flame
retardant-free material for the majority of circuit boards as well as PVC-free
internal cables. In addition, MacBook Air consumes the least amount of power
of any Mac, and its retail box, made primarily from 100 percent post-consumer
recycled material, is 56 percent smaller by volume than the previously
smallest MacBook packaging.

Pricing & Availability

The new MacBook Air will be shipping in two weeks through the Apple
Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized
Resellers for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), and includes:

• 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with 1280×800
  resolution;
• 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache;
• 800 MHz front-side bus;
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM;
• 80GB hard disk drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100;
• Micro-DVI port (includes Micro-DVI to VGA and Micro-DVI to DVI
  Adapters);
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth
  2.1+EDR;
• one USB 2.0 port;
• one headphone port;
• multi-touch TrackPad with support for advanced multi-touch gestures
  including tap, scroll, pinch, rotate and swipe; and
• 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options and accessories include the ability to upgrade to a
1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 64GB solid state drive, MacBook Air
SuperDrive, Apple USB Ethernet Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple MagSafe Airline
Adapter, Apple Remote and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional
build-to-order options also include pre-installed copies of iWork ’08,
Logic(R) Express 8, Final Cut(R) Express 4 and Aperture(TM) 1.5.

Battery life depends on configuration and use. See
http://www.apple.com/batteries for more information. AirPort Extreme is based
on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on
range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple
II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its
award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional
applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its
iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered
the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

(C) 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac
OS, Macintosh, MacBook, iSight, Safari, AirPort Extreme, SuperDrive, iTunes,
iPod, iPhone, MagSafe, iLife, iPhoto, iMovie, Leopard, Time Machine, iChat,
Apple Store, Logic, Final Cut and Aperture are trademarks of Apple. Other
company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.