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List of MacBook Air 2010 Differences

cherry su

cherry su

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 28, 2008
1,217
1
Here's a list of (small yet noticeable) differences I've compiled for the new MacBook Air in no specific order:

  • The SSD unit is a mini-PCIe card instead of a standard 1.8" SATA unit.
  • No backlit keyboard.
  • IR sensor and sleep light have been omitted.
  • 11" has reduced size function keys.
  • Power button is no longer aluminum and takes the place of eject key.
  • Last row of keys on 11" are of same height as alphanumeric keys; the last row of keys on the 13" are slightly taller than its alphanumeric keys.
  • 11" uses ultra-low-voltage processors. 13" still uses low-voltage processors.
  • Stereo speakers in both models.
  • Lower operating temps and fan speeds.
An explanation/opinion of each can be found on my blog post. http://doesntexistat.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-macbook-airs.html

Hope this helps! If you notice some more minor differences, please post!
 
here are more

1. no heat no cooking of thighs.
2.No fan noise or spinning at 6800RPMs
3. cost less
4. better screen
5.better speakers.
 
I won't disagree that the fan is better than on the original MBA. But in the past 1/2 day doing lots of copies and installs that fan has been spinning alot. Yes, it's much much quieter but it seems to be getting a good workout.
 
cherry su said:
Here's a list of (small yet noticeable) differences I've compiled for the new MacBook Air in no specific order:

[*]No backlit keyboard.

Hope this helps! If you notice some more minor differences, please post!
Click to expand...

I still dont understand why certain people are getting so aggravated about a missing backlit keyboard. Think of this as an opportunity to learn how to touch type. Do you all look down at your keyboard while you type? seriously. And its not like u'll be typing in the dark while the screen is off! the screen will surely illuminate the keyboard to a certain extent.

Yes its not as cool lit up as before, but seriously... is it such a big issue?
 
nukztar said:
I still dont understand why certain people are getting so aggravated about a missing backlit keyboard. Think of this as an opportunity to learn how to touch type. Do you all look down at your keyboard while you type? seriously. And its not like u'll be typing in the dark while the screen is off! the screen will surely illuminate the keyboard to a certain extent.

Yes its not as cool lit up as before, but seriously... is it such a big issue?
Click to expand...

I dunno man, I dunno. I have never found my MacBook Pro's backlit keyboard very useful, but the feature is gone in the MacBook Air, and not many people have noticed it. Therefore it warrants a space in the list. :)
 
AppleGoddess said:
here are more

1. no heat no cooking of thighs.
2.No fan noise or spinning at 6800RPMs
3. cost less
4. better screen
5.better speakers.
Click to expand...

Ah yes! The stereo speakers! And the lower operating temperatures warrant a spot too. I think the cost is pretty obvious.
 
Off topic but your blog is insanely interesting. Keep updating with blog posts about what you're doing at MIT! :D
 
nukztar said:
I still dont understand why certain people are getting so aggravated about a missing backlit keyboard. Think of this as an opportunity to learn how to touch type. Do you all look down at your keyboard while you type? seriously. And its not like u'll be typing in the dark while the screen is off! the screen will surely illuminate the keyboard to a certain extent.

Yes its not as cool lit up as before, but seriously... is it such a big issue?
Click to expand...


Yes
 
nukztar said:
I still dont understand why certain people are getting so aggravated about a missing backlit keyboard. Think of this as an opportunity to learn how to touch type. Do you all look down at your keyboard while you type? seriously. And its not like u'll be typing in the dark while the screen is off! the screen will surely illuminate the keyboard to a certain extent.

Yes its not as cool lit up as before, but seriously... is it such a big issue?
Click to expand...

I assure you, I can touch type just fine. The backlit keyboard isn't about touch typing. It is useful, for example, for doing complex key combos in the dark.

OP one item you missed on your list is ambient light sensor to auto dim the display. Original air had that.
 
Unless I missed someone already listing...

New (much improved) Hinge
Glass Trackpad
SD Card slot
Additional USB port
Longer Battery life
 
akm3 said:
I assure you, I can touch type just fine. The backlit keyboard isn't about touch typing. It is useful, for example, for doing complex key combos in the dark.
Click to expand...

Buy a DAS Keyboard Ultimate. I can garantee that within 2 days you'll either shove that keyboard out the window, or you won't ever need a backlit keyboard ever again, even for complex key combos.

I wanted a backlit keyboard until I worked 8 hours a days, 5 days a week on my DAS ultimate. Now I just ordered a 2nd one for home and never hesitated when ordering my Air.
 
KnightWRX said:
Buy a DAS Keyboard Ultimate. I can garantee that within 2 days you'll either shove that keyboard out the window, or you won't ever need a backlit keyboard ever again, even for complex key combos.

I wanted a backlit keyboard until I worked 8 hours a days, 5 days a week on my DAS ultimate. Now I just ordered a 2nd one for home and never hesitated when ordering my Air.
Click to expand...

This is a better keyboard: Filco Majestouch Tactile Click "Otaku". Same blue Cherry switches but the Filco actually supports NKRO properly.

I also recommend this site if you care about keyboards and other input devices: http://geekhack.org/.
 
Caolan96 said:
so now I can't use my apple remote? :(
Click to expand...

Is that true? I never even thought of that! I use my MBP for keynote presentations with the remote all the time. Now you're telling me I can't? That's a dealbreaker for me and I've already ordered a 13" all max'd out. Sounds like it could be going back unopened.
 
jameskohn said:
Is that true? I never even thought of that! I use my MBP for keynote presentations with the remote all the time. Now you're telling me I can't? That's a dealbreaker for me and I've already ordered a 13" all max'd out. Sounds like it could be going back unopened.
Click to expand...

Do you have an iPod touch or an iPhone? You can use Apple's own Keynote remote application to control your slideshows and to view presentation notes as you're presenting. I find it a lot more useful than the remote.
 
cherry su said:
I dunno man, I dunno. I have never found my MacBook Pro's backlit keyboard very useful, but the feature is gone in the MacBook Air, and not many people have noticed it. Therefore it warrants a space in the list. :)
Click to expand...

Not many people have noticed it???? Are you serious? It's the number one complaint on the Macbook Air threads.
 
Right after the new models came out, my wife decided to jump on a refurb of the older 2.13 GHz model with the 128 GB SSD drive, because she still wanted the backlit keyboard. Yes, she can type extremely fast, and she doesn't need to look at the keyboard while she types, but she says that having the backlit keyboard allows her to get positioned correctly when she first starts to type (and then she doesn't look after that).

The refurbs on the US Store were only $1099 for the (previous) 2.13 GHz model with SSD drive yesterday. Very cool.
 
Here's some more things I've found

1) Cheaper
2) Better speakers
3) Unfortunately no G5
4) It's more expensive than a Dell but is a lot cheaper than a Roll Royce
5) Video card is crappy, Crysis in full detail turned up just doesn't work... (ripped off IMHO)
6) It will run faster than a G4 iBook
7) Seems to be good for trollbait threads
8) Doesn't have a 1.44" Floppy drive
9) You can't upgrade it to an i7
10) The monitor is brighter, in fact so bright that the words I am typing are being burnt into the back of my skull.
11) No firewire
12) The 8GB of DDR2 ram I bought to upgrade it wont install...
 
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