Looking For A New Laptop? Apple's Cheaper Macbook Air Might Be The Answer

The new versions of the computers, which Apple announced Tuesday, contain fourth-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors.

On the processor front, the Air now comes with a 1.4GHz Core i5 -- upgraded from a 1.3GHz chip. While that is a relatively minor performance upgrade, Intel may have improved the chip in other ways.

For instance, newer versions of a processor typically include manufacturing improvements, which can result in better power efficiency and cooling.

In addition to the speed bump, the upgraded models also come with longer-lasting batteries. The company promises up to nine hours of use for the 11-inch models, and 12 hours for the 13-inch models.

smh.com.au

Apple says the new processors work with its OS X Mavericks operating system to provide 12 hours of battery life on the 13-inch models and 9 hours on the 11-inch MacBook Airs.

Alongside the processor change, Apple has also dropped the prices on all of its MacBook Airs by $100 each. The base 11-inch model now starts at $899 as a result, with the 13-inch starting at $999.

theverge.com

The 11.6-inch MacBook Air dropped to a starting price of $899 from $999 in the US and from £849 to £749 in the UK, while the entry-level 13.3-inch Air dropped to $999 from $1,099 in the US and from £949 to £849 in the UK.

Every model except the entry-level 11-inch Air with 128 gigabytes of storage, which still retails for $1099, received a $50 price cut. In the US, the same models received a $US100 price cut, but this does not include additional sales tax, which is already included in the Australian prices.

smh.com.au

The 11-inch Air, with 128GB of storage, now sells for $899 and options range up to a 13-inch screen with 256GB of storage for $1,199.

In the meantime, the company appears to be addressing one of the common gripes from the anti-Apple crowd -- that more powerful PCs can be had for a fraction of the cost of Apple's laptop and desktop offerings.

The new machines are the cheapest portable Macs Apple has ever sold., and the firm hopes it will eat into sales on Windows laptops. "With MacBook Air starting at $899, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac,' said Apple's Philip Schiller.

'Macs have never been more popular, and today we’ve boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook.'

Buy the 11 inch or 13 inch MacBook Air from the Apple Online Store.