AppleInsider StaffThe new model, only available to education buyers ordering in bulk sizes of five or more, features the same internal components as the 11.6-inch MacBook Air available to general consumers for $999. But the new, discounted hardware sports a larger 13.3-inch display. They are advertised to ship within three to five days.
The 13.3-inch education model and the entry-level 11.6-inch MacBook Air both feature a 1.6GHz dual-core Core i5 Intel processor, along with two gigabytes of RAM and a 64-gigabyte solid-state drive. They are also powered by the Intel HD Graphics 3000 chipset included on the Core i5 CPU.
The standard 13-inch consumer-level MacBook Air remains priced at $1,299. The speedier machine has a 1.7GHz dual-core Core i5 Intel CPU, 4 gigabytes of RAM, and a 128-gigabyte solid-state drive.
Last July, Apple discontinued its white MacBook, which previously served as the entry-level notebook in Apple's lineup. Its price point was filled by the 11.6-inch MacBook Air, which carries the same $999 cost.
Apple continued offering the white MacBook to education buyers for months, but this week the company finally ceased sales of the legacy notebook. Resellers have since been notified that the white MacBook is now classified as "end of life."
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26 Comments
Extremely difficult to identify what is the most amazing aspect of Apple's strength : Their Engineers, their lawyers, their marketing people, their supply chain people ? They are all brilliant, really ...
Great buy! 13? seems too big to me now that I?m spoiled by an 11?, but extra real estate has its uses.
And the current Airs are durable. I know someone?let?s call him ?Bagromme?? who dropped his air corner-first onto hardwood. The only damage was a deep dent... to the hardwood. Whereas I?ve seen plastic laptops crack under far less abuse. If I were a school, I?d want metal!
Extremely difficult to identify what is the most amazing aspect of Apple's strength : Their Engineers, their lawyers, their marketing people, their supply chain people ? They are all brilliant, really ...
It?s their oft-overlooked buildings & grounds people. Outstanding, efficient work.
As a school, we were previously able to get any quantity at the price of $899 with our education pricing. Now, the cheapest individual option is the 11-inch Air for $950 (unless we buy those 13-inch ones in a multipack as originally posted).
That $50 to $100 per machine can add up quick, though. Our school only has 375 MacBooks in our 1 to 1 program, but I know of a lot of bigger schools with more. It is quite a bit more expensive overall.
Also, though it is a faster SSD drive, we go from the 250 GB drive to 64 GB. We also lose the optical drive.
I don't know if they are just trying to push more schools to the less expensive iPad (to make a bunch of money off the App Store) or the more expensive Airs or Pros to get close to the same features as before.
2GB of non-upgradeable RAM in a $1000 machine in 2012, for academic institutions that typically have upgrade cycles of 5+years? This is just beyond stingy. Lion is a frustrating experience on anything less than 4GB, and it's sad that Apple decided to handicap these machines from the get go, which will br used for a very long time after they're bought, simply to save a couple bucks on the RAM. Even I wouldn't purchase a 13' Air at a $300 discount that runs 2GB ram.. it would make all the difference for having a decent experience with it. Sad, as this otherwise would have been an amazing offer had they not so severely crippled it needlessly.
Also, though it is a faster SSD drive, we go from the 250 GB drive to 64 GB. We also lose the optical drive.
Dude, the 13 inch mentioned starts at 128 GB and its $300 less than list price. I'd be happy about that myself...