**The MacBook Air 11" Review**

Hey guys, this is Austin and today I'm here with a review of the MacBook Air 11". This is the latest 2011 model and the one I have here has the 1.6GHz Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive.

**Design and Build**

Take a look around the Air and you'll see it is unlike most other laptops with a razor-thin design and tiny footprint. What I found most impressive is just how usable the 11" Air is. It features a full-sized keyboard, impressively large trackpad, and bright 11.6" screen.

**Performance**

Inside, you'll find a new dual-core Intel Core i5 clocked at 1.6GHz. Don't let the low clock speed fool you; the Air is actually quite respectably fast. It can Turbo all the way up to 2.3GHz and features Hyperthreading, which lets OS X see it as a quad-core CPU. Ordinary tasks like web browsing are right on par with my 4GHz quad-core Windows desktop, and even when you get to heavy lifting like video editing and gaming, the Air can keep up.

**Gaming Performance**

I work with video all day and while I still go to my editing rig most of the time, I've used the Air to edit some high-definition videos, and have been quite impressed with how well it handles it. You probably won't want to spend your days editing in Final Cut with this, but it certainly will work in a pinch. Gaming performance is a bit less impressive, but certainly doable. Even newer titles like Starcraft 2 can run without a problem as long as you don't mind turning the graphics down.

**Secret Sauce Behind Performance**

The secret sauce behind this performance in a laptop that's largely thinner than the iPhone comes down to a few key components: the Ultra Low Voltage Core i5 is a big part, as are the integrated HD 3000 graphics. However, the real kicker as to why the Air is so snappy is the Solid-State Drive (SSD). A SSD is just a collection of chips which not only are vastly faster but also are less prone to being destroyed by something like dropping your laptop.

**Battery Life**

Tech jargon aside, this makes the Air absolutely snappy. It boots and wakes up from sleep in seconds, and applications load in a fraction of the time that a normal laptop would take. Battery life is also quite impressive for an 11" laptop. Under a light load with simple web browsing, you get around four and a half hours out of a charge, and with very intensive use such as video editing or gaming, you're looking at something more like two and a half hours.

**Display**

The 11.6" display is impressive in several ways. It sports a resolution of 1366x768 giving it a very high pixel density. Text and graphics really pop, and in addition, the brightness and clarity on the panel are good.

**Keyboard and Trackpad**

The keyboard is the exact same size and layout as on the MacBook Pro. It's among the best laptop keyboards I've used with decent throw and nice spacing. New with the 2011 model is backlighting which is adjusted with the F5 and F6 keys, and makes using the Air in darker places much easier.

**Webcam**

Unfortunately, it's not all good. The webcam is only VGA quality, and while you can see it's not awful, I'd like to see an improvement on this front. However, for now, it'll have to do.

**Price and Recommendation**

The MacBook Air 11" retails for $1199 and is really the only base configuration I can recommend. There is the option to go down to 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD for $999; however, unless you plan on using the Air like a netbook, you would be better off spending the extra money as upgrading it yourself would be more expensive for the SSD and nearly impossible with the RAM.

**Conclusion**

Using the Air for the last month has been an interesting experience. For me, it has been the right blend of performance, superb design, and form factor that makes it an excellent secondary machine. If you are in the market for a laptop and the price doesn't put you off, I highly recommend at least trying out the MacBook Air. It's easily the best laptop I've ever used.

**Final Thoughts**

If you want to be awesome and help the channel, leave this video a thumbs up, and if you want to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey guys, this is Austin and today I’m herewitha review of the MacBook Air 11”.This is the latest2011 model and the one I have here has the1.6GHzCore i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GBsolidstate drive.Take a look around the Air and you’llsee it is unlike most other laptops with arazorthin design and tiny footprint.What I found mostimpressive is just how usable the 11” Airis.Itfeatures a full sized keyboard, impressivelylargetrackpad and bright 11.6” screen.Inside you’ll finda new dual core Intel Core i5 clocked at 1.6GHz.Don’t let the low clock speed fool you,the Airis actually quite respectably fast.It can Turboall the way up to 2.3GHz and features Hyperthreadingwhich lets OS X see it as a quad core CPU.Ordinary taskslike web browsing are right on par with my4GHz quad coreWindows desktop and even when you get to heavyliftinglike video editing and gaming the Air cankeep up.I work with video all day and while I stillgo to myediting rig most of the time I’ve used theAir to editsome high definition videos and have beenquiteimpressed with how well it handles it.You probablywon’t want to spend your days editing inFinal Cutwith this but it certainly will work in apinch.Gaming performance is a bit less impressivebutcertainly doable.Even newer titles like Starcraft 2can run without a problem as long as you don’tmindturning the graphics down.The secret sauce behindthis performance in a laptop that’s largelythinnerthan the iPhone comes down to a few key components.The Ultra Low Voltage Core i5 is a big part,as arethe integrated HD 3000 graphics.However the realkicker as to why the Air is so snappy isthe Solid State Drive.If you aren’t familiar with what a SSD isI’ll be brief.Most computers use a spinning hard drive whichwhiletypically gives you more hard drive spaceare justflat out slow.A solid state drive is just a collectionof chips which not only are vastly fasterbut also areless prone to being destroyed by somethinglikedropping your laptop.Tech jargon aside, this makes theAir absolutely snappy.It boots and wakes up from sleepin seconds and applications load in a fractionof thetime that a normal laptop would take.I’m a huge proponentof solid state drives and very glad to seeApple includingone on the Air.Battery life is also quite impressive foran 11” laptop.Under a light load with simple web browsingyou get around four and a half hours out ofa charge andwith very intensive use such as video editingor gamingyou’re looking at something more like twoand a halfhours.The 11.6” display is impressive in severalways.It sports a resolution of 1366x768 givingit a very highpixel density.Text and graphics really pop and inaddition the brightness and clarity on thepanel are good.The keyboard is the exact same size and layoutas on theMacBook Pro.It’s among the best laptop keyboards I’veused with decent throw and nice spacing.New with the2011 model is backlighting which is adjustedwith the F5and F6 keys and makes using the Air in darkerplaces mucheasier.I can’t say enough about the trackpad.It takes upas much surface area below the keyboard aspossible withoutgetting in the way of the palm rests and workswell withthe new gestures included in Lion.Unfortunately it's not all good.The webcam is only VGAquality and while you can see it's not awful,I do havevery good light here, in general it is noteven going tocompare to the FaceTime HD cameras on theMacBook Pro and the iMac.Taking a closer look around the computer onthe left you’llfind the MagSafe power adapter, a USB 2.0port, headphonejack as well as a microphone.On the right you’ll find thesecond USB for a total of two as well as thenew Thunderboltport for connecting high speed accessoriesas well asdoubling as a Mini DisplayPort for an externalmonitor.Even with a close look at the sturdy all aluminumconstruction you won’t even notice the exhaustuntil you fireup the Air.Cleverly hidden in the hinge is where hotair isreleased from the chassis and only when youreally get theAir doing something strenuous does the fanbecomenoticeable at all.The laptop does get uncomfortablyhot at these times though.One question I’ve been asked quite a bitis how the 11”form factor works.While everyone’s tastes are differentI’ve found myself loving it.It’s still large enough toget work done without straining your eyesbut it givesyou a highly portable design.If you’re looking for acomputer to stand in as your main machinethe 13” probablywould be a better choice but if you have anothercomputeror want something more portable the 11”is absolutely great.After seeing generation after generation ofMacBookAirs come and go this was the one that finallygot me to takethe plunge.This model retails for $1199 and is reallytheonly base configuration I can recommend.There is the optionto go down to 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD for$999 howeverunless you plan on using the Air like a netbookyou would bebetter off to spend the extra money as upgradingit yourselfwould be more expensive for the SSD and nearlyimpossiblewith the RAM.Using the Air for the last month has beenaninteresting experience.For me it has been the right blend ofperformance, superb design and form factorthat makes it anexcellent secondary machine.If you are in the market fora laptop and the price doesn’t put you offI highly recommendat least trying out the MacBook Air.It’s easily the bestlaptop I’ve ever used.If you want to be awesome and help thechannel leave this video a thumbs up and ifyou want to seemore videos like this be sure to subscribe.