Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air, which now, like the iPad, employs solid-state flash storage instead of mechanical hard disks and is available in 11.6" and 13.3" models.

 

The solid-state flash storage is up to twice as fast as hard drive storage, according to Apple, as well as being more reliable and up to 90% smaller and lighter than conventional hard-drives. This helps to ensure that the latest MacBook Air is also the lightest and most portable notebook Cupertino has ever released, weighing in from around 1 kg.

 

Apple’s latest MacBook Air notebooks are powered by Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors and Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics cards. It also boasts the same glass multi-touch trackpad used on the MacBook Pro and a built-in camera, mic and stereo speakers for making video calls via FaceTime. Cupertino also states that it will provide users with a battery life of up to seven hours and standby time of up to 30 days.

 

“MacBook Air is the first of a new generation of notebooks that leaves behind mechanical rotating storage in favor of solid state flash storage,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.

 

“We’ve taken what we have learned with the iPad—solid state storage, instant-on, amazing battery standby time, miniaturization and lightweight construction, to create the new MacBook Air. With its amazing responsiveness and mobility, it will change the way we think about notebooks.”

 

Local pricing and availability details aren’t out yet but the MacBook Air is already available in the US with prices starting at $999 (around R6 930) for the 1.4 GHz 11" MacBook Air with 2 GB of memory and 64 GB of flash storage.