The 1,280x800 screen is decent enough, obviously TN based, and features a glossy screen, which will immediately turn some off. The keyboard is backlit, although you'll only be able to set this brightness in the dark - a censor on the laptop itself prevents the backlight being turned on in decent light situations. The keyboard features the split keys featured on all MacBooks, and is quite quick to touch type on. The flip down compartment is also limited in height, meaning anything other than a standard USB-sized connector may have issues fitting in, like a number of USB flash drives. Or an Ethernet port perhaps, given that the USB to Ethernet adapter costs AU$39. Given that the USB port, mini-DisplayPort and headphone jack are all on the right-hand side, and hidden away until you flip down a compartment, we can't see why Apple wouldn't include a second USB port when there appears to be plenty of room.

At the time of writing, Apple charges AU$45 for a mini-DisplayPort to DVI or VGA adapter however, if you want to output to a 2,560x1,600 screen you'll need the Dual Link DVI adapter, which will set you back AU$149 and use your only USB port. This is for all intents and purposes the standard DisplayPort, just smaller, much like Apple's micro-DVI before it. While never reaching an annoying pitch, the Air can put out a decent noise when the GPU is put to task.Īlong with Nvidia graphics comes Apple's next graphics port that everybody else will ignore, and will cost you an exceptional amount of money to buy the adapters for - mini-DisplayPort. Higher power graphics though comes at the price of battery time, something the previous Air was not brilliantly endowed with, not to mention additional heat output. The Air, like the rest of Apple's MacBook line is now based on an Nvidia chipset and inherits superior graphics as well, giving it significantly more grunt over the older Intel-based Air. It still has its positives - the extremely thin profile, the powder-silver finish, the low weight and excellent build quality - but there's now a little more to add to the mix.

Apple macbook air charger port