Apple MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008) vs Apple MacBook Air (Original)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008) compared with MacBook Air (Original)
AppleMacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)AppleMacBook Air (Original)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2008January 2008
Display
Screen size13.3″13.3″
Resolution1280 × 8001280 × 800
Panel–TN LCD
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeGlossy TFT widescreen display with millions of colours; exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished by Apple.Glossy LED-backlit widescreen TFT LCD, millions of colours. TN panel identified in Notebookcheck’s exact-model review; refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo T8100 or Intel Core 2 Duo T8300Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz (MacBook Air, Original, 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz (MacBook Air, Original, 2008)
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel GMA X3100 (144 MB shared DDR2)Intel GMA X3100
Memory1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB (better)2 GB
Storage120 GB to 250 GB (better)64 GB to 80 GB
CPU2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo T8300, with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 800 MHz front-side bus. Exact chip identities are established by Geekbench’s contemporary tested-machine configurations.Custom dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 1.6 GHz or optional 1.8 GHz, 4 MB shared L2 cache and 800 MHz frontside bus. Chip records retain the maker’s clock and model description because exact Intel part numbers are not maker-confirmed.
GPUIntel GMA X3100 (144 MB shared DDR2)Intel GMA X3100 with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
Memory typeTwo SO-DIMM slots for 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); 1 GB standard at 2.1 GHz, 2 GB at 2.4 GHz, configurable to 4 GB.2 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 onboard memory, not upgradeable
Storage typeWhite 2.1 GHz starts at 120 GB with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive; white 2.4 GHz starts at 160 GB and black 2.4 GHz at 250 GB with an 8x SuperDrive. Build-to-order 160 GB and 250 GB drives run at 5400 rpm. Configurations follow the Early 2008 launch models rather than the different Late 2008 white model on the combined archived sheet.80 GB 4200-rpm Parallel ATA hard drive or optional 64 GB solid-state drive, available with either processor. No built-in optical drive; optional external USB MacBook Air SuperDrive.
Battery and size
Battery capacity55 Wh (better)37 Wh
Weight2.27 kg1.36 kg (better)
Thickness27.5 mm19.4 mm (better)
Width × depth325 × 227 mm325 × 227 mm
Battery life detailRemovable 55 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Battery-life hours omitted because the archived maker specification does not publish them.Built-in 37 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; no runtime figure on the current maker technical sheet.
Charger60 W MagSafe Power Adapter45 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management
MaterialsPolycarbonate enclosureAluminium enclosure; tapered thickness from 4 to 19.4 mm
ColoursWhite and black; base storage and optical drive vary by colour as described above. The configurations table combines colour variants with matching processor, memory and storage.Silver
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafeUSB-A, MagSafe, headphone jack
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme draft 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g802.11n draft; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.0 + EDR2.1 + EDR
WebcamiSight cameraBuilt-in iSight camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailTwo USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini-DVI, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output. Display adapters sold separately.One USB 2.0 port up to 480 Mb/s, Micro-DVI video output, headphone jack and MagSafe. Micro-DVI to DVI and VGA adapters supplied; Ethernet requires an optional USB adapter.
External displaysOne external display up to 1920 × 1200 alongside the built-in screen; Mini-DVI adapters support DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video.Built-in screen plus one external display up to 1920 × 1200, both with millions of colours; dual display and video mirroring
KeyboardFull-size keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function/media keys and four arrow keysFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor
TrackpadScrolling trackpad with a separate button; supports two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.Multi-Touch trackpad with scroll, pinch, rotate, swipe, tap, double-tap and drag gestures
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersMono speaker
MicrophonesBuilt-in omnidirectional microphoneOmnidirectional microphone
In the boxMacBook, display cleaning cloth, removable battery, 60 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08; Apple Remote sold separately.MacBook Air, MagSafe power adapter, Micro-DVI to DVI and VGA adapters, cleaning cloth, install/restore DVDs and printed documentation; Mac OS X Leopard and iLife ’08

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