Apple MacBook Air (Original) vs Apple MacBook Air (Late 2008)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

MacBook Air (Original) compared with MacBook Air (Late 2008)
AppleMacBook Air (Original)AppleMacBook Air (Late 2008)
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2008November 2008
Display
Screen size13.3″13.3″
Resolution1280 × 8001280 × 800
PanelTN LCD–
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeGlossy LED-backlit widescreen TFT LCD, millions of colours. TN panel identified in Notebookcheck’s exact-model review; refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple.Glossy LED-backlit widescreen LCD, millions of colours; panel technology, refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz (MacBook Air, Original, 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz (MacBook Air, Original, 2008)Intel Core 2 Duo SL9300 or Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel GMA X3100NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Memory2 GB2 GB
Storage64 GB to 80 GB120 GB to 128 GB (better)
CPUCustom 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.Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo SL9300 at 1.6 GHz or SL9400 at 1.86 GHz, 6 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus. Exact identities confirmed by EveryMac.
GPUIntel GMA X3100 with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memoryNVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Memory type2 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 onboard memory, not upgradeable2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 onboard memory, not upgradeable
Storage type80 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.The 1.6 GHz base has a 120 GB 4200-rpm Serial ATA hard drive; the 1.86 GHz base has a 128 GB solid-state drive. Configurations preserve these published combinations. Optional external USB MacBook Air SuperDrive; no built-in optical drive.
Battery and size
Battery capacity37 Wh37 Wh
Weight1.36 kg1.36 kg
Thickness19.4 mm19.4 mm
Width × depth325 × 227 mm325 × 227 mm
Battery life detailBuilt-in 37 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; no runtime figure on the current maker technical sheet.Built-in 37 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; no runtime figure on the current maker technical sheet.
Charger45 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management45 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management
MaterialsAluminium enclosure; tapered thickness from 4 to 19.4 mmAluminium enclosure; tapered thickness from 4 to 19.4 mm
ColoursSilverSilver
Connections
PortsUSB-A, MagSafe, headphone jackUSB-A, MagSafe, headphone jack
Wi-Fi802.11n draft; compatible with 802.11a/b/g802.11n draft; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR2.1 + EDR
WebcamBuilt-in iSight cameraBuilt-in iSight camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailOne 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.One USB 2.0 port up to 480 Mb/s, Mini DisplayPort video output, headphone jack and MagSafe. DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI adapters are sold separately; Ethernet requires an optional USB adapter.
External displaysBuilt-in screen plus one external display up to 1920 × 1200, both with millions of colours; dual display and video mirroringBuilt-in screen plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both with millions of colours; dual display and video mirroring
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensorFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor
TrackpadMulti-Touch trackpad with scroll, pinch, rotate, swipe, tap, double-tap and drag gesturesMulti-Touch trackpad with two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger and four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and drag gestures
SpeakersMono speakerMono speaker
MicrophonesOmnidirectional microphoneOmnidirectional microphone
In the boxMacBook 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 ’08MacBook Air, 45 W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, install/restore DVDs, display cleaning cloth and documentation; Mac OS X Leopard and iLife ’08

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