Apple · MacBook Air

MacBook Air (Late 2008)

Released November 2008

A 13-inch aluminium MacBook Air with Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA graphics and optional solid-state storage.

Model history · 2 models, 2008–2008

2008MacBook Air (Original)Compare
2008MacBook Air (Late 2008)

Size: 13.3″
Display: –
Processor: Intel Core 2
Memory: 2 GB
Weight: 1.36 kg
Battery: –

What reviewers say

Reviewers praised the portable aluminium body, full-size keyboard and bright screen, with better graphics and storage than the original. The single USB port, extra adapter costs, fixed memory and weaker value than larger MacBooks remained drawbacks. Battery assessments varied with workload.

From macworld.com, theregister.com and laptopmag.com

Specifications

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Display

Screen size: 13.3″
Resolution: 1280 × 800
Touchscreen: No
Display type: Glossy LED-backlit widescreen LCD, millions of colours; panel technology, refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple.

Performance

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SL9300 or Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400
CPU cores: 2
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Memory: 2 GB
Storage: 120 GB to 128 GB
CPU: 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.
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Memory type: 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 onboard memory, not upgradeable
Storage type: 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 capacity: 37 Wh
Weight: 1.36 kg
Thickness: 19.4 mm
Width × depth: 325 × 227 mm
Battery life detail: Built-in 37 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; no runtime figure on the current maker technical sheet.
Charger: 45 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management
Materials: Aluminium enclosure; tapered thickness from 4 to 19.4 mm
Colours: Silver

Connections

Ports: USB-A, MagSafe, headphone jack
Wi-Fi: 802.11n draft; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR
Webcam: Built-in iSight camera
Operating system: macOS
Port detail: 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 displays: Built-in screen plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both with millions of colours; dual display and video mirroring
Keyboard: Full-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor
Trackpad: Multi-Touch trackpad with two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger and four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and drag gestures
Speakers: Mono speaker
Microphones: Omnidirectional microphone
In the box: MacBook 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

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Graphics
Intel Core 2 Duo SL9300	2 GB	120 GB	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400	2 GB	128 GB	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

Pros and cons

Pros

1.36 kg aluminium enclosure
Backlit keyboard and Multi-Touch trackpad
Mini DisplayPort supports large external displays

Cons

Only one USB port
Memory cannot be upgraded
No built-in Ethernet or optical drive

Closest rivals

Model	Size	Display	Processor	Memory	Weight	Battery	Released
AppleMacBook Air (Original)	13.3″	TN LCD	Intel Core 2	2 GB	1.36 kg	–	Jan 2008
AppleMacBook Air (Mid 2009)	13.3″	–	Intel Core 2	2 GB	1.36 kg	–	Jun 2009
AppleMacBook Air (13-inch, 2017)	13.3″	TN LCD	Intel Core i5 or i7	8 GB	1.35 kg	12 h	Jun 2017

Previous model: MacBook Air (Original). Newer model: MacBook Air (Mid 2009).

Sources

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

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