Consumer Reports Rates New MacBook Airs Best in Class

[Paul Daniel Ash]

In an update to its ratings of desktop and laptop computers published this week, Consumer Reports has given the new unibody 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models the best ratings in their size classes. Despite taking into consideration the fact that Apple systems are more expensive than their competitors, CR gave the newest MacBooks top ratings for their performance, display and ergonomics, and scored the 13-inch model the same as the 15-inch MacBook Pro for second place overall... behind the top-rated 17-inch MacBook Pro.

Consumer Reports published its new Computer Ratings this week, reviewing 42 desktop computers, 70 laptops and 21 netbooks. The new ultralight 11-inch Air scored 67 out of a possible 100 points, winning that size class by a large margin over the only competition, a Toshiba Satellite Pro which got 51 points. CR gave the smallest Air a "very good" for Ergonomics and Display, a "fair" in Versatility and Speakers, and a "good" in Performance. The 13-inch model scored a 78 points to beat the Toshiba Portege's 76 points, and earned "very good" in Performance, Ergonomics, and Display, "good" in Speakers, and "fair" in Versatility.

Following the Portege on the top of the 13-inch class were two MacBook Pro models which scored 73 and 72 points for third and fourth place, respectively. The 2.53GHz Core i5 15-inch MacBook Pro won top honors in the 15- to 16-inch category, and the 17-inch MacBook Pro was the highest rated laptop in the 17- to 18-inch category.

Source: AppleInsider

[kickerman65]

I love my 13" MBA. And the best thing about it is it doesnt get hot when its on your lap

[confucious]

What does this have to do with the iPhone?

[z3r01]

Nice but I think they aren't manly for me...I need more metal on my lap

[athleticswimmer]

Nice but I think they aren't manly for me...I need more metal on my lap

and I need more performance on mine...

[sziklassy]

Despite taking into consideration the fact that Apple systems are more expensive than their competitors, CR gave the newest MacBooks top ratings...

This is the key phrase here. The new Airs are amazing computers, but not exactly a fair comparison when you have things like the eee and the MSI Wind in the same category that cost 1/3 what the airs do...

and I need more performance on mine...

If you need more performance, you are not in the market for a netbook. Simple as that...

[XenoSaber]

This is the key phrase here. The new Airs are amazing computers, but not exactly a fair comparison when you have things like the eee and the MSI Wind in the same category that cost 1/3 what the airs do...



If you need more performance, you are not in the market for a netbook. Simple as that...

You meant NOTEBOOK, right, the air is not a NETBOOK!! Don't make me slap you.

[whereswaldo]

What does this have to do with the iPhone?

It doesn't, that's why it's in the Mac section

[sziklassy]

You meant NOTEBOOK, right, the air is not a NETBOOK!! Don't make me slap you.

No, no. These are still netbooks. Apple just doesn't want to call them that.

[iphone?3gs]

This is the key phrase here. The new Airs are amazing computers, but not exactly a fair comparison when you have things like the eee and the MSI Wind in the same category that cost 1/3 what the airs do...



If you need more performance, you are not in the market for a netbook. Simple as that...

But there not, the MacBook airs aren't netbooks they don't have intel atom processors they have full laptop processors..... The screensize isn't the only thing that makes a product a netbook. The portege isn't a netbook and the air scored higher than that.

Send

If you need more performance, you are not in the market for a netbook. Simple as that...[/QUOTE]

[confucious]

It doesn't, that's why it's in the Mac section

I never look at the Mac section as I have no interest in Macs.

I see this in the iPhone News section and, as you say, it has absolutely nothing to do with the iPhone

[sziklassy]

But there not, the MacBook airs aren't netbooks they don't have intel atom processors they have full laptop processors..... The screensize isn't the only thing that makes a product a netbook. The portege isn't a netbook and the air scored higher than that.

Send

If you need more performance, you are not in the market for a netbook. Simple as that...

[/QUOTE]

Forgive me. It uses a super lightweight mobile version of a core2 duo. You're right. THat makes it COMPLETELY different...

A netbook is simply defined as smaller, more lightweight, and less expensive (than a notebook). Minus the expense, I would say the air fits all of those categories quite nicely.

Here are some quotes from CNET that I pulled from wikipedia

"CNET called netbooks "nothing more than smaller, cheaper notebooks," noting, "the specs are so similar that the average shopper would likely be confused as to why one is better than the other," and "the only conclusion is that there really is no distinction between the devices."

I never look at the Mac section as I have no interest in Macs.

I see this in the iPhone News section and, as you say, it has absolutely nothing to do with the iPhone

It's pretty clear to me that it was mistakenly put here.

[confucious]

It's pretty clear to me that it was mistakenly put here.

You mean just like all the other Macbook Air stories that have appeared under iPhone News recently?

[topless1967stang]

It fits most of the criteria to be called a netbook. But it doesn't fit all the requirements to be a netbook. I wouldn't call it a notebook either since it doesn't have a built in optical drive.

So I'd say the Macbook Air is in a class of it's own.

[sziklassy]

So I'd say the Macbook Air is in a class of it's own.

Apple has one yet another person over... *sigh*

You mean just like all the other Macbook Air stories that have appeared under iPhone News recently?

We are all human and make mistakes. What's the point of even bringing it up? It is clear to everyone looking here (even by the title) that this has nothing to do with the iPhone. So it's in the wrong section. Big deal...

[renome]

I really need to start saving for this one!

[kickerman65]

Are there any netbooks that come equipped with a dual core processor and 4Gb of ram? Ive never really looked at netbook specs but id say the air has way more performance than a netbook and does not belong in the netbook category. But like i said i could be mistaken cause ive never actually looked into netbook specs.

[MaxRabbit]

sziklassy, are you having a bad day? I honestly thought you were level-headed, but you today you seem unwilling to even consider another's point of view.

Personally, I think there is no way that the Macbook Air is a netbook. Based on the definition of a netbook (no, it's not Webster, but it is accurate), these are why the Macbook Air cannot be classified as a netbook:
1) Screen size is far too big. Netbooks originated at 7 inches. Macbook Airs began at 13.
2) Macbook Air contains a full size keyboard, uncommon on netbooks.
3) The 11 inch version, the closest to the netbook size, does not contain an SD card reader. Netbooks were designed to have SD card readers.
4) Obviously, price range.

Now that's from definition alone. Based on the name - "net"book for browsing the web, netbooks are intended for a single purpose. The Macbook Air contains a dual core processor, obviously designed to multitask. Very few netbooks contain anything but a single core processor.

So yes, they do have 1) SSD storage and 2) no CD/DVD drive, but a couple similarities do not make brothers.

P.S. I can see the annoyance in this being in iPhone news. Some people have so much news already that every unnecessary article is greatly annoying.

[Cer0]

It was moved from iPhone news section to Mac news a hour or so ago.

[hitman10]

why is this making news? "The newest macbook is the best" well duh? isnt that why its the latest? the most elite? or am i missing something like seriously.