In the world of consumer electronics, you don’t stay on top of the heap for long. Technology firms wage fierce battles for market supremacy, dropping opposition-crushing flagships with almost boring predictability. A constant stream of shiny new devices may seem to benefit the consumer; after all, who doesn’t want the latest and greatest device?
Something vital disappears in the flames of war. As brands compete for bragging rights, they lose something special, something important to good product design. In the quest for the fastest CPU or the thinnest screen, the longevity and liveability of the device is cast to the wayside. Your new device will only be the fastest for so long; after that, it must rest on its other strengths such as ergonomics, durability and price point.
Its been a long time since the Apple MacBook air 13 inch was viewed as the pinnacle of technology. Even on its release date, it wasn’t the fastest computer offered by Apple. After a couple of years, you would expect to see the Apple MacBook air 13 inch replaced by something faster, thinner and “newer.”
The thing is, though, you can still buy an Apple MacBook air 13 inch 2017 model in 2019. Spend some time in any Library, coffee shop or classroom you will find countless MacBook Airs all serving their owners flawlessly. Why? How has this seemingly innocuous machine remained so incredibly popular? Especially when facing a constant tide of younger faster competitors?
What is your purpose?
Apple is well known for its upmarket computers, phones, and tablets. When the MacBook Air arrived on the scene, it was a breath of fresh air from the Californian company. A user could have a streamlined operating system and beautiful design that Apple computers are famous for, without the famous Apple price tag.
While these machines could never play games at high frame rates or render video, they were never designed too. If you were after something slim, light, and capable of running the standard apple software suite then you couldn’t go past the Apple MacBook Air 13 inch.
Get with the times.
The Air was a brilliant machine in 2017, but how does it hold up today? In short, beautifully. While the processing power is lower than newer competitors, its design and build quality ensure it remains not only relevant but desirable. Because the Air was never meant to be fastest or “best” it was designed to be comfortable, portable and reliable.
The MacBook Air is built from a single piece of aluminium and is one of the toughest computers I have ever owned. I have dropped dumbbells on it, spilled beer on it, and trekked around the world with it, and it hasn’t missed a beat. Well, ok, it does have several dings and scratches, but I think they add character! There are very few (if any) laptops out there for less than $1500 that have all aluminium body.
Much is said about the MacBook Airs’ processing power; some complain that it isn’t “fast” enough. Compared to new machines from 2019, the spec list of an Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2017 might look a little weak, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Packed with Intel’s fifth-generation I series CPU’s, the Air has plenty enough power to browse the web, edit documents and watch movies. If you are looking for a mobile workstation, there are plenty of better (more expensive) options available.
Apple’s MacBook Air made huge waves when it first hit the scene, and it has aged like a fine wine. It remains an immensely popular choice for people who want a stylish, lightweight computer running apples famed operating system. While it won’t appeal to performance enthusiasts, it has won a place in my heart, and I dread the day that it finally decides to call it quits.
The venerable Air was given a refresh in late 2018, with added power and higher resolution screens amongst the many upgrades. Thankfully Apple has retained the thin unibody design of the previous Airs. Only time will tell if it can continue the legacy that the original computer created and if it can age just as gracefully.
