How Well Do You Know The MacBook Air?

1.

It wasn't just the I/O ports that suffered from the weight reduction, though. Another major I/O device disappeared from the previous generation of MacBooks into the current one. Which one is it?

Keyboard

CD drive

Webcam

Speakers

The correct answer is CD drive. In an effort to reduce weight, the current generation of MacBooks removed the CD drive as a major I/O device. This decision was likely made due to the declining use of physical CDs and the increasing popularity of digital media. Removing the CD drive not only helps to make the MacBook lighter but also allows for a slimmer design. Users can now rely on external CD drives or digital downloads for software and media instead.

Explanation

The correct answer is CD drive. In an effort to reduce weight, the current generation of MacBooks removed the CD drive as a major I/O device. This decision was likely made due to the declining use of physical CDs and the increasing popularity of digital media. Removing the CD drive not only helps to make the MacBook lighter but also allows for a slimmer design. Users can now rely on external CD drives or digital downloads for software and media instead.

2.

A new technology from Apple debuted on the MacBook Air for laptops. This same technology, which also came out on the iPhone and the iPod Touch, was a great addition to the touch-based user interface of Apple devices. What technology was this?

Multi-touch technology, which allows you to use finger gestures for common tasks

A built-in webcam, which allows you to join video conferences over the internet

An accelerometer, which adjusts the screen based on how you rotated the device

A touch screen, which allows you to directly interact with the display

You might not notice it immediately, but the Multi-touch functionality of the MacBook Air does make life easier. Users of the iPhone and the iPod Touch just can't live without that particular feature.

Explanation

You might not notice it immediately, but the Multi-touch functionality of the MacBook Air does make life easier. Users of the iPhone and the iPod Touch just can't live without that particular feature.

3.

Of course, you can hardly expect a laptop that small to maintain every single feature from its larger brethren. In fact, more than a few I/O ports were lost in the MacBook's slim down process. What combination of ports remains on the MacBook Air?

1 USB, 1 Firewire, 1 DVI and 2 audio

3 USB and 1 Firewire

1 USB, 1 DVI and 1 audio

2 USB and 2 DVI

The fact that only one USB port and one audio port remained was a sore point for many customers. Early MacBook Air buyers had to buy themselves USB hubs to be able to use more than one USB port.

Explanation

The fact that only one USB port and one audio port remained was a sore point for many customers. Early MacBook Air buyers had to buy themselves USB hubs to be able to use more than one USB port.

4.

Its weight -- or lack therof -- was another one of the MacBook Air's claims to fame. How heavy is the MacBook Air?

1.4kgs

2.5kgs

2kgs

0.5kgs

At just 3lbs. or 1.4kgs, it's a feather compared to the standard 2-kg weight of the previous generations

Explanation

At just 3lbs. or 1.4kgs, it's a feather compared to the standard 2-kg weight of the previous generations

5.

The measly 1GB RAM was one of the major gripes from users of the previous generation of MacBooks. Apple decided to heed their complaints and added more memory to the MacBook Air. How much RAM does the standard MacBook Air have?

512MB

1GB

4GB

2GB

The 2GB of RAM on the standard MacBook, along with the 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor, promises snappy performance on any program.

Explanation

The 2GB of RAM on the standard MacBook, along with the 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor, promises snappy performance on any program.

6. What had a lot of Apple fans raving at the release of the MacBook Air was that Steve Jobs literally pulled the whole laptop out of a manila envelope at the end of his keynote speech. It isn't, tech experts say, the thinnest laptop around, but it's certainly thin enough to turn more than a few heads. Just how thin is the MacBook Air at its thinnest point?

0.8"

0.17"

0.08"

1.2"

At just 0.17" at its thinnest point, the MacBook Air is in the running for the thinnest commercial laptop in the world.

Explanation

At just 0.17" at its thinnest point, the MacBook Air is in the running for the thinnest commercial laptop in the world.