As expected, Apple today updated it’s best selling laptop, the MacBook Air, and its smallest Mac, the Mac Mini. In addition, the company released the latest version of its operating system, known as Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, for devices that are not iPhones, iPads or iPods.
The MacBook Airs now feature Intel i5 or i7 processors as well as better storage options, a Thunderbolt port and a backlit keyboard. The Mac Minis also feature i5 or i7, Thunderbolt and similar new specs bringing them in the line with the rest of Apple’s current hardware.
Here’s the specs on the new Mac computers:
• Mac mini Base model: 2.3GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM, and 500GB of storage
• Mac mini: 2.5GHz CPU with 4GB of RAM, and, 500GB of storage
• Mac mini server: 2.0GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and two 500GB hard drives
• MacBook Air 11″: Base model: 1.6GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage
• MacBook Air 11″: 1.6GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage
• MacBook Air 11″: Built to order model: 1.8GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage
• MacBook Air 13″: Base model: 1.7GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage
• MacBook Air 13″: 1.7GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage
• MacBook Air 13″: Built to order: 1.8GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage
The other big story is obviously OS X Lion which is Apple’s most iOS-like release yet, and it slowly starts to bridge PC and post-PC devices. Lion is a major OS update with more than 250 new features, and it’s available for $29 through the Mac App Store starting now.
It features quite a few changes to the Mac OS including:
• Over 250 New Features
• Multi-Touch Gestures – Just like iOS on iPhone/iPad
• Full Screen Apps – Again, like the iPad these fill the screen and cover the Dock and Menu Bar
• Mission Control – Brings together full-screen apps, Dashboard, Expose’ and Spaces into one features that let’s you see everything on your system
• Launchpad – Full-screen home for all your apps. Click them to launch. Again, just like iPad.
• Resume – Close and reposen apps right where you left them
• Auto Save – Saves your work automatically
• Versions – Charts history of your documents and allows you to revert to previous saved versions
• AirDrop – Send files to anyone around you wirelessly within 30 feet. No Wifi network required
• Mail – Completely revamped with new widescreen interface, search suggestions, favorites bar, frequently used folders and more. If you’ve ever used Mail on the iPad it looks pretty much like this.
If you decide to upgrade, let us know your experiences in the comments!
