The $999 Macbook Air measures 0.68 by 12.8 by 8.94 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.96 pounds. The 13.3 inch display has a disappointing 1.440 by 9.. resolution, lower than many other ultraportables. The fifth generation Intel Core 15 CPU and 8GB of memory are speedy enough for everyday tasks.

Generous connectivity options include two USB 3.0 ports, a thunderbolt 2 port, a magsafe 2 power port, and an SD card reader. The air has a relatively cramped 128GB solid state hard drive, though you can opt for 256GB or 512GB.

The backlit keys have greater travel than those on the Macbook or Macbook Pro, but they're less sturdy. The Macbook Air has an excellent battery life of 16 hours and 28 minutes.