Who would have thought that the most interesting thing to come out of Apple's "spring forward" event would actually be a new laptop? In addition to spilling more details on its new smartwatch, the company also unveiled a brand-new (and long-awaited) update to the MacBook Air. Well, sort of. The "new MacBook," as it's called isn't actually an upgrade to the Air at all; it exists as an entirely new product line, separate from both the Air and the Pro. At $1,299, it won't be cheap, but it's for people who demand the thinnest and lightest possible design from Apple, without having to compromise on the screen quality (as you normally would when you buy an Air). I had the opportunity to get hands-on after today's event, and suffice to say, I'm impressed -- not just with its two-pound design, but with the Retina display, pressure-sensitive trackpad and redesigned keyboard. I'll be fleshing out this post with impressions but for now, here's a gallery of photos to whet your appetite.
You'd be forgiven if you thought the new MacBook was a replacement to the current Air. This new machine has a similar aesthetic, with a unibody aluminum chassis, black keys and a wedge-shaped profile. But man, is it ever so much lighter than Air. At two pounds, it makes the Air (which I'm using to type this), feel like a heavy old thing. I actually feel a bit bummed I'm using this instead. At this weight, too, it's nearly as light as the "world's lightest laptop" that Lenovo showed off at CES, except the build quality is far superior here. Apple was able to get the weight down without having to resort to cheap-feeling materials. That alone is no small feat.
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