On sale now, the revamped 11-inch, 0.68-inch-thick MacBook Air boasts a faster processor (the 1.6GHz, dual-core Intel Core i5, if you want to get specific about it), 64 GB of “flash” memory (meaning no more spinning hard drive, thus fewer moving parts that might seize up), a front-facing camera for video chat, stereo speakers, a pair of USB ports, and a backlit keyboard for typing in the dark (a notable improvement over last year’s MacBook Airs, which lacked backlighting for their keypads).

Those looking to up the ante with the slightly larger, 13-inch MacBook Air ($1,299, and a hair under three pounds) will get double the storage (128 GB) and an even speedier processor than the one on the $999 Air (1.7GHz Intel Core i5). You can also upgrade to a full 256 GB of flash memory if you opt for the $1,599 version of the 13-inch MacBook Air. (Check out Apple’s online store for more upgrade options.)

(Related: How big is a GB, anyway?)

Overall, the new Airs are up to twice as fast as last year’s models, Apple boasts, and they also pack in better battery life: five hours for the 11-inch Air, and seven hours for the new and improved 13-inch version, according to Apple.

Of course, the best feature of Apple’s MacBook Air line is the size—or lack thereof.

I haven’t tested the brand-new MacBook Air yet, but I have lived with an older-model 13-inch Air that’s just shy of three pounds, and I can tell you that the difference in weight is amazing. When I’m at trade shows, I can slip my Air into my backpack and not even feel it, while my back was definitely feeling it when I was still lugging around a five-pound MacBook.

Speaking of which, Apple has gone ahead and dumped its white, five-pound MacBook—the last Apple laptop with a plastic shell.

I’m sure there are some who will miss the MacBook’s friendly white casing, but I’m guessing any feelings of nostalgia you might have will melt away the moment you hold the feather-weight MacBook Air in your hands.

Check out more details about the new MacBook Air line right here.

The post At $999, super-slim MacBook Air becomes Apple’s cheapest laptop appeared first on here's the thing.

Hello Gail, and thanks for reading! First, a quick reality check. As a rule, Apple tends to unveil “refreshed” MacBooks once every 12 months or so—meaning that no matter when you buy a MacBook, you’re looking at less than a year before your particular model becomes yesterday’s news. That’s just the nature of the beast (and it holds true for every other PC manufacturer, as well).

The trick, of course, is knowing when the new MacBooks are arriving—a feat that requires a bit of guesswork, since Apple isn’t given to telegraphing its new products in advance.

My favorite crystal ball for all things Mac is the aptly named MacRumors, which maintains a buyers guide detailing each and every major Apple product—including MacBooks—complete with dates that tick off the last time specific models have been updated.

Taking a look at the MacBooks category, MacRumors notes that the latest wave of MacBook Pros arrived last February, and the MacBook Pro product “cycle” has lasted anywhere between 317 and 231 days in recent years.

Based on those dates, MacRumors concludes that we’re probably “mid-cycle” as far as MacBook Pros are concerned. The site’s buying advice: “Neutral.”

Apple’s razor-thin MacBook Air, meanwhile, hasn’t seen a refresh since last October—a good 250 days, according to MacRumors’ count—and appears due for a revamp any day now. (Indeed, a flurry of rumors and chatter of low inventories seems to bolster the prediction.) That means MacBook Air shoppers would do well to hold their horses for at least a few weeks.

Last but not least is Apple’s $999 white MacBook, which hasn’t been updated in more than a year. The word from MacRumors: “Don’t buy,” as it looks like a new version of the bargain-priced MacBook may be imminent.

So, Gail, back to your question: Should you buy a new MacBook Pro right now? Well, there’s a good chance it will be outdated before the year is out.

Then again, when it comes to gadgets, there’s always a better version right around the corner, and at some point, you might as well take the leap.

And believe me, the difference between the current MacBook Pro and your old, broken-down Dell will be far more dramatic than any incremental improvements in the next MacBook Pro model.

Hope that helps—and if you have more questions about MacBook Pros or laptops in general, post ’em below or send me an email.

Follow me on Twitter!

The post Reader mail: Is now a good time to buy a new MacBook? appeared first on here's the thing.