MacBook Air (Early 2008) was announced on 15 January 2008, alongside 1 other product.
15 January 2008 · Mac
MacBook Air (Early 2008)
MacBook Air
Why it mattered
Steve Jobs pulled the MacBook Air out of an inter-office envelope at Macworld 2008. It traded ports (one USB), optical drive and battery swapping for thinness, a template that later swept the laptop industry. It was expensive and slow at first; the 2010 redesign at $999 made it mainstream.
Models and prices
| Model / config | Released | Key specs | US launch price | In 2025 dollars (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 1.6 GHz | Feb 2008 | Core 2 Duo, 2 GB, 80 GB HDD, 13.3-inch | $1,799 | ≈ $2,690 |
| MacBook Air 1.8 GHz SSD | Feb 2008 | 64 GB SSD | $3,098 | ≈ $4,630 |
Inflation-adjusted prices are estimates: launch price × (US CPI-U 2025 annual average 321.943 ÷ CPI-U annual average of the launch year), rounded to the nearest $10. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CUUR0000SA0. US list prices only; they ignore currency, taxes and carrier subsidies.
What came before and after
Before: 12-inch PowerBook G4 as Apple's small laptop. After: MacBook Air Late 2008, then the 11/13-inch 2010 redesign.
Buying and collecting notes
Prone to hinge cracks and overheating throttling; mostly a display piece today.
Questions
- When was the first MacBook Air released?
- Announced 15 January 2008.
- How much was the first MacBook Air?
- $1,799, about $2,690 in 2025 dollars by a US CPI estimate.
- How many USB ports did it have?
- One.
- Did the original MacBook Air have an SSD?
- Optionally; a 64 GB SSD configuration cost $3,098.
Sources
- Wikipedia: MacBook Air (Intel-based)
- EveryMac.com
- Apple press release 15 Jan 2008
- BLS CPI-U series CUUR0000SA0 (data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0)