The laptop that killed the netbook and birthed the ultrabook

Science · Published 1 November 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2008, Apple launched a device so thin it was marketed as a world record. While critics mocked its lack of ports and slow speed, it fundamentally shifted how we think about mobile computing—effectively ending the era of 'netbooks' and establishing the modern ultraportable standard.

Introduced in January 2008, the MacBook Air was a radical departure from traditional notebook design. It debuted with a 13.3-inch screen and a chassis just 1.9 cm thick—slightly thinner than the previous record holder, a 2005 Toshiba Portege R200 at 1.98 cm. To achieve this form factor, Apple utilized an entirely new class of Intel processors with lower thermal design power (TDP) and higher integration. This move was so significant that it birthed the 'ultrabook' category, a high-mobility standard intended to balance size, weight, and battery life without sacrificing performance.

The Air’s success came at the cost of traditional hardware features. It was Apple's first notebook without a built-in removable media drive, requiring users to rely on external USB drives or 'Remote Disc' software for optical media. Early models also lacked FireWire, Ethernet, and line-in ports. Initial critiques of these concessions faded as the Air became a market leader; by July 2013, it represented 56 percent of American ultrabook sales even though it cost more than rival devices.

The device also played a pivotal role in reshaping the mobile landscape. By offering high-end computing in a subcompact form factor (the 11-inch model) and simultaneously launching the iPad, Apple contributed to a sharp decline in netbook sales. This shift forced many PC manufacturers to discontinue their own netbook lines as consumers moved toward either the premium ultraportable or the tablet market.

The Intel-based era of the Air concluded on November 10, 2020, with the transition to Apple silicon (M1). Throughout its lifecycle, it evolved from a niche 'premium ultraportable' into Apple’s entry-level notebook, eventually becoming the primary vehicle for Mac adoption in both consumer and enterprise markets.

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