Although it may not have gotten quite as much attention as the new Macbook Pro with Retina-display, the latest version of the Apple Macbook Air is still an impressive feat for the company. However, because it is almost identical to previous models, it may have gone unnoticed by some at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco earlier this month.

"This was not a revolutionary upgrade to the MacBook Air," says Jacqui Cheng, a tech reporter for Ars Tecnica, "rather, it was an incremental, evolutionary one." With a new Ivy bridge processor, which increases processing speed and reduces the energy each task requires, this new machine has been improved in a very basic way. It may not be shinier, but it is noticeably faster, according to Cheng.

Many reviewers were reportedly disappointed that the Macbook Air didn't also come with the same crystal clear Retina-display, but the source points out that it requires more power. One of the main draws of the Macbook Air compared to some Toshiba and Samsung laptops available has been its lightweight frame. Saddling it with a heavier battery could actually detract from its appeal.

However, the new notebook's graphics did get a major boost thanks to the Intel HD 4000 processor.

Cheng also says that the new release has an impressive battery life, ranging from four to five hours. She notes that limited battery life has long been one of the device's greatest weaknesses - albeit an understandable one given the Macbook Air's size and weight.

But, even with its improvements, Mac owners be undecided about whether they should invest in this upgrade or hold out for a more revolutionary change. In that case, an expert retailer like PortableOne is always available to advise anyone on their next purchase.