APPLE ROLLS OUT A NEW MACBOOK AIR LAPTOP LINEUP WITH LOWER PRICES, FASTER PROCESSORS, AND LONGER BATTERY LIFE

APPLE MACBOOK AIR

The Cupertino, Calif., company rolled out a refreshed MacBook Air laptop lineup on Tuesday morning that features lower prices along with faster processors and longer battery life.

The gadget maker sliced $100 off the starting price of the previous models, with the updated 11-inch MacBook Air starting at $899. The 13-inch version is priced at $999.

“With MacBook Air starting at $899, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement.

“Macs have never been more popular, and today we’ve boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook.”

Apple said last week that it has gained global market share for 31 of the last 32 quarters at the expense of the slumping PC market. Still, many consumers cite affordability as the biggest strike against buying a Mac.

At the same time, Apple’s own iPhone and iPad compete with laptops and personal computers in terms of price and functionality. The iPad Air starts at $499, while the iPad Mini sells for $399.

Apple said the updated Macs are available starting today on its web site and through retail stores.