Apple combines iPad with MacBook

Apple has relaunched its MacBook Air laptop range to combine its laptop and tablet technology.

Apple is also understood to be making the iPhone/iPad app store available on its laptops.

The move reiterates Apple’s commitment to personal computers as well as mobile device and tablet technology.

The laptops will not have a hard drive but will rely on flash memory storage like the iPad. It will also include Bluetooth, two USB ports and a card reader slot.

Apple says the new MacBook Air range “defines the next generation of MacBooks” and is its “lightest and most portable” notebook computer ever.

Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, says: “We’ve taken what we have learned with the iPad – solid state storage, instant-on, amazing battery standby time, miniaturisation and lightweight construction, to create the new MacBook Air. With its amazing responsiveness and mobility, it will change the way we think about notebooks.”

Earlier this week Apple reported a record quarter with revenue of $20.3bn (£12.8bn) and profits of $4.31bn (£2.71bn).

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