Zeb White

Asst. Business Manager, Staff Writer

With all of the recent buzz about the iPhone and iPad, it’s hard to remember exactly why technology giant Apple Inc. began as “Apple Computers.” However, today’s introduction of a flashy new Macbook Air laptop and a major update for the Mac operating system proves that the traditional computer is not obsolete yet.

There are two new models of Apple’s ultraportable laptop—the Macbook Air. The smaller version has an 11.6 inch screen and weighs in at 2.3 pounds, while the larger model packs a 13.3 inch screen and weighs a mere 2.9 pounds. These tiny computers pack huge features, including a Facetime camera which enables easy video-chatting with iPhone 4 users. Though by no means inexpensive, the new Macbook Airs are several hundered dollars cheaper than previous models, starting at $999.

Apple also announced a new operating system, named OS X Lion, for its Mac computers today. Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, says that it integrates several features from the iOS operating system used on iPhones and iPads. Launchpad is a full-screen, swipable grid of apps and folders, and highly resembles the iPhone home screen. Also coming to Lion: Mission Control, a new desktop-organizing app that takes features from Expose (which lets you see all your open and minimized windows in a single click, or organizes your windows easily) and Spaces (which creates a series of virtual desktops) and combines them into a single, unified interface.

To get all the details on Apple’s new products, check out apple.com.