Eighteen years ago, Steve Jobs unveiled the original MacBook Air at Macworld 2008, pulling it from an envelope to a stunned crowd. It was a radical departure from the chunky 1.08-inch laptops of the era, defining the ultrabook category with its extreme thinness.

The launch was a classic Jobs presentation, positioning the Air against rivals like Sony's TZ Series. He emphasized its full-size keyboard and screen, dismissing competitors for their compromises. While praised for its design, early reviews noted its limited ports, lack of an optical drive, and performance issues.

Today's Apple Silicon MacBook Air is a far more capable machine, but the original's impact remains. It set a new standard for portable design that the entire PC industry eventually followed. The model has evolved from a niche product to Apple's workhorse laptop.