---
title: "MacBook Air 2018 Retina Review: My Setup & Build Scripts"
description: "I decided it was about time I replaced my trusted MacBook Air that I purchased back in 2011."
date: 2018-12-04T21:44:30+00:00
modified: 2026-06-01T19:02:19+00:00
author: James Kilby
categories:
  - Apple
tags:
  - #Apple
  - #Brew
  - #Macbook Air
url: https://jameskilby.co.uk/2018/12/new-laptop/
image: https://jameskilby.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/colorware.jpg
---

![](https://jameskilby.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/colorware.jpg)

[Apple](https://jameskilby.co.uk/category/apple/)

# MacBook Air 2018 Retina Review: My Setup & Build Scripts

By[James](https://jameskilby.co.uk) December 4, 2018 · Updated June 1, 2026 • 📖1 min read(138 words)

📅**Published:** December 04, 2018•**Updated:** June 01, 2026

I decided it was about time I replaced my trusted MacBook Air that I purchased back in 2011. After waiting and watching the Apple announcements over the last couple of years I decided the MacBook Pro’s weren’t worth it. So I have replaced my Air with yes you guessed it another [MacBook Air](https://www.apple.com/uk/macbook-air/).

This time I went for the retina version with 16GB of RAM and 512GB PCIe-based SSD. The spec was certainly good enough for 99% of my needs yet still being lighter and with better battery life than a MacBook Pro. It also has the security benefits of the [T2 Security chip](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208862)

I also thought it was time to tidy up and publish my Mac build scripts for anyone else to use. They are available below and hopefully pretty easy for anyone to follow.

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[Apple](https://jameskilby.co.uk/category/apple/)

### [How Apple Content Caching Works: Speed Up iOS & Mac Updates](https://jameskilby.co.uk/2021/02/apple-content-caching/)

By[James](https://jameskilby.co.uk) February 8, 2021 · Updated June 1, 2026

I have slowly morphed into an Apple fanboy over the last decade or so collecting a large number of devices ever since my first MacBook Air back in 2011.