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New MacBook Airs include OS X on a USB key

Apple is now packing a USB drive in with the new MacBook Airs that contains system recovery software. Previously this was only offered in disc form.

Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
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Josh Lowensohn

MacBook Air software reinstall drive
Apple's new MacBook Air software reinstall drive contains OS X 10.6 and iLife 11 and comes with new MacBook Airs as a way to do system recovery without an optical disc. Josh Lowensohn/CNET

A nice option that now comes tucked away in the MacBook Air's included documentation is a USB key containing a full version of the Mac system software and iLife '11 suite.

When plugged into the computer, holding down the "C" key as you boot up treats the USB stick just like an optical disc, letting you run system diagnostics, or do a clean re-installation of OS X. Apple has long included the same tools on CDs, and later DVDs, but given the Air's reliance on external disc drives, this proves to be a much more user-friendly option for those without.

Is this pack-in a sign of things to come from the hardware and software maker? It very well could be a future option of bringing upgrades, like the upcoming 10.7 Lion to the Air when it arrives next summer. Either that, or through the Mac App Store, which Apple said will be coming to computers running Snow Leopard (10.6) in the next 90 days.