Dear Tech In-Law,
What are the pros and cons of choosing Apple's new MacBook Air over a regular MacBook?
Brian


Dear Brian,
Apple makes some great notebooks. There has been speculation for some time about an ultraportable MacBook that would be released and last week these predictions came true. The MacBook Air has a lot of "wow" factor when it comes to size, looks, and features. Some of the features that I like besides the size are the bright LED-backlit screen that turns on instantly when opened as well as saving battery life, not to mention the battery life itself which is listed at five hours. I love the multi-touch feature introduced on the iPhone and I think adding an oversized trackpad with multi-touch to the notebook will be a hit once users get a chance to try it out. The 802.11n wireless network capability is great and the full-size keyboard with the ambient light is a really nice touch. All that coupled will the latest version of the operating system will make quite a compact punch.

Now, for some cons. I have mixed emotions about the external optical drive, sharing another computer's drive, non-replaceable battery, as well as no firewire input and just limited inputs altogether. They weren't kidding when they say "Air." Also, the new technology certainly has a price as it starts at $1,799. Ouch.

So, here's my take. If you have a desktop PC or another Mac at home already that you are pretty happy with, then I say go for the MacBook Air as you will be able to use them together and not miss any features or connections. There are enough advanced features packed into this that you should get a lot of use from this machine. On the other hand if you are looking for one device to use at home and on the road, I might go with a MacBook or MacBook Pro depending on your needs. You'll still have a great machine and all the great software features, plus you won't be limited on the connections. The only thing you'll lose in this decision is your paycheck.