Review: Apple MacBook Air

I’m deeply torn. When Steve Jobs first slid the supermodel-thin MacBook Air out of a manila envelope during his MacWorld keynote unveiling, I wanted to buy it. It was exactly what I was looking for - an ultra-light portable with a decent-sized screen and full-sized keyboard. However, after 24 hours away from the effects of Steve’s reality distortion field (a well-documented phenomenon), I had time to ponder its shortcomings and desire quickly gave way to doubt.

Few would argue that the Air is the sexiest notebook ever built - it’s the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of laptops. It appeals to both sexes equally and elicits the same gasps of shock, marvel and delight from either gender. Think I’m exaggerating? Just watch anyone’s reaction upon seeing the Air for the first time in the metal. Average Joe would be able to resist stroking its anodised aluminium surface only for about two nanoseconds.

No sooner had the words “how much are those Apple shares now?” popped into my head, than the web was buzzing with critical scorn heaped on the Air for its lack of optical drive, integrated battery, non-upgradeable memory, limited hard drive capacity, lack of ports and not-so-latest processor. Could I really be happy with a notebook that had so many compromises or would I carry it in frustration wishing the left-brain had been more assertive during the purchasing?

Review: Apple MacBook Air