A comparison between the new Macbook Air and the Commodore SX-64, 20 years ago:

http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/01/19/macbookcommodorecompare.jpg

Really, this new laptop is $1700 and it the battery dies, you have to send it in to get it exchanged? No ethernet connection???

No card slot, ethernet or dvd drive? How the hell do you load an OS on it..or any other software? I hope it has a USB.

Style over function.

Like most of Apple's new products, it's way too expensive and over hyped. The multitouch pad is neat, but not $1700 neat.

The battery is fairly easily replaced, though it does require a screwdriver.

That said, I don't like embedded batteries. Presumably it was a trade-off in making the machine thinner, but I still don't like it.

It may be over-hyped, as that's a matter of perspective. As for it being more expensive; the Dell and Fujitsu ultra-portables seem to be largely comparable in price; cheaper than a similar sony.

http://origin.arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/01/16/macbook-air-spec-shootout?bub

If I hadn't gotten a new Del laptop for work just last year, I'd be seriously considering this machine, as I travel a fair amount. The Lifebooks, OQOs and other ultra-portable, full-featured machines have been calling my name for a while now.


Oh, and the ethernet port on this Dell laptop has been dead since I got it, and it really hasn't bothered me much. I would still rather have one than not, as many hotels and offices still don't have wifi access, but I've only had any serious difficulty on that front once in the past year. I think the battery is a more important concern - more so for long flights or other times when a *second* battery is handy, rather than concern over when the battery needs to be replaced.

for a Macintosh-specific magazine, a 3.5/5 rating is pretty low:

http://www.macworld.com/article/131864/2008/01/macbookair.html