Weighing in at a little less than three pounds, the MacBook Air offers consumers a sleek laptop option.  Apple advertises this laptop as “Ultra thin. Ultra portable.  And ultra unlike anything else.” The MacBook Air is only three-quarters of an inch thick at its widest point, and its measurements (12.8 inches wide and 8.95 inches deep) match those of the MacBook Pro.  Prices for the MacBook Air start at $1,799.

The full-size keyboard features LED backlighting, which turns on as soon as the laptop is opened.  The MacBook Air’s screen display is an impressive 13.3 inches wide with 1280-by-800 resolution.  Additional attributes are the multitouch trackpad, an iSight camera, and a light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen display and keyboard backlighting.  The battery will last up to five hours when using WiFi or Bluetooth technologies.

While the MacBook Air offers many attractive features, there are also drawbacks to this laptop, mainly due to the fact that it is so thin.  The standard storage capacity is 80GB, which is quite a bit less than many laptop users are accustomed to having.  Besides having a lower storage capacity than other laptops, the MacBook Air’s speed is also somewhat diminished, at least when compared to Apple’s MacBook and MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Air is not equipped with an optical drive.  Without this feature, the user cannot install new software, burn or rip CD’s, or watch DVD’s.  Apple provides two options for supplying an optical drive for the MacBook Air user.  Remote Disc software is included with the purchase of the laptop.  This software can be installed on a Mac or PC and allows the MacBook Air user to use the other computer’s optical drive from the MacBook Air.  However, the Remote Disc software is only meant to be used for installing programs and copying files.  Apple does offer a USB SuperDrive, which weighs about seven-tenths of a pound, for $99.  This attachment provides the user with the full range of optical drive features.

Since the computer’s sides are curved, there are no ports located on the sides of the MacBook Air.  Three ports, which are located inside the computer, are accessible from a flip-down door located on the right side.  This door contains a speaker/headphone minijack, a USB 2.0 port, and a micro DVI port.  A single USB port may be a problem for some users, especially since the SuperDrive mentioned above utilizes this port.  To accommodate the need for multiple ports, a USB 2.0 hub can be purchased.  An S-video adapter and USB Ethernet adapter can also be purchased for $19 and $29, respectively.

The battery was designed to fit the thin design of the MacBook Air, and it is not easily removed.  This may be a cause for concern for some consumers, especially since earlier rumors indicated that the battery could not be removed at all and would need to be changed by Apple.  The rumors have been disproved, and instructions are available for battery removal, although some users may find the procedure difficult.

The MacBook Air boasts several attractive features, but also requires sacrifices from its users.  The prospective buyer needs to consider personal preferences as well as actual needs when determining whether this computer is a wise choice.