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run at 5400 rpm.

If you can get past the obvious lack of brain power, probably the funkiest feature on the MacBook Air is the multitouch trackpad, an innovative system, adapted from the very popular gesture-based controls of the iPhone and iPod Touch. With a flick and a twist of the fingers you can rotate, zoom and scroll. The best feature on the MacBook Pro would have to be the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor which gives the user exceptional creative and visual capabilities for editing, graphic design and animation.

The starting price for a MacBook Air (13", 1.6 GHz, 2 GB memory, 80 GB hard drive) is $1799 and the most expensive MacBook Pro (17" 2.6 GHz, 4GB memory, 200 GB hard drive,) is $4049. In order to determine relative value for money between the two notebooks, a price comparison for the most equivalent computers in each range is needed to give a better perspective. In terms of processing power, memory capacity and functionality, the smallest and most basic MacBook Pro is the most closely aligned with the fastest and most powerful MacBook Air.

The basic MacBook Pro has a 15" wide-screen display, 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB memory and 120 GB hard drive. This machine weighs approximately 5 lbs and has a $1900 price tag. The best MacBook Air has a 13" LED-backlit display, 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB memory and 64 GB solid-state hard drive. This machine weighs in at just 3 lbs and costs $3098. Obviously the MacBook Air is considerably more expensive than a comparable MacBook Pro, particularly once you add the optional peripherals needed to make her more like the MacBook Pro. With added Super-drive, ethernet and modem, the MacBook Air's price tag becomes $3553, which is almost double that of a comparable MacBook Pro which will still outperform it in terms of processing power and speed.

The MacBook Pro and MacBook Air both come with three standard Apple applications preloaded, iLife '08, Front Row and PhotoBooth. The MacBook Pro comes with additional trial software for iWork '08, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac and Final Cut Pro or Aperture.

To be fair the two computers are designed for entirely different clients. It is hard not to be bewitched by the MacBook Air's sleek lines, but being thin and pretty can only get you so far. While the MacBook Air is deservedly capturing people's attention around the world, with her aesthetically pleasing looks, the limitations of the smaller size in terms of functionality and processing power, in addition to her reliance on an external Super-drive or remote computer for basic functions tends to take some of the shine off her glossy exterior. If you can afford her and need a light, easily portable notebook which is both good to look at and fun to use, the MacBook Air would be the notebook you should choose.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a notebook that is good value for money and will manage to keep up with your computing needs for many years to come, and don't mind the slightly bulkier biceps you'll develop while carrying her around, then a better choice for you would be the heavier and slightly thicker-round-the-middle MacBook Pro, which, in my opinion is still quite a good looking machine.

Learn more about this author, Lilly Clemence.
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