Apple MacBook Air user reviews (13-inch, Summer 2011)

Pros Weighs little, does everything, very fast, good display, great battery life

Cons Only 2 USB ports, keyboard not illuminated

Summary I've been using "portable" computers since the original Compaq luggable PC. The MacBook Air finally seems to be the answer. First, it's light. That, of course, is achieved at the cost of things like a built-in DVD drive, so you wind up carrying some peripherals: for me, that's a superdrive, a 2-button bluetooth mouse, a couple of video adaptors, an ethernet adaptor ... But I put my bag on the scale the other day and even with power supply, pens, pad, etc., it comes in at less than 5 lbs. That's a long way from the 9 lbs my old MacBook Pro weighs. And that is a big deal when you're standing in endless airport security lines.

The battery life is phenomenal. It handles transatlantic flights effortlessly, although if you're working on graphic files or watching a couple of movies you'll want to add the magpower adaptor (assuming your seat has power).

The full size keyboard is a nice feature. The PC netbooks are hard for people like me (short, pudgy fingers) to use. And, speaking of PC netbooks and laptops, the MacBook Air has other strong advantages over them. One is that this is a computer, not a computer wannabe. It handles all my needs and runs all the software effortlessly, without resorting to stripped-down versions of MS Office and similar software. And, it does these things quickly. It is faster than my MacBook Pro or my PC tower, and far faster than my 15 month old PC netbook or my 3 year old PC laptop.

PC laptops and netbooks all come with another disadvantage: the jumping cursor. You're typing away and suddenly notice that the cursor isn't where it's supposed to be. Instead, it has gone back several paragraphs - or pages. This seems to be a problem endemic to PCs, because every PC laptop and netbook I've used has suffered from it. Not so with the MacBook (Air or Pro). Cursors go where you tell them, and stay there. Think about the difference between a puppy (PC) and a well-trained dog (MacBook).

The display is stunning. No other word for it. It's as good as a free-standing monitor, although you'll want a larger separate monitor if you plan to use the MacBook Air as an office machine.

Disadvantages: relatively small storage space (hence the superdrive) and only 2 USB ports for all those peripherals you're carrying plus the flash drive someone at the meeting wants to plug in. Four-port USB hubs are small and lightweight, and I carry one of them right beside my mini-powerstrip. You don't have a travel powerstrip? Maybe the best single investment I ever made. Now I don't have to move the furniture in half the hotel rooms I stay in. But these weigh little, and certainly weigh less than building them into the computer.

In short, it's only taken 25 years for me to find what I wanted: a full-featured, truly portable computer. At last, I'm the one who's envied in the coffee shops and security lines. And, from the boss's perspective, my productivity on the road is the same as in the office. Although maybe that isn't such a good thing.

Pros Thin and Light. Excellent Battery Life. Love the backlit keyboard and bright screen. Large trackpad is the best ever made especially when using OS X Lion.

Cons I'll let you know when I find one...

Summary I have spent the last month and a few thousand dollars(I got a big scholarship this year and had money to throw around) testing out some of apple's top computers. I've used everything from the 11" 2010 Air to the newest 13" Macbook Pro and I've finally settled on the 13" 2011 Air. This is the perfect combination of size and power for someone who is tired of carrying around a 7 lbs. beast.

Pros Blazing speed (I opted for the 13" 1.8GHz i7), backlit keyboard, touchpad and gestures have no rival, nice long battery life, relatively loud speakers. It's been on my bare legs since unboxing and there is very little heat.

Cons Ole Steve got a little more of my money than I'd liked. It's pricey.

Summary If you're looking for a great laptop for travel, this is it. Don't let the lack of a CD/DVD drive stop you. I bought the external SuperDrive for that.

Pros Design, screen, trackpad, Mac OS, speed

Cons Nothing much, although battery could be better

Summary Being a PC user, I would have never even thought of owning a Mac a few years ago, but with a good experience using the iPad, I decided to try an Apple laptop out. I had difficulty deciding between the MacBook Pro and the Air, but I went for the Air because of its portability. When I received the laptop, I found that I got more than portability.
First of all, it's the design is fantastic. It's truly amazing how such a capable computer can fit in something like the Air. I doubt any other computer can come close to this, even with the hordes of ultra-books trying steal it's design (Asus Zenbook), the aluminum build and precision is unmatchable.
At first, the low-power i5 seemed to have measly power in comparison to other laptops, but when you actually use the computer, the processor, coupled with a speedy SSD and Mac OS, ends up being quicker than many more powerful PC's I have owned.
Furthermore, after using the gestures, I can't really get used to a PC's trackpad anymore. The accuracy is phenomenal, and the gestures are very useful for key tasks.
However, the battery life isn't the promised 7 hours. It probably lasts 5 hours on moderate usage, at optimal settings. In order to squeeze 7 hours out of it, you really have to tweak the settings to an uncomfortable level (too low brightness).
Overall this is one of the best laptops I have ever owned. It's well worth the money, and isn't too expensive (for an Apple product). You really can't beat something so powerful and portable.