What do you get when you compare the functions of a Macbook and the thinness of a Motorola Razr? A Macbook Air, of course! As onlookers eagerly anticipated the announcement at Macworld, I was actually wondering what would come out of Macworld myself. I must admit that I’m slightly disappointed, as this announcement was nowhere nearly as impressive as the one about the iPhone – which was both revolutionary and successful. The Macbook Air has nothing as promising as the iPhone, besides its gimmicky thinness.

Source: http://images.apple.com/ca/macbookair/images/design_displayair20080115.jpg

I realize that the word “gimmick” might be quite offensive to the designers of the Macbook Air, so I’ll have to give them some credit – it’s definitely not easy putting together an object of such fragility and odd dimensions together. But let’s open up our eyes here, people – the Macbook Air sure has the form, but it has no function over the regular Macbook Pro, and a little edge over the Macbook for a much greater price. At CDN$1899, I believe that either a much superior Macbook Pro could be purchased for CDN$300 more, or the most powerful Macbook for CDN$150 less.

Let’s talk logically with specifications: the Macbook Air is equipped with a 13.3″ screen, 2GB of RAM, and 80GB of storage with a 1.6Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The cheapest Macbook Pro comes with a bigger screen and higher resolution along with it, as well as same amount of RAM and 120GB of storage (1.5x that of the Macbook Air) and a 2.2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The most decked-out ordinary Macbook comes with double the storage at 160GB, half the RAM, a 13.3″ screen and a 2.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The most galling part – although the Macbook Air has “next generation wireless” connectivity, expect yourself to use some wires for an external CD-DVD drive – and probably an external hard drive. These days, with a mere 80GB of storage, you can’t expect to last that long.

Source: http://images.apple.com/ca/macbookair/images/design_gal12_20080115.jpg

One thing I did appreciate would have to be the multi-touch trackpad. You can pinch, zoom, and do all sorts of stuff – similar to the iPhone – on the new trackpad, which would be a sharp pro when it comes to productivity. Speaking of productivity, you can fit it in a Manila envelope! That, my friend, sure is powerful. I’m not sure how well it’d stand up against the brutal falls laptops usually have to endure though – and although it might look weak, I’m willing to bet that it’s nearly as strong as an iPod Nano (similar widths).

I’m sorry to say it, but the Macbook Air is not a revolution in a Manila envelope, people. Sure, maybe if it had a tablet screen and more impressive wi-fi capabilities it might have been, but if you’ve got CDN$1899 to spend, please do it on something else. Or buy a Macbook Air and be impressed for a couple of days, then go out and purchase that external hard drive and CD/DVD reader.

P.S. Hardcore Apple fans, please take it easy on me.  Pretty soon, I might be one of you – of course, not with a Macbook Air.