MacBook Air vs. the MacBook & MacBook Pro

That super-slim MacBook Air sure is sexy—but is it right for you? Here's a quick buyer's guide to the latest Apple MacBooks, including specs, prices, and pros and cons.

MacBook:

The most popular—and most famous—of Apple's notebook line, these ice-white (and now, jet-black) notebooks have become ubiquitous in coffee shops, classrooms, and kitchens. The MacBook is friendly and fun to use, but it won't blow your socks off performance-wise.

Specs:
Size/Weight: 13.3-inch screen, 5 pounds
Processor: 2-2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 1-4GB
Storage: 80-250GB hard drive
Optical drive: Combo (reads DVDs, burns CDs) or SuperDrive (burns CDs and DVDs)
Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 processor (integrated)
Ports: Mini-DVI, FireWire 400 (1), USB 2.0 (2), headphone out, Ethernet
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Base prices: $1,099 (2GHz, 80GB HDD) to $1,499 (2.2GHz, 160GB HDD)

Pros: The MacBook is relatively light at five pounds, comes with a speedy 2-to-2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (just a shade slower than the chips in the MacBook Pro line), and has all the ports you'll need to import digital photos, attach a USB hard drive, or plug in an external monitor (although you'll need an adapter for DVI- or VGA-equipped displays).
Cons: Integrated graphics mean you won't get the best gaming performance; video editing (particularly in HD) and Photoshop image processing will be slow going; keyboard isn't backlit.
Who it's for: Home users and students who want to watch DVDs, compose Word documents, rip CDs and manage MP3s, or track home finances; casual gamers who don't mind fair-to-middling graphics.
Who it's not for: Power users looking to edit videos or dive into Photoshop; hard-core gamers looking for lightening-fast graphics performance.

MacBook Pro:

These aluminum-clad notebooks draw looks of envy wherever they go, and for good reason: They come loaded with plenty of power under the hood. All the processing goodness comes at a price, however, and the MacBook Pro may be overkill for all but the most hardcore business, graphics, and video professionals.

Specs:
Size/Weight: 15.4-inch screen, 5.4 pounds; 17-inch screen, 6.8 pounds
Processor: 2.2-2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2-4GB
Storage: 120-250GB hard drive
Optical drive: Combo or SuperDrive
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT processor, 128-256MB of dedicated memory
Ports: DVI, FireWire 400 (1), FireWire 800 (1), USB 2.0 (2-3), headphone out, Ethernet, ExpressCard slot
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Base prices: $1,999 (15-inch 2.2GHz, 120GB HDD), $2,499 (15-inch 2.4GHz, 160GB HDD), $2.799 (17-inch 2.4GHz, 160GB HDD)

Pros: Fast Intel Core 2 Duo processors, up to 2.6GHz; dedicated NVIDIA graphics processors for speedy graphics performance and external monitor mirroring at high resolutions; ExpressCard slot for wireless broadband cards; plenty of ports, including two to three USB 2.0 and FireWire 800; backlit keyboard.
Cons: Heaviest of the Apple notebooks, especially the 6.8-pound 17-inch model; pricey.
Who it's for: Business users and pro-level image and video editors who need speedy mobile performance; on-the-go gamers who demand smooth 3-D graphics.
Who it's not for: Casual users, non-gamers, anyone who's never fired up Final Cut Pro or Photoshop; on-the-go types looking for a light load (especially when it comes to the 17-inch MacBook Pro).

MacBook Air

Just announced, and thus still untested by reviewers, this whisper-thin notebook was the big news at Macworld last week, and at just 0.76-inches thick (at its thickest point) and weighing in at a mere 3 pounds, it's one of the sexiest notebooks I've ever laid eyes on. That said, the Air's slim good looks come saddled with some serious compromises.

Specs:
Size/Weight: 13.3-inch screen, 3 pounds
Processor: 1.6-1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 80GB hard drive, 64GB solid-state drive
Optical drive: none ($99 external drive available)
Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 processor (integrated)
Ports: Mini-DVI, USB 2.0 (just one), headphone out; no FireWire or Ethernet ports (USB Ethernet adapter available)
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Base prices: $1,799 (1.6GHz, 80GB HDD), $3,098 (1.8GHz, 64GB solid-state drive)

Pros: Super light and thin; guaranteed to make friends and neighbors green-eyed with envy; full-sized, backlit keypad; multi-touch track pad; solid-state drive makes for lightening-fast data access.
Cons: Test results aren't in yet, but the Air's specs point toward slower processor speeds compared to the MacBook and MacBook Pro; no dedicated graphics card (similar to the MacBook); no built-in Ethernet; only one USB 2.0 port; battery is sealed in the casing; no built-in optical drive (although the Air can wirelessly share the optical drive on another Mac or PC); no ExpressCard slot for 3G broadband cards; the solid-state drive-equipped Air is hideously expensive.
Who it's for: Good question, actually. My best guess, for now: Apple fanatics who must have the latest hardware; style mavens who love droll-worthy tech; road warriors with deep pockets who need the lightest possible laptop (and who, ideally, have another system back at the office).
Who it's not for: Video editors, gamers, or anyone else who might need speedy processing power; bargain hunters; road warriors who depend on 3G networks for data; jet-setters who need to swap out the battery.