Since October, though, even right within Apple that game has changed. The new Macbook is essentially an Air with all the missing pieces put back in and then a slight discount. At this point, most of the “thinnovation” of the Air has been spread to other cheaper products, so it would make quite a bit of sense for the Air to now be priced down to, say, $1199.

Macbooks in general: Expensive.
Macbook Air: Overpriced, regardless of the fact that all its competitors are also overpriced.

Per supply and demand, more of these things would sell if they were cheaper, nee Netbooks. But my air-inspired Macbook is plenty thin and light enough for me and most everyone I know.

My wife loves her MacBook Air!

When I got it, she needed a Windows laptop for work, so I got the MacBook Air to run Windows XP. By the time of her birthday, she had been sacked and had the time to learn the Mac OS X rather than install anti-virus software for Windows.

Then she had to do some intensive work with Microsoft Office, and it kept crashing. I suggested it might be an overheating problem, she got some gel cooling packs from the fridge, sat her MacBook Air on them and it worked.

Then she said, “I love my computer. Even if it has problems you cannot take this away from me.”

How much is that worth?

Is it really so inconvenient to carry a Macbook, or even a Macbook Pro? Enough to spend that much more money? YES, somehow the MacBook Air has crossed a boundary. I would always think twice before putting my MacBook in my backpack – do I need this for meetings today? because you do notice the weight. In the weeks between when I bought the MacBook Air and when I gave it to my wife for her birthday, I carried it all the time, without a thought.

How does it compare with a $2,500 laptop from makers such as Alienware or Dell? No idea. This MacBook Air was an $1,800 model. Still expensive compared to a $400 EeePC, but for less than 5 times the price you get 7 times the screen size. If I wanted a tiny screen I would get a $200 iPhone.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Hell Yes!!!

And that applies to the MacBook Air, as well as my wife!

In a free market economy certain things have value. The things with more value usually cost more money. That value can be actual or perceived. In the case with the MacBook Air, as the author stated, it’s not more expensive (than the other products in its class). Is it overpriced? Only if you want/need one and don’t have the money.

However, they’re only overpriced if they can’t sell them at the set price. As long as Apple can get what they price them at, I say, more power to ‘em.

Apparently, there are people that see the value of these things, or they wouldn’t exist. I’m just not one of them.

On the other side, I’m glad some people are making the investment. It means the rest of us will see the benefits from manufacturers learning how to build better, thinner computers. The more they push the envelop and fund this by a niche device (or devices), the more everyone benefits.