All I’ve ever read since the launch of Apple’s MacBook Air are two complaints: it’s underpowered and it’s only useful as a second computer. Both of these assertions are flat out wrong.

As a software development and web design company we do quite a lot of work that requires various types of tools: compilers, operating system emulators (i.e. Windows and Solaris), web development tools (e.g. Coda, TextMate, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks), design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, iWork), photo editing and video editing software. All our Adobe and Macromedia software runs under Rosetta – Apple’s PowerPC to Intel dynamic code translator. All of this software works fine on our Macs, so what Macs do we use?

First generation MacBooks. Running Mac OS X 10.5.1.

That’s right: ones that are underpowered compared to the MacBook Air. Laptops too!

I don’t expect our experience to be typical – most businesses need even less computational power and storage. So why the uproar?

Because people don’t want to be ordinary. They don’t want to admit that their needs are about the same as everyone else. My assertion is this: the MacBook Air suits the computing needs of 90% of the population. For personal or business use.

The benefit MacBooks bring our business is striking: we can hook up an external display to them – I use a 23” Cinema Display. We can take them on visits to clients. No hassle or need for synchronisation. We can take them on holiday with us – when a customer needs a quick tweak or change to their website or software, we can do this remotely. It makes us more efficient and available.

And.. it amuses us when we see the junk that other people use.