Yes, the MacBook Air is light. But so what-Dell XPS is a better deal on price

Review after review is underscoring how the new MacBook Air, debuted at Macworld this week, is so light and convenient at just three pounds.

That fact cannot be denied. And when you are a road warrior like I am, light is good.

But when it comes to choosing a notebook, I look at more than just the weight and portability. I look at the price.

The MacBook Air is slated to cost a minimum of $1,799.

Yet when I cross-spec the MacBook Air, with say, the Dell XPS M1330, I see that:

The M1330 starts at $1499. That's $300 cheaper than the Air.

The M1330 has a 2 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor. The Air has a 1.8.

Hard drive size? M1330 has 160GB, Steve's new dream (i.e. the Air) has 64GB. Sure I know the Air's hard drive is a Serial-ATA and the M1330's is a SATA HDD but so what. I am a digital pack rat and I need space and more space to store all my files.

Oh and did I mention that the MacBook Air has no user-removable battery?

And we haven't even started to talk about the Dell XPS M1530. Yea, it is seven pounds including the adapter (six without) but it can be had for as little as $999. And a 160GB Hard Drive as well.

Here's how these comparative numbers boil down to me. Maybe the Mac OS is a little better than Windows, but if I can save my business several hundred dollars at the cost of a pound or few- with more storage to boot- you know the way I'm goin.

I know many of you might think I am missing the point. Light is good, and any Mac notebook automatically beats a Windows notebook right out of the gate.

Or does it?

What if you could choose between a free MacBook Air and one of those newer Dell M series notebooks?

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