Apple MacBook Air: size does matter

I don't care what any one tells you: size matters, writes Claudine Beaumont

And never more so than with technology, which is why Apple's new MacBook Air, the world's thinnest laptop, has proved such a crowd pleaser in the Telegraph office this week.

	Watch: Hot stuff or hot air? Apple's new MacBook Air tested

The diminutive notebook computer, which measures less than 2cm at its thickest point, is certainly a looker.

Its sleek, brushed aluminium styling bears all the hallmarks of Apple's reputation for careful design, but it's more than just a pretty face.

You get the choice of two different kinds of hard drive for starters: a conventional 80GB hard drive, with 2GB of memory and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at a nippy 1.6GHz, costing £1,199; or a machine clocked to 1.8GHz and running a 64GB solid state drive - that's what most people refer to as flash memory, and it means that there are no moving parts inside the drive itself.

You pay a premium for this specification - it will set you back £2,028 - but the big benefit of a solid state drive over a conventional disc is that it boots quicker, is theoretically less likely to go wrong because there are no moving parts to break, and should wheeze happily back into life if you accidentally knock the laptop off your desk.

Of course, as with any technology, there are always some sacrifices to be made - Apple has done away with the CD/DVD drive, has stripped out the Ethernet internet port and FireWire port, and included just a single, solitary USB slot.

But are these missing components really missed? Or does the Air's lightweight ultra-portability make up for it?

We've been putting the Air through its paces for the last few days to see whether it's hot stuff or simply hot air.

To find out our official verdict, you'll need to watch our new technology show, The Gadget Inspectors, and read this Thursday's Daily Telegraph for the full review.