Apple MacBook Air

It comes as little surprise that practicality is simply not one of the MacBook Air's strong points. The frugal 80GB hard disk is ample if you only intend to use OS X, but install Windows XP or Vista using Apple's straightforward Boot Camp software, and the two partitions soon begin to look worryingly cramped. Opt for the 64GB solid-state drive and, while emptying your bank account of another £639 in the process, you can substitute the "worryingly cramped" in the previous sentence for "somewhat inadequate".

Conclusion

The MacBook Air effortlessly matches the considerable price tags of its rival ultraportables, thanks to even the most basic configuration coming in at a considerable £1,020. Add the SuperDrive and the ethernet adapter supplied with our test unit, and that quickly rises to £1,092.

It's not just the financial price you're paying: battery life, compared to the Sony VAIO TZ series, is poor; the lack of an optical drive could prove extremely aggravating in real life; you'll almost definitely swear due to the lack of a wired ethernet connection at some point; and that single USB port is stingy to say the least.

As a centrepiece to adorn a coffee table, or simply a fashion accessory, the MacBook Air will attract admiring glances from everyone who claps eyes upon it, and deservedly so. Be under no illusions: this is one of the most gorgeous ultraportables ever designed. But can we recommend it to all and sundry? Absolutely not.

Author: Sasha Muller