The new 11-inch MacBook Air is one of Apple's most interesting launches to date. This improvement on last year's MacBook Air--unbelievably thin and light, with a regular notebook's screen and keypad--comes with a choice of screen sizes. It is 1.7 cm at its thickest point and a bit over 1 kg, making it easy to slip it into pretty much any backpack, sling, or even handbag.

An entry-level 11-inch MacBook Air costs the same as an entry-level MacBook. This raises some questions about which option is better value for money.Connectivity in the 11-inch MacBook Air is improved with the addition of a second USB port, thankfully spaced on the right edge so oversized plugs don't block both ports. There are even stereo speakers, as opposed to the older Air's single mono one.

In ordinary usage, the new baby Air is a delight. No netbook so far feels as well rounded and easy to carry. On the flip side, the hardware seems to be only just about capable of running OS X. Ordinary tasks such as Web browsing work just fine, but graphics and CPU-intensive tasks in iPhoto and Garage Band can quickly bog this system down.

That said, the solid-state drive affords unbelievably fast boot and shutdown times, and resuming from standby takes barely seconds. There is one inconvenience: The lack of a keyboard backlight--something that is associated with Apple machines. It is also not the most comfortable for extended use--while Apple promises the keyboard is full sized, it is a bit too shallow for comfort. The trackpad is typically oversized, but is centered to the MacBook's body rather than to the keyboard, so your palms will drift across it quite often. Finally, the high-resolution screen is just a tiny bit too cramped.