Ed Again it comes down to each persons requirements. I am not concerned about the weight of the laptop in regards to weight restrictions on the plane dependant upon which class one is in, I am talking about the actual drag of carrying a heavy laptop and assorted books etc around, especially for flight crew. When I fly I lug my MacBook Pro with me because I need it at the other end, I do not use it on board as I either read or watch the in flight entertainment. I very rarely use the CD/DVD drive, the last time being to load Leopard and before that, well I can't remember. Your work/travel situation is very different to mine or that of airline pilots, so for you then, the MacBook Air would not be a good choice. Fine. For others, it is. Wendy On 21 Jan 2008, at 09:56, Ed Gould wrote: I don't profess to know the limitations of any mac portable, but the people who carried on after I left have all said that (lots of) memory and optical drive are mandatory. Ed Wendy Austin & Thomas Oswin Pomponette via Surinam Mauritius Island Mob: +2302560182