Upgraded from 12" Powerbook...
Would it be rational to sell my one month old MacBook and five year old PowerBook for the new MacBook? I no longer use the PowerBook, but am I going overboard with this and being completely irrational?
My new 2.4ghz Macbook is awesome. Seriously, the attention to detail is amazing. I just noticed something now: the sleep light actually blinks behind a thin layer of aluminium that has been laser-etched. So when it fades in/out, the light seems like it exists on the surface and then fades away seamlessly on the aluminium -- does that make sense?.
Other highlights for me:
illuminated keyboard (really gives it that pro feeling)
new integrated graphics chip (which so far seems really fast with HD video)
latch on the back is great design: very easy access to HD and battery
magnetic-latch makes it quick to open
new light button on the side is spiffy!
I was not sure about the black bezel, but now I love it! It actually frames your screen like a modern art gallery frame. I prefer it now to the silver bezels of the Air and PB.
new trackpad is silky smooth and gestures really help with productivity. You can even assign soft tap instead of pressing the button and a corner for a second button.
raw power of intel-chips compared to my PB: 30 secs to raster a file vs. 5-10 minutes on my PB!
As for peoples concerns:
firewire: Personally, I can live without it. Yes, firewire is faster and has a more constant rate of transfer than USB2, but USB2 is no slouch. I migrated 50GBs of files to my Macbook via USB2 which took 20-30mins. Not bad at all.
glossy screen: I am a graphic designer and should be on the bandwagon screaming for a matte version, but, you know what, it is not that bad. In fact, I really like it. If I am doing serious work, I would link it up to a second monitor anyway which is non-glossy. Reflections can be minimized by choosing a lighter desktop background and reducing lights around you.
Here was my first days impressions:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/581526/
Oh, also my wife has the original Macbook Air. I much prefer the new Macbook as it has more raw power, two USB ports (which is essential for me), stereo speakers and I much prefer the black bezel to the grey/silver on the Air.
My advice is to see one in person. Then you will know if it is what you really need (or want!).
Good luck with your choice.