I got the new 2011 MBA 13" i7 yesterday and have been following this thread because I was pondering about returning it at the Apple Store and buy the MBA 13" i5 at BestBuy.
BestBuy here only carry the MBA 2011 13" i5 + 256GB, but the sale Price is $1,499 + 100 BestBuy gift card for anything in store, unlike the AppStore Apple give out on their Back-To-School promotion. Educational discount at Apple Store on the MBA is only $50 off so it's $50 cheaper to shop at BestBuy on the same model MBA and you get a more flexible giftcard unless you want to settle with the AppStore giftcard you get at Apple Store.
But, then I figure I'd keep my MBA 13" i7 after some decision making on the programs I use:
1. I use photoshop = faster the better
2. I use Handbrake often = faster the better
3. I use VMware often (probably my primary reason of keeping the i7 MBA
So if I only use it to browse the web or word process, I'd rather buy the i5 at BB and get it for a better price. But since I often use VMWare, I think I'd go for anything with a faster processor, even though if it's only 7% improve, any speed for the virtual machine is welcomed.
I think if you think about what program you use most, it's easy to decide which to get.
