The dust has settled, and all of Apple’s notebook offerings have been upgraded until most likely the end of 2008.  I’ve gotten quite a few emails lately from folks pondering an Apple notebook purchase, so I thought I’d address them en masse in this week’s foray into journalistic excellence.

The first question you have to ask yourself (unlike those purchasing a bargain-basement Dell, which is “Do I feel lucky today?”) is “how do I want to use my notebook?”  Are you a “road warrior”, either professional or leisure-al (I know, it’s not a word) who just needs to check email, browse the web, write/edit documents, poke around a spreadsheet, or clear the photos off your camera card at the end of a hard day of sightseeing?  Do you need a portable desktop replacement with as much power and capability as a desktop system in order to do heavy photo management or video and audio editing while on the road?  Or, are you somewhere in the middle and just want the best of both worlds?

If you’re a leisure or working road warrior who just wants to stay connected without lugging around a notebook the size and weight of the Ten Commandments slab on your hip, the new MacBook Air might be for you.  Since I wrote about the Air several weeks ago I’ve had a few occasions to handle one, and it is indeed a computing experience that has to be held to be believed.  However, it’s feather weight and svelte lines require Apple to equip it with a “lightweight” processor (compared to other Apple offerings), which would preclude you from doing any heavy media lifting.  And, it’s pricey, although $1799 is a very competitive tariff in the ultralight niche.

If you’re a “pro” at anything, the MacBook Pro would be for you.  Truly a desktop replacement (offering a huge 17-inch-diagonal display at the high end and a more manageable 15-incher in the entry and mid levels), the MacBook Pro (starting at $1999) is every bit as capable as a desktop iMac.  I love mine.

The middle of the road is where most people dare to tread.  The popular MacBook (starting at $1099) is small enough to go anywhere, but strong enough to handle any “consumer” photo or video project thrown at it with ease.  Its tough polycarbonate case makes it more resistant to the rigors of travel and school.