The local Apple Store on Long Island had just gotten its shipment, and had displayed the hottest toy in technology prominently so that everyone could see it as soon as they walked in. It's a cool device, every bit as light and thin and beautiful as it had been billed. But sitting next to it, on the same display table, (I mean, right next to it) was Apple's 24-inch iMac with a 2.8 GHz Intel Core2Extreme processor.

I looked at the MacBook Air, looked at the 24-inch iMac, back to the MacBook Air, and then fixed my stare on the iMac. The only word that sprang to mind was, "Want." Maybe it's because I'm in the 40-and-over demographic and the big screen is easier on my eyes. Maybe it's because I'm happy with my Toshiba Satellite for mobile computing. I wanted the 24-inch iMac immediately. Sitting next to it, the MacBook Air just didn't appear as impressive.

Now read this piece over at Newsweek by Steven Levy. Key quote: "As humiliating as it sounds, let me repeat: the MacBook Air is so thin that it got tossed out with the newspapers."

Don't feel too badly for him. His magazine is picking up the tab. Somehow, though, it's hard to imagine the iMac being mixed up and lost in between the Dunkin' Donuts coupons and the sports section.