DISQUS

I think its you who are "perpetuating the myth".
Apple never makes products for the "masses" - if it did it would be killed by the Asus's and Lenovo and other mass producing PC companies. I buy Apple products because each product is extremely functional and does "just enough" for the target market.
Thats why there's no $100 iPod's with crappy screens and menu's (BUT oooh I got an FM Tuner - which seems to be what every crappy mp3 payer under $100 seems to be sporting)
Thats why there's no $30 Airport Base station or a $300 Apple Desktop.
Apple can never survive making "me-too" products.
Each feature Apple ha dropped from the Air is something I have not used in the last 6 months on my PB: Ethernet port, Modem (over 2 years!), Firewire port, DVD Burner - its impressive how Apple can "guess" what technology is going to be obsolete and move on... remember the floppy?

Having tried out the Air, I can say that this is one heck of solidly built portable for the size. This is targeted as a accessory TO the iPod or iPhone.

They did not discontinue the MacBook or the MB Pro - so why do you think there will not be an update?

And finally to those who say SSD is at a "hefty premium" - go ahead and find another laptop with an SSID that is cheaper or is as well designed - SSD is simply expensive - dont you get that?

Yes, the Air is not for you and me - but there are millions of computer users who do not want a MacBook or MBPro and just want to use the Internet, send e-mail, watch a few movies bought/rented over the Internet - thats the direction with the Air - its just a beginning!