I think I have to chime in to try and counteract Apple's marketing: the world isn't actually divided into Mac/PC. Just because you buy Apple hardware--which really isn't bad--doesn't mean you have to use their OS--which is. You could install Windows or, even better, use Linux. Of course, if you're not into Mac OS, you might as well get the Asus, which means its entry into the market benefits you.Even some non-Apple clones are competition and make the market much better for everyone.
As a college student, I think you'd get almost the same utility out of a nice netbook running Linux as you would an Air unless you're a heavy gamer. I have several friends who went that route and their uniformly happy and productive (unlike some of the people I know using Mac OS, although that is more a function of their not being CS people).
Of course, I say this almost hypocritically as a college who did splurge on a laptop and doesn't regret it. I just had some money left over from an internship--that's my excuse.
As a college student, I think you'd get almost the same utility out of a nice netbook running Linux as you would an Air unless you're a heavy gamer. I have several friends who went that route and their uniformly happy and productive (unlike some of the people I know using Mac OS, although that is more a function of their not being CS people).
Of course, I say this almost hypocritically as a college who did splurge on a laptop and doesn't regret it. I just had some money left over from an internship--that's my excuse.