Comparing a Macbook Air with a Dell Latitude 5500 with the same specs, the Macbook came to $1280 USD, and the Latitude to about $910 USD. The Latitude I was looking at has a bigger screen (15" as opposed to the Macbook Air at 13"). The Latitude is heavier (4 lbs as opposed to 2.75lbs).
I’ve never had a Macbook either, so I don’t know how it would compare with a Latitude (I’m currently using one, the model before the one I just mentioned). I find it to be plenty powerful for what I need, it loads the Episode preview pane without an issue, the fan rarely runs, and new it had 12-24 hours of battery life.