MBA closer to MBP? - Config advice and questions.

Question

I was recently configuring a MBP, and anxiously awaiting the Back to Mac Event to see if there might be incentive / improvements to wait for purchase or perhaps go with the MBA. I was really hoping for TRIM support on the MBP. Now in consideration of the MBA release, just wondering (not speculating), if Apple may eventually just circumvent the whole SSD market and move all their products to an integrated Flash format.
The whole event has also brought the MBA much closer to the MBP and I am now considering if the MBA may be acceptable solution to my computing needs. Looking for feedback on if the following MBA config would likely perform well with the software / processing requirements and question listed below.
MBA Config:
# 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
# 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
# 256GB Flash Storage
Using:
Microsoft Office Mac Business Ed.
Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac (http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/)
Note: Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac has the following requirements (below ###). I can see the that MBA config meets these, but am really looking for clean and smooth performance with multiple OSs - XP, Win 7 (64 bit), Ultimate (64 bit), Linux distos (not all open and running at once, but each - or two at a time - being able to run efficiently in parallel with the Mac OS) - and some OS specific apps. So, don't want to see a large performance degradation and no system "hiccups".
It is the MBA 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo that concerns me the most, then the 4GB RAM (would like 8GB RAM).
Parallels requirements:
# Any Macintosh computer with an Intel processor (1.66 GHz or greater). To run 64-bit operating systems in virtual machines, an Intel Core 2 or higher processor is required.
# Minimum 1 GB of memory, 2 GB of memory is recommended.
# About 500 MB of disk space on the boot volume (Macintosh HD) for Parallels Desktop installation.
# About 15 GB of disk space for each virtual machine.
Any idea if PGP and the 256GB Flash Storage would be an issue - for any reason?
I don't have any problem going with a MBP (especially with 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 and 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, with larger 17" screen). So, aside from the config vs "fit for use" question, I am also interested in trying to grasp how Apple is actually evolving - as of today. Seems like MBA is now likely the center of their Mac product line. I understand Lion will be out in summer, so just trying to see how others feel about MBA taking center stage and if they might consider it suitable replacement for MBP.
PS. the lack of backlit keyboard or glossy screen doesn't factor in that much for me (currently typing away, in dim light on glossy screened HP laptop).

Answer 1

I've been running a 1.86 GHz MBA with 128 SSD for a couple of years. Although I have Fusion installed, I boot Win7 using Boot Camp when I want/need to do anything more strenuous than surf the web.
I love the SSD and believe that it makes the unit run faster (but it isn't "instant on" like Apple's hype claims -- boot time is very quick, much quicker than Win7, but a cold start is, in no way, "instant").
I seem to recall one of the Mac blogs doing a speed test comparing the 1.86 C2D with the 2.13 C2D when that processor was first introduced in the MBA. Surprisingly, the 1.86 was actually FASTER in some operations; I'd be leery of assuming that the 2.13 upgrade is worth $100. Clearly, 4GB of RAM is a nice, and worthwhile, improvement for $100.
In summary, I don't think you really want an MBA if you need to do a lot of parallel computing -- running multiple O/S in parallel. The MBP you've spec'd will be FAR better for the tasks you describe.
Not saying I don't love my MBA; I do. But, as the saying goes: 'a man's gotta know his limits'.
I was itching for a faster processor and more RAM, and ready to buy a new MBA. But this Rev.A unit doesn't do it for me -- I don't see that it is a substantial improvement on my 2-year-old MBA.