The Omaha World-Herald reports that Nebraska state legislators received “about” 70 Apple MacBook Air laptops, despite issues being raised about the purchase of the high-end computers.

Apple's MacBook Air is known for being the thinnest and lightest of its kind. Features like these come at a cost, particularly $1,524 a piece, after negotiations. At least one state senator, Tony Fulton of Lincoln, has questioned the purchase, saying the Legislature could have done with less than “designer laptops,” especially given the times we live in. However, Fulton's fellow colleagues were very impressed with the MacBook Air's added mobility and ease of use.

Fulton, an engineer, believes that the state could have well settled for $400 to $500 portable computing solutions. “The decision was made with proper authority, and I'll accept it,” he said, “but I don't like it.”

Those who defended the purchase (three past and present legislators, including the assistant clerk of the Legislature who recommended the lighter laptops) pointed out that Fulton sat on the Appropriations Committee, which actually had a say in authorizing the purchase.

Fulton defended himself by saying that, although he approved an appropriation for renovating the legislative chambers, committee members were not given details about the actual computers being acquired.

Softpedia take: Wait a minute, waaait a minute... So, Mr. Fulton doesn't know what kind of laptops they're approving to, but approves the $1,500 plus price tag. Then, when he learns of the impressive specs, Fulton claims they could have done without?! Something doesn't add.

Fulton explained that he could not justify the laptops' additional cost, claiming small weight and high portability weren't enough. “They're definitely impressive,” he stated about the new laptops, but the old laptops were portable enough. “We could have made do with a lot less,” he added.

According to Omaha World-Herald, even Fulton was (in the end) forced to adopt the new MacBook Air, citing incompatibility “with the new programming.”

Softpedia take: Yeah, right!