This week I am picking up a second laptop to work on my main project, MailTank.

I am partial to Apple laptops, given that it is our primary development platform and is lightening fast to configure thanks to its FreeBSD underpinnings, not to mention I love the built in battery backup in the event of power outages.

As I was about to pull the trigger on another Macbook, I had a thought, why not grab the Macbook Air for a few hundred dollars more?

I don’t need high-end power since it is mainly used to test configuration changes and as a backup in the event that my main Mac goes down for some reason.

It got me thinking, having less options on the laptop may in fact mean being more productive.

If its more painful to play with every new application, utility or distracting toy, will you be more productive?

Just like Merlin Mann, of 43 Folders fame, promoted the idea of a distraction free desktop for similar reason, would having a less capable laptop do the same?

I may just find test this theory out.