New to recording - I need a computer

[cygnet]

Does a Macbook Air cut it? The new ones have USB 3.0...

I've done some recording on my current laptop with Ardour (a Linux DAW). As much as I love Linux - I'd like to switch over to OSX and ProTools to continue my new found hobby :)

I usually record 1 or 2 tracks at a time. I'd like to be able to put together some bigger (~16) track compositions using a combination of recorded tracks and midi tracks (plus some effects).

I've been doing the research... Avid has recommended the Macbook Pro in the past because you need a FireWire port to use an external HDD. But, the new Macbook Airs have USB 3.0... is that fast enough to use as my external HDD?

Or am I just kidding myself (and lured by the sexy thin Macbook Air)?

I do like the fact that Macbook Pros are very upgradeable from a hard-drive and RAM perspective...

[P,B,S]

Yes it will work .
But obviously performance is based on cpu specs mostly .
Any new MBI or MBP will easily do 16 tracks .
If its a dual core don't even worry about it your more than good for 20 tracks and effects