The Energy Veritas v2.3i are nice speakers. I use them as my front L and R in the HT system and they pass WAF here. Mine look like these
No longer manufactured but still show up used once in a while.
Actually using the MBA and the iPad works well for me and actually helps with the battery life on the MBA. Most email checking and responding as well as interwebz is done on the iPad. I also keep the brightness toned down and have a short window for turning off the screen when on battery. It comes back up quick enough with the flash storage that it has never really been a problem.
I agree with Dan. For most things I do the 11" screen works fine. When it doesn't I have a 24" Samsung monitor that shares duty as my Windows home Server monitor. Even if I won the lottery (and I owned a computer with a Thunderbolt port) I probably would not buy the Thunderbolt display.
I have the first generation MBA 11 and am quite happy. I felt no need to upgrade with the newer model and do not miss a slightly bigger screen. My wife has a 13" MBP and compared to the MBA it feels like a 2 ton tank.
Nope. I was only asking for SPDIF inputs. No drivers required. If they can't do that then I'm not sure I have much confidence in their engineering team. They are definitely behind the curve on this one.