Can I develop iOS apps on a Macbook (Pro or Air)?

[EDIT]I'm really surprised that this exact question was answered in other threads, but they did NOT appear in my searches OR in the list of suggestions until after I posted this...So I'm sorry if this is a duplicate.[/EDIT]

I'm about to purchase my first-ever Mac, and the choice has been narrowed down to a Macbook Pro or a Macbook Air.

The reason I'm doing this is to help me get started developing apps for iOS. I'm not particularly interested in the other apps available for the Mac platform per se, just looking at it from a development perspective.

So my question is, can I use the development tools (Xcode, etc) on these platforms as a developer, or do I have to purchase an iMac in order to be able to get started?

I do realise there will be significant penalties for developing on a laptop as opposed to a desktop, but I have severe physical disabilities, and I need to move away from a fixed sitting position.

I have been registered as a developer, but I've been unable to source a reliable second-hand platform that isn't some kind of dodgy FrankenMac, so I decided to bite the bullet and go with a legitmate, new, platform.

Any suggestions, comments or ideas will be most welcome.

Cheers,

PC Pete

Message was edited by: PC Pete