Bought the base model 11.6 model mba at best buy just 2 hours ago and cant get myself to open it. dont get me wrong its beautiful but i cant get myself around to understanding why i paid $1070 tax included for such an underpowered machine. I was back and forth between this and an ASUS G60JX for extreme gaming and the asus is only 799 refurb with 6gb ram, i5 ,500gb HD and Nvidia 360 GTS 1gb dedicated. Such a beast of a machine for 200 less. Im at a crossroads... already have an ipad and imac.
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11.6 MBA Sealed, sitting in front of me..Dont wanna open...
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Don't you just love impulse buys? Mate seriously if you don't need it take it back.
Don't you just love impulse buys? Mate seriously if you don't need it take it back.
I love impulse buys followed by silly threads that are aimed solely at striking nerves and getting attention that is clearly lacking somewhere in his life.
OP: You perplex me frankly.
Why in the world would you buy it in the first place? Oh right, impulse buy and you've clearly shown that you do not need or want it. I have a MacMini as an HTPC, an iPad for bedroom, pooping, travel use, and a MacPro for the heavy lifting. I see no reason for a MBAir though I want one. However, the adult in me takes over and neither purchases said Air nor starts a thread about not being able to open it.
Take it back. You clearly don't need it and you shouldn't have wasted your time trying to buy it. If it's underpowered for your needs then fine. All you're doing is attempting to start yet another lame internet argument by comparing it to an ASUS, which also tells me again you buy on impulse. I would take an underpowered Mac over an ASUS any day.
I dont really get how people keep bringing up "I already have an iPad..."
An iPad is NOT a computer....
An iPad is NOT a computer....
The shiny fishing lure got you... lol don't feel bad, but as stated above, if your looking for a gaming laptop. Take it back.
MBA is fast and light for general computing needs. If anyone is buying one for CPU intensive tasks such as gaming, compiling code/video/photo's etc... it's simply not built for that. Will it do these things? sure, but not all that well, there has to be sacrifices for miniaturization, in the MBA's world that means raw computing power (CPU) and battery life.
MBA is fast and light for general computing needs. If anyone is buying one for CPU intensive tasks such as gaming, compiling code/video/photo's etc... it's simply not built for that. Will it do these things? sure, but not all that well, there has to be sacrifices for miniaturization, in the MBA's world that means raw computing power (CPU) and battery life.
It is not a computer by definition, but it is a device that performs a limited scope of tasks similar to that of a computer such as playing games, receiving and sending e-mails, social networking bull crap, and storing of digital media.
The iPad is a great travel/couch companion. It has no file system rendering it useless to some all of the time and useless to others some of the time (like me). In some cases it is useful to people, some people find that they can get on with it just fine without the need for an actual computer. The iPad has a market and I don't believe that one who owns an iPad and iMac doesn't need a MBAir, however, unless you're travelling or needing to do quite a bit on a "computer" when you're home and not at a desk, then the Air becomes less and less "necessary".
Perhaps to some but to others it is. Beside the iPad is directed to replace netbooks and given the fact that the 11" MBA is netbook-ish in size and function, its easy to see why people are pondering
If I knew that what I really needed was a tractor then I like to think I wouldn't come home with a folding bicycle no matter how sexy it looked..
An iPad is certainly a computer, and a lot fo other things, but by the purest definition of computer, it is one. So is your iPhone, Droid, and a host of other products.
Fitness for purpose has to enter to the equation at some point, and the OP is at least figuring out that his impulse buy was a mismatch in the fitness for purpose department. The MBA is not a serious gaming machine. You can play games on it, but not at a level that is going to satisfy those that have the requisite skills to judge a true gaming computer. I am still one who thinks that most serious gaming should be done on a purpose built gaming console like XBox 360, PS3 etc.
I didnt come here looking for sympathy. Im a big boy and make my own decisions when it comes to what i want to buy. Its not that I need a gaming computer yet want a sexy MBA. I would think im smart enough to distinguish my needs vs my wants. And the iPad is just like a computer to me. My imac is my main machine and the ipad does everything else i need away from it. Which is why to me the MBA is gonna serve the same purpose my iPad does. The reason im confused is because im not sure how much i really need a gaming computer and how much will i invest into gaming on it. My dilemma is 3x the computing power for less money and the ABILITY to game if I decide to with the ASUS vs the MBA. MBA Sexiness VS ASUS pure power.
Best post in the whole thread, especially the text in bold. In fact this whole thread = FAIL.
Oh yeah? Try to upload a Facebook picture from your iPad. Or store an MP3 file and transfer it to a friends computer. Or use a website with flash...
Don't feel bad OP, most of us have been there, yay impulse buying. Just return it to Apple and get that gaming machine you want, you'll get much more enjoyment out of it.
If weight and portability isn't your overriding consideration (which I don't think it is if a 7lb machine is something you regard as a potential alternative) then I wouldn't buy an MBA. That lack of weight is what you're paying thru the nose for in terms of reduced performance and additional cost.
As soon as you remove the weight consideration then there are countless machines offering same or more performance for less of a spend.
As soon as you remove the weight consideration then there are countless machines offering same or more performance for less of a spend.
I went down to the store and played with them, since I already have a MBP and an iPad this new air doesn't do anything I can't already do better, so I didn't buy one..I tried hard to come up with an excuse to purchase one, but I couldn't do it..I did however throw an SSD into my MBP and killed those pesky beachballs for now 
First of all. You can uplaod a photo or video to FB via email.
If you asked the vast majority of users in the world whether a computer is defined by its ability to transfer an MP3 or by its ability to interact with most of the the internet, create relatively basic content, or play computer games what do you think their answer would be?
Elwood is absolutely correct, the iPad and most any modern smartphone is a computer.
I almost did the same thing last night. Was picking up an iP4 as a gift and sure enough they had MBA in. After the kid told me "14 days return policy no restock fee" I was about to cave on a base 13. Then when he twice came back to me with Macbook Pro's - instead of the 13" MBA I asked if they had in back - I realized he was not to be trusted on at least the most basic of levels in that he had not a clue.
Does Best Buy have a no hassle no restock fee 14 day return policy standard? Or was it because he knew I'm a Premium Silver rewards member? Or was it what I'm thinking it was, total bs? Maybe if it's not bs OP you can bust that beast open and really find out what you think about it for 2 weeks?
Moving towards some other posts in this thread about want vs need, at the end of each day I keep thinking (possibly realizing?) I don't need a MBA - but I sure do want one. Then I start to think maybe I do need one. My 15 MBP 4,1 is getting long in tooth and I felt the 13" (only one I've tried hands on was base model at an
store some 110 miles away - Best Buy only had a base 11 for display use) was quite a bit more responsive than my only current Mac, said MBP 4,1. I recently sold my iMacs and Mac Pro as I'm getting ready to upgrade all of my non-legacy Mac products across the board. So, in a way I do need one but the question I can't answer, and the question that keeps me from really pulling the trigger, is: do I need one more than I want one? I've learned to control what used to be a very impulsive tech purchase urge to at least realize that if I can't come up with the answer to that question, wait until I can. If I am honest with myself and that answer does not come, well therein lies my answer.
Kudos for just coming out and saying it...but of course I expect nothing less from a person with a pumpkin butt as an avatar
I almost did the same thing last night. Was picking up an iP4 as a gift and sure enough they had MBA in. After the kid told me "14 days return policy no restock fee" I was about to cave on a base 13. Then when he twice came back to me with Macbook Pro's - instead of the 13" MBA I asked if they had in back - I realized he was not to be trusted on at least the most basic of levels in that he had not a clue.
Does Best Buy have a no hassle no restock fee 14 day return policy standard? Or was it because he knew I'm a Premium Silver rewards member? Or was it what I'm thinking it was, total bs? Maybe if it's not bs OP you can bust that beast open and really find out what you think about it for 2 weeks?
Moving towards some other posts in this thread about want vs need, at the end of each day I keep thinking (possibly realizing?) I don't need a MBA - but I sure do want one. Then I start to think maybe I do need one. My 15 MBP 4,1 is getting long in tooth and I felt the 13" (only one I've tried hands on was base model at an
So, in a way I do need one but the question I can't answer, and the question that keeps me from really pulling the trigger, is: do I need one more than I want one? I've learned to control what used to be a very impulsive tech purchase urge to at least realize that if I can't come up with the answer to that question, wait until I can. If I am honest with myself and that answer does not come, well therein lies my answer.
If you are a Silver Rewards member (purchased $2500 in a previous year) you actually get 45 days to decide and return for ZERO restocking fee and pretty much no questions asked. I've already swapped an 11" for a 13" MBA which I am using now and have my 41 days yet to decide if this is the model I want or BTO a 4gig, 2.13 version from Apple as BB does not stock the 4gig version of any of them here in KC.
I've had nothing but good luck with Best Buy as a Silver member, the 45 day return policy is very nice for some decision such as the MBA if your unsure which model is right for your, or simply to test it out and return it completely if you find out it's not at all what you want.
Oh, FYI the 14 day (non Silver members) will get a restocking fee on an "opened" itemnif they want to simply return vs a swap out.