11-inch or 13-inch MacBook Air?

[ammar577]

I am planning to buy a new MBA in July, but i really want the 11" money is not an issue for me but size is. i want to replace my 2009 13" macbook pro which has a 250 GB hard disk. my primary use is for Movies, Photos and work ( emails, and MS OFFICE), after two years of using my MBP i notice im only using 95 GB out of 250. im avoiding the 13" MBA because if its size. i take my computer every where with my with my ipad and slr camera. and i stream my movies to my ipad using AirVideo which is perfect. please advise me should i go for the 11 MBA ultimate or 13" MBA ultimate?
im hopping when apple updates them in June or July they might increase the HD space for the 11" MBA do you think it could happen ?

i have following your posts for a while and i really need your advise guys



Ammar

 

[Mac32]

Both '11 and '13 screens are too small for extended work in my opinion, so I would get the '11 MBA, which is much lighter and even more portable than the '13 MBA model. And an external monitor, if you don't have a bigger laptop..
If you get the version with the highest specs, it will be more than powerful enough for your uses.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

If you like the i-Pad, you'll LOVE the 11".Our Family has 3, all refurbs upgraded to OWC 360 GB SSD's

 

[ammar577]

Thanks Mac 23
the screen footprint and wight are a big deal for me since im on the move a lot

If you like the i-Pad, you'll LOVE the 11".Our Family has 3, all refurbs upgraded to OWC 360 GB SSD's

Man i was thinking of buying it. i thought that the 360 GB is an overkill for the price.

im considering upgrading it to 240 GB.

how was the installation process i checkout the OWC website videos, which are very detailed and straight forward with the hardware install. but how do i install MAC OS on again ?

i have never done somthing like this before..

im just waiting till the end of this month to but the 11" MBA and the OWC but i wanted to her a personal review from a consumer first


Ammar

 

[chrismacguy]

Man i was thinking of buying it. i thought that the 360 GB is an overkill for the price.

im considering upgrading it to 240 GB.

how was the installation process i checkout the OWC website videos, which are very detailed and straight forward with the hardware install. but how do i install MAC OS on again ?

i have never done somthing like this before..

im just waiting till the end of this month to but the 11" MBA and the OWC but i wanted to her a personal review from a consumer first


Ammar

The MacBook Air comes with Mac OS X etc on a USB stick, so you just plug it in with the new SSD installed in the machine, boot from it and reinstall. Its a relatively easy process.

 

[Abstract]

If want an 11" MBA, and want to avoid getting the 13" MBA, then buying the 13" MBA from Apple probably isn't the best way to get the 11" MBA.

If you order the 11" MBA, you'll likely get the 11" MBA. It's just that easy! *pats ammar577's head*

 

[ammar577]

Thanks guys,

your right Abstract lol

i will wait for the latest update on the MBA "11 and upgrade using OWC 240 GB SSD

that should convert the apple baby to a Beast
and completely replace my Macbook pro for at least 2 years till i upgrade again



Ammar

 

[Panch0]

If you are only using 95GB on your current system, why would you immediately upgrade the SSD? Wait until you need it - it's just going to get less expensive with time.

 

[Bear]

If you are only using 95GB on your current system, why would you immediately upgrade the SSD? Wait until you need it - it's just going to get less expensive with time.

You don't want to fill the disk to 100% full for various reasons, including some applications use temporary disk space.

And maybe the next 11" Air will have an option for an SSD larger than 128GB.

As for 11" vs 13" have you gone in to a store and tried the various applications on an 11" Air?

 

[ammar577]

im not planning on filling my storage but i want to be on the safe side and have enough storage especially when im travelling,

can i update my SSD later with transfering all my data to the new one ?
i thought i should do it on my future MBA while is still new before installing my applications and softwares on it.

i have tried both 2010 MBA's 11" and 13" because my brother has the 11" ultimate and my father owns the 13" ultimate. they both use them as their primary computers.

i hope apple offers more disk space in the new update it will make life easier




Ammar

 

[Big D 51]

I prefer 13", but thats just my opinion. I use it has my primary computer so the little extra screen size is nice for my needs.

Just my two cents....

 

[Brenzo]

Another thing to consider, at least with the current versions of the MBA, is that only the 13" has an SD slot. If you are using the computer a lot for photography, this may be an added convenience for you as it saves you from carrying an extra transfer cable (although if you're rolling around with an SLR, you probably have a bag that can fit this cable easily.) Who knows, maybe the updated 11" Airs will also include an SD slot if space allows for it?

I'm also contemplating getting an Air, but have been leaning towards the 13" because, in my opinion, the 11" doesn't provide enough screen real estate to get work done. Also, I think in terms of form factor (size), it is pretty similar to the iPad, even though the two are drastically different.

 

[jmoore5196]

I know there are numerous threads dealing with exactly this topic, but I wanted to add my .02.

I have a base 13" MBA, which easily renders the need for an MBP nil, in my view. The screen is, to my eyes at least, that good.

When I travel, on the other hand, I usually have a dog and a briefcase with an iPad and the MBA. There's something to be said for not having to take the MBA out of the case so the TSA minions can see it. At those times, I kick myself for not having bought the 11".

I want to pare down significantly, which probably means I'll buy an Ultimate 11" after the refresh or before the end of the year, whichever comes first. I can give the 13" MBA to my wife; she'll be thrilled to replace her 1st generation MBA.

I have an older 24" ACD that I presume will still work with the next iteration 11" MBA, so the smaller screen size won't be an issue for desktop work. I have tried a current 1.6gHz 11" Ultimate with the ACD and the video stutter is too noticeable for me ... that's why I'm eagerly awaiting the refresh.

 

[Brenzo]

@Jmoore

I guess I'm just trying to figure out the justification for having an iPad and a MBA (the 11" version, at least). I currently have a 1st gen iPad that is used primarily around the house, web surfing, in bed for reading/gaming, etc. The only reason I don't use my old 15" MBP (non-unibody) is because I only get about an hour or so off the charger and unless I'm wearing a layer of thermal clothing, it scalds my legs. It's also much heavier and cumbersome to use on the couch or in bed than the iPad.

The way I see it, a 13" Air would replace my old C2D MBP as my main computer and would also effectively limit my usage of the iPad to the point that I'd either sell it and get a Kindle or give it to my girlfriend if she wanted it bad enough.

As for the travelling and dealing with the TSA, you could always get one of those approved bags that allows you to keep your laptop inside (although, I don't believe you can have a laptop AND iPad in there at the same time.)

Just my thoughts

 

[ammar577]

alright guys the fact is the size or footprint of the MBA is very important for me. im an investment banker so when i travel along with my SLR camera and ipad and i carry many documents. thats why im very much convinced that the 11" MBA will fit me. Personally.

plus hopefully apple will refresh it with is the next 30 days with some nice goodies + the OWC 240 GB SSD (incase apple doesn't increase it) i will have a Great machine

 

[jmoore5196]

My company was one of the first in the world to use the iPad for sales presentations, so I always have an iPad with me. The iPad is a terrific device, if you accept the inherent limitations: It isn't a computer.

When I travel, I need the iPad and a computer. I was hoping the iPad would alleviate that need, but alas ... I still need the MBA. At some point, I'm sure I'll be able to run InDesign on an iPad - but that day ain't here yet.

Some of the TSA checkpoints - St Louis comes to mind - still make you remove your laptop from an opened "TSA friendly" bag. Even if they make me remove my MBA from a closed bag the second time through, I still have time to stow my dog and then comply. If that sounds complicated, it is! Getting through airport security is akin to a ballet ... you have to know where the next step goes.

 

[tungry]

money is not an issue for me but size is.

if money isn't a issue for you then buy 11 ultimate and the 13 ultimate to see which one you like more then return the one you don't like. you can't go wrong having both of them to test it out!

on a side note, new sony S series due out mid june has 13.3 screen that does 1600x900. i wonder if the new refresh MBA would up its screen to the same and i hope they do!

 

[Brenzo]

Yeah, I have tried using my iPad for work - mostly note taking at meetings or while on the road for email - and have paired it numerous times with the Apple Bluetooth keyboard, but it still doesn't always feel truly intuitive to me. Maybe it's the fact that every so often you have to reach out and touch the screen without any sort of input device.

I was never expecting a computer when I bought it over a year ago, but I increasingly find myself going days without using it. This is especially true when I have to remote in to my work computer or want to do any sort of work with spreadsheets (which is a necessity for my job.) It's still one of the best devices for lounging around the house (although Safari's "tabbed" browsing leaves much to desire), but I feel that those tasks could easily be replicated and improved upon with a lightweight Air in my lap.

 

[kwajkat]

Ijust got a Mac Air 11 last month and really like it. I went with the 128GB one and use an external hard drive with it. As for software I have 4 games, a genealogy program, keynotes, pages, istudio and another program and have over 90GBs left. That is with a presentation and some photos on the HD as well. All my itunes which is about 700GB (love my movies!) is on the external drive. I am considering the air stash which is smaller than the HD. I was concerned about the 128GB but with the 1TB portable HD it isn't an issue so far.

As for the size, I love the 11 and the ease in which to carry it around. It along with my ipad, kindle and small camera, is around 5 pounds to tote, so it is within my weight allowance that I can comfortablely carry, although not for any length of time. I did look at the 13 but decided I really like the compactness of the 11 and have adjusted to the size of the screen. There are times when I think maybe the 13 would have been nice but overall I love the 11. I have a card reader along with a small 4 USB hub as well.

I do wish I would have gotten the 4GB however. I did look at the OWCs but the price is way over my budget at this time.

 

[Hankster]

I have the 11" Ultimate and it works perfect for me. I use it in the office all the time and it's so light I carry it around like it was nothing, it's basically like a short pile of papers. It's mainly for email, Word, browsing, and some video streaming.

The screen is smaller, of course, than the 13". But, I prefer the size because it's very minimal and I don't really need large space since I only have 1-2 windows open usually. I also find the battery life amazing, I can a full day without charging it since I close the lid when it's not in use.

For portability and ease of use you cannot beat the 11".

 

[Brenzo]

Yeah, I was initially looking at getting an 11" along with one of the recently refreshed iMacs, but then I realized I have no where near the kind of money to make that possible at this stage in my life so I figured I'd rather make the 13" my main computer and sell my iPad and old MBP to help cover some of the cost.

I'll likely pick up an iPad 3 when they come out, but for most of my computing needs, a 13" Air with Sandy Bridge chip inside will be more than sufficient. I could save some money and go with an 11" Ultimate and get a 24" monitor for Excel, Photoshop, Aperture, and other applications that benefit from the increases screen real estate, but I rarely find myself sitting at the desk when I'm at home anyways.

 

[CHSeifert]

I'd buy the MBA 11 if not for two things:

1. Batterytime of 4 hours is too little - I need 5-7 hours, hence MBA 13
2. Screen is too cramped vertically hence MBA 13

 

[Hankster]

I'd buy the MBA 11 if not for two things:

1. Batterytime of 4 hours is too little - I need 5-7 hours, hence MBA 13
2. Screen is too cramped vertically hence MBA 13

I get over four hours on my MBA easy, I would guess around 5.5 hours on average. This is with at least the browser, Outlook, and Word open. Screen brightness on 75% usually.

 

[jahala]

As for the size, I love the 11 and the ease in which to carry it around.

I do wish I would have gotten the 4GB however. I did look at the OWCs but the price is way over my budget at this time.

I have the 11" air with 1.6 Ghz, 128 GB SSD, and 4 GB of RAM and highly recommend it. I use it all day long everyday for engineering work involving AutoCAD 2011 for Mac, Excel, Word, iCal, Mail, Address Book (those last three connected to my company Exchange account) along with a Windows 7 VM in Parallels which I use for running AutoCAD 2008 and Microstation. I also mark up a lot of PDF files. I do quite a lot of typing and find the keyboard wonderful.

This little machine runs all this stuff and does not skip a beat. There are times when I have everything going at the same time except for AutoCAD 2011 (mostly because the trial expired now) and it still runs fine. I have an external monitor at work for daily use. At home, I usually use it with just the 11" screen. Occasionally, I'll connect my external monitor at home if I have some intense work involving lots of documents.

I have never been more pleased with a laptop computer. I have had it for about 6 months and still marvel at how capable this tiny machine is. I carry it with me everywhere I go. I travel almost exclusively by bicycle so weight is an important factor.

Can't give enough praise for this machine. If I could change one thing, I would increase the swing angle on the screen hinges so I could tilt the screen further back. I am quite tall and that would help the viewing angle.

I rarely play games or watch youtube videos, but I have streamed some netflix to my air. It ran great. If you like the small size, the ultimate 11" mba is fantastic.

 

[sarends]

I bought both the MBA 11 and the MBA 13 with the intent to keep one - I kept the MBA 13.

In my business, we also own a MBP 17, MBP 15, iMac 27 and an iPad 2. As absolutely cute and gorgeous as the MBA 11 is, I personally couldn't use it because the screen feels too squished. The MBA 13 screen seems so much bigger. Also, from a viewing perspective, my iPad2 actually feels bigger than an MBA 11.

I realize that some people, with better eyes than I, will absolutely love the MBA 11, I am just sharing my experience.

Both MBAs are gorgeous!

PS - I think an MBA 12 might be interesting.