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shootingrubber

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 7, 2009
256
0
The 13" MBA will be pretty much *1/2* the weight of your 15" MBP. (2.9lbs vs. 5.6lbs) Don't let the smaller 11" fool you, the 13" is still a svelte little machine.

I bought an 11" coming from a 13" revB MBA, but after spending an afternoon hunched over it working, I returned it to the Apple Store. I found working on the 11" cramped, and everything on the screen was SO SMALL. Now contemplating skipping this revision all together in protest over the Blacklit keyboard omission.

But seriously, I think if you're taking the machine back and forth all day with you - you'll need the battery life (7+ hours) of the 13".

Yeah, the 13-inch seems like the practical choice. There's just something about the 11-inch though lol. I am going back to look at them today. The backlit keyboard omission doesn't bother me in the least. I was really excited when my MacBook Pro had that, but I haven't used it in the longest time.
 

teerexx52

macrumors 68020
May 1, 2005
2,072
173
Florida West Coast
I am in the same boat as many of you. I am coming from a 15" MacBook Pro. I have two MacBook Airs here with me and one has to go back to the store. Just can't decide. I have an 11" Ultimate and a 13" base model with 2gb ram. I have spent 3 days on both. I tired and tried to get the 13" with 2 GB of ram to choke but could not do it. Machine handled all I could throw at it. This will be my only computer and I have my iphone. Anyone want to offer and advice on which one I should keep? I keep thinking the 13" but then my eyes wander back to the 11:)
 

shootingrubber

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 7, 2009
256
0
I am in the same boat as many of you. I am coming from a 15" MacBook Pro. I have two MacBook Airs here with me and one has to go back to the store. Just can't decide. I have an 11" Ultimate and a 13" base model with 2gb ram. I have spent 3 days on both. I tired and tried to get the 13" with 2 GB of ram to choke but could not do it. Machine handled all I could throw at it. This will be my only computer and I have my iphone. Anyone want to offer and advice on which one I should keep? I keep thinking the 13" but then my eyes wander back to the 11:)

That's the same with me lol. You say 2GB seems to be enough with the 13-inch? I still think I will put 4GB of RAM in it, but I keep thinking 13 as well. Then I am right back at the 11. Can't figure it out. Going back to the Apple store soon and will come back with my findings afterwards.
 

dannyar

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2007
653
402
if your stuck between base 13 and ultimate 11, choice should be ultimate 11. Just think of it this way, which is what convinced me. Would you rather spend 1000 on something thats the base model and always wonder what if i had got the faster better model to extend the life, or spend the extra 200-300 and get it maxed out and make up that money somewhere else. Sell some things, dont go out this weekend, dont eat out this week etc, and have the best money can buy with no regrets and doubts as to what ifs and should i have and extend the life of the computer an extra 2-3 years just by doubling the ram and capacity.
 

iRun26.2

macrumors 68020
Aug 15, 2010
2,123
344
Exactly what I am thinking. I mean logically the 13-inch makes sense, but every time I go to the Apple Store I end up eyeing the 11-inch the whole time... I can't make up my mind lol.

I fell in love with the 11" the first I saw it. After using it at the store (several trips) I realized that it really is a big improvement over my original MBA. Once I determined that I would be perfectly fine with the screen (beautiful!), I knew it was the way to go. It is so compact, yet still more than capable!
 

teerexx52

macrumors 68020
May 1, 2005
2,072
173
Florida West Coast
That's the same with me lol. You say 2GB seems to be enough with the 13-inch? I still think I will put 4GB of RAM in it, but I keep thinking 13 as well. Then I am right back at the 11. Can't figure it out. Going back to the Apple store soon and will come back with my findings afterwards.

Yeah. I had about 10 programs opened and processing a video in Aperture. Itunes playing as well. Not a hiccup

I fell in love with the 11" the first I saw it. After using it at the store (several trips) I realized that it really is a big improvement over my original MBA. Once I determined that I would be perfectly fine with the screen (beautiful!), I knew it was the way to go. It is so compact, yet still more than capable!

Agreed:)
 
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MACfemme

macrumors newbie
Oct 24, 2010
21
0
I bought the ultimate 11 as well, I really can't handle the small screen size...I'm not doing that to my poor eyes over a 'cute' machine. I'm taking it back for the 13. I did travel with it, and if you're always flying...11 is the way to go! But this will be my primary computer, and know that I was only fooling myself by getting the 11.
 

vistokid

macrumors 6502a
Jun 26, 2007
655
434
Yeah. I had about 10 programs opened and processing a video in Aperture. Itunes playing as well. Not a hiccup

Agreed. I came from a 13" MBP with 4GB and the base 13" with 2GB performs better. A lot of people who are saying 4GB is a must are people who haven't even tried the new MBA. My 2 cents.
 

Dammit Cubs

macrumors 68020
Jul 31, 2007
2,122
718
AHHH.. lol. Now you have me thinking about the 11-inch again. But if I got the 11-inch I definitely would not get the ultimate configuration. I would probably just get the base model with 4GB of RAM.

basically it comes down to this. For people who had 11's and got 13's because of cramped space or something related to small, there is a certain point where using a smaller computer like an 11 inch isn't good enough. It's a light computer meant for light work. It makes sense. I'm not expecting to sit at a table and work for hours upon hours on an 11 inch screen.

I got the 11 inch screen because 1) it's freaking hot. 2) because I like to pack light. I want quick full computing capability in a small footprint without losing what I love and that is OSX

I'm coming from a macbook 1280 x 800 or whatever resolution so this is actually a boost up. Do I wish apple made it corner to corner...YES!!!! or if anything...should could of made it an even 12 in.

This is my second computer. When I go home, i expect to use my other computer on a big monitor. I'll only use this at work next to my computer and I will use it for 20-30 minute segments at a time.

Plus I'm asian. I don't have ridiculous monster hands. So everything fits just right.
 

CatKingK

macrumors newbie
Oct 30, 2010
21
0
I love the 11" MBA because it is very sexy,entertaining, mobile and have the advantages that iPad doesn't have.
I finally go for the 13" because it has the advantages that the 11" doesn't have though not as mobile.
For the 11", you probably may need another Mac for your work.
 

Regaj

macrumors member
Aug 15, 2006
41
0
Virginia
Ubiquity.

A week ago I expected to pass on the recently-announced MBA's altogether. Really cool machines. But I had bought a maxed-out mid-2009 MBA (13" (of course!), 2.13ghz, 2mb, 128 SSD) just last summer - and that would have to serve for another couple years.

But then the reviews of both the new models began coming in, and were all extremely positive. Hmm.

And then I saw the 11". Wow. The form factor - hardly larger than my iPad - seemed incredibly compelling.

And that is the key to me. I have a 15" MBP as my primary machine - a machine that is certainly portable when I need it to be. But the notion of suddenly having a computer small and light enough to carry literally... everywhere... is the killer feature here.

After four days, I can't say enough about it. Its performance is far beyond what its raw specs would suggest.

It's quickly becoming the best computer platform I have ever used...
 

shootingrubber

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 7, 2009
256
0
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I think I have finally decided. I looked at the 11 and 13-inch MacBook Air once again at the Apple store. I brought the gf along with me as well so she could help me out lol. Anyways, I think I have decided on the 13-inch base MacBook Air, while she wants the base 11-inch MacBook Air.
 

teerexx52

macrumors 68020
May 1, 2005
2,072
173
Florida West Coast
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

I think I have finally decided. I looked at the 11 and 13-inch MacBook Air once again at the Apple store. I brought the gf along with me as well so she could help me out lol. Anyways, I think I have decided on the 13-inch base MacBook Air, while she wants the base 11-inch MacBook Air.

Did you buy it yet?
 

shootingrubber

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 7, 2009
256
0
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teerexx52 said:
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I think I have finally decided. I looked at the 11 and 13-inch MacBook Air once again at the Apple store. I brought the gf along with me as well so she could help me out lol. Anyways, I think I have decided on the 13-inch base MacBook Air, while she wants the base 11-inch MacBook Air.

Did you buy it yet?

Tomorrow I am purchasing it.
 

teerexx52

macrumors 68020
May 1, 2005
2,072
173
Florida West Coast
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)



Tomorrow I am purchasing it.

Well, now if I could decide. My wife has the 11.6 and keeps telling me to go with that one. But I keep picking up the base 13......geezzzzzzz:eek:
 

highscheme

macrumors regular
Jun 10, 2009
182
3
I didn't like the old Airs at all. I have zero interest in the new 13" Air now.

The 11" Air is the business
 

Dammit Cubs

macrumors 68020
Jul 31, 2007
2,122
718
is 11 bad for your eyes?

It seems like its the same DPI (or close) to the 13 so the text look about the same size. It's just real estate is more.
 

Maven1975

macrumors 65816
Aug 24, 2008
1,014
275
is 11 bad for your eyes?

It seems like its the same DPI (or close) to the 13 so the text look about the same size. It's just real estate is more.

I have had the 11 for awhile now and my eyes have been tired daily. I am in my mid 30's and have had lasik surgery. Now, I am still young, but I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and get the 13. :(

I love the form factor of the 11! Unfortunately even with brightness tweaks and color adjustments, I just cant seem to make it comfortable for daily use.
 

bcaslis

macrumors 68020
Mar 11, 2008
2,184
237
I have had the 11 for awhile now and my eyes have been tired daily. I am in my mid 30's and have had lasik surgery. Now, I am still young, but I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and get the 13. :(

I love the form factor of the 11! Unfortunately even with brightness tweaks and color adjustments, I just cant seem to make it comfortable for daily use.

I have the 13" and was looking at the 11" at the store again today. I could be wrong but I think the pixel size on the 13" and 11" is basically the same, just the 13" has more pixels. So I don't think the 13 is going to be a lot of help unless you change the resolution or zoom fonts.

Boy, that 11" is really cute. I got the 13" because back when I had a rev A (and then sold it), I felt that I really want more pixels, more storage, and a bit better speed in the MBA. The new 13" delivered all that. So my head says stay with the 13", but when I play with the 11" my heart that it's just too cool!
 

Maven1975

macrumors 65816
Aug 24, 2008
1,014
275
I have the 13" and was looking at the 11" at the store again today. I could be wrong but I think the pixel size on the 13" and 11" is basically the same, just the 13" has more pixels. So I don't think the 13 is going to be a lot of help unless you change the resolution or zoom fonts.

Boy, that 11" is really cute. I got the 13" because back when I had a rev A (and then sold it), I felt that I really want more pixels, more storage, and a bit better speed in the MBA. The new 13" delivered all that. So my head says stay with the 13", but when I play with the 11" my heart that it's just too cool!

That may be the case. I just feel now that im back using my MBP 13 at home, my eyes dont have to focus as hard. I feel ike my eyes can wander a little more without needing to look at a more narrow/smaller window.

:(
 

Cerano

macrumors 6502
Oct 28, 2010
268
1
to be honest 11.6" is already pretty big to me coming from a vaio P that is only 8" big.
 

shootingrubber

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 7, 2009
256
0
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Ok, do I really need 4GB of RAM? Or will I be ok with just 2GB? I think 2 would be enough for me, but what do you think?
 
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