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@$1399, 11" "ultimate" or base 13" with 4GB ram?
- Thread starter how2mac
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So I just went from ultimate 13inch to 11inch ultimate.
It's running well, my only problem is the CPU can't handle 1080p under actions scenes such as avatar that well. I don't know if its the USB drive thats the bottle neck, but I don't like it.
It's making me reconsider getting a 13inch +4gb Ram/128.
It's running well, my only problem is the CPU can't handle 1080p under actions scenes such as avatar that well. I don't know if its the USB drive thats the bottle neck, but I don't like it.
It's making me reconsider getting a 13inch +4gb Ram/128.
11.6 MBA > 13" MBP > 13" MBA |
If you're gonna go 13" MBA might as well go with the cheaper, faster, more flexible 13" MBP - It's the same footprint.
The MB Air is much lighter.
The 11" is nice, to be sure (I saw one at the Apple Store today), but the 13" has things going for it, too.
Do you have two MB Airs right now? Giving your credit card a workout this weekend?
I have exactly the same thing here right now. Two of them. For the life of me I can't make up my mind. The "ultimate" 11.6 or the base 13" One has to go back!
Nope. Just my monitor on my laptop so 11.6. So its not even stretching the full 1080p.
Also, I returned the ultimate 13, so they gave me credit back on my card.
I'd go with the Ultimate 11" over the base 13" (says someone waiting patiently for the Ultimate 13" to arrive at the reseller so it can ship out to me).
Agreed, the MBP is roughly 1.5 pounds lighter - my point is, if you're looking for performance why compromise for a pound and a half.. Just come out cheaper and go after flexibility and performance.. the 1.5 pounds is not going to make the 13" MBA less cumbersome..
I feel your pain. I looked all over the web for a 13 inch ultimate, without success, and called the OKC Apple Store three times before I finally found a 13 inch ultimate there yesterday morning.
If it's any consolation to you, my experience with my 13 inch ultimate has convinced me that your wait will have been worth it. I have been running Windows 7 in VMware Fusion's Unity mode and, simultaneously, a bunch of OS X apps. The performance of the 13 inch ultimate has seemed to me to be even faster than was the performance of my MBP, which has 6GB of RAM. To say the least, I am pleased.
After spending the last 2 days at the Apple store playing with both the 11" and 13" MBA, I'm leaning towards the base 13" with 4GB of ram.
I had originally really wanted the 11" when I saw it, but after spending some time using it, I just can't get used to the 16:9 aspect ratio. Maybe this comes from using a 12" powerbook for so long, but that extra vertical real estate really makes a difference for me.
I also noticed that the hinges on all the 11" models seemed a bit loose, whereas this wasn't the case on the 13" models that I checked.
I had originally really wanted the 11" when I saw it, but after spending some time using it, I just can't get used to the 16:9 aspect ratio. Maybe this comes from using a 12" powerbook for so long, but that extra vertical real estate really makes a difference for me.
I also noticed that the hinges on all the 11" models seemed a bit loose, whereas this wasn't the case on the 13" models that I checked.
For a secondary travel Mac, the base config works well, but an extra $100 for 4GB of RAM is well spent in my opinion.
$200 for 2x storage space from 64GB to 128GB is a decent deal, but probably unnecessary if this is a secondary travel Mac (YMMV).
$100 for 1.4GHz to 1.6GHZ processor bump is really unnecessary unless you plan to make this more of a primary machine with software that actually benefits from more CPU cycles per second.
11/64/4GB is probably the safest and cost conscious way to go, especially with OSX 10.7 around the corner in 2011. However even the stock 2GB will be "OK" as you are not suddenly going to be left with a brick a year from now due to 2GB less RAM due to a new OS. Performance hit vs 4GB, possibly.
$200 for 2x storage space from 64GB to 128GB is a decent deal, but probably unnecessary if this is a secondary travel Mac (YMMV).
$100 for 1.4GHz to 1.6GHZ processor bump is really unnecessary unless you plan to make this more of a primary machine with software that actually benefits from more CPU cycles per second.
11/64/4GB is probably the safest and cost conscious way to go, especially with OSX 10.7 around the corner in 2011. However even the stock 2GB will be "OK" as you are not suddenly going to be left with a brick a year from now due to 2GB less RAM due to a new OS. Performance hit vs 4GB, possibly.
I test drove both the 11 and the 13 recently. Tried to spend some time with them. The 11 is more of a fancy netbook. It's nice and well-designed but it's still a netbook, imho. I don't think I could live with it for more than 2 hours per day. The screen is just too small, keyboard and touchpad feel fairly cramped after some time. The 13 seems to be much more of a "real" computer one can use for a while. Of course it's no desktop and has its limitations but imho it's far more livable with on everyday basis.
I'm still pondering which machine I should purchase in near future but I'm leaning towards a base 13 with 4GB RAM. But we'll see.
I'm still pondering which machine I should purchase in near future but I'm leaning towards a base 13 with 4GB RAM. But we'll see.
I'm in the same boat too. I can't make up my mind. I feel I should go with the 13 with 4GB RAM, but I hate having to order it and wait for it to be mailed to me. The MBA will just be a secondary travel cpu for me. So I'm thinking I can get away with the 11.6 ultimate....
I have a 11.6" ultimate in front of me right now along with a 13" stock. Believe me when I tell you other than screen size I can't tell any difference at all in speed or anything. I've tried to choke them both with no success. I have had Aperture in the 2gb mem 13" one and it handles it fine.
Thanks Teerexx52! I didn't think the base 13" would have any noticeable difference in speed. I just may pull the trigger this Friday on the 11.6" ultimate.
OK. Can you give me any reasons? Please........
I think the extra 2GB of RAM would come in more handy than the extra 260MHz of clock speed (though the 1.86GHz also has 3MB more of L2 cache). My main motivation in going with the 13" Ultimate is the storage space, though I'm certainly liking the idea of the SD card slot and faster processor.
Thanks. I'm upgrading from a Rev B 1.86GHz with the SSD, so the extra RAM and faster SSD appeal to me. I use Parallels but I'd think that the experience would be similar.
I probably will keep the 11.6 ultimate over the 13" base myself. It's funny though. When I'm on the 13" I feel like I'm on my MacBook pro so what would be the point I guess. It's a wonderful machine though. Me thinks it will be the 11.6. Really great watching my wife run Aperture 3 on hers without a hiccup with 2gb ram
Agreed. I don't need the storage space so I'm thinking it will be the 11.6 Ultimate for me
After much hemming, hawing, and head scratching, I went with the 11" ultimate this afternoon (Apple Ardmore, PA had them in stock - Philadelphia had one as of last night too). For me the decision was a focus on portability. This is not my main Mac but solely for use for traveling, teaching, and presentations. For me the decision went something like this...
Talking to the Apple store sales person today, I was looking up printer prices on amazon and found the use completely natural and the screen size just fine (this was on the 11"). For my use, this made the decision easy.
Practically speaking (and has been said elsewhere here), I don't think you can make a bad decision either way...
Talking to the Apple store sales person today, I was looking up printer prices on amazon and found the use completely natural and the screen size just fine (this was on the 11"). For my use, this made the decision easy.
Practically speaking (and has been said elsewhere here), I don't think you can make a bad decision either way...
How are people going to run iPhoto on the new MB Air?
This is my dilemma.
Storage is small on these, and my iPhoto library is large.
Is it possible and fast-running, to use a shared iPhoto library on a wireless network, running off another "parked" macbook? Or running the library off a USB external HD?
I am thinking of getting the 13" MBAir but it needs to be my primary computer.
Also, if I am using a shared iPhoto library from my other Mac, can I pop in an SD with photos on the MB Air, edit the photos with iPhoto, and save them on that shared library?
Thanks
This is my dilemma.
Storage is small on these, and my iPhoto library is large.
Is it possible and fast-running, to use a shared iPhoto library on a wireless network, running off another "parked" macbook? Or running the library off a USB external HD?
I am thinking of getting the 13" MBAir but it needs to be my primary computer.
Also, if I am using a shared iPhoto library from my other Mac, can I pop in an SD with photos on the MB Air, edit the photos with iPhoto, and save them on that shared library?
Thanks