Am I crazy for wanting an MBA? Everyone I know says YES.

[Whorehay]

Right now, I am a college student with a Santa Rosa MBP which has served me well. The college student that I am, I mainly surf the web, chat, mail, word processing, Skype for video chat, use iTunes and watch movies. I dawdle with Photoshop to touch up images and to convert RAW to JPG, but not as often anymore, if at all. I have a Boot Camp Partition with XP that I don't use that often, but I have it there just in case. Overall, the MBP runs everything smoothly (and simultaneously), even with 2-3 hr. video chats in the background. I rarely use the Superdrive.

But one issue I have had since I had my 15" Powerbook back in the day is that I don't bring the computer out. It is essentially a desktop replacement. It sits at home because it is bulky. I can't just "grab it and go." As a college student, I would honestly like to be able to "grab it and go." It's hot and heavy on my lap and oversized for the tables at school. I just don't bother. It's like a portable desktop that I can move from home to school.

Everyone I know tells me I'm crazy though. It's expensive. There's less HD space. It's extremely underpowered. It has a smaller screen. It has almost no usable ports. It doesn't even have a CD drive for goodness sakes. I can't refute any of these, because they are all facts. So I'm crazy and I'm irrational.

Yet there's something that draws me back to the MacBook Air. I don't use the Superdrive at all really. I have a small USB hub if I need it. I have an Airport Express for my portable internet needs. The only things I think that the MBA could have trouble with are with Photoshop and Skype video chatting, but I don't think it can get that bad, but correct me if I'm wrong. Basically, it seems like the MBA is exactly what I need for my "grab it and go" college lifestyle here in New York, where I don't need to worry about having the computer weigh me down on my trips around the city and to class, where I don't need to think twice about carrying my computer with me wherever I go.

So am I still crazy or what?

 

[tMac85]

youre not crazy. but its not gonna be like your MBP. KEEP BOTH

 

[NC MacGuy]

You are not crazy. They are sexy beasts with all their curves and slimness

I absolutely love mine. Not perfect but more than adequate. The weight, thinness and screen have hit a chord with quite a few others, too.

Go on and do it, you know you REALLY want to!!

 

[Satori]

Right now, I am a college student with a Santa Rosa MBP which has served me well. The college student that I am, I mainly surf the web, chat, mail, word processing, Skype for video chat, use iTunes and watch movies. I dawdle with Photoshop to touch up images and to convert RAW to JPG, but not as often anymore, if at all. I have a Boot Camp Partition with XP that I don't use that often, but I have it there just in case. Overall, the MBP runs everything smoothly (and simultaneously), even with 2-3 hr. video chats in the background. I rarely use the Superdrive.

But one issue I have had since I had my 15" Powerbook back in the day is that I don't bring the computer out. It is essentially a desktop replacement. It sits at home because it is bulky. I can't just "grab it and go." As a college student, I would honestly like to be able to "grab it and go." It's hot and heavy on my lap and oversized for the tables at school. I just don't bother. It's like a portable desktop that I can move from home to school.

Everyone I know tells me I'm crazy though. It's expensive. There's less HD space. It's extremely underpowered. It has a smaller screen. It has almost no usable ports. It doesn't even have a CD drive for goodness sakes. I can't refute any of these, because they are all facts. So I'm crazy and I'm irrational.

Yet there's something that draws me back to the MacBook Air. I don't use the Superdrive at all really. I have a small USB hub if I need it. I have an Airport Express for my portable internet needs. The only things I think that the MBA could have trouble with are with Photoshop and Skype video chatting, but I don't think it can get that bad, but correct me if I'm wrong. Basically, it seems like the MBA is exactly what I need for my "grab it and go" college lifestyle here in New York, where I don't need to worry about having the computer weigh me down on my trips around the city and to class, where I don't need to think twice about carrying my computer with me wherever I go.

So am I still crazy or what?

You are not crazy at all! From your description the MBA will be able to cope just fine with your computing requirements... More importantly though, it has the feature that you are really after... it's small and light but still useable as a computer.

I have had an MBA for just over two weeks... it's a godsend for someone like me who carries their laptop everywhere with them. My shoulders love me for this purchase!

 

[nomar383]

The MBP is a beautiful machine in its own right and only weighs about 5-6 pounds anyways. Have you gone to an Apple store and played with a MBA? I love my MBP and wouldn't trade it for the world

 

[wordy]

I'm a university student who's not in res, and my usage is similar to yours, with the exception that I love Microsoft OneNote for my note taking needs, and as such I use XP via Parallels extensively.

For me the Air is wonderful. Everything I bring to school, I have to lug around with me all day, and the difference in weight is therefore very significant (I'm coming from a regular MB). I also find the footprint of the machine is small enough to fit comfortably on those tiny desk-things in lecture halls.

You're not crazy at all for wanting an Air. It seems like you have a very firm grasp of your usage and the Air's 'limitations' so to me the next step would seem for you to get your hands on an Air and really see if it's right for you.

 

[NotFound]

So am I still crazy or what?

If you want it and can afford it, go for it.

I have an affinity for consumer electronics with anorexia myself.

 

[AoWolf]

I got the same thing from my family when I got my MBA. I don't regret it at all.

 

[jackc]

That's what the Air is made for, as long as you can afford it.

 

[glitch44]

i was iffy on the MBA, even after playing with it in the store. then my friend got one and i got to play with it on my lap on a couch. somehow that flipped a switch. the portability became real to me. i'm now obsessed with getting one.

there are shortcomings; we all know that. the key seems to be if you're okay with the sacrifices or if you have access to a desktop to make up for those shortcomings.

 

[aussieinrome]

Crazy

Look,

You're crazy if you don't get the Air!

 

[DerekS]

Yes, you're crazy.

Don't believe me? Check out BareFeats.com who recently decided to sell theirs:

http://www.barefeats.com/macair2.html

If you want a computer that looks cool at the expense of actual power and utility, I guess it's for you.

 

[aussieinrome]

Yes, you're crazy.

Don't believe me? Check out BareFeats.com who recently decided to sell theirs:

http://www.barefeats.com/macair2.html

If you want a computer that looks cool at the expense of actual power and utility, I guess it's for you.

You're comparing apples to oranges.

I work on an 8 processor machine with 16GB of Ram and 6TB of HDD space - so what I'm saying is that I'm spoiled. I've got the latest, fastest workstation on the market and you know what I find the Air more responsive. Hell a 20 second boot time (SSD Aid) compared to a 3 minute (you guessed XP Pro 64).

The Air is the best laptop I've ever owned!

 

[Satori]

Yes, you're crazy.

Don't believe me? Check out BareFeats.com who recently decided to sell theirs:

http://www.barefeats.com/macair2.html

If you want a computer that looks cool at the expense of actual power and utility, I guess it's for you.

It's pretty clear that a MB Pro is a much more powerful machine than the MBA (so are the MacBooks for that matter). However, the MBA is going to be more than enough to cater for the computing needs of the majority of users. It is very zippy for word processing, surfing, emailing, photo editing, sound editing etc. in my experience.

If you are a designer, film maker or hardcore gamer then the MBA is not for you... most other users will be fine with it.

 

[aussieinrome]

It's pretty clear that a MB Pro is a much more powerful machine than the MBA (so are the MacBooks for that matter). However, the MBA is going to be more than enough to cater for the computing needs of the majority of users. It is very zippy for word processing, surfing, emailing, photo editing, sound editing etc. in my experience.

If you are a designer, film maker or hardcore gamer then the MBA is not for you... most other users will be fine with it.

I work in the film and television industry and the MBA is just fine for me. Safari is great and the Mail app is wonderful.

 

[iHerzeleid]

I use a MBA as my main computer here in college. It's great.

All I really do is use Pages, Safari, iTunes, Skype and some minor photoshop & iMovie work. It's really enough power but at a smaller package. What I love the most, is having the long battery life and the portability of the MBA. It is such a good machine once you live with its shortcomings. As far as storage goes, i have an external drive. I don't use the SuperDrive, only in some cases. A hub is good thing to have with this machine. The only thing I really miss is the firewire, since my enclosure's usb port doesnt want to work. =\

 

[msinco]

NOT Crazy

You're not crazy.
I use my MBA more than those applications you mentioned.

Those who switch from MBP to MBA will enjoy its size and weight difference.

 

[BongoBanger]

Up to you. I would get an Eee 900 though.

 

[wordy]

Yes, you're crazy.

Don't believe me? Check out BareFeats.com who recently decided to sell theirs:

http://www.barefeats.com/macair2.html

If you want a computer that looks cool at the expense of actual power and utility, I guess it's for you.

Instances #19493983 and #19493984 of people not understanding the Air's niche. Congrats.

 

[abc861]

Up to you. I would get an Eee 900 though.

my gf is using ThinkPad T61 and Eee pc 1st gen, and I using the Air. Eee pc with 2gb ram is still very slow compared to the Air while there is no noticeable difference between the ThinkPad and the Air

 

[DerekS]

Instances #19493983 and #19493984 of people not understanding the Air's niche. Congrats.

No, I understand it perfectly. It's an email machine for manager-types who want to look cool.

It lacks too much power to be used as a serious computer for development, VMs, gaming, etc.

 

[mtk75]

No, I understand it perfectly. It's an email machine for manager-types who want to look cool.

It lacks too much power to be used as a serious computer for development, VMs, gaming, etc.

Hmm, no problems using it here for development, VMs, or casual/old school gaming... I've got consoles for hardcore gaming, and server farms to run big compile jobs. The MBA is perfect for programmers that don't want to be tied to a desk.

Answer to the OP, no, you're not crazy. It sounds like you've thought this out well, and the list of apps you gave will run fine on the MBA.

-Matt

 

[iSee]

You're crazy... unless you've got the money to spare.

It sounds like the MBA will do the things you want it to do and it suits your lifestyle ("grab-and-go") better than the MBP.

But...

You've already got the MBP. It's going to cost you money (I think--not sure what kind of MBP you have) to switch over.

Unless you've got the money situation nailed down and your sure you're *really* going to get a lot more out of the MBA than the MBP because you can grab-and-go, you've better off keeping the MBP for now.

Yes, you're crazy.

Don't believe me? Check out BareFeats.com who recently decided to sell theirs:

http://www.barefeats.com/macair2.html

If you want a computer that looks cool at the expense of actual power and utility, I guess it's for you.

^^^ That's a pointless article. It boils down to: The MBA is not a desktop replacement... Well. No kidding.

 

[bobertoq]

are you kidding me? Crazy? I want a MacBook Air so baaad.... I never use the optical drive on my MacBook, or the Ethernet port, or more then one USB port so the MacBook Air is just for me

 

[NC MacGuy]

are you kidding me? Crazy? I want a MacBook Air so baaad.... I never use the optical drive on my MacBook, or the Ethernet port, or more then one USB port so the MacBook Air is just for me

You're there!! I was certain I needed ethernet, optical, >1USB, etc. When I really sat down to think about it I bought the Air, enet dongle and SD.

Well after having it for over two two months I haven't used the SD but twice and only tested the Enet dongle.

I listened to pundits and reviews and am a stubborn sort.

You are already where I wish I was when I bought mine