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

[HotAir]

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

But, like myself, don't you feel better having all the extra goodies?

Having the extras cures the desire of not having, whether you use them or not.

There's a value in this irrational behavior someplace, right?

 

[OasisNYK]

I am with you - I have been looking for a reason to buy a new computer and I think mine is becoming unstable so I am in the market.

I do have some questions though - I am a business school student so I use my computer for: e-mail, web surfing, itunes, and excel. I think the Air has me covered, but I would be curious for those of you who use spreadsheets and/or excel what the user experience has been like for you.

I am not a gamer and I dont do video/photo editing so I dont need a system that is too powerful but I want one that starts up fast and would really like an ultra portable because I move from classroom to classroom and my 15 inch Dell is heavy and SLOW (4 years old).

 

[OzExige]

I am with you
..................I move from classroom to classroom and my 15 inch Dell is heavy and SLOW (4 years old).

Me too

and I just drool over the pose value

 

[wordy]

I want one that starts up fast and would really like an ultra portable because I move from classroom to classroom and my 15 inch Dell is heavy and SLOW (4 years old).

I don't know about other Air or MB users in general, but I pretty much never actually turn off my Air - I just put it to sleep instead. Waking from sleep is almost instant (5-15s, depending on whether or not it connects to wifi) on my HDD model, and if you opt for the SSD, it's apparently even faster than that! I won't even comment on the portability or weight

 

[youradhere4222]

It's your choice, I suppose.

I, for one, can't understand why people would rather have the bottom-of-the-line (in terms of performance) Apple laptop when for $200 more they could have the top-of-the-line, or for $200 less have the mid-range model.

It's a 2-pound weight difference. Maybe if it were actually heavy it would matter, but 5-pounds is absolutely nothing.

 

[jjahshik32]

I dont know what apple did or if that smc firmware worked for me but the 1.6/80 mba that I bought today works great with no heat/fan issues that I had a couple months ago.

For me though I like the size/weight and I think for people who own a imac or a mac pro, the mba is perfect!

 

[OasisNYK]

I dont know what apple did or if that smc firmware worked for me but the 1.6/80 mba that I bought today works great with no heat/fan issues that I had a couple months ago.

For me though I like the size/weight and I think for people who own a imac or a mac pro, the mba is perfect!

That is actually another concern of mine - v1.0 is always buggy and I would prefer something more solid. I might wait until june to see if the MB and MBP updates come then decide. Just have to make it through 3 more weeks with this system.

 

[Whorehay]

Well, now that I know I'm not alone, I'd like to bring the MacBook into the discussion. Compared to the MBA: it is cheaper, higher-performing, has all the random ports and DVD drives that people seem to want in the MBA. It seems to be the perfect MBA.. but in reality, we know it's not what we want. But WHY? Not light enough? MB "vibe" is kinda cheap? I can see why I would want an MBA, but for some reason, I just can't picture myself with a MacBook at this point.

 

[jjahshik32]

Well, now that I know I'm not alone, I'd like to bring the MacBook into the discussion. Compared to the MBA: it is cheaper, higher-performing, has all the random ports and DVD drives that people seem to want in the MBA. It seems to be the perfect MBA.. but in reality, we know it's not what we want. But WHY? Not light enough? MB "vibe" is kinda cheap? I can see why I would want an MBA, but for some reason, I just can't picture myself with a MacBook at this point.

Yea I know what you mean, I was torn between a macbook (which is ALOT cheaper and ALOT faster pretty much the same speed as the mbp minus the gpu). But after looking at the mba I just couldnt resist.. the aluminum casing.. the awesome led display.. the perfect keyboard/wide trackpad... Usually I try to avoid rev. a products but this reason I hit pot luck or something and got one that the fan is not loud!! thank god!!

I cant help using the mba over my mac pro all day today.

 

[BongoBanger]

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

You sort of missed the point about 'grab and go' - the E900 ways about 2lbs, fits in a bag and is trendy as it comes. In addition, when you say 2GB RAM are you talking about the SSD or did you pop a 2GB SODIMM card in it?

Which is irrelevant really - the benchmarks on the Eee 900 are very good for both Linux and XP.

Carry on.

 

[NC MacGuy]

But, like myself, don't you feel better having all the extra goodies?

Having the extras cures the desire of not having, whether you use them or not.

There's a value in this irrational behavior someplace, right?

I'd like to believe so!

 

[buccsmf1]

I'm a student as well (UCF) and I don't know how i functioned in class without my MBA. I too replaced a bulky desktop-like laptop that was too big to lug to and from class. The mba weighs less than all my books and Microsoft office 2008 is awesome for students. The full-size keyboard is also perfect for fast pace not taking. If college students can afford one there is not a single reason not to get one.

 

[netdog]

It's the perfect computer for taking notes in class.

 

[krye]

You're not crazy. I'd keep both. Use the MBP at home/school as your desktop and travel with the MBA. All the peripherals you need to use (Superdrive, etc) can easily be added with a hub, etc. Not that you'd need it a lot. And if you did, you can always do that stuff on the MBP. As you said, the MBP would be for on the go only. Do all your hardware dependent, heavy stuff on the MBP.

Get the Air, but keep the MBP. If you sell the MBP to get cash for the Air, you might find it falling short of what you need it to do.

PS for the light photo stuff you do, maybe look at replacing Photoshop with something less intense like Pixelmator.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Why allow anyone else to influence your needs and preferences? It's your choice to make. Let's put it this way: If you allowed other people dictate your personal preferences, you'd own a Windows box. Am I right?

 

[czeluff]

my take

I went from a MBP to a MBA. I switched, because I realized I don't use the DVD Drive, ethernet, etc.

Is it slower? Yes, but it's not "slow", it's just "not as peppy".

It's a sweet machine. Don't get me wrong, the price/performance ratio on this machine is just awful compared to that of the MB or the MBP, but at some point, you may realize, just as i did, that the performance is adequate enough.

Plus, i'm really bad about showing off my Apple products to people. And trust me, you get ALOT more "oohs" and "ahhs" from a MBA than an MBP. I am the type that is constantly trying to encourage friends and family to switch to a Mac. If you are this way, then the machine is awesome.

Oh, and i've decided i prefer 13" screen over 15", and I prefer the Macbook-style keyboard. These two things are HUGE for me.

 

[mark34]

I am so amused by people who whine that Air owners just want to look cool and it sucks. Why are you on this particular board then? Why do you feel the need to assess the motivations of others in their choices? Just lame.

I have several computers and laptops and the Air suits my needs about 90% of the time. It is a joy to carry around and i am much more apt to bring it with me. The weight difference and svelte nature are a big deal...to me. My MacBook and my 12" Powerbook both feel like massive bricks now!! I was so surprised when I tried them both out recently after having been using the Air for sometime.

ha...manager types who want to look cool. so funny. I think someone needs counseling perhaps. Why surf a board to throw stones at people you clearly resent for some reason? I love the internet.. a great exercise in psychology.

 

[nomar383]

Did someone really ask how well excel would work? Is this a joke? The MBA is probably 10x more technologically advanced than the laptop 5 years ago that ran MS Office like a dream. Has MS Office really become that processor intensive? I can't see that

 

[Whorehay]

Why allow anyone else to influence your needs and preferences? It's your choice to make. Let's put it this way: If you allowed other people dictate your personal preferences, you'd own a Windows box. Am I right?

It is my choice, I agree. But in this situation, the opposing party actually has a point so I have decided to listen.

 

[Whorehay]

You're not crazy. I'd keep both. Use the MBP at home/school as your desktop and travel with the MBA. All the peripherals you need to use (Superdrive, etc) can easily be added with a hub, etc. Not that you'd need it a lot. And if you did, you can always do that stuff on the MBP. As you said, the MBP would be for on the go only. Do all your hardware dependent, heavy stuff on the MBP.

Get the Air, but keep the MBP. If you sell the MBP to get cash for the Air, you might find it falling short of what you need it to do.

PS for the light photo stuff you do, maybe look at replacing Photoshop with something less intense like Pixelmator.

I actually just inherited a 12" iBook G4. It's missing a couple of feet, it's got a couple of scratches, and it can probably only run Tiger, but hey, it's smaller. I think I will stick with this MBP+iBook setup for now, although the iBook is a little sluggish. Maybe I'll invest in some RAM and a new battery for much cheaper. Hey, you can't beat free

 

[AlexanderTgreat]

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?

All in all it's a pretty pointless product. The only good reason for wanting one (if you can call it that) is because you like it's looks. The laptop it's self is grossly over priced, has a big foot print, has a none removable battery, is delicate and failure prone and very underpowered. You are better to have a crackbook in all regards.

 

[IJ Reilly]

It is my choice, I agree. But in this situation, the opposing party actually has a point so I have decided to listen.

That's fine, just don't let anyone dictate your personal preferences. Plenty of people are in a hurry to tell you what you should want; their advice should be disregarded. They know only their priorities, not yours.

 

[skydancer]

The Air either fits your needs or it doesn't. I have to say it fits mine perfectly and yet I am probably the last person on earth that Apple intended it for!

I don't use wi-fi and cannot see myself downloading films remotely off itunes in the near future so Apple's main selling points for the Air are totally wasted on me, But

I have Eye TV on my desktop Mac and have installed the Eye software on the Air, I copy programs to my ipod 160gb classic which I have enabled as a disk drive and this gives me a speedily updated TV library. I have also bought the Superdrive so I can watch any DVDs I have bought or burned.

I am an artist and use my Air as a virtual sketchbook with my Wacom tablet and Painter software. The 13" screen is a delight to use and perfectly sized for this - it has a far nicer screen than my friend's Macbook - I scan my non digital art and save this on the ipod as well as my digital work and can carry this with me to use as a virtual portfolio on the Air.
My son loves taking photos so while we are on holiday I intend to download his photos to the Air so we can view them immediately.

I have bought the ethernet dongle to connect up to the web if necessary.

I have to admit I never intended to buy it, I have never bought a Rev A version Mac in my life and I have been buying Macs for over 20 years - LC, Tibook, Anglepoise imac and Powermacs for work. (All except the LC still in use with Panther or Tiger running by the way) I never even update to the next OS for at least a year to avoid problems. But once I held the macbook air I was hooked! Everyone who sees it wants to hold it! even the windows guys! It is so tactile. No one can believe how light it is.

I loved my tibook but I never carried it regularly from room to room, it just seems so much more natural to carry the Air around and when you carry a graphics tablet the slimness and lightness of a computer make a big difference. I have the 1.8 SSD model and it seems just as responsive as my top spec white 24" imac so far

For me buying Macs has always been as much about their design as them doing what I want - nothing to do with coolness they just look and feel wonderful - and I have loved using all mine. I could not personally make do with the Air alone, I need my imac 24", but I fell in love with the Air and it is my ideal portable computer, if you feel that way too then I don't think you will regret buying it.

 

[drchipinski]

That is actually another concern of mine - v1.0 is always buggy and I would prefer something more solid. I might wait until june to see if the MB and MBP updates come then decide. Just have to make it through 3 more weeks with this system.

I agree.

 

[HotAir]

The Air either fits your needs or it doesn't. I have to say it fits mine perfectly and yet I am probably the last person on earth that Apple intended it for!

I don't use wi-fi and cannot see myself downloading films remotely off itunes in the near future so Apple's main selling points for the Air are totally wasted on me, But

I have Eye TV on my desktop Mac and have installed the Eye software on the Air, I copy programs to my ipod 160gb classic which I have enabled as a disk drive and this gives me a speedily updated TV library. I have also bought the Superdrive so I can watch any DVDs I have bought or burned.

I am an artist and use my Air as a virtual sketchbook with my Wacom tablet and Painter software. The 13" screen is a delight to use and perfectly sized for this - it has a far nicer screen than my friend's Macbook - I scan my non digital art and save this on the ipod as well as my digital work and can carry this with me to use as a virtual portfolio on the Air.
My son loves taking photos so while we are on holiday I intend to download his photos to the Air so we can view them immediately.

I have bought the ethernet dongle to connect up to the web if necessary.

I have to admit I never intended to buy it, I have never bought a Rev A version Mac in my life and I have been buying Macs for over 20 years - LC, Tibook, Anglepoise imac and Powermacs for work. (All except the LC still in use with Panther or Tiger running by the way) I never even update to the next OS for at least a year to avoid problems. But once I held the macbook air I was hooked! Everyone who sees it wants to hold it! even the windows guys! It is so tactile. No one can believe how light it is.

I loved my tibook but I never carried it regularly from room to room, it just seems so much more natural to carry the Air around and when you carry a graphics tablet the slimness and lightness of a computer make a big difference. I have the 1.8 SSD model and it seems just as responsive as my top spec white 24" imac so far

For me buying Macs has always been as much about their design as them doing what I want - nothing to do with coolness they just look and feel wonderful - and I have loved using all mine. I could not personally make do with the Air alone, I need my imac 24", but I fell in love with the Air and it is my ideal portable computer, if you feel that way too then I don't think you will regret buying it.

I couldn't have said it better. Very accurate and fair-minded... I like it! ----BTW... "Designed in California"