Anybody programming on a MBA?

[statik13]

Is anybody out there using a MBA as a development workstation? No worries about video performance or lack of DVD drive as I have a nice iMac at home for the heavy lifting. Just want something portable and dedicated so I don't get distracted with other toys while working.

Anybody doing this? Will it have the horse power? Any issues with the small slow hard drive?

 

[dborja]

Yes. I develop on XCode (both versions 2.2.1 and 3.0Beta for the iPhone) with my MBA. Like you, my heavy lifter is an iMac. My project files are on an AEBS drive so that I can continue coding when I'm up and about the house.

No problems here with performance. Of course, not as much screen real estate as my iMac...

 

[xpovos]

Right now I'm coding on a regular MacBook but am about to go back to school to do another graduate degree, this one in computer science. I've been seriously considering an Air for its portability. Based on my previous experience with a Rev A Air and the improvements made to the Rev B, I wouldn't anticipate any trouble (except for the lack of screen real estate) with coding in XCode or TextMate on the Air. Unless your plans are to develop anything graphically intensive, that is. My only complaint with the regular MB for coding is screen real estate, and I expect the Air will be very similar when it comes to coding, but of course much nicer when it comes to carrying it around campus.

 

[exoram]

I have an iMac at home, but i actually bought the air b/c i am computer science student and needed something portable to program on. I bought it a year ago with the 64gb ssd. Its been a joy to use, whether its iPhone development through xcode or programming php with emacs on the terminal. I pretty much code everything through emacs.

The battery life and form factor are really what makes this machine stand out and i think its ideal for any CS student.

 

[ooo]

Basically like everyone else here, I have an iMac at home as my primary machine and I use my air to code on the go. DropBox or subversion or a combination of the both would probably be really ideal. It's not that bad, its obviously noticeably slower than the iMac when you are building files, but for the portability it's a fair trade. What's waiting 30 seconds more.

 

[casbonano]

I have an iMac at home, but i actually bought the air b/c i am computer science student and needed something portable to program on. I bought it a year ago with the 64gb ssd. Its been a joy to use, whether its iPhone development through xcode or programming php with emacs on the terminal. I pretty much code everything through emacs.

The battery life and form factor are really what makes this machine stand out and i think its ideal for any CS student.

wow. thats great to know. i am starting a second major in computer science and was thinking that i would get a mba as my laptop. i also have a imac at home as a main machine.

might i ask what the specs are on everyones imacs and what specs you would recommend? i am just starting to learn so i'm not sure.

thanks