Anyone else regretting buying the MBA?

[mloffa]

K so I didn't read much of this thread except for some of the first page but I'd like to put in my input.
I am writing this from the 11in MBA (128ssd, 2gb) and I can happily say it does everything I need it to do perfectly.
For now, it is my primary computer.
I plan to get an(other) iMac and just use that for anything that I may want more power/screen for (gimp, etc.)
The 11in, honestly, does not feel that much smaller than the 13in to me.
It's going to be different for everyone but I am 110% happy with my purchase!

 

[Pipper99]

I recently purchased a mac mini which is more powerful than my 11'' macbook air and yet, i hate hate HATE!!! using my mac mini compared to my air.

that SSD does wonders. The mac mini feels slow...ridiculously slow.

I did the same thing. I'm thinking of relegating my mini to home theater use and attach my MBA to my external monitor when I need a bigger screen.

 

[a2applegirl]

I did the same thing. I'm thinking of relegating my mini to home theater use and attach my MBA to my external monitor when I need a bigger screen.

I have a mini that I use for home theater use and that's a great use for it. It can handle both streaming h264 videos to my other macs and playing them directly to my 38" plasma tv via the hdmi connector.

 

[gwsat]

I think you [ReallyBigFeet] just like fanning the flames by calling it a netbook and seeing how people react. Really, you should just stop, it causes anger and bickering on the forum and doesn't really matter in the end. I wouldn't have said anything if your post didn't have the word netbook 4 times in it. You actually try waaaaay too hard to plug the word.

Why does the barren debate about whether the 11 inch MBA is or is not a netbook persist? We are all saying the same thing. ReallyBigFeet has explained many times in many threads that he uses the word "netbook" to describe the 11 inch MBA in a different way than Steve Jobs used it when he said Apple would never make a netbook. Thus, we all agree that the 11 inch MBA is a new, more powerful, machine than the conventional netbooks of the sort Steve Jobs referred to. In short, your lashing out at ReallyBigFeet is inappropriate, it seems to me.

 

[miggitymac]

<snip>


Yes, because why use a 0.5 lbs, 79$ drive when you can use a 5.0 lbs 1200$ computer. No seriously, what you just said here doesn't even start to make sense.

<snip>

What part of what he said doesn't make sense? He has both a MBP and MBA and he prefers to use the MBP to do some things. You know...people can still choose to do things the way they want to do things, right?

And you accuse people of trying to start flame wars, when you're the one going through the thread and nit-picking things that people have said.

Seems like someone woke up grouchy today...

 

[Pipper99]

I have a mini that I use for home theater use and that's a great use for it. It can handle both streaming h264 videos to my other macs and playing them directly to my 38" plasma tv via the hdmi connector.

It's really nice using the Mac as a Mac on a big HD screen, too. My mini is my first Mac since my Quadra 840 AV: I jumped ship to windows 95, and it's good to be back.

 

[Truffy]

I think the MBA is a different kettle of fish, though.

The reason why I've given up on the iPad and decided to go for a MBA instead: practicality. Yes it's more expensive and heavier than the iPad, but you can do so much more so much easier.

 

[gwsat]

Yes, because why use a 0.5 lbs, 79$ drive when you can use a 5.0 lbs 1200$ computer. No seriously, what you just said here doesn't even start to make sense.

As I am typing this post on my MBA without a clumsy and not inexpensive Superdrive attached to it, my 3 year old and paid for MBP is copying CDs to iTunes. Does it "start to make sense now?" Wouldn't it have been a smarter, not to mention more courteous, approach to simply ask me why I was using my MPB to copy CDs before popping off?

 

[teerexx52]

I finally ended up with a 13" "Ultimate" MacBook Air. I loved the 11.6 but my eyes just couldn't do it. I have been on these boards since 2005 and have had about every Mac laptop that has ever come out. Without a doubt this MacBook Air has been my favorite. Does exactly what I need it to. My wife and I are both retired and we throw the Airs in back packs and walk the malls several times a week. She has the 11.6". No complaints, (well maybe no lighted keyboard) but enjoying the heck out of these

 

[KnightWRX]

As I am typing this post on my MBA without a clumsy and not inexpensive Superdrive attached to it, my 3 year old and paid for MBP is copying CDs to iTunes. Does it "start to make sense now?" Wouldn't it have been a smarter, not to mention more courteous, approach to simply ask me why I was using my MPB to copy CDs before popping off?

I'm not popping off, maybe I'm just not rich enough, but I can hardly see how ripping a few CDs for iTunes justifies over 1100$ worth of gear when a 80$ drive will do it, sorry. You don't even have to buy Apple's overpriced Matsushita drive. You have a choice between a few dozen USB slim DVD-+RW drives that also support lightscribe for what Apple charges you for the "superdrive".

It literally makes no sense to me. At all. Your MBA could rip those CDs at the same time you post on this forum. It is that powerful (of course, any 15 year old computer is powerful enough to do both those things...).

 

[gwsat]

I'm not popping off, maybe I'm just not rich enough, but I can hardly see how ripping a few CDs for iTunes justifies over 1100$ worth of gear when a 80$ drive will do it, sorry. You don't even have to buy Apple's overpriced Matsushita drive. You have a choice between a few dozen USB slim DVD-+RW drives that also support lightscribe for what Apple charges you for the "superdrive".

It literally makes no sense to me. At all. Your MBA could rip those CDs at the same time you post on this forum. It is that powerful (of course, any 15 year old computer is powerful enough to do both those things...).

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Have you given any thought to why so many posters in this Forum have found fault with your attitude? Chill out, smell the roses, or as a last resort take a Valium.

 

[KnightWRX]

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Have you given any thought to why so many posters in this Forum have found fault with your attitude? Chill out, smell the roses, or as a last resort take a Valium.

Attack the argument, not the poster please.

 

[barmann]

Wait, so all MacBooks for the last few years have been netbooks because of the ports ? Proper display port ? No seriously, out of all the arguments I've heard on this ridiculous debate that doesn't matter (a rose by any other name...) this one is the worse yet. Mini display port is one of the best ports out there. It supports more bandwidth than even duallink DVI and carries audio. It can be converted to anything. It is the best there is out there right now.

And the Air has plenty of USB ports (2) and I use Ethernet on mine, through a USB adapter.

Well, Mini display port isn't very common, is it ?
It might be better than sliced bread, but virtually noone is using it, the adapter is not included with any Mac, and isn't even working well in many configurations.
So yes, this port is not a proper one.

As for MacBooks, the moment they lost FW I have ignored them.
They still have most of everything else.
I wasn't refering to them, though, but ultra-portable/ sub notebooks, which aren't as thin as the MBA, and not many as light, but lightyears ahead in connectivity and power.

As for Ethernet, I mentioned the adapter - it's an adapter.
And the speed is limited due to that as well.

No, they are not a mini computer.
......
Nitpicking, I know, but still for people arguing about terminology, you need to learn a thing or two about computer terminology.

Computer is not a category, netbook and sub-notebook are .
Reinventing language doesn't help your cause.
We can call it Miss Daisy, if you prefer.

 

[barmann]

Attack the argument, not the poster please.

There is no argument, it is just the attidude .

 

[Bluemeanie1976]

As I am typing this post on my MBA without a clumsy and not inexpensive Superdrive attached to it, my 3 year old and paid for MBP is copying CDs to iTunes. Does it "start to make sense now?" Wouldn't it have been a smarter, not to mention more courteous, approach to simply ask me why I was using my MPB to copy CDs before popping off?

I do the same thing... Why pay for an $80 external drive when I have a uMB sat just over there that can do it very nicely indeed. hell, I also have a whitey upstairs that will do it too. No need for externals. Ignore the numpty.

 

[KnightWRX]

Well, Mini display port isn't very common, is it ?
It might be better than sliced bread, but virtually noone is using it, the adapter is not included with any Mac, and isn't even working well in many configurations.
So yes, this port is not a proper one.

No, but Display Port is. Display port is pin compatible with Mini display port. I'm sorry, but this right now is where computer display technology is heading. It is a very proper port, just like DVI was a few years ago, just like VGA was last century.

It is the industry standard port.

As for MacBooks, the moment they lost FW I have ignored them.
They still have most of everything else.
I wasn't refering to them, though, but ultra-portable/ sub notebooks, which aren't as thin as the MBA, and not many as light, but lightyears ahead in connectivity and power.

Still doesn't mean the ports used on the MBA 11.6" is what classifies it as a netbook or not a netbook.

As for Ethernet, I mentioned the adapter - it's an adapter.
And the speed is limited due to that as well.

It's a 10/100 adapter, it can't even begin to saturate USB2. It is not limited at all. It would be limited as a gigabit adapter, but then again Gigabit or lack thereof is not a factor into calling something a netbook or not.

Computer is not a category, netbook and sub-notebook are .
Reinventing language doesn't help your cause.
We can call it Miss Daisy, if you prefer.

I'm the first to say Computer is not a category, it's a very broad and generic term. Look up any "iPad is a computer! nya uh it isn't!" to see where I stand on that.

But the MBA 11.6" is not a netbook, it's an ultra-portable. Netbooks are low priced and usually have smaller form factor keyboards and low powered processors (Atom/Athlon Neo/even ARM). Ports ? Nope, not a factor. Not by a mile.

And the fact remains, not just in this thread, but ReallyBigFeet has a malign pleasure at plugging the word in every post, even where it doesn't even matter or make sense.

 

[a2applegirl]

But the MBA 11.6" is not a netbook, it's an ultra-portable. Netbooks are low priced and usually have smaller form factor keyboards and low powered processors (Atom/Athlon Neo/even ARM). Ports ? Nope, not a factor. Not by a mile.

And the fact remains, not just in this thread, but ReallyBigFeet has a malign pleasure at plugging the word in every post, even where it doesn't even matter or make sense.

Netbook=ultraportable these days. The terms are interchangable.

 

[Bluemeanie1976]

Seriously... Why argue about the definition?

 

[ottos]

Net books are 10''screens or smaller with reg. keyboard,
price or make and operating system has nothing to do with it,
the 11'' MBA is a small size laptop, the 13 and 15 are med. size
and the 17'' is large laptop, seems pretty simple to me

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

And the fact remains, not just in this thread, but ReallyBigFeet has a malign pleasure at plugging the word in every post, even where it doesn't even matter or make sense.

It makes perfect sense to me.

Why are you so concerned about what I call the smaller MBA? I've asked this before in several threads and the only thing I can fathom is that somehow my calling it a netbook hurts your feelings. Nobody ever admits to that but I'm guessing it must be true.

If I've hurt your feelings by referring to an inanimate object as a 'netbook,' I'm sorry. If I haven't...then why are you still continuing to infer malicious intent when there clearly isn't any?

Do you NEED to feel like I'm trying to be hurtful to give yourself relevance in this discussion?

 

[KnightWRX]

It makes perfect sense to me.

Why are you so concerned about what I call the smaller MBA? I've asked this before in several threads and the only thing I can fathom is that somehow my calling it a netbook hurts your feelings. Nobody ever admits to that but I'm guessing it must be true.

If I've hurt your feelings by referring to an inanimate object as a 'netbook,' I'm sorry. If I haven't...then why are you still continuing to infer malicious intent when there clearly isn't any?

Do you NEED to feel like I'm trying to be hurtful to give yourself relevance in this discussion?

You've proven my point for me. Thank you.

 

[sunyen]

I ve been holding off switching to a Mac for the longest time and the new MBA finally convinced me to switch. I went for the lowest end model 11"/2gb/64gb and been using for 2 weeks and no regret at all, in fact it put a smile on me everytime I lift the lid and the instant on..the reason I bought the 11" is because its soooo cute I ve always felt 13" laptop just too big for my use as I travel alot..I remember a trip to Bali and I need to carry around my 13", it's just so cumbersome..also, the reason I bought the 2gb is because it's enough for my writing work, it's much convenient to buy from shop in my country than waiting a month for bto and also I know 100% I ll upgrade to the next update to MBA...and I simply love the sharpness of the 135dpi resolution, like retina display for MacBook

 

[miggitymac]

You've proven my point for me. Thank you.

Do you need a hug?

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

You've proven my point for me. Thank you.

Good try at sounding clever. Enjoy your mental victory.

..the reason I bought the 11" is because its soooo cute

Funny, I've had it home with me all weekend and my wife saw it several times and proclaimed "thats just DARLING." The only other time I've heard her use that word is in reference to baby clothes or something ultra-cute. I may just have to buy her one for Xmas although she rejected the iPad so I'm not sure......

 

[PurpleMarmalade]

This 'netbook or not' debate is a little pointless. The 11" Air is what it is; assigning a name to it does not change its characteristics. If I called it a badger, people would take issue with that too. If you see it as a netbook, groovy. If you don't, super. I'll keep calling it a badger.