The new MBA is missing the backlit keyboard, and to me it's a big loss. The new ones have more desktop space in the same 13.3" display which is nice, but it's also missing the sensor that automatically adjusts the display's brightness.
All in all, your MBA has a plenty capable GPU, the exact same CPU, better keyboard due to backlighting, and more high-end features the new MBA loses.
I think Apple went to far reducing costs, but if someone needs 256GB SSD, 1440x900 display resolution, 4GB RAM, the new MBA is the only solution.
I love the new MBAs, but I wish they had a backlit keyboard. And the reason Apple axed it was solely so they could make people want to upgrade with the next bump that will definitely include both features that left with the new MBAs.
I wouldn't upgrade if you don't need 4GB RAM... and unless you're running Windows 7 via a VM (bootcamp doesn't need 4GB RAM), 2GB RAM is plenty for OS X Snow Leopard.
I couldn't have said better!
I used to have a top Rev. C (2.13ghz, 128gb SSD) and a lovely 27" Core i5 iMac. This was a perfect setup to me, using a very reliable MacBook Air as my secondary machine for DJing and mobile working. For trips, I was using an iPad just fine.
Then in August I've switched jobs, which required me to have development and graphic environment off site -- I was in need to run virtual machines and web development and design apps wherever I were.
Because of that, my iMac at home began to collect dust, even on the few hours I was at home, because all my work environment was already setup on the MBA. Sadly, my iMac became a torrent box
Working like that on a Rev. C MBA is fine, but it can be very annoying. The biggest issue to me was *battery life*. It's hard to justify a portable Mac with only regular battery life these days, when even the cheap MacBook can give you 10 hours of juice.
I waited as long as I could to see what would happen to my beloved MBA, but time wasn't at my side, so I decided to sell the iMac and get a 13" MBP.
I can say that by the time, it was a very good decision. Even though I don't like the 13" that much, specially because it's unnecessary fatty (begone optical drives!), I must confess that I really loved the small increments it gave to me in relation to the Rev. C Air:
- More battery life (10hr)
- More RAM (4gb)
- More disk (320gb)
- Additional USB
- Headset compatible audio jack (I use Skype a LOT)
- SD card (my camera uses SD)
- Decent speakers and mic
TBH, I could (and still can) easily live without these. But it's very difficult going back -- funnily enough I still haven't sold my Rev. C MBA
Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to grab a maxed out 13" new MBA (2.13, 4gb, 256gb ssd). They aren't selling in Brazil yet, but I got lucky to find a guy selling one (still can't believe it)!
What can I say? I'm desperate to sell my Rev. C and the 13" MBP ASAP.
I must confess that give these 3 months using the MBP, I'm able to notice only 3 major impacts from the switch:
- weight (and sexiness!)
- speeeeeeeeeeeeed (i miss ssd so much)
- 1440x900 @ 13" is PERFECT
But that's all. Since the MBP was already giving me tons of benefits over the Rev. C MBA, is quite difficult to me do a direct comparison from Rev. C to the new MBA. But one can imagine the differences.
So far, I really miss the backlit keyboard, it was such a dumb move by Apple. But I'm happier than ever! What an epic machine.
My plan is to sell the other two machines, buy an Apple Cinema Display and that's it: 13" MBA + iPad + iPhone 4. And I plan to keep it that way for a long time, if you ask me.
Some accessories are helping me a lot, however:
- 1.5 TB Time Capsule (for backup and HD movies)
- 1 TB WD My Passport (for HD movies on the go)
- Airport Express
- MiFi
- new Apple TV
- WDTV Live
All of these helps me keep my computing needs distributed through the house, which makes even easier to have a 13" MBA as my one and only OS X machine.
