Comparing MBA Rev B to Unibody Macbook 2.4 GHz

[46 Bear]

Hello everyone!!

Posted something over a few months ago about the macbook air and now I am at a crossroads. I graduate new weekend from college and I will be able to get an updated computer before I leave.

Now I am comparing the MBA Rev B and the Unibody MacBook 2.4 GHz....has anyone had some experience for with these two computers?

Also would adding RAM help the MacBook? Please help! LOL

 

[DaveOZ]

Many pages have been written on this subject. Summary is.

Air is noticeably light
Air is more expensive
Air can't be upgraded for RAM or HDD
Air has a MUCH better screen for brightness, contrast and viewing angles

If you think these are worthwhile advantages, get the Air.

 

[Sesshi]

Had Air A/B's. Have two 2.4 Macbooks.

Get the Macbook if you actually want to use what's under the hood, and have a decent runtime. It's not ideal in terms of weight if you're looking fopr an ultraportable and sometimes in a big way inferior to some similar or not-much-more-expensive Windows solutions, but IMO it limits you less than an Air. You also don't have to bend it back into shape as often

Apart from th obvious - weight, screen is inferior as well, but not unusable.

 

[fuz10n]

i had both a macbook air rev a and b, and the screen was honestly not that much nicer than my new uni MB 2.4. I am enjoying my MB much more than the MBAs.

I do seem to have a new screen though. It has a model that I've yet to identify - Manufacturer: 00000610, Model: 00009CA5.

People say the blacks on the MB screen is much worst than the MBA, but the blacks are very black on mine, colors are very vivid and distinct with no calibration.

I say go for the MB, you just get more for your money. The lightness of the MBA is nice, but not worth the extra 200 bucks for no memory/hard drive upgrade path (well you could upgrade the hd, but they are near impossible to find) and no built-in optical drive. VERY fast as well, can't wait for 10.5.7's new gpu drivers.

 

[King t.]

well i just had the opposite experience. i just swapped my uni. mb 2,4ghz for a base mba rev:B 1,6ghz 120gb hd. and i couldn't be happier!

the weight diff. is a bif diff. + the screen is so much better on the MBA, performance wise, i would say that the base MBA rev:b is as fast as the uni. MB 2ghz model.

 

[bobjob186]

i switched from a 2.4 unibody to the 1.6 rev B - never looked back

 

[J&JPolangin]

...get a UMB refurb!

 

[Scottsdale]

i had both a macbook air rev a and b, and the screen was honestly not that much nicer than my new uni MB 2.4. I am enjoying my MB much more than the MBAs.

I do seem to have a new screen though. It has a model that I've yet to identify - Manufacturer: 00000610, Model: 00009CA5.

People say the blacks on the MB screen is much worst than the MBA, but the blacks are very black on mine, colors are very vivid and distinct with no calibration.

I say go for the MB, you just get more for your money. The lightness of the MBA is nice, but not worth the extra 200 bucks for no memory/hard drive upgrade path (well you could upgrade the hd, but they are near impossible to find) and no built-in optical drive. VERY fast as well, can't wait for 10.5.7's new gpu drivers.

I owned a uMB and the display was pathetic. Any rev A or rev B MBA has a display that is incredible compared to the new MBs.

I cannot believe just how bad the display is on the new uMBs. The MB would really be a nice computer if it even had half the display of the MBAs. It's too bad Apple cut costs with the display, as the uMB is not acceptable.

I wish there was an aftermarket display solution, as I would love to buy my kids a uMB instead of a MBP, but I cannot buy a MB with that horrible display.

For me, I will take any rev B MBA over any unibody MB for the display alone if nothing else.

 

[Sesshi]

The glare is a major part of the inferiority, but so is the panel. The viewing angles are definitely inferior, as is uniformity of the image. It is easily the weakest part of the machine apart from the form over function unibody construction. And in broader terms, the unibody Macbook is easily the most relatively functionally deficient, heaviest machine I've used in the weight/utility category for the last ~4 years compared to the invariably better Windows laptops I've bought...

...however, to me having to look at that screen and drag an addition 700g around is less of a real-life compromise for running OS X, in comparison to every other functional deficiency of the POS that is the Air.

 

[fuz10n]

The new alu macbooks seem to be coming with a new "macbook pro" quality screen. Again, I used both a Macbook Air rev.a and b for a while, and cannot tell a difference between those displays and this one. (besides those damn nasty lines on the rev.b) Viewing angle is superb, colors and blacks are great.

 

[Scottsdale]

The new alu macbooks seem to be coming with a new "macbook pro" quality screen. Again, I used both a Macbook Air rev.a and b for a while, and cannot tell a difference between those displays and this one. (besides those damn nasty lines on the rev.b) Viewing angle is superb, colors and blacks are great.

What is the model number of your display? I have never seen a unibody MB with a nice display, but I am glad to hear the news.

The big problem isn't the clarity for me, it's the view from even a slight angle is just horrible. In addition, the dark colors are a grayish with purple hue. I am fine with the glossy, it looks nice on videos in low light. It is fine for me for everything if is like the standard MBP display.

Just read in the MBP section of new unibody MBPs with displays similar to the MBs with bad viewing angle faded looks and blacks that are charcoal and not black. Thought it was terrible to hear, so am shocked to find Apple got the MB right finally. Even with those though there is great differences with the bad displays. Some are the same model and ok and some are horrible. They show a different/standard MBP quality display next to it and it is incredibly obvious even on a digital camera which is usually difficult to show display problems.

Would be nice to be able to tell people they can buy a MB. I don't recommend the MB to most just because of the display.

 

[tubbymac]

The new alu macbooks seem to be coming with a new "macbook pro" quality screen. Again, I used both a Macbook Air rev.a and b for a while, and cannot tell a difference between those displays and this one. (besides those damn nasty lines on the rev.b) Viewing angle is superb, colors and blacks are great.

Uhm... no. Even the newest unibody Macbooks available today do not have a "macbook pro" quality screen. Don't know where you heard that, but it's simply not true.