Convince me NOT to get a MBA...

[ayeying]

I'm tempted to replace my aging 17" Core Duo MBP. It's not fast anymore, it's just "okay" speed. I have owned the MBA before, so it's not something new here...

The model I'm looking at is: 2.13GHz/4GB/256GB Flash, 13" model.

I do play games, but considering the X1600 can only run most games at low/med settings and it looks fine, I don't think the 320M would be any worse.

Battery life is important for me. I use my HP netbook a lot more just because the battery life is amazingly good.

Hard drive space... I 2x 1TB external 2.5" hard drives that I use with the Netbook and the current MBP. The integrated 500GB has plenty of space. Space is not something I'm concerned about but I would be getting the 256GB model.

The backlit keyboard... I'm not sure about this. I do use my backlit keyboard a lot but its just on automatic and I don't change any settings or anything. I guess it could be considered a luxury that I just leave on but it does help, I have to admit that. Auto dimming of the screen... I disabled it. It's annoying when it just randomly dims and all that.

Optical drive... don't even use it. Rarely I needed to burn a CD but I have an external usb burner.

I know these are all "good" things on where I should get one... but convince me NOT to.

 

[Mike225]

$1800

 

[FAsnakes]

lol...

 

[dannyar]

sounds like you want one, so get one. Easy as that. You have already stated all the reasons why you need and want it. Pull the trigger. See what i did there?

 

[Romulus]

The 17" screen to the 13" or 11" is a huge trade off... The entire package, including sound, screen, peripherals, and connections are going to be much superior in the 17". The only reason to get an AIR is portability - I used to have a macbook (for portability), but after seeing it sitting on my desk most of the time, I've sold it and switch to an MBP. You get less heat, quieter work (fans don't kick in like all the time), and overall a much better screan to look at...

Now - I'm never home these days, so end up dragging a netbook along... so I just sold the MBP and ordered an AIR... for portability... but will deffinetly miss the MBP...

 

[Mike225]

$1800

That's $800 over $1000. For a Core2Duo laptop.

 

[pdoken]

If your just looking for a performance boost, then upgrading hard-drive, memory is the obvious answer , if your system lets you to.

Else how much do you value portability. You can go for a new MacBook Pro, that has comparable battery life to the 13 in MBA and way better performance and upgradability. I mean you can install an SSD on those as well.

If your using this as your main computer, its a question of portability vs performance.

Which do you need more?

 

[Jaro65]

I won't - since I'll also likely end up getting one.

 

[ayeying]

sounds like you want one, so get one. Easy as that. You have already stated all the reasons why you need and want it. Pull the trigger. See what i did there?

I tend to want the latest tech... it's just me. Nothing in there is that I "need", but yes, I do want.

The 17" screen to the 13" or 11" is a huge trade off... The entire package, including sound, screen, peripherals, and connections are going to be much superior in the 17". The only reason to get an AIR is portability - I used to have a macbook (for portability), but after seeing it sitting on my desk most of the time, I've sold it and switch to an MBP. You get less heat, quieter work (fans don't kick in like all the time), and overall a much better screan to look at...

Now - I'm never home these days, so end up dragging a netbook along... so I just sold the MBP and ordered an AIR... for portability... but will deffinetly miss the MBP...

The 17" is big, I guess the trade off would be pretty big (again) but the upgraded 1440x900 is much of a relief vs the 1280x800 (which is too small).

If your just looking for a performance boost, then upgrading hard-drive, memory is the obvious answer , if your system lets you to.

Else how much do you value portability. You can go for a new MacBook Pro, that has comparable battery life to the 13 in MBA and way better performance and upgradability. I mean you can install an SSD on those as well.

If your using this as your main computer, its a question of portability vs performance.

Which do you need more?

I cannot upgrade this system any higher. It's already maxed out at 2GB DDR2 ram. The hard drive, I'm using a hybrid Seagate Momentus XT because its cheap and I don't feel like spending $200+ for 1/2 the size to be worth it, especially for a machine this old.

Portability, I guess I don't value it as much as battery life though. The 13" MBP does provide virtually same specs, with upgraded items such as ports and expandability. However, the real disappointing part is the screen size. The 1280x800 is a big no-no for me. 1440x900 is probably the lowest I'll go to these days, excluding netbooks.

It would be considered my "Primary" computer, but not a "main" system because I'll still be using the Netbook for other stuff such as E-Mail and IMs when the other system is running stuff such as Handbrake and games (under boot camp)

 

[Dillenger]

Don't get a MBA, Don't get a MBA, You're getting sleepy, sleepy I tell ya, now go to bed ....... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[firestarter]

USB2 is slow slow slow.

These laptops have no firewire and no other method of being expanded.

Once you fill up the (tiny) internal drive you're going to be regretting having to put all your data on external USB2 drives.

Wait until Apple starts to roll out USB 3 before buying a new laptop.

(How was that?)

 

[darkserith]

1) core i3 or i5 in next revision most likely
2) emphasizing point above = core 2 duo is severely outdated relative to the price of the laptop (but not relative, to, say, a 500 dollar laptop)
2) backlit keyboard in next revision most likely
3) dedicated power button in next revision probably
4) os X lion will be out by the next revision


5) do you really think that 2gb will come standard forever? they'll eventually put 4gb standard.

 

[Velin]

Why would anyone waste time trying to convince him to not buy a good computer.

 

[firestarter]

Why would anyone waste time trying to convince him to not buy a good computer.

Because he asked us to.

 

[fibrizo]

It's only money!

 

[neteng101]

Don't get it - you know you won't be happy without it!

 

[mac jones]

i5's a 7's are better than the old duo's

You've most likely heard about the graphic issue. It's almost like a mixup

This round of updates are a mess.

Best to wait until Intel ditches it's present GPU. (which they will do)

I have a 2.53GHZ i5 and it is much more powerful than the C2D.

 

[ayeying]

What graphics issue...?

Also, can the new airs run 64-bit kernel on SL?

 

[barefeats]

Since you play games, I suggest you get a used or refurbished 15" MacBook Pro Core i5 or Core i7 with the GeForce GT 330M GPU. Much more power on tap.

Plus it gives you a backlit keyboard for those late night gaming sessions and much more expandability. (Up to 8GB RAM, option of switching to a Solid State Drive or a bigger, faster HDD.)

For example, Apple lists this unit for $1529 in their special deals section:
Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core i5
15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display (1440 x 900 pixel)
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR3 memory
(Qualifies for full 12 month warranty -- can be extended to 36 months)

 

[maflynn]

I tend to want the latest tech... it's just me. Nothing in there is that I "need", but yes, I do want.

Problem is the MBA is NOT the latest tech, in fact its using 2008 CPU technology.

The current 15" and 17" MBP is using the latest tech, so if that's the criteria to buying stuff for you, keep the 17" MBP.

 

[bmat]

screen size. if it was my only computer, i'd want something at least 15 inches. i have a 17-inch mbp and i love it. but it's inconvenient to work on outside of home. hence the air. but if i had only one, it would be the 17.

 

[maflynn]

screen size. if it was my only computer, i'd want something at least 15 inches. i have a 17-inch mbp and i love it. but it's inconvenient to work on outside of home. hence the air. but if i had only one, it would be the 17.

True, especially if you (or the OP) doesn't own a monitor. If he (or you) does, then the screen size issue is largely mitigated.

 

[acurafan]

$1800, rip-off, gym-deprived mobile coffee-house posers.

in 3 months all this tech will transfer to the MBP's with better proc selection, ram upgradability, 3rd-party hardware options. so why bother...but you know you want it...bad; so get it, it's only money.

/sarcasm

 

[neteng101]

... gym-deprived mobile coffee-house posers.

I know you meant it in sarcasm, but what's with this notion of lightweight laptops = gym deprived? I'm off to the gym in a bit, just find it rather that it often shows up here!

No - the MBA isn't tagging along - imagine what a 45lb plate would do if dropped on it?

 

[fizzwinkus]

anyone who doesn't go for the full power of a mac pro, 27" cinema display, and ups in a duffel bag is a gym deprived loser.