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wnxgenral

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 14, 2008
286
16
Just wondering if anyone traded in their MBA for a MBP... I have had my AIR for a week and although I love it, I can't stop thinking about the headroom it places on my mobile computing life... Did anyone do it with success or did anyone regret it?

Jack
:apple:
 

jwasnick

macrumors newbie
Jun 26, 2008
2
0
After having both the MBA and 15 * 17 inch MBP's, I can say that the mba is purely for a few days travel only. the small drive and screen size gets in the way for heavy duty computing. I would recommend if you do a good deal of road time and heavy computing that you go with a 15 inch mbp.
 

MarkF44

macrumors member
Apr 6, 2008
30
0
I've switched MBA to MBP...

and I am happy with that, MBP is a perfect laptop, quiet, powerfull, great LED screen...superdrive included and so on....

however it's the lightest 15"4 laptop (eg 2.5 Kg), the MBA is much lighter and weight is the only drawback of MBP...

I would say that MBA is great only if a light laptop is a priority
 

EB66

macrumors 6502
Mar 4, 2008
263
0
you can't go wrong with a mbp, it really isnt that big and heavy, only if you compare it to the air:p
 

mhnajjar

macrumors 6502a
Mar 3, 2008
777
0
Can you use your MBP on your lap without getting burned? My friend just got his 15" MBP and it is hot like hell. CPU temp. is always around 55 C while surfing and it reaches 65 C burning DVDs :eek:
 

dissdnt

macrumors 65816
Aug 3, 2007
1,489
5
Can you use your MBP on your lap without getting burned? My friend just got his 15" MBP and it is hot like hell. CPU temp. is always around 55 C while surfing and it reaches 65 C burning DVDs :eek:

I'm on my MBP now and it's running at 44c. You gotta grab smcFanControl and ramp it up to 6000rpm's to keep it cool.

If you don't you'll have mutant children.
 

Rlkv011

macrumors regular
Jan 16, 2008
104
0
I bought the Air when it first came out at the Apple store. I kept having the core shutdown problem. I took it to the genius bar where they said nothing was wrong with it but they gave me a new Air anyway. Same problems with the second Air. I took it in again and showed them recorded video of the Air skipping and freezing playing a tv show downloaded from itunes and asked to get the new penryn 15'' 2.4 MBP. I got the MBP and couldn't be happier best laptop I've ever owned. Only thing I had to get use to was the keyboard. I still find myself wanting to purchase the Air for a second laptop, but I might wait until the next revision.
 

Sesshi

macrumors G3
Jun 3, 2006
8,113
1
One Nation Under Gordon
Having a good idea of what you actually want from a notebook will ensure that you don't come across this dilemma. The Air has a specific niche in the Apple lineup that makes it a compelling choice for Apple-users for entirely self-evident reasons, as does the Macbook Pro. And those niches don't overlap for the most part.

Which is why I for one don't say 'either or'...
mbstl6.jpg
 

Alan Taylor

macrumors 6502
May 14, 2006
257
0
Mississauga
I have a Macbook Pro, and this month I'm buying a Macbook Air. They are not the same machine - I feel sorry for anyone who found out after buying that they needed more power :(
 

Goldcard

macrumors regular
Jan 10, 2006
141
0
St. Paul, MN
Yea, in all honesty this shouldn't be a question of which one should I get? You either need an Air or you need a Macbook Pro. They are completely different. I got an Air because I dont need a ton of harddrive space or power. I NEED portability.

As much as some of you think you are Apple "know it alls", you really need to go to an Apple store and let the employee do an assessment of your situation so you dont end up visiting the store 12 times to get the right laptop.

Ok, I'm done ranting, and reading these threads. :)
 

Scott6666

macrumors 68000
Feb 2, 2008
1,511
980
MBA issues are not just power user problems

I have a Macbook Pro, and this month I'm buying a Macbook Air. They are not the same machine - I feel sorry for anyone who found out after buying that they needed more power :(

I disagree. I think the MBA just does not work even as a basic computer; if not for all MBAs then a very sizable majority of those manufactured. Mine could not even process email, safari and itunes at the same time. Something is wrong with this version and you don't have to be a processor intensive user to "break" the MBA defined as either a core shutdown (ie. stuttering), a fan going crazy or both.

This computer cannot handle what my 2 year old windows laptop could do easily. I am amazed by the apologists for the MBA. I guess some of them must work correctly (although I don't in my heart of hearts believe it) but the MBA is just a bad computer.

The MPB on the other hand is a fabulous computer. If you want a good Apple experience bet on the MBP and stay away from this Rev of the MBA. Its just not worth the odds of getting a very troublesome machine.
 

AC Rempt

Contributor
Feb 24, 2008
290
19
I disagree. I think the MBA just does not work even as a basic computer; if not for all MBAs then a very sizable majority of those manufactured. Mine could not even process email, safari and itunes at the same time. Something is wrong with this version and you don't have to be a processor intensive user to "break" the MBA defined as either a core shutdown (ie. stuttering), a fan going crazy or both.

This computer cannot handle what my 2 year old windows laptop could do easily. I am amazed by the apologists for the MBA. I guess some of them must work correctly (although I don't in my heart of hearts believe it) but the MBA is just a bad computer.

The MPB on the other hand is a fabulous computer. If you want a good Apple experience bet on the MBP and stay away from this Rev of the MBA. Its just not worth the odds of getting a very troublesome machine.

Sorry to break your heart of hearts, but my MBA is fine. I don't have core shut downs, it runs cool and quiet, and it does everything I need from a laptop. For my needs, the MPB is over kill. I wanted a lightweight laptop that was stylish and well-built, and that's what I have, no apologies tendered. :)
 

gcmexico

macrumors 6502a
Dec 22, 2007
966
209
Littleton, CO
everyone here is right...all depends what you need the laptop for...I travel a lot, take my MBA everywhere I go...the weight is perfect for me
 

jottingjones

macrumors newbie
Jul 8, 2008
8
0
Australia
I sold my 24" alu iMac a couple of months ago because I was moving from Europe to Australia. With that money I bought the Macbook Air. As much as I love it's portability, it just doesn't have enough oomph for me.

Since the Air is about 2 months old, I doubt that the Apple store would do me a favor by letting me trade it in for a MBP. Anyone have any ideas?
 

maestrokev

macrumors 6502a
Apr 23, 2007
875
8
Canada
I disagree. I think the MBA just does not work even as a basic computer; if not for all MBAs then a very sizable majority of those manufactured. Mine could not even process email, safari and itunes at the same time. Something is wrong with this version and you don't have to be a processor intensive user to "break" the MBA defined as either a core shutdown (ie. stuttering), a fan going crazy or both.

This computer cannot handle what my 2 year old windows laptop could do easily. I am amazed by the apologists for the MBA. I guess some of them must work correctly (although I don't in my heart of hearts believe it) but the MBA is just a bad computer.

I'm not an apologist. I just own 3 laptops. My Week1 MBA handles email, safari and iTunes just fine. You're the minority, otherwise there would be a flood of returns.
 

maestrokev

macrumors 6502a
Apr 23, 2007
875
8
Canada
I sold my 24" alu iMac a couple of months ago because I was moving from Europe to Australia. With that money I bought the Macbook Air. As much as I love it's portability, it just doesn't have enough oomph for me.

Since the Air is about 2 months old, I doubt that the Apple store would do me a favor by letting me trade it in for a MBP. Anyone have any ideas?

Keep the MBA and buy the lowest model 20" iMac. You can't compare the iMac to the MBA.
 

Tosser

macrumors 68030
Jan 15, 2008
2,677
1
I'm not an apologist. I just own 3 laptops. My Week1 MBA handles email, safari and iTunes just fine. You're the minority, otherwise there would be a flood of returns.

even 49.9 percent is "the minority" …
Being in "the minority" doesn't mean there aren't a slew of problems with the MBA and that some people get it swapped for a new one multiple times, finally giving up. The over heating problem is a real one, and from just a gander at these forums, you can see it for yourself.
Now, I know you'll be going "But it's only "the complainers" who will post about the issues". But of course it is. And they should. Notice the absence of MBP-owners complaining about heat-issues? On the other hand, there's a whole slew of MBP owners complaining about screen issues.

Even if these people ARE in "the minority", it doesn't mean that the MBA isn't a crap product, regardless if one likes the design or not. The fact of the matter is that, once again, Apple seems to have chosen looks over build quality and function. Call it sloppiness, catering to the fanboys, a "lapse" in QC lasting for years in the entire product line, but you cannot just dismiss these things with "it doesn't matter, as you're in the minority".

Oh, and even if you deny it, you certainly are an apologist.
 

Scott6666

macrumors 68000
Feb 2, 2008
1,511
980
even 49.9 percent is "the minority" …
Being in "the minority" doesn't mean there aren't a slew of problems with the MBA and that some people get it swapped for a new one multiple times, finally giving up. The over heating problem is a real one, and from just a gander at these forums, you can see it for yourself.
Now, I know you'll be going "But it's only "the complainers" who will post about the issues". But of course it is. And they should. Notice the absence of MBP-owners complaining about heat-issues? On the other hand, there's a whole slew of MBP owners complaining about screen issues.

Even if these people ARE in "the minority", it doesn't mean that the MBA isn't a crap product, regardless if one likes the design or not. The fact of the matter is that, once again, Apple seems to have chosen looks over build quality and function. Call it sloppiness, catering to the fanboys, a "lapse" in QC lasting for years in the entire product line, but you cannot just dismiss these things with "it doesn't matter, as you're in the minority".

Oh, and even if you deny it, you certainly are an apologist.

hear hear!

for the 49.9'ers of us out here.

Remember, we want to love the MBA too and own one with pride. Just can't given all the complaints on that thing. If Apple would let me try one again with no questions asked returns I would. But Apple wouldn't let me and I'm not going to chance $180 to see if I win the MBA lottery. Frankly, it seems like Apple is getting stricter on accepting returns of core shutdown machines so they are trying to limit their financial exposure.
 
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