Downsizing, seeking advice from MBA owners

[entatlrg]

I purposely posted this in the MacBook Air forum as I value fellow MBA owners opinions, and I know many of you have another computer in addition to your Air.

I have decided my 13" Air is going to be my 'main computer'. I use my 13" MacBook Air 80% of the time and I feel in a way I have too many computers.

I also have:

2009 Mac Pro, 2.66GHz Quad Xeon, 6gb ram, 640GB HD, 18x SuperDrive, 2x NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB

and

2011 17" MacBook Pro, 2.2 GHz, 8gb ram, 512ssd

The 17" offers mobile power, that's great but I'll miss the Pro's benefits like option of dual screens, adding HD's .. not that I use the dual screen much, I find one 27" enough and so far I haven't added HD's to the Pro and having to sit at a desk in order to use a powerful computer is the downside of that.

Both the 17" and the Mac Pro do get used now. My Mac Pro is used for storage, back up, server, photoshop, illustrator projects, downloading, but not much for day to day work, I use my Air all I can. The 17" currently gets used when I want larger mobile screen real estate for couch computing or taking on non-flight business trips I'll used the 17" and Air together in my hotel ... so they're serving a purpose now.

Either way I've decided one has to go. A Mac Pro, 17" MBP and a 13" MacBook Air seems a little excessive. I don't need the money, but I think if I worked from less or even one computer I'd be more organized plus I have a staff member who will benefit more from using either of them than I currently am. That's all because I love my Air so much

As far as power is concerned each one has it's strong points, which one is more powerful I'm not sure.

The big question is which one to keep, what would you do?

 

[lucidmedia]

I have a Mac Pro Hexacore, an i5 macbook pro, and an 11-inch air.

The i5 macbook pro is the one that gathers dust. If I want portability, I can't do better than the 11...and when I need a powerful processor and a 30-inch screen, I use the mac pro.

I am quite surprised how much the air can take on... I do a lot of development and screen-res graphics work (CS5), and I have been really impressed by it. I occasionally plug the Air into a large monitor when I am working remotely, but I have not yet felt the need to have a more powerful computer on the road.

The i5 is not powerful enough to justify its weight, in the context of my needs.

 

[alecgold]

I voted 17" as it is newer and your tasks don't seem to be too heavy, so it would suggest you don't need a Mac Pro. On the other hand, Mac Pro's are more robust and it seems like you enjoy using it.
It's a though decision, because on the other hand the 17" will have a good resale value as it is a very new computer.

Ow and I totally understand you want to sell one and use the MBA 80% of the time.

 

[CHSeifert]

I'd say dump the Mac Pro and do I like I've done.

Go with a MacBook Pro connected to a ACD 27 or 30 and install a Vertex 3 SSD in it and you're ready to fly fast

Then you still can lug the MBP with you on smaller trips while having great power at home, when docked to the ACD.

Then use the MBA for all travel and when you're on the fly.

 

[Scottsdale]

Personally, the MBA does everything I need. That being said, I have a 27" iMac used for purposes of a computer being on and running at all times.

I see no purposes in both an MBA and an MBP. Two laptops when the MBA can do everything necessary when mobile makes no sense. However, a Mac Pro is a long term capable Mac for horsepower and is upgradeable and can be your always on Mac that is more computer than the limitation of an MBP.

Any reason you wouldn't consider an iMac? I bought mine for $1269 refurbished with 27" LED, C2D, and it's plenty of Mac. For a few hundred more they have Core i5 CPUs refurbished.

I also have a Mac mini OS X Server which now seems to be a huge waste. With my AppleTV and the future of AirPlay, everything can stream from my iMac anyways.

Perfect setup...
MBA 13" with 27" ACD at each office location.
iMac for home continual Mac system or Mac Pro in case of those who need it
AppleTV as mini Server for media is now pointless if there's another Mac and an AppleTV in house.
MobileMe for remote access along with AEBS with attached drives and printer.

That is my current view. However, for those who cannot afford it or individuals with no family using Macs, a single MBA with 27" ACD is plenty capable.

 

[Hellhammer]

If you find use for all three computers, then keep them. Your MBP is like one month old. Like others have said, it's the computer that should go if one of them must go, but why did you buy it in the first place then? Selling it now would mean you lose quite a lot money as generally, computers lose the biggest sum of their value when the box is opened. After that the value degrades constantly but not as dramatically as when opening the box.

It isn't about money and judging by your OP, you find at least some use for all of them.

 

[Icaras]

Perfect setup...
MBA 13" with 27" ACD at each office location.
iMac for home continual Mac system or Mac Pro in case of those who need it
AppleTV as mini Server for media is now pointless if there's another Mac and an AppleTV in house.
MobileMe for remote access along with AEBS with attached drives and printer.

That is my current view. However, for those who cannot afford it or individuals with no family using Macs, a single MBA with 27" ACD is plenty capable.

i agree with this setup and really like it too personally. I have the 11" Air and 27" Mac and I think on a lesser and more budgetary scale, I am thinking of downsizing my iMac to a 21" once it starts to catch up in SSD and quad core processor configurations like it's bigger brother.

But basically, an iMac and Air combo works really well. And like you mention, if you have to stick with just one machine, the Air and 27" ACD is definitely the way to go.

 

[Lord Appleseed]

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Tough decision. I own a MBA and an iMac, and the MBA is becoming my main Mac more and more. Since the is powerful enoughand portable i would go with the Mac Pro as stationary Computer; Two portanle devices are not necessary.

 

[entatlrg]

If you find use for all three computers, then keep them. Your MBP is like one month old. Like others have said, it's the computer that should go if one of them must go, but why did you buy it in the first place then? Selling it now would mean you lose quite a lot money as generally, computers lose the biggest sum of their value when the box is opened. After that the value degrades constantly but not as dramatically as when opening the box.

It isn't about money and judging by your OP, you find at least some use for all of them.

I should of been more clear, I buy Mac's for all our offices, every Mac gets put to good use if not by me then by our staff.

I agree with keeping the Mac Pro as my stationary computer although the idea of having a portable powerhouse like the 17" MBP is tempting since I can take it with me or easily move it as needed. Good advice so far, still a tough decision.

 

[stockscalper]

How about neither for a choice. My MacBook Air Ultimate is my one and only machine. It takes everything I throw at it and performs without complaint. Why have two machines and have to bother with syncing when the Air can do it all?

 

[entatlrg]

stockscalper - what tasks do you do with your Air?