For those who have a MBA as second Laptop or 3rd Mac

[mashinhead]

I have to admit the macbook air fever has gotten to me. however I already have an iMac and a MBP. I can't bring myself to get a MBA because i really don't want to part with the MBP i really use it for work, design, music, film and such and I don't think I can do that with a MBA without some serious power sacrifice, and for me there's also the issue of HD space.

Even if it could run all my programs without sacrificing performance the mere space after installing the programs i use would leave me with nothing. If i could upgrade it, it would be even more appealing to me. So for me it would be a third machine, something to carry around the city on a daily basis for mild surfing in a coffee shop or something, but for that purpose it seems to expensive to me. That said I still want one, but I'm hoping the 'Honeymoon' period will pass.

Anyway It got me thinking because there are others in my situation with a desktop and laptop and MBA. How many computers do you guys have for one user? How has adding the macbook air affected your other computer usage?

 

[clayj]

Well, my MBA replaced my MBP. So it hasn't really changed how I use any of my other machines, although I have had to adjust how I use the laptop itself since I went from having a 250 GB HD to a 64 GB SSD.

And I have six computers for myself: A Mac Pro, 2 Mac minis, a Sony VAIO desktop (Exchange Server), a Sony VAIO notebook (used only for work, never connects to the other machines in any way), and my MBA.

 

[MazingerZ]

I have to admit the macbook air fever has gotten to me. however I already have an iMac and a MBP. I can't bring myself to get a MBA because i really don't want to part with the MBP i really use it for work, design, music, film and such and I don't think I can do that with a MBA without some serious power sacrifice, and for me there's also the issue of HD space.

Even if it could run all my programs without sacrificing performance the mere space after installing the programs i use would leave me with nothing. If i could upgrade it, it would be even more appealing to me. So for me it would be a third machine, something to carry around the city on a daily basis for mild surfing in a coffee shop or something, but for that purpose it seems to expensive to me. That said I still want one, but I'm hoping the 'Honeymoon' period will pass.

Anyway It got me thinking because there are others in my situation with a desktop and laptop and MBA. How many computers do you guys have for one user? How has adding the macbook air affected your other computer usage?

I'm exactly in your position. My MBP serves as my main computer.

The MBA is being used exactly as you had imagined. I use it to surf while watching TV, as my travel computer, as the computer I bring to clients for meetings.

Now, I must set up a routine to make sure some files and folders are in sync between my mbp and mba.

 

[SteveSparks]

I

Now, I must set up a routine to make sure some files and folders are in sync between my mbp and mba.

Yup, Same here. I divested myself of all my Windows computers for the MBA purchase. I have yet to miss any of them... Yes I sold $1800 of Vista Boxes to get a MBA.

 

[MazingerZ]

Yup, Same here. I divested myself of all my Windows computers for the MBA purchase. I have yet to miss any of them... Yes I sold $1800 of Vista Boxes to get a MBA.

I'm going to try out Chronos Sync. I've heard good things about it.

 

[dahcheet]

Current Computers:
- Macbook Air
- Dell Laptop
- PC Self Built Desktop

My MBA has replaced my Dell Laptop which I plan to give to one of my family members. The MBA will be my main computer because I don't do too much computer work while at home, mostly internet. The PC is for storage, gaming, printer sharing, Time Machine backups, etc. I don't even game that much so that doesn't get used too often either. If I REALLY tried I could probably get away with only the MBA and a Time Capsule and/or Apple TV for media file storage and backups.

 

[ROB2246]

current computers
Dell Vostro Desktop Windows xp
Dell XPS Laptop Nice Machine Windows Vista (crappy Leopard Wanna Be)
Black macbook first gen
mabook Air 1.6/80
try to use them all

Rob

 

[ddd269]

In our household of 4, we have MBP, 2 MB, Samsung Notebook, Gaming PC. and now the MBA. The MBP, windows notebook, gaming pc, and the MBA is strictly for my use and I really don't want to part with any one of them.

Why do I keep the PCs? I'm sure many of you realize that most foreign sites are IE biased and safari nor firefox work well. So, I can't part with windows. i use bootcamp and parallels with my MBP and works pretty good.

Having said that, I've had the MBA for about 10 days now and I haven't used any other computers since (except to play games on my gaming PC). This thing is so understated but sexy at the same time. Understated, because it does everything without any fuzz and sexy because... need I explain? It's just like any other macbooks except it's svelte and light... Everything that I was looking for in a notebook.

I'm sure I'll notice the need for a more powerful computer when it's time to edit my video and stuff, but until then, my MBP is collecting dust.

So, if you have the means, I highly recommend it... and keep your old computers

 

[robanga]

My wife has a MBA now and it's our third mac in the house. It really is a perfect satellite computer. When you have network and other storage, the smaller storage on the MBA itself is really not an issue.

She is a stay at home mom and artist, so basically uses it for web shopping, email and shuffling some of per portfolio around in digital form.

She loves it, a very good purchase.

 

[Clix Pix]

Two and a half years ago I bought my first Mac, the G5 iMac....and fell in love, promptly abandoning Windows and its ilk for All Things Mac. Powerbook came next..... When the Intel Macs arrived on the scene I finally was unable to resist temptation and even though I had the 15" PB, went ahead and bought the intel 15" MBP. Loved the benefits of the intel processor.... Eventually sold the PB to a friend.

Currently I have a quad Mac Pro with 8 GB RAM, which is used primarily for digital imaging. This is the machine where I do all my post-processing of photos I shoot with my digital cameras. I also have a 17" MBP with 3 GB RAM, and that is acting as my day-to-day desktop replacement. My beloved G5 iMac up until now has also been used on pretty much a nightly basis, when I move into another room so that I don't disturb the neighbor whose bedroom is right beneath where I have my Mac Pro and 17" MBP workstations. Also still have the 15" MBP, which up until now has been the go-everywhere machine, the one which accompanies me on trips or out to my balcony in nice weather.

Enter the MBA..... So right now the G5 iMac sits quietly, unused, while I am tapping away on my MBA. Got my feet up, all comfy, got the MBA resting easily on my legs....this is a true laptop in a way my MBP machines just haven't been. I think what's going to be happening here is that the G5 iMac will finally be retired and that the 15" MBP will be finding a new home.....the MBA does what I want as far as casual web-surfing and email duties, not to mention its wonderful portability, and I've got the other two machines for the heavier lifting....

 

[kanon14]

I'm exactly in your position. My MBP serves as my main computer.

The MBA is being used exactly as you had imagined. I use it to surf while watching TV, as my travel computer, as the computer I bring to clients for meetings.

Now, I must set up a routine to make sure some files and folders are in sync between my mbp and mba.

Any idea of how to do the file sharing painlessly? I'm in the same situation here. I'm planning to get the TIme Capsule when it's out to store all my data there.

 

[mashinhead]

Any idea of how to do the file sharing painlessly? I'm in the same situation here. I'm planning to get the TIme Capsule when it's out to store all my data there.

i have two macs and i use drop copy, then i set up a folder called transfer in my documents and put and instance of that folder in the dock. so if i want something on one or both i use drop copy to transfer it and then when i get back to the other computer i file it away.

 

[profiteor]

Mac mini -- internal DNS server, services, front end, PVR, etc. Not really a user machine, very much infrastructure.
Mac Pro -- gaming rig
MacBook -- retiring soon, may turn into a Windows machine
MacBook Air -- constant companion

PowerMac G5 -- work machine

I use em all, but having the infrastructure Mac mini helps with a lot of the Air's possible shortcomings at home, and at work, I have the PMG5.

The Air replaced the MacBook. Other than that, nothing has changed.

 

[bostonte]

::Sigh::

Uh huh. Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, and now a MacBook Air. I need an Apple 12 step program.

The Mac Pro lives at home and does storage, server, EyeTV, scanning, ripping and just about anything that requires processor power or attached items. No TV, anything I watch is by computer.

The MacBook Pro is my business computer. Most of the time it could be a desktop because it's almost always in the same place, but those times that I do need to bring it to a meeting or home balance out the cost/sacrifices of a laptop.

The MBP replaced an aging 12" PB. That wasn't the easiest to carry around, but I did. The weight and dimensions difference in the upgrade really didn't seem large enough to break the limit of "I'm not going to carry it" -- oops. I originally intended the MBP to go with me every place, but it's just too big and heavy. It's wonderful to use, but unless I have a specific reason to bring it with me I don't want to. I really tried...

So where does that leave the MBA? It drops right into my bag. No fuss. It's gone everyplace with me. Saved my butt already having it with me to pull up some records and answer a client, never mind getting things done on commute or between meetings.

Syncing things back and forth with some scripts, I keep the fresh records on the Air. The rest of my space hogs (iTunes library, etc.) are setup to come over a remote/local network share from the Mac Pro.

Space hasn't been a problem yet, but I wouldn't complain if I had more.

I would rather not have spent this much, but c'est la vie. It does absolutely nothing that the MBP wouldn't do as well or maybe better -- but what good is a more powerful computer to me if I end up never having it when I need it?

I'm embarrassed to write down how many I have for just myself... :/ am I allowed to rationalize it by pointing out that my peers are all buying fancy new HD TV systems that cost more?

 

[yayaba]

I'm kind of in the same area as the OP in justifying a purchase.

I have a Dell XP Media Center box that I use for HDTV watching/recording. I pretty much use it to watch TV and play the occasional game but that's it.

I also have a Thinkpad T42 but that's my work laptop that I have to lug around everyday that I do my development and e-mail on. But I don't really consider it "mine" since I have to return it if I quit.

My main computer is a Macbook C2D non-SR. Speed wise it's fine esp with the 7200rpm drive I recently put into it. The only thing I don't like about it is the weight.

I guess I figure if I got a MBA I can't use it solely as my main computer so I need a power computer to fall back on but I don't really want to use my XP machine either to do that. I kind of treat my Macbook in this middle state right now where it's both portable and powerful enough to be my main computer and the MBA probably can't fill that role.

I guess if I really want something portable the EEEpc is a better fit as it's cheap enough so I won't think about having too many computers.

 

[rittchard]

I absolutely love (and agree with) the phrases used to describe the MBA in this thread: "constant companion" and "understated but sexy". As much as people have tried to paint it as a "skinnier Macbook" I think the MBA transcends this description in practice. It has some weird effect of making you want to use it and carry it with you all around the house. Surfing while curled up on the sofa and watching TV has never been nicer.

Oh yeah, I guess in following with the OP's question, I presently use:

iMac - for iTunes and iPhoto base station for iPhone, previously for surfing/email (now MBA)
Gaming PC - for serious gaming
PC laptop - retiring in favor of MBA