what are your thoughts on the 11 inch mba?
I bought and used both for a few months. I gave the 11" a good effort, but I just didn't care for it. I feel like the display is giving up too much space compared to the 13" MBA. I feel like watching things on it are cramped. Honestly, I like surfing the web better on the iPad than 11" MBA. I don't hate but I don't like the iPad either. However, the 11" fails in comparison to watch movies or surf the web. Typing on the iPad sucks though, so there are downsides to both.
I personally just feel the 13" MBA has absolutely everything one could want and it could easily be a main computer either with its native display or an LED ACD. I feel the 11" MBA doesn't do anything great. I would rather have a 13" MBA and an iPad. I really just use the 13" MBA though. I cannot see any circumstance where the 13" doesn't just blow away the 11" MBA. The 11" isn't that much lighter, thinner, or more mobile. In fact, the 13" provides productive mobility while the 11" feels cramped.
In reality, to me the iPhone 4 beats the iPad because the iPhone is more mobile. However, when comparing the 11" to 13" MBAs the 13" seems to be just as mobile as either requires carrying in a case and either needs space to type and etc. If one can open a 11" MBA in an airline seat and type they can also with the 13". It just isn't beneficial to lose the display size and other qualities like better trackpad, SD card slot, and more space for palm rest and etc. To me the 11" is too close to a netbook. I am not trying to offend people, and I know it isn't a netbook, but it has some of the poor qualities not materials of a netbook.
If someone has a 27" iMac at home, a 15" MBP for mobile productivity, then an 11" MBA might make more sense. But I use my 13" MBA as my primary and truthfully sole Mac, and it is the ultimate in portability while providing desktop space of 15.4" MBP in 13" MBA footprint, and is fast and completely capable without any compromises. In addition, it plugs into a 27" LED ACD and feels like I have a Mac Pro.
I use an MBA for productivity and mobility. The losses from going to an 11" are too great for the tiny difference in mobility advantages. The 13" MBA is a dream Mac. I love it. I use that and an iPhone basically 99% of the time. If I needed to have something as big as an 11" MBA or iPad out it might as well be a much more capable 13" MBA.
Anyone notice the 13" MBA display could almost fit in the 11" MBA by removing the bezel? But you know what after using the 13" MBA I wouldn't want that to happen. The MBA can get lighter weight but it doesn't need a smaller footprint. Carbon fiber might be the next step or liquid metal, but I don't think removing the bezel is the way to go even though I used to champion that position often. The 13" MBA is perfection except maybe a 14.5" or so display in the exact same MBA footprint as the 13" MBA is now... That is the only change I coud dream of except the obvious ones we all talk about. Pair it with a 27" ACD and it's a desktop too. Add an iPhone to your pocket and you have it all covered at home or away and no matter where both can do the job seemingly better than anything else.
