I really like the 11" but battery time??

[ottos]

I really like the 11 '' MBA and for my needs it would
be almost perfect , I want to upgrade from my XP 10'' net book
I am totally fed up with windows, so the 11''1/2 screen is no
problem for me as a full time computer.
The battery time on the 11'' worries me a little, is it feasible to watch
a good 3 hours of Netflix on a fairly bright setting and good volume?
and if I get the 11'' is 2 GB memory enough for basic photo , browsing
watching netflix.

 

[NorCalLights]

I really like the 11 '' MBA and for my needs it would
be almost perfect , I want to upgrade from my XP 10'' net book
I am totally fed up with windows, so the 11''1/2 screen is no
problem for me as a full time computer.
The battery time on the 11'' worries me a little, is it feasible to watch
a good 3 hours of Netflix on a fairly bright setting and good volume?
and if I get the 11'' is 2 GB memory enough for basic photo , browsing
watching netflix.

I haven't tried watching Netflix on a 11", but I don't think you'd have any problems getting 3 hours of streaming video out of it... and 2 gigs of memory is plenty for all of the things you mentioned.

 

[Bluemeanie1976]

You'll get a solid 5 hours of streaming. I've used it to watch streamed movies via homesharing, and had it 'almost' 6 hours. I don't think streaming netflix will be THAT much more.

 

[Over Achiever]

I get between 3.5 to 4 hours of Netflix streaming at 3/4 brightness.

EDIT: I'm not so sure about the brightness setting now. I realize I usually usually watch Netflix at 2 bars brlghtness in a dark room, so the time quoted might be for that.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Netflix and using iTunes home sharing are two entirely different animals. Netflix uses Sliverlight (I think...used to be Flash) and will eat far more CPU cycles and therefore power than just using home sharing via iTunes.

 

[ottos]

Sounds pretty good, I am starting to get pretty stoked on the 11''

 

[dmelgar]

I really like the 11 '' MBA and for my needs it would
be almost perfect , I want to upgrade from my XP 10'' net book
I am totally fed up with windows, so the 11''1/2 screen is no
problem for me as a full time computer.
The battery time on the 11'' worries me a little, is it feasible to watch
a good 3 hours of Netflix on a fairly bright setting and good volume?
and if I get the 11'' is 2 GB memory enough for basic photo , browsing
watching netflix.

Totally depends on what you're doing.
Run something that maxes out the CPU, and you may get 2hrs or less.
Today I was taking notes and surfing the web at a conference. I got 9 hours.

If the video uses the GPU, then you can probably watch for a long time. If it requires the CPU for processing, you'll get much less.

I just tried Netflix running in Chrome & Safari. It looks like its using the CPU heavily. Over 100% (max is 200% because of 2 cores).

You may not be able to get 3 hours with it unless Microsoft updates Silverlight to use the GPU.

I'm trying it now on battery, playing Netflix in Safari. The system reports 1:52 from an absolutely full charge. And it keeps dropping faster. May be 1:30.

 

[ottos]

what to believe one says 3-4 hours, another says not likely
now the 13'' has good 2 more hours right?
barely 2 hours watching netflix on decent brightness and volume wont
cut it for me.

 

[dmelgar]

what to believe one says 3-4 hours, another says not likely
now the 13'' has good 2 more hours right?
barely 2 hours watching netflix on decent brightness and volume wont
cut it for me.

Just tried it again. I have a bunch of devices connected via USB drawing power. Without any USB devices, battery life is a little better, but not much.
Reports 2:10 from a full charge while playing low def Netflix.
The 1.6 ghz MBA can't play high def Netflix without severe stuttering during scenes with motion.

The 13" may do significantly better playing low def because the CPU shouldn't be taxed as heavily.

 

[Over Achiever]

I'm sorry, playing a movie on Netflix right now. It definitely does not studder on fullscreen (1.6 GHz)

But I looked at my battery again. Looks like I get 3 hours this time. Will update this at the end of the movie. Brightness 3/4, sound 1/2.

 

[ottos]

I have read many reviews that Ipad is great for netflix no stuttering or
blurs in fast motion scenes, It is a little hard to believe the MBA cant
handle netflix flawlessly ?

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I really like the 11 '' MBA and for my needs it would
be almost perfect , I want to upgrade from my XP 10'' net book
I am totally fed up with windows, so the 11''1/2 screen is no
problem for me as a full time computer.
The battery time on the 11'' worries me a little, is it feasible to watch
a good 3 hours of Netflix on a fairly bright setting and good volume?
and if I get the 11'' is 2 GB memory enough for basic photo , browsing
watching netflix.

if you need only 3 hours, you will just reach it. I charge my macbook air 11' once a day. and i stream alot of movies and watch alot of tv shows. and 2gb might be good enough.

 

[Over Achiever]

I was able to watch a 2:10 movie with some charge to spare. No studdering (my internet was streaming at 400 KB/s

The fan did kick on towards the end of the movie. CPU usage was around 110%.