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Is MBA your dream laptop?

silverblack

silverblack

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 27, 2007
2,680
840
People usually come to this forum to report problems and look for solutions. Occasionally, some need reasons to justify their decisions NOT to buy MBAs.

I don't think it's fair, and I want to tell everyone that I have been very very happy with my MBA. In fact, it is the dream machine that I have been waiting all these year since I switched over to Mac OS (panther).

To me, a true portable laptop should be less than 4 pounds. My first Mac notebook was a 12" powerbook. It wasn't heavy, but not light either. However, Apple discontinued it when migrating to Intel. The G4 processor was getting too slow, and so I had to get a Macbook. Macbook was surely a good-value laptop. With 4 GB of ram, my powerbook was no comparison. I was happy with its power and value, but my only complaint was the weight.

During the time I have my Macbook, I've always missed my Windows days when I owned a Sony ultraportable. I have seriously considered hacking a Sony to run OS X, and desperately hoped that Apple would come up with an ultraportable one day... then they announced the MBA.

I was a bit disappointed at first that the MBA had the same footprint as the macbook (I wished it was smaller). However, I had to buy it. I didn't even care what's in and not in the MBA, I just couldn't wait to lose 2 pounds off my briefcase.

After I owned the MBA, I started liking it more and more. Apple's choice of going with the 13" screen and hence the larger (macbook) footprint was actually a good one. I am very happy with the screen. The heat issue - to me is, "What heat issue?". I don't think my macbook ran any cooler than my MBA. All laptops (computers) run hot under stress - that's the law of Physics. May be I am lucky, I never run into core shut-down issues. I admit that I'm no software or graphic engineer. I use my MBA as my sole computer for office and internet use all day (1.6 GHz, 80Gb HDD). I also rip and convert movies from time to time, no problem. The computing power is sufficient for my needs. I connect it to an external monitor when I use it on my desk, and I take it with me where ever I go. Couldn't be happier.

Anyone else care to join me in sharing your happy thoughts?
 
Cabbit

Cabbit

macrumors 68020
Jan 30, 2006
2,128
1
Scotland
The air will be my dream computer onces it gets a GPU, matte screen, stereo sound, larger SSD and loose the USB port it has no use.
 
M

mBurns

macrumors 6502
Oct 3, 2006
357
0
USA
No, I don't think I could purchase on with its current limitations in good concious.
 
sushi

sushi

Moderator emeritus
Jul 19, 2002
15,639
3
キャンプスワ&#
The MBA is a wonderful solution for those that it fits their needs.

I was about ready to get one, and I must admit that I do check them out each time I visit a store that has them on display, but the following kept me from getting one:

A. Only available with a glossy display. I neet a matte screen.

B. Small HD for my needs. Sure I could get an external, but IMHO that sort of defeats the purpose of the MBA.

C. No Firewire.

Instead I purchased a MBP15 2.4 (last year's model), after the new ones came out, at a big discount. I've upped the RAM to 4GB and will be installing a 500GB HD this week. So instead of rotating between 4 computers, I will now be able to use one instead. Sweet.

Originally, I planned to get the MBA to augment my desktop and other computers. However, now that I've gone the MBP route for everything I may just stick with that. Not 100% sure yet, but this solution is growing on me. :)
 
S

ScottFitz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 3, 2007
666
0
It just depends on why you buy one, what your needs are. It's perfect for what I do. The screen is amazing.
 
silverblack

silverblack

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 27, 2007
2,680
840
Didn't you know that you CAN get MBA with a superdrive, larger HDD, even faster CPU and up to 4GB of RAM? It's called the Macbook; comes in black and white. Stop asking!
 
R

ryanide

macrumors 6502
Jul 23, 2002
292
31
no, but a SONY VAIO TX w/Mac OS X would be!

the MBA, while thin, is still too large. It has the same outter dimensions as the other macbooks, while having reduced features.

A perfect subcompact would be like Sony's TX or TZ series with Mac OS X and Apple's sleek outter finish. i would rather have a smaller form factor that is slightly heavier if it included the DVD burner (or better yet Blu-Ray) and USB and ethernet.

The 12" Macbook G4 was the closest Apple has come to a subcompact.
The Air is just a bunch of PR Air!!!
 
silverblack

silverblack

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 27, 2007
2,680
840
ryanide said:
the MBA, while thin, is still too large.
Click to expand...

I used to think like you before, until I actually own an MBA. Now I totally prefer thin over small footprint. Why? Two reasons. 1) When carrying it in a briefcase, thin (and light) dimension fits much better. 2) Bigger footprint = larger screen.

If you have a chance to test drive the MBA for a day or two, you'll know what I mean.
 
G

Gregintosh

macrumors 68000
Jan 29, 2008
1,923
553
Chicago
I think the dimensions are perfect. With the laptops I owned before I always wanted something lighter (not necessarily thinner but that's a nice bonus). The MBA has hit the perfect weight where I can carry it around for a long time and while I am doing that I can forget I even have a laptop on me.

The CD-ROM being taken out is totally ahead of its time, but for someone like me who hardly uses CDs at all as is its totally not even noticeable, much less a deal breaker.

The only things I would do to it are increase storage a little bit on the SSD, which is going to be an inevitable upgrade in the near future (within a year or two I am sure 120-250GB SSD HDs will be around) and make it run cooler (the speed is fine on the SSD HD, but if it could run at full speed while maintaining near silence, it would be beautiful).

And lastly I would increase battery life. I make this wish for every computer since I love the idea of not having to take my charger with me. The MBA is already there since I only use it for 2-3 hours on the go when I do take it out which is usually fine with no charger, but 7-9 hour battery life would be beautiful. That's totally a "some day" wish though, definitely not happening in the near future.
 
TwinCities Dan

TwinCities Dan

macrumors 603
May 19, 2008
5,947
6
Double Parked out front of the Courthouse
Gregintosh said:
The CD-ROM being taken out is totally ahead of its time, but for someone like me who hardly uses CDs at all as is its totally not even noticeable, much less a deal breaker.
Click to expand...

Alright, we obviously use our computers very differently (which is good) and I do agree that is totally ahead of its time. I just think a lot of people still have needs for CDs. A lot of people go buy their software and music in stores and it comes on discs, how does that work with the remote drive thingy? I understand the Air is a portable and meant to be as thin and light as possible but I stick with my big ol' clunker MBP... ;) :)

(I don't think the Air will be the only computer without a CD drive, it is ahead of its time, the question is how far is it ahead? :confused:)
 
S

ScottFitz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 3, 2007
666
0
TwinCities Dan said:
I am curious about this feature (which sounds great if you have multiple macs! :p)...

Is it only mac compatible? Or will any ol' PC with wireless work? I assume both computers need wireless cards correct? :confused:
Click to expand...

It's supposed to work nicely with PC's as well.
 
billyripkin

billyripkin

macrumors 6502
Jun 28, 2007
368
7
Chicago
In the past year I have owned a Macbook and then a Macbook Pro and now a Macbook Air and I think I am in love. I never used the DVD drive and could care less about the USB/firewire ports. I have iMac for those things, what I needed was a simple ultra portable laptop that could get me on the net and let me watch movies. For me this computer is a homerun.:)
 
a104375

a104375

macrumors 6502
Oct 8, 2007
463
147
Matamoras, PA
personally I never plan to get a MBA due to what I have heard about the overheating and strange sluggishness. If those are fixed I would definitely consider it but dream laptop, not anytime soon..ill stick with a MB or MBP
 
AC Rempt

AC Rempt

Contributor
Feb 24, 2008
290
19
And of course, you can get a SuperDrive for it. I actually did and use it to watch the occasional DVD. Works just fine, and most the time, I don't need it, so it stays in its alcove at home. Easily done.

And no, while I love my Air, it isn't my dream computer. I love the size, the screen, the keyboard and so much more, but I want a 12 hour battery, a terabyte hard drive and unlimited RAM with a voice activated OS.

Until then, I'll make do.
 
S

Sound Evolution

macrumors 6502
Oct 30, 2007
414
0
Netherlands
Dear,

The MBA was and is still my dream laptop, and it does everything I need very good and very fast. There is only one issue that turns my dream into a nightmare and that is that hell of a core shutdown every time.

It is unbelievable that it is not possible to have a skype conversation on a computer of nearly $3000. All my PC friends who I always coursed before :D laugh at me and my mac if after 10 minutes my webcam image starts to stutter and the freeze because of my core shutdown...:(

With kind regards,
Bas
 
MacGeek7

MacGeek7

macrumors 6502a
Aug 25, 2007
766
14
If I had a lot of money I would ditch my MacBook, get a 24" iMac and a MacBook Air. but i don't have a lot of money so my MacBook is a good compromise
 
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