Is there a point in the Air now?

[CoreyMac]

Let's compare the high end MacBook to the high end MacBook Air.

MacBook:

Aluminum Unibody Design
Weight: 4.5lbs
Thickness: 0.95"
2.4GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
4GB DDR3 RAM
320GB 5400 RPM HD (User Upgradeable)
Glass Trackpad with Multi-Touch (More Gestures than Air)
Black Backlit Keyboard
NVIDIA 9400M with 5x Performance
Stereo Speakers
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
2 USB Ports

Price: $1,849.00

MacBook Air:

Aluminum Unibody Design
Weight: 3.0lbs
Thickness (Largest point): 0.76"
1.86GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM (Non-Upgradeable)
128GB SSD HD (Non-Upgradeable)
Same Air Trackpad with one button (No four-finger gestures)
Black Backlit Keyboard
NVIDIA 9400M with 4x Performance (Had to clock it lower than the MB)
Mono Speakers
SuperDrive Not Included
1 USB Port

Price: $2,499.00

So for $650 more you get a far inferior processor, less RAM, far smaller hard drive capacity, a lower clocked video card, mono speakers, no dvd burner drive and 1 less USB port......

is that worth the .19" thinner and 1.5lbs lighter? Choice is yours. Personally, I think there is no longer a point to the Air with the new MB update. You get far more for far less.....given the MB is a little heavier, its not much thicker and both of these units have the same footprint (width/depth)......

 

[HeadForTheHills]

Let's compare the high end MacBook to the high end MacBook Air....
So for $650 more you get a far inferior processor, less RAM, far smaller hard drive capacity, a lower clocked video card, mono speakers, no dvd burner drive and 1 less USB port......

You forgot to mention the screen: one key reason I've signed up for the MBA over the MB is to escape from the glass mirror screen (coupled with color intensity shifting over angle of view).

As an only computer, the MBA will make sense for only a small group, but coupled with a more powerful base machine, the MBA seems to fills the quality portability niche perfectly - thus justifying paying more for less.

 

[xparaparafreakx]

If the macbook air is not for you then please quit posting topics on how stupid we are. The air is the prefect main or 2nd machine to us.

"128GB SSD HD (Non-Upgradeable)"

We shall see about that.

As an only computer, the MBA will make sense for only a small group, but coupled with a more powerful base machine, the MBA seems to fills the quality portability niche perfectly - thus justifying paying more for less.

That is right. I bet your Mac Pro would destory the new Macbook.

Plus for me, a new baisc air is $1457. Go 25% employee discount.

 

[zer0tails]

Let's compare the high end MacBook to the high end MacBook Air.

MacBook:

Aluminum Unibody Design
Weight: 4.5lbs
Thickness: 0.95"
2.4GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
4GB DDR3 RAM
320GB 5400 RPM HD (User Upgradeable)
Glass Trackpad with Multi-Touch (More Gestures than Air)
Black Backlit Keyboard
NVIDIA 9400M with 5x Performance
Stereo Speakers
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
2 USB Ports

Price: $1,849.00

MacBook Air:

Aluminum Unibody Design
Weight: 3.0lbs
Thickness (Largest point): 0.76"
1.86GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM (Non-Upgradeable)
128GB SSD HD (Non-Upgradeable)
Same Air Trackpad with one button (No four-finger gestures)
Black Backlit Keyboard
NVIDIA 9400M with 4x Performance (Had to clock it lower than the MB)
Mono Speakers
SuperDrive Not Included
1 USB Port

Price: $2,499.00

So for $650 more you get a far inferior processor, less RAM, far smaller hard drive capacity, a lower clocked video card, mono speakers, no dvd burner drive and 1 less USB port......

is that worth the .19" thinner and 1.5lbs lighter? Choice is yours. Personally, I think there is no longer a point to the Air with the new MB update. You get far more for far less.....given the MB is a little heavier, its not much thicker and both of these units have the same footprint (width/depth)......

A couple of things wrong with your comparison that reveal your ignorance and tarnish your credibility.

1. The Air DOES have the 4 finger gesture.

2. The HD IS upgradeable.

3. You're comparing a SSD to a HD. Obviously the SSD has less capacity, but it makes up for that with other benefits which you choose not to mention.

4. The Air's 6MB L2 Cache is more than the Macbook's.

5. Where did you get that the 9400M has 5x performance compared to the Air's 4x performance?

6. The Air has a much better screen than the macbook which many people have complained is washed out.

If you want to trash the Air, at least get your facts straight.

 

[Jig]

5. Where did you get that the 9400M has 5x performance compared to the Air's 4x performance?

It does say this on the Apple website, however no one really knows just now. For instance, they could be comparing the macbook against the GMA950 Intel chipset to get the biggest number, and the X3100 with the air since it was never released with GMA950.

Or maybe it's clocked lower.

 

[CoreyMac]

A couple of things wrong with your comparison that reveal your ignorance and tarnish your credibility.

1. The Air DOES have the 4 finger gesture.

2. The HD IS upgradeable.

3. You're comparing a SSD to a HD. Obviously the SSD has less capacity, but it makes up for that with other benefits which you choose not to mention.

4. The Air's 6MB L2 Cache is more than the Macbook's.

5. Where did you get that the 9400M has 5x performance compared to the Air's 4x performance?

6. The Air has a much better screen than the macbook which many people have complained is washed out.

If you want to trash the Air, at least get your facts straight.

1. Does it? Totally unaware that the Airs gestures are being updated beyond what it currently has.
2. If you want to do dirty work....which most arent willing to do...nor are people willing to void their warranties.
3. What advantage is there honestly to SSD? Slower write times, lower capacity.....Faster read/boot times....its positives in speed are very debateable especially with the far inferior CPU and RAM. Shock resistance? Does that even matter? Anyone buying a MBA should be careful enough where they shouldnt be that careless...Same goes for any $1600+ Laptop.
4. 6MB L2 Cache makes doesnt make up for the lack of RAM & CPU Power.
5. Yes, the 9400M is in fact clocked lower than the MacBook's.
6. Much better screen no....better, yes.

I Dont think Im ignorant...just stating facts, that im aware of. If the new Air has 4 finger gestures then so be it. Doesnt really make up for everything else.

 

[CoreyMac]

It does say this on the Apple website, however no one really knows just now. For instance, they could be comparing the macbook against the GMA950 Intel chipset to get the biggest number, and the X3100 with the air since it was never released with GMA950.

Or maybe it's clocked lower.

Jobs said they clocked it lower in his keynote.

 

[Scottological]

Because there are some who aren't as price sensitive as you and want the gorgeous screen and sleek form factor only the Air provides. Plus there's nothing like it to reel in the chicks in the Frankfurt business class lounge.

 

[CoreyMac]

Because there are some who aren't as price sensitive as you and want the gorgeous screen and sleek form factor only the Air provides. Plus there's nothing like it to reel in the chicks in the Frankfurt business class lounge.

Only Apple fans would pick a little difference in form factor over performance for a higher price. I never said dont get it...I Specifically said at the bottom if the $650 more for thinner and lighter is for you then so be it.....Its just not that smart of a purchase in the general scheme of things. Trust me, Id take a Rev.2 MBA in a heartbeat if given one.

 

[tigres]

I notice on these boards that for the most part, people dislike and bash the Air. I am not certain as to why, as I see on a number of posts claiming it is inferior to the MB.

Well, that goes without saying as the the slower processor. The MBA has a 1.86 and the MB starts with the 2.0-- big deal.

The ram is 2 on both unless you upgrade the MB to 4 again.

So, side by side using the air and mb as they are built, I see the only true difference is size of the hd, and the minor bump in the processor speed (and they are the same processor now).

So, with that being said what the heck is the big deal? I personally bought an air to replace my MBP that gave me nothing but grief. So what it will be slower, but honestly I don't really care. The 128 SSD will be plenty also the Air is built to use tools and resources to save space. I recently changed wallets as well to force myself to get rid of all of that crap that accumulates.

Work smarter, leaner, and cleaner. It is one sexy machine in my opinion and out looks all the the Mac product line. The screen is by far the best in all of the classes as well, and that is a huge factor to me as well.

 

[shiseiryu1]

Trackpad with Button vs Glass Trackpad

What do you guys think about the new glass trackpad? I tried it out at Best Buy and I think it works and feels really great. However, I saw that the MBA didn't adopt the new glass trackpad...I wonder if it will in version #3? I loved playing with the glass trackpad and then going over to the Windows laptop section and feeling how small, clunky, and crappy all their trackpads are in comparison.

 

[shen]

weighty matters

Is there a point in the Air now?
It's only 1.5 lbs lighter then the Macbook

you said it right there. if you don't understand "1.5 lbs. lighter" then there is no point to the Air for you, but for many of us this is a huge difference.

 

[zer0tails]

1. Does it? Totally unaware that the Airs gestures are being updated beyond what it currently has.
2. If you want to do dirty work....which most arent willing to do...nor are people willing to void their warranties.
3. What advantage is there honestly to SSD? Slower write times, lower capacity.....Faster read/boot times....its positives in speed are very debateable especially with the far inferior CPU and RAM. Shock resistance? Does that even matter? Anyone buying a MBA should be careful enough where they shouldnt be that careless...Same goes for any $1600+ Laptop.
4. 6MB L2 Cache makes doesnt make up for the lack of RAM & CPU Power.
5. Yes, the 9400M is in fact clocked lower than the MacBook's.
6. Much better screen no....better, yes.

I Dont think Im ignorant...just stating facts, that im aware of. If the new Air has 4 finger gestures then so be it. Doesnt really make up for everything else.

First you stated that the HD is Non-upgradeable, and now you change your tune to it can but no one wants to do the dirty work

In regards to the benefits of SSD, you say that it doesn't matter because the Air has an inferior cpu and ram

FYI, L2 cache is just as important as processor speed.

 

[mhnajjar]

The MBA is better than the glass MB. Go check them out in a store display and you will notice what we are talking about

 

[nick9191]

The Air is comparable to the Macbook in speed terms because of the 100% larger cache.

The 1.86 Air will leave the 2.0 Macbook in the dust I'm quite sure.

 

[Molopo]

1. Does it? Totally unaware that the Airs gestures are being updated beyond what it currently has.
2. If you want to do dirty work....which most arent willing to do...nor are people willing to void their warranties.
3. What advantage is there honestly to SSD? Slower write times, lower capacity.....Faster read/boot times....its positives in speed are very debateable especially with the far inferior CPU and RAM. Shock resistance? Does that even matter? Anyone buying a MBA should be careful enough where they shouldnt be that careless...Same goes for any $1600+ Laptop.
4. 6MB L2 Cache makes doesnt make up for the lack of RAM & CPU Power.
5. Yes, the 9400M is in fact clocked lower than the MacBook's.
6. Much better screen no....better, yes.

I Dont think Im ignorant...just stating facts, that im aware of. If the new Air has 4 finger gestures then so be it. Doesnt really make up for everything else.

IIRC, there aren't any warranty seals on the MBA, so no warranty voiding is needed to switch out your harddrive. Also, the difference between switching out a harddrive on the air and on the macbook is taking out several screws vs. pulling a little latch. Also L2 cache gets filled up and used much faster than 4 GB of RAM, and adds more to a computer's overall speed. Development for SSDs is going much faster than dev for older HDD, and soon enough write speeds for SSDs will match or exceed that of HDDs. Intel has already produced an SSD that has comparable write speeds to HDDs, and they're only going to get faster.

The mere fact that you believe you are not ignorant makes you all the more ignorant.

 

[GoCubsGo]

One thing to point out is that the MBA has a significantly better screen then the MB.

This is what I think I may be banking on. I am hoping the Air Rev B won't have the same display as the MB.

A couple of things wrong with your comparison that reveal your ignorance and tarnish your credibility.

1. The Air DOES have the 4 finger gesture.

2. The HD IS upgradeable.

3. You're comparing a SSD to a HD. Obviously the SSD has less capacity, but it makes up for that with other benefits which you choose not to mention.

4. The Air's 6MB L2 Cache is more than the Macbook's.

5. Where did you get that the 9400M has 5x performance compared to the Air's 4x performance?

6. The Air has a much better screen than the macbook which many people have complained is washed out.

If you want to trash the Air, at least get your facts straight.

I agree. But let us not forget the only downfall for me right now with the Air is the lack of the glass trackpad. It was so easy to fall in love with.

 

[Cynicalone]

I use my Air (1.8 ghz 64GB SSD) like a Netbook. Email, Firefox, and iWork when traveling. I don't mind paying more for portability. I have two iMac's at the house for the heavy lifting.

I think you have to take money out of the equation. If you're really worried about money you wouldn't be buying Apple products imo.

 

[KamiNoYadoru]

6. Much better screen no....better, yes.

huh? not according to like EVERYONE else on this forum who has tried both.

 

[rittchard]

you said it right there. if you don't understand "1.5 lbs. lighter" then there is no point to the Air for you, but for many of us this is a huge difference.

I was curious/skeptical about the 1.5pound difference so I went to check the new MB out at Best Buy. As soon as I tried to lift it I knew I had made the right choice in sticking with the new MBA. It's not just the added weight, it's the overall feel of the unit. Now that I'm used to the MBA, I can't imagine going thicker/heavier again. I tried to balance the MB on my fingertips the way I typically do with the MBA, and it just felt way too clunky and heavy. (I think the people at the store thought I was crazy but that's another story.)

I agree the price differential is a bit painful, but all in all, the MBA is still an incredible piece of engineering, not just a "cool" machine, but an incredibly practical one as well.

 

[iMacmatician]

Or maybe it's clocked lower.

I think it was mentioned in the keynote that it was clocked lower for heat reduction.

I Specifically said at the bottom if the $650 more for thinner and lighter is for you then so be it.....Its just not that smart of a purchase in the general scheme of things.

It's only $150 more if you compare it with the hard drive instead of the SSD, which is fair since the MacBook has a hard drive.

I agree. But let us not forget the only downfall for me right now with the Air is the lack of the glass trackpad. It was so easy to fall in love with.

I wonder when the MacBook Air will get the glass trackpad. Something tells me it won't be until the next minor redesign (which could be a year or so from now).

 

[CoreyMac]

I think it was mentioned in the keynote that it was clocked lower for heat reduction.

It's only $150 more if you compare it with the hard drive instead of the SSD, which is fair since the MacBook has a hard drive.

I wonder when the MacBook Air will get the glass trackpad. Something tells me it won't be until the next minor redesign (which could be a year or so from now).

but wouldnt the hard drive version of the Air be even MORE pointless considering 4200rpm is garbage? I would never consider a 4200rpm hd. I think if you get an Air you MUST get the SSD version....unless you like beachballs

 

[mhnajjar]

but wouldnt the hard drive version of the Air be even MORE pointless considering 4200rpm is garbage? I would never consider a 4200rpm hd. I think if you get an Air you MUST get the SSD version....unless you like beachballs

We can tell that you have never had a MBA and this is why you keep stating useless inaccurate info about the MBA.

The 4200 RPM HDD is NOT useless even though it is not as good as a 5400 one.

BTW, the MBA's screen is TWICE as good as the MB's one and there is a huge weight difference regardless of the small number (1.5 lb).

 

[CoreyMac]

We can tell that you have never had a MBA and this is why you keep stating useless inaccurate info about the MBA.

The 4200 RPM HDD is NOT useless even though it is not as good as a 5400 one.

BTW, the MBA's screen is TWICE as good as the MB's one and there is a huge weight difference regardless of the small number (1.5 lb).

uesless info? Ive used an Air before....and every reviewer that played with it longterm said the 4200RPM drive in the original Air sucked. Why would this be any different? Im just pointing out the price comparison for what you get.....then you take out the SSD to make it more comparable to the MB price-wise yet its performance gets even worse with the 4200 drive....just trying to see the logic i guess? As hard as it may seem to believe....I adore the idea of the new MBA coming next month and am battling internally with what to purchase...the Air or the Reg. MacBook as I too like the Air's screen alot more, along with its obvious weight and thickness.....Im just trying to really throw things out there and see what the benefits are to an Air over a MB.......

 

[rittchard]

As someone who is accustomed to 10,000rpm Velociraptor hard drives on his PC, I can honestly say I have never noticed any significant performance issues/hits with the hard drive on the current MBA. Moving to SATA on the new version can only make things better.

I'm sure if you want to obsess over stats and performance benchmarks you can, but for every day usage, I have never found the speed of the MBA hard drive a limiting factor. Size was an issue for me once I started installing more games, but not speed.