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Just got MBA 13"-Now what else do I need?

L

lolafalana

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 7, 2011
6
0
Just got the MBA 13". I really wasn't too sure what I needed in terms of accessories or software so I thought I would buy the notebook first. Now that I have it, what are the absolute essentials.

I will be using it with my IPhone and will be using it at home doing some work but mainly personal.
I guess I should purchase MS Office 2011, case/sleeve, external hard drive?

Your advice is most appreciated!

Thank you.
 
aaps59

aaps59

macrumors regular
Jan 19, 2010
136
0
NY
To go return it before they release new ones... loljk. But I recommend a Speck Case, good laptop bag, Targus maybe. It depends on what you do in your daily life and how you treat your computer.
 
J

jns2001

macrumors regular
Oct 13, 2009
151
16
lolafalana said:
Just got the MBA 13". I really wasn't too sure what I needed in terms of accessories or software so I thought I would buy the notebook first. Now that I have it, what are the absolute essentials.

I will be using it with my IPhone and will be using it at home doing some work but mainly personal.
I guess I should purchase MS Office 2011, case/sleeve, external hard drive?

Your advice is most appreciated!

Thank you.
Click to expand...

MS Office 2011, Quicken, Aperture and Chrome on the software side.
ACD 27", magic mouse and BT keyboard on the hardware side, and you have a full computer.
 
P

Panch0

macrumors 6502a
Feb 23, 2010
684
9
Virginia
lolafalana said:
Just got the MBA 13". I really wasn't too sure what I needed in terms of accessories or software so I thought I would buy the notebook first. Now that I have it, what are the absolute essentials.

I will be using it with my IPhone and will be using it at home doing some work but mainly personal.
I guess I should purchase MS Office 2011, case/sleeve, external hard drive?

Your advice is most appreciated!

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Is this your first Mac? If so, go to the software forum at:
https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/2/

At the top of the forum are some "Getting Started" links that should help you out.

As for Accessories, some sort of external storage, either USB or Networked, is the only thing I would call essential. Even if you have sufficient internal storage for your needs, having an external for TimeMachine backup is essential. Everything else is really up to your usage and taste: someone mentioned a Magic Mouse - I would say Magic Trackpad instead, but that's just a matter of taste, and you might prefer to just use the excellent built-in trackpad.
 
C

cootersgarage6

Guest
Nov 6, 2010
215
0
Lots

I agree with the person about Microsoft Office, DON'T get it... It's horrible, and it takes up about 20 GB of storage, and it's about $400. Yeah, Microsoft is expensive, they always are, just the PC companies are cheap, don't let them fool you. Get iWork, it's about 400 dollars cheaper than Office, and it's also better, and only takes up 10GB...
Also get the external super drive, a case, external hard drive... Then you should be good :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
C

czeluff

macrumors 6502
Oct 23, 2006
272
2
cootersgarage6 said:
I agree with the person about Microsoft Office, DON'T get it... It's horrible, and it takes up about 20 GB of storage, and it's about $400. Yeah, Microsoft is expensive, they always are, just the PC companies are cheap, don't let them fool you. Get iWork, it's about 400 dollars cheaper than Office, and it's also better, and only takes up 10GB...
Also get the external super drive, a case, external hard drive... Then you should be good :)
Click to expand...

I love Pages and Keynote, but Numbers can't do 1/10th of the calculation stuff of Excel. Maybe this won't matter to the OP, but to even try to compare the two is laughable. Though I do give Apple credit for making spreadsheets pretty :)

Only other downside to iWork is that it's "Export to Word/Excel/Powerpoint" doesn't work so hot. So if he/she is going to be collaborating with other users alot, I'd say to just get Office to not deal with the headache.
 
J

jns2001

macrumors regular
Oct 13, 2009
151
16
czeluff said:
I love Pages and Keynote, but Numbers can't do 1/10th of the calculation stuff of Excel. Maybe this won't matter to the OP, but to even try to compare the two is laughable. Though I do give Apple credit for making spreadsheets pretty :)

Only other downside to iWork is that it's "Export to Word/Excel/Powerpoint" doesn't work so hot. So if he/she is going to be collaborating with other users alot, I'd say to just get Office to not deal with the headache.
Click to expand...

Actually Office 2011 is pretty darn good, compared to the old office version. And it doesn't cost 400 bucks, more like 180.
 
K

karlegas

macrumors newbie
Feb 7, 2011
13
2
L

lolafalana

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 7, 2011
6
0
Panch0 said:
Is this your first Mac? If so, go to the software forum at:
https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/2/

At the top of the forum are some "Getting Started" links that should help you out.

As for Accessories, some sort of external storage, either USB or Networked, is the only thing I would call essential. Even if you have sufficient internal storage for your needs, having an external for TimeMachine backup is essential. Everything else is really up to your usage and taste: someone mentioned a Magic Mouse - I would say Magic Trackpad instead, but that's just a matter of taste, and you might prefer to just use the excellent built-in trackpad.
Click to expand...

It isn't my first Mac, but it has been over 4 years since I bought one so I guess it might as well be. I ordered it last week and it arrived today, earlier than expected so I am very excited!!!
 
B

Buck987

macrumors 65816
Jan 16, 2010
1,268
2,106
jns2001 said:
Actually Office 2011 is pretty darn good, compared to the old office version. And it doesn't cost 400 bucks, more like 180.
Click to expand...


agree...its like $100 at amazon for one user....big improvement over previous version.

IMHO its better than iworks if you need to look at office docs often.
 
topmounter

topmounter

macrumors 68030
Jun 18, 2009
2,628
998
FEMA Region VIII
Office 2011 is quite a bit nicer than Office 2008... this time I even coughed up for the version with Outlook... and Outlook for Mac is oh so much better than that POS Entourage.
 
ecib

ecib

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2011
123
0
lolafalana said:
Just got the MBA 13". I really wasn't too sure what I needed in terms of accessories or software so I thought I would buy the notebook first. Now that I have it, what are the absolute essentials.

I will be using it with my IPhone and will be using it at home doing some work but mainly personal.
I guess I should purchase MS Office 2011, case/sleeve, external hard drive?

Your advice is most appreciated!

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Dude, don't spend money on MS Office. Get Open Office: http://www.openoffice.org

The open source word processor and spreadsheet perfectly mimic Word and Excel, you can open Word and Excel files, as well as save in those formats as well. I'm a heavy business user, and have not found one instance where Open Office has failed to integrate with MS Office files. I'm sure there could be instances, but I just have not run into it yet. At least try it out before you spend your money. It's free.
 
S

Sugi209

macrumors newbie
Feb 7, 2011
23
0
Get Bodyguardz whole body protection if you want ot protect your MBA and still look sleek at the same time. I got my Bodyguardz from ebay, I think it was $44 something. I'm suppose to get my MBA tomorrow. If you like, I can post some pictures later after I install them. :)
 
C

c0052350

macrumors member
Oct 10, 2003
38
0
What are you smoking

cootersgarage6 said:
I agree with the person about Microsoft Office, DON'T get it... It's horrible, and it takes up about 20 GB of storage, and it's about $400. Yeah, Microsoft is expensive, they always are, just the PC companies are cheap, don't let them fool you. Get iWork, it's about 400 dollars cheaper than Office, and it's also better, and only takes up 10GB...
Also get the external super drive, a case, external hard drive... Then you should be good :)
Click to expand...

I have both office 2011 and iwork09 installed they take up 1.3gb and 700mb respectively. Where does this 20gb figure come from installing all the versions ever produced for os x wouldn't amount to that. Also Ofiice 2011 is much approved and in all honesty I prefer to use word and excel over the apple counterparts.
 
K

KPOM

macrumors P6
Oct 23, 2010
18,311
8,325
ecib said:
Dude, don't spend money on MS Office. Get Open Office: http://www.openoffice.org

The open source word processor and spreadsheet perfectly mimic Word and Excel, you can open Word and Excel files, as well as save in those formats as well. I'm a heavy business user, and have not found one instance where Open Office has failed to integrate with MS Office files. I'm sure there could be instances, but I just have not run into it yet. At least try it out before you spend your money. It's free.
Click to expand...

OpenOffice can open but not save the Office 2007 format. I use it in my Boot Camp partition, but use Office 2011 on my Mac partition. The price has come down considerably so I consider it worth it. That said, this part of the discussion is better suited to the software forums.

I'd suggest the OP get a decent sleeve for the MacBook Air. Incase makes some good ones. It is useful for carrying it in luggage or in the document pocket of a briefcase.
 
acedickson

acedickson

macrumors 6502a
Dec 6, 2004
727
0
ATL
Undo Redo said:
Get Apple's iWork instead unless you have a specific need for Office. It's cheaper and you can buy say, just the word processor "Pages," or just the spreadsheet "Numbers" if that's all you need.
Click to expand...

+1 Openoffice from openoffice.org. It's a suitable alternative as an MS Office replacement.
 
M

mariocapo

macrumors regular
Sep 3, 2009
104
26
Las Vegas
If you need a good case to carry the Air and accessories/cords I love my Marware Sportfolio deluxe. I had one for my old white 13" MacBook and got one for the new 13" Air. It has pockets for an iPod/Mouse/Camera, Power Cord, and Superdrive. With a nice pouch on the front. http://www.amazon.com/Sportfolio-Deluxe-MacBook-Air-Black/dp/B001AMGWTA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1297196015&sr=8-5

I don't have any other protection for it and I'm not sure why you'd need it. I never had any hard cases covering my MacBooks throughout the years and they all look great. But to each their own. Also any USB powered portable HD will do. I got one for a steal on Amazon's Gold Box deals a little while back. It was a WD 640 GB. There's my two cents.
 
L

lolafalana

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 7, 2011
6
0
Sugi209 said:
Get Bodyguardz whole body protection if you want ot protect your MBA and still look sleek at the same time. I got my Bodyguardz from ebay, I think it was $44 something. I'm suppose to get my MBA tomorrow. If you like, I can post some pictures later after I install them. :)
Click to expand...

Is it better than getting a Speck fitted case? I bought the satin black one last night but not sure if I like it or not.
 
C64

C64

macrumors 65816
Sep 3, 2008
1,236
222
Or use Google Docs if you don't need to create advanced spreadsheets and just need it for creating simple documents.
 
BENJMNS

BENJMNS

macrumors 6502
Dec 28, 2005
449
0
IMG-20110203-00173.jpg


yes to ms office 2011 and acd 27.

apple mice track too slow. get a microsoft one with right click.
 
S

Starlights

macrumors regular
Jan 22, 2011
133
39
lolafalana said:
Any feedback about the Bodyguardz vs. Speck?
Click to expand...

I installed the bodyguardz on my 13 MBA and love it! Then i ordered another one for my wife's Unibody and she likes it too. Try to look for coupons via google or buy through ebay - you will get it much cheaper than listed.
 
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