Looking to buy a MBA. pros and cons please give me opinions

[FFTWarren]

I am very interested in buying a Mac notebook for college. I really love the look and design of the air. But for the price I want to make sure Im getting my moneys worth and making a good purchase. I have never owned a mac before so I am new to the whole thing. I would really appreciate any feedback both positive and negative. preferably from owners. I wont be doing anything major other than just playing on the web and writing reports and stuff. no graphics, music or video production. Also Im aware that tomorrow they will be announcing new changes in notebooks. will the new notebooks be in stores tomorrow or will it take a while. and if so how long before I could expect to see a possible new MBA in stores? thanks for the help. also I would be buying the more expensive version so I need pros and cons on that. idk whether the2 versions would vary at all but thats what Im interested in
TREY

 

[cantthinkofone]

I am very interested in buying a Mac notebook for college. I really love the look and design of the air. But for the price I want to make sure Im getting my moneys worth and making a good purchase. I have never owned a mac before so I am new to the whole thing. I would really appreciate any feedback both positive and negative. preferably from owners. I wont be doing anything major other than just playing on the web and writing reports and stuff. no graphics, music or video production. Also Im aware that tomorrow they will be announcing new changes in notebooks. will the new notebooks be in stores tomorrow or will it take a while. and if so how long before I could expect to see a possible new MBA in stores? thanks for the help. also I would be buying the more expensive version so I need pros and cons on that. idk whether the2 versions would vary at all but thats what Im interested in
TREY

New laptops might be in stores same day but i wouldn't think so. 2 weeks is the norm.

It doesn't have a CD/DVD drive so keep that in mind too.

 

[glitch44]

here's a review for you: link.

 

[FFTWarren]

yeah

yeah I know Im gonna by the superdrive I just wanna know performance and reliability. speed and things like that. playing music and youtube kind of stuff. is it still fast while doing multiple task(2-3)

 

[yoppie]

I'm not sure I would recommend a MBA as a first mac but to each its own.

I think you should wait and see what the MacBooks looks like tomorrow and decide from there.

 

[deriko100]

Pros
-Thin
-Ultraportablle

Cons
-Not that fast
-Small hard drive
-No Superdrive
-Bad Speakers
-Not many USB Ports
-Expensive


And yea, those are most of the stuff forgive me if I missed any.

 

[FFTWarren]

between the 2

Its between the MBP and MBA. I like the looks and feel of teh MBA much more than the mbp. I know Im gettin much more computer for just a lil more money with the MBP. but I feel like that I would never use the MBP even close to its full capacity. but I also dont want a slow machine either. And for what I am doing and how much I like the MBA I feel like its what I should go with. IDK thats why Im askin yall. pretty much just normal internet surfing (listening to music and watching youtube clips and just looking up stuff) and typing reports is what I'd be doing

 

[nalamber1]

I would not reccommend a MBA for a first Mac. It only has one USB port and doesn't include a default ethernet port. You have to get a USB adapter to convert the single port to an ethernet port. True, maybe you would use the CD player seldomly, but if you don't have access to a wireless connection, you will have to connect via enet. If you do that you won't be able to run any CDs.

In sum, think of everything you may want to use that connects with a USB cord. Then remember you only have one port and if you want to run a CD or connect via enet, you can't.

Edit: USB hubs that enable multiple usb devices to connect will work, but the Superdrive won't work in the USB hub. It's exclusively meant to work with only the MBA. There may be third party software that may enable you, though.

 

[FFTWarren]

?

Im confused as to why yall keep saying yall wouldnt get it as my first mac. I have a regular desktop at my house. no its not a mac but for bigger applications I could use this. I want the laptop just to take notes in class and type reports mainly. If Im at home I'll use my other computer most likely.

 

[snberk103]

The Air was designed, IMHO, with the assumption that it would be the 2nd and portable system for the owner. I know others have said that they use the Air exclusively, and are happy with it.... but I don't think that was the initial design assumption. *IF* you will be using it as designed, then I think you will be happy with it. My wife has one, and she loves the fact that she can carry it anywhere. It is so light, she can toss it in her case and just carry it around all day. Her old MBP would ordinarily be left behind because of its weight and size. However, the Air is her 2nd, travel only, system. The old MBP is the system she uses day to day in her home office.

A MB is more capable, less costly, and not much bigger. *IF* you want my advice, start with a MB. Get one from the refurb site for the best savings (check it daily to get a feel for the way the prices change) If you end up liking Macs (what's not to like? ), and want to do more.... start watching the refurb section again on the Apple store. When a well priced Air appears, snap it up. Keep the MB as your primary system, or sell it. Macs are said to keep their value well so you won't be too far out on money.

Should you get the Air, just keep in mind that it *is* a feature limited system, meant to travel. And it travels very very well.

 

[King t.]

i did the switch from a MBP to MBA and have not regreted it so far.

Pro:
thin
super portable
speed is enough
back lit keyboard
light weight
multi touch trackpad

cons:
only 1 usb port
HD is too small 80gb is just not enough, but i have a external mobile 120gb
battery life is not as stated, the max that I get are 4 - 4 1/2 hours by using word and firefox.

 

[jbrenn]

for your purpose the air would work just keep in mind the very small hd. no ram upgrades. you can not replace anything. i would buy refirb it is still cheaper and the edu discount on a new one. be sure to get apple care

 

[FFTWarren]

?

at what time tomorrow will they be showing the new line? will the apple site show all the new stuff or how does it work because Im pretty sure that if the MBA isnt upgraded then I'll go purchase one tomorrow. if they are do yall think the stores will already have it or should I go preorder one?

 

[glitch44]

at what time tomorrow will they be showing the new line? will the apple site show all the new stuff or how does it work because Im pretty sure that if the MBA isnt upgraded then I'll go purchase one tomorrow. if they are do yall think the stores will already have it or should I go preorder one?

10am Pacific. The new models could be in stores immediately or they could be available for preorder and won't ship for 2-3 weeks.

 

[grimreaper1377]

Pros
-Thin
-Ultraportablle

Cons
-Not that fast
-Small hard drive
-No Superdrive
-Bad Speakers
-Not many USB Ports
-Expensive


And yea, those are most of the stuff forgive me if I missed any.

Apple solutions to all those cons:

-Not that fast

It uses Intel Core 2 Duo, so it has to be fast!

-Small hard drive

Time capsule!

-No Superdrive

iTunes!

-Bad Speakers

Use Apple TV to stream music to your TV's sound!

-Not many USB Ports

Who needs USB ports?

-Expensive

We don't care!

 

[iSee]

People have summed up the pros and cons well (MBA is good for you. You probably won't be satisfied with the speakers for music, but you probably wouldn't like the MBP speakers for that either.)

But it's a pointless debate. Wait about 25 hrs and *then* we'll see what your options are.

Availability is usually from the same day to two weeks from the event.

Just a guess, but I think most stuff will be available almost immediately. Unlike a keynote, Apple has some flexibility to schedule the event to match the availability of the notebooks, which I think they prefer. Also, from a retail perspective, it's getting late in terms of Christmas prep. As a big guy Apple can stretch it, but the products have to be available very soon.

 

[FFTWarren]

crap

I guess ima wait till november

 

[AppliedMicro]

playing music and youtube kind of stuff.

Well... Youtube is actually pretty heavy on the CPU. That has led to thermal issues (core shutdown, fans blowing at high speed). However, the new CPUs should fix or at least mitigate these issues. Besides, I don't see a huge problem, even in getting this for a main computer, if you are aware of its limitations. I am a MacBook Air fan as anybody. Still, in light of today's updates, I'd say:

Do not get the MacBook Air, if you absolutely don't care about an additional 1.5 pounds of weight. Get the less expensive and better-equipped new MacBook instead. "Thinness" doesn't matter that much, in my opinion. Weight, however, does. At least for me. Only consider the Air, if you feel comfortable spending some $ on the lightweightedness (is that a word?) of your machine.

Its between the MBP and MBA. I like the looks and feel of teh MBA much more than the mbp.

I sold my MacBook Pro pretty much as soon as the MacBook Air was announced. Haven't purchased an MBA yet, but it seems like I'll do in the next few days. I have tried a friend's one and really liked it.

Its main limitations are its sole USB port and, maybe, the missing Audio-In. Otherwise, it's just a bit slower than the other Books. But I think you will be happy with your MacBook Air