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Macbook Air for Full HD videos and as a primary computer...!

H

heyholetsgo

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 27, 2009
58
0
Hey guys...
I'm planning to buy a macbook and and one of those awesome Apple LED Cinema Displays (24” flat panel)...
Many people say the Macbook air isn't built to be a laptop AND the main computer, BUT I'll have an external hd anyway, I don't need more power than needed for playing full HD and I haven't used a real dvd/cd in months...
So why shouldn't I be satisfied with a Macbook Air + the APLLE LED that gives me 3 more USB ports?

When it comes to playing HD, do you think the
2.13GHz

* Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus
* 2GB Memory
* 128GB solid-state drive1
* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

will handle 1080p well?


Thank for help,
heyholetsgo!
 
J

Jsimon9633

macrumors regular
Jun 26, 2007
209
0
heyholetsgo said:
Hey guys...
I'm planning to buy a macbook and and one of those awesome Apple LED Cinema Displays (24” flat panel)...
Many people say the Macbook air isn't built to be a laptop AND the main computer, BUT I'll have an external hd anyway, I don't need more power than needed for playing full HD and I haven't used a real dvd/cd in months...
So why shouldn't I be satisfied with a Macbook Air + the APLLE LED that gives me 3 more USB ports?

When it comes to playing HD, do you think the
2.13GHz

* Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus
* 2GB Memory
* 128GB solid-state drive1
* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

will handle 1080p well?


Thank for help,
heyholetsgo!
Click to expand...

In a word - No.

It will spend a lot of its ability just pushing that external display resolution. If you then run 1080P video, then you are asking for stutters and pauses and trouble.

I have watched Apple video trailers in 1080P on this MBA but only on the small built in LCD not an external display.

The CPU/Ram/GPU combination is not made for 1080P viewing.

Buy an MBP with the discrete graphics card for that (9600M GT)

Cheers
 
MacDawg

MacDawg

Moderator emeritus
Mar 20, 2004
19,823
4,504
"Between the Hedges"
I wouldn't recommend it

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
H

heyholetsgo

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 27, 2009
58
0
That REALLY surprises me. I used a 2.0 Dual Core with a 7900GS for full HD videos without too many problems.
Does apple have such bad codecs?

Apart from the HD video playing, do you think I'll be happy with an air as a primary computer/laptop, considering I have the LED display?
 
MacDawg

MacDawg

Moderator emeritus
Mar 20, 2004
19,823
4,504
"Between the Hedges"
heyholetsgo said:
That REALLY surprises me. I used a 2.0 Dual Core with a 7900GS for full HD videos without too many problems.
Does apple have such bad codecs?

Apart from the HD video playing, do you think I'll be happy with an air as a primary computer/laptop, considering I have the LED display?
Click to expand...

Depends on your needs and demands, but it is not what it was primarily designed for

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
J

Jsimon9633

macrumors regular
Jun 26, 2007
209
0
heyholetsgo said:
That REALLY surprises me. I used a 2.0 Dual Core with a 7900GS for full HD videos without too many problems.
Does apple have such bad codecs?

Apart from the HD video playing, do you think I'll be happy with an air as a primary computer/laptop, considering I have the LED display?
Click to expand...

Now lets qualify what you mean by "without too many problems" it is not a codect issue whatsoever.

Its a pure power question. Now I am really surprised if you are saying a 2.0 with 7900gs is running full HD videos fine.

Maybe your "fine" is not my "fine".

It will do it just not what I consider OPTIMALLY.

remember that opinions of fine vary though.
 
entatlrg

entatlrg

macrumors 68040
Mar 2, 2009
3,385
6
Waterloo & Georgian Bay, Canada
MBA won't be ideal for that, fan will run non stop, video may be choppy, will get hot etc.

a MBP is what you're looking for, if size is a concern get the 13" that's the thinnest / lightest option capable of doing what you want it to do.
 
Macintox

Macintox

macrumors member
Feb 14, 2009
93
2
heyholetsgo said:
Hey guys...
I'm planning to buy a macbook and and one of those awesome Apple LED Cinema Displays (24” flat panel)...

will handle 1080p well?

Thank for help,
heyholetsgo!
Click to expand...

just a comment on this "awesome" 24" led Apple flat pannel display ! to me just a consumer led , glass reflecting, hard on the eyes, lacking true colors and height adjustment, awkward to calibrate ...
LG ( who makes the led pannel for Apple ) just came out with a led 24" for 3 times less $.
I would recommend to buy yourself a Lacie 324 or an Eizo if you want to do some editing on a real display ...
 
B

bartzilla

macrumors 6502a
Aug 11, 2008
540
0
heyholetsgo said:
That REALLY surprises me. I used a 2.0 Dual Core with a 7900GS for full HD videos without too many problems.
Does apple have such bad codecs?
Click to expand...

You don't think there's a big difference between a dedicated graphics processor such as the 7900GS and a "on-board" processor such as the 9400M then?

heyholetsgo said:
Apart from the HD video playing, do you think I'll be happy with an air as a primary computer/laptop, considering I have the LED display?
Click to expand...

Well only you know if you'll be "happy" with it because only you know exactly what you plan to do with it. I do know that the Apple store near me doesn't recommend the air as a "primary" computer to anyone, but if you think you know Apple products better than Apple *shrug*
 
H

heyholetsgo

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 27, 2009
58
0
Macintox said:
just a comment on this "awesome" 24" led Apple flat pannel display ! to me just a consumer led , glass reflecting, hard on the eyes, lacking true colors and height adjustment, awkward to calibrate ...
LG ( who makes the led pannel for Apple ) just came out with a led 24" for 3 times less $.
I would recommend to buy yourself a Lacie 324 or an Eizo if you want to do some editing on a real display ...
Click to expand...

Do the other displays also have the same features like the Apple Cinema Display?

Although I'm kind of in love with the air, I'll probably buy the 13" MBP...
Do you know if Windows 7 runs smooth on it, it"s built for running 24/7 and if HD will run(also under Mac) smooth with these system specs...?

13-inch: 2.53GHz


Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Memory
250GB hard drive1
Built-in 7-hour battery2
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

Is it easy to upgrade a MBP on your own?

THX!!!
 
H

heyholetsgo

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 27, 2009
58
0
Macintox said:
not only the same but better, like an HDMI port, a bad omission of the Apple display
Click to expand...

With features I mean does is support stuff like linking your macbook to the LED when it's closed and stuff like that they describe on
http://www.apple.com/displays/features.html

And I just noticed. Except for the slightly better processor(2.53GHz) and 2 Gb more Ram, the Macbook Pro 13" isn't(performance wise) really better than the air...
So why is the MBP supposed to be such a better Desktop PC replacement?
Even if the Air heats easier up, does that matter?
 
aaquib

aaquib

macrumors 65816
Sep 11, 2007
1,496
1
Toronto, Canada
heyholetsgo said:
With features I mean does is support stuff like linking your macbook to the LED when it's closed and stuff like that they describe on
http://www.apple.com/displays/features.html

And I just noticed. Except for the slightly better processor(2.53GHz) and 2 Gb more Ram, the Macbook Pro 13" isn't(performance wise) really better than the air...
So why is the MBP supposed to be such a better Desktop PC replacement?
Even if the Air heats easier up, does that matter?
Click to expand...

My only gripe with the MBA is the fact that it's limited to 2GB of RAM. The 400mhz processor or RAM won't make a difference when playing videos. The graphics will. And the graphics chip is the same in the 13" MBP and MBA. Like Cave Man said, use a software like Plex and it'll run just fine. I watch 720p videos on my Rev.A MBA with the X3100 :eek: and for the most part it runs fine.
 
D

darrellishere

macrumors 6502
Jul 13, 2007
337
0
Actually the graphics in the macbook air Revision B were under-clocked.

Apparently now its not?

The macbook air as a main system is unrealistic due to the ram! That 2 Gb with 256mb shared graphics memory will get eaten up in minuets just by safari and annoy the hell out of you when you get bogged down. The ssd may help.

Did the revision C sort out the 1080p VLC inability to play Blu-ray rips?

Apparently the bench marks don't think so, as the 2.13 ghz Air is still heavily throttled down to 1.5ghz!

Coolbook lifts that limit, and run the chip at full speed if you want! Which really helped me when watching BBC HD Flash on my external 24" LED.

I would say you could make it work and still be very! happy with the performance if you realise their are some downsides, eg, limited disk size 128GB , no firewire and bare minimum ram!

I've also had problems with the mini display port allowing blu-ray playback on the 24" LED under windows! Says its not happening with the LED LOL!

I opted for a 24" led with mac mini & ssd drive 4GB ram. And a macbook air as my kindle.
 
Scottsdale

Scottsdale

Suspended
Sep 19, 2008
4,473
283
U.S.A.
darrellishere said:
Actually the graphics in the macbook air Revision B were under-clocked.

Apparently now its not?

The macbook air as a main system is unrealistic due to the ram! That 2 Gb with 256mb shared graphics memory will get eaten up in minuets just by safari and annoy the hell out of you when you get bogged down. The ssd may help.

Did the revision C sort out the 1080p VLC inability to play Blu-ray rips?

Apparently the bench marks don't think so, as the 2.13 ghz Air is still heavily throttled down to 1.5ghz!

Coolbook lifts that limit, and run the chip at full speed if you want! Which really helped me when watching BBC HD Flash on my external 24" LED.

I would say you could make it work and still be very! happy with the performance if you realise their are some downsides, eg, limited disk size 128GB , no firewire and bare minimum ram!

I've also had problems with the mini display port allowing blu-ray playback on the 24" LED under windows! Says its not happening with the LED LOL!

I opted for a 24" led with mac mini & ssd drive 4GB ram. And a macbook air as my kindle.
Click to expand...

It actually takes quite a bit to use up 2 GB RAM. Average person reading this post should check activity monitor during normal usage and see how much RAM they are using. Most people don't need more than 2 GB!
 
SnowLeopard2008

SnowLeopard2008

macrumors 604
Jul 4, 2008
6,772
18
Silicon Valley
Instead of speculating, go to a local Apple Store and bring along a flash drive of some sample 1080p video. Ask the Concierge if you can hook up one of the MBAs to the LED displays and test the 1080p sample video. Most likely, it will work.
 
R

Ruahrc

macrumors 65816
Jun 9, 2009
1,345
0
Cave Man said:
That display has a TN panel in it. It's not in the same league as the 24" ACD.
Click to expand...

+1. Even the LaCie 324 has S-PVA which although miles better than TN is still a little bit worse than a good IPS for color critical work.

Honestly, if the lack of input/output, limited adjustment axes, and glossy screen are not big issues to you and your needs, the Apple LED Cinema display is a pretty good value considering it is a LED backlit S-IPS display. There are not many of them out there and I believe that Apple's is the cheapest. The best? Certainly not, but pretty good for the money.

Ruahrc
 
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