Macbook Air good pick for a former geek?

[DaSal]

So, I've been considering getting this since the price drop. Historically I've always wanted the best bang for my buck, the fastest stuff, and I haven't cared about weight or size or whatever. However, I found I'm actually only using my old laptop for writing and surfing, and not so much any intense computing, I use my desktop for that.

However, part of me still thinks that I should be getting one of the new Pro's, as they're noticeably faster for the same price. However, the Air is light, and beautiful, and in reality I'll probably only use it for some writing and surfing anyway, and maybe, every once in a while, some light gaming. Though I heard the 9400M is reasonably capable in that regard. (Though I'm not expecting fluid framerates)

So, should I go for the Air, or the Pro?

It's kind of hard to justify the Air over the Pro as the Pro isn't *that* much thicker or heavier. It's just, the Air is so nice, it just feels great. It's very hard to resist.

Any other former power users have an Air and are happy with it?

 

[Doju]

Air.

You said it yourself. You don't need the power, but the weight is nice. You're the perfect customer.

I get fluid framerates on games like Combat Arms with the 9400m too. (I'm talking 60-80fps on low-graphics).

 

[miles01110]

I haven't owned an Air, but I've had to use one. My normal machine was a 2 GHz Core Duo MBP (2006) and the Air felt like a piece of crap when I was holding it. Performance is what I expected from a machine with those specs, and as far as I'm concerned what you gain in weight/portability from the Air doesn't outweigh the disadvantages in performance.

 

[phillipjfry]

this thread is all good and well, I'd get an Air myself if I could justify the price, but in regard to the title, how does one become a "former geek"?

 

[DaSal]

this thread is all good and well, I'd get an Air myself if I could justify the price, but in regard to the title, how does one become a "former geek"?

I guess I'm not a "former geek". It's a little inaccurate. More like, "specs geek", maybe? How I always used to care a lot about having the fastest computer money could buy all the time and now I just don't care about that so much, since I don't do any heavy gaming on it anymore and I have a desktop for my video work.

 

[Balthezor]

I haven't owned an Air, but I've had to use one. My normal machine was a 2 GHz Core Duo MBP (2006) and the Air felt like a piece of crap when I was holding it. Performance is what I expected from a machine with those specs, and as far as I'm concerned what you gain in weight/portability from the Air doesn't outweigh the disadvantages in performance.

I don't believe this unless you used a Macbook Air rev A. which were crap.

My Rev C. with SSD is fast as hell.

 

[aleksandra.]

I don't believe this unless you used a Macbook Air rev A. which were crap.

My Rev C. with SSD is fast as hell.

Most of the people who say Air is crap didn't use one, and most of the rest speak about revision A. I don't have a comparison to MBPs but revision B onward is definitely better than Core Duo MacBooks.

 

[miles01110]

My Rev C. with SSD is fast as hell.

Yeah, because you have an SSD.

 

[Balthezor]

Yeah, because you have an SSD.

But you shouldn't advice people that MacBook Airs sucks based on your experiences of previous versions of the Air and because you don't have one to base your opinion on.

I don't get why people who don't own an Air say it sucks and a crappy machine and recommend others not to buy it.

 

[elppa]

I haven't owned an Air, but I've had to use one. My normal machine was a 2 GHz Core Duo MBP (2006) and the Air felt like a piece of crap when I was holding it.

What?

The Air feels amazing in the hand.

 

[CoreyMac]

Get the 13" MBP. You wont be disappointed.

 

[bossxii]

@OP

Based on what you outlined as your needs, the Air would be a great machine for you. I have used both the Rev A HDD and a Rev B SSD, the Rev B was an impressive machine, but didn't meet my needs. Since you have a machine for heavy usage, video editing etc... you should be set, Air's are great machines if you don't look at it to be the all things to all people machine. I'm sure you will find people on these forums saying they are the greatest computer ever and they use it for all their needs, every day 24/7... that's all fine and good but it does have it's "cons".

As long as you know what your getting and realize it's not a MBP, you will be happy with it. I enjoyed the Rev B SSD model but didn't want two different machines so upgraded to the MBP. The recent price drop is a huge one and does make it more appealing as a 2nd machine for sure. Good Luck!

 

[entatlrg]

You'll really enjoy the Air, outside of this forum in the real world the people I know both Business Excec's and Consumers alike LOVE their MacBook Air's - me included.

It's a great little computer and does what it was meant to do VERY well. Away from my desk it's my computer of choice, I owned a 13" MBP for a few days and returned it because it was my opinion if I'm going to go with all that weight I may as well get the 15"MBP and benefit from the larger screen etc, so that's what I did.

With all the computers I've owned and own the MBA is always within reach, I really like it.

True, as suggested above you could go for the 13" MBP instead and gain the power, SD card slow, extra space etc for about the same money but the OP's description that's not what he's looking to do.

Again, if you're going to use the SD card slot, extra power etc I'd bump up the 15" MBP you can see much more detail in photo's, video's etc than you can from the (lower res) 13" screen ....

 

[hooly]

I'm lucky enough to own both an Air and a fairly highly specced MBP. If I could only have one of them it would be the MBP because I use it for heavy image editing and the Air doesnt cut it for that. When I travel somewhere I will be doing a lot of photography I always take the MBP with me because the Air can't keep up with my workflow.

But for short business trips, carting around town when I want to use an internet cafe, or for casual use around the home the Air is fabulous. The weight difference is very noticeable if you have anything else to carry. I can throw it in my work bag and it's no different than having a thin pad of A4 in there. With the MBP I am lugging a laptop.

I have the 1.8Ghz with SSD drive, and it is snappier than my 4GB MBP (HD drive) to boot and to launch applications and an absolute pleasure to use.

It does run hot when watching flash (youtube), which isn't a big deal for me but is irksome. For the use you describe (I can't comment on the gaming) it is a lovely machine.

 

[cube]

Buy a $350 netbook with ExpressCard, or even get it "free" with a mobile internet subscription.

 

[DaSal]

I'm lucky enough to own both an Air and a fairly highly specced MBP. If I could only have one of them it would be the MBP because I use it for heavy image editing and the Air doesnt cut it for that. When I travel somewhere I will be doing a lot of photography I always take the MBP with me because the Air can't keep up with my workflow.

But for short business trips, carting around town when I want to use an internet cafe, or for casual use around the home the Air is fabulous. The weight difference is very noticeable if you have anything else to carry. I can throw it in my work bag and it's no different than having a thin pad of A4 in there. With the MBP I am lugging a laptop.

I have the 1.8Ghz with SSD drive, and it is snappier than my 4GB MBP (HD drive) to boot and to launch applications and an absolute pleasure to use.

It does run hot when watching flash (youtube), which isn't a big deal for me but is irksome. For the use you describe (I can't comment on the gaming) it is a lovely machine.

Well, honestly the only thing I care about is the surfing, writing. And just one particular game: Starcraft 2. (Well, Starcraft 1 too, but that'll definitely be fine)

I'm worried it might not run very well, but then Warcraft 3 runs just fine on my old laptop, which has a FAR slower integrated GPU. So I'm kind of hoping Starcraft 2 will be able to scale down far enough to run ok on the Air.

The way I'm thinking, is that most Apple laptops currently come with the 9400M, so Blizzard will probably make sure it runs decently on it, right?

(Of course I know the Pro with the 9600 is gonna run it faster... I don't need it to have high graphics though, I'm fine with the lowest settings as long as it runs relatively smooth)