MacBook Air Owners, a few questions

[entatlrg]

Is your MBA your only computer?

If not, what other computer(s) do you own, notebook or desktop, pc or mac?

My new MBA is serving 90% of my needs, I also have a T500 and a HP Desktop which I use for Windows based app's, Publisher etc.

I'm contemplating making some more changes....

I download torrents once in a while from the net, and play a variety of files, .avi etc ... so I need a computer stationary on a desk for that, plus it's used as a server, storage, entertainment etc, and once in a while I like to use a the larger monitor ...

The new iMac's look really nice, I'm thinking that could replace my HP Desktop, I'm wondering how the Mac would be for torrent downloads, playing avi files etc, I could load Windows on it too and work in Windows for tasks like that ...

Someone else suggested I forget the iMac's and get another laptop, the MacBook Pro 15" and using that as our central computer and with the option that it's portable if I want to bring it with me ...

if I could I'd use nothing but my MacBook Air I'd be happy... it's a GREAT notebook ... best I've owned so far, fun to work on, great screen, LOVE it !

 

[upaymeifixit]

Answers.

Just to let you know I am only 14, so my other family members have computers too.

I have only had two computers. I had a Dell Inspiron 6000, and my MacBook Air. My brother has my old Dell, and my parents have a Dell Demension something or other.

I've only downloaded four torrents in my life, all on my MacBook Air. So I can't really compare which was faster. I usually just have it download while I sleep.
But this does not sound like an OS thing. Isn't it the RAM and internet connection that would matter?

I just use parallels for my windows machine, but I don't really recommend it on a MacBook Air unless you have REALLY good specs. There are also a few ways to bump up the RAM if you need it.

Okay but if you really want a new desktop then yeah an iMac would be nice.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I have a Mac Pro at work and a iMac at home.

If you are happy with the MBA as your portable but want a more powerful machine with a larger screen for more intensive work, why would you even consider going with the MBP?

My advice: buy an iMac and use that in conjunction with the MBA or sell the MBA and buy a MBP and an external monitor. There's really no need to have two notebooks.

 

[entatlrg]

I have a Mac Pro at work and a iMac at home.

If you are happy with the MBA as your portable but want a more powerful machine with a larger screen for more intensive work, why would you even consider going with the MBP?

My advice: buy an iMac and use that in conjunction with the MBA or sell the MBA and buy a MBP and an external monitor. There's really no need to have two notebooks.

Yes, I agree too, no need for two notebooks ... that was my comments when they suggested it in the store ... but I think it's because I mentioned we had a T500 too and they were suggesting I get right of the HP Desktop and T500 and replace it with the 15" MBP, (or iMac)...

My wish is for the 24" iMac, actually Ignatius the set up in your signature is a dream set up ... I'm coming from Thinkpad's and Blackberry's ... have the MBA and iPhone working great, still dependent on the HP Desktop/Windows but I'm getting there, a little reluctant to a switch over completely ...

 

[Maks]

If both of the computers are for your home use, I'd probably go w/a desktop model as your second one. If I didn't have to travel for work I'd probably have a 24" iMac and this MBP that I have now...would've never picked up the MBA.

 

[Miker2k]

Form factor is what makes the MBA sexy to me. If I needed power I'd look elsewhere.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Congrats on your MBAir purchase. I own a Mac Pro, Classic MBP 15" 2.5 and two MBAirs, and sold the first one to my brother, since I needed a larger hard drive and went with the MBP 15" 2.5, then bought the MBAir 1.8/64GB SSD and that was running fine until I had a couple of kernel panics and the thing overheated and the fan was running 6400rpm too much for my good. Took it in several times and eventually had the logic board replaced (the kiss of death for any computer in my opinion). Ended up getting a full-refund for a 7-month-old MBAir and all of its components, b/c I ended up buying a Classic MBP 2.5 to do the same work that I bought my MBAir could no longer do, so basically my MBAir became a $3400 paperweight. The Apple Store took it back and even asked if I wanted to upgrade to their top-of-the-line computer, but I said I would take my money and wait for a rev C MBAir...

 

[bossxii]

Currently my MBA (1.8/SSD) Rev B is the only computer I use. I have the 24" ACD I hook it to at home and take it with me for work.

I do have a C2D Windows desktop sitting on another desk in my basement where I use to serve my PS3 as a media center to my TV, and my wife plays solitare on it lol, but otherwise I completely made the move to the MBA. So far I've not found anything it can't do that I need to.

I am however considering replacing that with an iMac with a bit more power/ram/HDD for video storage/conversion as I will not fight my Windows machine anymore. It's slow and needs to be put down lol, but it still manages solitare lol.

Good luck with your search and congrats on your new MBA!

 

[Turmoil]

I have a couple of Mini's hooked up to TV/Stereo and I have a Powerbook G4 that I use for torrent and server type needs. The Air is my primary computer.


---

oh and I have an HP Pavillion that I bought b4 I bought the Air thinking I would save a little money. The HP collects dust. I hate it.

 

[johnnj]

I have an MBA Rev B SSD, which I use on the train during my commute and as the "around the house" computer. I find that it has enough power/speed to do most things I need it to (vmware-outlook, word/excel, vpn, softphone; firefox, light Photoshop/Lightroom, RDC, Civ4). The only time I see it bog down is during the end game on Civ4.

In terms of other machines, I have:

1. overclocked self-built PC w/stuff like dual display cards, RAID-0 raptor system volume, 8 gigs ram. I usually runs Vista-64. It drives 2x24" dell monitors.

2. A decommissioned HTPC (also self-built) that I current just use for media conversions and other utility purposes.

3. An HP MediaSmart Server EX470, which has an external disk chassis and a total of about 9 terabytes of storage. While not technically a PC, it does run a modified version of Windows Server 2003 and I do PC-like stuff on it all the time via Remote Desktop. It runs 24/7.

4. A work-issued HP laptop which mostly stays locked to my desk awaiting RDC connections

5. An Acer netbook which is mostly broken now because I took it apart too many times. It's not exactly the flagship of build quality. As a matter of fact, it's a cheezy piece o' poo.

Unless I'm gaming or working from home, the Air gets the most hours of usage per day, so I guess I must like it.

John

 

[eba]

In addition to my MBA, I have a 15" MacBook Pro and an older pre-Intel MacPro. I bought the MBA assuming I would use it only for travel. I've found, though, that it meets most of my needs by itself. The graphics card bump between the A and B revisions makes a huge difference, I think. It's more than capable of gaming via Boot Camp in any but heavy 3D games.

So now, I use the MBA as my primary notebook and my MBP (with an LED Cinema Display) as my primary desktop. The MacPro is gathering dust.