MBA 13" as the only laptop?

[Bonilla]

I am totally agree, i was owned a 15" MBP 2009 and sold it, and I was trying to buy a MBA but thinking and asking and searching what could be better for longevity.

I chosed 13" MBP. why ?

MBA true so thin and portable but its true a lot of more money compared with a MBP. 128Gb? or 256? whatever you choose it will be expensive compared 500 or 750GB in SATA and what about just 4GB RAM ? The new MBA wouldnt support 8GB for sure.

You can upgrade 8GB Ram in MBP for less tha 100 bucks and buy a extra SSD later or have both SSD + SATA.

i5 and i7 are faster in MBP than the AIR

The keyboard brightness so necessary you will be a lot of times on the dark trust me.

MBP for main computter will be the best option than a MBA.

 

[macjacky11]

Lets wait till the refresh air comes out and see.

 

[Roman2K~]

Lets wait till the refresh air comes out and see.

I'm not waiting...

I want my nVidia GPU: supported by the various video hardware acceleration APIs, on OS X as well as Linux .

The Intel HD 3000 (that the upcoming MBA will be 99% sure equipped with) is not widely supported yet: full support on Linux, but nothing on OS X, AFAIK. Apple might have worked on that in 10.6.8 since they recommend it for FCPX. Hopefully Lion will bring full support.

To me, the current, late 2010 MBA will remain more compelling than the upcoming one until the latter's GPU gets full video hardware acceleration support, at least via Apple's VDADecoder as well as libVA.

(We're still waiting for such support for the both the 2011 MBP's HD 3000 and AMD GPUs.)

 

[KnightWRX]

MBP for main computter will be the best option than a MBA.

You're right. All of us that have been using MBA's as our only laptops since October 2010 are just dead stupid. I'll go to the Apple Store right away and buy a 2nd laptop, try to keep both in sync on files/documents and use the MBP... well.. never because I don't need it, but I'll call it my main computer anyhow.

Guys, it really depends on your needs. I have a home NAS for storage, I don't need to carry around TBs of data, heck, I don't want to. The home NAS is much safer for my data than a laptop. My needs are simple : Coding, Unix terminal work, web/e-mail/IM, the occasional image manipulation and games which the MBA rocks at thanks to the nVidia GPU.

 

[Duke15]

you're right. All of us that have been using mba's as our only laptops since october 2010 are just dead stupid. I'll go to the apple store right away and buy a 2nd laptop, try to keep both in sync on files/documents and use the mbp... Well.. Never because i don't need it, but i'll call it my main computer anyhow.

Guys, it really depends on your needs. I have a home nas for storage, i don't need to carry around tbs of data, heck, i don't want to. The home nas is much safer for my data than a laptop. My needs are simple : Coding, unix terminal work, web/e-mail/im, the occasional image manipulation and games which the mba rocks at thanks to the nvidia gpu.

+1

 

[iZeeshan]

I see what you guys are saying, the ones that are vouching for MBA as an only laptop choice, but honestly, I'm not that hardcore with computers. It's a shame that Civ V won't be able to work, but I'm hoping for some miracle that the new MBA can have a better graphics card, even though it doesn't seem like it, and that it will play it. That's really the only thing holding me back.

If I ever need more power, I can always go to the library where they have over 100 iMacs set up for use for students which are only all being used during finals time, so I should be okay.

So right now, I'm still settled on the MBA, it's just soooo thin and nice, but let's wait for the new one. Any idea whats the expected release date for that? And if it doesn't have the backlit keyboard this time, well, THAT may just be a deal breaker.

 

[FX4568]

I am using an MBA as the sole computer.
I travel tons, and I am in college... I play Starcraft 2, browse, itunes, mail, some random stuff, garageband, and edit few photos.

Have the Ultimate and trust me, it runs like a beast. 1440x900 with full brightness will make your backlit keyboard useless.

Wait for the new update, but understand that the GPU will stink and it will run a little hotter than normal.
If you in no way use GPU i say go for the new SB chips, but if you will do some gaming, buy the old MBA for lower price once the SB airs come out.

But yea, you can use the macbook air as the only computer. Ive done it for over 4 months.

 

[thefirstone]

How is the current MBA for watching HD (full 1080) videos online? I went to the store and played a few shows on HULU on the 13" MBP, and compared to the 15" MBP, the 13" had some lag.

 

[Roman2K~]

How is the current MBA for watching HD (full 1080) videos online? I went to the store and played a few shows on HULU on the 13" MBP, and compared to the 15" MBP, the 13" had some lag.

Was the 13" running a hardware accelerated version of Flash (>= v10.1)? It can make or break high definition video playback on computers with such weak CPUs as the MBAs.

 

[Titanium81]

Are the New 13 inch Mac Book Airs going to be able to play 1080p HD full screen no problem?

Also is there a chance the Intel 3000 HD could beat the Nvidia 320m once the drivers fully support the Intel 3000 HD?

 

[FX4568]

Are the New 13 inch Mac Book Airs going to be able to play 1080p HD full screen no problem?

Also is there a chance the Intel 3000 HD could beat the Nvidia 320m once the drivers fully support the Intel 3000 HD?

Only if its standard voltage (which the MBA is not) so probably no.
theres difference between ULV LV and standard.

 

[KnightWRX]

Was the 13" running a hardware accelerated version of Flash (>= v10.1)? It can make or break high definition video playback on computers with such weak CPUs as the MBAs.

The 13" MBP can't use hardware acceleration to decode H.264 video on OS X right now. The 13" MBA/11" MBA can. They won't be after an update though, making them far less optimal than the current generation MBA.

 

[Roman2K~]

The 13" MBP can't use hardware acceleration to decode H.264 video on OS X right now. The 13" MBA/11" MBA can. They won't be after an update though, making them far less optimal than the current generation MBA.

OK, thanks. I forgot that the current generation 13" MBPs have the HD 3000. (Current 15" and 17" MBPs are in the same boat with their additional AMD GPUs...).

 

[h00ligan]

The 13" MBP can't use hardware acceleration to decode H.264 video on OS X right now. The 13" MBA/11" MBA can. They won't be after an update though, making them far less optimal than the current generation MBA.

That assertion varies based on what one does.

 

[Roman2K~]

That assertion varies based on what one does.

KnightWRX's point is about the 2011 MBPs being currently less optimal at decoding H.264 videos. AFAIK, his assertion is true at the moment (the VDADecoder API doesn't take advantage of Quick Sync or HD 3000 for now).

As for other uses (GPU accelerated operations other than video decoding), there's OpenCL but I don't know if the HD 3000 is being utilized or if it's all software.

 

[KnightWRX]

That assertion varies based on what one does.

No, my assertion does not vary. It was specific to hardware H.264 decoding on OS X. There's nothing you can do to enable support for it until Apple does in the Video Decode Acceleration framework.

It's also highly doubtful at this point that it is even available in QTKit.

As for other uses (GPU accelerated operations other than video decoding), there's OpenCL but I don't know if the HD 3000 is being utilized or if it's all software.

OpenCL is available on SB, but only on the CPU (unless of course you have an OpenCL dedicated GPU available, which the 13" MBP does not). In other words, you're using GPGPU technology to offload the CPU and then running it on the CPU. Not much offloading going on.

So again, the MBP 13" with the Intel graphics is a much less capable machine in many areas that require hardware acceleration than the current MBA.

 

[Roman2K~]

OpenCL is available on SB, but only on the CPU (unless of course you have an OpenCL dedicated GPU available, which the 13" MBP does not). In other words, you're using GPGPU technology to offload the CPU and then running it on the CPU. Not much offloading going on.

So again, the MBP 13" with the Intel graphics is a much less capable machine in many areas that require hardware acceleration than the current MBA.

Thanks for enlightening me / us on this subject . You seem to be very knowledgeable regarding GPU acceleration, it's nice to see somebody who knows their stuff on MR. Do you know of online resources dedicated to OS X-centric GPU acceleration, hardware compatibility and tests (much like Phoronix [mostly] is to Linux, these times at least)?

 

[FX4568]

OpenCL is available on SB, but only on the CPU (unless of course you have an OpenCL dedicated GPU available, which the 13" MBP does not). In other words, you're using GPGPU technology to offload the CPU and then running it on the CPU. Not much offloading going on.

So again, the MBP 13" with the Intel graphics is a much less capable machine in many areas that require hardware acceleration than the current MBA.

No, you aren't using GPGPU technology... You need a dedicated GPU in order to use GPGPU technology. GPGPU means general purpose graphic processing unit.
First of all, you aren't going to use GPGPU in a Intel 3000HD it barely gives 2% of AMD's 5970HD. If you are going to run anything on a Sandy Bridge processor without a ded. graphics card, it would be GPCPU, and that wouldn't even give any lead to the Intel 3000HD.

But of course, hardware acceleration wouldn't be possible NOT because of the lack of openCL but because of the fact that it simply does not have a ded. GPU. But graphic wise? A normal Voltage i5 SB used in low end MBP 13 matches or fails around 10% of the 320m. I can totally run starcraft 2 on my MBA and in my MBP getting near same FPS.

Also man, why the hell would you need hardware acceleration?. You are on a core2duo... I mean, if you REALLY need hardware acceleration for doing stuff in your Air, you would get almost the same trade off as in a SB chip powered computer that does not have a GPU.
Airs are meant for average people. If you aren't going to do intensive software coding, you dont need all that crap, and if you are... you are on the wrong machine.

 

[iZeeshan]

Was the 13" running a hardware accelerated version of Flash (>= v10.1)? It can make or break high definition video playback on computers with such weak CPUs as the MBAs.

See, this is a worrying part for me. I watch A LOT of online TV and if that's going to be a problem on the Air, that's going to be a dealbreaker.

Someone just said that there was some lag when watching on the 13" but that was only one person, while a couple of others said it's no problem.

Any comments on that? When's the expected release date anyway? I thought it was end of June, early July.

 

[entatlrg]

TV playback etc works fine, in fact excellent.

Have to be careful it's not the internet connection ... my Mac Pro even lags at times depending on where I'm streaming from.

 

[denilol]

I think the current 13 inch Air is a superior value to the 2011 13 MBP. The performance is excellent. I also have a 2009 HP HDX 18T and a core i7 HP desktop, but find I use my Air almost exclusively now.

I have the 1.83 processor and 128 GB SSD with 4 GB ram upgrade option. Obviously you have already considered if you can do without the DVD rom drive. I think going forward you won't miss it, and as a college student I'm sure you'll have access to one in a pinch.

The only thing I would suggest is that instead of paying up for the 256 gb SSD, you go for an external HD of some sort. If you have a lot of music or movies there just isn't enough space on the Air long term.

Having Win 7 via boot camp also constrains HD space, but I think the added functionality means the space is put to good use.

Wait for July to see what the upgrade brings but I think you will do just fine going with the Air if you add some storage.

 

[Apple Expert]

If your looking at cost, then look towards the MBP since it's much cheaper. But I would imagine the refreshed MBA is going to close the gap between the MBA and MBP. I like the MBA, but the price difference can't be over looked.

 

[tennisproha]

what about AMD Radeon on MBP

the latest gen 13" MBP's have to GPU's though rt? the HD 3000 and the AMD Radeon. Can't the MBP just use the AMD Radeon for graphics hardware acceleration? is it automatic or can you manually override to either one?

 

[Titanium81]

See, this is a worrying part for me. I watch A LOT of online TV and if that's going to be a problem on the Air, that's going to be a dealbreaker.

Someone just said that there was some lag when watching on the 13" but that was only one person, while a couple of others said it's no problem.

Any comments on that? When's the expected release date anyway? I thought it was end of June, early July.

Flaws in the video encoding could have made the 13" look like it was lagging, when in fact the video was just screwed up and would play the same on any computer.

Best to play several 1080p HD videos from several sources and see for yourself.

 

[Roman2K~]

Also man, why the hell would you need hardware acceleration?. You are on a core2duo... I mean, if you REALLY need hardware acceleration for doing stuff in your Air, you would get almost the same trade off as in a SB chip powered computer that does not have a GPU.
Airs are meant for average people. If you aren't going to do intensive software coding, you dont need all that crap, and if you are... you are on the wrong machine.

Hardware acceleration is especially beneficial when running on battery, as the GPU is way more efficient at certain tasks than the CPU, like decoding H.264 encoded videos.

Even though Sandy Bridge CPUs are much more capable than C2Ds (software decoding of H.264 is a piece of cake to them), their integrated GPU, or even better, their Quick Sync functionality, is still far more efficient. Neither of those is exploited with current drivers on OS X though.

See, this is a worrying part for me. I watch A LOT of online TV and if that's going to be a problem on the Air, that's going to be a dealbreaker.

Someone just said that there was some lag when watching on the 13" but that was only one person, while a couple of others said it's no problem.

Any comments on that?

It depends on the video codec, the player, which video decoding API they use. For example MPlayerX is all software decoding (since it's using the OS X version of mplayer), while XBMC uses Apple's APIs that (from what I gathered) may either utilize the GPU or fall back to the CPU depending on whether the graphics drivers themselves expose APIs for the particular codec.