mba owners who got 2011 mbp

[fyrefly]

Depends on what you mean by lagging. It's of course not a Mac Pro but editing videos and photoshop files is quick. It takes a little longer to compress HD videos, but I just let the MBA run for a few hours to process the video, no big deal.

It definitely does the job.

Of course it "does the job". A PowerBook G4 could "do the job" most of the time (I've edited video on eMacs at school back in the day - terribly slow - but it worked!)

I have an Air, and love it, but if you're editing HD video, you could be done in a fraction of the time with any of the current MBP lineup compared to the MBA. 1/2 the time or less.

If you have the time to kill (do you really wanna waste a few hours every time you want to encode our output from Final Cut?) then by all means, but I would never suggest a MBA to someone who edits any decent amount of HD video.

 

[entatlrg]

By better, I mean colors. Of course you get more screen res on the MBA, but the MBP screen still hands down look better when it comes to editing pictures.

You are obviously not a professional photographer because there is hardly a pro photographer on the planet who prefers Apple's glossy screen to the anti-glare. Or, willing to edit anything at 1280x resolution.

Don't take my word for it, hop over to the MacBook Pro forum and read for yourself, there's hundreds if not thousands of posters discussing the screens and their benefits.

 

[Jsimon9633]

What do you use your 17" MBP for or has your 13" MBA replaced it?

It has been replaced. I rarely use the 17inch. I am actually trying to sell it.

 

[SammySlim]

I use my MBA 11 as my primary machine. All I do are office productivity apps and internet-related apps, plus online poker. At home, it's connected to an Apple 27 Cinema display (which looks fabulous). On the road, which is where I spend most of my time, it's perfect. Screen size not an issue.

Cheers

 

[nfl46]

You are obviously not a professional photographer because there is hardly a pro photographer on the planet who prefers Apple's glossy screen to the anti-glare. Or, willing to edit anything at 1280x resolution.

Don't take my word for it, hop over to the MacBook Pro forum and read for yourself, there's hundreds if not thousands of posters discussing the screens and their benefits.

Hmm, who said I was a professional photographer? And why would any professional want to edit professional pictures on a 13" screen? All I said were the colors were MUCH better on the 13" Pro than the 13" Air.

 

[tim100]

As much as I would love to have a 2011 MBP, my Ultimate 13 inch MBA does the job. It somehow managed to trick my brain to thinking it is my MBP. I just gave up on gaming and encoding video on it. MPA is fine for business use.

If I wanted to splurge, I probably would have a 15 inch 2011 MBP because it is the flagship Mac portable that can do everything.

the new flagship is the 13 macbook air. here is why
1) 13 inch screen is the new mainstream (cnet has been saying this for a while)
2) its the future of notebooks
3) has ssd standard
4) has no mechanical parts/no optical drive
5) has a high res screen (apple has put high res screen on the products they consider important ipad, iphone, mba)

 

[entatlrg]

Tim - what's your main computer now?

 

[JayDH]

I just switched from the 13" MBA Ultimate to the high-end 15" MBP. I do a lot of reading and text on the MBA was a little too small for me. I prefer the larger screen on the MBP.

The MBA was an extremely capable machine, though. Just as fast as my new MBP in many everyday tasks.

 

[tim100]

good question

Tim - what's your main computer now?

i have a 13 inch mba ultimate and 15 i7 anti glare. I use the mba more. i understand the mba is a hot seller but i think mbp still out sells the mba.

its hard to beat the mba with the battery life. before the new mba came out i had various mbps. i would use them go to bed and wake up the next day with no battery. the 30 day standby on the mba is great.

the mba would be perfect with a backlit keyboard and sandy bridge.

i think maybe the best combo at this point would be a 11 mba and 15 mbp. the 13 mbp is out due to res. i have had 17 mbp but i find the 15 better.

 

[entatlrg]

I'm thinking of adding a 17" mbp to my set up, just for maximum screen real estate on the go.

 

[gwsat]

i have a 13 inch mba ultimate and 15 i7 anti glare. I use the mba more. i understand the mba is a hot seller but i think mbp still out sells the mba.

its hard to beat the mba with the battery life. before the new mba came out i had various mbps. i would use them go to bed and wake up the next day with no battery. the 30 day standby on the mba is great.

the mba would be perfect with a backlit keyboard and sandy bridge.

i think maybe the best combo at this point would be a 11 mba and 15 mbp. the 13 mbp is out due to res. i have had 17 mbp but i find the 15 better.

I use my old 17 inch Santa Rosa MBP in combination with my 13 inch Ultimate MBA. Like you, I use the MBA more but like having the combination, nonetheless. Next year I will likely replace my old MBP with whatever is the current top end model of the 15 inch MBP

 

[brentsg]

i think maybe the best combo at this point would be a 11 mba and 15 mbp. the 13 mbp is out due to res. i have had 17 mbp but i find the 15 better.

I know everyone's usage differs, but why 2 portables? I've not yet made the jump but I'm thinking of adding a MBA to compliment a 6 core Mac Pro.

 

[cherishzm]

i have a 13 inch mba ultimate and 15 i7 anti glare. I use the mba more. i understand the mba is a hot seller but i think mbp still out sells the mba.

its hard to beat the mba with the battery life. before the new mba came out i had various mbps. i would use them go to bed and wake up the next day with no battery. the 30 day standby on the mba is great.

the mba would be perfect with a backlit keyboard and sandy bridge.

i think maybe the best combo at this point would be a 11 mba and 15 mbp. the 13 mbp is out due to res. i have had 17 mbp but i find the 15 better.

That's what I have, 15 MBP and 11 MBA. I use 11 MBA almost exclusively at home doing web browsing, movie watching and other stuff (1~3 hrs/day) and it works perfectly for what I do. I never thought the screen is too small (surprising because I did not plan to get the 11 MBA but I got a great deal, 2-week old one for $700) and battery lasts long enough not to worry about charging it often.

I use my powerful 15 MBP at work and it is rarely used at home. With the SSD I put in there, it's blazing fast but too much for just for web browsing and movie watching at home.

For what I do mostly (I don't do photo/video editing or other processor/GPU intensive works), I'm considering an 13" ultimate MBA to replace both.

 

[entatlrg]

Decisions, decisions eh?

I'm looking at going the other direction, from using my 13" MBA as my main machine, to a 17" MBP and using the MBA less, reason being screen real estate on the go.

I'm beginning to think/realize it's probably wisest to stick with the MBA and use it as a main machine, my Mac Pro sits in my Office, and my wife is waiting to grab the 11" from me

 

[gwsat]

Decisions, decisions eh?

I'm looking at going the other direction, from using my 13" MBA as my main machine, to a 17" MBP and using the MBA less, reason being screen real estate on the go.

I'm beginning to think/realize it's probably wisest to stick with the MBA and use it as a main machine, my Mac Pro sits in my Office, and my wife is waiting to grab the 11" from me

I think you are on the right track. Although I am glad to have my 17 inch MBP, compared to the MBA it is bulky and heavy. Whenever I finish working on the MBP I am always delighted to return to the thin and light MBA. I will likely get a 15 inch MBP when it is time to replace my current 17 inch MBP. The jury is still out on that, though, because the 15 inch MBP isn't much smaller and lighter than the 17 inch model.

 

[sush]

i think maybe the best combo at this point would be a 11 mba and 15 mbp.

I had the combination of a base 11in Air and a highend 15in 2011 MBP until I decided to send the MBP back to Apple two days ago because I would only have used the MBP at home anyway. I also had (or actually I still have it) a 2007 15in MBP which will probably be given to my parents. Long story short: at the moment my only machine is the base 11in Air.
I will probably try to sell it and get an 13in ultimate Air, since that will make more sense as a sole computer.

 

[Scottsdale]

I know everyone's usage differs, but why 2 portables? I've not yet made the jump but I'm thinking of adding a MBA to compliment a 6 core Mac Pro.

For the vast majority of people I have similar questions. I don't understand wanting two computers at all. My MBA drivesa 27" ACD for the desktop solution built into the notebook.

I know there are graphics professionals, engineers, and etc who need the powerful components of the Mac Pro, but the vast majority of people who use two laptops seem crazy by comparison. I find it work to keep files coordinated when I have more than one Mac.

I think the biggest thing is people don't realize the MBA is as capable as it is and can even drive 30" ACDs. Most of the people I see with two Mac notebooks have rather simple requests like want a bigger display for reading or want to rip disks. I just feel people must have incredibly low respect for their MBA if they think it's so incapable.

I find the MBA to be incredibly capable and my management of files so simple using one Mac for everything. I know there are some who need more power, but I think many people falsely conclude they are in that category when the MBA with an ACD setup like a docking station could be a wonderful solution and cost less too.

 

[Steve121178]

anyone else see the mba as a primary machine?

Not for me. Probably going to sell my MBA. It's a nice machine, but it's not in the same league as my VAIO Z.

I knew the hardware was dated when I purchased it, but I think I'm going to cash in now while it still has a high resale price.

 

[entatlrg]

Not for me. Probably going to sell my MBA. It's a nice machine, but it's not in the same league as my VAIO Z.

I knew the hardware was dated when I purchased it, but I think I'm going to cash in now while it still has a high resale price.

Interesting we have a max'd out Z11 and Z12 in my office and there's not one person here, including myself that likes them.

I've had a few Z's in the past, I gave the Z12 a month to try out, I prefer my 13" MBA ultimate a thousand times more than the Sony Z's.

I'd argue the Z isn't near in the same league as the Air ... but then again I'm not a "spec chaser".

For day to day performance and work, coming from someone who's used both extensively the Z doesn't come close to the MacBook Air.

To each their own.

 

[Steve121178]

Interesting we have a max'd out Z11 and Z12 in my office and there's not one person here, including myself that likes them.

I've had a few Z's in the past, I gave the Z12 a month to try out, I prefer my 13" MBA ultimate a thousand times more than the Sony Z's.

I'd argue the Z isn't near in the same league as the Air ... but then again I'm not a "spec chaser".

For day to day performance and work, coming from someone who's used both extensively the Z doesn't come close to the MacBook Air.

To each their own.

High-end i5 (or i7 if you want it) CPU, RAID 0 SSD config and you find the MBA performed better?!?! In my extensive experience of owning and using both, the Z absolutely trounces the MBA and practically any other laptop you care to mention. Then there's the screen on the Z. It's absolutely fantastic and makes it easily apparent why the Z has such a premium RRP.

I also prefer typing on the Z, the backlit keys have the perfect amount of travel whereas the MBA's are a lot shallower. But as you say, each to their own. The MBA also lacks things like WWAN to make it a true all-purpose ultraportable.

I don't dislike my MBA, I just think I'll sell it while it still has a reasonably high resale value.

 

[entatlrg]

For the tasks I do, which isn't real heavy lifting, but I am an Industrial Designer and do a lot of large vector drawings so both machines do get a decent work out. For what I do on both machines I don't see a difference.

If I was rendering video files then for sure, Z would be quicker but for day to day stuff I find the Air a little quicker, that could just be the difference in the two OS's. The Z12 here has 8gm ram and 512ssd by the way, probably has less than 100 hours use.

It is personal preference, I fly on Z keyboard for sure, I like them both. Your screen comments where most interesting, I hate the Z screen, where I love the MBA screens.

There is good reading on both here in the forum, going back a year ago I was the one who as all pro Z and slamming the MacBook Air revb's at that time as it was in such need of an update.

I ran out and bought a Z11 for my COO and Z12 for myself ... sadly we didn't like them so much. After about a month he went for a 13" MBP and I went for a 15" MBP still using my revb MBA the most ....

Now at the office I see they use them for new staff and fill-in notebooks.

That's why I may sound a little grumpy towards the Z ... a lot of money to put out for an anticipated 'hot notebook'.

The fan noise, heat and screen turned me off. And, I was excited to give Win7 a try as I've used Windows for 10 years before OSX but that didn't excite me either.

I've think I've been bitten by the Apple bug.

 

[brentsg]

For the vast majority of people I have similar questions. I don't understand wanting two computers at all. My MBA drivesa 27" ACD for the desktop solution built into the notebook.

I know there are graphics professionals, engineers, and etc who need the powerful components of the Mac Pro, but the vast majority of people who use two laptops seem crazy by comparison. I find it work to keep files coordinated when I have more than one Mac.

Well in my case most of my work is actually just using my computer as a dumb terminal, but I still want as much portability as possible. But then I have additional needs such as HD video encoding and some other things, as well as a need to work with multiple VMs at once. For that I need something more than an Air or dual core MBP.

 

[BornAgainMac]

i have had 17 mbp but i find the 15 better.

I agree with you. I had the 17 inch and the 15 inch was a better laptop size. At home I dock it to a real monitor anyways.

 

[racer1441]

It all depends on what I need to do.

Light work, day to day, ect. 11 in MBA.

Real work 17 MBP.

 

[entatlrg]

racer - I've just switched to the same set up today ... bought the 17" MBP and will use my Air for mobile use, or when I'm not doing serious work such as vector drawings ...

I'm hoping it works out and I'll see what it can replace ... I'm thinking it can replace my Mac Pro ... giving me power plus a larger portable screen ... only thing I'll maybe miss is the dual monitor set up.