MBA rev A as second laptop?

[phoneorpda]

Hi,

i recently bought a MBP 2.8 mostly for audio production and i love it.
I upgraded from a 2.16 MBP and recently sold the old one.
I wanted to invest in a rev A MBA for everyday tasks and portability, and maybe audio playback with Logic Audio (through a usb interface).
It would be light work, no cpu intensive plug ins or virtual instruments.
I just wanted a lighter machine to carry around the office and on short trips that would allow me to leave the MBP home unless really needed.

The MBA rev A can be bought for a little less than 1200 $ now, and i really don't feel like spending the money for a Rev B, considering my needs.

As i said, i don't need a lot of processing power, but enough to browse the internet, email, and the occasional Logic /Live playback ( i would have kept my old MBP, but i really want a lighter machine)


Any suggestions?

thanks in advance for your help!

 

[andreab35]

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If you are planning to do light work, the MBA sounds right for you for the light tasks you mention.
For the heavy duty work, definitely use the MBP or another computer you have.
Good luck. You'll get a really nice deal on a Rev. A

 

[phoneorpda]

Thank you for the reply....

yes, mostly light work, even though i plan on finding out if i will be able to use it as a Logic Pro playback system during shows with my band. Nothing intensive: just 3 tracks at the most, with no effects.

I feel like i would get a pretty good deal and a really portable mac, which is what i care about the most...hell, i could even carry both and not even notice the Air, i bet...

thanks again.

 

[mrcharlie91]

no

Go for it

 

[Ironic]

go for it.

 

[phoneorpda]

Actually...

playback in Garageband and Logic Pro works pretty much the same.
I have used both applications on the same machine and , if anything, Logic Pro is snappier at simple tasks than GarageBand.

Since i specified already i wouldn't be recording the next "white album" with it, but simply playback and minor editing, i think your comment about the "crapbook" is just another rant i can do without.

Don't waste your money on crapbook air unless you are only going to run garageband

 

[TheRiseofTheFal]

glad to see you're using your common sense and disregarding that comment, as a college student using it as an only computer I can say it runs without any problems right now, even keeps my lap warm now that its winter haha but yeah for your purposes it should serve you quite well!

 

[phoneorpda]

Thanks for the feedback!

I also can wait a couple of weeks so maybe i will be able to find a better deal, as i am not opposed to buying it second hand either.

We'll see!

glad to see you're using your common sense and disregarding that comment, as a college student using it as an only computer I can say it runs without any problems right now, even keeps my lap warm now that its winter haha but yeah for your purposes it should serve you quite well!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, I'd say to 'go for it', too. It sounds pretty much ideal for your stated computing needs and the price is pretty competitive, too.

Cheers and good luck

 

[phoneorpda]

Thanks for the feedback.I really appreciate it!

It looks i might go this way, yes.

I am still looking for some feedback from music users, to see if there is anybody who has used a macbook air rev. a as a playback machine in a live situation...
Regardless, it's a task my old Titanium was excelling at, and i believe the Air wouldn't be doing worse than that....

Yes, I'd say to 'go for it', too. It sounds pretty much ideal for your stated computing needs and the price is pretty competitive, too.

Cheers and good luck

 

[McGilli]

I have the Rev B - which is of course a little snappier all around - but I bought it ONLY as a machine so I can take my Logic studio to vocalist's house to get vocals. sometimes they can't get to my studio - so I now take it with me.

Works perfect as a portable studio machine. For me it is about 5 software, and 5 live instrument tracks per song - with lots of software effects on many of them - and it works fine.

Add 3 or 4 tracks for vocals and no stutters or anything...

One of the CPU cores gets a good workout - but no issues.

I am sure the MBA Rev A will be ok too.

And as you mentioned- the portablilty is awesome.

 

[phoneorpda]

Good to know, thank you!

this is the answer i was looking for.
Out of curiosity, which rev.B did you end up getting?

I have the Rev B - which is of course a little snappier all around - but I bought it ONLY as a machine so I can take my Logic studio to vocalist's house to get vocals. sometimes they can't get to my studio - so I now take it with me.

Works perfect as a portable studio machine. For me it is about 5 software, and 5 live instrument tracks per song - with lots of software effects on many of them - and it works fine.

Add 3 or 4 tracks for vocals and no stutters or anything...

One of the CPU cores gets a good workout - but no issues.

I am sure the MBA Rev A will be ok too.

And as you mentioned- the portablilty is awesome.

 

[McGilli]

Good to know, thank you!

this is the answer i was looking for.
Out of curiosity, which rev.B did you end up getting?

I got the 1.86ghz, SSD. I purposefully went for the faster machine because I didn't want to take any chances, and alot of the time i would have it plugged in to the ac power when recording - so any additional battery drain from the faster cpu would not really be an issue.

BTW i got exactly 3 hours from a 100% full battery, to 0% when running Logic 8 on battery when recording one day.

Here, this might help a bit.... take it easy!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/599743/

 

[phoneorpda]

Thanks,

that helps!

I got the 1.86ghz, SSD. I purposefully went for the faster machine because I didn't want to take any chances, and alot of the time i would have it plugged in to the ac power when recording - so any additional battery drain from the faster cpu would not really be an issue.

BTW i got exactly 3 hours from a 100% full battery, to 0% when running Logic 8 on battery when recording one day.

Here, this might help a bit.... take it easy!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/599743/