MBA Rev1 looking for some advice

[iwant2believe88]

Hi all,

I am a new user to the forums here and I am not a tech heavy person so I'm looking for a bit of advice. I am currently using a Ibook g4 1.42ghz machine. I am looking to upgrade and am looking through my options. I guess I am looking to owners to answer a few questions. First, here are my computing habits: internet browsing, occasional video via hd streaming, hulu, youtube, word processing stuff like word and excell, and itunes for music, podcasts, occasional video. My optical drive has been broken for 2 years on the Ibook and I never got it fixed and don't miss it at all except for the occasional cd rip into itunes. I am looking at a Rev 1 MBA on sale or a Alum MB. The new rev 2 MBA also is intriguing but a bit more than I wanted to spend. Most of my computer time is spent simply browsing forums, watching movie trailers, and word docs. Will the rev1 MBA be sufficient for this. I have been to the Apple store and played around with all these computers a lot. I have noticed that the rev1 on my instore tests seems to stutter with fullscreen HD video, is this always a problem. I do not game at all so is the new graphics on the new MB and Air really a big leap from the rev1 air. I love the size and screen of the air but not the extra leap in cash for the new rev and the new MB is great except I don't really like the glass. One other thing I need the backlit keys as I do a lot of typing at night and would like this feature. HD space is not an issue ( still have 10 gigs free on my 60 gb ibook) so 80 gb would work but is 1.6 ghz processor gonna be ok for my workload for say the next 2 years or is this machine gonna feel slow. I am sure it will be faster than my ibook. Any help here or suggestions from owners of these machines would be great!

 

[justit]

I'm not an owner (yet) but I'm leaning this way https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/601378/

 

[Thorbjorn]

Last week I made the leap from my iBook G4 12" to the rev A MBA. Researched pros and cons like crazy before making the switch. So far my experience has been entirely positive. I use it mostly for word processing (MS Word, Scrivener, MacJournal etc.) and web surfing/researching. I've watched YouTube and played movies downloaded from iTunes and watched DVDs on the superdrive. So far no problems. It got a little hot and fans kicked on towards the end of the first iTunes movie. I disabled Dashboard and it seems to run cooler now. Still putting it through its paces, but so far I'm happy. I'll let you know if anything noteworthy shows up. I'm pretty much in love with the machine--and the price can't be beat.

 

[Cynicalone]

If you want the Macbook Air, you should go with the new version. Since you say that is out of your price range, I would recommend the Macbook.

Since video playback is important to you I just can't recommend the 1st version of the Macbook Air. It does run hot and stutter when playing HD video, or using Hulu/YouTube.

 

[iwant2believe88]

If you want the Macbook Air, you should go with the new version. Since you say that is out of your price range, I would recommend the Macbook.

Since video playback is important to you I just can't recommend the 1st version of the Macbook Air. It does run hot and stutter when playing HD video, or using Hulu/YouTube.

Thanks for the input everyone, really struggling with the decision. I know the benefits of the new version of the air but were talking 600 more. While playing around with a rev 2 air I also had problems playing full screen hd video while at other times I wouldn't. This seemed to happen on both machines. Playing with the MB i didn't see this problem. The only real HD video I do is to stream eps of LOST from ABC and both rev were hit and miss. But in everything else the air seemed very fast. Cynicalone, do you have the air and can't watch video with it. At 1150 for the air vs 1599 for the MB and the portability to take it with my to school (teacher) it would be great. Also is windows xp a smooth experience on the air through boot camp or virtualization software. Thanks

 

[ntrigue]

The MBA Rev A is a terrific laptop. Your needs will be more than satisfied. $1200! I mean seriously I paid over $1800 and got my money's worth...

 

[Cynicalone]

Cynicalone, do you have the air and can't watch video with it. At 1150 for the air vs 1599 for the MB and the portability to take it with my to school (teacher) it would be great. Also is windows xp a smooth experience on the air through boot camp or virtualization software. Thanks

I have both a 1st Generation Macbook Air (1.8ghz 64GB SSD) and a 2nd Generation Macbook Air (1.86ghz 128GB SSD). The 1st generation could play video's and stream video but the temp would quickly climb into the up 70º Celsius range. After a while it would start to stutter with temps in the mid 80º Celsius range. In the end I decided not to use it for video. Basically I had a very expensive Netbook.

The new Macbook Air handles video's with ease. I stream HD content over my local network from my iMac without any problems. I have watched hours of videos online without any problems. It would seem the video/temp problems have been fixed on the new Macbook Air. After more than 2 hours of 720p HD video content the temps never climbed out of the 50º Celsius range. Watching 3 hours of online video content on NBC only got the temp up to 70º Celsius. I have been stress testing this laptop the last 2 weeks since my 14 day return time is up tomorrow. Right now after 2 weeks I couldn't be happier with this laptop. I feel safe now retiring my 1st generation Macbook Air.

 

[Ironic]

I agree, if you can't get a new one get the MB.

 

[iPhonePhan]

If you want the Macbook Air, you should go with the new version. Since you say that is out of your price range, I would recommend the Macbook.

Since video playback is important to you I just can't recommend the 1st version of the Macbook Air. It does run hot and stutter when playing HD video, or using Hulu/YouTube.

^^^ I 2nd what he said

 

[EnderTW]

I have the current rev1 mba.

You do need to install a $10 program called coolbook to watch Hulu without stutter. It has worked for me, even full screen no stuttering at all.

It's something to do with Apple's way of interfacing with the temp controller. the MBA would throttle back on the proc way too early causing the youtube/hulu to stutter after long uses.

With coolbook, the mba will run hotter but to me it's definitely worth it now that I can watch Hulu full screen no stutter.

You don't need the rev2 book, to me, the upgrades are not worth it yet. Wait till macworld when they update it to the new unibody type with glass trackpad.

 

[weeman]

You don't need the rev2 book, to me, the upgrades are not worth it yet. Wait till macworld when they update it to the new unibody type with glass trackpad.

I highly doubt we are going to see any upgrade of the macbook air at macworld considering it was just refreshed. But we'll see!