My First Day w/MBA, used to Have MBP

[czeluff]

I just wanted to share my thoughts with those who are curious about all things related to MBA.

1. Speed - it's not that the MBA is SLOW; it's just "not as peppy" as my old MBP. The only things i notice speed degradation on: anything Adobe, anything Microsoft, and coverflow in iTunes.

2. Battery - don't freak out if your battery reads 90% charged and 1:30 remainging when you first open it up. Remember, the MBA is indexing Spotlight in the background, and this is a real battery killer. Based on what i'm seeing, I bet mine will get the 4 hours everyone hopes for.

3. Style - everyone in my office uses a PC; they know i'm the uber Mac geek. They all want this laptop. 'nuff said.

4. Screen brightness - same as my MBP

5. Trackpad - uh...its massive. And that's a good thing. I gotta get used to three finger swiping though.

6. Fans - no fan noise whatsoever.

7. Heat - getting a bit of heat in the left corner; nowhere NEAR the amount of heat generated from the MBP (which would then cause the fans to get loud, the battery to decrease, and would result in me being frustrated)

8. Speaker - in my honest opinion, its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be in reviews. However, i havent turned my volume up beyond 1/2.

Complaints:

1. well, the actual BUTTON below the trackpad is a little too thin; but no worries because i turn on trackpad click.

2. i can't seem to get the CoverFlow resizing (using pinch) to work? Any help?

3. I'm more afraid of this getting stolen than my MBP

4. (At this point in being REALLY picky) The little door closes if I sit the MBA on top of my incase neoprene sleeve. (THE BEST SLEEVE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

http://www.goincase.com/products/detail/neoprene-sleeve-cl57148

Let me know what you think. I'm so glad I made the switch, and anyone considering dumping the MBP for an Air, I think it is a viable option if you really don't use the GPU and Optical drive.

 

[Adam Ierymenko]

4. (At this point in being REALLY picky) The little door closes if I sit the MBA on top of my incase neoprene sleeve. (THE BEST SLEEVE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I wouldn't do that... you'll have heat problems. Be sure you don't set it anywhere that covers the rear vent unless you're doing really light work.

 

[AreanFSL]

Awesome post! I'm looking to do the same, go from MBP 2.0 Core Duo w/ 2GB ram to an MBA as soon as I sell my MBP!

 

[czeluff]

more stuff

Ok, now that my battery finished calibrating, and im back online after being dead for 5 hours... Some more info:

1. My battery is having zero charging issues. I was a little freaked for a moment when it plugged it in, it said it'd take 10 hours to charge. After 7-8 minutes, that number quickly fell to 3 hours. My guess is that i had drained the battery COMPLETELY (like Apple says to do), and it was simply charging the deep sleep portion of the battery.

2. The speaker on the Air has no issues! Why does everyone online complain about this? After having a Macbook Pro, yes, it may not be AS great, but it's still loud enough, and I don't believe the quality diminished that much. I'm running it on full blast without disappointment.

Who knows, maybe I just got a REALLY good MBA!

p.s. How the battery charges in comparison to the MBP's: the MBP would charge the first 50% in about 1 hour, but it'd take 15 minutes to do the last 1%. (in graphing terms, it was increasing at a decreasing rate). The MBA's graph is linear: 50% takes 2 hours, and the last 50% takes 2 hours.

I actually prefer the MBP charging style, because quick charge would take less time; however, i wouldnt doubt if the overall total battery charge of the Air is better 6 months later due to the linear graph.

 

[n8kwx]

I just wanted to share my thoughts with those who are curious about all things related to MBA.

1. Speed - it's not that the MBA is SLOW; it's just "not as peppy" as my old MBP. The only things i notice speed degradation on: anything Adobe, anything Microsoft, and coverflow in iTunes.

4. Screen brightness - same as my MBP

Good review, but two quibbles:

Which MBP did you have? I have the "original" one (2GHz Core Duo) and I concur with Anandtech that the 1.6 GHz air is just as fast as the original 2.0 GHz MBP.

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=3226

I found the Air to have a much brighter screen than my MBP. I also checked an Air in the Apple store and it is much brighter than even a new (pre last weeks update) MBP.

 

[bcaslis]

Good review, but two quibbles:

Which MBP did you have? I have the "original" one (2GHz Core Duo) and I concur with Anandtech that the 1.6 GHz air is just as fast as the original 2.0 GHz MBP.

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=3226

I found the Air to have a much brighter screen than my MBP. I also checked an Air in the Apple store and it is much brighter than even a new (pre last weeks update) MBP.

I'd have to agree with that last point, the MBA has a brighter screen than any Apple laptop I've ever had and I've had most of them.

 

[czeluff]

mbp

i had the latest model prior to the Penryn switch:

2.2ghz, 2gb ram, 160gb hard drive (upgraded), 8600gt 128mb.

Im very happy with the speed of this machine. Synthetic benchmarks mean so little to me, even moreso now that i've seen so many people bash the speed of this thing.

Who knows, maybe im just a really simple user....Word, iTunes, Internet, RSS, Mail, and iPhoto. Hell, I might as well go ahead and install Coda on this bad boy.

cz

 

[gregk205]

Yes I must say after having my MBA for 5 days and my new MPB 15inch base for 3 days. There is no speed difference for me for everyday things that I do. (Websurfing, Word, Iphoto, Itunes) I love the air because the temperatures remain very cool when doing these things. I keep it on my lap and there are no problems. Also I have had no problems with it at all. I get about 4 hours per charge and it takes about 4 hours to charge. So that is fine for me. And also I should mention.. It is quiet. Super quiet. The MBP is a little noisy even with fans at their lowest setting. Not bad but I can hear it easily.

I should also point out that my new MBP is also comfortable to keep on my lap with those basic activities. It remains cool and the fans don't speed up any. Actually I am ripping a dvd with handbrake right now and the MBP is still on my lap while I am typing this. The temp is 170 degrees F and it is not uncomfortable to keep on my lap. Yes it is warm. But not near as warm as my MB when just websurfing. I love both of these computers.

 

[kockgunner]

finally! a review from an average user. the 'geeky' people are way over represented in these forums and tech sites. most people could care less for firewire, 3g, and bose-like sound quality

 

[n8kwx]

finally! a review from an average user. the 'geeky' people are way over represented in these forums and tech sites. most people could care less for firewire, 3g, and bose-like sound quality

Careful - Most technophiles (geeks) poo-poo Bose!

 

[mark34]

Exactly, I was with you until you said "Bose-like" quality sound. ha You know what they say, B etter O ff with S omething E lse. But you know what, if someone enjoys what they hear, that is all that matters.

My two cents. The only thing I don't like about my 1.8/SSD is the track pad inadvertent click problem. I am praying for some sort of firmware fix since there is not the option like on other apple laptops. Drives me nuts.

I love this laptop.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Let me know what you think. I'm so glad I made the switch, and anyone considering dumping the MBP for an Air, I think it is a viable option if you really don't use the GPU and Optical drive.

Hey, great review. I just want to add one thing though: most people that would consider (or could) actually dump their MBP for an Air probably shouldn't have had a MBP in the first place (unless they chose it for the aluminium over the macbooks plastic ).

 

[stakis]

Hey, great review. I just want to add one thing though: most people that would consider (or could) actually dump their MBP for an Air probably shouldn't have had a MBP in the first place (unless they chose it for the aluminium over the macbooks plastic ).

Or in my case... the screen size.... I like a big screen with my laptop... and even though I'm a basic user, I took the entry level MBP cause its the only laptop with a big enough screen.

 

[TK B$K]

This really makes me want to get the air now thanks!

 

[ClassicBean]

Now I want to swap my pro again. I thought I had convinced myself to stick with the MBP. Thanks for taking me back to the proverbial drawing board.

 

[TravisReynolds]

lol i like how you make all the PC users jelous.. way to go

 

[luffytubby]

the funny thing is that the MB and MBA has the same integrated GPUO_O

Thats really crappy for MB considering that its so much heavier and thicker.

 

[mark34]

I find it interesting how many seem to believe there really is a pro vs. consumer split when it comes to the MBP. Most people who buy the MBP are just consumers who like to buy the higher end model or prefer a larger laptop. The righteous indignation from the "pro" users over their superiority is always amusing. I am not responding to someone specifically in this thread, it is just something someone said made me think of it.

Don't get me wrong, I realize there are many Pro users out there for whom certain specs are vitally important to their livelihood. Those aren't the voices you usually hear who act threatened by the existence of a consumer friendly light, yet still quite powerful for most needs, thin MacBook Air (the horror!). Usually it is the "Pros" not the Pros.

I love my Air. I have also loved my "Pro" and "Power" machines.

 

[kockgunner]

Careful - Most technophiles (geeks) poo-poo Bose!

you can tell i'm from the average user demographic

 

[ncavs10]

I just wanted to share my thoughts with those who are curious about all things related to MBA.

1. Speed - it's not that the MBA is SLOW; it's just "not as peppy" as my old MBP. The only things i notice speed degradation on: anything Adobe, anything Microsoft, and coverflow in iTunes.

2. Battery - don't freak out if your battery reads 90% charged and 1:30 remainging when you first open it up. Remember, the MBA is indexing Spotlight in the background, and this is a real battery killer. Based on what i'm seeing, I bet mine will get the 4 hours everyone hopes for.

3. Style - everyone in my office uses a PC; they know i'm the uber Mac geek. They all want this laptop. 'nuff said.

4. Screen brightness - same as my MBP

5. Trackpad - uh...its massive. And that's a good thing. I gotta get used to three finger swiping though.

6. Fans - no fan noise whatsoever.

7. Heat - getting a bit of heat in the left corner; nowhere NEAR the amount of heat generated from the MBP (which would then cause the fans to get loud, the battery to decrease, and would result in me being frustrated)

8. Speaker - in my honest opinion, its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be in reviews. However, i havent turned my volume up beyond 1/2.

Complaints:

1. well, the actual BUTTON below the trackpad is a little too thin; but no worries because i turn on trackpad click.

2. i can't seem to get the CoverFlow resizing (using pinch) to work? Any help?

3. I'm more afraid of this getting stolen than my MBP

4. (At this point in being REALLY picky) The little door closes if I sit the MBA on top of my incase neoprene sleeve. (THE BEST SLEEVE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

http://www.goincase.com/products/detail/neoprene-sleeve-cl57148

Let me know what you think. I'm so glad I made the switch, and anyone considering dumping the MBP for an Air, I think it is a viable option if you really don't use the GPU and Optical drive.

your review was very helpful. i am trying to decide whether i can deal with the loss going from a black macbook to a macbook air. if you have so far had no issues going from a MBP to the MBA, im sure it is quite manageable.

 

[ipodtouchy333]

Very good review. At the moment I am trying to decide whether to get this as my first mac or a blackbook. I do have an older PC at home but of course, I love the looks of the air. Or maybe they should just make aluminum macbooks !!! YEAH !