New Macbook Air 13 Owner: Surprisingly Disappointed

[AAPLaday]

Absolutely! They each have their own purpose. When I'm not in school (my school is online) and I travel, the iPad goes with me. The iPad is also my lay in bed/ take it around the house internet device.

The macbook air on the other hand I will take with me when I travel during class, and I can also take it around the house to work on my schoolwork instead of being tied to my desk. My school work requires things that are not doable on the iPad (Maya, ZBrush, XCode, Unreal Engine, etc).

I can also take my laptop to my friends studio and hang out with her all day and do school work

Agreed. Each can coexist with the other. The iPad is a complimentary device

 

[TheAllStar]

Anyway, I just thought I would share a user opinion on a new apple product. I apologize to all those who got offended by a less than complimentary perspective and IF we replace it with a different Macbook then I'll be more diligent on keeping things positive.

Let us know which one you finally decide on!

 

[ninjaslim]

I personally think Apple should not have released the 13" model. To differentiate the MacBook Air line enough, a fully-featured 11.6" model would've been more than sufficient. Now, if they add the backlit keyboard, ambient light sensor and extend the screen while keeping the same chassis, then it'd make the 11.6" model an absolutely amazing machine. Personally, I'm still keeping my MacBook Pro 13" because I still need the extra power for video work. However, once I'm able to get an iMac, I'll be replacing the MacBook Pro 13" with a MacBook Air 11.6". Hopefully, the machine will have been updated to include all these features by then, or at least some of them.

 

[AAPLaday]

I personally think Apple should not have released the 13" model. To differentiate the MacBook Air line enough, a fully-featured 11.6" model would've been more than sufficient. Now, if they add the backlit keyboard, ambient light sensor and extend the screen while keeping the same chassis, then it'd make the 11.6" model an absolutely amazing machine. Personally, I'm still keeping my MacBook Pro 13" because I still need the extra power for video work. However, once I'm able to get an iMac, I'll be replacing the MacBook Pro 13" with a MacBook Air 11.6". Hopefully, the machine will have been updated to include all these features by then, or at least some of them.

Therre is still a big difference in weight between the 13" Air and Pro

 

[MikePA]

Weight:
Most adults can carry a 3, 4 or 6lb notebook one-handed with ease. So it really comes all down to how heavy a computer "feels". Many cheapo netbooks and the 11" Macbook Air "feel" lighter than 2.4lb because the footprint is so small and the weight distribution is minimal. But because the MBA13 and MB13 share the same footprint then carrying an open Macbook Air around surprisingly felt as heavy as our old notebook.

This has to be one of the most bizarre sections of your list. How heavy an object is not a function of opinion or of 'feelings".

A MBA13 weighs 2.9 pounds
A MB13 weighs 4.7 pounds

A MB13 weighs 62% more than a MBA13.

And carrying a laptop, for 'most adults', implies more than just carrying it from the den to the living room. For 'most adults' it can mean lugging it around an airport or train station or walking to/from work.

 

[HelloMikee]

Many of us use our computers in bed next to our spouse who is sleeping. Typing in the dark isn't rare.

I just did this last night and the keys are reflective enough to see from the light coming from the screen. It's not even a question. It's absolutely fine.

 

[MooneyFlyer]

Thanks for the write up. However, I don't think your viewpoint necessarily jives with how everyone perceives usage vs weight vs power. Different people have different usage scenarios and varied power requirements.

I personally am selling my 13" MBP and replacing with 13" MBA. The reason is that the machine accomplishes everything I need to do with my laptop while being more than powerful enough for those tasks. Additionally, I spend most of my time in an airport/aircraft environment (100k + miles a year). Weight is a huge concern for me and the 13" MBP gets tediously heavy when one travels a lot. Yes, I'm not going to kill myself by carrying the extra 1.5 lbs of the MBP but over time it makes a big difference.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that perception of usage and power is widely varied amongst the consumer. To each his/her own.

Yep -- couldn't agree more. If you don't travel like this I claim that you will never understand it. Everyone has a different user profile.

1.6 lbs makes quite a difference when schlepping around Japan for a week in August. I'm going to get an Air... trying to decide if I should keep my MBP and get a low end 11" for travel or get the 13" maxed which is just about the same spec as my MBP, just 1.6 lbs lighter.

 

[unagimiyagi]

To the OP: you're getting grilled here, but your concerns are valid. It seems that your use cases rely alot on CPU and (maybe ram). In that case, this is where the air will not shine. But for the usual surfing, video playback, word processing, and chatting, the air should be fine.

I've never been a big cpu guy, but I get that there are alot of folks out there who relish speed, speed, speed. But I rarely notice any benefits from changing cpus, and it's the SSD that has made the biggest leap in performance--above any processor.

 

[n2arkitektur]

This is our research stage. As Premium Best Buy Rewards members then we get restock fees waived, so i can return this with no hassle.

I would recommend that you trade in, then, on the fully upgraded MBA with 4GB RAM and 2.16 GHz processor. I don't think it is fair comparing a machine with 4GB RAM & 2.4GHz processor to a machine with 2GB RAM & 1.86 GHz processor. You get the specs you buy, and it appears your demands are greater than the specs you bought. I really think you will see a big difference with the maxed out MBA. From a performance standpoint, there is little difference between the maxed out MBA and entry-level MBP. But, you get a much lighter, thinner, and more portable machine. If portable wasn't important to you, then the MBA was altogether the wrong machine for you.

Good luck finding your niche.

 

[hcho3]

Another one of those threads that won't stop complaining about why MBA doesn't have 4GB ram, i5 processor and 24 hours of battery life...

MBA is designed to be portable. It is not designed to run all of your games and speed needs. Core2Duo and 320 M are more than enough for people's general needs. If you want serious gaming or video editing, please look else where.

 

[rickhorn]

I just dont get it why so many people complain there is no back-lit keyboard??? It really doesn't matter to me! When I type I don't usually look at the keyboard so back-lit appears nothing to me but sucks more power from the battery...

 

[ninjaslim]

Therre is still a big difference in weight between the 13" Air and Pro

Absolutely, but without SSD/Flash being the standard on the MBP 13", the Air still rivals it quite well in terms of performance. Personally, the MBP 13" is the perfect compromise between size and weight. It's not heavy at all.

 

[MooneyFlyer]

I just dont get it why so many people complain there is no back-lit keyboard??? It really doesn't matter to me! When I type I don't usually look at the keyboard so back-lit appears nothing to me but sucks more power from the battery...

fair enough but -- sit on an airplane for 12+ hours where even the lowest brightness setting on your MB burns your retinas after you've been up for nearly a day and you are working in an app that requires hitting weird key combinations and, occasionally, you'll find the backlit keyboard to be useful.

Then do that 12-16 times a year.

Everyone has different needs.

 

[rickhorn]

fair enough but -- sit on an airplane for 12+ hours where even the lowest brightness setting on your MB burns your retinas after you've been up for nearly a day and you are working in an app that requires hitting weird key combinations and, occasionally, you'll find the backlit keyboard to be useful.

Then do that 12-16 times a year.

Everyone has different needs.

agree...however I never encounter that situation so far...when I am on biz trip I always prepare something either on word/excel or ppt, nothing more...so no weird key for me...lol

On vacation, I just sit back and close my eyes and enjoy music from my earplugs...to be honest, I really don't enjoy working during the flight...I always try to prepare everything in advance...so I get relaxed for the meeting next day...

 

[MikePA]

I just dont get it why so many people complain there is no back-lit keyboard???

I just don't get it why so many people can't, or won't, understand the simple fact that people have different requirements.

It really doesn't matter to me!

Good for you.

 

[rickhorn]

I just don't get it why so many people can't, or won't, understand the simple fact that people have different requirements.



Good for you.

You are right! I agree with you. We need diff opinions to make apple even better!

 

[neteng101]

BUT, if anyone looking for a Macbook Air 13 should HEAVILY consider the Macbook Pro 13 instead.

Yes and no - don't forget the higher resolution screen on the Air 13. But I do think its just too much like a slimmer 13 as you suggest, I'd rather go 11+15/17... but a 13 as a single machine is not a bad choice.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Many of us use our computers in bed next to our spouse who is sleeping. Typing in the dark isn't rare.

What's wrong with this picture?

When I get in bed with my spouse, the last thing on our minds is a flippin computer...

 

[hachre]

What's wrong with this picture?

When I get in bed with my spouse, the last thing on our minds is a flippin computer...

Well my computer is in bed with me every day!! She better gets used to it!!! ;P

 

[Fuchal]

Aperture runs sluggishly on my Core i5 27" iMac with 8GB of RAM, I don't think it's entirely the Air's fault Lightroom and iPhoto run far better than Aperture. Aperture 3 is easily the slowest program imaginable.

 

[hachre]

Aperture runs sluggishly on my Core i5 27" iMac with 8GB of RAM, I don't think it's entirely the Air's fault Lightroom and iPhoto run far better than Aperture. Aperture 3 is easily the slowest program imaginable.

I have made the same observation on my MBP

 

[gooddeal]

Anyways on the profile, I tend to agree, it would be nice if they could shrink the bezel on the screen and give it a smaller footprint than the MBP.

As far as battery goes I am going to wait on some tests by Engadget or Ars Technica. My dad has a MBP 13" 2010 and he typically gets around 7 hours in real world usage (it can be pushed to 10 with lowest brightness plus very light usage), and since the 7 hours of the MBA was on a stricter test I think it should fair about the same.

I agree. I just don't know why they still keep that huge bezel.

OTH, it was an easy decision to get the 1st gen Air b/c, beside the Air, I have to get the ugly 5lbs white Macbook or the huge 15" 5.8lbs MBP.

I might get the new 11" Air if it has the illuminated keyboard but it's going to be tough to decide b/t the 13" Air and the 13" MBP.

 

[hachre]

I agree. I just don't know why they still keep that huge bezel.

I personally like the wide bezel more, I think it just looks better.. I used to have the MacBook Pro 1,1 with the still narrow bezel and I never really liked that. It look more like a picture frame when it's wider, it's just more beautiful to me somehow... Maybe they agree with me on that

Of course, from a functional point of few a narrow bezel would make more sense - but since when is Apple function before form? ;D

 

[PsyD4Me]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Sounds like u came into the purchase with a bias

 

[robeddie]

Why is everybody making such a big deal about the lack of a backlit keyboard? What are you doing, typing in the dark? I don't and have no interest in doing so. If you know how to type and know the QWERTY keyboard then it doesn't matter. How many years did we get by just fine without lit up keys before Apple added the feature?

First off, yes. I do use my computer in the dark. Whether it's on the back porch at night or while in bed and I want the light down ... the backlit keyboard would be nice.

And yes, I know how to type, quite well. But imagine the scenario where you're just using the trackpad for a while, surfing the net, then come across some jackass who wonders why anyone would want to type on a keyboard in the dark... at that point in order to respond, I either have to get up and turn on a light to type, or strain to see the keys to get my hands in the right place to start typing.

Finally, even if you can type qwerty quite well, what about if you want to hit one of the function keys that aren't as familar to you?