New MBA Owner - "Real Enough for Me"

[knmlee]

Finally decided to take the plunge and buy the new MBA 1.86/128 SSD. Went into my local independent Apple reseller and ask if they had one in stock. The salesperson gave me a strange look and told me that they didn't carry the MBA. I asked him why and he told me "no one would ever buy one, not a real notebook, more like a toy, price way too high". I started to say something, but decided just to thank him for his time and leave. Ordered the MBA online and got it delivered today.

I have six other Macs and this is my favorite one yet. Anyone that has ever schlepped a heavy laptop through one airport after another would appreciate just how "real" the savings of 1 to 2 pounds is.

This computer is definitely "real enough" for me

 

[kingcrowing]

Agreed. I've owned probably a dozen laptops (Dell Inspiron C-series, 1100, Latitude D600, D800, D820, D830, iBook G3 (2), iBook G4, Powerbook G4 12", MacBook Pro 17", and probably a couple others). But I've always been a desktop buy, at least for my main computer, so this air has been the best laptop I've ever owned. I've got the Rev. A and it's plenty powerful enough to run VMware w/ XP & Office '07 (I'm in MIS so I need access sadly...)

 

[stiphone]

I totally agree. I used to own a 12" PowerBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro and now a MBA. The weight and portability beats all the rest of the computers hands-down. I bring my MBA everywhere now. It so effortless and light that i dun even feel it. It'll be excellent if EVDO or 3G is in-built too.

 

[zer0tails]

I totally agree. I used to own a 12" PowerBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro and now a MBA. The weight and portability beats all the rest of the computers hands-down. I bring my MBA everywhere now. It so effortless and light that i dun even feel it. It'll be excellent if EVDO or 3G is in-built too.

yes, the MBA is my favorite super portable. I think the 12" powerbook came pretty close. But the thinness really sets the MBA apart.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Congrats on your super new MBA; may both you and your new MBA live long and prosper together and may you long enjoy it.

I am seriously thinking of the Rev B SSD MBA for myself in the pretty near future - I travel a lot, and my MBP is sitting at home just now - so any comments on performance etc. would be very welcome.

Cheers and good luck

 

[hayduke]

Just got mine too and LOVE it. So nice.

 

[knmlee]

so any comments on performance etc. would be very welcome.

Cheers and good luck

So far, the only thing I can say about performance is that loading of apps is faster than on any of my other macs. Startup & shutdown are also faster as one would expect with the SSD. My external drive arrives on Monday and I'll be loading Parallels 4.0 and XP (need it for work). Will also be installing MS Office (mac version). I will post more once this is all up and running.

I did try to use the remote drive feature to run Migration Assistant and found it very slow. To transfer my apps and a few documents was timing out at over three hours. I gave up and have been transferring stuff using a usb memory stick. Much faster.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[TheRiseofTheFal]

I've got the Rev A with the 80 gb hd and I can't complain whatsoever. I have had no lockup issues in the longest time, the only grudge is a bit more hard drive space. But I would not trade the portability for anything. I love being able to walk around my house with the computer open and in one hand. I tried doing that with the most recent aluminum macbook and macbook pros (friends computers) and I thought my wrist was going to snap (exaggeration of course) but it did make me appreciate how much weight is saved in this svelte sexy package... Just as there are missing "features" with the iphone there are few things that would make the MBA killer but all in all I am very pleased with my computer and have now had it for 8 months!!

 

[Mactagonist]

Finally decided to take the plunge and buy the new MBA 1.86/128 SSD. Went into my local independent Apple reseller and ask if they had one in stock. The salesperson gave me a strange look and told me that they didn't carry the MBA. I asked him why and he told me "no one would ever buy one, not a real notebook, more like a toy, price way too high". I started to say something, but decided just to thank him for his time and leave. Ordered the MBA online and got it delivered today.

I have six other Macs and this is my favorite one yet. Anyone that has ever schlepped a heavy laptop through one airport after another would appreciate just how "real" the savings of 1 to 2 pounds is.

This computer is definitely "real enough" for me

And people wonder why small independent retailers are disappearing! How much other business does that elitist geek chase away daily?

 

[WorldIRC]

I totally agree. I used to own a 12" PowerBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro and now a MBA. The weight and portability beats all the rest of the computers hands-down. I bring my MBA everywhere now. It so effortless and light that i dun even feel it. It'll be excellent if EVDO or 3G is in-built too.

I save them the effort of integrated 3G...since my Bold is always on my hip, I just tether...it's like having an internal 3g modem

 

[fyrefly]

I've got the Rev A with the 80 gb hd and I can't complain whatsoever. I have had no lockup issues in the longest time, the only grudge is a bit more hard drive space. But I would not trade the portability for anything... all in all I am very pleased with my computer and have now had it for 8 months!!

Bravo! I also have a RevA 80gb HDD model and I also love it. It goes into my bag and I have it with me all every day. I also never have any lockup issues and love my air.

As another poster mentioned I had the same chain of laptops, PB 12" -> MB -> MBP -> MBA and I also agree that my Air is my fav laptop ever.

Congrats on your purchase OP, you're not gonna regret it.

 

[knmlee]

Well I found one thing that is much slower on the MBA than on my PowerPC desktop: MS Office 2004. No surprise here since this app is not Universal. I haven't upgraded to the 2008 version since MS crippled Excel. May have to rethink that decision

 

[knmlee]

And people wonder why small independent retailers are disappearing! How much other business does that elitist geek chase away daily?

It was pretty unbelievable. This guy has no future in sales, that's for sure
This shop is near a University campus and caters to students. They must not get many business travelers as customers. One would think the light weight of the MBA would be appealing to students needing to carry their laptops across campus?

I keep hoping Apple will open a store here. They provide a much better shopping experience in my opinion. The closest one is more than an hours drive.

 

[bobbleheadbob]

I just got one of the new 128 GB SSD MBA's a couple weeks ago. I travel a lot for work and have to carry a Dell with me as my company laptop. I have a 17" MBP for home and it's really a pain to try to fit both that and the work laptop into the same bag. But with the MBA, I don't really notice it at all. It sure is nice to be able to take a Mac along with me when I'm on the road.

My only question now is do I try to schelp the big MBP with me to MWSF in Jan., or rely on the MBA for the week. (I'm going to have to take the Dell to check my work messages while I'm there.) Decisions, decisions....

 

[NC MacGuy]

I just got one of the new 128 GB SSD MBA's a couple weeks ago. I travel a lot for work and have to carry a Dell with me as my company laptop. I have a 17" MBP for home and it's really a pain to try to fit both that and the work laptop into the same bag. But with the MBA, I don't really notice it at all. It sure is nice to be able to take a Mac along with me when I'm on the road.

My only question now is do I try to schelp the big MBP with me to MWSF in Jan., or rely on the MBA for the week. (I'm going to have to take the Dell to check my work messages while I'm there.) Decisions, decisions....

Isn't that what the Air's for? Who in their right mind wants to tote around a 17"MBP for a week? On top of that another Dell? I've been out for three weeks straight with my Air and have had no problems whatsoever.

 

[bobbleheadbob]

Isn't that what the Air's for? Who in their right mind wants to tote around a 17"MBP for a week? On top of that another Dell? I've been out for three weeks straight with my Air and have had no problems whatsoever.

Yeah, but I'm doing a two day seminar on FCP while I'm there, and that's what I use the MBP for.

 

[HLdan]

It was pretty unbelievable. This guy has no future in sales, that's for sure
This shop is near a University campus and caters to students. They must not get many business travelers as customers. One would think the light weight of the MBA would be appealing to students needing to carry their laptops across campus?

I keep hoping Apple will open a store here. They provide a much better shopping experience in my opinion. The closest one is more than an hours drive.

You did the right thing by saying nothing. These 3rd party retailers make snide remarks on something they don't carry to persuade you to buy what they currently have. You said more to them by saying nothing and walking out. They lost a sale by not carrying the Air.
BTW I just bought the new MBA 128/SSD and love it. I'm going to Macworld 09 as well and this will be the first time I am carrying my notebook with me. In the past my old Powerbooks were too big and heavy to take to Macworld.

After buying the Air I can't see myself buying any other Mac notebook in the future. It's easy to get pretty spoiled with the Air's lightweight and simple design.

 

[zer0tails]

Yeah, but I'm doing a two day seminar on FCP while I'm there, and that's what I use the MBP for.

A all in one 15" MBP would be great for that.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Yeah, but I'm doing a two day seminar on FCP while I'm there, and that's what I use the MBP for.

That's a little more info.

When I've had presentations or need a large screen I've done one of three things; 1) Bring my 15 MBP - not bad for a week long trip and smaller groups. 2) Fedex a large monitor to either hotel or conference - not bad for trade shows and can still lug around light laptop and plug in for when I'm "on" then ship back home when done. 3) Buy a monitor at site and send back after I'm done.

Assuming is this is for business and you aren't paying for shipping out of your own pocket.

Other options are for small groups of 2-4, my Air works fine or borrow a projector. Don't do the projector thing anymore due to an ugly burnt bulb incident and swearing off them. Just make sure you have your displayport dongles handy.

Never owning a 17" I could imagine that it'd be quite a load to haul for a week especially if you're only using that big screen for two days. In all my travels, I think I've seen under 1/2 a dozen 17" laptops actually toted via air. If traveling by car, not a bad option to haul it I guess.

 

[ntrigue]

Rev A was Real Enough for Me

Now I have a Rev B coming via eBay this week 1.86-SSD and I know I will fall in love again. Suggest to people that can't own one to reserve their opinions until they've used one for a month.

You can't appreciate the value until you're 'out of hands' and can tuck it under your arm or pinch it between three fingers!

I handle large PDF's in my line of work and have no problem annotating them. I use Pixelmator as disk space is a constraint and it has a much more streamlined code.

Fast boot times and instant application launches are important to me.

 

[zap2]

Wow, what would that reseller say about netbooks!!

Oh my!

The MBA is not for everyone, but it has a place in Apple's line up, even more so as their market share expands, they'll need more models(not to many!)