Even a somewhat conditional apology is an apology so I felt I should let the poster know that I thought it was a gracious act. Nevertheless, I agree that his argument contending that most people don't care about the weight difference between the 11 inch MBA and the 13 inch model was, to put it gently, unconvincing.
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No offense, but 11 inch has too many compromises.
- Thread starter hcho3
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Ok, this post really made me laugh out loud at the cafe I am at. (which has a really small table by the way, and the hipster wannabe sitting at the table next to me keeps trying to read what I am writing.....
)I totally agree with you that netbooks by definition require compromises, and the 11.6", although the best netbook out there, also requires compromises and would not work for me as my primary computer.
But as a secondary computer, I think the 11.6" is the better complement to a mbp because it is very different and can serve very different needs than the mbp.
That's a great point. I love the 11 inch MBA and just wish that I could have figured out a way to buy one. I couldn't, though, because I wanted an MBA that could replace my 6GB MBP on which I simultaneously run both Window 7 apps under VMware Fusion and OS X apps, too. To replicate my MBP's setup, I needed 128GB of storage. Obviously, then, the 13 inch Ultimate with its 256GB of storage was the only choice. Had I wanted to continue to use the MBP for everyday use, though, I would have bought an 11 inch MBA instead of the 13 inch model. I may still do that sometime but certainly not right away.
The nice thing about the 13 inch MBA has been that not only has it replaced the MBP for most purposes, it has also virtually replaced the iPad. I would sell the iPad right away but for my involvement in a beta test of an app for it. When the beta wraps up, though, the iPad will likely go.
I just wish that Apple offered the 13" with 4GB ram and the 128GB SSD in stores. That would be the optimum setup that handles all my mini-travel notebook for my needs, over the next few years or so, for the price. Just to get the 4GB ram in stores, I'd have to fork over another $500, though. I'm not trying to replace the MBP I have, though. However, I notice that my needs for battery life is directly proportionate to how portable I want my device. The smaller, the more I plan to use it without being plugged in.
I have no qualms about waiting if I order from the Apple Store online. That's not even an issue. But my worry is more for what happens given the small chance I get a defective model. It just seems it would be much easier, if they have to replace it, if they actually have that configuration in store, than it would if the only course is delivery.
I have no qualms about waiting if I order from the Apple Store online. That's not even an issue. But my worry is more for what happens given the small chance I get a defective model. It just seems it would be much easier, if they have to replace it, if they actually have that configuration in store, than it would if the only course is delivery.
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My 11.6" air totally replaced my ipad. I sold my ipad and haven't missed it a bit.
For any sort of heavy use needing a lot of storage and/or a lot of cpu power, the 13" is better equipped. I was even shocked that I could run cs5 on my air without it giving me the beach ball of death. Here is a list of the apps I have running on my 11.6" and how they fare to the way they run on my 15" I7 mbp:
1. Microsoft office. I see no difference in the way this app suite runs on either machine. It is bloated and clunky on both machines.
2. cs5, photoshop, illustrator, fireworks, etc.... Runs faster on my mbp obviously, but the difference is not as much as I would have thought. I can have more items open simultaneously on the mbp (both machines have 4gb ram) but the app runs quite smoothly on the air.
3. Firefox, safari. I see no difference in the way these browsers run on either machine. I have multiple tabs open at all times.
4. Skype/ichat. Runs great on the both. I see no difference in these apps on either machine.
5. vmware fusion with xp and a bunch of crappy custom windows apps. This runs better on my mbp. It is slow on the air. I hate having to run it and will be literally dancing in the streets when I can get rid of it on both machines. (I will post video of me dancing in the streets on youtube as soon as this client of mine goes away or enters at least the 20th century and gets rid of these apps.
)6. itunes. I see no difference on either machine.
7. Final Cut Pro. I can't run this on the air without driving myself crazy. If I want to cut ten second videos, maybe it will work, but for any real video work, the air is not an option.
8. Amazon kindle app. Runs great on both computers. I see no difference.
etc.......
Anyway you get the point. The 11.6" runs most of my apps without compromise.
I just noticed in your sig that you sold your old macbook. How much did you get out of it? Because I am planning on replacing all of other laptops to MBA. No more laptops with optical drive and Hard drive for me. EVER!
No worry, the 13" is too much of a compromise, too!
Anemic!
Compare to which laptop?
If you say a word about PC, then that is for different subject. Also, no pc laptops out there that can compete with this...
To anything else... say any MBP, 13, 15, 17.
If you want portability in a laptop, the 11" MBA is the most portable while still being very capable.
This doesn't surprise me at all. I had thought all along that the 11 inch Ultimate MBA would give me all the horsepower I would need to satisfactorily run all my apps. The problem I had was solely related to its 128GB storage limitation. I just couldn't get around that one.My 11.6" air totally replaced my ipad. I sold my ipad and haven't missed it a bit.
For any sort of heavy use needing a lot of storage and/or a lot of cpu power, the 13" is better equipped. I was even shocked that I could run cs5 on my air without it giving me the beach ball of death. Here is a list of the apps I have running on my 11.6" and how they fare to the way they run on my 15" I7 mbp:
1. Microsoft office. I see no difference in the way this app suite runs on either machine. It is bloated and clunky on both machines.
2. cs5, photoshop, illustrator, fireworks, etc.... Runs faster on my mbp obviously, but the difference is not as much as I would have thought. I can have more items open simultaneously on the mbp (both machines have 4gb ram) but the app runs quite smoothly on the air.
3. Firefox, safari. I see no difference in the way these browsers run on either machine. I have multiple tabs open at all times.
4. Skype/ichat. Runs great on the both. I see no difference in these apps on either machine.
5. vmware fusion with xp and a bunch of crappy custom windows apps. This runs better on my mbp. It is slow on the air. I hate having to run it and will be literally dancing in the streets when I can get rid of it on both machines. (I will post video of me dancing in the streets on youtube as soon as this client of mine goes away or enters at least the 20th century and gets rid of these apps.
6. itunes. I see no difference on either machine.
7. Final Cut Pro. I can't run this on the air without driving myself crazy. If I want to cut ten second videos, maybe it will work, but for any real video work, the air is not an option.
8. Amazon kindle app. Runs great on both computers. I see no difference.
etc.......
Anyway you get the point. The 11.6" runs most of my apps without compromise.
The MBAs are clearly the future of the Macbooks. As SSD prices drop, next years model will likely have twice the storage for same money. But maybe next year you'll need twice the storage...
Its likely that the 256GB SSD isn't any larger than the 128GB, likely Apple doesn't offer it because they thought it was make the 11" too expensive and unappealing.
You may soon be able to buy 256GB SSD for the 11". That would make the 64GB the one to get and upgrade on your own.
I agree.
While I have never bought any of the feeble arguments of a good Apple product cannibalizing another good Apple product, I can see a day when we will have only the MBA line and 15-17" inch MBPs.
Gone will be the 13" inch MBP and regular Macbooks as the MBA will pretty much take their place. I say in a year or two and we will see this change as SSD prices get low enough.
I'm sorry, but I can't believe the rudeness I'm reading in some of these replies. That combined with the device lists I see in signatures in this thread has me smelling a few spoiled little brats.
Some of you have two Apple laptops and/or an iMac, an iPhone 4 and iPad. How in the world do you have time to use all these and real world use cases for all of these devices?
Or is it just that mom and dad buy you what ever is released this week at the Apple Store?
</rant>
Some of you have two Apple laptops and/or an iMac, an iPhone 4 and iPad. How in the world do you have time to use all these and real world use cases for all of these devices?
Or is it just that mom and dad buy you what ever is released this week at the Apple Store?
</rant>
Wow.
Who is being rude?My mom and dad happily use my cast off macs when I buy myself a new one.
Wow.
My mom and dad happily use my cast off macs when I buy myself a new one.
Lol, same here
My parents are rocking my 2006 white mb (still works perfectly, no yellowing or cracking) and my old mini.
The forgoing is just another example of the politics of envy at work, which we see here far too often. Some of us can afford a wide variety of Apple gear. For example, I have three Mac laptops and an iPad. How, when, and where I use them or any of my other Apple gear, though, is my own business. Questioning my judgment in the matter is far, far out of line, it seems to me. By the way, my parents have been dead for more that 30 years.[/RANT]
I agree about the MacBook, but not the 13" Pro. I think that there may be a 13" Pro without an optical drive, but with a Core i5/i7 and discrete GPU. There isn't enough room in the MacBook Air profile for a discrete GPU, but there would be in the Pro if they dropped the optical drive. The Pro would also include Firewire or Lightpeak (though the latter may also make its way to the Air over time).
Let's cover them one by one. Note that my responses only apply to me, not to anyone else.
This is the only truly distressing one to me. I *REALLY* want that SD slot on the 11"er.
Even the 13" Air has a noticeably slower processor than other MacBooks. If CPU power is that important, the Air isn't your machine, period.
Both the 11" and the 13" come standard with 2 GB, and both are upgradeable to 4 GB for the same $100. No difference.
No, but has less width and depth, and noticeably less weight. The 13" is "thin enough" already, the 11" doesn't need to be any thinner. To me, weight is the primary concern.
Once lightpeak or USB3 are included, you won't need Firewire, at least not for speed.
Current GPU in the MBA is already faster than my year old MBP. I could see them potentially dropping the 13" MBP, although I think dropping the white macbook is more likely.
...and so this thread just solidifies what a perfect sweet spot my/the 12" powerbook was - in it's time of course. Apple, just drop everything but a low to high end 12" next time and be done with it!
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I'm inclined to agree that in the future we may very well see a 13 inch MBP without an optical drive but with an i5/i7 processor and a discrete GPU. That would provide a significant improvement in both processing power and graphics and would, it seems to me, make giving up an optical drive a good trade. While Apple was at it, it would also be nice if they would make available a BTO option for a high res antiglare screen, as they have done with the 15 and 17 inch MBPs. That would be a potent 4.5 pound package.
As you could probably tell from my own somewhat irascible response to that post, I agree.