Picked up a MBr for $860 and a MBA 13 for $727. Which would you keep?

[flimpy]

How many browser tabs do you have open? I currently have 8 open in chrome on my base MBA 13 inch 2015 and I have zero issues on El Capitan. The only thing that bothers me about my MBA is the weird clicking I hear from the trackpad when I press down too hard on the Palm rest. It sounds like it's catching the corner.

For use with a bunch of apps open I've had zero issues on the MBA. Maybe it's just your MBA? Is it an older model?

Just one browser window and yes, it is an older MBA - 2011, but I would not think this would matter. It is a 1.8 GHz i7 CPU and 4 GB RAM. I have two MBA's like that and they both suck with El Capitan (clean install), while Yosemite works like a charm.

Another MBA (2012) with 8 GB of RAM works fine with El Capitan.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

I do agree that as a gadget it's very UN-sexy, with it's thick silver/grey bezels. But I have no problems with my screen. I checked and found that I have the Samsung screen. It looks good even at angles, it's not retina but neither is 90% of the screens I use in a day. 2 at work and 2 at home on my desktop. The only Retina Display I had until I got the MBr was my iPad Air 2.

You are right, the non-retina screen isn't that bad at all. But the maximum resolution of a 13" Air is 1440x900 and with the rMB I could go up to 2304x1440 if like to do that. On a 12" screen that seems to be not very useful because the text might get to small to read, but there are several options between that.

 

[MrXiro]

Just one browser window and yes, it is an older MBA - 2011, but I would not think this would matter. It is a 1.8 GHz i7 CPU and 4 GB RAM. I have two MBA's like that and they both suck with El Capitan (clean install), while Yosemite works like a charm.

Another MBA (2012) with 8 GB of RAM works fine with El Capitan.

Hmm... could be processor... The base 2015 1.6ghz 4gb RAM MBA I have runs like a charm. I haven't even had any lock ups on it... can't say the same for the MBr though. It's locked up on me twice where I can't switch browser tabs etc. and it has 8gb RAM.

 

[MrXiro]

You are right, the non-retina screen isn't that bad at all. But the maximum resolution of a 13" Air is 1440x900 and with the rMB I could go up to 2304x1440 if like to do that. On a 12" screen that seems to be not very useful because the text might get to small to read, but there are several options between that.

I saw that... I switched to the full resolution and I had to zoom in to read things in Safari. I find the 12 inch screen a little cramped. When I switch back to the MBA 13 I feel less constrained. Like getting out of a tiny sports car and then getting into an SUV. You get the feeling of "wow... this is nice and roomy" which might be why I like the MBA more too.

 

[oneMadRssn]

USB-C is the key to the entire RMB design. By embracing the new protocol Apple was able to make an incredibly thin and elegant notebook geared towards those who haven't used an SD card in 5 years, use Dropbox for file transfer, use Bluetooth for peripherals, and simply don't need to drag around the weight and thickness these old legacy ports 24/7. By outboarding these connectors to a slim and light adapter we can take them with us situationally, not all the time. USB-C is the best thing about the RMB; it doesn't exist without it.

BJ

By having USB-C as the only way to charge, the RMB is exposed to unrestricted firmware-level access when it is plugged in to any unknown or unverified charger. You don't know what circuitry is behind that courtesy charging station at the airport, the lamp-mounted USB charging ports in the hotel rooms, or that USB-wall-power adapter from a mall kiosk. None of this an issue at all with a dedicated power plug.

Imagine how many confidential files you can swipe from travelling executives by compromising a USB charging station at an airport lounge, and the victim has no way of knowing. ATM card-skimmers are old news. I believe the stealth theft of tomorrow will be in USB chargers.

I agree about everything else, USB-C is great, but for that it is the only way to charge. I don't believe the Macbook would have been any heavier or heavier had it included a dedicated charging plug.

 

[MrXiro]

By having USB-C as the only way to charge, the RMB is exposed to unrestricted firmware-level access when it is plugged in to any unknown or unverified charger. You don't know what circuitry is behind that courtesy charging station at the airport, the lamp-mounted USB charging ports in the hotel rooms, or that USB-wall-power adapter from a mall kiosk. None of this an issue at all with a dedicated power plug.

Imagine how many confidential files you can swipe from travelling executives by compromising a USB charging station at an airport lounge, and the victim has no way of knowing. ATM card-skimmers are old news. I believe the stealth theft of tomorrow will be in USB chargers.

I agree about everything else, USB-C is great, but for that it is the only way to charge. I don't believe the Macbook would have been any heavier or heavier had it included a dedicated charging plug.

That's not a bad point... a bit paranoid but it IS entirely possible. But being that I'm not a secret agent or spy, I'm not too concerned and I doubt anyone will give a damn about my unfinished blogs I have stored on the laptop.

Yes I do get they can infect your laptop with a virus, phishing scam, etc. I went for the joke anyway and I make no apologies.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

@flimpy

I have a Mid-2010 MacBook (those white ones), the CPU has more GHz but it's an old Core2Duo, I think your i7 is faster.

With an SSD in it and 4GB of RAM El Capitan is running much faster than Yosemite. Same with a 2008 MBP I gave to my Mum.

 

[MrXiro]

I would:
– buy the Macbook Retina for $860
– sell it for $1100
– buy the Air

I don't think I can get $1100 for it... but after taxes and recycle fees the MBr ended up being something like $940... not really worth selling for $100 profit at best.

 

[oneMadRssn]

That's not a bad point... a bit paranoid but it IS entirely possible. But being that I'm not a secret agent or spy, I'm not too concerned and I doubt anyone will give a damn about my unfinished blogs I have stored on the laptop.

Yes I do get they can infect your laptop with a virus, phishing scam, etc. I went for the joke anyway and I make no apologies.

I do appreciate the joke

However, give me unrestricted access to your entire laptop's file system (that you've used regularly for at least a year) and I guarantee I can find something to blackmail you with in less than an hour.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

I don't think I can get $1100 for it... but after taxes and recycle fees the MBr ended up being something like $940... not really worth selling for $100 profit at best.

Give me a gold one for $1100 and I'll buy it. I have to pay at least €1300 to get one of them here, that's more than $1400.

I hope they'll release a newer version soon and eBay gets flooded with very cheap old models.

 

[MrXiro]

I do appreciate the joke

However, give me unrestricted access to your entire laptop's file system (that you've used regularly for at least a year) and I guarantee I can find something to blackmail you with in less than an hour.

Can't even think of anything in my life anyone can blackmail me with... I'd happily tell anyone what kind of porn I watch.

 

[JJayguy23]

Retina MacBook is a no-brainer. Looking at the screen on my old MacBook Air makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a runcible spoon.

Too graphic... I'm wincing over here.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Compared to what? If you do not mind me asking

Not at all! My other main machines are a 2011 iMac with a fusion drive (2.5 i5, 32GB RAM, 240GBSSD/500GBHDD Fusion) and a 2012 13" rMBP (2.5 i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) and compared to the Air (1.6 i5, 2GB RAM, 256GB SSD) they're all around the same. I don't do much intensive stuff on the Air; it's mostly for sitting around the house and browsing while the iMac is my main 'intense' work machine. That said, on the Air, it's not uncommon to have 7-8 Safari tabs open, Mail, Messages, and maybe Word and FirstClass for doing some work for school (I'm a teacher). No scrolling lag issues, no jittery transitions, etc. It's a great little notebook

And as far as the screen is concerned, I can go between the rMBP and my Air without any blood gushing from my 26-year-old, perfect vision eyes

 

[MrXiro]

For me MagSafe is the only thing missing from the rMB. I sofa surf a lot so leave mine plugged in a lot to save on battery cycles, keeps resale value better that way. So having MagSafe would be very handy in case someone catches the lead.

Apple should replace the headphone jack with a mini MagSafe port.

Headphone jack is small enough where they could probably have both a magsafe and the jack still... or even have the headphone jack inside the magsafe hole.

 

[flimpy]

Hmm... could be processor... The base 2015 1.6ghz 4gb RAM MBA I have runs like a charm. I haven't even had any lock ups on it... can't say the same for the MBr though. It's locked up on me twice where I can't switch browser tabs etc. and it has 8gb RAM.

Yeah, I just saw the system requirements for El Capitan, they say it works with 2GB RAM.
Maybe El Capitan is too raw to be stable on each and every MBA.. don't know.. It does not seem to be the MBA issue as I downgraded to Yosemite and it works fine.

@flimpy

I have a Mid-2010 MacBook (those white ones), the CPU has more GHz but it's an old Core2Duo, I think your i7 is faster.

With an SSD in it and 4GB of RAM El Capitan is running much faster than Yosemite. Same with a 2008 MBP I gave to my Mum.

Interesting.. I am seeing the opposite.. maybe I should have upgraded from Yosemite instead of doing clean install... will try it.

Not at all! My other main machines are a 2011 iMac with a fusion drive (2.5 i5, 32GB RAM, 240GBSSD/500GBHDD Fusion) and a 2012 13" rMBP (2.5 i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) and compared to the Air (1.6 i5, 2GB RAM, 256GB SSD) they're all around the same.

Thanks! Something must be wrong with my El Capitan. I am surprised that El Capitan runs well on 2 GB RAM laptop, thought this is apparently what Apple claims to be the minimum requirement for it (2GB of RAM).

 

[Queen6]

Owning both 11" & 13" Air`s and now the 12" Retina MacBook; for my usage/workflow the rMB is by far the clear winner. The Air`s benefit`s I don't need in this class of computer barring battery (13"), and it`s negatives I strongly disliked.

Q-6

 

[MrXiro]

Owning both 11" & 13" Air`s and now the 12" Retina MacBook; for my usage/workflow the rMB is by far the clear winner. The Air`s benefit`s I don't need in this class of computer barring battery (13"), and it`s negatives I strongly disliked.

Q-6

Thanks! I'll keep this in mind!

 

[SteveJUAE]

I saw that... I switched to the full resolution and I had to zoom in to read things in Safari. I find the 12 inch screen a little cramped. When I switch back to the MBA 13 I feel less constrained. Like getting out of a tiny sports car and then getting into an SUV. You get the feeling of "wow... this is nice and roomy" which might be why I like the MBA more too.

Keeping with your car analogy the MBA is like a VW Golf with a good pedigree where as the rMB is the Audi TT roadster you nip off in for a dirty weekend and your MBP is your Toyota land cruiser.

I agree with your KB keys comment and surprisingly the SP4 is not dissimilar but can't get around your view on the screen of the MBA, other than is your secondary laptop

I have by chance my old 2012 MBA 11" here and rMB/SP4/Vaio Pro Z, if I was going to pick one up and walk out of the house the rMB would win

 

[MH01]

Retina MacBook . Just for the storage alone.

 

[MrXiro]

Keeping with your car analogy the MBA is like a VW Golf with a good pedigree where as the rMB is the Audi TT roadster you nip off in for a dirty weekend and your MBP is your Toyota land cruiser.

I agree with your KB keys comment and surprisingly the SP4 is not dissimilar but can't get around your view on the screen of the MBA, other than is your secondary laptop

I have by chance my old 2012 MBA 11" here and rMB/SP4/Vaio Pro Z, if I was going to pick one up and walk out of the house the rMB would win

Well it just doesn't bother me. Maybe my eyes are good or maybe they're bad. I'm not sure. But the screen on the MBA is "fine" to me is all. It's not stellar, it's not the best, it just works is my POV of it. Thing being in retina IMO are a little exaggerated. Yes it's more clear, but ultimately everything it still legible and the colors don't burn my eyes because they're a bit more muted. That's all. I guess I'm saying the screen doesn't hinder me as far as being what I need to get the job done.

 

[MrXiro]

Retina MacBook . Just for the storage alone.

Ultimately this is the winning decision that might be why I keep the MBr. The storage and RAM for the price point makes it more than worthwhile vs getting a base MBA. Though I still need to get used to this keyboard... I'm writing this post on it now.

 

[kis]

The problem for me is the MBr's price. For a decently specced device I'd be paying 1500$ or more - and that's just way too much. I have a 13" rMBP now and while I love working on it, I feel it's a contributing factor in the shoulder pain I've been having. I carry it to work every day and carry it around there as well - while it's lighter than most PC laptops, it still is relatively heavy. The MBr would be ideal

 

[MrXiro]

`

The problem for me is the MBr's price. For a decently specced device I'd be paying 1500$ or more - and that's just way too much. I have a 13" rMBP now and while I love working on it, I feel it's a contributing factor in the shoulder pain I've been having. I carry it to work every day and carry it around there as well - while it's lighter than most PC laptops, it still is relatively heavy. The MBr would be ideal

Well the price I got mine for last week was $440 off the retail price. Would it be worth it at that price to you?

 

[MH01]

Ultimately this is the winning decision that might be why I keep the MBr. The storage and RAM for the price point makes it more than worthwhile vs getting a base MBA. Though I still need to get used to this keyboard... I'm writing this post on it now.

It time is grows on you. I really did not like or at first, but it does not take long. Or you get the IPP keyboard, it's worse, and you appreciate the rmb KB

 

[kis]

`


Well the price I got mine for last week was $440 off the retail price. Would it be worth it at that price to you?

It would be, but there's no such thing as discounts on Apple products here in Switzerland.