selling a MBP 13" for a MBA 11.6": too small ?

[macchiato2009]

in order to save some money, i'm thinking of replacing my MBP 13" by a MBA 11.6" because the 13" would be too expensive

but i was wondering...

is the 11.6" too small ?

is the screen comfortable or should i really go for the 13" ?

 

[Buck987]

in order to save some money, i'm thinking of replacing my MBP 13" by a MBA 11.6" because the 13" would be too expensive

but i was wondering...

is the 11.6" too small ?

is the screen comfortable or should i really go for the 13" ?

I doubt you will save much money....unless ur MBP is loaded.

 

[Squadleader]

I doubt you will save much money....unless ur MBP is loaded.

It wasnt for me...The resolution was so good, it strained my eyes...(Unless I wore reading glass's) The MBP has the same resolution but the screen is 2" bigger, made a major difference for me...

 

[Squadleader]

Quoted the wrong message, but you get the idea.. !!

 

[oakie]

buying another computer is not "saving money."

if you want to save money, just keep your current MBP and dont waste your money on buying another computer. sounds like you're confusing "wants" with "needs" and trying to use an internet forum to justify this irrational decision.

 

[koobcamuk]

Save money by selling it all.

 

[DukeL]

It wasnt for me...The resolution was so good, it strained my eyes...(Unless I wore reading glass's) The MBP has the same resolution but the screen is 2" bigger, made a major difference for me...

I have the same problem with the macbook air 11 and 13''. Though I don't think its the actual resolution that hurts my eyes. I think it is the display itself. It kinda has a blurry negative black type effect, I cant really explain it. It might be because the screen is straight lcd in your face and there is no glass over it like with the mbp. It looks so buttery smooth on the mbp with the glass covering the screen. I recently made the switch and I often feel strain on my eyes but its not from the small text its from the screen itself. I love everything else about the macbook air 11.6" the form factor is just incredible.

I even bought a 13" air to try out but you just cant beat the cool factor of the 11" so I decided to go with the 11" and I also sold my old 13" macbook pro. I'm trying to see if I can adjust to the screen it's not as buttery smooth as the glass covered mbp.

 

[Mac Composer]

buying another computer is not "saving money."

if you want to save money, just keep your current mbp and dont waste your money on buying another computer. Sounds like you're confusing "wants" with "needs" and trying to use an internet forum to justify this irrational decision.

+1

 

[jamesryanbell]

buying another computer is not "saving money."

if you want to save money, just keep your current MBP and dont waste your money on buying another computer. sounds like you're confusing "wants" with "needs" and trying to use an internet forum to justify this irrational decision.

This is your answer.

 

[sunrisemusic]

I know what you mean about 'eyestrain' on the 11" and not being due to the size. I think it's also to do with the high contrast (ie between black text and white background for instance). As soon as I have time I'm going to fiddle with that further. I'm comparing it to my white macbook, which is so easy on the eyes and I see the blacks aren't as black and the whites aren't as intense either.

That being said, I'm not sending the air back

 

[newdeal]

...

the 11" is a nice size but definitely will be harder to read as things will be smaller, also the trackpad is significantly smaller and the battery life i far worse. To me those are reasons to stick with the 13

 

[Shasta McNasty]

I had the 13" macbook pro and am now using an 13" air. Absolutely love it. I actually traded my macbook pro plus $160 for this air im using now. Best money i spent is 2010

 

[Andrmgic]

I personally find the 11.6" air to be one of the most useable notebooks around.. the screen resolution is excellent.. it made me feel like I had real screen space on a very portable machine..

Since I've been on vacation I've been running it in clamshell mode connected to a 23" monitor and it's been great for that, too.

I plan to get a 27" cinema display in the next few months for use with the air.. I was able to do some testing at best buy and it seemed to drive that display perfectly.. the SSD and capable integrated gpu make it a joy to use on any screen.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I personally find the 11.6" air to be one of the most useable notebooks around.. the screen resolution is excellent.. it made me feel like I had real screen space on a very portable machine..

Since I've been on vacation I've been running it in clamshell mode connected to a 23" monitor and it's been great for that, too.

I plan to get a 27" cinema display in the next few months for use with the air.. I was able to do some testing at best buy and it seemed to drive that display perfectly.. the SSD and capable integrated gpu make it a joy to use on any screen.

Agree with this 100%. It's an amazing machine. and I ask myself why I have two mac's when all i need is this air.

 

[hcho3]

To me, 11.6 inch was significantly smaller than 13.3 inch because it has 16:9 display oppose to Apple's traditional 16:10 display.

Also, 11.6 inch display has only 5 hours of battery life oppose to 13.3 has 7 hours. However, 11.6 inch MBA is more than capable of replacing my MBP and iPad. I actually own iPad and I won't be getting iPad 2 at all. ( Unless iPad 2 gets retina display)

While I will not be selling iPad, I am going to be buying MBA 11.6 inch this summer. Trying to save some money by getting it with Mac OS lion and hopefully, Apple will update the hardware. Probably... they will.

 

[dgdosen]

I was able to do some testing at best buy and it seemed to drive that display perfectly.. the SSD and capable integrated gpu make it a joy to use on any screen.

Did you need the mini display port dual link adapter - or just the mini displayport to HDMI adapter?

 

[mac jones]

I like the 11 incher.

But I also like the 256GB, which the 11 doesn't have. I can use the space.

Note: that 256GB SSD is some serious tech. I've never had an SSD that big. It's a desirable option.

 

[Scott6666]

I don't find the resolution bad at all on my new Air 11 and I was afraid I might.

I'm 51 and just this year started with reading glasses for everything (not just the Air). I think the Air PPI is just fine.

 

[newdeal]

I don't find the resolution bad at all on my new Air 11 and I was afraid I might.

I'm 51 and just this year started with reading glasses for everything (not just the Air). I think the Air PPI is just fine.

Its not horrible but if you compare 13" to 13" the type on the air is noticably smaller than that on the pro. Advantage of course is you can fit more on the screen. Hasn't been a huge issue for me though because the lower res screen still fits a lot on it. Its certainly not a huge issue anyway you may just end up holding the computer closer to you to make the type look bigger

 

[jace88]

buying another computer is not "saving money."

if you want to save money, just keep your current MBP and dont waste your money on buying another computer. sounds like you're confusing "wants" with "needs" and trying to use an internet forum to justify this irrational decision.

Agreed.

I'd keep the MBP over the MBA unless you genuinely need it for portability. Realistically you won't be able to get that much cash for selling your MBP and are likely to end up in a negative/loss position as a result.

 

[gentrysama]

ditto

I had a 13" pro, sold it to get an ipad, then sold that and decided to wait and probably get a pro again...until the Air came out. I went to the store ready to justify the 11" (my fav computer ever was the Powebook 12"). While it wasn't in any way "disappointing", I left with the 13" Air. The main reasons were:

Bigger screen, handled photo processing better (I took an SDHC card with me, the apple guy was happy to let me use it), practically just as light and portable.

The processor made a difference, it was, to me, noticeably better at even just loading (including thumbnail creation and all of that) photos than the 11". I think I could have just dealt with that, but it was obvious the screen size would have made photo editing a pain. Also, the 13" has a better (the last gen 15" screen I believe) screen in general, including wider color gamut, and I could tell. Even then, I was trying to make it work, but what pushed me over the edge was the added SSD capacity. You just get a lot more for the extra money.

Those are my thoughts on the 13" compared to the 11".

As far as whether you should keep your MBP, I would suggest it depends on how often/far you carry it around on your person. If you have to be mobile and need your computer with you, if you bike around with it on your back a lot, and/or if you're a student, there's no question: get the 13" Air. If your computer lies around the house or you drive most everywhere, keep the MBP and save money. I LOVED my MBP. I just couldn't carry it around on my back all day any more, along with a bunch of books. Hope that helps!

p.s. Keep in mind i REALLy wanted to justify getting the 11". It was the 12" powerbook I had been waiting for. Having said that, from day 1 I've been supremely happy with my choice, and feel I would have regretted the 11".

 

[Andrmgic]

Did you need the mini display port dual link adapter - or just the mini displayport to HDMI adapter?

Neither.. this was the Apple LED Cinema Display 27".. it has a mini-displayport input, built-in camera, speakers and a charging port.

I use a mini-DP to HDMI adapter with audio support for my 23" at home.. works great. Not sure who makes it.. but I found it at my local apple reseller..

 

[WardC]

I've got both. Best of both worlds.