I need some help deciding between the three. I will primarily be using it for general web surfing, music (itunes), photos, and the occasional spreadsheet or powerpoint file for work. I'll probably want to take it on trips to watch movies and stuff, and if I got a MB Air, would probably cart it around a bit more. I think the MB Air is awesome, but I'm not sure yet if its the right choice for me. It will be my primary computer, and I think I'm most concerned with battery life. I don't mind having to use an external optical drive, since I don't use them very often and I don't think the 1 USB hub would be much of a problem for me. Any advice?
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Should I buy a MB Air, MB Pro, or MB?
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a lot of it depends on ur $$$ situation
the MB is gonna do everything you want & be sufficient of a machine
the AIR is super cool, new, skinny...etc- but pricy
the base level MB has everything you need for basic web stuff, music, text/powerpoint...etc
the MBP- is powerful
but again- overkill
the MB is gonna do everything you want & be sufficient of a machine
the AIR is super cool, new, skinny...etc- but pricy
the base level MB has everything you need for basic web stuff, music, text/powerpoint...etc
the MBP- is powerful
but again- overkill
For your purposes the MB is the best option.
We use a couple of MBs at my work for the same purposes you need it for and they work great!
The Air is just if you want to be flashy. Also I have a general rule NOT to buy 1st Generation hardware. Just me though.
MBP would be way overkill for you. Besides the fact that they will update them any day now, not a smart purchase right now.
We use a couple of MBs at my work for the same purposes you need it for and they work great!
The Air is just if you want to be flashy. Also I have a general rule NOT to buy 1st Generation hardware. Just me though.
MBP would be way overkill for you. Besides the fact that they will update them any day now, not a smart purchase right now.
same situation
I am in the same position except I do not have the privilage of having an apple store. The nearest one is a 2 hour flight away.
I am going to med school in the fall and want a laptop for email, office 2008, ichat, msn and internet surfing/research. Oh yeah, itunes and iphoto as well. My ibook G4 is doing the job right now but I want to upgrade. I am torn b/w black macbook and MBA HDD. I have a 500GB external so I am not worried about harddrive space. (more worried about processor)
Any suggestions? If i get a MBA HDD is it worth the $300 to upgrade to 1.8 for my needs?
Thanks.
I am in the same position except I do not have the privilage of having an apple store. The nearest one is a 2 hour flight away.
I am going to med school in the fall and want a laptop for email, office 2008, ichat, msn and internet surfing/research. Oh yeah, itunes and iphoto as well. My ibook G4 is doing the job right now but I want to upgrade. I am torn b/w black macbook and MBA HDD. I have a 500GB external so I am not worried about harddrive space. (more worried about processor)
Any suggestions? If i get a MBA HDD is it worth the $300 to upgrade to 1.8 for my needs?
Thanks.
I know the MBA is tempting but think about how you will get your music and movies onto it to watch. Also it won't hold all that information either. Not enough hard drive space so you may have to take an external with you. I think as your main computer, go with the MB. But if you are prepared and willing to swop stuff around.... have access to an optical drive (through another computer even) swop out files (movies and music) depending on where you are going, then maybe the MBA is for you. It's like having a tiny bag. You have to think what you'll need for that day and prepare.
I use the MBA as my main computer
I do have more, but since I have got the MBA, I have been working just fine with the MBA.
If I need more HD space, optical drive, swapping out files, then I am at the moment where I can pull it out of a traveling bag, what not. Though I don't see that ever happening.
hard drive space?
How much hard drive space can I expect to have available for files with the MB Air 80GB drive after the usual basic programs are added (running Windows)?
How much hard drive space can I expect to have available for files with the MB Air 80GB drive after the usual basic programs are added (running Windows)?
I'm not sure how much space Windows takes up. Maybe someone else can answer that one.
At the bare minimum, it takes under 1GB. Boot Camp requires at least a 5GB partition.
oh and that's referring to XP btw, no clue how big Vista is.
If you can afford it, definetly get the MacBook Air. It'll be wonderful, especially for your needs. However, if you need the extra HD space or want something cheaper, get the MB. If you're going to buy a MB, I'd wait until the new aluminum ones get released. They're bound to become aluminum, since they are the only major Apple product that's still white.
lol MB's are not anytime soon going aluminum. Maybe once MBA and MBP become some sort of outerspace composite lol.
I have an MBA. It's ok if you don't need to unplug for from the wall for more than 2 hours at a time...or less if you are watching video. The battery life if horrible. It doesn't even last two hours...barely makes it through a morning stop at Starbucks. I just purchased the $60 car charger the guy at the Apple Store recommended and it is not compatible with the MBA...I returned it and they told me there was not another option for car charging. Kind of defeats the reason for having a laptop.
I would have replied earlier...but my MBA was dead.
I would have replied earlier...but my MBA was dead.
if you need a car charger just buy an inverter that plugs into you car outlet and then you have a regular plug
you do realize this thread is over a year old too don't you?
If it's your only computer, I don't recommend the Air. Get the MacBook or the MacBook Pro. It's better to have all the "stuff" built into it if it's your primary.
Edit: wow! didn't realize this was such an old thread. the OP is probably in need of another new computer by now.
I lived with a iBook for many years and it is a reliable CPU that does everything you need it to do.
Being you want a primary computer, get a macbook with the most ram and hard disk space you can afford. That is your best bet.
That said, I now have an Air and I'll admit that I now bring my computer with me EVERYWHERE, and that's awesome.
Ask yourself, where do you spend the majority of your time? Out and about?
Or at a desk, etc.