Should i get a 2.13 air rather than wait? Please only air owners comment...

[Synchromesh]

I seriously doubt they'll do a complete redesign of the Air in 1.5 years. The market for these is so much smaller than for MB and even MBP since it's quite a compromise and I doubt most people use it as their primary machine. White MB took over 3 years for a severe redesign (mid 2006 - late 2009) while MBP took over 2 (mid 2006 - late 2008) so investing lots of money into a redesign of a machine that's not a huge seller/money maker after such a short design lifespan doesn't make any sense. On other hand, it's Apple who has major money so any predictions are moot at best. But I'm betting it will be an incremental update again with more RAM, larger drive and CPU speed bump (pick any two).

What I don't understand is why people purchase brand new machines. If warranty is a major concern, why doesn't the OP just buy a refurbished one that comes with same one year warranty as the new one? Or just buy a machine that's less than 1 year old and still has original Apple warranty left and purchase additional Applecare for 2 years. Either way, you get to save a bundle and you end up with a good machine that still has warranty. And if you sell it down the road without warranty it's still worth about same as any revision C Air, no matter when it was bought.

 

[Slappi]

I have never owned an Apple before but I need something light with a good screen so I can do some writing. That is about all I will be using it for 90% of the time.

I just need a little help because I don't know what a good deal is on a used one.

My options are to buy just a new Macbook for $899+tax w/student discount or a used MBA.

I found this on craigslist:

MACBOOK AIR 80GB IS IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO SCRATCHES OR DENTS ANYWHERE. IT COMES LOADED WITH A FRESH INSTALL OF 10.6.2, ILIFE 09, IWORK 09, MICROSOFT OFFICE 08 AND PARALLELS 5 RUNNING WINDOWS 7.
Model Name: MacBook Air
Model Identifier: MacBookAir1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBA11.00BB.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.23f20

The person is selling it for $750. Is that a fair price? Would a new MB be a better deal? I like the size of the MBA but I guess I could live with a bigger laptop.

Thanks.

 

[vraxtus]

I have never owned an Apple before but I need something light with a good screen so I can do some writing. That is about all I will be using it for 90% of the time.

I just need a little help because I don't know what a good deal is on a used one.

My options are to buy just a new Macbook for $899+tax w/student discount or a used MBA.

I found this on craigslist:

MACBOOK AIR 80GB IS IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO SCRATCHES OR DENTS ANYWHERE. IT COMES LOADED WITH A FRESH INSTALL OF 10.6.2, ILIFE 09, IWORK 09, MICROSOFT OFFICE 08 AND PARALLELS 5 RUNNING WINDOWS 7.
Model Name: MacBook Air
Model Identifier: MacBookAir1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBA11.00BB.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.23f20

The person is selling it for $750. Is that a fair price? Would a new MB be a better deal? I like the size of the MBA but I guess I could live with a bigger laptop.

Thanks.

I'd stay away from buying a Rev A MBA.

 

[Slappi]

I'd stay away from buying a Rev A MBA.

Good that is all I needed to know.

Thanks.

 

[Bosman]

its Jan 31 2010 5:25pm eastern time and the apple site shows it is down

I just went to Apples site!

 

[Scottsdale]

Good that is all I needed to know.

Thanks.

I think the MBA is a great computer for a writer. I love plugging away on my MBA. However, you definitely don't want a rev A MBA. Buy a rev B/C MBA for a little more. You want all of the improvements: Penryn CPU, Nvidia GPU, DDR3 RAM, SATA-II drive controller and drive. The model to look for is the one with 120GB HDD or a 128GB SSD in any CPU clock speed offered. If it has an 80GB or 64GB drive, it's an original MBA.

Go to Apple.com | Store | Refurbished Macs (on left side 2/3 down). For $1099 you can get a base B, or for $1349, you can get a heck of a lot more power. If you don't need the power, go low end for $1099 for a writing computer that's lightweight and fun. I have taken my MBA outside many days to just type away, and it's a dream. Absolutely perfect for a writer.

Good luck!

 

[Slappi]

I think the MBA is a great computer for a writer. I love plugging away on my MBA. However, you definitely don't want a rev A MBA. Buy a rev B/C MBA for a little more. You want all of the improvements: Penryn CPU, Nvidia GPU, DDR3 RAM, SATA-II drive controller and drive. The model to look for is the one with 120GB HDD or a 128GB SSD in any CPU clock speed offered. If it has an 80GB or 64GB drive, it's an original MBA.

Go to Apple.com | Store | Refurbished Macs (on left side 2/3 down). For $1099 you can get a base B, or for $1349, you can get a heck of a lot more power. If you don't need the power, go low end for $1099 for a writing computer that's lightweight and fun. I have taken my MBA outside many days to just type away, and it's a dream. Absolutely perfect for a writer.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll wait 2 more weeks and then do what you suggest.

 

[JasG]

I am a writer with a 53 year old back and the Air (rev c) is the only machine I need. I traded a Pro for it (the 4.5 pound pro) and never ever ever looked back. My only fear is that the Tablet and a 3.5-4.5 pro might render the Air obsolete. I have the SSD, and it is faster than any machine I've ever used. But again I am a writer, with low tech needs, email, pages, and John Stewart episodes, which look just fine to me.

I'd get one now while they are still available, buy Apple Care, and you'll have the perfect OSX portable for at least three years