Should i get a MBA?

[Mircera]

I'm a webdeveloper looking to buy a new laptop that I can use both for work when on the run and for presentations when visiting clients. Im not planning on running any graphics editing on it as I have a pretty solid desktop computer at home.

I'm really hooked on the Air but have a few concerns that needs solving before I decide to buy it.

1. I've heard that they get very hot(80c). Is this issue still existing on the new models?
2. Are there any rumors of new revisions comming up?

Also I would really like to hear from people who have used it as a work machine and hear their honest opinion on the Air.

Thanks
Mircera

 

[Mini1000Mac]

I'm a webdeveloper looking to buy a new laptop that I can use both for work when on the run and for presentations when visiting clients. Im not planning on running any graphics editing on it as I have a pretty solid desktop computer at home.

I'm really hooked on the Air but have a few concerns that needs solving before I decide to buy it.

1. I've heard that they get very hot(80c). Is this issue still existing on the new models?
2. Are there any rumors of new revisions comming up?

Also I would really like to hear from people who have used it as a work machine and hear their honest opinion on the Air.

Thanks
Mircera

As someone that's also a web developer, i'm not gonna try to sway your opinion either way on the MBA as i don't own one, but i do wanna add something

I hope you'll decide make a separate partition and run XP natively, dual boot (using BootCamp) instead of under a virtual machine. While VM is fine on more powerful hardware, i would not recommend doing that on an MBA.

When you have at least two versions of each browser running, having another OS alongside of that is gonna slow things to a crawl...and if you are using Flash in any way shape or form, each instance eats up about 5 to 7 CPU cycles, so that adds up as well... and on top of that, IE and FF have horrible memory leaks....

I hope you don't mind me saying that..... IMHO most of the userbase is still on PC and i make a point of working out all the browser bugs, so this is just everyday life for me... and if i may ask you, what dev tools do you use? I personally prefer Notepad++ (on windows)...it's a pretty lean IDE with a built in FTP client and probably a few more features i have yet to use...i have ~50 documents open and it's still stable

 

[Mircera]

As someone that's also a web developer, i'm not gonna try to sway your opinion either way on the MBA as i don't own one, but i do wanna add something

I hope you'll decide make a separate partition and run XP natively, dual boot (using BootCamp) instead of under a virtual machine. While VM is fine on more powerful hardware, i would not recommend doing that on an MBA.

When you have at least two versions of each browser running, having another OS alongside of that is gonna slow things to a crawl...and if you are using Flash in any way shape or form, each instance eats up about 5 to 7 CPU cycles, so that adds up as well... and on top of that, IE and FF have horrible memory leaks....

I hope you don't mind me saying that..... IMHO most of the userbase is still on PC and i make a point of working out all the browser bugs, so this is just everyday life for me... and if i may ask you, what dev tools do you use? I personally prefer Notepad++ (on windows)...it's a pretty lean IDE with a built in FTP client and probably a few more features i have yet to use...i have ~50 documents open and it's still stable

Thanks for your reply. I absolutely agree with you on everything that you say.

My 'main' workstation will be my desktop machine at home running Windows7 (which I really like). Im not sure if i want to install Windows on it, even tho it might be handy to have when working out-of-office, altho I don't consider IE compability as big a problem as it used to be after IE8 has arrived but i still make my sites IE7 compatible.

 

[palmerc2]

not to bash on the MBA or anything, I just don't see the actual USE for a MBA.....

sure its thin, sure its light....but the 13" MBP has the same dimensions. And really, is 1.5 lbs REALLY that much harder to lug around?? and your talking 0.16-0.76 inches vs 0.95 inches

In terms of power, the 13" MBP blows it out of the water. MUCH bigger hard drive, better processor, more ram option, actually has more than one USB port, has video out, a DVD reader / burner

all that for.......less

think different

Heres a vid I found on youtube.....LINK

 

[Mini1000Mac]

Thanks for your reply. I absolutely agree with you on everything that you say.

My 'main' workstation will be my desktop machine at home running Windows7 (which I really like). Im not sure if i want to install Windows on it, even tho it might be handy to have when working out-of-office, altho I don't consider IE compability as big a problem as it used to be after IE8 has arrived but i still make my sites IE7 compatible.

I can't imagine having to switch between three computers every day

My 'mobile' option is an HP Mini 1033, but it's actually been three months since i've last used the desktop. I do all my work on the Mini now

In a month or so, once i finish a project i'm working on, i may actually install Leopard on it. I only reboot once every two months, as it takes a full day of work to close down and archive all the stuff i have open. I just hibernate it whenever i need to take a break from work or when i have to hide it from those with sticky hands

Good luck with trying to make your decision. It's quite an investment as opposed to what the Mini cost (a mere $400) so i recommend you get a clear hard shell case for it. I would imagine a drop that would do nothing for the Mini will seriously bend Air's corners. Air is quite impressive for business presentations, but it just isn't very rugged. Please also get the SSD version as opposed to mechanical hard disc. It is both faster and less inclined to fail...no clicking noise either, and better battery life. If the battery was removable, i would recommend a spare battery too, heh he

 

[Mircera]

After some thought on the subject I think im gonna go with palmerc's advice. The MBP is cheaper, still a 'slim' laptop compared to many others and has alot more toys than the MBA.

 

[MacModMachine]

i have a 2.13 mba and switched to a mbp 2.53 w/ssd

the mbp is trash, the display is trash and battery life sucks, had 2 machine swaps so far and its definitly the battery life,

they do not last very long...as long as the air but maybe 15 mins longer,

the air is lighter, 1.5lbs is a huge difference if you lug it anywhere.

i will be going back to the air....screw the 13" pro, i will sacrifice the firewire , extra usb for the air.

 

[PsyD4Me]

i think that people who don't own the MBA should keep their criticism to a minimum

 

[jimboutilier]

After some thought on the subject I think im gonna go with palmerc's advice. The MBP is cheaper, still a 'slim' laptop compared to many others and has alot more toys than the MBA.

I used a MBA RevA 1.6/2/80 as my primary work machine for about a year. Its a pure joy with respect to mobility and there is a big difference between it an a 13" MBP in that respect.

Unfortunately, while I loved the MBA mobility, it just didn't have the capacity to act as my only machine and not having all your stuff with you and keeping multiple machines in sync is bothersome after a while.

So I transitioned to a uMB 13" which has plenty of speed and capacity for running all my OSX stuff as well as a couple of VM's for testing web stuff under others OS's and Browsers. The MBA could run a single VM for light use ok but was not ideal.

But I will say that as soon as Apple releases a 4gb RAM / 256gb SSD version of the Air, I'll be headed back to a MBA for its superior mobility experience.

 

[MacModMachine]

i think that people who don't own the MBA should keep their criticism to a minimum

man i bet that runcore is nice?

those are indilinx based?



i will be getting a 64gb this week.

 

[GeekGirl*]

I have had all three revs. I would wait for sure.

 

[entatlrg]

i have a 2.13 mba and switched to a mbp 2.53 w/ssd

the mbp is trash, the display is trash and battery life sucks, had 2 machine swaps so far and its definitly the battery life,

they do not last very long...as long as the air but maybe 15 mins longer,

the air is lighter, 1.5lbs is a huge difference if you lug it anywhere.

i will be going back to the air....screw the 13" pro, i will sacrifice the firewire , extra usb for the air.

yes, the Air is hard to give up .... I have a choice of using my Air (1.86/128ssd), or a '09 13" MBP or an '09 15" MBP ....

and here I sit ... typing on my MacBook Air, lol.

 

[aaquib]

Regardless if you go with the MBP or the MBA, I'd recommend waiting until after after the holidays unless you desperately need a new machine for this year. Among the rumors are faster graphics and more importantly, i7 processors . The MBA should also get the long-awaited 4GB of RAM we've been craving for since its launch.

 

[ceribria]

I recommend the MBA. If you're willing to put in the effort, it will open up a lot of job opportunities for you.

 

[Mircera]

Regardless if you go with the MBP or the MBA, I'd recommend waiting until after after the holidays unless you desperately need a new machine for this year. Among the rumors are faster graphics and more importantly, i7 processors . The MBA should also get the long-awaited 4GB of RAM we've been craving for since its launch.

Sweet, the 4 GB ram is actually what made me want a MBP instead. Do you know when they plan on releasing the new models? Jan/Feb '10?

I live in Denmark and run my own company so I get som tax avantages by buying this year rather than next year. I'll have to think this through.

 

[Mircera]

BTW. Do you know if the newer models have any problems with the heat? I heard that the first models had alot of heat problems.

 

[BunnyBick]

I'm not a web developer. I have no idea what your special interests are. I am a historian, editor and novelist and have used this machine at least five hours a day, sometimes eighteen, since I got it eighteen months ago.

I love it.

I have used nothing but Macs since 1988. We own MacBookPros, IBooks, IMacs, six in the house right now.

It is light, easy to carry, and drop dead gorgeous. People come up to me all the time to touch it. I get a lot of pleasure out of it aesthetically. It's great for my work. I use MS Word (which sucks and is designed to crash on the Mac).

Other people mention the lack of CD/DVD drive but I don't. I keep my music on my desktop iMac and watch DVDs on the TV.

I have not had any trouble with heat eve though I have it running sometimes 18 hours straight and then put it in sleep mode overnight. Many days in a row.

The MacBook Air was not conceptualized to be the main computer, but the away-from-home portable computer. If you have desktop unit, the MBA should be fine.

My daughter has the latest Macbook and my husband has the latest MBP pro or whatever it is right now, the top of the line laptop. I have never found myself lusting after their machines. Not once.

 

[entatlrg]

Greetings fellow Dane, (I'm from Kolding).

From reading your posts you already have a good desktop for the heavy lifting.

This notebook you're looking is for travel to see clients and I'd bet a little working in the great cafe's in Denmark ...

Based on that info the Air would be a perfect fit for you, plus very fun and enjoyable to use.

I'd get the 1.86/128ssd model if you can find one new/refurb'd.

Good luck, post back what you end up buying.

 

[rhb]

Get the MBA.

Count this as a solid vote for the Air.

A few weeks ago my MBP 17" blew up (after 3 years), and I decided to go the route that you're taking -- a desktop for serious crunching, and a portable for everything else. But I also wanted my portable to do more than MS Office and Safari.

I was encouraged NOT to buy the Air, in favor of the 13" MBP. But my gut said to go with the Air.

Now that I have it, I'm actually thrilled. Here's why:

1. It's so light that it completely changes how I use a portable. I can take it everywhere without a thought. That makes a big difference.

2. The SSD option (which I got) makes this thing fly. Boot time is about 13 seconds. A cold boot of Photoshop CS4 (yes, I said CS4) takes 5 seconds. It's just blazingly fast, which I never really expected. (And if you add an SSD to the MBP 13", the price starts to creep up nearer to the MBA's price, right?)

3. It runs nice and cool. I've been on it for hours today, and it's standing at 63C. No problems there.

4. Believe it or not, this thing is faster (in running apps) than my MBP 17" was. Part of that is the SSD, but part of it is also the faster frontside architecture, the cache and the DDR3 memory. This thing really goes. I can actually run CS4 productively, not to mention Office, iWork, coding, remote terminal stuff, XP via Parallels, and everything else I need. And you won't believe this, but I fired up Logic 9 the other day, and it worked just beautifully, without maxing the CPU or the memory. Wow.

5. Aesthetically, it's unsurpassed. Even if you get it for all of the other (sensible) reasons, you still might love the fact that it's ridiculously attractive.

6. You might be able to carry the MBP around with no problems, but I'll tell you -- a 3lb. computer is a joy.

7. OK, I'm repeating myself.

Don't let anyone tell you this is a toy. It's an extraordinarily capable hyper-light notebook. Unless you need FW ports, I'd get it. Both thumbs up.