Should I get rid of my Air?

[darwiniandude]

I love my Air, I do, but it's only useable with Coolbook.

Coolbook has been 100% fine, except lately, it's been freezing solid sometimes, requiring a reboot.

So I changed my coolbook settings, bumped the voltages a few notches. No dice, still does it. I'm sure given enough patience I could find an ideal setting, probably.

As it's defective, I can return the air where I got it from.

I used to have a 17" MBP (last model) I'm thinking maybe I should take this back and get a current 15" MBP? I'd get a Macbook, but I hate the plastic fantastic, and if I'm going to put up with a heavy laptop, I'd at least like a 3D accelerator.

Hmmm. I realise this is up to me, but What do you guys reckon? I do sometimes run logic studio, or do video editing, obviously the MBP is better for that!

The main benefit of the Air for me wasn't coolness factor, but just wandering around the house with it in one hand, open, it's light. The MBP is most certainly not like that.

I also want to know how the 15" LED current MBP screen compares brightness wise to the Air, I love the Air's screen now, I want something that bright. (my HiRes 1920x1200 17" MBP had a much dimmer screen)

 

[xlii]

If you can return it, you should. No one should have to keep a defective product that they are unhappy with. The reason you gave for owning the Air really isn't sufficient (walking around the house with it because it is light). The 17" MBP would suit you better... it's not as light... but at less that 7 pounds you should be able to carry it around the house.

In my opinion the Air shines as a second machine for road warriors.

 

[squeeks]

its the LED screen that makes it that bright, and yes the MBPs all have screens like that now, the 17" was the last one to get it with the penryn update

 

[Scott6666]

Yes

Yes, that's what I did. My MBP 15 is silent. I am much happier.

Still looking forward to MBA Rev b.

 

[ayeying]

doesn't returning the air if opened require a restocking fee?

 

[MacinDoc]

doesn't returning the air if opened require a restocking fee?

Apple would be hard pressed to demand a restocking fee if it can be confirmed that this particular Air is indeed defective.

If, on the other hand, the "defect" is, in fact, a design flaw common to all Airs, then Apple would be more likely to charge a restocking fee.

So, I guess the question is whether Apple would consider this particular machine to be defective. Unless you bought it somewhere other than the Apple Store, in which case a different return policy may be in effect.

 

[ayeying]

Apple would be hard pressed to demand a restocking fee if it can be confirmed that this particular Air is indeed defective.

If, on the other hand, the "defect" is, in fact, a design flaw common to all Airs, then Apple would be more likely to charge a restocking fee.

So, I guess the question is whether Apple would consider this particular machine to be defective. Unless you bought it somewhere other than the Apple Store, in which case a different return policy may be in effect.

Well. I'm not 100% sure for everyone but almost any major products I've bought from apple had "Restocking Fee: $xxx" on the receipt.

if I didn't need to carry this laptop around everywhere, i'd probably return this and get a macbook

 

[1appleAday]

Sorry to hear about your experience. Just curious though, are you sure it's coolbook that's causing your Air to freeze? Can it be reproduced consitently with your coolbook setting? if it's really coolbook that's causing it, you may try contacting the developer (and of course asjust settings like you already have). if on the other hand you can reproduce it with coolbook disabled, then it may be something wrong with your Air. In that case you can get another Air before switching to MBP or MB. just my 2 cents.

 

[darwiniandude]

From my years of experience with overclocking PC's, the kind of lock up I experienced appears to be from lack of voltage. The MBA consistently doesn't lock up with coolbook disabled.

I could probably find a voltage setting for cool book that would solve the problems, but I might use the MBA us faulty argument to help return it, and get a 15" MBP.

This is my main computer, eg I don't have an iMac so its probably the better choice, but I'll sorely miss the MBA's form factor and keyboard... Hmm, I'm torn!

Bigger HD and gaming ability is a small yet relevant consideration too.

 

[darwiniandude]

I'm keeping it.

I had a moment of weakness, but I went and looked at the MBP, and I'm keeping my Air. I'll fiddle with coolbook and find a voltage setting that works.

This thing goes everywhere with me, and I don't relish the idea of all that extra bulk. Not as bad as the 17" MBP I had, but the 15" one is still large. Also, I would miss the MBA's exceptional keyboard. And I use the backlit part often, so I'd miss that on a MB.

The MBA's screen seems brighter side by side to me than the 15" MBP LED? What the? Deffinately way brighter than the MB.

I usually have the screen brightness on it's lowest level at home, but at lunch time I use the Air outside in sunlight, and the screen brightness makes this possible.

 

[Sesshi]

Its far from ideal, but given the uselessness of the Air I've also bought a Blackbook to see how I do.

I had absolutely terrible experiences with the Macbooks in '06, and yet since I must really love flagellating myself over and over again with substandard Apple &%$£ I need a somewhere portable / toteable OS X machine capable of going slightly beyond the runtime of the MBP I've decided to give it another go.

Failing this experience, it's a possibility to get a colleague to hackintosh one of my TZ's or a new Ideapad, since I believe that given my relatively undemanding (although apparently too demanding for the Air) use of an ultraportable OS X machine, I might be able to get away with OSX86 and the hassles that might comes with. Individual part compatibility could well be a problem though, although I hope not.

 

[steve31]

I'm keeping it.

I had a moment of weakness, but I went and looked at the MBP, and I'm keeping my Air. I'll fiddle with coolbook and find a voltage setting that works.

This thing goes everywhere with me, and I don't relish the idea of all that extra bulk. Not as bad as the 17" MBP I had, but the 15" one is still large. Also, I would miss the MBA's exceptional keyboard. And I use the backlit part often, so I'd miss that on a MB.

The MBA's screen seems brighter side by side to me than the 15" MBP LED? What the? Deffinately way brighter than the MB.

I usually have the screen brightness on it's lowest level at home, but at lunch time I use the Air outside in sunlight, and the screen brightness makes this possible.

I also think that the MBA has a brighter screen than my MBP. Not shure why?! I needed something small to take on the road with me and bought a MBA but I have also had thought that I might sell it and buy the BLK Macbook but the biggest reason why I dont is NOT the "weight or thinness" its the LED screen and backlit keyboard! I also can do most heavy CPU tasks with my MBP so it makes more sence for me to keep my MBA. But I do regret spending all the extra cash for the SSD! I would never see it back if I sold it!!!!

 

[ayeying]

I also think that the MBA has a brighter screen than my MBP. Not shure why?! I needed something small to take on the road with me and bought a MBA but I have also had thought that I might sell it and buy the BLK Macbook but the biggest reason why I dont is NOT the "weight or thinness" its the LED screen and backlit keyboard! I also can do most heavy CPU tasks with my MBP so it makes more sence for me to keep my MBA. But I do regret spending all the extra cash for the SSD! I would never see it back if I sold it!!!!

The MBA screen uses a 300 brightness screen while the MBP uses 250. According to the developer specs (if I remember correctly)

 

[Garemz]

I'm waiting for macworld and trading my macbook Air in its a sweet machine but when watching a movie holding on my lap core shuts down

this unit needs more work