So based on all my forum research and being on my 3rd macbook I find.

[richard371]

Looks like there are 2 major problems with many macbook airs. The first is the battery issue. I don't know if i am having it with my third because I have not run the battery down to 0 yet. The second is when playing some videos such as 720p or even some 480 from what i am seeing on mine and reading online after the machine heats up the video gets jerky etc.

I am frustrated because today is the last day I have to return my black mb which works flawlessly. The battery is perfect in it and lasts an hour longer then the air and is at 100% health where the air is at 96 now and 4900 mah.

I can throw any type of video at the MB and it has no prob what so ever.

I love the air thought. It blows the mb away as far as beauty, feel, screen, trackpad etc but these 2 serious issues are not good. I don't care about 1080p but the air screen can do 720p fine and it should be able to play it wo over heating etc.

Since I am on my third they said they would not charge a restocking fee so I should prob hang on to my MB until Apple addesses these issues. I can always sell the mb and get the air later.

Any advice welcome. It is such a beautiful machine.

 

[kyleen66]

If I were you and all the frustration it's given you, I would opt to stay with the new MacBook.

As you said, you can always sell it later and buy a MBA when they have more of the bugs worked out of it. I'd say six months or so and they'll be humming right along with no problems.

And I do have a MBA and love it to pieces so far. I'm just basing my recommendation on your posts here and in the Apple Support forum.

In the end it's a personal decision. You have to make the one that is going to make YOU the most happy and satisfied.

 

[Cybergypsy]

Loved my new MBP but the batt did the same thing 2 cycles and it wa down to 95% nothing to worry about

 

[richard371]

Yea it sure is a beauty. I don't get the wow factor with my mb like the air. Have them sitting here side by side now. Im looping the same video on the air at 720p and 1080 p on the macbook. Its flawless on the mb and the 720p version is playing at 30fps but drops down to 10 or so depending on the scene. I know some people are irritated that we are trying to play HD video on the air but it should handle 720 no prob. It does at first until it heats up. I have it on a cool desk with plenty of vent. Tried both ac and battery. CPU gets up to 171f and both cores are still running. 720 p looks gorgeous on the air screen but what good is it if it can't handle the heat? Just sucks because I really love the air.

 

[Catch]

Why don't you keep the MB for now and wait for a rev 2 machine? Maybe the kinks have been worked out by then

C

 

[Cybergypsy]

Like i said it not for everyone....if you watch video alot the macbook is better for you O I have never been into them at all and if i want one go to the livering room and watch it one the 42"

 

[NC MacGuy]

Looks like there are 2 major problems with many macbook airs. The first is the battery issue. I don't know if i am having it with my third because I have not run the battery down to 0 yet. The second is when playing some videos such as 720p or even some 480 from what i am seeing on mine and reading online after the machine heats up the video gets jerky etc.

I am frustrated because today is the last day I have to return my black mb which works flawlessly. The battery is perfect in it and lasts an hour longer then the air and is at 100% health where the air is at 96 now and 4900 mah.

I can throw any type of video at the MB and it has no prob what so ever.

I love the air thought. It blows the mb away as far as beauty, feel, screen, trackpad etc but these 2 serious issues are not good. I don't care about 1080p but the air screen can do 720p fine and it should be able to play it wo over heating etc.

Since I am on my third they said they would not charge a restocking fee so I should prob hang on to my MB until Apple addesses these issues. I can always sell the mb and get the air later.

Any advice welcome. It is such a beautiful machine.

There are trade-offs to owning an Air. You've named a couple. If you don't mind carrying the MB around and need the ports, CD/DVD and extra proc. power by all means, keep the MB.

Maybe Rev. 2 will work for you or maybe not but there will be a few kinks in the Air v.1 that you don't seem patient enough to accept or ride out. I'm not thrilled w. battery issue myself but am confident either Apple w. get it straightened out or a third party will offer higher cap. batteries in a few months at the worst.

 

[mashoutposse]

You have the 1 year Applecare -- you will be entitled to whatever fix is released in the future should your current battery fail prematurely.

The HD video playback issue is not good. 1080p is not playable (IMO, anyway), but 720p playback seems to be perfect. It does warm the machine up considerably -- I haven't tried anything longer than a few minutes, so I'm not familiar with how the computer responds when the temperature crosses the higher thresholds. This could be a dealbreaker for some.

Only you can determine whether to make the practical decision (keep the MB) or the emotional one (keep the MBA). I would recommend that you keep the MB -- this puts off the "losing money" part -- and see how you feel about the MBA in a week or so. If you still have the itch for the MBA after all of this, sell the MB and don't look back.

 

[richard371]

i just rented a movie in itunes and after about 20 mins it gets choppy.

 

[steve31]

Looks like there are 2 major problems with many macbook airs. The first is the battery issue. I don't know if i am having it with my third because I have not run the battery down to 0 yet. The second is when playing some videos such as 720p or even some 480 from what i am seeing on mine and reading online after the machine heats up the video gets jerky etc.

I am frustrated because today is the last day I have to return my black mb which works flawlessly. The battery is perfect in it and lasts an hour longer then the air and is at 100% health where the air is at 96 now and 4900 mah.

I can throw any type of video at the MB and it has no prob what so ever.

I love the air thought. It blows the mb away as far as beauty, feel, screen, trackpad etc but these 2 serious issues are not good. I don't care about 1080p but the air screen can do 720p fine and it should be able to play it wo over heating etc.

Since I am on my third they said they would not charge a restocking fee so I should prob hang on to my MB until Apple addesses these issues. I can always sell the mb and get the air later.

Any advice welcome. It is such a beautiful machine.

Very sadly I did the same thing as you today. I went back to the Blk MB. I will miss the screen. I also loved the MBA but it was an impulsive purchase.

 

[AoWolf]

i just rented a movie in itunes and after about 20 mins it gets choppy.

So the GPU is heating up crapping out good to know...