Some thoughts on my MBA 11" experience

[robeddie]

Just. Keep. Both.

Similar to the original poster ... I have a late 2008 macbook pro, as well as an 11" macbook air.

After getting the air, I used that almost non-stop for the first week or two. But now, I've kind of settled into a groove where sometimes I need/want the 15" for it's screensize, power, DVD drive, and backlit keyboard...

... and other times I like to use the 11" for it's portability and quick hard drive.

So, I end up using both of them probably 50 percent of the time. It's great having the option between the two. So I don't really understand what the dilemma is -

JUST. KEEP. BOTH!!!

 

[yuanmoons]

After 2 weeks using the MBA, unfortunately, it does seem that i enjoy the 15" screen when at home. I prefer the eyeline & screen size when i using the MBP in a home environment. MBA is perfect for mobile use and probably 60%+ of overall use, but that 40% using a big screen helps at times.

1, The 11 MBA is fantastic. Im going to get one at some point in the very near future, but im returning the MBA 11 Ultimate as i cant justify having it & the MBP. I know people will say "stop drinking/eating xyz for a month or two etc to save money", and i understand that, but i just dont want to tie up £1200 in another device at the moment. The idea was to have only one main portable device, a 2 for 1 swap.

2, My iPad is being sold as the MBA 11 helped me realise that i need the full OSX - i get much more done. iPad is great but not for my usage. Prefer the traditional screen/keyboard combo and full OSX. Its a pity as im going to lose atleast £300 by selling the iPad in depreciation, ipad apps and cases.

3, I going to keep an eye on ebay for a good deal on a 2Gb / 64Gb MBA 11 and might get one for my travels, but equally, i could end up waiting for the refresh and/or Lion. Ill then assess which of the new MBA's could replace or compliment the MBP. Otherwise ill probably get a good deal on the this current revision as others upgrade and the price drops.

4, 13" is still on my radar and could test it as an MBP replacement before i depart on abit of travelling and so could end up selling the MBP, but its unlikely as i want to focus on other things.

So it didnt go as id hoped but i learnt some things using the MBA - even changed the setup on my MBP by moving the dock to left and hidden, the 15" looks even bigger now! and i realise the dock in view is a distraction

Ill see how my finances look in a month and see if i can grab an MBA. Maybe due a tax refund so we'll see. But i get attached to devices and having cared for this MBA for its first 2 weeks of life i am reluctant to give it back...

Need a windfall or work my ass off for next month....

 

[yuanmoons]

JUST. KEEP. BOTH!!!

Yes. Could still happen.

 

[ZipZap]

I prefer and bought the MBA 13. Wanted the larger screen.

I will say, though, that Apple could have made the footprint of this MBA 13 smaller. This would have made it feel more like the 11".

But then....no one would buy the 11". I'd like to see Apple loose the 11 and make the 13 more svelt.

Would also be nice to see a snap on or TB/USB3 port replicator supporting a wider array of connection options.

 

[yuanmoons]

I prefer and bought the MBA 13. Wanted the larger screen.

I will say, though, that Apple could have made the footprint of this MBA 13 smaller. This would have made it feel more like the 11".

But then....no one would buy the 11". I'd like to see Apple loose the 11 and make the 13 more svelt.

Would also be nice to see a snap on or TB/USB3 port replicator supporting a wider array of connection options.

Maybe, but the footprint has to match the screen so not sure they could.

Anyway, im still alittle undecide which to get, as my postings clearly illustrate . But very likely the 13 - just a matter of when i do it with the refresh supposedly on the horizon.

 

[Abstract]

I prefer and bought the MBA 13. Wanted the larger screen.

I will say, though, that Apple could have made the footprint of this MBA 13 smaller. This would have made it feel more like the 11".

But then....no one would buy the 11". I'd like to see Apple loose the 11 and make the 13 more svelt.

Would also be nice to see a snap on or TB/USB3 port replicator supporting a wider array of connection options.

Actually, I think the 11.6" MBA could be made to be a 12.1" screen based on the size of the bezel surrounding the screen, but then it would have overlapped with the 13.3" MBA too much, and nobody would have bought it. I suppose they could have made the 13.3" MBA into a 14" MBA.

You couldn't have changed it the other way around and shrank the 13.3" MBA in physical size because nobody would have bought the 11.6" MBA. You can't make the 11.6" MBA smaller because the size is limited by the keyboard width.

 

[kazmac]

I ultimately went with the 13"

I tried both sizes of the Air and went with the 13".

Which I love, and am hoping I won't have to return because of wrist flareups (will try the mouse again and make my final decision tonight.). I thought about the need for a full OS as well and I do believe that is something which will be necessary in my future but not right now.

I can see where the 11" is the sweet spot for so many people (and it would be awesome for traveling/commuting). But the battery life and unbelievably harsh bright settings (no matter what I did) made me exchange it for the 13".

I know you returned the 11" and I can understand your reasoning for this. Now that I'm used to my iMac's glossy screen it's getting hard to justify spending 2 grand on a laptop that is very nice to have, but not really a true need now. Again, being realistic here.

I may just try an iPad since my iPhone 3GS is starting to lose it's battery charge. Not a full OS but far more practical given my upped usage of the iMac.

 

[Jemi9OD]

This was a very informative thread. I'm working on plans currently to leave the PC world behind (except at work, where I must use PC) and move full time from a PC desktop I built myself to a Macbook - still undecided whether I'll go Pro or Air.

However, I'm leaning really heavily towards the Air - simply because what I use a computer for does not require a lot of horsepower. We still have a Macbook 13" (unibody, just before the switch to the "Pro" line) in the house that my wife uses full time, so if I ever needed more horsepower than the MBA could provide, I could access it.

I'd likely keep my 22" monitor as I like being able to hook up to a full size monitor/keyboard/mouse once in a while, but I think the MBA is going to be perfect as a daily driver for me. Now to spend the next couple of months deciding between 11" and 13".

Thanks to the participants here - it's been an enjoyable thread!

 

[sarends]

I own both. Another interesting size would be a 12". Before I converted to Macs, I had PCs from 1982 until 2005 - my favorite machine from that era was a DELL XPS M1210, which had a 12" screen.

If Apple had made a 12" Air that might have fit everyone's bill almost perfectly with one machine.

That being said, I love my MBA 13 as it is the overall BEST computer I have owned, all things considered. If the screen had the same area but had less lip all around, the 13 would be quite a bit smaller and it would be even nicer!

Thx

I prefer and bought the MBA 13. Wanted the larger screen.

I will say, though, that Apple could have made the footprint of this MBA 13 smaller. This would have made it feel more like the 11".

But then....no one would buy the 11". I'd like to see Apple loose the 11 and make the 13 more svelt.

Would also be nice to see a snap on or TB/USB3 port replicator supporting a wider array of connection options.

 

[BENJMNS]

you guys should check out the new 12.5" x220 by lenovo. siq machine. tempting.

 

[jamesryanbell]

you guys should check out the new 12.5" x220 by lenovo. siq machine. tempting.

At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I'm going to say it anyway. Sorry.

No OSX, no care.

It's all about choices WITHIN Apple's product line.

 

[entatlrg]

ditto ... been to the dark side before, NOT going back....

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

you guys should check out the new 12.5" x220 by lenovo. siq machine. tempting.

The only thing that's not "siq" is the graphics card and the OS it runs.