The battery is the only thing that worries me.
How is the battery life of the air with the ssd?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Talk me into or out of an Air
- Thread starter racer1441
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The battery is the only thing that worries me.
How is the battery life of the air with the ssd?
Like you, I have a good collection of Apple computers. I was in love with my 15" MBP when I first got it, and it was my only Apple computer. Once I bought the MBA, I almost stopped using the MBP entirely. Once I bought the 27" iMac, then I completely stopped using the 15" MBP.
For someone who is just going to have a single computer, I would generally recommend just the MBP.
By contrast, for someone who wants more than one, then I would strongly recommend a combination of an 27" iMac and an MBA.
My current set of products that I use on a regular basis is:
1) 27" 2TB i7 iMac
2) MBA 2.13 w/SSD
3) 64GB iPad 3G
4) 32 GB iPhone 4
In order of the amount of time I use them: 2, 4, 1, 3... but they all serve a particular purpose very well. I have not powered-on my 15" MBP in months.
Since you have a good set of computers already, I would hold off until end of Q1 before buying an MBA. I am suspecting a significant upgrade then and will replace my MBA with the new model, and then my wife will finally get her first MBA as she inherits my existing one.
Regarding battery life: I think it is fine. I get about 3.5 hours of actual use with mine. I have a couple of extra power adapters that I keep around so that I can just reach over and plug it in easily. I would generally prefer lower weight over longer battery life.
/Jim
For someone who is just going to have a single computer, I would generally recommend just the MBP.
By contrast, for someone who wants more than one, then I would strongly recommend a combination of an 27" iMac and an MBA.
My current set of products that I use on a regular basis is:
1) 27" 2TB i7 iMac
2) MBA 2.13 w/SSD
3) 64GB iPad 3G
4) 32 GB iPhone 4
In order of the amount of time I use them: 2, 4, 1, 3... but they all serve a particular purpose very well. I have not powered-on my 15" MBP in months.
Since you have a good set of computers already, I would hold off until end of Q1 before buying an MBA. I am suspecting a significant upgrade then and will replace my MBA with the new model, and then my wife will finally get her first MBA as she inherits my existing one.
Regarding battery life: I think it is fine. I get about 3.5 hours of actual use with mine. I have a couple of extra power adapters that I keep around so that I can just reach over and plug it in easily. I would generally prefer lower weight over longer battery life.
/Jim
Hi
I'm a long time Air user that hasn't been in this forum for a while.
I bought a nice MBP 13" and have been using that. It's very nice and powerful.
Problem is, after using these glossy screens for over a year, when I recently switched back to the Air I noticed that my eyes felt better. Now when I look at the MBP the gloss is annoying. Mind you, the effect is not that pronounced, but does exist. Since I read documents on the laptop this is an issue.
I'm glad I never sold the Air.
It's funny actually, as I instinctively new that these glass screen covers were not a good idea. I just went along with it like all the other sheep in blissful ignorance. The MBP's are great laptops, but I still think the glass stinks.
whatever.
BTW, the iPad suffers the same ailment, albeit perhaps it's more practical for a touch surface. But then again, why so glossy?
I'm a long time Air user that hasn't been in this forum for a while.
I bought a nice MBP 13" and have been using that. It's very nice and powerful.
Problem is, after using these glossy screens for over a year, when I recently switched back to the Air I noticed that my eyes felt better. Now when I look at the MBP the gloss is annoying. Mind you, the effect is not that pronounced, but does exist. Since I read documents on the laptop this is an issue.
I'm glad I never sold the Air.
It's funny actually, as I instinctively new that these glass screen covers were not a good idea. I just went along with it like all the other sheep in blissful ignorance. The MBP's are great laptops, but I still think the glass stinks.
whatever.
BTW, the iPad suffers the same ailment, albeit perhaps it's more practical for a touch surface. But then again, why so glossy?
Hi
I'm a long time Air user that hasn't been in this forum for a while.
I bought a nice MBP 13" and have been using that. It's very nice and powerful.
Problem is, after using these glossy screens for over a year, when I recently switched back to the Air I noticed that my eyes felt better. Now when I look at the MBP the gloss is annoying. Mind you, the effect is not that pronounced, but does exist. Since I read documents on the laptop this is an issue.
whatever.
BTW, the iPad suffers the same ailment, albeit perhaps it's more practical for a touch surface. But then again, why so glossy?
Interesting. I actually prefer glossy, so may be a negative for the air
Yes you may want the glass panels then. You haven't been to an Apple store?
For me the bottom line is: Does the reflectivity from these glass panels cause ANY eye strain?
This is really the entire issue. If they do then that could be a problem for some. If they don't then this whole argument is moot.
To prefer a panel that causes eye strain is fine, but this should be cleared up once an for all.
Age has something to do with this and older people might want to know the score.
But really, I don't see and kind of resolution to this in the near future unless a controlled study was done, and even then it probably wouldn't do much good. Only time will tell, and i't probably going to be a while.
For me the bottom line is: Does the reflectivity from these glass panels cause ANY eye strain?
This is really the entire issue. If they do then that could be a problem for some. If they don't then this whole argument is moot.
To prefer a panel that causes eye strain is fine, but this should be cleared up once an for all.
Age has something to do with this and older people might want to know the score.
But really, I don't see and kind of resolution to this in the near future unless a controlled study was done, and even then it probably wouldn't do much good. Only time will tell, and i't probably going to be a while.
IMO, it's too "fancy" for HS enviornment.
Unless it's some private school for rich people kids, it's like an invitation "Hi, come kick my ass..."
If you have the extra cash to blow, then I guess you can go for it if you really wanted to. But, before you do, wait for a while, and see if they actually release an update for the air. It's been so long now, I don't know if they ever will release an update, but for you, it's worth waiting for just a little bit longer.
What do you do on the MBP?
The air does most everything that does...
And what do you do on the iPad?
The air does most everything that does...
I love mine, and right now it alone will keep me in the Apple ecosystem a little longer. Yes, most of the time I could get by with a 3G-enabled iPad, but those moments when I crack open CS5 or office 2011 to do some real work (awaits for laughter), are worth their weight in gold.
Having a real keyboard, fully functional computer and webcam are amazing.
Having them in something that is extremely light is even more amazing.
The air is expensive and slow compared to others, but really the CPU is no longer the bottle neck, its the hard disk speed and the video processing capabilities that are slowing things down now.
An SSD with the updated graphics processor really helped later versions of the Air shine above the first version.
With these improvements, I find it to be a quite lovely computer.
So far, I am wondering what all the fuss about the iPad is about. I guess being one of the select few with an Air gives me pause to wonder, and maybe that's why Apple hasn't updated the Air in forever.
I disagree. You have to go sit next to a bunch of Air-head girls
, take it out and start up facebook via portable HS. It's then like an invitation, "Hi, let me get some ass...."
I think the 13" MBP is plenty light for portability. Plus it has better specs and costs a few hundred less than the air. If you really feel you need to replace the 15, or really have to shed the weight, this is your recommendation.
In this case, do yourself a favor and go with the MBP. It's not that much heavier and you won't have to lug around your power adapter hardly any. That easily makes up for the extra weight/hassle. But in either case, SSD is highly recommended! Go with the lower processor speed and SSD if money is an issue.
Have a MBP already and I like it. Considering the AIR as a backup to my backup for the most part.
Well pulled the trigger on the AIR. $1300 on the refurb, wasn't worth worrying about it that much. Not all that much money when you think of it.
Should be here Friday.
Congrats! My macbook air should be coming on friday too!
Ah i see. All the best then. Maybe on friday you can post some pictures or maybe some reviews... I'm thinking of replacing my macbook with that in a few years when this one dies... (it's only 3 years old so may take 2-3 more years to die)
I love the idea of an SSD. OWC has a youtube video showing the startup speeds of a standard HDD versus an SSD. It looks like it would be amazing, but is well over twice the price worth about half the speed? I will have to wait til prices drop. They always do...
I got the 2.13ghz 128gb SSD Rev C version...used/great condition on ebay (along with superdrive and dvi/vga adapter) for $1080 shipped. SSD was an absolute must for me, since I have seen it's benefit. No way I am going back! I was going to get the 1.86ghz's out there but this one popped up really quick on ebay and I snatched it up since it looked to be an awesome deal! Arriving tomorrow via UPS!
There are some sucky reviews on youtube right now. I'll probably do something in relation to my core i5 macbook pro with ssd for interested parties.
I could NEVER go back to an HDD, but in all honesty I am used to super fast SSDs now. Some people, and I am thinking of my 65-year-old mom, wouldn't know her computer is not fast as it would still be faster than her old desktop... then again, they're all stuck to their iPads right now! Those "IPS" displays have my whole family wowing, except me. I love my retina display iPhone 4.
I don't know why, maybe I am a purest, but I cannot deal with an iPad that cannot fit in my pocket, and also cannot run apps I need like my MBA does, and also doesn't have a physical keyboard for me to type 60+ wpm. On the iPad, I might hit 20 wpm. So the iPad doesn't fair well against the iPhone/iPod Touch in portability, and it doesn't fair well against the MBA in capabilities... I like my setup...
MBA, Mac mini OS X Server, 27" iMac, 3 x 24" ACDs, and an iPhone 4! Honestly, the iMac is for "business" to type my book on at home (don't ask, it was a bargain, at $1269 refurbished, and I couldn't say no - and I wanted a 27" LED ACD). The Mac mini OS X Server is my "toy" for the entertainment system. The MBA is my real computer, and the iPhone 4 does everything on the go....
However, not to tell a lie, I have been cheating on my MBA with a Lenovo ThinkPad x301. I love it. It is perfection for typing on the go, but it's a "work" computer to take to clients offices. As soon as Apple updates the MBA with 4 GB RAM or more... so I can run Windows 7 in a VM, I will be back to the MBA full-time for personal and business use. I will probably keep the x301 for a long time though. It will run Windows, Word, and PowerPoint for a long time!
I don't know why, maybe I am a purest, but I cannot deal with an iPad that cannot fit in my pocket, and also cannot run apps I need like my MBA does, and also doesn't have a physical keyboard for me to type 60+ wpm. On the iPad, I might hit 20 wpm. So the iPad doesn't fair well against the iPhone/iPod Touch in portability, and it doesn't fair well against the MBA in capabilities... I like my setup...
MBA, Mac mini OS X Server, 27" iMac, 3 x 24" ACDs, and an iPhone 4! Honestly, the iMac is for "business" to type my book on at home (don't ask, it was a bargain, at $1269 refurbished, and I couldn't say no - and I wanted a 27" LED ACD). The Mac mini OS X Server is my "toy" for the entertainment system. The MBA is my real computer, and the iPhone 4 does everything on the go....
However, not to tell a lie, I have been cheating on my MBA with a Lenovo ThinkPad x301. I love it. It is perfection for typing on the go, but it's a "work" computer to take to clients offices. As soon as Apple updates the MBA with 4 GB RAM or more... so I can run Windows 7 in a VM, I will be back to the MBA full-time for personal and business use. I will probably keep the x301 for a long time though. It will run Windows, Word, and PowerPoint for a long time!