The 11" doesn't really make any sense at all (for anyone)?

[Commenter]

Say* one is considering getting either the 11" 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB or the 13" 1.86GHz/4GB/128GB (or the Sandy Bridge equivalents whenever they come out).

They cost exactly the same, and the 13" has 24% more pixels, ~40% more battery life, a larger trackpad and function keys, and is ~10-20% faster (which is noticeable when the proc is the bottleneck; this number may change for the Sandy Bridge equivalents).

(And an SD card slot, and marginally better speakers, screen, hinge, and wrist-rest area.)

The only advantage of the 11" is being 9 ounces lighter**. This difference makes no significant difference at all when carrying it in a bag***, but only makes a (very small) difference while holding it or supporting it somewhere on the body.

I don't see any reason whatsoever for anyone to get the 11", at least over $1299.

(EDIT: Don't mean to be a jerk—I'm just interested in the reasons people have and in the debate)







* just for the sake of discussion; this generalizes to some extent to other configs
** and 0"x1"x1.4" smaller, and maybe some other not-really-significant details
*** Adam Engst recently shared the contents of his backpack. Say one's bag is half the weight. The difference in weight between the 11" and the 13" would be 6% of the bag

 

[Gav2k]

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What's your point?

 

[jamesryanbell]

Well, different strokes for different folks. The FOOTPRINT of the 11" Air is the main reason I bought it. I've used PLENTY of 13" Macbooks/Macbook Pros on planes and in sort of "tight" places, and the smallest bit of difference makes a huge difference. I took mine to Europe this past week, and not only was it an absolute pleasure to use on the tray table on the plane (which still left room for my mouse...big deal to me), but I didn't EVER have to take it out of my carry-on bag. It's under the min size requirements.

I love the 11", and I wouldn't even consider buying the 13" MBA, but that's just me. Plenty of people agree with you, and buy the 13" instantly. However, there are lots - LOTS - of people that agree with me as well. That's why both are selling well (based on what I've seen/heard).

 

[482214]

I'm about to buy an 11 inch air... It makes perfect sense to me. I will be using it for e mailing and basic office work while on trains and planes.

Choice is good.

Just waiting to see what the refresh brings.

Why do you care so much?

 

[GGJstudios]

I don't see any reason whatsoever for anyone to get the 11"

So don't get one! Because you don't see a reason, doesn't mean others don't have a reason. Obviously, others have a different view, or they wouldn't be selling so many of them. That's why there are different models.... for different needs/wants. A more accurate thread title would be "The 11" doesn't really make any sense at all (for me)", since you can't speak for everyone.

 

[Commenter]

What's your point?

Uhh, it's only in the title of the thread, and throughout the post.

Well, different strokes for different folks. The FOOTPRINT of the 11" Air is the main reason I bought it. …

For frequent plane travel/"tight places" it totally makes sense. I read you don't have to get it out of your bag to go through security.

I'm about to buy an 11 inch air... It makes perfect sense to me. I will be using it for e mailing and basic office work while on trains and planes.

What config are you considering?

… Because you don't see a reason, doesn't mean others don't have a reason. …

I'm asking precisely because I don't see a reason and am interested in what reasons people see. Do you only ask questions to which you know the answer?

 

[482214]

What config are you considering?

Well I'm going to wait until the end of July and see if a refresh occurs.

I'll probably just buy an off the shelf top of the range 11" from the mac store.

It depends on the specs to be honest

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm asking precisely because I don't see a reason and am interested in what reasons people see.

... except you're not asking. You're making a statement. A more appropriate title would be "What are your reasons for choosing the 11" MBA?" Your thread title and post sounds like you're saying no one should get the 11" because you don't see a reason for it. If you want to know reasons, there's a way of asking that doesn't sound like you're judging their decisions.

 

[PDFierro]

There are many reasons people use the 11-inch. Just because you don't see a need for it, doesn't mean others won't. There are just as many people who use the 11-inch as their primary computer as there are that do the same with their 13-inch Air.

Some people will feel that you need the extra screen size and that anything less you wouldn't be able to get your work done on, and there are people who think that way. Then there are the people like us who can do everything on the 11-inch.

I am going to get the refresh 11-inch, and I came on here several weeks ago thinking I was crazy for wanting to use the smaller Air as my primary computer. Turns out I was wrong! There are many on here who love it. Also, the 16:9 aspect ratio of the 11-inch is a big deal to me.

And it's also about the smaller footprint. Sure, the 13-inch Air is small ... but it's huge compared to the 11-inch. Especially if you don't need it.

I just think it's crazy to assume the 11-inch is pointless, and that nobody should use it. As the previous poster pointed out. I could make a thread calling out 13-inch users!

 

[nebulos]

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This thread doesn't really make any sense at all (to anyone).

Nah, good 'on paper' argument for the 13" over the 11".

Go see and handle the two machines in person and the situation changes. The precise size and weight differences seem small on paper but dramatic in person, perhaps deceivingly so.

Personally, I must agree that the 13 is a better machine for most users, myself included. Yet, I still want the 11" (too).

It IS smaller, by one 'size' at least. That, while having it's drawbacks, is very appealing.

 

[Commenter]

… there's a way of asking that doesn't sound like you're judging their decisions.

OK, I see your point—the title and post do sound judgemental (really wasn't my intention, though).

… There are many on here who love it. …

Yeah, lots of love in the air for the 11". I guess total experience (largely in the "details") makes a big difference. Probably big reason for why Apple does so well, after all.

This thread doesn't really make any sense at all (to anyone).

Nah, good 'on paper' argument for the 13" over the 11".

Haha

 

[glen e]

Honestly, this is just a person who wants to mix it up...have at it....just remember every time you respond here, it bumps it to the top (yes I realize I just did that - will do it once)

 

[Commenter]

Honestly…

Gotta love the irony of how actually you are trolling the debate with that comment.

 

[kwajkat]

Personally I like the 11 over the 13 because the smallness. I use it mainly for presentations, genealogy research and to connect to my ipad nano etc. While I liked some of the features of the 13, I have a 15 which is my primary laptop and the 13 wasn't much of a change in size. SO far the 11 has been great for my needs, the compactness of it makes it so much easier to transport and I am real happy with it. Just got it a week ago and not really drawn to the specs of the upcoming one so got this one and am loving it!!!

 

[maclaptop]

I bought the 11" for air travel since I'm on planes a lot.

Then because it was just such a perfect size for other mobile usage, I also bought a 13".

They are both excellent, so it really comes down to your usage patterns and personal preference. Only you know what you need.

 

[jclardy]

After seeing both in the store the size difference is quite dramatic.

When closed the 11" feels like holding an iPad rather than a laptop. With its 16:9 screen resolution the height difference is quite large.

For me, I already have a 15" MBP but it is unwieldy to carry around with me, so I have a messenger bag. With the 11" I will be able to carry it around in just a sleeve case and not worry to much about banging the corner into door frame as I walk around with it.

Then the 15" becomes more of a "portable desktop".

If I didn't already have the 15" and the MBA was going to be my only computer I would probably go for the 13" in that case, but for my second computer I am looking more for portability than a little extra horse power and screen resolution.

 

[macjonny1]

I see no reason for the ipod nano too. Just get the bigger ipod. Costs the same. does more. NO need for the nano.

 

[482214]

Whats the point in laptops in general... Lets just drag desktops around with us.

Forget ipad... Iphone does it all...

Forget iphone... Pen, paper and phone box will do it

 

[vladgur]

Like many above, i bought macbook air for travel. In fact I downgraded from a 15" macbook pro with i7 2.66ghz. I got a refurb 11" 1.6ghz with 4gig of ram and 128gb SSD during the recent upromise deal for both myself and my wife.

Mind you, im a power user -- I develop in Ruby on Rails with Rubymine and may need to do some Objective C in XCode, but before I "settled" with MBA, i did test working with my project on friends MBA with the same configuration and found it handling pretty much anything I throw it just fine(with exception of flash -- i downloaded flashblock plugins for both firefox and chrome)

One of the biggest selling points to me of 11" vs 13" was not neccesserrily the weight, but the form factor. 11" laptop is much easier to hide in your luggage or in your room than a 13" laptop and most hotel safes will fit the 11" but may not fit 13" laptops.

 

[rgs3]

Not to beat a dead horse, but the reason you probably bought the air an not a macbook pro or some other laptop is because of the magicalness of the Air, which as the name implies, (light/thin as air etc.) its smallness and extreme portablility. Thats why we all bought it. Because its so ridiculously tiny, and so much more powerful than a netbook. The 13 incher is a fine machine, but when you hold the 11" it just magnifies that "wow" feeling.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

So don't get one! Because you don't see a reason, doesn't mean others don't have a reason. Obviously, others have a different view, or they wouldn't be selling so many of them. That's why there are different models.... for different needs/wants. A more accurate thread title would be "The 11" doesn't really make any sense at all (for me)", since you can't speak for everyone.

AMEN GGJ!

 

[jacksonbloggg]

Macbook air

Yeh a friend has the 11" and tbh i think its just too small. All the applications don't sit right because everythings so squished, to see anything you have to constantly zoom in and out, then you have to scroll around because a whole word document for example can't all be viewed clearly at the same time. If the size isn't vital to you then i'd defiantly choose the 13" especially seeing as it'd preform better anyway.
Just my opinion.

 

[blairh]

Mind you, im a power user -- I develop in Ruby on Rails with Rubymine and may need to do some Objective C in XCode, but before I "settled" with MBA, i did test working with my project on friends MBA with the same configuration and found it handling pretty much anything I throw it just fine(with exception of flash -- i downloaded flashblock plugins for both firefox and chrome).

How do you think the eventual Sandy Bridge 11" MBA will handle HD video (for iMovie or maybe Final Cut X)? Curious as a potential future buyer who wants to also downgrade from their current MBP.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I can only answer for me, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and that 9OZ difference between the 11" and 13" is the difference between pain, and no pain, the size is perfect for me, and the 3 refurbs I bought for family, I equipped with OWC 360 SSD's, the two I am doing for friends have the 480 GB SSD's. So I guess that's 4 people after seeing mine wanted one, and are now owners, all use it as their main machine. I adore the 11", my friend Scottsdale is enamored with his 13". BOTH are THIS gen with the NVIDIA graphic's, both he and I are VERY pleased

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Well, different strokes for different folks. The FOOTPRINT of the 11" Air is the main reason I bought it. I've used PLENTY of 13" Macbooks/Macbook Pros on planes and in sort of "tight" places, and the smallest bit of difference makes a huge difference. I took mine to Europe this past week, and not only was it an absolute pleasure to use on the tray table on the plane (which still left room for my mouse...big deal to me), but I didn't EVER have to take it out of my carry-on bag. It's under the min size requirements.

I love the 11", and I wouldn't even consider buying the 13" MBA, but that's just me. Plenty of people agree with you, and buy the 13" instantly. However, there are lots - LOTS - of people that agree with me as well. That's why both are selling well (based on what I've seen/heard).

JRB, we are both on the same page on this, very nicely put