The "I just bought/ordered/got/shipped my new/refurb MBA" thread, [Merged]

[RightMACatU]

13" MBA Ultimate ordered

I finally did it yesterday and ordered a 13" MBA Ultimate (i7/8/512) from Future Shop.

And no, I won’t ask when you think I’ll get it and if ML will be on it. It’ll get here when it gets here. In the mean time, it’s backup time, Monolingual & ClamXav AV download.

I know I know, we don’t really need an AV but I have Windows fiends and I respect them enough to wear protection…

 

[vodkaPT]

I just order an air 13.3/128GB/8GB/i5 from apple store.

Estimated delivery date: 6 ~ 8 August

A long and painful waiting time :/

 

[OlivierF]

Just ordered the 13inch air 256 ssd i7 8g RAM, will update soon as I have new info!

Received my macbook air 13inch i7 256 ssd 8g ram and I couldn't be happier, it is awesome. love my new

 

[gregpod9]

I Really Like My 2012 13" MBA

Yesterday I received my 13" MBA i5/8GB/256GB and I really like it a lot. I'm coming from an early 2011 13" base MBP which I am currently ebaying. The reasons why I like my MBA are:
1. Better screen resolution and awesome Samsung display. I just couldn't stand the screen on my MBP anymore due to the low resolution.
2. Very fast.
3. More comfortable to type on than my mbp.
4. Light weight with excellent build quality, thin, easy to carry around.
5. Perhaps its the current best Ultrabook that is out regardless of specs.

 

[plucky duck]

Aside from the large bezel compared to the Samsung Series 9, everything else I like the Air better. Wish there was a 8GB Ram model at Staples, but I could settle for 4GB since I have an iMac anyways if I need to do any real work.

Love the keyboard tactile feel.
Love the trackpad (Series 9 trackpad sucks donkey balls)
Don't really mind the glossy screen, kinda like it actually.
Love the ability to dual boot OSX and Bootcamp
Nice to be able to walk into any Apple store for warranty service.

So yeah guess I am "stuck" with the Apple ecosystem

 

[Macs4lyfe]

Just picked up a MacBook air 13 inch with i7, 8 GB RAM, and 512 SSD, but I didn't realize that the price for the Air in this configuration is as much as a Retina MBP. Should I return it and get the Retina instead?

 

[jterp7]

Just picked up a MacBook air 13 inch with i7, 8 GB RAM, and 512 SSD, but I didn't realize that the price for the Air in this configuration is as much as a Retina MBP. Should I return it and get the Retina instead?

that depends..the main advantage of the air vs rmbp is its weight and size (the difference between the air and the cmbp is even bigger). Also, will you ever be doing anything that requires a GPU? If yes, then I'd swap. Oh and yes there's also the screen difference.

 

[Macs4lyfe]

I won't need all the power that the Retina MBP has, but it would last me longer. And if it's faster than the air with the best screen on the market, I think it might be worth it. I do like the portability though of the air. But I don't think the extra pound and a half is gonna make that much of a difference. I definitely don't need 512 GB of storage. I don't plan to buy another laptop for another 5-10 years.

 

[jterp7]

I won't need all the power that the Retina MBP has, but it would last me longer. And if it's faster than the air with the best screen on the market, I think it might be worth it. I do like the portability though of the air. But I don't think the extra pound and a half is gonna make that much of a difference. I definitely don't need 512 GB of storage. I don't plan to buy another laptop for another 5-10 years.

I'd go with rmbp given your last statement. Over the next year I'd expect more apps to be optimized for the rmbp..also a lot of the performance issues should be resolved at that point. Speaking as someone who still has the 2011 13 air (given to wife), there is no contest with regards to the screen and having a discrete GPU should definitely extend the life of the laptop

 

[Macs4lyfe]

But then again, I'm going to be carrying this laptop around everyday. Is the weight difference very noticeable?

 

[Gpob89]

Good call?

I was holding out forever for a new iMac, but I've been computer-less for months and became sick of waiting. I went ahead and ordered a MBA 13' i7 2.0 GHz, 256 GB, 8 RAM. Do you guys think I made a good choice? I'm still intending on getting an iMac sometime in mid 2013.

 

[jterp7]

But then again, I'm going to be carrying this laptop around everyday. Is the weight difference very noticeable?

haha there's definitely a weight difference, but it depends what you're used to. My old pc 14" laptop weighs as much as my rMBP. I've had the 13" MBA since october and there is a huge difference just taking it around the house and putting it in your lap (more size than weight). Still for the average american the 13" MBA is the limit to what even the weakest person can lift one handed.

 

[Gpob89]

Gamepad

Does anyone recommend a really good gamepad to go with the MacBook Air 2012 13'' (I've heard that Portal 2 runs great on the maxed out model.) I've read a lot that the XBOX 360 controller and receiver is the way to go. (And before anyone says anything, I won't be getting a mouse for gaming purposes only because....just because.)

 

[Retina Display]

do BTOs really get processed that fast?

Nope. 4 days before they'll be shipped.

 

[GREEN4U]

Just ordered a 13.3"/i5/128/8GB!!! Estimated delivery Aug 3 - Aug 7. I REALLY hope it comes with Mtn Lion.

This is the first Mac I've bought since I bought my Powerbook in 2005! WOW! Feels amazing. I'm so excited I think I'll go to the Apple Store tomorrow to look at cases!!

BTW - It's been 20 min since I ordered and I still haven't gotten 1 email from Apple. Aren't I supposed to get a confirmation of some sort?

 

[Aniseedvan]

Just ordered a 13.3"/i5/128/8GB!!! Estimated delivery Aug 3 - Aug 7. I REALLY hope it comes with Mtn Lion.

This is the first Mac I've bought since I bought my Powerbook in 2005! WOW! Feels amazing. I'm so excited I think I'll go to the Apple Store tomorrow to look at cases!!

BTW - It's been 20 min since I ordered and I still haven't gotten 1 email from Apple. Aren't I supposed to get a confirmation of some sort?

Lol this MBA is my first since my LC475 back in about '94 or it will be when it finally gets here. Got my UPS tracking info last night but they haven't changed the delivery address. Another call to apple coming up..

 

[Nyvar]

I just received my 13.3/i5/128/4GB yesterday. It's really a knockabout, fitting in between my iPad and 15" MBP wfh backup guy.

I think I may be in love. Where has it been all my life? If my train ride to work were longer than 6 minutes my iPad would be listed on CL right now. As is, it should be afraid, very, very afraid.

 

[GREEN4U]

I just received my 13.3/i5/128/4GB yesterday. It's really a knockabout, fitting in between my iPad and 15" MBP wfh backup guy.

I think I may be in love. Where has it been all my life? If my train ride to work were longer than 6 minutes my iPad would be listed on CL right now. As is, it should be afraid, very, very afraid.

So inquiring minds would love to know.....did it come with Mtn Lion?

 

[derohan]

Got my 13" i5 1.8GHz, 128 with 8Gb RAM addon with applecare after an educational discount HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
Definitely one hell of an upgrade from the original Core 2 Duo white MacBooks.

 

[GREEN4U]

Got my 13" i5 1.8GHz, 128 with 8Gb RAM addon with applecare after an educational discount HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
Definitely one hell of an upgrade from the original Core 2 Duo white MacBooks.

Congrats! Thats the same one I got. But again, did it ship with ML? thanks.

 

[GREEN4U]

I just order an air 13.3/128GB/8GB/i5 from apple store.

Estimated delivery date: 6 ~ 8 August

A long and painful waiting time :/

Hmmm. I ordered exactly the same thing a day later than you and my delivery is Aug 3-7 (in fact reading your post is what made me order last night; I leave for school on Aug 9).

Anybody care to speculate why? Perhaps you can tell me what state you live in?

 

[Nyvar]

So inquiring minds would love to know.....did it come with Mtn Lion?

Nope, but requested the redemption code from Apple, got it almost instantly. Download and install this morning took less than an hour start to finish, and went w/o any problems. So far as I'm concerned just as good as.

Now I need to pick up a smallish 2 or 3TB usb external to copy a set of my media on in case I want it to go with. All my other externals are firewire/usb 2. I have 650gb of music and over a tb of movies. So I wasn't overly concerned about the size of the ssd.

 

[jterp7]

Nope, but requested the redemption code from Apple, got it almost instantly. Download and install this morning took less than an hour start to finish, and went w/o any problems. So far as I'm concerned just as good as.

Now I need to pick up a smallish 2 or 3TB usb external to copy a set of my media on in case I want it to go with. All my other externals are firewire/usb 2. I have 650gb of music and over a tb of movies. So I wasn't overly concerned about the size of the ssd.

personally the 2tb 2.5" are worth it if you're even considering taking it with you (versus the cheaper/gb 3tb 3.5" externals).

 

[GREEN4U]

Nope, but requested the redemption code from Apple, got it almost instantly. Download and install this morning took less than an hour start to finish, and went w/o any problems. So far as I'm concerned just as good as.

Nyvar, I posted this in my other thread but will copy it again here:

I chatted with a rep on Apple.com/store this morning about this and this is what he said:

Him: Oh, well if you bought new from us here online, it will come with Mountain Lion 10.8 on it!

Him: Solid, you will have the up do date software on it when you open it up then.

me: the description when I was Checking Out said OS X. It didnt specify Lion or Mtn Lion.

Him: Oh yeah, any bought July 16th or later will have it.

Seems to conflict with your experience...

 

[Nyvar]

personally the 2tb 2.5" are worth it if you're even considering taking it with you (versus the cheaper/gb 3tb 3.5" externals).

Great idea I hadn't even thought about it. I've swapped hard drives around so much in mbps it should have been the first thing I thought of.

Seems to conflict with your experience...

Not really, because I didn't buy through Apple. I bought through Amazon. It was 4% cheaper, I could apply a chunk of Discover points directly, pay with Discover and get 2% in points, overnight shipping was $3.99, and save 5.5% by not having to pay sales tax. For me an 45 minutes/hour of downtime and install was easily worth the savings. If things had gone awry or I hated it I have a Lion usb install I made not that long ago, and could have just reinstalled Lion.