The latest 11" 64 GB model - a waste if time? Hmm...advice?

[caubeck]

I'm considering an 11" MBA for the sole purpose of writing and reading texts (I'm a writer) plus Internet.

I don't need 128 GB. I need about 40. Maybe less.

Is there any reason I should still not buy the lower price model? Will those 2 GB in RAM be noticeable in my case? Would 4 GB make me happier? Is the better processor this year enough to not get obsessed about it?

 

[iStudentUK]

4GB is really important, because you can't upgrade later. In a year or two you'll want 4GB.

The new processors are a nice improvement, I'd go for the current generation.

Remember the amount of useable space on the 64GB will be less due to the OS etc. However, if you use an external drive for bigger files it'll be ok.

 

[PDFierro]

With your needs, that would be fine. As long as you're never going to do anything more than that, or aren't worried about future-proofing it.

I'm also a writer, but I got the 11-inch ultimate as I plan to be watching lots of videos and doing a few other things.

 

[caubeck]

Thanks for the thoughts. I use my iPad 2 for videos and just about everything else, hence the question.

I only use 20 GB on the 64 GB iPad and 11 on my 32 GB iPhone. 128 GB feels like overkill to me. I'll need to think deeper...

 

[clyde2801]

I've got office 11 on my 2010 11" 1.4ghz c2d mba, albeit with 4 gigs of ram and the 128 gig SSD. I have never seen office open before so quickly until I got it.

The 2010 base model 11" should handle your needs just fine. With refurbs at the apple store at 25% off original list price ($750), it'll be a fair discount. Probably score one off of Craigslist for less than that. If a local best buy has an open box model, you can get it for $750 as well (or try to haggle with a manger for less).

It's pretty much a subjective question as to whether spending the money for a new 2011 machine is worth it for you. It'll have a backlit keyboard, thunderbolt and the faster processor that's two generations ahead of last year's model. It may be more useful in the long run, and be more capable should you decide you want to do anything besides word processing and surfing in the future.'

If possible, I'd suggest finding a model of either year with 4 gigs of ram since it cannot be upgraded. For $100 more, it is better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not be able to have it.

 

[caubeck]

4GB is really important, because you can't upgrade later. In a year or two you'll want 4GB.

In a year or two I'll be on MacBook Air 2013 and iPad 4. Future-proofing makes sense to me with houses, cars, girlfriends and desktop PCs but I feel these devices are built to be replaced. But I'll bear your warning in mind.

 

[PDFierro]

I am going to do the upgrade-every-refresh thing, but still I maxed it out because I want to get the best use out of it now for what I will be doing with it.