Two Macbooks? Someone please slap me.

[robotfist]

I have a 2010 17" Macbook Pro i7. I'm am an animation and graphics artist that does a lot of video editing as well. I should probably be working off a Mac Pro or a decked out iMac but I hate being relegated to a static desk. I like to move around and I am on the road often.

However, the 17" Macbook Pro is a beast. It does what I need it to do (show full 1080 HD), but it is a mammoth of a computer. I love, love, love small laptops. I used to have an old 12" Powerbook which I adored. When Apple came out with the 11" I was so excited.

I want to get the 11" so bad, but I think I would feel ridiculous having two laptops. I mean... really... I don't NEED to have another laptop, but damn it, I love that 11". I know it won't be able to handle the graphics work I do, but I would very much like a smaller computer for writing, browsing, and doing general computer work.

Apple really did a good job at making me WANT something I don't inherently need. I've done a great job pairing down my belongings over the years and have been living a minimalist's life. Just about everything I own can squeeze into my Honda Fit.

But damn it all, I want that tiny Macbook Air. Anyone here have two laptops? I need to be convinced that I'm not spoiling myself if I do this (which I am).
Or perhaps I should just forget it all and go outside.

 

[sorepheet]

I'm guilty of owning a FEW laptops! Enjoy it, don't fight it! Is it possible you could use an iPad for your other needs? You'll love that tiny form factor. I currently have an iBook G4, MacBook '09 and a LenovO S(X)10 Hacbook nano. I tend to use the MacBook the most, but the Lenovo is nice for couch surfing, I'm thinking of selling it to subsidize cost of an iPad 2.
Don't fret over owning more than 1 laptop, you'll have one for heavy duty lifting (Pro) and another for less CPU intensive tasks (Air) I see no harm.

 

[Satori]

I have a 2010 17" Macbook Pro i7. I'm am an animation and graphics artist that does a lot of video editing as well. I should probably be working off a Mac Pro or a decked out iMac but I hate being relegated to a static desk. I like to move around and I am on the road often.

However, the 17" Macbook Pro is a beast. It does what I need it to do (show full 1080 HD), but it is a mammoth of a computer. I love, love, love small laptops. I used to have an old 12" Powerbook which I adored. When Apple came out with the 11" I was so excited.

I want to get the 11" so bad, but I think I would feel ridiculous having two laptops. I mean... really... I don't NEED to have another laptop, but damn it, I love that 11". I know it won't be able to handle the graphics work I do, but I would very much like a smaller computer for writing, browsing, and doing general computer work.

Apple really did a good job at making me WANT something I don't inherently need. I've done a great job pairing down my belongings over the years and have been living a minimalist's life. Just about everything I own can squeeze into my Honda Fit.

But damn it all, I want that tiny Macbook Air. Anyone here have two laptops? I need to be convinced that I'm not spoiling myself if I do this (which I am).
Or perhaps I should just forget it all and go outside.

If you are sure that you will use both, and you can afford it, then go for it. After all you need the power of the MBP for your work but you probably don't want to have to take it every time you need to check email, browse or do some word-processing on the go.

 

[JD92]

Normally I'd say you'd be crazy to have two Mac laptops, but considering it's an 11" MBA and a 17" MBP I think that's reasonable. Having a 17" MBP is kind of like having an iMac which can be taken around occasionally.

 

[Scottsdale]

It makes a lot of sense if both need to be mobile. Otherwise, sell the MBP and buy an iMac refurbished 27" for $1269. It is a heck of a lot more powerful, provides 10" extra desktop space, and is a beast. You could even wait for the current generation to be updated so the current go on clearance for less.

I have a 27" iMac, and I really love it for a family computer. If I needed a power computer, this would be it. However, my power use is a rare Flash video which the MBA handles or iMovie for family videos which the MBA also handles easily.

If the MBA wasn't so capable of driving 27" or 30" external displays, I might see more need in multiple Macs. For my personal use, the 13.3" MBA along with 27" ACD is all the Mac I could ask for... and then some. I actually have two 27" ACDs and two 24" ACDs all in different remote office locations at client and personal offices. That is truly my favorite part of the MBA. It is the ultimate in mobility and turns into an instant desktop when an ACD is near. However, I do understand some professionals need more power than an MBA has, and the 17" MBP is plenty of power!

 

[jcasix]

If the MBA wasn't so capable of driving 27" or 30" external displays, I might see more need in multiple Macs. For my personal use, the 13.3" MBA along with 27" ACD is all the Mac I could ask for... and then some.

Hi, not trying to hi-jack this thread but hoping not to start another one, do you have any lag at all with your 13 MBA driving the 27inch monitor? Say you have a few web browsers open, pull up expose etc?

Thank you.

 

[Consultant]

Maybe go to the gym. 17" MBP is not mammoth (it's lighter than many 15" pc laptops).

Normally I'd say you'd be crazy to have two Mac laptops, but considering it's an 11" MBA and a 17" MBP I think that's reasonable. Having a 17" MBP is kind of like having an iMac which can be taken around occasionally.

I carry my 17" MBP around every day. Heck, I just published 2 articles STANDING in line with the MBP this morning.

 

[adrian-r]

I have the 11" and 17". They both get their fair share of usage. I use the MBP as a desktop usually. I'll only take it with me if I know I'm going to need the muscle. If I'm out of town or something like that. On most occasions, it's totally unnecessary to take my MBP with me. I don't like carrying it if I just need to get on the web or something. The MBA was the best money I spent last year. I'm super happy with my setup now.

Another thing, if you haven't upgraded your MacBook Pro with an SSD. You probably will after you use the Air for a little while. Add a couple hundred to your budget.

Just go ahead. You're going to do it anyway.

 

[negatv1]

I too am part of the 17inch MBP and 11inch MBA tribe. Sounds silly having two portables, but oh well. The 11inch is the best (truly) portable I've ever owned, while the quad-core 17inch is simply an awesome machine as laptop or desktop replacement.

My theory is -If you can, and want - why not?

 

[Legion93]

17" MBP is a mammoth.

 

[mac jones]

Two....minimum .

note: There are lot's of families that can rack up 4 or more; not to mention the gadgets.

I go by the pound. two 11"s = one 13", one 13" + an 11" = one 17".....etc...

 

[mehanika]

Deleted

 

[Beanoir]

I don't think there is anything wrong with having more than 1 laptop. Especially considering one is for work (17" MBP) and the other (11" MBA) would be for personal stuff, although it may not quite work like that.

What I mean is, I have a Lenovo which is for work (I need a Windows PC) and for home I have an 11" MBA and a MM with ACD in the home office. The Lenovo, although small, tends to stay in the work office, and I don't like using it for personal stuff as its just not as user friendly as the Macs.

So in a nutshell, if you can justify it, do it.

 

[mikey28]

I have two laptops!

I have two laptops... mac air 11.6 and a MacBook Pro 2011

I use one at school-- the 11.6 : for presentations with the projector, lessons and to connect to the smart board. Really handy at parent conferences, teacher meetings, etc... I usually bring this one home every night, but keep it in my school bag.

The one I use at home in bed is the MacBook Pro. That is a workhorse! I used to bring it back and forth everyday, but really it's too heavy.

The MobileMe Cloud makes it really easy to keep them both up to date with my lessons.

I use both laptops equally, and both are very useful!

 

[AwakenedLands]

Don't be consumed by consumerism. You don't need the 2nd laptop. You want it, but you can do without. Put the money you'll spend on it away into an investment.

In ten years the money you would have spent on it will be worth a lot more than it is today. Meanwhile the 2nd laptop will probably be in a landfill.

 

[mcdonap]

Apple really did a good job at making me WANT something I don't inherently need.

I know exactly how you feel! I just *had* to have an 11" MBA even though my 2,1 MacBook is still just fine.

So now my MB is really the workhorse. Since I knew I didn't need the MBA I bought the base model, and having the MB makes the 64GB SSD in the MBA a non-issue.
I use the MBA a lot - web, email, MacRumors, etc. Nothing that requires any real power. I didn't bother installing Flash - I have it on the MB. I love the size, weight, and screen - it's just a fantastic machine. I guess I use it like a "netbook", but it actually feels like a real computer to me. (Nothing against netbooks, I own one.)

I do sometimes feel guilty for having 2 machines, but I use them both everyday. It's nice too for software updates - I can test on one machine before updating both.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[robotfist]

Don't be consumed by consumerism. You don't need the 2nd laptop. You want it, but you can do without. Put the money you'll spend on it away into an investment.

In ten years the money you would have spent on it will be worth a lot more than it is today. Meanwhile the 2nd laptop will probably be in a landfill.

Grrrrr.

That's what the tiny guy on my left shoulder is saying. He's saying: "You spend too much time on the computer! Save the money! Spend it on a life experience! Invest! Be smart!"

All the while, the tiny guy on my right shoulder is saying: "You could get hit by a bus tomorrow! Just do what you want! Enjoy! You can always sell it if it doesn't work out! You love tiny computers!"

 

[Macdctr]

If you want to get the 11" MacBook Air then get it. There's nothing wrong with having a 2nd laptop.

As for me... I have 4 laptops. My very first one (PowerBook 3400c) and PowerBook G3 "Kanga." I keep these more for sentimental reasons. I no longer use them but it's nice to show them off next to my MacBook Air...

I have a Pismo "upgraded G4" laptop which now serves as an electronic cookbook and is kept in the kitchen.

Then I have my White MacBook 2.4Ghz that I used to use when I traveled for work and it's loaded and works fairly well but I wanted to get something much lighter which is why I ended up getting my current MacBook Air. Not that I needed to get the Air but I wanted it so I got it...

 

[neteng101]

Two is not too many, but if you had three, then it might be a bit much.

The 11" MBA is like an iPad+, and your 17" MBP is like a desktop-. Not really an overlap.

 

[AwakenedLands]

All the while, the tiny guy on my right shoulder is saying: "You could get hit by a bus tomorrow! Just do what you want! Enjoy! You can always sell it if it doesn't work out! You love tiny computers!"

If you are on computers too much, you won't be hit by a bus unless it drives into your livingroom

 

[MartiNZ]

Tangerine iBook G3 300MHz w/544 MB RAM - bought online a couple of years ago for the cool factor, always was something I wanted! Serves as my music player at home mainly, but I'm also quite okay with browsing on it, albeit Safari v1 ><.

15" MBP 2.5GHz C2D '08 - mainly now use at work and for the dvd player when the need arises.

13" MBA 1.86 late '10 - now main machine at home. Enjoys playing SC2 and movies, and pretty much whatever I ask of it, and never gets hot! <3

As for laptops I don't feel the need for any more, but I have always wanted a G4 lampshade iMac - especially a 20". The fact that they had to weigh down the base to make it hold up the screen has always to me been an incredible moment in design history .

So yeah as has been said before, don't fight it!

 

[aleni]

lol. im in the same position as u. i have the 17" unibody MBP, and i really love the look of the 11" air. i bought it only to find out it's collecting dust on the table. i bought it because of the cool factor, not because i needed it. once the cool factor wearing off, i didn't look it as a cool thing anymore, just another latop with mac os. luckily the 11" air isn't expensive.


thanks God that my wife said she wanna use it, so now it has its use in this home and now i bought the iPad 2 and it's much better companion with the 17" mbp i have.

 

[robotfist]

If you are on computers too much, you won't be hit by a bus unless it drives into your livingroom

Uh oh.... last week...

http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/apr/04/school-bus-crashes-birmingham-house-ar-1670724/

 

[zepharus]

Don't be consumed by consumerism. You don't need the 2nd laptop. You want it, but you can do without. Put the money you'll spend on it away into an investment.

In ten years the money you would have spent on it will be worth a lot more than it is today. Meanwhile the 2nd laptop will probably be in a landfill.

And this dude could be dead inside of that time. Save what you can for that time and also spend what you can afford. It stimulates the economy. Dont worry about the environment as after we are all gone the earth will reclaim itself in a tick of the geological clock.

 

[SidBala]

Two laptops is a waste. Trust me on this.

I have a MBP 17 myself, which I lug around all day. You should hit the gym more.