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Using the 11.6 air as primary computer

J

Jeff5i

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 4, 2005
482
105
I recently sold my desktop PC so that I can be more mobile. I'm trying to decide between the 13" MBP refurbished from apple ($1019) or the Macbook Air 11.6 ($1000). I have an iPad and an iPhone and love the portability iOS has. I would like to have a laptop for typing longer emails, surfing the web, syncronizing itunes content, and converting movies in handbrake for my apple tv. I realize the airs 1.4 core 2 will take considerably longer for handbrake conversions than the 2.4Ghz MBP. I am considering using the macbook air as my only computer for a year or so when I will then get a desktop system.

Can I practically use the 11.6, or should I just get the larger, bulkier MBP?

Jeff
 
Personally, I'd either go for the 13" mba or mbp. I'd also probably lean more towards the mbp, more battery and a faster CPU.
 
I am also wondering this. I'll be studying abroad next year and I don't know which MBA to buy..11" or 13". I basically go back and forth every day -_-.
 
Keyboard on both MBA models is really no different than on the MBPs.

I just played around w/ the new MBAs today for the first time. They really don't do much for me. When the MBA first came out I wanted one b/c it was the new kid on the block. Ultimately, I decided the 13" MBP would last longer and perform better. I put in an SSD and never looked back.

The great thing about the MBPs is that you can upgrade the RAM and HD/SSD anytime you want in minutes. That is really the major difference between the machines. Well and you don't get FW800, built-in Ethernet, or optical drive (and SD slot in the 11.6").

Really just depends where your priorities lie. The MBA seems more like a 2nd or 3rd computer, computer though. I'm sure people will disagree, as I know a lot of people advocate the iPad as a sole computer.
 
jeff_siler said:
I recently sold my desktop PC so that I can be more mobile. I'm trying to decide between the 13" MBP refurbished from apple ($1019) or the Macbook Air 11.6 ($1000). I have an iPad and an iPhone and love the portability iOS has. I would like to have a laptop for typing longer emails, surfing the web, syncronizing itunes content, and converting movies in handbrake for my apple tv. I realize the airs 1.4 core 2 will take considerably longer for handbrake conversions than the 2.4Ghz MBP. I am considering using the macbook air as my only computer for a year or so when I will then get a desktop system.

Can I practically use the 11.6, or should I just get the larger, bulkier MBP?

Jeff
Click to expand...

I sold my old Macbook 13" and my iPad to get my new Macbook Air. I got the 11.6" and i'm loving it!!
I'm using it as my primary computer for the very same reasons you are talking about.

With some Logic Studio thrown in here and there. :)
 
If it is your only computer and you are on a budget, I would get the refurb MBP, just because it is more for your money. It is still portable and powerful.
 
jeff_siler said:
I recently sold my desktop PC so that I can be more mobile. I'm trying to decide between the 13" MBP refurbished from apple ($1019) or the Macbook Air 11.6 ($1000). I have an iPad and an iPhone and love the portability iOS has. I would like to have a laptop for typing longer emails, surfing the web, syncronizing itunes content, and converting movies in handbrake for my apple tv. I realize the airs 1.4 core 2 will take considerably longer for handbrake conversions than the 2.4Ghz MBP. I am considering using the macbook air as my only computer for a year or so when I will then get a desktop system.

Can I practically use the 11.6, or should I just get the larger, bulkier MBP?

Jeff
Click to expand...

If you live in the US stop by your local Microcenter (if you have one) and pick up that 13" MBP new for $999.

Chris
 
I'd go with 13" MacBook Pro and upgrade it to a SSD myself. I have a specific need for the firewire port so MacBook Pro is a must for me.
 
jeff_siler said:
I recently sold my desktop PC so that I can be more mobile. I'm trying to decide between the 13" MBP refurbished from apple ($1019) or the Macbook Air 11.6 ($1000). I have an iPad and an iPhone and love the portability iOS has. I would like to have a laptop for typing longer emails, surfing the web, syncronizing itunes content, and converting movies in handbrake for my apple tv. I realize the airs 1.4 core 2 will take considerably longer for handbrake conversions than the 2.4Ghz MBP. I am considering using the macbook air as my only computer for a year or so when I will then get a desktop system.

Can I practically use the 11.6, or should I just get the larger, bulkier MBP?

Jeff
Click to expand...

I sold my MBP 13" to make the 11.6 MBA base model my primary computer. It works great. I write hours a day, surf the web, edit photos daily, and edit video in the new iMovie, (I only edit video about one weekend a month). Works fine for all of that!

64 GB doesn't really matter because you can plug a $50 500 GB portable 3.5 hard drive into a USB, or get a SanDisk MicroMate card reader and a 64 GB SDHC card, or whatever.

Jobs was saying the future of the macbook, or any notebook computer, for that matter, is no optical drive and definitely no hard drive as there's no need anymore with all the portable storage and streaming options, and he's right.
 
If it meets your needs, absolutely. The idea that the MBA has to be used as a "second computer" is bologna.
 
Having used the 11" and 13" MBA, the 13", 15", and 17" MBP, the best overall in price/performance is the 15" MacBook Pro -- especially if you are running apps like Photoshop, Handbrake, iMovie, Steam Portal, WoW, and Starcraft.

If performance isn't important but smallness/lightness is, then the 11.6 Air is an okay Mac. In that case, I recommend the top model with 1.6GHz model with 4G RAM and 128G storage.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
The MBA seems more like a 2nd or 3rd computer, computer though. I'm sure people will disagree, as I know a lot of people advocate the iPad as a sole computer.
Click to expand...

I have the MBA 11.6" with the 1.6 GHz processor and 4GB of RAM. It will do light work just as well as a 13" MBP. But I've got to agree with the statement above. It's really a second or third computer. It's great for traveling. Much better than an iPad.
 
I purchased the MBA listed in my signature, and replaced my Spring 2010 MacBook Pro 13". So far, I have noticed very little in terms of change of speed. The battery has been great so far, and the speed has been fine for almost everything I'm doing. I even did a voiceover on a video and exported an HD movie from iMovie and it took roughly the same amount of time it would take on the MBP.

I say, do it. This MBA is my only computer, and I'm damn happy with it.
 
Don't look at the processor speed numbers or the benchmark tests. The 11.6 Air is fast enough for most everyday computing. If you can live with smaller storage and short battery life, the 11.6 is a capable everyday machine. It can even do heavy grunt processor work, may not be as fast as the Pros but gets the work done, albeit longer, anyway.
 
jeff_siler said:
Can I practically use the 11.6, or should I just get the larger, bulkier MBP?
Click to expand...

Guessing you don't have much leeway in your budget in which case, the 13" MBP might be a better buy for you as an only. If not I'd recommend getting the 13" MBA + 4GB memory. If you get the 11.6" base Air, do upgrade to 4GB, you'll be happy you did.

Best pricing on 13" MBP is the Microcenter $999 in store only option.
 
The 11-inch model is slightly small for me (although it looks awesome).
Thus, I have chosen a 13-inch CTO. It will become my Primary computer replacing my heavy 15-inch MBP.
 
I have received my 11.6" 1.4/4/64 MBA and will definitely use it as my only and primary computer.
Originally I intended to use it as a secondary to my iMac. But now that I have used it a bit I realise that this is all that I need, it runs all the stuff I use very well (including Photoshop and Eclipse). So I will be selling my iMac as I wont use it anymore.

I was afraid that I would feel cramped on the screen but due to the high resolution it isnt an issue for me at all. I love it and would recommend it to anyone. The one thing that it lacks is space though, so I got an external HD to keep at home.
 
Zord said:
I sold my old Macbook 13" and my iPad to get my new Macbook Air. I got the 11.6" and i'm loving it!!
I'm using it as my primary computer for the very same reasons you are talking about.

With some Logic Studio thrown in here and there. :)
Click to expand...

for what do you use it (cause im considering also to buy a mba as primary computer (with external screen). also how is logic on it/
 
You can easily use the air as a primary computer. However it all depends on the tasks you are going to use it. It can cope with transcoding, and all that jazz, but would I want it to? Nope... I'll be keeping the unibody MB for those tasks, and it will sit somewhere else and I'll control it via screen sharing, or ssh.
 
If you can pick up MBP for similar price then I'd go with that as my sole/primary machine

As has been said could be used as a primary computer if I absolutely had to, but for me its much more enjoyable (and more likely to stay enjoyable) as a secondary machine with my i7 desktop as main box
 
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