I was 100% committed to picking up a MBA 13 today...but when I felt the 11's weight and saw how sharp and readable its screen was....I couldn't make up my mind...so I walked out to think about it more. Anyone else have this experience? For some reason the 11 inch seemed to have sharper text to me.
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Walked out of Apple store without MBA :-(
- Thread starter WillMak
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Probably the different screens. Some are Samsung, some are LG, it appears random. Depends on what you're going to use it for. For me I really wanted the the 11in for note taking at college, but ultimately I'll be doing work in between classes, staying away from home, etc. So I want the extra space that I can when I'm out and about.
Its a tough decision. I had the 2010 13" and when testing it I was thinking no way I would ever like the 11". Until I tried the 11". It was so nice and much better than I ever imagined. Light, fast and super sharp text, great screen. In many ways the 11" seemed perfect. However I eventually decided on the 13" based on the increased performance and multitasking ability. And most importantly the added screen real estate is why I chose the 13".
You really have to sit down and make a list of the pros and cons of each machine to make the best decision. Plus with the new processors I doubt the 11" will have much trouble keeping pace with the 13" so that might not even factor into a decision assuming you are not doing many cpu intensive tasks a lot.
You really have to sit down and make a list of the pros and cons of each machine to make the best decision. Plus with the new processors I doubt the 11" will have much trouble keeping pace with the 13" so that might not even factor into a decision assuming you are not doing many cpu intensive tasks a lot.
I like the idea of an 11- but went with the 13.
It really is a big step up from my MacAir vC.
IMO- the 11 is a toy. The 13 is a true laptop.
If you need to work on the thing- get the 13.
If you just want to play- I say skip the 11- the ipad is much more fun.
It really is a big step up from my MacAir vC.
IMO- the 11 is a toy. The 13 is a true laptop.
If you need to work on the thing- get the 13.
If you just want to play- I say skip the 11- the ipad is much more fun.
Since the processors and prices (comparably equipped) are so close, it really comes down to your preference on size and screen resolution. I switched to an 11" after having used the 13" models since the Rev A, and I haven't looked back. The only drawbacks to the 11" that I can see are the 768 vertical pixels (vs 900 on the 13"), and the lack of an SD slot. The latter is easily addressed with a USB adapter. My advice if you truly can't decide is to buy an 11" and try it. You have two weeks to return it and get the 13" instead.
The 11" might not seem that much smaller, but it makes a big difference if you travel with it.
The 11" might not seem that much smaller, but it makes a big difference if you travel with it.
The only thing holding me back is typing on the 11. I can't imagine typing long essays on it.
The 11 can be a true ultraportable; for me, I'd have to pair it with the (forthcoming) Thunderbolt 27" ACD to make it reasonable for me. Since I'm not about to fork out 2600 for a solution like that, I decided to stick with the 13"
I'm going to use the MBA as my primary computer and I doubt that I could do that with an 11". I tried it and it was just way to small for me. I'm a developer and will be using it 7+ hours per day. No way I could do that with the 11" I thought. Also, the increased battery life of the 13" is BIG for me.
If you're only using it occasionally and all you are doing is reading, text editing, surfing and email then I agree that a 11" is probably the way to go.
If you're only using it occasionally and all you are doing is reading, text editing, surfing and email then I agree that a 11" is probably the way to go.
pixel density is higher on the 11".
11 MBA = 135 PPI
13 MBA = 128 PPI
as for other differences, as GGJ referenced above, others are reporting some. i think panels vary, even within a model, and within a panel type, there may be variation. i don't know, but now i will look into it more.
11 MBA = 135 PPI
13 MBA = 128 PPI
as for other differences, as GGJ referenced above, others are reporting some. i think panels vary, even within a model, and within a panel type, there may be variation. i don't know, but now i will look into it more.
Yes but the palm rest are shorter is what I meant. I like to rest my palms on the laptop when I'm trying to think while typing
interesting opinions about the 11".
i am a graduate student, researcher, and teacher. the 11" is the only mba that appeals to me. after spending so long with my netbook, the (comparatively) large screen and great resolution looks perfect. you can easily get a lot of work done on the 11 (if your work mainly involves writing). heck, i get a lot of work done on the ipod (pairing bt keyboard) and/or ipad.
i figure, if you are going to get the 13" you might as well get the mbp--pay a lot less for a lot more (assuming you don't care about the resolution) for something that is only slightly heavier and takes up the same amount of space in your bag. i don't really see the appeal of the 13".
i am a graduate student, researcher, and teacher. the 11" is the only mba that appeals to me. after spending so long with my netbook, the (comparatively) large screen and great resolution looks perfect. you can easily get a lot of work done on the 11 (if your work mainly involves writing). heck, i get a lot of work done on the ipod (pairing bt keyboard) and/or ipad.
i figure, if you are going to get the 13" you might as well get the mbp--pay a lot less for a lot more (assuming you don't care about the resolution) for something that is only slightly heavier and takes up the same amount of space in your bag. i don't really see the appeal of the 13".
I'm actually going from a MBP to a MBA. It's a bit more than "slightly" heavier and larger (30-50% more!). Sure, if you look at the specs and absolute numbers it doesn't seem like much but if you carry it with you EVERY day for several hours the difference is very noticeable.
It's true that the MBP is more powerful, but unless you are playing games or routinely doing extremely CPU intensive stuff like rendering you won't even notice. Neither one applies to me.
13 MBP is a lot heavier, no SSD, unacceptably low resolution, not much cheaper, not that much faster CPU, (... and slower stock disk; put in an SSD, and the price completely changes).
in my opinion, the 13 MBA is the new standard. the 11 is great too; if you can get by on the smaller screen, then you get lots by way of size and weight.
the 13 MBP makes almost no sense to me anymore. the 15 and 17 MBP are great machines for heavy lifting.
The 11" is desirable and I was tempted by it, but the 13" has its place. I'm doing a lot of Lightroom and Xcode with it, so the extra screen real estate is significant there (and man does it blaze through RAW image previews thanks to the SSD!). And the at most 5 hours of battery life on the 11" is just not quite enough to get through a typical day, and I hate that feeling of having to be near an outlet and bring the plug with me at all times just in case. The extra 2 hours on the 13" is just enough to tip the scales the other way. Also like the larger trackpad and the SD card slot.
And while the 11" is incredibly small and light, the 2.9 lb. 13" feels like nothing after coming from a 5.5 lb. 15" MBP. Both are great, but I'm glad both models exist. That said, if they made a single model instead, right in the middle, let's say a 12.5" screen with 6-hour battery life and 2.5 lbs., it would be just about perfect for me.
And while the 11" is incredibly small and light, the 2.9 lb. 13" feels like nothing after coming from a 5.5 lb. 15" MBP. Both are great, but I'm glad both models exist. That said, if they made a single model instead, right in the middle, let's say a 12.5" screen with 6-hour battery life and 2.5 lbs., it would be just about perfect for me.
Yes I did.
I also was committed to get the 13. But walked out with a 11 MBA. The screen of the 13 was realy terrible. I needed more than 2 hours to be sure, tried everithing to convince myself to get the 13. But it was so in my face. Maybe it was just that 13 MBA in the store, i don't know. However, I'm very happy that I walked out with the 11.
I also was committed to get the 13. But walked out with a 11 MBA. The screen of the 13 was realy terrible. I needed more than 2 hours to be sure, tried everithing to convince myself to get the 13. But it was so in my face. Maybe it was just that 13 MBA in the store, i don't know. However, I'm very happy that I walked out with the 11.
I've been playing with my 13" MBA for 22 hours straight. If I had gotten the 11" I'd have shot myself...
Side by side it seems a lot bigger, but I just can't see where carrying the 13" would be such a hassle over the 11". And the extra screen real estate comes in handy when it counts the most - when you are using it.
The thing disappears into my laptop bag and I can almost forget it's there...
Side by side it seems a lot bigger, but I just can't see where carrying the 13" would be such a hassle over the 11". And the extra screen real estate comes in handy when it counts the most - when you are using it.
The thing disappears into my laptop bag and I can almost forget it's there...
Are you doing graphic/video related work by any chance?
When I looked at it (which was before I knew about the different screens) I couldn't see any difference. But then, I am not into design or graphics or video editing or anything like that. It seems like the people who notice most are designers or related professions, which makes sense. I am really wondering if a standard user would notice the difference.
DO NOT BUY BASED ON WANTS! Buy based on your NEEDS! You will NOT regret this approach. You will regret buying an 11" if you spend 8 hours a day on it though!
Buy the 11" if you:
want a powerful netbook experience
don't need an Air, but you want one
don't plan on spending more than an hour at a time on it
don't have $1300
Buy the 13" if you:
want a laptop experience
plan on using it for extended periods of time
want to have no regrets once the 'newness' wears off
Buy both if you:
live by an Apple Store and can return one or the other within the two week time period!
Buy the 11" if you:
want a powerful netbook experience
don't need an Air, but you want one
don't plan on spending more than an hour at a time on it
don't have $1300
Buy the 13" if you:
want a laptop experience
plan on using it for extended periods of time
want to have no regrets once the 'newness' wears off
Buy both if you:
live by an Apple Store and can return one or the other within the two week time period!
Actually if you consider the MBA 13" Ultimate and MBP 13" with the same specs the macbook pro is actually $50 more factoring in the education discount for both. You aren't really getting more because you have same
Intel HD3000
4GB RAM
256GB SS
Battery Life
Then
MBA has higher screen resolution
MBA Weighs 33% less than the MBP
MBA Bluetooth 4.0 vs. MBP 2.1
MBA 33% Thinner than the MBP
MBA has 1mb more cache but MBP I5 processor clocks 500mhz faster.
MBP has optical drive
Overall I think for the convenience of the that the MBA provides compared to the MBP 13" I can't justify the 500mhz faster clock speed at the cost of $50 more, extra weight, and lower resolution. I frankly think the MBP 13" has become obsolete since you cannot even get a dedicated video card on it. MBA will probably kill off the 13" MBP unless apple finds some way to reinvent and add features that will entice buyers to get it instead of the 13" macbook air. After all apple did say Macbook Air is the next generation and the future of MacBooks
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