Wanted to buy 11inch....ended up buying 13inch "ultimate"

[Dammit Cubs]

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Wow. I don't know why I wanted this. I have been lushing over the 11inch for two weeks. Asking so many questions. But when I got to the store, my friend persuaded me into getting the 2.13/4GB/256GB version.

Maybe because I don't truly know if I will regret getting an 11 inch over the 13 inch. So I ended up spending 1800 dollars after tax and gift card. 700 more than I wanted to spend. The MacBook was originally designed to be my secondary computer but I opted for the ultimate so I have make it my primary computer. I'm hoping to sell my late 2007 MacBook white for 500-600. I hope I get it.

What do you think? Did I over spend? I'm having partially buyers remorse. It's still in my trunk of my car. I'm eating dinner in a bit.

Should I downgrade to 1.86/128 and save 300?

 

[EarthDawn]

Man your writing about my fear... I want it but only with 4GB of ram. I know if I go to the store and the have it there I will stray from the 11" with 4GB of ram .... I'll walk out with the full package instead of ordering what I planned on.
I do know if I walk out with it I'll open that baby up the moment I walk in the door.
Good luck deciding!

 

[Dammit Cubs]

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It sucks even more when I see benchmarks showing good numbers vs core i5. (pc benchmark)

 

[bossxii]

If your looking for a downgrade+ cash I'd be willing to swap my 3 day old 13" MBA 1.8/2gig/256gig for your max'd as I really want the max'd but as I purchased mine at Best Buy with a large store credit I cannot get a max'd out version. Idiots won't order me one so I'm in the process of trying to sell it on CL or find someone to work out a trade with. Not sure where you live and how to make a deal work but if interested shoot me a PM.

For what's it's worth I spent probably 2 hours over the course of last weekend trying to decide, I bought an 11" then 2 days later went with the 13", which I love, and as it is the ONLY computer I own currently I am wanting to get the max'd out version. Good luck in your decision Not sure if a trade even makes sense, just thought I would throw that out there. Shipping/insurance may make it a pain, dunno.

Good Luck in coming to a decision.

 

[hcho3]

Every apple products are overpriced. Might as well as make a good use of it by enjoying your new toy.

 

[KPOM]

If you truly see it as a second computer, you can probably safely downgrade. I'm getting the "maxed out" 13" but only because it's going to be my main computer. I haven't even filled up the 128GB SSD on my existing MB Air, but I'm trying to future proof and decided the 256GB was worth it so I could boost the size of my Boot Camp partition.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

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It sucks even more when I see benchmarks showing good numbers vs core i5. (pc benchmark)

 

[SamTheeGeek]

I For one say enjoy your new Mac

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

after playing with the 11" for a few days and reading all the good reviews about the 13", I thought I had made a mistake buying the 11". I went down to the apple store to look at the 13" and knew right away what I wanted. The 13" MBA is just like the 13" MBP, but thinner. However, the 11" is a whole new kind of laptop from Apple. Even though the weight is about the same, the smaller size makes it much more portable than the 13". For day to day stuff, the performance is equal between the two machines.

 

[Gen]

Biggest concerns;

- most def go with 4Gb of ram regardless of the size/config you go for
- hd size, biggest concern for me. personally, 128Gb should be the minimum. but, if you will use it as your primary you might want to go with the 256Gb - OR, go with just 128Gb and wait for 3rd party manufacturers to deploy their 256Gb upgrades. however, their options might be more expensive than apples
- cpu, stick with the default
- i heard the 11" is a little hard on the eyes, especially since the 13" is plenty small already

 

[Dammit Cubs]

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It was originally thought to be a secondary computer. So that's why the 11 inch seemed great for the price. Going to 13 inch ultimate is too expensive. I would have to sell MacBook white and make this computer my primary computer.

 

[efirmage]

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I'm getting the top spec 13" because this is going to be my only notebook. The form factor isn't a whole lot smaller than the MBP but weight has such a huge effect on portability and the psychology of how you use it. When I borrowed the last gen MBA for a couple months it ended up on my lap and coming around the house with me, rather than laying on my desk like my old PowerBook.
But the 11 is still a very attractive machine, depends how you want to use it.

 

[powerbook911]

Well, you already had competent speed computers.

Therefore, I think you might should have went with the 11.

However, do what you want now. If you still haven't opened it, do what is BEST for you. If you think that ultimate 13 would give you satisfaction being an awesome AIR plus a great screen and performance, so you want to use it as main computer, then keep it, if you can afford it.

However, if you're heart's telling you, you TRULY made a mistake, get the 11 instead.

Personally, I always have some buyers remorse no matter what I choose, you have to stop thinking about it at some point!

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I can probably go and return it and get the 11in/2gb or even 4GB/64 model. and save me 800 bucks.

The problem is, i actually made apple check how much storage is left after installing apple apps and then it ended up being 50 gigs left. That should be enough. But they also had the "ultimate 11in version" for 1399, I just can't see myself buying it over the 13in. My friend thinks that its cool to have a 11in macbook air because it looks awesome, but over long periods of time, I'll be regretting not getting a bigger screen (especially one with a 15in resolution).

From a hardware standpoint, the 13 in beats the 11in in every category. My macbook white I have at home (which i don't ever leave my house, I take my ipad) only gets 2 hours of battery life...2!! When apple changed to unibody construction and increased the battery life, i was so jealous and wanted that computer. Also my graphics card on the macbook while sucks. (intel based).

So this computer (even though the processor is lower) is an overall stacked computer. So It was really...either...get the minimum 11inch or get the ultimate 13in.

To be honest, i have no complaints with my macbook white right now. It runs smoothly (excluding 1080p video). It just makes me wonder, if the 11 inch would be better for me. The only problem is....if i open it now. I have to pay a 10% restocking fee.

Interestingly, I saved 200 dollars (probably after taxes, the ultimate is actually 2,000)...I paid 1,800. I probably wouldn't have saved as much on the mini.

Wow..this is extremely tough. I actually wanted a macbook air and i made my decision so fast today because Im actually flying tommorrow night. So I'll test it out. Flying to chicago next month (for 2 weeks) and then flying to italy for a week for business, then back to chicago for xmas then to india in march for tourist crap.

The longer battery life enticed me.


Note: I just realized that if I sell my macbook white...then how do I install CD based programs. Will Apple in the future offer non CD based software?

 

[Bluehinder]

So hard!

 

[Stetrain]

Note: I just realized that if I sell my macbook white...then how do I install CD based programs. Will Apple in the future offer non CD based software?

Yep, thus the whole Mac App Store announcement

iLife, iWork, etc. will all be available as digital downloads. OSX and iLife come with the Macbook Air on a USB stick. You can also buy USB DVD drives (you don't need to get Apple's, a cheaper one will work) if you really get in a pinch.


Really, except for the DVD drive, it sounds to me like your new Air beats your Macbook in every way possible. Rather than having two machines, one only slightly more portable than the other, I personally would rather have one machine that could do everything I wanted but remain portable.

I think it would be one thing to have a more powerful iMac or 15/17" Macbook Pro paired with an 11" Air, but I think that even the 11" Air would beat the performance of your Macbook since it's an older model with Intel graphics.

So really the only upside to keeping the Macbook is the DVD drive, it just depends on whether you really use it.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I guess whats really getting to me is the price. Maybe I don't feel the value of the 1800. If this computer had a core i5 then 1800 feels better.

And according the the benchmarks, 500 dollars in price from the base model gives me a 10% boost in performance. That to me doesn't sound right.

I guess i didn't plan on spending 1800. Maybe 1300 to 1400 max. That's probably getting to me more than anything. I haven't opened it yet. I almost did out of anger. But i'll probably go back to the apple store right when they open and maybe get an ultimate 11 inch or stock 2GB base 1.86 version.

I'm trying to see if I reallllly need 4GB. I think what annoys me more and what caused me to spend 1800 dollars is fact that NOTHING IS UPGRADABLE. I'm always the type to have more power then being underpowered. But i'm slowly trying to change that.

 

[sparkie7]

Maybe because I don't truly know if I will regret getting an 11 inch over the 13 inch. So I ended up spending 1800 dollars after tax and gift card. 700 more than I wanted to spend. The MacBook was originally designed to be my secondary computer but I opted for the ultimate so I have make it my primary computer. I'm hoping to sell my late 2007 MacBook white for 500-600. I hope I get it.

What do you think? Did I over spend? I'm having partially buyers remorse. It's still in my trunk of my car. I'm eating dinner in a bit.

Should I downgrade to 1.86/128 and save 300?

Stick with it. Its the best config. Any less and you might regret not getting this maxed out option. Don't have any remorse about getting rid of your MacBook. The MBA might be pricey, but its worth it

 

[Dammit Cubs]

Stick with it. Its the best config. Any less and you might regret not getting this maxed out option. Don't have any remorse about getting rid of your MacBook. The MBA might be pricey, but its worth it

I think im worried about finding a buyer on ebay.

 

[netdog]

after playing with the 11" for a few days and reading all the good reviews about the 13", I thought I had made a mistake buying the 11". I went down to the apple store to look at the 13" and knew right away what I wanted. The 13" MBA is just like the 13" MBP, but thinner. However, the 11" is a whole new kind of laptop from Apple. Even though the weight is about the same, the smaller size makes it much more portable than the 13". For day to day stuff, the performance is equal between the two machines.

I can understand how the 11" may be more portable for women as it can fit in many purses, but how exactly is an 11" more portable for a male?

You discounted the weight difference, which I would have seen as valid, but that leaves just the footprint. What do you carry your 11" in that wouldn't just as easily hold a 13"?

Like I said, if you value the 1/2 lb. saved, which is fair enough, or carry a bag that better accomodates the 11", that all makes sense. But calling the 11" a totally new kind of computer (whereas you say that the 13" is not)? Come on. It's just an MBA with a smaller screen and less horsepower, and the MBA is nothing new. It was released in 2008.

 

[watchrabbit]

you should keep it!

Just sell your old Macbook and you're good! Why keep an OLD Macbook and a new small one when you can have best of both worlds with something only a little bigger than the 11,6" (read 12") and much much faster than your old one? If you need ultimate portability you have your Ipad. You're not gonna be happy with the 11,6" and an old chunk home.
I have the 13" old MBA (2,13 SSD) and just got the 11,6 and I am pretty sure I'll return it.

 

[Maven1975]

I dont know what it is about the 13" (Possibly the screen ratio) that makes it look to big for what it is intended to be. This is after a few days toting around the 11".

I am completely converted to the 11" form factor and look forward to more upgrades in the future. Spaces has been a feature I never used in the past. I fricking love it on the 11"! I only wish there was an app for OSX to make it function with windows like windows. (Dragging them to the side of the screen and having the window snap into place) EDT: I found a program named Cinch to do this!

Lets not forget about the app store people. Even the base model MBA will have so much content to play with that you will forget you are only running at 1.4ghz.

 

[Velin]

13" maxed is amazing computer. Open it up and get rid of your other computers. You'll be happy you did.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

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I dont know what it is about the 13" (Possibly the screen ratio) that makes it look to big for what it is intended to be. This is after a few days toting around the 11".

I am completely converted to the 11" form factor and look forward to more upgrades in the future. Spaces has been a feature I never used in the past. I fricking love it on the 11"! I only wish there was an app for OSX to make it function with windows like windows. (Dragging them to the side of the screen and having the window snap into place) EDT: I found a program named Cinch to do this!

Lets not forget about the app store people. Even the base model MBA will have so much content to play with that you will forget you are only running at 1.4ghz.

They do.

Look up hyper docks. Best thing ever!!!!

 

[FAsnakes]

Yea, it's a tough call.. I actually took three people with me to the apple store to make the decision.

And for me i actually changed my mind three times between separate configurations. .

In the beginning i knew i wanted a 13" simply because of the specs.. But as soon as i got to the Apple Store and seen them - The 13" is big, I mean really huge when compared to the 11"..

For me this computer was to take on the daily tasks and become my main computer.. Any video editing or heavy gaming would be done by a 15" MBP.. But i'd use this computer for work every day and on travel.

So, back to the apple store... Once i seen how huge the 13" was compared to the 11" i opted for the base model 11".. Figured, i'd be getting one over on Apple if i stuck with the $999 model and applied my corporate discount.. They bagged it up and i took it home.. .

Once i started loading Win 7 and my office apps i was left with roughly 15 gigs of free space left.. . (5 on the windows side and 10 on the Mac side).
This little machine took nearly everything i threw at and i quickly became a fan, with one concern.. HD space, so off i marched to the apple store to upgrade it to a 11" w/ the 128 HD option.. a $200 upgrade.

Once i got it home i was really happy - but soon after, i started having nightmares..
'Only $100 more dollars for the base 13" - my subconscious ' muttered..
Then i started looking at the benefits -

- Larger screen
- More Battery Life
- Much Faster Processor
- More L2 Cache
- Faster FSB
- SD card slot

All that for only $100 more dollars..
I tossed and turned for a couple of nights and off i went back to the apple store yet again - determined to come home with the base 13".. Along, i grabbed my support group who completely understood my needs.. I also, took my 15" MBP to compare the size in person with the 13"..

Once i sat my 15" next to the 13" the footprint of the 13" was hardly smaller than my 15".. So, why would i rid myself of the 15" just for a slightly smaller footprint and sacrifice that much performance.. I wouldn't!

So, instead of going with the 13" i decided to pay another $160 and upgrade to the ultimate 11.6

For my purposes, i was never looking to replace the awesome performance of my 15" MBP - what i was looking to do is increase my portability and have fun with a novelty machine - something better than the iPad (which i passed on)


At the end of the day, i'm more than satisfied with the 11.6.
I was also worried with the substantially increased performance of the 13" in such a small enclosure re: Heat, Fans and subsequent slow downs as a result.. .

Sorry for the long winded reply but i felt somewhat obligated as i've gone through a similar situation..

- gl on your choice