what do you guys pair with your mba?

[DeusInvictus7]

In fact, trying to keep two computers in sync is a problem. ("What machine has X file? Which is up-to-date?"). Thanks to Dropbox and similar solutions this is easier, but the easiest IMHO is simply to have a single computer. You ALWAYS know which computer your files are on.

Take a look at the Lion preview page on Apple's site and look for AirDrop. It's basically Dropbox, but seems a lot easier to manage, and you don't actually need an internet connection, just a home network.

I'm quite excited about it since I'm switching my setup to a MBA and an iMac.

 

[jrtaylor6]

I am currently in college and I use the MBA 13" and its perfect.

 

[sgtalexmom]

my 13" is my first mac, and my only computer

 

[pmurph5]

Take a look at the Lion preview page on Apple's site and look for AirDrop. It's basically Dropbox, but seems a lot easier to manage, and you don't actually need an internet connection, just a home network.

AirDrop does not seem like Dropbox. From the Lion preview page:

"With AirDrop in Mac OS X Lion, you can send files to anyone around you — wirelessly. AirDrop doesn’t require setup or special settings. Just click the AirDrop icon in the Finder sidebar, and your Mac automatically discovers other people nearby who are using AirDrop. You’ll even see contact photos for those who are already in your Address Book. To share a file, simply drag it to someone’s name. Once accepted, the file transfers directly to the person’s Downloads folder. When you’re done with AirDrop, close the Finder and your Mac is no longer visible to others."​

Sounds like manual syncing to me. And, the file would need to be retrieved from the Downloads folder and put in the desired final location.

I have tried manual syncing in the past and it was a big, convoluted pain. That's why I love Dropbox. It is the first product that has made having two computers (e.g., a desktop and a notebook) work painlessly. When I make a change to a file on one computer, the change is on the other within seconds. I can swivel from my desktop to my notebook and back again as if they are one single system. (At least for the files in my Dropbox... Bigger video files and photo libraries live only on the iMac since it has a much larger drive than my MBAir.)

 

[BENJMNS]

 

[stockscalper]

13" MBA Ultimate. It doesn't need to be paired with anything. It is my only computer for daily use at work and home. I run Windows on it via Parallels and also do Photoshop.

 

[danielveeee]

i like your setup with the cinema display...
but for the price i would rather have 27 imac and 11 mba!! 0_o

 

[BENJMNS]

i like your setup with the cinema display...
but for the price i would rather have 27 imac and 11 mba!! 0_o

that works, but i don't need nor want to manage two comps and i want better, faster performance, and significantly more screen real estate afforded by the 13 vis a vis the 11.

thx bud

 

[Whorehay]

I go to school. I've got an 11" 1.6/4/128 hooked up to a 24" display when I'm at my apartment, so I've got the best of both worlds. Big screen at home, small form factor on the go. And you can't beat the speed of the SSD. Loving my setup. Total cost of the Air, display, SuperDrive and 2TB external was the same as the entry level 15".

 

[cleric]

I have a Linux server for storage and bittorrent.

 

[MJedi]

My 15-inch MBP (Mid 2007) is my primary Mac. I got the 11-inch MBA for bringing to and from the office, and when I travel occasionally. I used to bring my MBP, and my bag gets heavy when I add the other gadgets I like to bring. I also have an iPad 3G for iOS apps and games. It's great for places with no Wi-Fi.

 

[danielveeee]

My 15-inch MBP (Mid 2007) is my primary Mac. I got the 11-inch MBA for bringing to and from the office, and when I travel occasionally. I used to bring my MBP, and my bag gets heavy when I add the other gadgets I like to bring. I also have an iPad 3G for iOS apps and games. It's great for places with no Wi-Fi.

do u find that your mbp goes to waste now??/
because i had ipad and mbp, and see no way of fitting in another laptop without one going to the backburner...

 

[MultiFinder17]

I seem to have a bit of a thing for tiny computers, so I have my 2009 Air paired up with an early 2009 mini. I love the Air because it is so light, I can (and need to) carry it around with me all day, every day, everywhere I go, but is still an extraordinarily fast, powerful machine. The OWC SSD makes all the difference. I love the mini because it is silent, cool-running, and still plenty powerful. Honestly, as much as people while about the C2D being 'old' tech, the 9400M being worthless nowadays, I find the pair of them to make for a rather zippy machine. I can easily see myself using the mini for another two years or so (it already has just a few days shy of two years under its belt with me, bought it the day after the 9400M minis came out), especially with the 8GB of RAM I have in it, and the Air should last me about the same amount of time at the minimum. The mini is fast because it rarely hits any serious swap anymore, and the Air is because when it does hit swap (and being a development machine with 2GB of RAM, it regularly does), the SSD is so blindingly fast as not to notice any major slowdown.

I also have an iPad that I bring around with me most places, and an iPhone that's always with me.

 

[MJedi]

do u find that your mbp goes to waste now??/
because i had ipad and mbp, and see no way of fitting in another laptop without one going to the backburner...

When I first got the MBA, I felt guilty that I was not using my MBP as much as I used to at home. I even considered making the MBA my primary Mac. As the excitement and newness lessened, I came to my senses. I came back to using the MBP at home. It's still my main iTunes source and sync my iPhone and iPad to it, and it has my iPhoto Library. The struggle is actually between the MBA and the iPad, although the iPad has the advantage of having a 3G connection. But when I'm at a place with Wi-Fi, I have to think about which of the two I'm going to use.

 

[Hands Sandon]

Anyone pairing with one of these? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbJy0O4UFSM&feature=player_embedded

 

[Boe11]

I have a gaming PC at home, an 11" air for the road, and my iphone 4 for in between. Makes for a pretty nice combo.

 

[Scottsdale]

I use my MBA as my complete system by pairing it with a 27" LED ACD, Apple wireless keyboard, Apple wireless trackpad, Magic wireless mouse, AirPort Extreme Base Station with attached BU drive and printer, and finally MobileMe service.

I own an iPad but rarely use it. I find that whatever my iPhone cannot do my MBA can and definitely don't need a faster computer to pair with it. I love the MBA and ACD far more than any other computer setup ever.

If we could get the same C2D with Nvidia 320m for the next update except add back the backlit keyboard, and give it Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 that would be amazing (but I know this isn't happening).

I really think the current MBA will be the more desired MBA over the next MBA due to the Nvidia 320m. I was disappointed Apple is sticking its 13" MBP users with Intel's IGP as sole graphics non-solution. Honestly, with the hi-res display and Nvidia 320m and blade SSD the 13" MBA is more "Pro" than the 13" MB Pro.

 

[danielveeee]

27 acd :0 awesome setup

I've decided I'm gonna sell my 2010 MBP 15 and get a maxed 11 and 24 cinema display(eBay?!)...

Also do u guys suggest a good place to sell a flawless MacBook to get what it's actually worth

 

[Mars478]

The iPad and 11 Air overlap. When I had a 15" MBP I found myself using the iPad when I was lazy and didn't want to move the bigger 15 inch screen around. The 11 Air removes the weight and provides you with a full computer experience without all the weight and clunkiness of the pro. So get the 11 Air and don't get the iPad. You won't use it. The Air is a perfectly capable, easily and comfortable usable, computer. It's not like the netbooks of 2008/9. It's simply amazing.
I don't pair anything with mine. I find it works great all on its own .

If you have extra cash, buy yourself a used 27" iMac for your desk! I at home have a 20" iMac which I got from my school which was broken (2.4GHZ C2D, 2TBHD, 4GB RAM, upgraded and repaired by me ) for free. I want one of the older, cheaper 27s

 

[ggf]

So get the 11 Air and don't get the iPad. You won't use it.

I don't really agree with this comment. I have an 11" Air, an ipad, a mini (plugged into a 50" plasma) and an iPhone 4.

iPhone goes everywhere with me but other than the ipod function, the non phone functions are only used when I have no other device because my 52yr old eyes need a bigger screen.

My iPad is my main device it goes almost everywhere and is my number 1device for email, browsing, most media consumption and misc app based stuff.

But when i need to create docs the air is the go to machine. For wordprocessing you need a real keyboard. The iPad is great for email and responding to forums like this but major documents and spreadsheets need the OSX apps so they get done on the Air. E air is graet for working on a plane when the bigger screened laptops don't work. The mini is used mainly for synching the phone and ipad and as the main device to hold the media libraries, manage backups and for ripping and watching media at home.

 

[Scottsdale]

27 acd :0 awesome setup

I've decided I'm gonna sell my 2010 MBP 15 and get a maxed 11 and 24 cinema display(eBay?!)...

Also do u guys suggest a good place to sell a flawless MacBook to get what it's actually worth

Don't get the 24" on eBay, get it from Apple refurbished. It shows up in the refurbished section one or twice per month. But what you really need to do is search "24" apple cinema display refurbished site:apple.com" on google. It will show you the direct page for it and say out of stock. Check it once per day until it's there and then purchase for $599. Comes just like new and has full AppleCare warranty on it.

You can get the 11" MBA refurbished too... I recommend it. For anyone wanting a product that has made its way to the refurbished section they should always buy there. It is not available in the first month or so in the refurbished section, but after new for a month or six weeks most items make it to the refurbished store. Everything I get there is perfect, and it even says the exterior aluminum and display is replaced before selling refurbished which is why they look new. I suppose some are returned but I have found the quality to be much much higher refurbished than new, and I think most with experience would agree.

 

[Mars478]

I don't really agree with this comment. I have an 11" Air, an ipad, a mini (plugged into a 50" plasma) and an iPhone 4.

iPhone goes everywhere with me but other than the ipod function, the non phone functions are only used when I have no other device because my 52yr old eyes need a bigger screen.

My iPad is my main device it goes almost everywhere and is my number 1device for email, browsing, most media consumption and misc app based stuff.

But when i need to create docs the air is the go to machine. For wordprocessing you need a real keyboard. The iPad is great for email and responding to forums like this but major documents and spreadsheets need the OSX apps so they get done on the Air. E air is graet for working on a plane when the bigger screened laptops don't work. The mini is used mainly for synching the phone and ipad and as the main device to hold the media libraries, manage backups and for ripping and watching media at home.

Different strokes for different folks
I'm 15 and I always have my iPhone 4 with me. When I have my back pack (School, need storage when out) I have my Air. I used to have an iPad and I just couldn't get myself to use it. I'm not sure why, maybe it's because I am a xenophobe to the whole iPad paradigm, but I didn't find much of a use for it. I felt that my iPhone or MacBook air easily fulfilled either hands of the tasks I need. My iPhone usually handles email and social stuff, and the MBA for works.