Which refurb did you buy and are you happy with it?

[Scottsdale]

- Fact is that size, not performance is the biggest factor in defining what a netbook is.
- Fact is that many netbooks use SATA, PATA does not define a netbook.
- Fact is you can do the same things on a MBA RevB as a Netbook. You have your argument backwards... it's a weak argument though, so doesn't really matter much!




I wish I could go buy a MBA RevA for $999 and have it do everything my 3.06GHz iMac can, but it CANNOT. Any idea why?

Your arguments and comparison of the MBA Rev A to a netbook are weak! As someone who owns all three computers in question, I'd be more than happy to pick them (your arguments) apart piece by piece if you like!

PATA is a thing of the PAST. And just about anybody in the world that has used a MBA revA and a MBA revB would tell you the MBA revA is MORE like a netbook than the MBA revB.

I owned a MBA revA, and that is my point, it was NOT a fully functioning computer. Simple, was NOT.

The MBA revB is a fully functioning, superb specimen of what all that a Mac is and should be... unless you are one to cry about FireWire (a lot of those people here).

I simply think that EVERYONE should understand the differences before spending $999 on a MBA that is OLD technology. Why is Apple selling the MBA revA with 1.8, and 64 GB SSD for $1299 now refurbished but sold it for $3099 less than a year ago??? Because it is old technology. AND, the proof is in the revision B MBA. Apple learned its lesson and is clearing out the revA MBAs because they were NOT up to Apple standards.

I think the MBA revA is one beautiful computer; I BOUGHT ONE at full price! BUT, it has serious limitations not seen on other Macs. The revB MBA is a real powerful computer. That is the point, where the MBA revA failed, the MBA revB succeeds!

So if anyone is going to sugar coat the MBA revA again, go ahead. But all of us that have used the MBA revA know the truth. And I thought that's what this forum was all about... the truth of the MBA revA. And the truth of its failures are displayed wonderfully by comparing it to the revB MBA.

Someone asked which MBA revA we bought and if we liked it. I used the BEST example possible to show why the revA MBA is NOT worthy, the revB MBA.

I would NOT recommend anyone buy the revA MBA 1.6 HDD, nor the 1.6 SSD, nor the 1.8 HDD, nor the 1.8 SSD at any price between $999 and $1299. Am I free to recommend that people not buy the revA MBA? While still saying that as a value, the revB MBA is a great and incredible deal at $1799 all the way to $2499. ONE AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE MAC!

I am not a MBA basher. I am a Mac User, and I have experience with these particular Macs. I absolutely loved the MBA revA when it was introduced. I think the price is low considering what it was priced at just a few months ago. But, it doesn't mean that at $999 it's a good value.

If you want a MBA revA and you know the limitations, great go buy one.

 

[Scottsdale]

According to a BestBuy manager, there were 2 Rev A SKUs for MBA shipments they received, one in February the second in July. It's unfortunate you got the first batch and I can't comment on its performance.

But looking at manufacturing time, the Rev A refurbs being sold today are from the second batch which for everyone here seems to have solved overheating / video playback issues.

Bottomline, it's a finely tuned notebook not netbook.

Go work on a revB MBA and tell me that the revA MBA is a good value at $999. Spend some real time with the revB. Understand the differences between the two. Look at the benchmarks between the two.

I disagree with your bottom line. We can agree to disagree.

 

[justit]

Go work on a revB MBA and tell me that the revA MBA is a good value at $999. Spend some real time with the revB. Understand the differences between the two. Look at the benchmarks between the two.

I owned the Rev B 1.86 SSD for about 6 weeks (search this forum). I also ran my own real world tests as I think Xbench tests don't mean much:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/610234/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/611606/

So I actually do know the differences between the 2 machines having owned both. I chose the Refurb A because of it's value to what I want to do.

Only thing we can agree on is that you need to do some homework before flaming others here.

 

[mhnajjar]

When you sound like a 12 year old and fail to bring up anything that a $300 netbook can do that a MBA cant you sound... well, like a 12 year old.

Please show me a $300 netbook playing games that the Air cant (PC to Mac differences aside of course.) Comparing a C2D machine to a Atom one is laughable.

Thanks for that, but you still did not give me anything that your goldy revA MBA can do that a $300 netbook cannot!!!

I wonder why

A $300 netbook can play the youtube video that the MBA revA cannot!!! SURPRISED?

Before you brag about getting the cheap computer because it is doing everything, make sure that it is able to play a simple video LOL!

 

[mhnajjar]

Scottsdale, these guys spent the money on a NETBOOK and they want to call it something else? Do they remind you of some huge corporate doing the same?

Oooh yeah, Vaio P is NOT a netbook, but it is a life-style PC. Okay then, MBA revA is not a netbook but a fashion-style MAC!!!

Spending $999 + tax on a NETBOOK is better off be a down-payment toward the real deal which is revB (even with the lines).

I would rather give the money to someone who might need it instead of giving it to Apple just to brag that I have a MBA which then would fail right away on youtube or hulu and I would be totally next to the kid having a PC NETBOOK!!!

 

[cheapa55]

Wow! I didn't mean for this thread to get this much response about rev B vs rev A. It was a simple which rev A to get. Most people buying the rev A know what they are getting. Most of us are educated enough to know it's not a powerful machine, but it can do what we intend it to do. yes it's overpriced for it's power, but what mac isn't? Seriously, we all pay more for having an Apple made product vs comparable machines.

I won't compare to any netbook because none of them have mac OS. And yes Rev B is better but for what I (and most of those who bought the refurb) need, it's great for the size, weight, and performance.

If >70% of people are happy with their purchase, why spend so much time trying to convince them they are not?

 

[cheapa55]

Hey Halon X,

I think it's perhaps best to retire from the thread and not get involved in an 'exchange' with them.

I agree. My question and/or poll has been answered. Thanks for all those who participated. I'll finish my post in the next few days when I get mine and give my feedback on how I like it.

 

[Scottsdale]

I agree. My question and/or poll has been answered. Thanks for all those who participated. I'll finish my post in the next few days when I get mine and give my feedback on how I like it.

Did you look at the stats for the MBA revA and revB? I think a lot of people are hung up on the fact that the rev A is now $999 to $1299 when it was $1799 to $3099. I think people are considering value of the MBA revA based on the pricing from last year instead of its true value. Until October 14, 2008, the only option was a MBA. NOW, the MBA revB changes that. We have a choice.

The value of the MBA revA should now be calculated by the value of the MBA revB price, NOT based on what the revA costs before the revB was introduced. The MBA revB changed the game.

I think it's sad that Apple is throwing away money by selling the MBA revA refurbished at this price. Honestly, I think it would do better by changing them to revBs assuming the cases are the same. Those sales are cannibalizing the MBA revB sales... and it's sad. It's sad because the MBA revB is the most amazing Mac ever and people don't care because they want a "cheap" entry into the MBA club and they just don't realize the enormity of the differences between the two.

Plus, the MBA revB is a complete MAC and succeeds in areas where the revA failed miserably. When the MBA was first introduced, it was amazing for the size and what it could do for its size. BUT, revB was ten times as amazing as the revA. The revB is a real fully capable Mac in a AIR sized case. I think the revA is a very limited Mac and a disappointment to buy when the technology is light years ahead in the readily available revB.

Hey, it's your money. I will now give up on the issue. For those that want to buy a MBA revA knowing full well of its limitations, congrats on your MBA.

 

[DeuceDeuce]

Did you look at the stats for the MBA revA and revB? I think a lot of people are hung up on the fact that the rev A is now $999 to $1299 when it was $1799 to $3099. I think people are considering value of the MBA revA based on the pricing from last year instead of its true value. Until October 14, 2008, the only option was a MBA. NOW, the MBA revB changes that. We have a choice.

The value of the MBA revA should now be calculated by the value of the MBA revB price, NOT based on what the revA costs before the revB was introduced. The MBA revB changed the game.

I think it's sad that Apple is throwing away money by selling the MBA revA refurbished at this price. Honestly, I think it would do better by changing them to revBs assuming the cases are the same. Those sales are cannibalizing the MBA revB sales... and it's sad. It's sad because the MBA revB is the most amazing Mac ever and people don't care because they want a "cheap" entry into the MBA club and they just don't realize the enormity of the differences between the two.

Plus, the MBA revB is a complete MAC and succeeds in areas where the revA failed miserably. When the MBA was first introduced, it was amazing for the size and what it could do for its size. BUT, revB was ten times as amazing as the revA. The revB is a real fully capable Mac in a AIR sized case. I think the revA is a very limited Mac and a disappointment to buy when the technology is light years ahead in the readily available revB.

Hey, it's your money. I will now give up on the issue. For those that want to buy a MBA revA knowing full well of its limitations, congrats on your MBA.

Scottsdale, what exactly are its limitations. As far as I can tell from the 2 weeks I have owned mine all that "they" are is playing streaming HD video. EVERYTHING else I have done works perfectly. Is it as fast as the Rev B, Im sure its not but its nearly half the price as well. I use mine everyday for work and for couch stuff all night. It hasnt had any core shutdown issues like they did before and has worked exactly as described from many on these boards that are perfectly happy with them.

Is it the best Air out there, well of course not. Thats why its the older model... Is it better then a new Macbook, of course not. Is it a great OS X machine for the money and form factor... ABSOLUTELY.

I came from a MBP CD machine and nearly everything I run works just as good as it did on that machine. The only exception I have seen so far is HD streaming video. Its choppy sometimes but works sufficiently for what I watch on the web. If watching HD videos online and playing games is your primary objective then I can see why someone would hate the Rev A MBA but for many people who don't really need perfect HD streaming video a $800 savings is welcomed. As for the comparison of Netbooks... I just don't see how someone who has used a typical netbook can compare the two. The only thing similar is the weight. The screen is 1000% better, the keyboard is light years better then any Netbook I have used, the Processor is a C2D rather then Atom, Multi-Touch trackpad, and the OS is OS X.

 

[mhnajjar]

DeuceDeuce, you have had your MBA revA for two weeks and you are calling us names?

WOW, really WOW.

We have had the machine since day one and we know everything that you do NOT know about it. Next time, spend more time learning more about your machine's limitations rather than spending it here fighting and bragging about a crappy machine.

It is true that ignorance is the number one killer for consumers like you and the number one gain to greedy companies like Apple.

I am out from this thread just out of respect to the OP.

 

[DeuceDeuce]

DeuceDeuce, you have had your MBA revA for two weeks and you are calling us names?

WOW, really WOW.

We have had the machine since day one and we know everything that you do NOT know about it. Next time, spend more time learning more about your machine's limitations rather than spending it here fighting and bragging about a crappy machine.

It is true that ignorance is the number one killer for consumers like you and the number one gain to greedy companies like Apple.

I am out from this thread just out of respect to the OP.

Please inform me of its limitations other then HD streaming video. If you had the day one MBA then maybe thats why you are having more problems. Like I have said, those that have bought the later Rev A's have posted great reviews other the streaming HD video. You keep harping about limitations but have failed to give any but HD video playback and games. What else does it do so poorly that I should spend an extra $800 for a laptop that is meant to be ultra portable and not a pro level machine?

 

[justit]

Like I have said, those that have bought the later Rev A's have posted great reviews other the streaming HD video.

Same here. They don't own one to just get it. This Refurb Rev A is a different machine. Is the Rev B better? Ofcourse, but so is my mac pro.

mhnajjar sorry you ended up being Steve's guinea pig. I learned that lesson on the Apple Performa.