Will I ever get a new laptop?

[Chuchichan]

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Here's my story...

I currently have a PowerBook G4 1.33ghz, 2gb ram, 15 inch. I need it for relatively basic stuff...photos, iPhoto, Email, internet, iTunes streaming and connecting to my TV.

My current laptop is getting slow and for some reason always needs to be connected to A/C power. The battery has been replaced. I'm running Tiger now and I discovered that to synch the newer iPods and iPhone I need at least Leopard.

So, these are my reasons for wanting to upgrade. I understand that Leopard could work on my current laptop,but may be slow.

I actually like all the current model of laptop. However understand that the MBP will be updated soon so does it make sense to buy now? I also like the 13 inch MBA but I'm reading about screen and wifi issues. I
also can make a case for the MacBook; it's cheaper and can probably get done what I need it for, however I do like MBA and how quiet it is and the fact that it doesn't have a CDROM drive which I don't really need.

I really wish there weren't wifi and screen issues with the MBA.

So, what would you all suggest I do? Am i reading too much into the MBA issues? Try to get Leopard running on my current laptop? MacBook? MBA?

I'm living outside of the US now and would like to purchase while I'm visitng, but perhaps this isn't the best time?
Thanks in advance...

 

[Paulywauly]

I'm sure most people with MBAs are happy with them and it'll be quite speed boost over your current laptop. People are much more likely to come to report issues on these forums than praise.

In regards to the MacBook Pro you could look at it either 2 ways: 1. if you were to buy one right now its gonna be a zillion times faster than your current setup. 2: Your current laptop has lasted you a long time, could it not last until the refresh?

If you are more concerned with spec i'd wait for the pro refresh, if not, go with the MBA and buy now

 

[Chuchichan]

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I'd like to buy now because I'm only here for another two weeks. What are you thoughts then on the MacBook vs. the MBA?

 

[MikeinJapan]

IOne thing to remember about the wifi and screen issue/ Very few people are experiencing them. Just buy the MBA if you want it.

 

[Capt Underpants]

The 13" MBA is the perfect machine for you.

 

[jeffg819]

Have you read your local paper recently... why would anyone want to go outside and play after doing that!

 

[FuNGi]

Go for the top-of-the-line 13" Air. You'll be very pleased over your current machine and enjoy using it daily. Think about if you'll need the DVD/CD drive though.

 

[Chuchichan]

Go for the top-of-the-line 13" Air. You'll be very pleased over your current machine and enjoy using it daily. Think about if you'll need the DVD/CD drive though.

So, I think I have it down to the MBP with the anti-glare screen and the MBA. The issues of the MBA aside, what do you think of the comparison? Now I'm debating the 13" vs. 15" I often do video chats with the folks. Would I sacrifice a lot going with the MBA?

The price seems to the $1949 for the MBP and $1799 for the MBA...

Sorry, I just can't make a decision....

 

[KnightWRX]

If your current machine works for you, you won't really see the difference in computing power between the 15" MBP and the 13" MBA.

 

[mixvio]

So, I think I have it down to the MBP with the anti-glare screen and the MBA. The issues of the MBA aside, what do you think of the comparison? Now I'm debating the 13" vs. 15" I often do video chats with the folks. Would I sacrifice a lot going with the MBA?

The price seems to the $1949 for the MBP and $1799 for the MBA...

Sorry, I just can't make a decision....

I've owned a 13" MacBook Pro, a 15" MacBook Pro (the high end i7 model with the same anti-glare screen) and I just bought a 13" MacBook Air. Oh, and an iPad.

The Air is the best Apple product I've ever owned. Unequivocally. I've just had it for a few days and I seriously love it.

While my laptop has always been my "main" machine, I mean that in the sense that I have everything on it except serious gaming, which I have a Windows desktop for. I travel a lot, so having a lightweight computer with decent battery is a big necessity for me. The 13" MacBook Pro was great but when the i7 processors got added I figured I'd get an upgrade; the 15" is still probably the lightest 15" laptop I've ever handled, but it was heavier than the 13" to a noticeable degree. It also has a bigger footprint which has been trouble for me if I'm typing on a small cafe table or on my lap.

The 13" Air, however, has been just great. The screen is glossy, but I don't know what they've done this time around since it's not the same sort of gloss that the other MacBooks have -- IE, "let's place a sheet of ridiculously reflective glass over the screen and put it in the box." I don't know if it would be comfortable to use in a park in the sunlight, but it's less reflective than my 13" MacBook Pro (but more reflective obviously than the matte on the 15".)

So far the processor hasn't been as big a deal as I expected it would be. There's hitches every now and then but really the only times the machine has become intermittently slow/unresponsive due to CPU load has been when I first had Dropbox indexing the machine and when it was running its first Time Machine backup. In typical use and the gaming I've done so far, the machine has been just as responsive as the i7 MacBook Pro.

The bigger bonuses for me are how cool the laptop is; the i7 would get uncomfortably hot in my lap just typing, and forget playing a game on it. Even the 13" got really warm if I was gaming. The 13" Air, however, rarely gets much warmer than room temperature even when the CPU has been running at max for an hour. The bottom is never very hot.

Secondly, the wedge shape gives the laptop a slight angle, which means it's tapered at the front and higher at the back. As I'm a writer, this is fantastic; it's more ergonomic, and I don't have to deal with the aggressive palm-rest like on the other unibody laptops which is as comfortable as typing while balancing your wrists on dull butter knives.

Personally I love it. The graphics issue was fixed in the 10.6.5 update, and I don't know what wifi problems there are but I haven't noticed anything myself. It's fast, cool, responsive and light. As soon as I took it out of the box I was enthralled.

Having owned a regular 13" MacBook Pro as well as the 15" you were thinking of, personally I'd keep this Air over either of those without hesitation. If I had a choice I'd love to have 512 gigs of HD space and more RAM in it, but I can squeak by on 256 and 4 gigs.

Hope the wall of text helps you make up your mind.

 

[KPOM]

I suggest just buying the MacBook Air and testing it out before you go home. There will be bugs with all electronics products, and people are more likely to go onto a forum to say something's wrong than to say everything is fine. It is much faster than your PowerBook, and while the next Pro is likely to be faster, there is always something new down the pipeline.

 

[Zackmd1]

I say go with the MacBook Air also. Like many others I love this machine! Specs aside the air is way faster in day to day use then any other computer I have owned, this is because of the SSD. So its really up to what you need it for, I own the baseline 13 and its more then enough for what I use it for which is pretty close to what you described.

 

[molala]

If you have an Apple Store in the country where you live, I wouldn't worry about the screen and wifi problem reports, because there are so few reports and you will be covered by warranty there.

I like the 15" anti-glare a lot too, but for me, the size and weight of the MBA would win me over. If weight isn't a factor though (if you mostly use it on a desk), then having that extra screen space is an advantage. The MBP's won't be updated for another 2-6 months, so it's not a bad time to buy. You can't go wrong with either machine really, so it would just come down to how you use the machine and which would serve you better under those conditions.

 

[Chuchichan]

Thank you all for your feedback. I think I will go to the store, have another look at both screens and make a decision. I am leaning towards the 13" MBA right now after reading your posts.

 

[Mr. Savage]

Yep, I say just go for the 13 MBA. This is likely the direction all Apple's laptops are heading anyways, so a year or so from now the current MBP may very well seem like a throwback from a different era. If you've never actually handled/seen or used a new MBA in real life, you will be in for a nice surprise when you do. Good luck even trying to walk out of that store empty-handed

 

[KPOM]

Yep, I say just go for the 13 MBA. This is likely the direction all Apple's laptops are heading anyways, so a year or so from now the current MBP may very well seem like a throwback from a different era. If you've never actually handled/seen or used a new MBA in real life, you will be in for a nice surprise when you do. Good luck even trying to walk out of that store empty-handed

I think the writing is on the wall. I think the 13" MacBook Pro will lose its optical drive at the next update. That will make room for a Core i5 and a discrete GPU. It's possible the polycarb MacBook goes away for good this time. Look at the MacBook Air advertising. It's touted as the "next generation of MacBooks" and "Air" is hardly used.

 

[littledude8209]

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Here's my story...

I currently have a PowerBook G4 1.33ghz, 2gb ram, 15 inch. I need it for relatively basic stuff...photos, iPhoto, Email, internet, iTunes streaming and connecting to my TV.

My current laptop is getting slow and for some reason always needs to be connected to A/C power. The battery has been replaced. I'm running Tiger now and I discovered that to synch the newer iPods and iPhone I need at least Leopard.

So, these are my reasons for wanting to upgrade. I understand that Leopard could work on my current laptop,but may be slow.

I actually like all the current model of laptop. However understand that the MBP will be updated soon so does it make sense to buy now? I also like the 13 inch MBA but I'm reading about screen and wifi issues. I
also can make a case for the MacBook; it's cheaper and can probably get done what I need it for, however I do like MBA and how quiet it is and the fact that it doesn't have a CDROM drive which I don't really need.

I really wish there weren't wifi and screen issues with the MBA.

So, what would you all suggest I do? Am i reading too much into the MBA issues? Try to get Leopard running on my current laptop? MacBook? MBA?

I'm living outside of the US now and would like to purchase while I'm visitng, but perhaps this isn't the best time?
Thanks in advance...

I was pretty much in the same situation as you were. I tried a Mac Mini, and that just failed horribly at what i needed. I NEEDED something mobile, not just a home computer. I already had an iPhone, but i needed something more. I was considering an iPad, but i still felt like i needed more than that. I'm a photographer, and i use photoshop on a daily basis.

When the Macbook Airs got refreshed, i knew this would be the perfect laptop for me. I immediately went for the ultimate 13" model. I have not had any wifi nor screen issues. It has been an absolute treat! Go for the MBA and you won't regret it. If you are really needing the CDROM drive, spend the extra $79 for the external drive from apple. I've had this laptop for a few weeks now, and i've discovered i haven't needed a CDROM drive ONCE. I was wondering if that would be a problem when i bought it, and obviously it's just not. I thought i used it quite a bit more. So, the ultimate decision is obviously up to you, but all i can say is this laptop will be a HUGE improvement over what your with right now. Best of luck

 

[netdog]

MBA 13" 2010 is quite simply the best laptop that I've ever used.

 

[jeffg819]

MBA 13" 2010 is quite simply the best laptop that I've ever used.

Ditto! And this is my 7th Apple notebook model...

 

[chrono1081]

MBA 13" 2010 is quite simply the best laptop that I've ever used.

+1. I wouldn't trade my MBA for any other laptop.

To the OP: Don't believe everything you read online. There are no widespread issues. As always its a few people with an issue who blow it out of proportion online, 50% which are probably trolls. The screen flickering was fixed with the first update (trust me from experience, mine was flickering now it isn't.) Not to mention people only come to mac rumors to bitch. Its rare if you see anyone come and say "MY MBA is PERFECT!!!"

Anyway, I'd say get the machine. Its perfect. I'm going to go enjoy my MBA now

 

[gwsat]

MBA 13" 2010 is quite simply the best laptop that I've ever used.

Ditto! And this is my 7th Apple notebook model...

+1. I wouldn't trade my MBA for any other laptop.

I guess I make 4. I absolutely love my 13 inch Ultimate MBA. I have been using Mac laptops for 8 years. I started with a Powerbook G4, moved to a Santa Rosa MBP 3 years ago and bought the MBA last month. I had to upgrade the MBP's RAM from 2GB to 6GB before I could get it to run Windows 7 in VMware Fusion's Unity mode stably and with reasonable speed. Nevertheless, the MBA, with only 4GB of RAM, runs the exact same setup I have on my 6GB MBP with no loss of either stability or speed. It seems to me that the OP will get more bang for the buck with the MBA than he would with the 15 inch MBP and would be getting all that power from a machine that costs less and is only half as thick and half as heavy as the 15 inch MBP.

 

[FuNGi]

So, I think I have it down to the MBP with the anti-glare screen and the MBA. The issues of the MBA aside, what do you think of the comparison? Now I'm debating the 13" vs. 15" I often do video chats with the folks. Would I sacrifice a lot going with the MBA?

The price seems to the $1949 for the MBP and $1799 for the MBA...

Sorry, I just can't make a decision....

Well the 'facetime camera' is a bit worse off in low light than what is in the 15" MBP due to Apple needing that 1 mm of saved depth. Video chatting probably won't be largely effected in good lighting though. And as others have already stated, the MBA is an amazing machine. I bet you'll soon wonder why you waited this long to upgrade from your powerbook.

The MBP is great too, but if you don't need the Ghz and the extra storage capacity, and prefer half the weight, the Air is a very easy decision.