Yes, Another "Is the Air Right for me" Thread

[berkleeboy210]

Hi Guys,

Well I have my MacBook 2Ghz C2D Pre-Santa Rosa Model on eBay right now.

And I am highly considering getting a MBA once it sells.

I mainly use my laptop for word processing when school's in session,e-mail, web browsing, iChatting, iTunes, importing of photos to iPhoto (Very little editing), and occasional iMovie work. When using iMovie I'd try to have an external drive hooked up.

Will the Air be fine for me?

Thanks in Advance

 

[Jack Flash]

Sure, it's be fine, but would you be any better suited with the Air than you would a MacBook?

I suppose it's worth considering that you're losing a lot to trim two pounds from your notebook.

So, would you rather have (up to) 320GB storage, 4GB RAM, Superdrive and money left over, or a 3 lb notebook with the same footprint?

 

[alphaod]

Sure, it's be fine, but would you be any better suited with the Air than you would a MacBook?

I suppose it's worth considering that you're losing a lot to trim two pounds from your notebook.

So, would you rather have (up to) 320GB storage, 4GB RAM, Superdrive and money left over, or a 3 lb notebook with the same footprint?

Except the MBA feels like it's better quality.

 

[Jack Flash]

Except the MBA feels like it's better quality.

Internally, they're the same quality. Externally, it dents easier.

 

[berkleeboy210]

In All Honesty, I can probably count the times on both hands maybe only even one hand that I've used the Drive that's in my MacBook. I don't think I'd be missing that much. I do most of my Movie watching with stuff either Rented or Bought through iTunes.

If I upgraded to the Air I'd betting a "better" integrated video has mine doesn't have the 3100.

 

[berkleeboy210]

Internally, they're the same quality. Externally, it dents easier.

But my White Macbook Plastic Scratches easier.

 

[Heavenkittykat]

I completely understand where you are coming from. I think that MBA suits your needs and if you want to buy you should go for it. I, for one choose to buy MBA than Macbook and I never ever regretted my decision. My MBA performs more than I expected.

Oh did I tell you how much I love my macbook air

 

[nagromme]

Will the Air be fine for me?

Thanks in Advance

I use my Air for a LOT more than you list. It sounds like you'd be giving up nothing for your purposes, by choosing an Air.

The question then is, is the portability (and lighted keys and multi-touch and giant trackpad and BlueTooth 2.1 and reversible power plug and metal shell and gorgeous bright LED screen) worth the cost for you?

For me it was. The difference in portability is huge in actual practice. It's the difference between needing two hands to grab it (and carry comfortably even when open) or only one. The day will come when I'll want the power of a MacBook Pro, but I'm willing to give that up to have an ultraportable. I will NOT give up the portability. This Air is the largest laptop I will ever own

For others, with other priorities, a different model is a better buy. A regular MacBook would save you money. (Though I found quite a nice deal on an Air at Amazon.)

I agree about the quality--Apple machines are well put-together, but nothing matches the solidity and polish of this machine.

As for dents vs. scratches and cracks: I intend to avoid dropping my laptop or slamming it with heavy things. If you intend to do that, then a MacBook will crack or an Air/Pro will dent, it's true. But scratches are unavoidable with plastic. Meanwhile my years-old first-generation aluminum PowerBook still looks brand new--not a scratch on it. Some things can scratch annodized aluminum, but a LOT more things can scratch plastic! (And the curved design and rigid thin edges of the Air give it some structural strength lacking even in the Pro models. Especially the bottom half. Not to mention it's lighter. I bet it dents a lot less easier than a Pro when dropped.)

 

[Jack Flash]

I'm just not sure the price can be justified.

MacBook White 2.4 GHz Refurb $1,099.
320 GB HDD $129.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227251)
4GB RAM $62 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227251)

Sell the stock RAM and HDD for a small amount and the MacBook maxed costs $1,291

The refurb air is $1,549.

Do you want to pay $258 more for 260 GB less storage space, 0.8 Ghz less processing speed, 2GB less RAM, an aluminum casing, backlit keyboard, and 2 lbs less weight?

 

[SamoanDude]

Uggh, I got rid of my air. The hard drive was too slow, when I watched videos it got hot (even downloaded ripped lightweight ones). I am so happy now I have a Macbook Pro once again!

 

[Heavenkittykat]

I'm just not sure the price can be justified.

MacBook White 2.4 GHz Refurb $1,099.
320 GB HDD $129.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227251)
4GB RAM $62 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227251)

Sell the stock RAM and HDD for a small amount and the MacBook maxed costs $1,291

The refurb air is $1,549.

Do you want to pay $258 more for 260 GB less storage space, 0.8 Ghz less processing speed, 2GB less RAM, an aluminum casing, backlit keyboard, and 2 lbs less weight?

You forgot to factor and consider that MBA is an engineering marvel with its elegance and beauty and its no Macbook. You see you can't just put the specs of MBA and MB together like that as if they are the same computer and made up of the same materials. In order to make the MBA thin and light, apple has to make compromises, they have to use thinner, lighter and more energy efficient substitutes. And those substitutes are fairly new like SSD and so people who buy them now, must pay premium.

As far as I know people who decide to buy MBA probably values portability and aesthetics more than storage, processing speed, etc. (Like Me)

To tell you the truth, I am of no need of extra ram, extra storage and extra processing speed with the amount of work I do with my laptop. However, since I walk several miles everyday with my backpack, I'm in great need of portability.

 

[berkleeboy210]

Well, I've made up my mind. And in 9 days once my MB sells, I'll be buying a MBA.

I've been doing a fair amount of traveling lately too (a family member works for the airlines ) and the 2 pounds less could make a difference.

Only videos I'll be streaming are rentels through iTunes anyway, which I assume the MBA would handle fine.

I've been debating this for a while, and finally just thought it's ths Summer, i'm not in school right now, gives a me a few months to test drive before the Semester starts again.

And if by some reason I'm not totally thrilled with the MBA, then I could resell and by then an Aluminum MB could be out.

 

[imapfsr]

I have said it before and I will say it again. I love my Air. It is the ultimate for me and my needs. Not a heavy user but do surf, email, videos, some Apperature and photo editing, Office 08 and all works stunningly and flawlessly. I have never been more happy with any computer EVER. I have even purchased Nullrivers Media link and now my Air combined with my Time Capsule and PS3 is the ultimate media system. Any show I download to my Air I then access it with Media link through my PS3 using HDMI, no cable switching, fuss or muss and it looks great. If I like it and want to save it, bamm, to my TC it goes. It truely is impressive and the MBA is the center of it all. If those listed are your only needs, more or less, then the Air will make you believe in Santa once again. This by the way is my first Mac computer besides my iPhone so I am not a Mac fan boy or whatever they are called. I will never go back to Windows again, ever. Buy it, enjoy and love it !!!!!!!

 

[twist2b]

From the basic things you do, you could find a weaker computer then the air and be fine!

Just to let you know though, The Airs upgrade improves performance over 15%.

SO if you have the money, go for the upgrade because it actually theoretically acts at a 2.1 GHZ processing speed. (this is because the SSD [solid state drive] is faster] booting speeds are HALVED)

But the weaker one fits your needs so if you dont feel its worth it, the 1.6 is really just as good for what you are doing. Someone said that most programs run at 1.3 GHZ tops and watching high quality vids are 1.5 soooooo.......

 

[imapfsr]

Dont forget you can order the 1.8 GHZ as well with the regular HD which is what I have and it is pretty quick!

 

[ayeying]

I use my air for heavy virtual machine work. You'll be fine. As long as you don't mind the fans kicking in a lot more for cooling.