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prominence

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 31, 2008
175
4
My ultimate favorite feature of the MacBook Air? - The LED screen. It's so gorgeous and it's so bright that I only really use full brightness in direct sunlight - this screen is so gorgeous it trumps any cons about the battery life. (Also love the fact that the LED screen is exclusive to MBA and optional only in 17in MBP - as well as keeping multitouch functions only for MBA and MBP - good marketing strategies and instills good equity and pride within early investors of MBA.)

Also, a close second.. the keyboard and the way it is designed is amazing. As each day goes on, I feel more confident in the decision I have made to purchase this laptop.
 

siurpeeman

macrumors 603
Dec 2, 2006
6,321
24
the OC
Also love the fact that the LED screen is exclusive to MBA and optional only in 17in MBP

the 15" macbook pros have had led backlit displays since june of last year. my favorite feature is the multi-touch trackpad. in particular, i love the three finger swipe to page forward/back.
 

prominence

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 31, 2008
175
4
the 15" macbook pros have had led backlit displays since june of last year. my favorite feature is the multi-touch trackpad. in particular, i love the three finger swipe to page forward/back.

Gotcha.. not to divert from topic, but why do they say it is "optional on 17inch MBP" if it is standard in 15 inch? One of my other friends also mentioned they were LED on the 15in MBPs, but they are not as bright as MBA, which confuses me.
 

netdog

macrumors 603
Feb 6, 2006
5,760
38
London
My favorite feature is that it is so bitchin'.



But seriously, I love the instant wake from sleep.
 

gr8tfly

macrumors 603
Oct 29, 2006
5,333
99
~119W 34N
Gotcha.. not to divert from topic, but why do they say it is "optional on 17inch MBP" if it is standard in 15 inch? One of my other friends also mentioned they were LED on the 15in MBPs, but they are not as bright as MBA, which confuses me.

The LED backlight is only on the hi-res 17" screens, which are optional.

My favorite feature is that it is so bitchin'.

But seriously, I love the instant wake from sleep.


Instant wake has been one of the best features of OS-X, since 10.0.

As for my thoughts on favorite feature, I like the new keyboard very much. I'm hoping for an update to the BT keyboard to get those backlit keys (I'll take a bit of hit on battery life). I also like the display - it has a far wider viewing angle than the MB's.

Of course, those are aside from the aesthetics - we like just looking at it! It's a work of art.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
I can't pick one feature because for me its a combination of Weight, Temperature (much cooler on the lap compared to macbook or macbook pro), Portability, LED Screen, Backlit keyboard, general aesthetic that make the MBA so special to me.
 

eXan

macrumors 601
Jan 10, 2005
4,738
134
Russia
One of my other friends also mentioned they were LED on the 15in MBPs, but they are not as bright as MBA, which confuses me.

LED =/= brightness. It just a method of lighting up the display.

15" MBPs have LED screens since SR update (summer 07). Current revision 17" Hi res have LED too.
 

designed

macrumors 6502
Nov 8, 2005
286
1
Finland
The LED screens are brighter though, I like how they crank up brighter and go dimmer before switching off than their older counterparts. Nothing wrong with the old ones, the new ones are just even better :)

My favourite feature is thinness and the lightness. The Air is again lowering the step to take the laptop with you when in doubt.
 

gr8tfly

macrumors 603
Oct 29, 2006
5,333
99
~119W 34N
Gotcha.. not to divert from topic, but why do they say it is "optional on 17inch MBP" if it is standard in 15 inch? One of my other friends also mentioned they were LED on the 15in MBPs, but they are not as bright as MBA, which confuses me.

Um... no it isn't.

LED has been standard on the 15" since mid 2007. This recent update brought it to the 17" too.

The question was why it was "'optional on 17inch MBP' if it is standard in 15 inch"

It's optional because it's only available with the hi-res screen on the 17". The standard def is cold-cathode backlit on the 17".
 

teek

macrumors member
Feb 12, 2008
88
0
Norway
yay!

The best feature is that it´s my first Mac ever and it´s certainly not going to be my last! I absolutely LOVE this computer, the operating system, the universe and everything. Go  ! :D
 

matthewHUB

macrumors 6502
Nov 29, 2005
499
4
screen by far... and SSD.

no but seriously, coming form a PB12", this screeen is AMAZING! so vivid. my desktop pic makes me feel i'm actually witnessing the image with my own eyes.
 

Sesshi

macrumors G3
Jun 3, 2006
8,113
1
One Nation Under Gordon
The truly instant wake is good - but since I have to enter my password anyway, the cumulative practical wake-up time is no less than a Vista machine. However it is nice to see the user prompt the moment you lift up the lid.

My favourite feature though is the way it looks. The weight isn't that good for what it is, the functionality is kind of poor, the battery life is not that great for an ultraportable and the battery behaviour is poor (long charge times), the components aren't anything I've not seen before elsewhere, the connectivity is dire, it's more unstable than my Vista notebooks - but the design is bitchin'.
 

clayj

macrumors 604
Jan 14, 2005
7,648
1,384
visiting from downstream
My favorite feature would have to be the thinness and light weight.

As far as the screen goes, though, it's a close second. I was at the car dealership Saturday morning getting a car serviced, and someone else in the waiting lounge commented on how bright and clear the screen was for a laptop.

My least favorite feature right now is not the MBA's fault... it's Leopard's seeming inability to properly connect and remain connected to a wireless network. Absolutely driving me nuts.
 

Phil A.

Moderator emeritus
Apr 2, 2006
5,800
3,100
Shropshire, UK
There are too many good features of the MBA to pick just one :D
My favorites are the light weight and form factor: Anyone who thinks the weight difference between an MBA and a MB (or MBP) is insignificant should try using an MBA for a couple of days - the light weight really does make a difference!
 
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