is MacBook Air worth it?

[bluedoggiant]

I need a computer for school, laptop, i already have a desktop, and i need a laptop in emergency for school. I will also use it for other things.

The macbook air looks nice if i get it standard, but what bothers me is the lack of an optical drive, and the slow processor, i think i can try to deal with an 80gig HD, but not sure about the processor and optical drive, and upgrading the processor isnt a choice.

the macbook on the other hand is cheaper, packs more power into it.

[connectingrodd]

I need a computer for school, laptop, i already have a desktop, and i need a laptop in emergency for school. I will also use it for other things.

The macbook air looks nice if i get it standard, but what bothers me is the lack of an optical drive, and the slow processor, i think i can try to deal with an 80gig HD, but not sure about the processor and optical drive, and upgrading the processor isnt a choice.

the macbook on the other hand is cheaper, packs more power into it.

if you must buy a mac lap top you would be wise to get a macbook over the macbook air

[heatmiser]

if you must buy a mac lap top you would be wise to get a macbook over the macbook air

Ditto. I can think of no reason for a student to buy an MBA over an MB. Macbooks made *two years ago* will have better specs than your Macbook Air, should you buy one.

[synth3tik]

The more and more I think about it. No. It's odd that it has a beefier processor, but can really only do casual internets and he like. I would say save your cash and get a MacBook instead.

[cdd543]

Get the macbook instead. More storage/ power and it is reliable. First revision could be bumpy for the air. What a dumb name by the way.
Plus you will have a nice chunk of $ for other things.

[mick4394]

In a word. No.

[Nuks]

I need a computer for school, laptop, i already have a desktop, and i need a laptop in emergency for school. I will also use it for other things.

The macbook air looks nice if i get it standard, but what bothers me is the lack of an optical drive, and the slow processor, i think i can try to deal with an 80gig HD, but not sure about the processor and optical drive, and upgrading the processor isnt a choice.

the macbook on the other hand is cheaper, packs more power into it.

I think you pretty much answered your own question. For you, no.

[taficke]

The MBA was a huge mistake on Apple's part. You can find many other laptops that are portable out there with better specs for less then half the price. If you must get a Mac product which i would recommend doing anyway, I would get the MacBook. I think you will be much happier and you can max it out and still pay less then the MBA as long as you don't buy apple RAM.

[ucfgrad93]

I think the MBA will only appeal to a relatively small set of people. Most, including you, would be better off getting a Macbook.

[lshirase]

i recently bought the 2.2ghz black macbook..and i don't regret it. the macbook air seems like a nice 2nd laptop...but it looks too fragile and the power / storage capacity is very disappointing.

bang for your buck: mb > mba

durability: mb > mba

battery life: mb = mba

power: mb > mba

storage: mb > mba

[QCassidy352]

Ditto. I can think of no reason for a student to buy an MBA over an MB. Macbooks made *two years ago* will have better specs than your Macbook Air, should you buy one.

There were no macbooks made 2 years ago. They came out in May 2006, and those were core duos (albeit at faster clocks).

The macbook air looks nice if i get it standard, but what bothers me is the lack of an optical drive, and the slow processor, i think i can try to deal with an 80gig HD, but not sure about the processor and optical drive, and upgrading the processor isnt a choice.

you have a 2.8 Ghz imac for times when you need an optical drive, more power, and a bigger HD.

I'm not saying get the MBA, but people's knee-jerk negative reaction is getting annoying. In your case I think it could be a reasonable option.

[connectingrodd4]

I need a computer for school, laptop, i already have a desktop, and i need a laptop in emergency for school. I will also use it for other things.

The macbook air looks nice if i get it standard, but what bothers me is the lack of an optical drive, and the slow processor, i think i can try to deal with an 80gig HD, but not sure about the processor and optical drive, and upgrading the processor isnt a choice.

the macbook on the other hand is cheaper, packs more power into it.

is it worth it? not in a million years... this is bad bad value

[jayeskreezy]

too bad apple had to be the guinea pig for innovation...i predict a quick price drop just like the iphone and a surge in macbook sales :D

[heatmiser]

There were no macbooks made 2 years ago. They came out in May 2006, and those were core duos (albeit at faster clocks).


I'm referring to the Rev. B Macbooks from November 2006 (http://guides.macrumors.com/MacBook). They were c2d, and even the lowest-end models were faster than the MBAs. This is a step backwards in processor power.

[mick4394]

too bad apple had to be the guinea pig for innovation...i predict a quick price drop just like the iphone and a surge in macbook sales :D

I wouldn't count on that one. The iPhone price drop was way out of character for Apple. Mac prices are, generally, static.

I'd be more worried about a Cube scenario with this one.

[CaptainCaveMann]

if you must buy a mac lap top you would be wise to get a macbook over the macbook air

Sure just make sure you send it in every 6 months to have the top cover replaced. At this point, I don't see how you could be wise to buy a macbook. You would have to completely ignore the hundreds of thousands of complaints and NOTED defects.

[heatmiser]

Sure just make sure you send it in every 6 months to have the top cover replaced. At this point, I don't see how you could be wise to buy a macbook. You would have to completely ignore the hundreds of thousands of complaints and NOTED defects.

There are at least as many defects in the Macbook Pro line as there are in the Macbook line. Pretty much any complaint you find in one model has an equivalent (or equally annoying defect) in the other.

[CaptainCaveMann]

There are at least as many defects in the Macbook Pro line as there are in the Macbook line. Pretty much any complaint you find in one model has an equivalent (or equally annoying defect) in the other.

Exactly. Thats why I'm keeping my hard earned dollars, until Apple steps up to the plate and brings back the TiBook. :D

[connectingrodd4]

Sure just make sure you send it in every 6 months to have the top cover replaced. At this point, I don't see how you could be wise to buy a macbook. You would have to completely ignore the hundreds of thousands of complaints and NOTED defects.


Oh I agree with you completely the macbook is very flawed, I am with this statement though having to choose the lesser of two evils. The macbook air very likely will have all the durability problems of the macbook and more combined with a horrible price tag. If you are going to buy a flimsy computer at least don't pay too much for it:D

[bluedoggiant]

i recently bought the 2.2ghz black macbook..and i don't regret it. the macbook air seems like a nice 2nd laptop...but it looks too fragile and the power / storage capacity is very disappointing.

bang for your buck: mb > mba

durability: mb > mba

battery life: mb = mba

power: mb > mba

storage: mb > mba

i beg to differ, the mba is MUCH more durable

[heatmiser]

i beg to differ, the mba is MUCH more durable

How do you figure? The MBP's also aluminum, and even though it's slightly thicker, it still dents like crazy. With an even thinner shell, I can't see the MBA being as strong as the MBP, nevermind the MB (which is already more durable than the MBP).

[iW00t]

i beg to differ, the mba is MUCH more durable

Indeed, it is extremely resilient against retaining its form factor and shape under real world conditions!!

[David G.]

i beg to differ, the mba is MUCH more durable

Just remember, this is a first gen. product so there will be at least a slightly higher failure rate.

[kaiwai]

Sure just make sure you send it in every 6 months to have the top cover replaced. At this point, I don't see how you could be wise to buy a macbook. You would have to completely ignore the hundreds of thousands of complaints and NOTED defects.

Pardon? what the hell are you going on about? I don't see a single defect on this MacBook - and you know why? because I don't treat it like a cricket bat or a rugby ball.

[ob81]

Nope. I just came back from the store 5 mins ago. I purchased a blackbook. The Air is cool if you have the dough, but it isn't more portable than the Macbook. If that thing was 11" and under, then I could see the price.

[mick4394]

Pardon? what the hell are you going on about? I don't see a single defect on this MacBook - and you know why? because I don't treat it like a cricket bat or a rugby ball.

These don't sound like a words of someone who's owned a first gen Apple product before.

[eddietr]

Apple has 3 different laptop models (in various configurations.)

None of them is meant to be the "ultimate" Mac laptop for every human being on earth.

So it's sort of a personal decision.

Is this your primary computer? If so, I would say MB or MBP is probably the better choice.

Is $500 a lot of money to you in your particular situation? Then I would say MB is the way to go.

Do you travel a lot? And will having a smaller notebook mean more time working and less time listening to your iPod while the notebook stays in the overhead bin? If so, then the Air might be the better investment for you.

[kaiwai]

These don't sound like a words of someone who's owned a first gen Apple product before.

I've had an iMac G5, eMac G4, iBook G3, iBook Indigo, and this one - not a single fault or issue.

If you're having problems - yes, there will have bad luck, but having gone through 5 products, I didn't experience a single issue.

How come I can got through that many products without issues?

When you have problems - ask yourself, what have I done?

[CaptainCaveMann]

I've had an iMac G5, eMac G4, iBook G3, iBook Indigo, and this one - not a single fault or issue.

If you're having problems - yes, there will have bad luck, but having gone through 5 products, I didn't experience a single issue.

How come I can got through that many products without issues?

When you have problems - ask yourself, what have I done?

Because those products are from the era where Apple still had good quality control. Ever since the transition to Intel, the quality of Apple's products have slipped. Can you remember any iPod before the 3rd gen nano, that came with tilted screens in mass numbers? I mean Apple is even slipping up on iPod quality control and thats just sac religious. The iPod is their flagship product for god sake.

[kaiwai]

Because those products are from the era where Apple still had good quality control. Ever since the transition to Intel, the quality of Apple's products have slipped. Can you remember any iPod before the 3rd gen nano, that came with tilted screens in mass numbers? I mean Apple is even slipping up on iPod quality control and thats just sac religious. The iPod is their flagship product for god sake.

iPod Classics suck, but then again, their hard disk based iPods have always sucked.

But this is my first Intel, MacBook Core 2 (revision before the move to SR) and not a single problem.