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is MacBook Air worth it?

bluedoggiant

bluedoggiant

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 13, 2007
2,570
54
MD & ATL,GA
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.
 
C

connectingrodd

macrumors newbie
Jan 15, 2008
26
0
bluedoggiant said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

heatmiser

macrumors 68020
Dec 6, 2007
2,431
0
connectingrodd said:
if you must buy a mac lap top you would be wise to get a macbook over the macbook air
Click to expand...

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

synth3tik

macrumors 68040
Oct 11, 2006
3,951
2
Minneapolis, MN
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

cdd543

macrumors 6502
Oct 13, 2006
277
27
Denver
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.
 
N

Nuks

macrumors 6502a
Feb 25, 2006
504
0
bluedoggiant said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

taficke

macrumors member
Oct 7, 2007
47
0
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

ucfgrad93

macrumors Core
Aug 17, 2007
19,535
10,821
Colorado
I think the MBA will only appeal to a relatively small set of people. Most, including you, would be better off getting a Macbook.
 
L

lshirase

macrumors regular
Jan 7, 2008
235
3
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

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
heatmiser said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

bluedoggiant said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
C

connectingrodd4

macrumors newbie
Jan 15, 2008
15
0
bluedoggiant said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

jayeskreezy

macrumors 65816
Mar 3, 2005
1,137
0
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
 
H

heatmiser

macrumors 68020
Dec 6, 2007
2,431
0
QCassidy352 said:
There were no macbooks made 2 years ago. They came out in May 2006, and those were core duos (albeit at faster clocks).
Click to expand...

I'm referring to the Rev. B Macbooks from November 2006. They were c2d, and even the lowest-end models were faster than the MBAs. This is a step backwards in processor power.
 
mick4394

mick4394

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2006
554
0
Flyover country
jayeskreezy said:
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
Click to expand...

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

CaptainCaveMann

macrumors 68000
Oct 5, 2004
1,518
0
connectingrodd said:
if you must buy a mac lap top you would be wise to get a macbook over the macbook air
Click to expand...

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.
 
H

heatmiser

macrumors 68020
Dec 6, 2007
2,431
0
CaptainCaveMann said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

CaptainCaveMann

macrumors 68000
Oct 5, 2004
1,518
0
heatmiser said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

connectingrodd4

macrumors newbie
Jan 15, 2008
15
0
CaptainCaveMann said:
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.
Click to expand...


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

bluedoggiant

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 13, 2007
2,570
54
MD & ATL,GA
lshirase said:
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
Click to expand...

i beg to differ, the mba is MUCH more durable
 
H

heatmiser

macrumors 68020
Dec 6, 2007
2,431
0
bluedoggiant said:
i beg to differ, the mba is MUCH more durable
Click to expand...

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).
 
kaiwai

kaiwai

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
709
0
Christchurch
CaptainCaveMann said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

ob81

macrumors 65816
Jun 11, 2007
1,406
356
Virginia Beach
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.
 
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