I sold my 17" mbp because I think its overkill for me since I already have a Mac Pro.. the mba would be used as just websurfing mostly but I'm thinking about either getting the mba next week or wait for an update to the next mba/macbooks... what do you guys think??
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I'm thinking about giving the MBA a second chance...
- Thread starter jjahshik32
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Let me get this straight.... have you owned a macbook air before?? the thread title leads me to believe that you have....
if you have had one before.... what was the problem? why did you give it back?
IF you haven't had one before..... I came off a REv A MBP 2.16 Core Duo and i'm more than happy with this machine.... I've been having a little hiccup with battery life only reaching under 3hours, but I beileve that I have a crap battery... so I'll be getting that looked at soon..
if anything get it for the 14 days and test the crap out of it.... if you're happy keep it... if not... you just rented a MBA for 180 bucks (restocking fee).... at least you'll know if you like it or not!
I actually just got rid of my 17inch MBP for a MBA last Friday. I couldn't be happier. I, like you, did not use the MBP anywhere close to its potential and it was too heavy to lug around all the time. For the first 12 hours I thought I'd made a huge mistake because of screen real-estate, but I quickly got over it and now I love it. I would say go for it!
Yea I bought the MBA just about a few weeks after it was released and I did love everything about it except for the fan noise was too loud. The heat was about the same as the macbook so its tolerable but the fan noise is the only reason that bothered me. Surprisingly the mba that I had was able to play 720p trailers just fine without stuttering problems.
But if I do purchase it again.. it will only be used as a websurfing machine only and maybe a youtube video here and there but its just the fan kicking in at 6000 rpm that just bothers me from just playing 1 youtube video.
Well if fan noise is your only beef there is an easy fix for that....
Because MBA's fans randomly spin up even though the processer is cool, you can install a program called SMCfan control, and then in the terminal window apply:
/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 3e80
this will limit your fans to 4000rpm....
/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F0Mx -w 60e0
Put this in and it will restore it to the default setting (or if you're going to do something intensive
basically I've done this and never hear my fan ,even with youtube or 720p vids... I'm also running coolbook so I never see the temp go higher than 75 degrees
so here is one way to overcome your problems.
Have you considered an eee pc?
I can't fathom why anyone would want to spend $1799 just for web browsing.
I can't fathom why anyone would want to spend $1799 just for web browsing.
I've used an eeePc, while it is a cool little gadget.. it doesnt feel like a real laptop + the screen is just too small... also the eeePc doesnt have a mouse and just an apps program like a palm pilot without a mouse... I think after I receive the funds for the mbp that I'm selling, next week I'll probably pick up a macbook or a macbook air... I'm leaning more to the macbook air, I've messed around with smc fan control but honestly I dont like to mess with the fan speed as I rather have it loud and cool the cpu. I guess I shouldnt be annoyed by the fan noise on the macbook air since the hp2710p tablet pc that I used for a while (now sold, since I got it brand new for a straight trade in for an unlocked iphone geohot method that I did =D) the fan was loud as the mba.
one of the earliest ones...don't have the machine near me now but i will post back.
The machine sometimes gets hot, and then the fans will briefly go to a few more thousand RPM , but then goes back to normal. Usually it's very quiet. Youtube definitely doesn't make the fans go.
I think you've given enough reasons in prior posts of why you should wait for the next version of the MBA.
Do you want one of us to go quote some of those for you?
I don't understand how a Macbook Air can be a replacement for a Macbook Pro. Why did you get a pro in the first place if it can be replaced by an ultraportable?
I would go for a macbook as it is way more functional, it is nice to have the portability of the Air but it is unnecessary, especially if you don't travel for work often. and even if you do travel for work the macbook is up for the job, even a 15 inch Macbook Pro is okay for travel, just not the 17 inch.
I would go for a macbook as it is way more functional, it is nice to have the portability of the Air but it is unnecessary, especially if you don't travel for work often. and even if you do travel for work the macbook is up for the job, even a 15 inch Macbook Pro is okay for travel, just not the 17 inch.
^^
I love my MBA but I have to agree with the post above - if all you're wanting to do is surf the net and don't need the extra portability or reduced weight of the MBA, you'd be far better off with a MacBook - the MBA is an expensive computer to be using it just for web surfing!
I love my MBA but I have to agree with the post above - if all you're wanting to do is surf the net and don't need the extra portability or reduced weight of the MBA, you'd be far better off with a MacBook - the MBA is an expensive computer to be using it just for web surfing!
sorry for the multiple post, but just thought of something else. before i bought the AIR, at one point i seriously considered the black book (i even almost bought it). but eventually i went for the AIR because of the screen. if you look at MB and the AIR side by side, you will notice the screen difference.
that difference may disappear in June IF they put LED screens to MB. so, if you can wait til then, you can just hold off a bit. personally, i can't
of course if you don't care about screen, i think the MB (particular the black book) is a very attractive option
that difference may disappear in June IF they put LED screens to MB. so, if you can wait til then, you can just hold off a bit. personally, i can't
of course if you don't care about screen, i think the MB (particular the black book) is a very attractive option
Yeah.. I went opposite I traded my MBP 2.2 Ghz with 4 Gb's of ram for the Air. Was using it to game too much and needed to focus on more important things so getting the Air has worked perfectly over the last month +. I've been able to accomplish what I must and at the same time had a fast, light, portable machine.
I do agree though my friend at work has the black one and it's slick. Dirty... but slick!
I do agree though my friend at work has the black one and it's slick. Dirty... but slick!
I remember back in April 1990 I bought my first computer...a Hyundai 286 laptop with TWENTY MEGABYTE HD(!) for $1800.
I can tell y'all... I sure-as-hell ain't complaining about the MBA.
I can tell y'all... I sure-as-hell ain't complaining about the MBA.
And how is that? I mean... you have to watch your temperature but I can guarantee the limited fan at 4000rpm with a properly under volted cpu, you will have no problems...
with my set up I ran a .avi to .mp4 encoder 2 720p trailer streams on loop and moved 10GB from an external drive to the MBA hard drive and never noticed a temp higher than 85-87 range....
note that the MBA CPU auto Core Shutdown do prevent over heating, and that is at a temp of 100C....
so... I guess if you're not limiting your voltage and doing heavy work... yes... but this solution is something to be on top of... not something you set and forget (haha thought of that stupid rotisserie cooker on paid programing... sorry)
Its not for everyone... but its certainly a solid solution for most.
I decided to wait for the updated versions of the macbook. I hear its going to be aluminum + shaved off a pound or two + it will have led.
I do want a macbook and its perfect in size/speed and the fact that it has an easy upgradable 2.5" hdd and if it does get led I'd definitely buy one.. I'll just wait.
I do want a macbook and its perfect in size/speed and the fact that it has an easy upgradable 2.5" hdd and if it does get led I'd definitely buy one.. I'll just wait.
all of that is completely rumor at this point. two pounds shaved off the macbook would make it weight as much as the air.
no one knows when the macbook line will be updated or what it will look like. others have argued that aluminum has been exclusive to the pro/ air lines so might not end up in the macbook line. also, entry level macbook might not get LED until the price of the panels has dropped more.
I think by the next update the macbooks will at least get an led update as led is actually cheaper to produce for laptops as of right now. That's one of the pluses about led backlighting screens that its cheaper + better lifespan/quality. But of course a different story in bigger external monitors right now.
Also dont forget that Steve Jobs said that by the end of 2008 that all apple products will go led (not sure about cinema displays but I'm pretty sure about all the laptop line).
I could care less about aluminum/1-2 pounds lighter but if both were implemented onto the next macbooks it would just be an extra pluses but only the led screen is keeping me away from the current macbooks.
Yeah me either. My 3 year old 12" PB cost me $2500. The MacBook Air is cheap by comparison. When people talk about the Mac Pro being expensive I chuckle. I remember when my father bought his first computer (386 16MHz). It was $3000. All computers are cheap these days. Spoiled brats.