Macbook Air "good enough"?

mrbriskly · Nov 12, 2012

Hey guys,

I currently use a Lenovo. At least, until yesterday.

I dropped it and died on me, so I need to make a choice.

Before I lay out my choices, here are my primary uses for my computer:
-Daily 8+ hours of Skype (MAIN USE!) with my girlfriend.
-Occasional Adobe lightroom use (RAM intense!)
-Social media, and surfing
-Light Microsoft office.
-Spotify

My question is, is the Macbook Air (dual-core...) good enough for my tasks above? I plan to get the 1.8Ghz dual-core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB config ($1600). I'd love 512GB but no way I'm shelling out $500 to add another 256 GB.

If not I plan to get the Mac Mini with the 2.6 i7 upgrade and fusion drive, and upgrade the RAm to 16GB myself + a 2nd cheap monitor (total $1400). I'll also have to buy a webcam.

Or an iMac w/ fusion drive and 16GB RAM upgrades (5200 rpm so no choice, and no customizable RAM

... oh apple), that'll be about $1700.

What do you guys think?

KylePowers · Nov 12, 2012

Well... do you need a laptop?

SteveG4Cube · Nov 12, 2012

Might want to check this out in the refurb store:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0ND2LL/A/refurbished-macbook-air-20ghz-dual-core-intel-core-i7

Yebubbleman · Nov 12, 2012

mrbriskly said:
Hey guys,

I currently use a Lenovo. At least, until yesterday. I dropped it and died on me, so I need to make a choice.

Before I lay out my choices, here are my primary uses for my computer:
-Daily 8+ hours of Skype (MAIN USE!) with my girlfriend.
-Occasional Adobe lightroom use (RAM intense!)
-Social media, and surfing
-Light Microsoft office.
-Spotify

My question is, is the Macbook Air (dual-core...) good enough for my tasks above? I plan to get the 1.8Ghz dual-core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB config ($1600). I'd love 512GB but no way I'm shelling out $500 to add another 256 GB.

If not I plan to get the Mac Mini with the 2.6 i7 upgrade and fusion drive, and upgrade the RAm to 16GB myself + a 2nd cheap monitor (total $1400). I'll also have to buy a webcam.

Or an iMac w/ fusion drive and 16GB RAM upgrades (5200 rpm so no choice, and no customizable RAM ... oh apple), that'll be about $1700.

What do you guys think?

Skype, Lightroom, Spotify, and a browser capable of doing the web usage you are talking about are all cross-platform apps. KylePowers is right, do you need a laptop? But also, do you even need a Mac? A PC that will effectively run all of that will cost you a fraction of both the cost of that Air and that mini. Otherwise, yes, either of those two Macs will be more than enough.

mrbriskly · Nov 12, 2012

Yebubbleman said:
Skype, Lightroom, Spotify, and a browser capable of doing the web usage you are talking about are all cross-platform apps. KylePowers is right, do you need a laptop? But also, do you even need a Mac? A PC that will effectively run all of that will cost you a fraction of both the cost of that Air and that mini. Otherwise, yes, either of those two Macs will be more than enough.

My girlfriend uses a Mac, and I used to use macs back in school, so I miss the fluidity of the Mac OS. Moreover I value portability because my family lives in Madrid, and my girlfriend in the east coast, so I tend to travel.

Very willing to pay the premium.

KylePowers · Nov 12, 2012

mrbriskly said:
My girlfriend uses a Mac, and I used to use macs back in school, so I miss the fluidity of the Mac OS. Moreover I value portability because my family lives in Madrid, and my girlfriend in the east coast, so I tend to travel.

Very willing to pay the premium.

Then yes, the MBA you described will suit you just swell and I think you'll enjoy it.

You could always get an external monitor or Thunderbolt display for it if you want a desk setup as well.

jsl20 · Nov 13, 2012

I think a 12 core Mac Pro will be the best option for skype. its pretty intensive. 32GB RAM minimum.

pedromartins · Nov 13, 2012

mrbriskly said:
My girlfriend uses a Mac, and I used to use macs back in school, so I miss the fluidity of the Mac OS. Moreover I value portability because my family lives in Madrid, and my girlfriend in the east coast, so I tend to travel.

Very willing to pay the premium.

Then you can use facetime too.

Buy a mac, always.

RUGERMAN · Nov 13, 2012

mrbriskly said:
My girlfriend uses a Mac, and I used to use macs back in school, so I miss the fluidity of the Mac OS. Moreover I value portability because my family lives in Madrid, and my girlfriend in the east coast, so I tend to travel.

Very willing to pay the premium.

If your GF has a Mac then drop Skype and use FaceTime, works much better IMO.

mrbriskly · Nov 13, 2012

RUGERMAN said:
If your GF has a Mac then drop Skype and use FaceTime, works much better IMO.

Oh? the last time I tried it (last year) it had several audio problems on my gf's laptop. Guess I'll try it when I get it.

Guess the verdict is in then? MBA is good enough. *goes out to buy a hard drive to compensate for tiny flash drive*

PosterNutbag. · Nov 13, 2012

8+ hours a day skyping with your girlfriend?

pedromartins · Nov 13, 2012

mrbriskly said:
Oh? the last time I tried it (last year) it had several audio problems on my gf's laptop. Guess I'll try it when I get it.

Guess the verdict is in then? MBA is good enough. *goes out to buy a hard drive to compensate for tiny flash drive*

THE AIR ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH... The air is by far the best laptop (performance/value/qualities) for 99% of users.

mrbriskly · Nov 13, 2012

PosterNutbag. said:
8+ hours a day skyping with your girlfriend?

She lives in the east coast, I'm on the west. go figure

Do hope that facetime will be a good replacement. I don't think I could run lightroom while simultaneously skyping w/ my gf.

dmw16 · Nov 13, 2012

PosterNutbag. said:
8+ hours a day skyping with your girlfriend?

I guess it's a dating thing. I can assure you my wife and I couldn't fill 8 hours a day of Skype conversation

mrbriskly · Nov 14, 2012

So I gave facetime a try at the Apple store... it takes forever for it to connect. Even if it does, it rings on our iPhones but not our macs. We tried calling from both sides, but it rings on the other's iPhone only. =(

MacSignal · Nov 14, 2012

A MBA will be good enough. Enjoy!

SnowLeopard2008 · Nov 14, 2012

mrbriskly said:
So I gave facetime a try at the Apple store... it takes forever for it to connect. Even if it does, it rings on our iPhones but not our macs. We tried calling from both sides, but it rings on the other's iPhone only. =(

Make sure everything is set up correctly. Facetime rings on ALL my Apple devices, iPhone, MBA and iPad.

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Macbook Air "good enough"?

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