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Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
19,550
21,990
Singapore
have you held one? as you say it has a smaller footprint, but it's only .5 lb heavier. that was what actually turned me to the 11" MBA... the 13" MBA just felt like a really sleek laptop to me, i wanted an ultralight...

now, spec for spec i think the 13" MBA is a better deal bang for your buck wise but the rMBP is perfectly portable

Yes actually. I know what the weight is, it just felt denser than it should for its weight.
 

jahala

macrumors regular
Feb 7, 2008
207
16
The MBA 11" i7/4GB/256GB is my only computer so of course I use it for everything:
MS Office, AutoCAD, video production with Quicktime and iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, Handbrake (with USB DVD drive), Skype. I also dink around with windows in virtual machines using VirtualBox. This machine does everything with ease, also sometimes the fans do get going when watching flash videos. I do have two external monitors at work and one at home, but I use the 11" screen alone when I am out and about.
 

PDFierro

macrumors 68040
Sep 8, 2009
3,932
111
The MBA 11" i7/4GB/256GB is my only computer so of course I use it for everything:
MS Office, AutoCAD, video production with Quicktime and iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, Handbrake (with USB DVD drive), Skype. I also dink around with windows in virtual machines using VirtualBox. This machine does everything with ease, also sometimes the fans do get going when watching flash videos. I do have two external monitors at work and one at home, but I use the 11" screen alone when I am out and about.

And you get by with 4GB of RAM? Impressive.
 

Bakari45

macrumors regular
Jun 17, 2010
227
2
Mainly for writing, using Scrivener. But for some reason the Safari web browser has become a lot slower since I first bought the MacBook Air two years ago.
 

Verix

macrumors regular
Jul 30, 2010
120
2
I never thought a MBA is very popular as a MBP. :apple:

The MBA is selling impressively well actually. Many people love the idea of a lightweight computer, as a matter of fact as far as ultrabooks go the macbook air is the "pro"-est computer on the market. On the other hand the "Macbook Pro" 13'' isn't all that "pro" anymore, and the 15'' costs top dollar.

About what I'll use my Air for: mostly having an awesome lightweight computer that weighs nothing, takes in nearly no space to watch movies/shows on and play some occasional games that the computer can handle (as well as general use when I'm not using my desktop).
 

DisplacedMic

macrumors 65816
May 1, 2009
1,411
1
That's probably it. But then again, after handling an 11" air, every other laptop now seems overweight by comparison. :p

true that!

----------

The MBA is selling impressively well actually. Many people love the idea of a lightweight computer, as a matter of fact as far as ultrabooks go the macbook air is the "pro"-est computer on the market. On the other hand the "Macbook Pro" 13'' isn't all that "pro" anymore, and the 15'' costs top dollar.

About what I'll use my Air for: mostly having an awesome lightweight computer that weighs nothing, takes in nearly no space to watch movies/shows on and play some occasional games that the computer can handle (as well as general use when I'm not using my desktop).

yeah, no doubt. i thought it was a gimmick/toy when it came out...now look at it!
 

Badrottie

Suspended
May 8, 2011
4,317
335
Los Angeles
The MBA is selling impressively well actually. Many people love the idea of a lightweight computer, as a matter of fact as far as ultrabooks go the macbook air is the "pro"-est computer on the market. On the other hand the "Macbook Pro" 13'' isn't all that "pro" anymore, and the 15'' costs top dollar.

About what I'll use my Air for: mostly having an awesome lightweight computer that weighs nothing, takes in nearly no space to watch movies/shows on and play some occasional games that the computer can handle (as well as general use when I'm not using my desktop).

retina MacBook Pro 13" is somewhat thin like ultrabook…no? :apple:
 

torana355

macrumors 68040
Dec 8, 2009
3,609
2,676
Sydney, Australia
For almost all my net browsing. I was using a tablet for a while but i much prefer my MBA for browsing the net. My 2012/2013 fully spec'd iMac only gets used for gaming, as a media server and all my Adobe creative suite work. I have to say my MBA is my all time favorite Mac.
 

Verix

macrumors regular
Jul 30, 2010
120
2
retina MacBook Pro 13" is somewhat thin like ultrabook…no? :apple:

Yes, but it doesn't even have a dedicated graphics card. It has no real advantage over the air except for the screen, which most people see as luxury rather than something that helps productivity. So I'd rather get the "thin" rather than the "somewhat thin" computer, until things change.
 

AppleMacNerd

macrumors regular
Jan 23, 2013
155
4
United Kingdom
Only thing I used my MacBook Air 13" 2011 for is Internet browsing to be fair spent all that money for something I could of done cheaper. I bought mine the middle of last year in the uk from PCWorld for £650 brand new 1 year warranty 2011 MacBook Air 13" 128gb ssd and 4gb ram got a really good deal so I'm happy! :D
 

drsox

macrumors 68000
Apr 29, 2011
1,706
201
Xhystos
Yes, but it doesn't even have a dedicated graphics card. It has no real advantage over the air except for the screen, which most people see as luxury rather than something that helps productivity. So I'd rather get the "thin" rather than the "somewhat thin" computer, until things change.

And it's heavier
And it doesn't have the bevelled front edge - really kind to palms and wrists.
 

LeeM

macrumors 6502a
Jan 1, 2012
603
0
facebook, porn, forums. ocassional movies, spotify, some word processing and some dj'ing.
got a pro for bootcamp, cad, photoshop, downloads and most dj'ing.
 

bp1000

macrumors 65816
Jul 7, 2011
1,476
185
The 2011 i5 MBA is my only computer so it is used for everything. That is, business, email, web, ssh, coding, some graphics, Skype. Personal is more of the same with some basic video editing being the most intensive thing I do, apart from movie encoding which is rare.

Can't think of a better machine. Lightweight, tiny, nice to look at, nice to type on, solid, quiet, almost instant operation with the ssd... Also works really well docked at home on a big monitor.

Can't see me needing anything else
 

Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
19,550
21,990
Singapore
Yes, but it doesn't even have a dedicated graphics card. It has no real advantage over the air except for the screen, which most people see as luxury rather than something that helps productivity. So I'd rather get the "thin" rather than the "somewhat thin" computer, until things change.

For me, I already have a 27" imac at home for my heavier work. So I went with the 11" macbook air as an ultraportable option for my needs while outdoors. Since my priority was weight and form factor, I am willing to tolerate a somewhat cramped 16:9 screen (I still find the resolution okay).

Not to mention at the time, the retina MBP was way too expensive for me, so it represented a "neither here nor there" conundrum.
 

MacPat333

macrumors regular
Sep 16, 2012
140
0
Dubai
My MBA 13" with 8GB RAM/128GB SSD/i5 is my main machine.

I mostly use it for video editing, photos and web surfing. Daily use approx. 3-6 hours, weekends maybe more, depends on how much time I have after work.

Love it, boots and runs quick and is super portable (currently on vacation).

cheers
 

David58117

macrumors 65816
Jan 24, 2013
1,237
523
I was going to buy an iPad, but found a 2012 11" for about the same price, so I picked that up instead. It's mainly just for couch surfing, and usually next to the bed for lazy days..

My main one is a cMBP 15" 2012, which is usually connected to an external monitor and has become my desktop replacement. It's mainly for audio recording.

Then I have a 2012 i7 Mac Mini, which is my HTPC.
 

Mershy

macrumors newbie
Mar 8, 2013
10
0
I use my MBA for practically everything. Web surfing, emails, social media, youtube, hopefully some light coding in the future. I use it all day till it needs to be charged, then I switch to my 3 year old workhorse, the Dell Studio 15. Right now that's running Linux and is called up when the Air is resting, or sometimes for watching videos as it has a bigger screen. Other than that the Studio just sits on my desk torrenting and uploading stuff to my hard drive.
 

Jimbo47

macrumors 6502a
Jun 21, 2010
728
3
I use mine for everything. School, email, youtube, personal stuff like facebook and junk. It's my one and only computer, and I couldn't be happier with it.
 

zipdog

macrumors newbie
May 11, 2013
7
1
Amarillo, Texas
The MBA is selling impressively well actually. Many people love the idea of a lightweight computer, as a matter of fact as far as ultrabooks go the macbook air is the "pro"-est computer on the market. On the other hand the "Macbook Pro" 13'' isn't all that "pro" anymore, and the 15'' costs top dollar.

About what I'll use my Air for: mostly having an awesome lightweight computer that weighs nothing, takes in nearly no space to watch movies/shows on and play some occasional games that the computer can handle (as well as general use when I'm not using my desktop).


Good post. I have a MacBook Pro; but, after a hip replacement, I need something light, now...for the recliner and couch. Hence, the desire for a MacBook Air. Thanks for the great post! :)
 

ftored

macrumors regular
Dec 29, 2005
135
1
I use my 11" air for paper writing, a bit of programming, giving presentations, internet and emailing.
I just find the form factor perfect for my needs.
 

CristobalHuet

macrumors 65816
Jan 18, 2008
1,166
3
Montreal
Browsing, Facebook, Photo Booth, Word.

:rolleyes:

----

Papers, web design, visual design (Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign/Final Cut), email, browsing. I split my time between my Air and my iPad mini pretty equally.
 
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