There are ALOT more variables in deciding between an iMac 27 inch and a 13 inch MBA apart from CD-Rom drive
one big one is... Do you need mobility or are you usually stationed?
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MacBook Air Evolving Into Mainstream Product?
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There are ALOT more variables in deciding between an iMac 27 inch and a 13 inch MBA apart from CD-Rom drive
one big one is... Do you need mobility or are you usually stationed?
Lot's of people don't really need an MBP. People who actually need more power than a Core2Duo and discrete graphics are in a very tiny minority when just about the only uses everyone and their grandma have are content consumption such as facebook, mini games, or maybe the occasional email(if you want to count that as creation).
I'm sure some people have uses of a DVD drive and for them its understandable, but I feel most people, myself included fall into the "I can't remember the last time I've used my CD/DVD drive ..." category. Which is why I replaced mine entirely with a SSD drive, which I boot from. I would recommend it to anybody with the available funds.
Definitely an Apple to keep an eye on
Wasn't ready to take the MBA plunge just yet, but I have a feeling I will in the future, resolution and price were my reasons (if the 4GB Ram was standard that would have been a selling point too).
All this said, Glad Apple is selling millions of the MBA computers, to go with their iOS devices.
I'm one of those people who still do use the cd/dvd drive in my computer to burn content from. Once Apple completely does away with the optical drive, I'll adapt but until such time I'll wait.
And keep playing with the Airs in the stores.
Wasn't ready to take the MBA plunge just yet, but I have a feeling I will in the future, resolution and price were my reasons (if the 4GB Ram was standard that would have been a selling point too).
All this said, Glad Apple is selling millions of the MBA computers, to go with their iOS devices.
I'm one of those people who still do use the cd/dvd drive in my computer to burn content from. Once Apple completely does away with the optical drive, I'll adapt but until such time I'll wait.
And keep playing with the Airs in the stores.
I'm saving up for an 11.6" MBA. I really think it can handle everything I need a laptop for. I want to max out the memory and the SSD, though, so it's going to be a little while. I keep hoping the price of flash memory will come down like every other new technology in the history of electronics has, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen in the foreseeable future. (Problems with the technology? Economic manipulation? Who Knows?) Sure would like 256 GB instead of 128!
The people who won't buy it because they think the Core2Duo is horse-and-buggy technology and the latest processor is the only usable one frankly amuse me. Very few tasks are really hobbled by the processor, and those that are are being performed on desktops. You're really falling for Intel marketing hype. We really have Intel to thank for the megahertz myththey somehow managed to get everyone to quote clock rate as the one and only figure of merit, even as their architecture failed to take advantage of their faster speeds.
I have to say, I guess I'm in a minority on the new MBA's stylingI really don't like it. I hope they don't adopt this extruded-in-a-continuous-slab-and-cut-off-to-length-with-the-raw-ends-exposed look across the board.
The people who won't buy it because they think the Core2Duo is horse-and-buggy technology and the latest processor is the only usable one frankly amuse me. Very few tasks are really hobbled by the processor, and those that are are being performed on desktops. You're really falling for Intel marketing hype. We really have Intel to thank for the megahertz myththey somehow managed to get everyone to quote clock rate as the one and only figure of merit, even as their architecture failed to take advantage of their faster speeds.
I have to say, I guess I'm in a minority on the new MBA's stylingI really don't like it. I hope they don't adopt this extruded-in-a-continuous-slab-and-cut-off-to-length-with-the-raw-ends-exposed look across the board.
I certainly want one. Waiting for the next revision. i3/i5 isomethings hopefully next time, and cheaper SSD's.
When my old MacBook died, I was going to replace it with the 11" MBA, but after realizing how limited the HD was and how much it would cost me to get decent storage capacity for my pictures and music I decided to get a 13" MBP.
Yes, I've used the "superdrive" just once since I bought this computer, but I have a healthy amount of storage capacity, an SD slot and heck, I can even play some TF2, L4D 2 and StarCraft 2 (on mid settings) on my free time, for the same price of a 11" MBA with a 128 GB SSD.
I'm in no way a power user, but I like to take my stuff with me at all times. With my games, music, photos and a couple of other programs I have installed I would definitely be short of space with a stock MBA.
Until a ~250 GB SSD from Apple gets a fair price, or the 128 GB becomes the standard drive at just $999, I don't plan on buying a MBA. I like it, a lot, but the base model needs to improve its specs a little bit.
Yes, I've used the "superdrive" just once since I bought this computer, but I have a healthy amount of storage capacity, an SD slot and heck, I can even play some TF2, L4D 2 and StarCraft 2 (on mid settings) on my free time, for the same price of a 11" MBA with a 128 GB SSD.
I'm in no way a power user, but I like to take my stuff with me at all times. With my games, music, photos and a couple of other programs I have installed I would definitely be short of space with a stock MBA.
Until a ~250 GB SSD from Apple gets a fair price, or the 128 GB becomes the standard drive at just $999, I don't plan on buying a MBA. I like it, a lot, but the base model needs to improve its specs a little bit.
If I were getting an ultraportable I'd get the 11.6" MBA without a doubt But a 13" MBP is better for me since I don't need ultra-portability, but like a light, reasonably compact laptop.
But a 13" MBP is better for me since I don't need ultra-portability, but like a light, reasonably compact laptop.re: ThunderBolt:
Or another reason for TB is for high speed multi-media IO. DJs, musicians, entertainment presenters, etc would be all over this. I'm assuming that's what the poster who first brought up RB was alluding to...being on stage and in the dark and all.
Or another reason for TB is for high speed multi-media IO. DJs, musicians, entertainment presenters, etc would be all over this. I'm assuming that's what the poster who first brought up RB was alluding to...being on stage and in the dark and all.
There are quite a few know-all heads on here who will disagree with you and tell you you are in the minority and call you a spec freak.
The SSD and form factor is the selling point of the current MBA. For most people's uses it's ok, or even "faster than their other macs" as they claim, people selling their iMacs and going MBA only and what not.
I understand it's "cool" and "wow" and turns heads (who doesn't want to show off with a cool gadget after all) and it gets the basic job done. My claim is that the 11" MBA is not significantly faster in loading applications than my iMac and awful slow in processor intensive tasks. The system startup showdown is basically useless demonstration - how the system performs afterwards is more important. What's important also is that it works for a large number of people.
The rest of us who form "the minority" and need greater power in that small package should drink a glass of hot water. We are not catered for. Yet.
Glad to see this generation wasn't a flop.
I'd buy an 11"er if it had a backlit keyboard and the price was around $800. Personally, just saying. And no, I don't want an iPad.
I'd buy an 11"er if it had a backlit keyboard and the price was around $800. Personally, just saying. And no, I don't want an iPad.
I'll buy that for a dollar!
I will buy the MBA when it gets a backlit keyboard. I really like the small, light form but need to be able to see the keys in a dark room (or stage). The sales guy at the Apple store just told me to "crank the screen brightness and tilt the display down to light the keys".
Also, it would be nice to get Thunderbolt I/O and (really dreaming now) higher capacity/cost effective SSD storage.
I think when you get a decent amount of SSD capacity without a huge price jack MBA sales will jump even more.
Leo, point noted.
i didn't mean that everyone who buys apple products is a mindless drone. i just meant Apple is treating many of their customer base this way.
it is just strange when Apple used to be much more of a consumer oriented company and the underdog, now it seems to be more monopolistic than Microsoft during the MS heyday.
The sales figures suggest it IS a mainstream laptop. Just because you need a DVD drive doesn't mean everyone in the mainstream does.
Non sequitur of the month award. I get loads of non app store mac content and none of it comes on cd or DVD any more. It's all downloaded. If you want optical drives and big storage, the MacBook Pros are over there. Lots of people don't, though.
It's called bootcamp and has been around for ages.
I'm tempted to get a MacBook Air to replace my MacBook Pro and then get my self a maxed out iMac for the heavy lifting. The iPad is 'too little' in the way of features, the MacBook Pro is an over kill in performance but the MacBook Air seems to be the nice middle road compromise that'll enable me to do some light work, internet stuff, the occasional bit of website editing (I use TextWrangler) and running Office 2011.
Then again I said that last time but ended up saying this I went for a MacBook Pro lol it will be interesting what the Air will have in the future given the move to Sandy Bridge might lead to a refresh in the future which will include the updated Sandy Bridge successor with a slightly improved integrated GPU.
As for others out there, I know many have gone for it over the MacBook and MacBook Pro - especially those who need portability over speed given the speed sacrifice is minuscule these days with the latest crop of CPU's available.
Then again I said that last time but ended up saying this I went for a MacBook Pro lol it will be interesting what the Air will have in the future given the move to Sandy Bridge might lead to a refresh in the future which will include the updated Sandy Bridge successor with a slightly improved integrated GPU.
As for others out there, I know many have gone for it over the MacBook and MacBook Pro - especially those who need portability over speed given the speed sacrifice is minuscule these days with the latest crop of CPU's available.
Glad to hear it. This is probably how all laptops will be in a few years (i.e. SSD, no internal optical drive, ultra thin/light etc).
I'm just glad I don't have to heft around my crummy Fujitsu Lifebook from work any more - I just use my iPad 2
I'm just glad I don't have to heft around my crummy Fujitsu Lifebook from work any more - I just use my iPad 2
The Airs look really tempting (once Lion comes out, not much point at the moment for me).
However I see comments about it not being great for the 'heavy lifting' jobs. I don't do much processor intensive stuff, but on my '08 MacBook, iPhoto sometimes takes a while and exporting an hours movie from iMovie it can slug quite a bit.
How do the Airs cope with these kind of tasks?
However I see comments about it not being great for the 'heavy lifting' jobs. I don't do much processor intensive stuff, but on my '08 MacBook, iPhoto sometimes takes a while and exporting an hours movie from iMovie it can slug quite a bit.
How do the Airs cope with these kind of tasks?
Nonsense. The key component of the MBA is the SSD. The MBA has coped with everything I've thrown at it. If the C2D was coupled with a mechanical HDD then I'm sure the performance would be very "2007", but it's a great little machine that can deal with practically anything you ask it too.
Backlit keyboard's a must
Completely agree .. I bought an MBP 13" unibody when it got upgraded with a backlight and its the best laptop ever ... when I went to test the latest MBA the lack of the backlit keyboard was the only thing stopping me from sidegrading to it (the only 'upgrade' would be the size/weight shrinkage, the other specs would be a downgrade).
As the MBP 13" unibody was introduced without a backlit keyboard then I suspect the MBAs will get them at the next bump or maybe the one after that .. I guess it will depend upon what Apple do with the chipsets and whether there is enough battery spare for the leds
Completely agree .. I bought an MBP 13" unibody when it got upgraded with a backlight and its the best laptop ever ... when I went to test the latest MBA the lack of the backlit keyboard was the only thing stopping me from sidegrading to it (the only 'upgrade' would be the size/weight shrinkage, the other specs would be a downgrade).
As the MBP 13" unibody was introduced without a backlit keyboard then I suspect the MBAs will get them at the next bump or maybe the one after that .. I guess it will depend upon what Apple do with the chipsets and whether there is enough battery spare for the leds
My Macbook Air isn't nearly as cool with these new ones out. Makes me sad.
It just proves you were a trendsetter!
I'm a charter member of the MacBook Air club, having purchased a Rev A in February 2008. I'm up to an 11" now which, despite its slower CPU, is a much improved device (since everything else is much faster). I'm glad Apple stuck with the product and that it has hit the big time. That means it will be here to stay.
The NVIDIA 320m isn't "6 year old tech." Nor are the Toshiba SSD, HD screen, glass trackpad, or OS X 10.6. Get past the mindset that the CPU defines the computer and you'll see that the MacBook Air is a modern device. That said, I would like to see Thunderbolt in the next revision, and undoubtedly it will get Sandy Bridge sometime this year.