2011 Macbook Air - Any regrets on size choices?

[jmgregory1]

I regret there not being a 15" version to choose. I went with the 13" and love it for traveling and mobile computing, but when I'm at the office or sitting at my desk at home, I'd prefer a bigger screen.

When I get some fundage, I'll spring for the Apple monitor, keyboard and trackpad for office work.

 

[daonesteven]

i have an 11" 2011 mba and lets just say that while I love my mba, if I had an option to switch to a 13" and pay the extra necessary cost, i'd probably do it.

 

[happyslayer]

I had a 13" RevA & RevB model Air. Once I got my first 11" (2010) I never looked back. I LOVE my 11" 2011 MBA. I am not a big multi-tasker on my Air-- usually just Safari and one other App--so switching back and forth is not a big issue and the smaller screen is fine for me. If I needed lots of apps to be open and visible or I needed to be in large, complex Excel sheets a lot, then the 11" would probably feel too cramped. For me the small size/weight is the MOST important factor for me because I carry it everywhere I go. But, of course, that is just my opinion based on my usage patterns, and everybody should get the one that they are most comfortable with.

 

[Rizvi1]

Are the speakers better on the 13" 2011 Macbook Air over the 11"?

 

[hbtd]

Rizvi1, I have both the 2011 13'' MBA and 11'' models. I think there is a difference in the 13 vs 11 speakers. However, the 11 speakers are pretty good. Speakers should not be a major decision factor... screen size and battery life are.

 

[KittyKatta]

I have the 13" and really like it, but will confess that sometimes I would like the smaller 11" model.

I guess thats the dilemma. We wan't the tiny footprint of the 11" but the 13" screen size may be considered more "ideal" for average users. I guess thats why I feel so disappointed when I see that huge bezel around the 11" because its possible they could even fit a 13" screen there if they went corner to corner. Then that would make this the ultimate portable notebook that had an average size screen with a netbook sized enclosure.

BTW. Does anyone know why we have such large bezels on Mac notebooks? On the PC side they seem to be more efficient in screen real estate.

 

[Rizvi1]

Rizvi1, I have both the 2011 13'' MBA and 11'' models. I think there is a difference in the 13 vs 11 speakers. However, the 11 speakers are pretty good. Speakers should not be a major decision factor... screen size and battery life are.

Yeah, it's not a major decision point but it's something for us that matters. We're always watching things on our laptops around the house since we don't have TVs in every room. I think speakers combined with all the other factors makes the 13" win over the 11"

 

[rbrian]

I have an 11" and I wouldn't go bigger. From time to time I feel a bit cramped in a large Excel sheet, but no more so than on my 15" work laptop. That behemoth of a Toughbook has almost the same screen resolution, so everything looks blurry, and its i5 processor is crippled with 2Gb RAM, Vista, McAffee and company software. It weighs about 4 kilos. I hate it about as much as I love my Air.

 

[Akack]

Nope, my 13" is the sweet spot between screen size and still ultra portable/light.

 

[robopath]

Have the 11 and love it. Wider-screen aspect is great for video and shorter screen is perfect for regional jets. Side note, when I was debating which size to get I actually saw a woman get her screen broken when the person in front of reclined their seat. It wasn't even a mac, some big dell but still was a factor in my decision.

 

[intervenient]

Bought the 11, want the 13. Perfect size for a student.

 

[Beau10]

As a telecommuting software developer, the form factor is utter bliss. I can take this puppy anywhere and do ANYTHING. VM's, Lightroom, PS5, XCode... all good.

I'm a dev too (Windows desktop app dev by day, Ruby on Rails contract work in my free time).

I've been using the base 2010 11" for over a year now. Came from an early 2008 15" MBP. Most of the improvement I would like is in speed/battery, the form factor/weight is outstanding. The screen real estate could be better (I echo the above sentiment for putting a 12.5" incher in there). That said, it's forced me to streamline my workflow which is a plus. I don't know if I could go back to a larger machine, but I'll be considering it as I'm definitely upgrading to Ivy Bridge, esp. if they find a way to reduce the size a bit.

 

[Unhyper]

I went with the 11" in the fall of 2011. The specs for the 13" model were announced here in Finland at the time, but no one carried it, they only had the 11" and I was too impatient to wait. However, I had browsed through many discussion threads like this one and seen many people not regret their decision to go with the 11".

At the time, I had a few months old PC with i5 running Win 7, which was my main machine, so I knew I wasn't going to be using the 11" Macbook as my main computer, just as a portable device when on the move. A few months later, after getting a taste of OS X, I ditched my new PC in favor of an iMac, and I am no way in hell ever going back to Windows now.

My concern with getting an 11" was that I had used an EeePC netbook with a 10" screen, and it had been a really unpleasant experience. Then again it ran Win 7 Starter... I went to an Apple store and they had a 11" Air and a 13" Macbook Pro side by side. The cost for these machines was actually the same, as they were trying to get rid of the Macbook Pros. I spent an hour with these machines, switching back and forth, and I noticed three things: 1) the SSD on the Air was significantly snappier, and 2) when I pulled up a web page on both machines, they both displayed the same amount of the content in spite of different screen sizes. And, lastly, the Air had a much better display - clearer, more crisp, better lit, and easier on the eyes.

I don't regret my choice of the 11" because the form factor is beautiful and painless to carry around, and the Core i5 is more than sufficient to power it.

If you're going to use the Air as your main machine and it will mostly sit on your desk rather than travel with you, go with the 13". If you want portable power, the 11" is a great choice...but bring a charger, because the battery's not the most long-lasting (unless you put the machine to sleep...the charge will last weeks).

 

[Rizvi1]

Have the 11 and love it. Wider-screen aspect is great for video and shorter screen is perfect for regional jets. Side note, when I was debating which size to get I actually saw a woman get her screen broken when the person in front of reclined their seat. It wasn't even a mac, some big dell but still was a factor in my decision.

Yeah, that's happened a few times on flights where my MacBook Pro's almost gotten caught when the seat in front of me started to recline. It's the reason I would never do a 17".

 

[peapody]

Have the 11 and love it. Wider-screen aspect is great for video and shorter screen is perfect for regional jets. Side note, when I was debating which size to get I actually saw a woman get her screen broken when the person in front of reclined their seat. It wasn't even a mac, some big dell but still was a factor in my decision.

You must travel ALOT for Jets to matter that much.

I got the 11" and I regretted it because I could not multitask that easily. It was hard to take notes and watch webcasts and webbrowse at the same time even with spaces etc. I ended up giving that one to my sister, and I went up to the 13". I've had 3 different 13" models over the last few years, and everytime I webt back to an air, the 13" size was a requirement,

 

[hfg]

I use both the 11" and 13" MB Air, and find the font-size (eyestrain) about the same on both. The larger screen has higher resolution, so it doesn't increase the size of the characters, it simply displays more of them.

I find a simple pair of cheap drugstore reading glasses solves the problem for me. Simply measure the distance your face is from your Air when you normally use it, then go to the drugstore and stand the exact same distance from the test chart (or just something with fine text on it) and select a magnification power which produces the easiest to read text at that distance. Then find a pair at that power that you look good in.

Works great for me...

 

[JoeG4]

I have a 13" and don't regret it, the only thing that bugs me about my MBA is the way the bottom cover 'clicks' so much when I am holding it!

 

[JHUFrank]

started using it tonite. Its quickly growing on me.

I'll have to look into this Flux thing if I get an MBA. It seems to get raves. I know if I get one I want an 11" one (it is purely for portability)

 

[Macman45]

I looked at the 11" but it was just too small screen-wise. I bout the ultimate 13" and I love it, the extra little bit of real-estate makes the difference IMO. It has replaced my iPad whilst I wait for the newbie!

 

[prvt.donut]

I got both, 11" for my wife a year ago and the 13" for me this year.

I prefer the size and weight of the 11", the 13" feels a little cumbersome compared to it.

But they are both very nice and I think you would be happy with either of them!

 

[57004]

I hate the screen on my 11". It's too high DPI for me, and linked with the fact that OS X doesn't scale resolutions I find it absolutely awful to work with.

However I chose it because it was the cheapest option (cheapest refurb 11" was €649, cheapest 13" was €899), I couldn't spare the difference because I'm not a 'laptop guy'. I use it almost exclusively on external screens and the small size is handy when travelling. The 13" Air is a bit better (about 10 DPI lower) but not much.

But I'd love a 13" with a lowres screen like the 13" Pro. Although the OS doing actual resolution independence would be better of course.

Strange thing is, the resolution of my iPad 1 doesn't bother me, but the way I use it I hold it closer to my face.. It's not possible to do that with a laptop.

 

[P0stalTek]

I regret getting the 13", but only because I ended up getting a 15" MBP which initially I did not plan on. Not a big deal though because I still love the 13".

 

[jinesh]

I used a MBP 13" for 3 years before switching to an 11" MBA when the 2011 model came out last year. I love the smaller size but...I keep wishing for a slightly bigger trackpad & longer battery life.

However my next machine is going to be 13" because of the extra real estate & 16:10 resolution. It might not sound like a lot but I've realized not having to scroll around as much is a definite plus while working.

Although as far as performance goes, I have no complaints. Once hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard & mouse the MBA 11" handles all my tasks smoothly.

**Keeping fingers crossed the next MBP comes with an Air form factor**

 

[robopath]

You must travel ALOT for Jets to matter that much.

Yeah I do. That's exactly why I bought the air to begin with. It is basically only a travel device for me. If I were a student and/or this was my primary computer, I'd have the 13 for sure.

 

[jterp7]

Yeah I do. That's exactly why I bought the air to begin with. It is basically only a travel device for me. If I were a student and/or this was my primary computer, I'd have the 13 for sure.

i was on the united minijet some months ago and it was cramped enough that I couldn't really even use my iphone, I just wanted the flight to be over lol. On that plane anyone over 5'7 would be quite uncomfortable.