No regrets on an 11. Only once in a long while do I wish I had greater screen height, like then doing a screenshot of a drawing and wanting to screenshot a large version of it.
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2011 Macbook Air - Any regrets on size choices?
- Thread starter KittyKatta
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Yeah for someone in your situation then I can see why the 11 is the way to go. But for the other 98% of users the jetsettin wouldn't play that much of a factor.
My co worker travels to and Baltimore from Kansas every week for consulting job, and she even has a 13". She says she can still use her computer while in her seat but most of the time she just doesn't bother taking it out of her bag. I think the peace and relaxation of turning off her computer even for a couple hours is welcome time for her.
I bought the 11" with the 4gb of Ram, and at first I really did think that I had enough space for everything I was doing.
But in the end, I did return it for the 13" air. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I could ever leave the SSD speed of the air, or go back to having any of the extra weight that a MBP has, but I think the extra screen space is going to make a difference.
As a soon to be college graduate, I wanted to make sure I had something I could use as a main computer for a long time, not just while I am shlepping around campus.
But in the end, I did return it for the 13" air. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I could ever leave the SSD speed of the air, or go back to having any of the extra weight that a MBP has, but I think the extra screen space is going to make a difference.
As a soon to be college graduate, I wanted to make sure I had something I could use as a main computer for a long time, not just while I am shlepping around campus.
I have both. I like the 13" for doing real work (although I have a 21.5" monitor at home that I connect to) but the portability of the 11" can't be beat. I wouldn't mind a 12.5" model, or if they jammed the 13" screen in the 11" case (it'd fit without the bezel.
I've had the 2010 11 inch, model and now have the 2011, 13 inch model.
I moved to the bigger one because of my desire to get more work done on it.
But 13.3 inch is still very much a compromise size. The extra height does help though. But it's also feels a lot less portable. Of the 2 i definitely preferred the 11 inch form factor.
I would love to see a 15.6 inch one that is not much heavier the the 13 inch one. Then you can choose between: portable - compromise - workable
I moved to the bigger one because of my desire to get more work done on it.
But 13.3 inch is still very much a compromise size. The extra height does help though. But it's also feels a lot less portable. Of the 2 i definitely preferred the 11 inch form factor.
I would love to see a 15.6 inch one that is not much heavier the the 13 inch one. Then you can choose between: portable - compromise - workable
maybe but the 13" has more physical screen size for when you're enlarging text and such. I still can't get around the fact that though the 11" is lighter and more portable, the battery life is worse. And given we're in 2012 with 10hr battery expectations (thanks to the ipad), the 3-4 real use for the 11 is just a joke.
The 2010 13" is the only one that pushes close enough to being a day computer. In other words, portability is useless if there isn't the battery life to match.
Well my 2010 1.4 ghz MBA always managed around 5 hours (doing light work).
Which is not huge but definitely a lot longer then my original white macbook did. Sure 10 hours would be nicer but it never was a problem for me.
Who wants to work more then a few hours on a small 11 or 13 inch screen anyway. I don't know if the 2011 11 inch is worse though.
The 13 inch is just not as portable, it doesn't feel a whole of a lot more portable then a normal 13 inch macbook. All these laptops are of course very portable. But the 11 inch is enough smaller and lighter that it made it a significant difference for me. Having a 17 inch macbook pro and an 11 inch would be an ideal situation for me i think.
Which is not huge but definitely a lot longer then my original white macbook did. Sure 10 hours would be nicer but it never was a problem for me.
Who wants to work more then a few hours on a small 11 or 13 inch screen anyway. I don't know if the 2011 11 inch is worse though.
The 13 inch is just not as portable, it doesn't feel a whole of a lot more portable then a normal 13 inch macbook. All these laptops are of course very portable. But the 11 inch is enough smaller and lighter that it made it a significant difference for me. Having a 17 inch macbook pro and an 11 inch would be an ideal situation for me i think.
Well, I personally have the 13" air, and my wife has a 13" MacBook pro, and to say there isn't much of a difference between them is not correct in my opinion. I find it much easier to tote my air one handed around the house while grabbing something for the kids or myself, versus when I try to do the same with the wife's pro and the weight difference is very noticeable. I had an 11" 2010 model, but ended up selling it as the smaller screen was a little annoying for my older eyes, though I do love the size of the 11".
My 20 year old eyes are saying "portability all the way!" I definitely went with the 11'' so I would have the ability to take it everywhere (and I do). Screen size isn't an issue now -- but I can see it being an issue in the future.
The only downside I see to the 11'' is battery life.
The only downside I see to the 11'' is battery life.
Very true. The people who were blown away by the 13" Air probably had 15" laptops. I never found the 13" Air to be that much better than the 13" Pro, but I'm still amazed at how small the 11" model is.
Got a refurb 11" ultimate last week, very satisfied with it. I'm using it as my main machine (connected to a 24" dell monitor and keyboard/mouse) on an mStand, but I can also unplug it and take it anywhere I go. I wouldn't have been as satisfied with the 13" air, especially since both air's screens are crap in terms of viewing angles and quality. The device being smaller in size kinda makes up for the crappiness of the screen (of course there's the slightly shorter battery-life issue)
The most significant drawback is, I now have to keep strict backups because an Air is much more suspectible to theft (say, than a stationary iMac) and no kensington slot is provided. Also, missing the infrared port and sudden motion sensor, software solutions like iAlertU are not practical.
In the meantime I'm in the process of setting up a time machine server on my openwrt-running wireless router.
(of course there's the slightly shorter battery-life issue)The most significant drawback is, I now have to keep strict backups because an Air is much more suspectible to theft (say, than a stationary iMac) and no kensington slot is provided. Also, missing the infrared port and sudden motion sensor, software solutions like iAlertU are not practical.
In the meantime I'm in the process of setting up a time machine server on my openwrt-running wireless router.
I'm a stickler for batt life, but I don't miss the extra hour or two in the 13. Honest.
I agree with this. I was coming off a 13" MacBook Pro so moving to the Air 13" didn't feel very different, but when I moved to the 11" it was a completely different experience.
Part of the reason why I went with the 11" is because of how different it felt form my 13" Pro, but that now turned out to be a bad thing because in the end I would've been better off with a boring old 13" that wouldn't give me eye strain.
I'm always surprised when people use the 11" for extended periods of time without either a stand (to bring it closer to their face/eye level) or with a larger monitor (unless they're out and about, bien sur).
OSX just isn't optimized for readability on a screen that small. Apple should make OSX truly resolution independent (and polished) if they want to keep offering a screen this small.
OSX just isn't optimized for readability on a screen that small. Apple should make OSX truly resolution independent (and polished) if they want to keep offering a screen this small.
I carried a 17" for years as my primary machine, but bought the first 11" for travel. When the i7 MBA's were introduced I decided to just go that route full time. It is just not that much bigger for all the advantages it offers. Now I have the top spec 13 with a Thunderbolt display and it is great. The main thing I like about the 13 is the 16x10 screen . I really hate the move o 16x9 displays. Just not enough vertical real estate.
Only own side to the Airs is theRam and inboard video.mmy fan runs a LOT while working in AutoCad LT with Winows7 in a VM running. With 8GB it would be perfect.
Only own side to the Airs is theRam and inboard video.mmy fan runs a LOT while working in AutoCad LT with Winows7 in a VM running. With 8GB it would be perfect.
While I loved everything about the 11" MBA and I still do, it's so cool and a perfect carry everywhere size.... but in reality, for my needs the 13" Air is a much better fit.
I like it more now than I ever did my 11". I'm on a computer for long hours for work and then pleasure even when traveling.
The smaller screen with less vertical real estate is limiting for a lot of tasks, the 13" Air screen is perfect for a light very mobile computer. I have other computers for heavy lifting but my Air gets used a lot just because it's so handy and has just enough power.
I prefer it even over my iPad, you can just do so many more things faster, without limits, whether its browsing automobile or real estate sites to simply replying to emails ... if want to get it done quickly without 'tablet limits' the Air is the way to go!
I really like my iPad and my other computers but these MacBook Air's are really GREAT machines, quality build, great screen, trackpad, super thin / light excellent battery run time ... it just wow's me every time I use them and I've used Airs since the Rev A's.
I like it more now than I ever did my 11". I'm on a computer for long hours for work and then pleasure even when traveling.
The smaller screen with less vertical real estate is limiting for a lot of tasks, the 13" Air screen is perfect for a light very mobile computer. I have other computers for heavy lifting but my Air gets used a lot just because it's so handy and has just enough power.
I prefer it even over my iPad, you can just do so many more things faster, without limits, whether its browsing automobile or real estate sites to simply replying to emails ... if want to get it done quickly without 'tablet limits' the Air is the way to go!
I really like my iPad and my other computers but these MacBook Air's are really GREAT machines, quality build, great screen, trackpad, super thin / light excellent battery run time ... it just wow's me every time I use them and I've used Airs since the Rev A's.
I have the 11" i7 Macbook Air and absolutely love it, can't beat it for portability!
I know this may sound crazy but I could happily use a 10" or 9" model if they made one, I'd only want a better screen, Super Amoled plus would be great.
I travel a lot so anything that is lighter = better for me.
Delighted with the 11" but as I said I would happily use something smaller if it existed
I know this may sound crazy but I could happily use a 10" or 9" model if they made one, I'd only want a better screen, Super Amoled plus would be great.
I travel a lot so anything that is lighter = better for me.
Delighted with the 11" but as I said I would happily use something smaller if it existed
13" is small as it will get for me. The 11" would required so much scrolling on the Internet. 11" is just to small for my tastes and the larger form factor of the 13" is worth it when you consider my 13" replaced a Thinkpad 15" W520.
I had the 11" and loved it. But the vertical resolution was really limiting for some of my apps. If you intend to use the 11" when on the go and a monitor when at a desk it makes a great solution. But since I almost never connect to a monitor I eventually went to the 13". It's clearly not as portable in the width and depth dimension but the weight is only a tiny bit more, it's the same thinness and the screen feels huge in comparison to the 11". The 13" allows to run anything I need. If they could cram the 13" screen in the 11" form factor, I'd be in heaven but until they get closer the 13" is a more practical solution for me.
I bought a 11" air on 03/01, and then exchanged it on 03/04 for the 13" model for the exact same reason; it was a tad too small. This wasn't helped by the fact that I was coming off a first gen 1,1 13" MBA. I missed the real estate!!!
I loved the 11" form factor, but wished the screen was a little taller. I wasn't used to scrolling down on certain websites and found myself zooming in, when I didn't used to before.
I am very happy with my switch. It is perfect!!
How did you exchange it? I want to do the same thing, i love my 11'' but im edging more towards the 13'' now!