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2013 11" Air vs 2012 13" Air

V

Viantef

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 20, 2013
67
0
So I bought a 2013 Macbook Air 11" about 3 weeks ago, just a week short of the return policy. (****!)

Now, I'm starting to get into programming and I'm realizing how much I'd need the 13".

I can sell my Macbook Air on Amazon for $900 and buy a 13" refurbished from Apple for $849.

I'm 16 and I saved all summer for this so just selling the 11" and getting a new 13" is not an option. Especially since I got the computer for $900 Brandnew at Microcenter.

How much performance will I lose?

- I surf the web
- Program (Sublime Text, Eclipse)

I admit, I'm stressing over that battery life.
 
If you have an external monitor, you should be fine. I can't live without that battery life now that I have it. I do have a 13 inch and it works great because programming does need a bigger screen. Keep it.

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By the way, Im 14 and got a job programming this summer and saved up the same amount. I got it for $900 with the best buy student discounts.
 
I would definitely recommend a 13". I'm currently a Senior of my last semester of BS Computer Science. I initially bought a 11" mba prior to start of my junior year of computer science degree, but it was too small for programming. Most of the time I was referring to resources while programming in an IDE and it became too difficult for me. I went and return it for a 13" and I have been fine since then. I don't even use my 24" Desktop PC for programming, all on my MBA unless I have to do asp.net. Without looking at the specs, I wouldn't even worry about it for programming. I say go for it! By the way, It's great that you are starting to program at an early age. It will pay off down the road in college. I wish I started when I was 16!
 
You should check and see if you really can get $900 on Amazon.

I'm assuming you got the base 11" model? Well a brand new machine is $999. With student discount, a brand new machine is $950, +$100 gift voucher.

And of course, some promotions have the new 11" selling for $900 as well, the same price you got it for.

So I think first, you should see how much you're going to be able to sell your machine for, and then take it from there.
 
Totally lost by OP.

Within return period so why do you have to sell it. Why not just return?

U say u HAVE to get a 13" and then u say it's not an option?

I hope your programing is as logical as ur post.
 
Mrbobb said:
Totally lost by OP.

Within return period so why do you have to sell it. Why not just return?

U say u HAVE to get a 13" and then u say it's not an option?

I hope your programing is as logical as ur post.
Click to expand...

Isn't the return period only 14 days?

I think an external monitor, wired keyboard and mouse will be your best bet now.
 
If I were you, I'd be calling Apple up and just explain your situation. I just recently returned my MBA, because I was having startup issues, and had been having them since the first 14 days of buying the Air, however, it had been a month afterwards that I called them, and after speaking to a couple of different people, they elected to just replace my entire machine. Great customer service to deal with!
 
Viantef said:
So I bought a 2013 Macbook Air 11" about 3 weeks ago, just a week short of the return policy. (****!)

Now, I'm starting to get into programming and I'm realizing how much I'd need the 13".

I can sell my Macbook Air on Amazon for $900 and buy a 13" refurbished from Apple for $849.

I'm 16 and I saved all summer for this so just selling the 11" and getting a new 13" is not an option. Especially since I got the computer for $900 Brandnew at Microcenter.

How much performance will I lose?

- I surf the web
- Program (Sublime Text, Eclipse)

I admit, I'm stressing over that battery life.
Click to expand...

I used a 13" MBP (which has less pixels than your 11" MBA) for two years of full time professional dev work, with no external monitor, and made a good chunk of money with it.

There are developers who are way more successful than me who use the 11" full time. If you need some inspiration:

http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3237-a-few-product-recommendations

That said, I'm on a MBA 13" now.
 
Small fonts, full screens, external monitor.

If you're doing stuff on the road all the time, you probably need the 13". It almost seems like too much space after using the 11" for a while. I've gone between the 11" and 13" since the 2010 models.
 
In my opinion, the 11" model is a perfect second/travelling computer, but not sufficient for a primary computer.

In this case, I think it all depends on larger screen size vs. performance (mostly graphics) and battery life. Which of those two options is more important to you?
 
MarcBook said:
In my opinion, the 11" model is a perfect second/travelling computer, but not sufficient for a primary computer.
Click to expand...

Really depends on your usage pattern. I replaced my 2008 15" MBP with a 2011 13" MBA. Then this summer I replaced the 13" MBA with a 2013 11" i7/8gb/512gb MBA. It is my primary computer and I love it. At home it's connected to a big monitor and external keyboard, so the size doesn't matter. When I travel, I find the screen a reasonable compromise for the portability.
 
MarcBook said:
In my opinion, the 11" model is a perfect second/travelling computer, but not sufficient for a primary computer.

In this case, I think it all depends on larger screen size vs. performance (mostly graphics) and battery life. Which of those two options is more important to you?
Click to expand...

Well, I'd really like the screen size. Programming on the 11" can be rough at times, not entirely bad however. I like to go to Starbucks and program. I know it's not huge performance boost from the 2012-2013, but damn that battery life.
 
Viantef said:
Well, I'd really like the screen size. Programming on the 11" can be rough at times, not entirely bad however. I like to go to Starbucks and program. I know it's not huge performance boost from the 2012-2013, but damn that battery life.
Click to expand...

Personally, I'd take a new 11" over an older 13". Yes, the screen size is a little more restricting, but the lighter weight, smaller dimensions, better performance (especially SSD) and better battery life all make the 11" a better choice, in my opinion.

Ultimately, only you can make the decision, of course! :)

----------
Boyd01 said:
Really depends on your usage pattern. I replaced my 2008 15" MBP with a 2011 13" MBA. Then this summer I replaced the 13" MBA with a 2013 11" i7/8gb/512gb MBA. It is my primary computer and I love it. At home it's connected to a big monitor and external keyboard, so the size doesn't matter. When I travel, I find the screen a reasonable compromise for the portability.
Click to expand...

I often forget that the 11" model has the same hardware inside as the 13" (excluding the obvious display and battery differences). Your set-up is definitely a nice one, as you're getting the best of portable with most of the benefits of a desktop as well (unless high performance and graphics are needed, of course).

If I weren't such an avid PC gamer, I'd go for a set-up much like yours.
 
Do you guys think if I called up the Apple Support/Apple Store and explain my situation, they could potentially take it in and allow me to pay the extra $100 for the 2013 13" Air?

Craigslist has been unsuccessful, I asked $940 (Comes with Microsoft Office Suite & Speck Case), yet everyone is either saying that's too high or trying to pull a check/paypal scam.

I pulled my Amazon listing because I didn't know they took 6%, that's my fault however.

It's like completely mint.
 
Viantef said:
Do you guys think if I called up the Apple Support/Apple Store and explain my situation, they could potentially take it in and allow me to pay the extra $100 for the 2013 13" Air?

Craigslist has been unsuccessful, I asked $940 (Comes with Microsoft Office Suite & Speck Case), yet everyone is either saying that's too high or trying to pull a check/paypal scam.

I pulled my Amazon listing because I didn't know they took 6%, that's my fault however.

It's like completely mint.
Click to expand...

If you want to know what Apple will say, just call them and find out.

I think you're obsessing over it too much. This machine is not holding you back from programming or surfing the web.

Smaller screen for programming? Write shorter methods. They're easier to test and debug.
 
w00d said:
If you want to know what Apple will say, just call them and find out.

I think you're obsessing over it too much. This machine is not holding you back from programming or surfing the web.

Smaller screen for programming? Write shorter methods. They're easier to test and debug.
Click to expand...

I second that. Sure it's good to have a bigger screen and better yet a second screen. However, I don't think 11 inch screen will make me any lesser programmer. I've been a software engineer over 15 years.
 
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