2018 MBA - From an owner who didn't want one!

[AlexJoda]

This is the combo that I will have here shortly. I'm looking to get a new MacBook Air 2018 and recently purchased the iPad 12.9 Pro.

I've had my MacBook 12" 2015 for a few years now and have enjoyed it - but need just a bit more, so the Air should suffice well

I am also having 12.9 iPP and I think the MBA 2018 is not a good addition to it. The iPP beats the Air in mobility and performance (by a huge margin). I would suggest to stay with 12“ MB, the MBA is no real improvement.

If you need more performance or a better display buy a MacBook Pro or an iMac. If you just want to compensate the limitations of the iPP you might buy a cheap Surface Go, as I did. That device has the right price/performance ratio and is even lighter than the iPP 12.9. You also have trackpad/mouse support, all kind of pro Apps (not the mobile versions), a good backlit keyboard and the iPP can be a second display for it with Duet....

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

I am also having 12.9 iPP and I think the MBA 2018 is not a good addition to it. The iPP beats the Air in mobility and performance (by a huge margin). I would suggest to stay with 12“ MB, the MBA is no real improvement.

If you need more performance or a better display buy a MacBook Pro or an iMac. If you just want to compensate the limitations of the iPP you might buy a cheap Surface Go, as I did. That device has the right price/performance ratio and is even lighter than the iPP 12.9. You also have trackpad/mouse support, all kind of pro Apps (not the mobile versions), a good backlit keyboard and the iPP can be a second display for it with Duet....

I think for some, power isn't necessarily important. I already have an iPhone Xs and thought about the iPad Pro 2018. Honestly, the iPad still does not have enough utility and productivity for me (and if I need to draw with Apple Pencil, I will just buy the regular 2018 iPad).

Only two days with MBA 2018 + macOS, it has become rather seamless for me to use compared to iPad + iOS. I am computer science + business college senior who also does media editing. Toggling my iPhone and MacBook for these use cases works. iPad Pro is very capable, so maybe Apple's software team can create a more productive and efficient operating system for it (iPad OS?).

 

[Dodgeman]

I think for some, power isn't necessarily important. I already have an iPhone Xs and thought about the iPad Pro 2018. Honestly, the iPad still does not have enough utility and productivity for me (and if I need to draw with Apple Pencil, I will just buy the regular 2018 iPad).

Only two days with MBA 2018 + macOS, it has become rather seamless for me to use compared to iPad + iOS. I am computer science + business college senior who also does media editing. Toggling my iPhone and MacBook for these use cases works. iPad Pro is very capable, so maybe Apple's software team can create a more productive and efficient operating system for it (iPad OS?).

That may not be their intended goal though with the iPad...

 

[JTBing]

I use a Tatcix Charlie.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/623921

Battery life of around 10-11 days with the following.

24/7 Heart rate (polling every 10mins or so like the Watch)
1hr run using HR & GPS (full time HR tracking in an activity and the GPS is also using Glonass and Galileo set on high accuracy) you can change the accuracy to increase battery life if you want. In high accuracy mode it will go for around 24hrs constant on the latest firmware.
Tracks my sleep at night
Built in maps which are actually pretty useful.
Built in Altimeter, Barometer and Compass
I get all the notifications I get on an Apple Watch.
I can answer a call on it, although it’s only to answer it and use the phone.
Gives you your location in both MGRS and UTM simultaneously. Will also do Lat/Long
Has a few features that are useful for my job being military.

What it doesn’t do the the Watch does is

Allow responding to notifications if you’re an iPhone user. Android you can.
Answer phone calls and talk through the watch
Support Pay
Unlock macOS
Need charging daily!

Think that’s about it. The biggest driver for changing was battery life. The functionality was near identical for me. I only ever read notifications on my S0. I never replied via the watch. Same with calls and I found it very sluggish. I know the new watches are a lot faster. But  need to sort out the battery life. I had a Suunto Spartan sport which had a touchscreen and that still managed around 5-6 days on a charge.

Apple watch will never reach more than 3-4 days battery life
Besides what it do Apple wants to sell it as a "fashion device"
Only when you look at 10mm thickness vs 18mm you see what every company wants from their device

I suspect that Apple could get better battery life if they started charging $750...

 

[0014]

I suspect that Apple could get better battery life if they started charging $750...

Not to detract from the thread to much. But to counter your point.

My 42mm S0 Space Black Stainless with Space Black Link Bracelet was £1K!

The already charge £200 more for an equivalent watch in material terms.

The Tactix Charlie is £649 and is made from DLC coated titanium and sapphire crystal display. The only benefit the S4 Watch has over it is the cellular and screen resolution. In all other respects the Garmin wipes the floor with it.

Even an equivalent, in money terms, £400 Garmin 645 will last 7 days on a single charge!

Bottom line is watches are extremely power hungry or have crap batteries.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

That may not be their intended goal though with the iPad...

I don’t think it matters right now because consumers have to rely on what’s currently in the market.

 

[frocco]

I replaced my 7 year oldl MBP that cost me 3000.00 when new and this time around I could not afford to spend that much.
So far, the MBA is great, speed is not an issue and and screen brightness is not a problem.
Took me a little time to get use to the form factor, but now it rocks.

 

[Dodgeman]

I replaced my 7 year oldl MBP that cost me 3000.00 when new and this time around I could not afford to spend that much.
So far, the MBA is great, speed is not an issue and and screen brightness is not a problem.
Took me a little time to get use to the form factor, but now it rocks.

Why did you have to do a replacement?

 

[frocco]

Apple told me that even if they could get parts, it would cost over 1500.00

 

[InnocenceMyth]

I needed to buy a new laptop and I wanted to spend as little as possible. Would have preferred a MBP but the MBA is obviously cheaper and Micro Center has been discounting both models by $200 for weeks. So I bought the 256 MBA and I love it. It's a great machine. I don't have demanding needs so I can't speak to all that but the hardware is great. I had one problem where both a BT trackpad and mouse were both super wonky. Googled it, reset the Bluetooth module - all is working perfectly now. I'm happy with my purchase despite the pain of spending that money, and I hope this MBA lasts a while.

(I may regret getting gold because it does look pink sometimes but whatevs)