Am I the only one who doesn't want the 11" MacBook Air gone?

[sunapple]

Bought the 11" MBA in 2010 when it was just launched. It turned out to be too slow (base 1.4 C2D / 2GB / 64GB) and I switched a couple of times between 13" and 11" (models 2011, 2012, 2014).

Really great machine and I think the 11" is the best "Air" portability-wise. The screen resolution just doesn't cut it for me anymore though. Nowadays the MacBook clearly beats the 11" and 13" Air in terms of portability and screen (which for me are the two most important things about them). Missing ports are a thing of the future, it's in my mind not too early to start adjusting to it.

It seems that, in a few years, the MacBook and MacBook Pro will be Apple's full line-up, with the Air replaced with the MacBook when it gets cheaper. An Air with Retina would just be the same machine as the MacBook. Or maybe "Air" now stands for price instead of size and they will make sub-1000 dollar MacBook Airs with better screens?

Who knows, I won't miss the 11" Air.

 

[MacBoook160]

Wow your battery life is quite good. I assume you're always at the brightness setting though?

I didn't think that was that good, actually, given what I hear all of you are getting. The brightness is between 25-33%. Given my tendency toward migraines, that's as much for my own eyestrain as the battery.

I'll be bookmarking a bunch of these tabs today, and I think that will also have a positive impact. As much as I think I may know, there's still a lot to learn about this particular machine and the best way to optimize performance. Which is why all of the comments here are so invaluable to me. I really appreciate everyone who posts.

 

[chrono1081]

I have the 13 inch but LOVE the 11 inch. It'll be my next laptop.

I have my desktop for all my heavy lifting but love the air due to its power (its far more powerful than people give it credit for, which I learned when needing to use Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop and Unity on it in a pinch), its thin, light, has a great battery. Its just a great machine and perfect for work on the go.

 

[DavidLynch]

I have the 13 inch but LOVE the 11 inch. It'll be my next laptop.

I have my desktop for all my heavy lifting but love the air due to its power (its far more powerful than people give it credit for, which I learned when needing to use Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop and Unity on it in a pinch), its thin, light, has a great battery. Its just a great machine and perfect for work on the go.

Definitely agree with this. I have a maxed out 11" that I picked up as a refurb, but it's incredible what I can get done with a computer this size and how long it runs.

 

[zhenya]

The single port wouldn't bother me much as well. But that keyboard is the only thing I don't like about the MacBook. And it's unlikely that's gonna get better (and by better, I mean have more key travel).

I think you need to give this a chance. I'm really picky about my keyboards; I have a modified Happy Hacking Keyboard at my desk at work, and a customized mechanical board connected to my iMac at home. I have owned Thinkpads for years which I believe have the best laptop keyboards in the business - better than Apple's. Yet I surprisingly quite like the keyboard on the Macbook. What it lacks in travel it makes up for in extremely crisp response - to the point that the keyboard on my wife's Air now feels loose and mushy in comparison. I could easily live with either one though, as they both have their positives and negatives - but the lack of travel on the Macbook isn't really bothering me.

 

[cyberbobcity]

When the 11" Haswells came out, I upgraded and downsized from my 17" MacBook Pro. It was the best decision I ever made! Furthermore, since then, I now have completely gotten rid of my 3 monitor work PC and now use my 11" with an external monitor, trackpad and keyboard full time and I couldn't be happier.

I really wanted them to take the 11" and just add Retina. I was even waiting to see what they released to get my wife her first Mac. But when they came out with that new low powered MacBook, we proceeded to get her a new i7 11" air and she loves it. So I really hope they don't kill it.

I even wrote a blog post about it recently, called "The 11" MacBook Air - A Productivity Powerhouse", on why I love it so much! bit.ly/1LzRy4i

Please Apple! Let's keep this machine going strong! It's now the ONLY computer I use!

 

[MacBoook160]

Please Apple! Let's keep this machine going strong! It's now the ONLY computer I use!

The good news is, if comments here are anything to go by, whatever you've purchased will last you (and your wife) a long time.

 

[Phil A.]

I recently bought an 11" base MBA as a ultra portable machine to use when I don't want to lug my 15" rMBP around. I got it for £675 (10% off sale in PC World) which was a fantastic price and far, far less than the new MacBook.
I absolutely love it and it does everything I could want from it

 

[toddzrx]

Sorry to spoil the party, but in all likely hood the MBA's days are numbered. This first iteration of rMB is testing the waters, just like the original MBA did back in 2008. In this case, Apple is pushing the limits with only 1 port, a retina screen, and no fan. The second gen with Skylake will most likely have the USB-C port that includes Thunderbolt 3, and I would not be surprised at all to see a 14 inch version. Apple will keep the MBA around for, at most, one more update with Skylake. I would expect it'll be discontinued sometime within the next 2 years.

For me, I'm planning to get a rMB and external monitor to replace my SSD-modded iMac, but I won't need it for at least a year or 2, and by then the rMB should have all the teething issues worked out.

 

[Cerano]

Let me speak from someone who has gone over to the RMB camp.

I had a 2010, 1.6ghz 4gb 11" which is still kicking ass today (gave it to my mom)

I recently swapped to the Retina MB and honestly the new mb is much much thinner and lighter but in truth the biggest difference is the screen and the battery life. My 2010 mba could only do maybe 2-3hrs but this new retina mb feels like it lasts forever seriously.

I watched a 40 min movie on a plane and had 100% batt still im not sure how that was possible.

Speed is still an upgrade and keys are lousier but you get used to it.

The speakers are much better than the mba though

 

[Manzana]

I will miss the 11" but it will go the way of the 12" PowerBook. I remember the first time I saw a 12" PowerBook and held it in my hands I loved it, sadly I did not get the chance to ever buy something like it, until the 11" came along with its odd widescreen.

But it seems that those of us that have the 11" really love it.

 

[Phil A.]

I will miss the 11" but it will go the way of the 12" PowerBook. I remember the first time I saw a 12" PowerBook and held it in my hands I loved it, sadly I did not get the chance to ever buy something like it, until the 11" came along with its odd widescreen.

But it seems that those of us that have the 11" really love it.

My first portable mac was a 12" PowerBook and I still remember the day I got it - it was an absolutely brilliant little machine

 

[sracer]

I will miss the 11" but it will go the way of the 12" PowerBook. I remember the first time I saw a 12" PowerBook and held it in my hands I loved it, sadly I did not get the chance to ever buy something like it, until the 11" came along with its odd widescreen.

But it seems that those of us that have the 11" really love it.

I didn't understand the over-the-top praise for the 11" MBA... until I bought one myself.
I've owned mine for a little over a year and the more I use it the greater my appreciation of it.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Let me speak from someone who has gone over to the RMB camp.

I had a 2010, 1.6ghz 4gb 11" which is still kicking ass today (gave it to my mom)

I recently swapped to the Retina MB and honestly the new mb is much much thinner and lighter but in truth the biggest difference is the screen and the battery life. My 2010 mba could only do maybe 2-3hrs but this new retina mb feels like it lasts forever seriously.

I watched a 40 min movie on a plane and had 100% batt still im not sure how that was possible.

Speed is still an upgrade and keys are lousier but you get used to it.

The speakers are much better than the mba though

It would be more objective and fair to compare the 2015 rMB with a 2015 MBA 11", don't you think?
In this case the battery life would not be better of the rMB, like the "speed" would not be an upgrade by any means. On the contrary.
Much much thinner and lighter? 1.31 cm as opposed to 1.7 cm (aka 0.39 cm) and 0.92 kg vs 1.08 kg (aka 0.16 kg)?

No doubt, though, the screen and the the speakers are better in the rMB.

 

[Cerano]

It would be more objective and fair to compare the 2015 rMB with a 2015 MBA 11", don't you think?
In this case the battery life would not be better of the rMB, like the "speed" would not be an upgrade by any means. On the contrary.
Much much thinner and lighter? 1.31 cm as opposed to 1.7 cm (aka 0.39 cm) and 0.92 kg vs 1.08 kg (aka 0.16 kg)?

No doubt, though, the screen and the the speakers are better in the rMB.

If you want to compare spec wise the difference dows not seem that significant but in actuality it's quite a fair bit.

As for the comparison im just sharing what I came from so those who have a similar setup can be assured of an upgrade

The screen is the largest factor of course and anyways there isnt much you cant do on the new retina MB that you can on a Macbook Pro. If you need real power youd have to look into a dedicated work station

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I love my 2013 11" MBA and plan to keep it for a few more years. It is my primary computer, I have the i7/8gb/512gb model. I don't much care if Apple discontinues it however, there should be some other good alternative available by the time I'm ready for a new computer. If there isn't, maybe I will switch to Windows.

My 11" MBA has a similar configuration, i7, 8GB RAM and a 512SSD drive; it is a superb, reliable, powerful and exceedingly portable computer, and I have to say that I love it.

It would be more objective and fair to compare the 2015 rMB with a 2015 MBA 11", don't you think?
In this case the battery life would not be better of the rMB, like the "speed" would not be an upgrade by any means. On the contrary.
Much much thinner and lighter? 1.31 cm as opposed to 1.7 cm (aka 0.39 cm) and 0.92 kg vs 1.08 kg (aka 0.16 kg)?

No doubt, though, the screen and the the speakers are better in the rMB.

Agreed.

Re the new MB, I take the point a great many people have made about the quality of the screen. However, to me, the MB is 'still a work in progress'.

My sense is that it will take a few iterations until it offers what it should for that price, much as was the case with the original MBAs when they were first introduced.

Nevertheless, for now, the 11' MBA is a fast, powerful, reliable and exceptionally portable computer - a perfect companion for someone who travels a lot and needs a decent computer.

No, I don't want the 11" MBA to be gone, ever. As long as they exist, I envisage having one in my life…….