After seeing the new Macbook Airs in person for the first time, my initial impression was how much smaller the 11" seemed than I had imagined. I am a 12" powerbook user, and this thing just feels so much smaller in your hands.
Now, I basically had no interest in the 13" model before I went to look at them, and I was actually far more impressed by the smaller size of the 11" than I thought I would be. I am pretty sure I will still opt for the 11", but out of interest I have decided to do a little price/size/performance comparison between the 2 models.
First some initial overviews on spec choices:
1.) either model upgraded to the max 4GB of RAM. It's only $100 extra and has to be done up front. No way I am forgoing this option.
2.) HD upgraded to 128GB. There is a slight chance I might opt for the 64GB on the 11", but 64GB is cutting it pretty slim even though external storage is compact and cheap.
3.) No processor upgrades. I'm about bang for the buck and this processor is not going to make or break any task that I will use the computer for.
4.) I prefer hardwired internet when possible so I am including an ethernet adaptor in all price comparisons. This is a small % of the total price so it should not skew the results for those who wish to only use wireless.
5.) No display adaptors are included in the price.
6.) Applecare was included out of interest, but I almost certainly would not pay for it for the 11".
* All of the following comparisons will be given as both actual #s (11" specs / 13" specs) and a % of the 11" spec when compared to the 13" spec. All percentages rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent.
Physical Size:
· Height (0.68" / 0.68") (100%)
· Width (11.8" / 12.8") (92.19%)
· Depth (7.56" / 8.94") (84.56%)
· Total Surface Area ( 89.21"^2 / 114.43"^2) (77.96%)
· Weight (2.3lbs / 2.9lbs) (79.31%)
Specs:
·Memory (4GB / 4GB) (100%)
·CPU Clockspeed (1.4GHz / 1.86GHz) (75.27%)
·L2 Cache (3MB / 6MB) (50%)
·Frontside Bus (800MHz / 1066MHz) (75.05%)
·Storage (128GB / 128GB) (100%)
Screen:
Diagonal Size: (11.6" / 13.3") (87.22%)
Horizontal Resolution: (1366pixels / 1440 pixels) (94.86%)
Vertical Resolution: (768pixels / 900 pixels) (85.33%)
Total Screen Pixels: (1,049,088pixels / 1,296,000pixels) (80.95%)
Price:
MSRP (including ethernet adaptor): ($1,328.00 / $1,428.00) (93.00%)
MSRP (including ethernet adaptor + Applecare): ($1,577.00 / $1,677.00) (94.03%)
Broad Conclusions:
-The memory & storage are exactly the same on both models.
-The max & min thickness (height) of both models is the same but the taper is steeper on the 11" making it seem slightly thinner.
-For a 7.5% increase in MSRP on the 13", you get: double the L2 cache, 33% CPU clockspeed increase, 33% bus speed increase, 24% pixel increase
-However, the 11" is 21% lighter with a 22% smaller footprint.
As you can see fixed cost accessories (ethernet, monitor adaptors, extra power adaptors, 3rd party accessories) and applecare are a significantly higher percentage of the 11" price. Therefore, Applecare loses value on the smaller notebook. If you plan to buy many accessories, it brings the MSRPs closer together as a percentage.
Hopefully this is relatively accurate and hope you enjoy and bring in your own interpretations of this data.
Now, I basically had no interest in the 13" model before I went to look at them, and I was actually far more impressed by the smaller size of the 11" than I thought I would be. I am pretty sure I will still opt for the 11", but out of interest I have decided to do a little price/size/performance comparison between the 2 models.
First some initial overviews on spec choices:
1.) either model upgraded to the max 4GB of RAM. It's only $100 extra and has to be done up front. No way I am forgoing this option.
2.) HD upgraded to 128GB. There is a slight chance I might opt for the 64GB on the 11", but 64GB is cutting it pretty slim even though external storage is compact and cheap.
3.) No processor upgrades. I'm about bang for the buck and this processor is not going to make or break any task that I will use the computer for.
4.) I prefer hardwired internet when possible so I am including an ethernet adaptor in all price comparisons. This is a small % of the total price so it should not skew the results for those who wish to only use wireless.
5.) No display adaptors are included in the price.
6.) Applecare was included out of interest, but I almost certainly would not pay for it for the 11".
* All of the following comparisons will be given as both actual #s (11" specs / 13" specs) and a % of the 11" spec when compared to the 13" spec. All percentages rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent.
Physical Size:
· Height (0.68" / 0.68") (100%)
· Width (11.8" / 12.8") (92.19%)
· Depth (7.56" / 8.94") (84.56%)
· Total Surface Area ( 89.21"^2 / 114.43"^2) (77.96%)
· Weight (2.3lbs / 2.9lbs) (79.31%)
Specs:
·Memory (4GB / 4GB) (100%)
·CPU Clockspeed (1.4GHz / 1.86GHz) (75.27%)
·L2 Cache (3MB / 6MB) (50%)
·Frontside Bus (800MHz / 1066MHz) (75.05%)
·Storage (128GB / 128GB) (100%)
Screen:
Diagonal Size: (11.6" / 13.3") (87.22%)
Horizontal Resolution: (1366pixels / 1440 pixels) (94.86%)
Vertical Resolution: (768pixels / 900 pixels) (85.33%)
Total Screen Pixels: (1,049,088pixels / 1,296,000pixels) (80.95%)
Price:
MSRP (including ethernet adaptor): ($1,328.00 / $1,428.00) (93.00%)
MSRP (including ethernet adaptor + Applecare): ($1,577.00 / $1,677.00) (94.03%)
Broad Conclusions:
-The memory & storage are exactly the same on both models.
-The max & min thickness (height) of both models is the same but the taper is steeper on the 11" making it seem slightly thinner.
-For a 7.5% increase in MSRP on the 13", you get: double the L2 cache, 33% CPU clockspeed increase, 33% bus speed increase, 24% pixel increase
-However, the 11" is 21% lighter with a 22% smaller footprint.
As you can see fixed cost accessories (ethernet, monitor adaptors, extra power adaptors, 3rd party accessories) and applecare are a significantly higher percentage of the 11" price. Therefore, Applecare loses value on the smaller notebook. If you plan to buy many accessories, it brings the MSRPs closer together as a percentage.
Hopefully this is relatively accurate and hope you enjoy and bring in your own interpretations of this data.