any front end developer using macbook air here for coding? just interested to know how do you use it and how do you feel about it? thanks.
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any front end developer using macbook air here for coding?
- Thread starter cktai
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I'm using a Macbook Air 11 mid 2011, it works perfect. I have nothing to complain.
Sometimes, it is a little bit slow however, it is not a really issue to me.
I strongly recommend use it connected with a external monitor, in my case 11 inch is slightly annoying.
Go further mate, you shall enjoy it.
For front end development, macbook air 2014 13 inch works fine for me.
Only constraint I face is the RAM being 4gb, so if you open a 50 tabs(which is how I work), it feels a bit laggy.
However, the newer model has 8gb RAM as standard, so it should be good
I can't remember where I saw this, but there's this guy who posted photos of how he codes on his MBA. His 13" Air is the only dev environment he has. He used to have heavier gear, but he said he downsized and prefer using just his Air a lot more. He has this crazy system of different screen spaces. He keeps something like a dozen or two different screen spaces active and he switches between them at will constantly.
actually I struggle a bit about using my Macbook air 11 or buy a used Macbook pro 2012 4gb ram from amazon. based on what everyone wrote here I think I should stick with MBA. once i got more web design project going, I will have budget to buy a latest macbook pro. I thought about buying a window laptop too. however, I need to use sketch and it is for mac only and I need a mac laptop to go to work on site for client.
can do what I do, run it in a VM on a workstation. its been years since I had any clients grumble about not bringing my rMBP all the time. So best thing is to pick the tools you need and also look for alternatives now and then, I use Figma in place of sketch now and then when I don't have my VM unit handy and for opening and viewing sketch files there is also lunacy. All in all I use other applications instead of Sketch including Xara Pro ( very fast for doing up concept and test ideas )and Affinity. Adobe has new tools coming out in beta which look fantastic as well ( http://www.adobe.com/es/products/experience-design.html )
word of advice from an old timer don't get locked into one set of tools in your toolbox !!! keep adding more applications because you never know when one will vanish, quit updating or be no longer relevant.
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Thanks for your great advice. so, do you need a fancy laptop like dell xps or what kind of window machine do you bring to do projects in front of client? you know these days it is hard to get project so I try not to look bad in front of them.
I live in new york city and seems like 9 out of 10 designer/developer use apple.
I live in new york city and seems like 9 out of 10 designer/developer use apple.
since 90% of my work is video / animation / 3D work etc for film etc. I haul around different workstations to clients depending on projects. right now my main units are HP Zbook 17 gen 3, Dell Precisions and Lenovo P series.
and as inflammatory as it may be I started stealing projects from competitors back in 2012 by actually going dark side and picking up an old HP Elitebook 8740W ( one of the first wide gamut, 10 bit color laptops with 32GB support ) I could sit down beside the competition and show them exactly what would come out on the press color wise, no color wheels or " it will be sort of like this purple " and I could do much of the prelims on that machine in front of the client and let hem put in a little extra input and not need to run home to a more powerful machine.
as I said have to pick the right tools for the job, I only have one client that raises an eyebrow when I haul in my new P70 to work on his insane 3D animated ideas for his website. and I make a living off my gear, time is money for me. so that's why I live in both worlds. but for the last 6 years have been shifting over and at the same time making myself more competitive, because we ALL know how much clients like to toss badly thought out timelines etc.
and as inflammatory as it may be I started stealing projects from competitors back in 2012 by actually going dark side and picking up an old HP Elitebook 8740W ( one of the first wide gamut, 10 bit color laptops with 32GB support ) I could sit down beside the competition and show them exactly what would come out on the press color wise, no color wheels or " it will be sort of like this purple " and I could do much of the prelims on that machine in front of the client and let hem put in a little extra input and not need to run home to a more powerful machine.
as I said have to pick the right tools for the job, I only have one client that raises an eyebrow when I haul in my new P70 to work on his insane 3D animated ideas for his website. and I make a living off my gear, time is money for me. so that's why I live in both worlds. but for the last 6 years have been shifting over and at the same time making myself more competitive, because we ALL know how much clients like to toss badly thought out timelines etc.
I proably don't need a powerful machine like you since I only do web design and coding job. a macbook air or dell xps would fit me the most. Thanks for your info though. HP Zbook and Dell precision is excellent choice but they are way beyond my budget now.
I would tend to agree with you, different scale of machine doing web work vs broadcast video and direct to print. and my web design is a minimal part of my work. but it does point out don't limit your options in hardware or software, 10 yrs ago I was in FC all the time, now I barely touch it.