Anybody have a laptop but only use it at home? (re: couch/casual usage)

[sofakng]

I've moved into a new house and unfortunately I don't have an office (like my old house), so my PC is located downstairs in the basement. This isn't a huge problem, but it causes me to not use it as often because I'm usually upstairs with my kids, etc.

So... I'm thinking about getting a MacBook (Air?) to use upstairs. 65% of the time it will be used on the couch (with the trackpad) and the other 35% I'll use it on my dining room table with a mouse.

Does anybody else have a similar situation?

I really don't need the laptop to be portable because it will stay at home most of the time (except maybe using it at work during downtime to play games/watch short movies).

The 11" seems great for the couch, but then really small on the dining room table as a PC replacement.

 

[Mrbobb]

Get the 13" then. Unless you are 100LB 4' I don't see a problem.

You are right, the 11" is really for people who are traveling with that sucker.

 

[FoxFifth]

I use the 13" MacBook Air mostly at home at find it is the perfect size. Also re the mouse, I suspect you will find that you don't need or want one even at a table or desk. Unlike any PC I've ever used, the trackpad is a joy to use.

 

[gnasher729]

I use the 13" MacBook Air mostly at home at find it is the perfect size. Also re the mouse, I suspect you will find that you don't need or want one even at a table or desk. Unlike any PC I've ever used, the trackpad is a joy to use.

True. I don't use the mouse at all with a MacBook on a desk.

The exception is if you use an external monitor with the MacBook closed, then you will need a separate mouse and keyboard (you can attach one or two big monitors to any MacBook).

 

[s15119]

I don't believe my 2013 Macbook Air has left my house once since I've owned it. I will probably use it occasionally away from home; but 99% of the the time it's in the living room on my lap. I don't miss a mouse one little bit, the trackpad is a joy to use.

 

[ducatiti]

I mostly use mine while lying down so it stays on my side table when not in use.

 

[lcseds]

I pretty much gave up on desktops. These newer notebooks are very powerful and fast. I have been using a 13" MBA for a few years around the house. I have now changed to a rMBP 13". I plug into a Dell ultrasharp 24" monitor if I want to sit down and do some photo editing. I rarely take my portables out of the house.

 

[brilliantthings]

I use a MacBook Air 13" almost exclusively at home. When I'm at my desk I put it on a shelf at eye level and it connects to the Apple wireless trackpad and keyboard that stay on my desk. Everywhere else I use it on its own. Works really well. 11" is too small especially if you don't need the portability.

 

[SusanK]

I use my 11" MBA on the couch, recliner. Perfect size for that. iPad mini is good to but I love my MBA.

 

[Tsar Chasm]

Just got my first Mac of any sort 6 days ago. Got a 13" MBA and am in love. It's replacing 2 15" laptops that are now dead to me.

For me, 11" would be too small. The 13 is almost as big as my 3 yo 15". I like to increase my pages to 110-125% and there's nowhere to expand with the smaller screen.

Today's laptops are capable of handling most everything the typical user needs. Unless you're running specialized programs and have specific needs, go wireless and set yourself free!

With AppleTV, you can even have your MBA stream one thing wirelessly to your TV and another on your screen.

 

[sofakng]

How comfortable is using the 13" on your lap on a couch?

I've tried using a friend's 11" and it was pretty good and definitely nice and compact but the screen size was a bit small and using it on a table (which I won't do THAT much) it was REALLY small.

...but, I'll be using the laptop on my couch about 60 - 70% of the time...

 

[robdrj45]

My 13 stays home. It's a good size, very easy to use. The 11 is better for frequent travel. This is my only computer, so it was no contest.

 

[drsox]

Totally use my 13in MBA at home. Always without a mouse.
I'm going to get another one so that the old one can stay as a bedside iPad substitute.

 

[sofakng]

Do you guys use the 13" on the couch? Do you feel the 11" would be better?

 

[NewbieCanada]

True. I don't use the mouse at all with a MacBook on a desk.

The exception is if you use an external monitor with the MacBook closed, then you will need a separate mouse and keyboard (you can attach one or two big monitors to any MacBook).

Or a magic TrackPad.

 

[Mrbobb]

Do you guys use the 13" on the couch? Do you feel the 11" would be better?

Use a pad, the rubber kind would be perfect, that will provide stability, keeps Air from wobbling, and shields you from the warm bottom if you end up doing anything heavy (like mirroring) on your lap.


p.s.: You really want to look at both side-by-side. Aside from footprint, there a noticeable screen aspect difference. I have the 11" because portability is paramount but I would rather have the aspect of a 13", it's less of a shock coming from a 4:3 Sony.

 

[robdrj45]

Do you guys use the 13" on the couch? Do you feel the 11" would be better?

Perfectly fine for the couch.

 

[PDFierro]

Do you guys use the 13" on the couch? Do you feel the 11" would be better?

Both the 11" and 13" work amazing on the lap/couch. So I wouldn't make that a factor in your decision.

 

[MsMerryMac]

Mostly at home

My MBA 13" is used 99% of the time at home, but then again, I am a total home body and worked from home for years. Occasionally I will venture out to Starbucks to do some writing but for me, the Air replaced a crappy HP that was newer but still bulky, hot, heavy and just plain ugly!

 

[Amplelink]

Unless you really need a full laptop, why don't you just get an iPad? Cheaper and may or may may not accomplish everything you wanted to do with the MBA.

 

[Dweez]

My 13" MBA is used 90% for travel and gets pulled out occasionally at home.

 

[SteelBlueTJ]

I have been in this predicament myself. I have a 27" iMac as my main machine. On top having a desktop, I bought a new 3rd Gen iPad. I never took it out of the house and only used it on the couch and in bed. I had it for about 4 months then decided to sell the iPad and get a 11" MBA. The MBA is great but I immediately missed my iPad. I lived with only the MBA for a few months until the 1st gen iPad Mini came out and I immediatley got one of those. I still kept my 11" MBA but rarely ever use it. I recently sold my iPad mini for the new iPad Air. I am currently debating on selling my MBA since I never use it and it's just collecting dust. Both devices are great, but the MBA is somewhat overkill for a "couch" device in my experience. It all depends on what you plan to do with it.

 

[libertysat]

I am happy with my setup
15" MBP that ends up in most convenient location at the time

But use my iPad for most of my lighter duty needs

With a network printer located out of the way helped me reduce the amount of space that needs to be dedicated to 'office' use only

 

[Orr]

Personally I think it's an incredible waste to never take the Air out and about.
While it has more than enough juice for the vast majority of regular folks to use as a desktop replacement, its single greatest asset is that incredible battery life. Which is almost entirely wasted when using it solely at home. But to each their own!

 

[iSayuSay]

I know it might be irrelevant but IMO there's no point of getting a MBA if it's going to stay at home mostly?

I have a Macbook Air myself and I rarely use it at home unless it's used for Target disk mode through the iMac. I think the point of owning an ultralight laptop is portability and I paid a lot of premium specifically for it so I use it a lot for outdoor computing. OTOH the iMac never leave the house (obviously) and I also have the iPad Air for browsing and reading on the coach/bed or even travelling.

If it stays at home, the money will be more well spent toward a desktop computer, like the iMac. Same $$ for more performance or less $$ for same performance.