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Anyone gone to the Retina MBP and back to the Air?

luqtotheman said:
Hey guys,

I actually just got my Mac Air after using my rMBP after about a week. Honestly it is a great machine but I realized quickly it wasn't for me. The screen was amazing and really thin for its size but just too big overall for me.

As a student I am constantly on the go and I fly around a little and wanted a light Mac air. I already like it more, super thin and light and I got the 512/8gb/2.0 i7 for longevity.

I have no regrets about returning the rMBP, it's great for certain people but I realized an air would be way better.
Click to expand...

Same here, but I am still undecided about the 111'' or the 13''. To be honest I just LOVE the 11'' but I think it might have 2 negative points:

- Resale value compared to the 13''

- Perhaps to small to manage my website ? (and I do not want to buy an external display)

Opinions needed !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks !
 
I have been using a 2009 15" mbp as my only comp waiting for the refreshed version so bought a rmbp when I was able to find one. Great machine, nice and light compared to the older version I had been using. The screen is great although it is going to be some time before the web and lots of programs look decent due to the resolution.

I bought a new 13" Air to try out and found myself grabbing the Air more than the rmbp. I travel a fair amount and the size/weight is pretty amazing. I also have not had any issues with the power for the work I do. The screen could be better, its nice and sharp, but the contrast and viewing angle is not as good as my older mbp and much worse than the rmbp.

So I returned the rmbp and am selling the old mbp.

Might be tempted by the next revised rmbp or will wait for the Air to get an updated screen.
 
I'm settled now on one computer system

Now that the thunderbolt display is out I am coming back to the one computer approach. For my purposes a 13" Air and and Thunderbolt Display in my home office works perfectly. I love the little Air for 75% of my use on my lap. It has all the power I need as my main desktop system as well and TBD works as a docking station for peripherals. Very happy with this system. I do not do any real heavy graphics or number crunching. Mostly browsing, e mail, and some fairly heavy word processing at times. The logitech k750 solar powered keyboard is also a really nice addition when I am sitting at my desk with the TBD fired up. Excellent keyboard if you are doing a fair amount of typing. It has a forward delete key which is HUGE from my perspective.
 
lionmanpt said:
Same here, but I am still undecided about the 111'' or the 13''. To be honest I just LOVE the 11'' but I think it might have 2 negative points:

- Resale value compared to the 13''

- Perhaps to small to manage my website ? (and I do not want to buy an external display)

Opinions needed !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks !
Click to expand...


why do you think the 11 mba is lower than the 13 mba?
 
tim100 said:
why do you think the 11 mba is lower than the 13 mba?
Click to expand...

My doubts are:

1) Do you think the screen size is ok to manage a website ?

2) Everyone says that the resalle value and the procurement for the 11'' is much lower than the 13''. Do you think this is true ?

Thanks !!!
 
lionmanpt said:
My doubts are:

1) Do you think the screen size is ok to manage a website ?

2) Everyone says that the resalle value and the procurement for the 11'' is much lower than the 13''. Do you think this is true ?

Thanks !!!
Click to expand...

1) i do think the 11 can be used as a main machine. if its your only machine 13 has the advantage be a very small margin due to increased screen space and less scrolling. i have owned both and when i had them at the same time generally picked the 11.

2) i have found that the 11 and 13 have similar resale values. i have sold both and the percentage off the sale prices was within 5%.
 
tim100 said:
1) i do think the 11 can be used as a main machine. if its your only machine 13 has the advantage be a very small margin due to increased screen space and less scrolling. i have owned both and when i had them at the same time generally picked the 11.

2) i have found that the 11 and 13 have similar resale values. i have sold both and the percentage off the sale prices was within 5%.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your answers !
 
lionmanpt said:
Same here, but I am still undecided about the 111'' or the 13''. To be honest I just LOVE the 11'' but I think it might have 2 negative points:

- Resale value compared to the 13''

- Perhaps to small to manage my website ? (and I do not want to buy an external display)

Opinions needed !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks !
Click to expand...

Hey, I got the 13' inch laptop. the 11' is just too small for me not enough screen real estate to get major work done. I am a taller guy so it would be really small for me. 13' inch is perfect size and the max upgrade is worth it vs the 11' I still don't.

The weight difference won't be an issue since the air is so light either way. I don't use an external because I am always on the go, and as far resale value I don't put too much thought into that. Apple products all hold value pretty well.

best of luck! I hope that helped.
 
The days of premium apple resell value are over...

And it's due to Apple jumping on the Intel tick-tock upgrade cycle. It's not like the old days during the Power PC era, when the Powerbook went from a 1.25 to a 1.33 ghz G4 chip upgrade and you could sell your current system for 75% or more of it's MSRP.

I've thrown on my 2011 13" MBA ultimate in flawless condition for 70% of it's MSRP on CL a day or two ago, and am including extras like extended applecare, a book-book case, GA black carbon fiber with lifetime warranty (for the 'blackbook air' look) and a really good keyboard cover... and so far have received only one half interested initial reply. No wonder...my local CL has 24 listings for MBA's going all the way down to $575 for a 2010 c2d 11". Gazelle's offering $875, my local used reseller $600, and Best Buy...in the $300 or slightly less range! And I've heard too many horror stories about selling on flea-bay. (And hey, if I'm wrong about ebay, let me know.)

I think the heady days of getting most of your money back from selling a used mac are over. And the instances of people recouping their investments back lately seem to be from people in the know taking advantage of their experience...i.e., suspecting from past history that Apple was going to release a new model on a specific date and selling to the uninitiated for a modest discount during a small window right before then.

It may be that they're still have better resale value than windows. I don't know; I haven't bought a wintel until since 2002. But I'm starting to catch myself before telling potential converts that they 'have really excellent resale value'.
 
macbook123 said:
I couldn't agree more and wonder if you agree that a 15.4" Macbook Air with 1650x1050 resolution IPS display, integrated GPU only and the same same dual core CPU as in the 13.3" Air (all to make the laptop less power hungry and allowing for a smaller battery) weighing around 4 pounds would be the optimal compromise? Optimally with narrower bezel so it would have similar footprint as the 13.3" Air?

I'm finding 80% of the appeal of the RMBP comes from the fact that its display is IPS. All the other factors, including the retina aspect, are far less important to me personally. Even if the 13.3" Air came with an IPS panel, I wouldn't have to think much...
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That could be my dream machine but somehow under 4lbs.

Are you keeping your Retina, and an Air, if so which size Air?
 
entatlrg said:
That could be my dream machine but somehow under 4lbs.

Are you keeping your Retina, and an Air, if so which size Air?
Click to expand...

I'm still undecided. Have until the 17th to ship the retina back (even if I keep one I'd exchange this one as it has too many dead pixels). I would definitely get the 13 inch version as it is already at the lower limit of what I consider realistic for getting real work done while away from home. and I would want the 512 gb ssd option.

I'm slowly getting used to the sharp edge and longer distance to the keyboard of the retina or though, and given that the screen is so much better and bigger than the airs, might end up keeping it. I'll keep you posted.

Oh one more thing that argues against the air is the lottery around the Samsung versus LG displays. I don't have time to play it.
 
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