Buying 2011 13in Air - not sure

[andrewlgm]

I'm considering buying the fully loaded macbook air 1.8 i7 with 4GB Ram and 256GB SSD.

I currently own a white unibody macbook 2.26 core 2 duo from 2009, with 8GB ram and an SSD, and with a reasonable 5 to 7 hour battery life, but I find that carrying it around all the time is killing my back.

Is this a good upgrade? Even 3 years later the macbook air still offers only 7 hours. How appreciable would the increase be to an i7 from a core 2 duo 2.26 and the air's faster internals? Should I wait for ivy bridge and USB 3 and maybe a faster processor and longer battery? Is the 4GB ram on the air enough for computing in the next couple of years? I really want to buy a new computer that will last me at least 4 to 6 years.

I definitely don't need to upgrade at this instant, but I really want to.

 

[KylePowers]

What sort of applications do you use? What do you use your computer for? Etc.

 

[andrewlgm]

What sort of applications do you use? What do you use your computer for? Etc.

I use my mac for DVD ripping. I have almost all of my DVD collection (more than 200 DVDs) in mp4 format in external hard drives. Music, writing and some light photo editing with aperture. I find that handbreak takes a while on my current unibody white macbook. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Batt]

I use my mac for DVD ripping. I have almost all of my DVD collection (more than 200 DVDs) in mp4 format in external hard drives. Music, writing and some light photo editing with aperture. I find that handbreak takes a while on my current unibody white macbook. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Air has no optical drive.

 

[andrewlgm]

Air has no optical drive.

i also have an external drive so that's not a problem, I do most ripping at home not while traveling so it's not a big deal.

 

[Naimfan]

I really want to buy a new computer that will last me at least 4 to 6 years.

Then the Air is not the answer - you're more likely to get that kind of life from a Pro, but even that is stretching it to get 6 years . . .