The rMB just seems a little too flimsy to me, compared the the mba. No screen stutter/lag on MBA offsets the lack of retina a bit. Battery life is, as many have already mentioned, amazing on a MBA. What is not mentioned much, though, is that the battery charges soooo quickly on the MBA as well.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Has anyone on here bought a MacBook Air AFTER the MacBook was released, and what was your reason
- Thread starter Hieveryone
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I bought a 11.6 MacBook Air about a month ago. It's nearly full spec too, i7, 8GB and 256gb. I wanted the smallest most capable computer for running Logic Pro X and doing music production. I wanted to get the most bang for my buck too, and the MacBook Pro 13 with 256gb drive was just too expensive, especially for features I didn't really need for audio production. And while sticking to a dual core cpu the benchmark improvements of the MacBook Pro didn't really stand out compared to the i7 Airs.
At home I use it docked to an external display. It's replacing a Mac Mini I used before. It's sort of a consolidation of three devices: Mac mini, old White unibody MacBook and an iPad Air 2.
The screen is not a deal breaker for me. It's the least important aspect of the computer to me. The bezel is too thick aesthetically... but I don't really notice when I'm getting into the zone creatively. The computer is a tool for making music, so a retina screen wouldn't help that. Especially when I'm using plugins that haven't updated their UI in 10 years.
Hiding the dock, menu bar, opening new windows for editors and reducing a lot of the visual fluff in Logic Pro X really helps get the most out of the small screen.
I always like it when the 'consumer' Mac computers inch very close in performance to Apple's Pro line of computers. It happened a couple of times before with certain models of the white MacBook. For all the great things the Retina MacBook has in it, when this becomes priced as the lowend 'consumer' laptop option the difference in performance between the lowend and highend will never be close again. Which is what Apple wants of course, but it sucks for those like me trying to get the best performing Mac for the lowest amount money.
I am really liking this 11 inch MacBook Air. It's still great getting this performance in such a small computer. I won't buy another Mac for a long time.
At home I use it docked to an external display. It's replacing a Mac Mini I used before. It's sort of a consolidation of three devices: Mac mini, old White unibody MacBook and an iPad Air 2.
The screen is not a deal breaker for me. It's the least important aspect of the computer to me. The bezel is too thick aesthetically... but I don't really notice when I'm getting into the zone creatively. The computer is a tool for making music, so a retina screen wouldn't help that. Especially when I'm using plugins that haven't updated their UI in 10 years.
Hiding the dock, menu bar, opening new windows for editors and reducing a lot of the visual fluff in Logic Pro X really helps get the most out of the small screen.
I always like it when the 'consumer' Mac computers inch very close in performance to Apple's Pro line of computers. It happened a couple of times before with certain models of the white MacBook. For all the great things the Retina MacBook has in it, when this becomes priced as the lowend 'consumer' laptop option the difference in performance between the lowend and highend will never be close again. Which is what Apple wants of course, but it sucks for those like me trying to get the best performing Mac for the lowest amount money.
I am really liking this 11 inch MacBook Air. It's still great getting this performance in such a small computer. I won't buy another Mac for a long time.
I get macbook air refurbished 13" 2015 and return of rMB 2015 bought from Apple Store last year because:
1. I need consistent speed for programming debug and compiling , and rMB will be show after 20s and become too hot.
2. I need individual direct ports for connect mobile device for debug.
3. I need connect for external monitor, i mainly connected with external monitor so i don't much care about MBA display quality.
4. I need travel and use it in hotel few days in a month, rMB is more portable but MBA13 is portable enough for packed inside of backpacks and it durable and less reflection, as more that 10 hours i can firmly confirm the battery can be support us for a one night trip without need bring power supply, the new macbook only have 8 hours so i need pack the power supply for standby.
5. much better keyboard for typing
I look forward for new macbook 13 may coming, but i don't thing i have a strong reason for exchange mba to macbook.
1. I need consistent speed for programming debug and compiling , and rMB will be show after 20s and become too hot.
2. I need individual direct ports for connect mobile device for debug.
3. I need connect for external monitor, i mainly connected with external monitor so i don't much care about MBA display quality.
4. I need travel and use it in hotel few days in a month, rMB is more portable but MBA13 is portable enough for packed inside of backpacks and it durable and less reflection, as more that 10 hours i can firmly confirm the battery can be support us for a one night trip without need bring power supply, the new macbook only have 8 hours so i need pack the power supply for standby.
5. much better keyboard for typing
I look forward for new macbook 13 may coming, but i don't thing i have a strong reason for exchange mba to macbook.
I went down in person and compared the two side-by-side for a long time to see if the Macbooks screen was this 'holy grail' that some make it out to be... it wasn't. If anything the MBA 11" screen was brighter overall and still looked great imo. By no means was it a big enough difference that I was willing to put up with the negatives of using a Macbook.
1. Price
Got a brand new Macbook Air 11-inch from Best Buy for $599, while a brand new Macbook would have costed me $899.
2. Ports
No USB-c dongle nonsense required for the Macbook Air. Dedicated magsafe charging port and 2 USB ports is great.
3. Keyboard
The super shallow keys of the Macbook felt very unsatisfying and annoying to type on, being so flat it was hard to tell which keys my hands were hovering over unless I constantly looked down to verify placement.
I have a 15" rMB and a rMBP and recently bought a MBA for my son, basically for schoolwork. Having used and using all three I cannot choose between them, as they each have their strengths and weaknesses. The screen of the MBA is totally unacceptable for me, and I mean really, really unacceptable. And the way it huffs and puffs when it has to work hard is annoying to me. But it is a very nice allround computer with plenty of ports and performance and it is light. My MBP on the other hand is waaaaay to heavy and big, and battery life is bit too short once it has to do something difficult. But the speed and the ports make up for it.
And than there is the MB. I bought my MB as a iPad successor, I just could not get used to IOS. The MB for me is THE perfect alternative to an iPad, with a decent processor, decent storage and a real keyboard, all in a incredible small package. As for performance, I have never understand where people notice the 'lag', as I have never ever noticed it. And even when working hard, it stays silent! But perfect it is not. Two USB ports would have been very nice, and the keyboard, while better than the keyboard of the iPad, feels very hard. Especially compared to the MBP. And the screen is a bit too small. Etc.
My perfect next computer: a 13" MB, with the battery life and price of a MA, the performance and ports of a MBP, and the silence and low weight of a MB. Won't happen though!
And than there is the MB. I bought my MB as a iPad successor, I just could not get used to IOS. The MB for me is THE perfect alternative to an iPad, with a decent processor, decent storage and a real keyboard, all in a incredible small package. As for performance, I have never understand where people notice the 'lag', as I have never ever noticed it. And even when working hard, it stays silent! But perfect it is not. Two USB ports would have been very nice, and the keyboard, while better than the keyboard of the iPad, feels very hard. Especially compared to the MBP. And the screen is a bit too small. Etc.
My perfect next computer: a 13" MB, with the battery life and price of a MA, the performance and ports of a MBP, and the silence and low weight of a MB. Won't happen though!
If the MB is a perfect alternative to an iPad (even with the disclaimer "for me"), then it suggests that you are either using the iPad wrong or the MB wrong. If you said that that MB is a perfect alternative to the MBA, absolutely.
I bought a MacBook Air. The main reason for choosing the air over the MacBook is the SINGLE USB-C connection. Even the Retina screen was not enough of a draw to the MacBook. Lame, ... there should have been at least two connectors. Having to carry a dock to be flexible is too retarded for my needs. That simple.
I'm in the camp that loved the rMB keyboard, but the slow processor was a frustration. I didn't think the single port would be an issue, but the constant need for adapters was an annoyance too. I don't have any problem with the MBA display and have moved to retina and back again several times without noticing it much.
I recently made a setup where I have 2 external monitors for 2 laptops. 1 mac and 1 PC. As much as I like the rMB right now it seems as though I am going to need the extra ports for USB printer, external storage via SD card, second USB for charging electronics, and of course HDMI for the monitor.
Yep...bought my 11" MBA last year April 2015, over the MB mainly because
- Price - $858 after taxes ($809 before taxes) for 4/256 vs MB's $1299 8/256 (4GB is adequate for me)
- Connectivity - 4 ports vs 1
- Power - IC i5 vs Core M