I am a long time PC user

[Boyd01]

I had a 2011 MBA with 4gb (which was the max you could get back then), upgraded to a 2013 MBA with 8gb. I use software like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, FileMaker Pro, VectorWorks, Photoshop, etc. It ran just fine on the 2011 machine. The 2013 MBA is a bit faster, but it's a newer generation CPU and I also have the i7 vs the i5 on my old MBA. The SSD is really fast on the MBA, I'm sure swapping was taking place on the 2011 4gb machine but I was never aware of it. And the new SSDs in current machines are much faster than the 2011 models (especially the 13" MBA).

Since we're discussing the MBA, it isn't possible to have 16gb RAM, 8gb is the max available and it is not upgradeable. Also, there is no law that says you have to upgrade to a new operating system. I still run my 2013 MBA on 10.8 which is the version that it came from. Really not interested in upgrading, I run lots of old software and each new version of MacOSX usually breaks something.

The OP said "I just browse, check emails, facebook, forums, listen to music". Why in the world would he need 16gb RAM?

 

[Shirasaki]

I had a 2011 MBA with 4gb (which was the max you could get back then), upgraded to a 2013 MBA with 8gb. I use software like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, FileMaker Pro, VectorWorks, Photoshop, etc. It ran just fine on the 2011 machine. The 2013 MBA is a bit faster, but it's a newer generation CPU and I also have the i7 vs the i5 on my old MBA. The SSD is really fast on the MBA, I'm sure swapping was taking place on the 2011 4gb machine but I was never aware of it. And the new SSDs in current machines are much faster than the 2011 models (especially the 13" MBA).

Since we're discussing the MBA, it isn't possible to have 16gb RAM, 8gb is the max available and it is not upgradeable. Also, there is no law that says you have to upgrade to a new operating system. I still run my 2013 MBA on 10.8 which is the version that it came from. Really not interested in upgrading, I run lots of old software and each new version of MacOSX usually breaks something.

The OP said "I just browse, check emails, facebook, forums, listen to music". Why in the world would he need 16gb RAM?

Maybe, 20+ tabs open at the same time?

 

[stockscalper]

I'm using a late 2010 MacBook Air with 4 gigs of ram running Yosemite. I use it for my business so it's on at least 8 hours a day five days a week and about 3 to 4 hours on weekends. It runs like a top, fast and smooth. I don't see a need to upgrade. I've used Macs for years and have a Mac laptop from 2001 that still runs. They are built better than pc's and last longer.

 

[TechGod]

Your a PC user because you are cheap. Spend the money and stop debating the cost. Apple is the only way to go.

Wow...That's a disgusting attitude.

 

[Falcon16]

Your a PC user because you are cheap. Spend the money and stop debating the cost. Apple is the only way to go.

I hope that was meant to be sarcastic. Implying he's cheap because he's a PC user is doing nothing more than being antagonistic and frankly makes you and lots of Apple users look like *******s. Not to mention LOTS of pc based machines cost FAR more than many macbooks and frankly from a spec perspective and price/performance Macs lag behind.Other than the Retina display a new macbook pro is not worth then $1500+ for a base model. Not when for a couple hundred more I could get a 4K display in an MSI gaming laptop that will smash ANY macbook model into the dust. So stop drinking the Kool Aid and stop acting like a zealot

 

[TechGod]

I hope that was meant to be sarcastic. Implying he's cheap because he's a PC user is doing nothing more than being antagonistic and frankly makes you and lots of Apple users look like *******s. Not to mention LOTS of pc based machines cost FAR more than many macbooks and frankly from a spec perspective and price/performance Macs lag behind.Other than the Retina display a new macbook pro is not worth then $1500+ for a base model. Not when for a couple hundred more I could get a 4K display in an MSI gaming laptop that will smash ANY macbook model into the dust. So stop drinking the Kool Aid and stop acting like a zealot

While he was wrong, so are you. The MSI gaming notebook is thick, heavy and has a 2 and MAYBE a 3hr battery life. It also in my eyes has an inferior trackpad and I don't think the keyboard is something to write about home also. On top of that, yes, that power is amazing but it also generates a lot of heat and NOISE.

Its not at all fair to compare the rMBP and gaming notebooks because they aren't made for the same purpose. I would compare the Dell XPS lineup to the MBP. Noe THAT'S a fair comparison.

 

[Falcon16]

While he was wrong, so are you. The MSI gaming notebook is thick, heavy and has a 2 and MAYBE a 3hr battery life. It also in my eyes has an inferior trackpad and I don't think the keyboard is something to write about home also. On top of that, yes, that power is amazing but it also generates a lot of heat and NOISE.

Its not at all fair to compare the rMBP and gaming notebooks because they aren't made for the same purpose. I would compare the Dell XPS lineup to the MBP. Noe THAT'S a fair comparison.

It's a gaming notebook it's not meant for long battery life if that's your main concern buy a Mac and be done with it. With that said I see buying a Mac solely on battery life and screen alone to be over buying and over paying. In the oc world a machine of similar spec to a base model retina macbook would run you you maybe $500 at the top end. Sure it's not going to have 9+ hour battery life or the retina display but honestly the retina is overkill for 99% of users. I'd happily swap that for a 1080p screen and run a smaller battery and be happy with 4 hours of battery life if it meant saving over $1000. Like I said I have no problem with Mac and like their design aesthetic but the prices Apple demands for them are crack pipe pricing. Heck for $1200 CDN I can buy an Alienware 13 with an i7 and once I've spec'd it price wise to be comparable to the base model macbook it ends up far outstripping it. $1500 Alienware 13 has an i7 quad core 2GB 900 series nvidia graphics and a retina display level. Better bang for buck and that's after adding in 4 year accidental damage with in home service. I'd love to see Apple do that but it won't happen for the price point. Just putting everything in perspective. To each their own. But I think we can agree to say a pc user is cheap simply because he's a pc user is being a dick plain and simple

 

[TechGod]

It's a gaming notebook it's not meant for long battery life if that's your main concern buy a Mac and be done with it. With that said I see buying a Mac solely on battery life and screen alone to be over buying and over paying. In the oc world a machine of similar spec to a base model retina macbook would run you you maybe $500 at the top end. Sure it's not going to have 9+ hour battery life or the retina display but honestly the retina is overkill for 99% of users. I'd happily swap that for a 1080p screen and run a smaller battery and be happy with 4 hours of battery life if it meant saving over $1000. Like I said I have no problem with Mac and like their design aesthetic but the prices Apple demands for them are crack pipe pricing. Heck for $1200 CDN I can buy an Alienware 13 with an i7 and once I've spec'd it price wise to be comparable to the base model macbook it ends up far outstripping it. $1500 Alienware 13 has an i7 quad core 2GB 900 series nvidia graphics and a retina display level. Better bang for buck and that's after adding in 4 year accidental damage with in home service. I'd love to see Apple do that but it won't happen for the price point. Just putting everything in perspective. To each their own. But I think we can agree to say a pc user is cheap simply because he's a pc user is being a dick plain and simple

I may disagree with other points you've made as I find that battery and screen are clearly more important to me. I also prefer OSX over windows just due to the way it integrates with my iPhone and that the trackpad gestures are much better under OSX, BUT the bolded part is ABSOLUTELY true.

 

[Falcon16]

I may disagree with other points you've made as I find that battery and screen are clearly more important to me. I also prefer OSX over windows just due to the way it integrates with my iPhone and that the trackpad gestures are much better under OSX, BUT the bolded part is ABSOLUTELY true.

That's fine that you disagree you prefer Mac for legitimate reasons an led aren't sitting and saying oh Mac is better just because. It's better for you for your reasons. For me as long as a machine e has a few hours of battery life I'm good. I want a portable powerhouse that I can use the same as I would my desktop and Mac really doesn't provide that until you are into the stratosphere with the price which to me is not worth it. That's just my take on this

 

[Legionnaire]

I'm using a late 2010 MacBook Air with 4 gigs of ram running Yosemite. I use it for my business so it's on at least 8 hours a day five days a week and about 3 to 4 hours on weekends. It runs like a top, fast and smooth. I don't see a need to upgrade. I've used Macs for years and have a Mac laptop from 2001 that still runs. They are built better than pc's and last longer.

My laptop wasn't cheap lol, it was a grand. Just realized it's more than I'd ever need, bad battery life in exchange for tons of power.

Ouch at being called cheap. I just am wanting a reliable/useful pc for my life.

I passed on Best Buy, waiting for any news on new model before I buy one.

 

[Boyd01]

I want a portable powerhouse that I can use the same as I would my desktop

Seems like we are getting really off-topic here because the OP clearly stated

I just browse, check emails, facebook, forums, listen to music.

But aside from that, I use my 11" 2013 MBA i7/8gb/512gb for all kinds of demanding things like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. Sure, it is not the most powerful machine on the market, but many people has this completely wrong stereotype of it being something like a netbook. The current MBA is faster than the MacBook Pro from just a few years ago. When I got my first MBA in 2011, the CPU was twice as fast as my three year old 15" MacBook Pro and of course the SSD totally blew the hard drive based MBP out of the water.

 

[mmomega]

I am tired of pc / laptops dying and breaking. I have a y500 that is a montser but it just died on me, and im tired of new pcs lol. Long story short.

Ive been seeing deals here and there, I saw one at best buy 799 macbook air 4gb 128gb. 13 inch, with movers coupon etc.. 700 or so. Will there be better deals? any features you can think on waiting for? Should I get a 4gb?

my current is 256gb OS msata/16gb ram/1tb memory storage. None of which I use, I just browse, check emails, facebook, forums, listen to music. I am going to be keeping old laptop just to torrent /store things. So I am wanting a macbook for everything else.

Is 4gb future proof on macbooks airs? how much OS takes up from the 128gb ? Reliability for years?

Personally I'd not go with less than 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM, those two are more important to me than CPU speed, in my mobile devices anyway. I got by with a 128GB Air for a few years but my needs started changing and I needed a tad more storage space.