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Just bought an 11" as a main computer. Am I crazy?

If you travel more often than you use power apps (photoshop, iMovie, games) then the 11" is the key.

Every ounce counts when you're constantly on the move.
 
Yes and No...

The 11 inch is my favorite mac, as you can always plug an external monitor in for desk work, but it's great to carry all day...

That being said, retina MBP, retina iPhone, retina iPads.....the screen on the 11 inch is pure and total garbage. If they get that fixed, not even retina, but just better than what is there now, I'll go back to the 11.
 
What they really need to do is make the display larger on the same chassis. The empty bezel space is way too wide, it's like 1996 all over again.
 
I have both a 15" (main computer) and 11" (my backpack/work machine).

Whilst the 11" is nice for travelling, I find it a little underpowered (I have the 1.3 i5/8GB model). Also, the screen quality is nothing compared to the pros.

Word of advice though - make sure you calibrate the display properly. The air LCDs are incredibly badly calibrated out of the box.
 
Handle said:
What they really need to do is make the display larger on the same chassis. The empty bezel space is way too wide, it's like 1996 all over again.
Click to expand...

That's what I would like. When they make a bezel-less retina version, I'll be picking up an 11" straight away.
 
Handle said:
What they really need to do is make the display larger on the same chassis. The empty bezel space is way too wide, it's like 1996 all over again.
Click to expand...

Fully agree on that phone. Keep the overall form factor of the 11" but using the full space for the display would be awesome. Much more important to me than the retina display.
 
I'm shortly going to upgrading to an 11", and it's the very size of the thing that makes it so appealing to me.

Having used my 17" MacBook Pro since 2005, I can't imagine not having a work machine that isn't able to travel, and being as I am now hauling my computer with me much more often, I'm downsizing. Plus, I've really gotten used to me iPad + Keyboard case but want the full computer features of a laptop without a sacrifice in portability.

The main thing for was, If I'm looking to downgrade the size of my machine, why would I opt for the one that's 2" bigger?

The 11" is more than powerful enough to run an external monitor when I'm home anyway, and monitors are cheap enough on Amazon.
 
mwa said:
The main thing for was, If I'm looking to downgrade the size of my machine, why would I opt for the one that's 2" bigger?
Click to expand...

Because those 2" make a big difference to some people.

For me, those 2" are the difference between needing an external monitor and not needing one. Right now I am perfectly comfortable using my 13" MBA at my desk without a monitor. That means I can use it all over my home or on the go without feeling like I would rather have it hooked up to a bigger monitor. The 11" crossed that threshold, though. I always felt it was too small and that I needed a bigger monitor which stopped me from using it in the kitchen or bedroom because I wanted it hooked up to the monitor at my desk.

It's all opinions, whatever you are comfortable with. IMO, the 13" is still small and light and has other benefits too such as the longer battery runtime.
 
Handle said:
It's all opinions, whatever you are comfortable with. IMO, the 13" is still small and light and has other benefits too such as the longer battery runtime.
Click to expand...

True dat. If 2" is the difference between buying an ext monitor and not feeling yu need one, it would make the 13" a good choice.

...battery isn't something I thought abut, tbh. I always have an outlet when I'm using my computer so it's not really a big issue for me.
 
Depends on what you do. As a developer, no way would it work. Yes you can use an external monitor when at home, but when on the road it would be way too small.


I see the 11" MBA as an iPad alternative for someone who needs a little more power and flexibility.
 
13" vs 11"

I have used a 13" MBA for a couple of years and just bought an 11". I LOVE the smaller footprint (MUCH easier to use on a plane with all the insane leg room!) and it actually runs faster than my 13".

Now I just need to upgrade the drive to something that can hold some stuff. Has anyone upgraded an 11"?

Oh, by the way, anyone want a sweet 13" for a good deal? 🙂
 
BlackIceBob said:
I have used a 13" MBA for a couple of years and just bought an 11". I LOVE the smaller footprint (MUCH easier to use on a plane with all the insane leg room!) and it actually runs faster than my 13".

Now I just need to upgrade the drive to something that can hold some stuff. Has anyone upgraded an 11"?
Click to expand...
How much storage do you have now? I have a 4GB/128GB MBA 11. I supplement the onboard storage with a 64GB Sandisk USB "nub". I find it sufficient for my needs.
 
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sracer said:
How much storage do you have now? I have a 4GB/128GB MBA 11. I supplement the onboard storage with a 64GB Sandisk USB "nub". I find it sufficient for my needs.
Click to expand...

Do they make those with USB 3?

Does having that plugged in full time effect the laptop's battery?

Thanks.
 
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Handle said:
Do they make those with USB 3?

Does having that plugged in full time effect the laptop's battery?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Yes they do. Here's the link.

I have not noticed any effect on battery life. But then again I purchased it and started using it before I had the MBA long enough to know what battery life was like without it. 😱 I probably should test it. 🙂
 
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Nice. It's a good price too. 3.0 should be much faster.

The link to Amazon is a bit expensive, it's only $41 at Newegg. Even better!
 
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octothorpe8 said:
Yeah, I love mine for just that reason: it's basically the size of an iPad but packs a real OS and a real keyboard.
Click to expand...

Eh, as someone who has owned both, I have to say the iPad is still considerably more portable, simply because they can be used in a handheld fashion. (technically you can do this with the MacBook Air, but it's quite awkward)
 
^^^^But, an iPad is NOT a computer. It's an internet toy. I tried using one for three years before I got my MBA. I grew to hate the darn thing. IMO, Apples & Oranges.

Lou
 
flowrider said:
^^^^But, an iPad is NOT a computer. It's an internet toy. I tried using one for three years before I got my MBA. I grew to hate the darn thing. IMO, Apples & Oranges.

Lou
Click to expand...

An iPad is most certainly not a toy.

I currently use my iPad for about 80% of my computing, I could raise that up to 90% pretty easily with the purchase of a few more apps.

And I am not just talking about gaming or websurfing. I'm talking about running my electrical contracting business. I do all my estimates, invoices, and book keeping on the iPad. I also use the iPad to display products or services to customers, read code and pull up specs for inspectors, apply for permits, making orders at the supply house, e-mailing customers, etc. etc. etc.

As APlotdevice mentioned, being able to use the iPad while standing makes it a huge plus. If I used my MBA out in the field it would be MUCH more cumbersome and I would hate having to always find a place to put it down to use it.
 
I used an Asus Vivobook with an 11.6" screen as my main computer for a while. It was a little small, but most of the time it didn't bother me. It became an issue when I wanted to have a PDF open next to LibreOffice so I could simultaneously type a document and reference the PDF. That got cramped and hard to read on the small screen.
 
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