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honeycombz

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 6, 2013
588
154
I'm looking to purchase the lightest macbook I can get for an out of the country backpacking trip and was interested in the 2014 11inch... looks like that one is 2.38 pounds wondering if there is a lighter one? I don't want an ipad for this.
 

honeycombz

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 6, 2013
588
154
Yea, I just noticed that. Wondering if it would be nicer to spend under $500 and get something that maybe has smaller form factor and I wouldn’t care so much about getting banged up vs. $1500+ or whatever it costs. Really, I would need to run a couple apps from Adobe CC, web brower, mail client, and some text editor like Sublime Text or something on a temporary basis. Just something to allow me to do a few tasks as needed don’t need a powerhouse. But 1/4 lb lighter in a backpack is 1/4lb. Gonna be carrying a lot of stuff every ounce counts here.
 

ZapNZs

macrumors 68020
Jan 23, 2017
2,310
1,158
I'm very happy with my retina MacBook...but, for backpacking, I think an 11-inch Air is a better choice between it being much cheaper, proven rugged, and using a keyboard that is far less vulnerable to foreign particles causing keys to malfunction. It's biggest downside is the screen, which for backpacking I cannot imagine is something of extremely high priority relative to pricing/ruggedness?
 

Pugly

macrumors 6502
Jun 7, 2016
411
403
I love my 11"... it's great for me. 12" MacBook seems good too, if you don't need ports and want a great screen.

The MBA has become my constant companion, I bring it everywhere. I get around by bike and carry it around in a messenger bag, so I need it to be very light and portable. There are lots of good 13" laptop options, but hardly any in the 11" MacBook Air size with the same power and features. I use it in all the ways someone would a tablet, but I also get to run Logic Pro X. It was a sad day when Apple discontinued the 11".

The durability of the MBA is a known quantity, so that might be worth it compared to the 12" MB. But the 12" doesn't have a fan or really any moving parts so that could be useful too.
 
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