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MacBook Air 11" 8GB/256GB or MacBook 12" 8GB/256GB
- Thread starter jeddouglas
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However he was asking specifically about the 11" MBA which doesn't have a card slot.
My bad! Great machine, go with the USB drive then!
Your "Terrible" design", is false, it's terrible, only because you don't like it, it is so NOT terrible, in fact it is VERY ADVANCED, and as for no ports, it's where Apple is going, on ALL it's products, so get used to it, or buy a DELL
Literally just answered my question, I was going to suggest the latest Macbook Air for the screen size, then I was going to ask if I made a mistake in purchasing it LOL. I went from 2009 27 iMac. So yeah having adjustment issues.
I had the 11" MBA 2012, 2013, and 2014. All of them with 8GB ram and the latter two with 256GB SSD.
I recently switched to a base 2016 Macook 12". Could not be happier, except for the keyboard maybe.
Don't buy old tech MBA. I could not go back to that ugly and small screen, the huge bezels and crappy speakers. Neither would I want the slower SSD, larger foot print, heavier weight, boring silver color and occasionally noicy fans.
On paper my old mba was a bit faster but in reality the macbook 12 definitely feels faster for everyday usage.
The heaviest workload on my macbook is virtualizing windows 10 on parallels, which works like a charm.
The only substantial slowdown I've found on the Macbook 12 is when I airplay a hd vlc ace stream to my ATV4 in windows 10 running under parallels desktop. My mba had problems with this too and fans always kicked full rpm. The mba coped just a bit better.
Go with the Macbook 12!
I recently switched to a base 2016 Macook 12". Could not be happier, except for the keyboard maybe.
Don't buy old tech MBA. I could not go back to that ugly and small screen, the huge bezels and crappy speakers. Neither would I want the slower SSD, larger foot print, heavier weight, boring silver color and occasionally noicy fans.
On paper my old mba was a bit faster but in reality the macbook 12 definitely feels faster for everyday usage.
The heaviest workload on my macbook is virtualizing windows 10 on parallels, which works like a charm.
The only substantial slowdown I've found on the Macbook 12 is when I airplay a hd vlc ace stream to my ATV4 in windows 10 running under parallels desktop. My mba had problems with this too and fans always kicked full rpm. The mba coped just a bit better.
Go with the Macbook 12!
Keyboard was a deal breaker for me and the single port was another black mark. I do like the design though. However, the keyboard/port taken together with the price and I think the MacBook Air is a more more versatile and better performing machine at much better value.
I went with a Macbook Air 13, despite the 'Don't Buy' warning and the naysayers clamouring for Retina and Skylake/Kaby Lake. The moment I opened it, I knew I'd made the right choice for me.
Everyone's mileage varies. Get the machine that meets your needs, tastes and budget.
Good points.
I liked the screen and speakers on the rMB. But I liked the MBA keyboard more. MBA bezel and screen are pretty hideous though. But my fingers don't hurt after typing though and I don't make as many errors. For me, VM W10 was always sluggish on the rMB. Even with splitting VM resources 50/50 and nothing else running.
You nailed it.
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Huuuuge difference. Frankly, holding them in hand, the difference in size and weight is basically non existent. Which is the one thing I hold against Apple: Loads of compromises (not user-changeable battery, one port, rubbish keyboard, no fan etc.) just to bring out a machine with a retina display that otherwise is same or inferior? Nope, still don't get the new Macbook, other than it being 'prettier'.
11" Air:
- Height: 0.11-0.68 inch (0.3-1.7 cm)
- Width: 11.8 inches (30 cm)
- Depth: 7.56 inches (19.2 cm)
- Weight: 2.38 pounds (1.08 kg)3
- Height: 0.14–0.52 inch (0.35–1.31 cm)
- Width: 11.04 inches (28.05 cm)
- Depth: 7.74 inches (19.65 cm)
- Weight: 2.03 pounds (0.92 kg)2
http://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs/
I purchased a 11" MBA a couple years ago and found the screen to be claustrophobic, yet for whatever reason, the 12" rMB screen was ok for me
I appreciate all the advice being given. Still no sign yet of an update to the MBA. Is one still expected this year?
Yeah the differences between these aren't as drastic it seems. The biggest problem with the 11inch is the screen bezel, it really makes the computer seem small and less capable than it actually is. But the shape/weight of the machine is near perfect.
In comparison to the 13inch MBA the 12" Retina is quite small though. The 13inch MBA kind of lost it's "small" qualities a while ago, it's still thin and light... but the footprint is bigger than the 13" MBP.
If they can give the rMB at least 1 more USB-C port... that would help drastically. Having to carry around a dongle to charge and use a peripheral is very annoying on a high end computer. It's hard to beat thunderbolt, 2 USB3s and magsafe for versatility in a small package.
https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/
Citing a source within the Chinese supply chain, Japanese site Mac Otakara said Apple would announce new MacBook Air models within the month of June, with shipments set to begin in August, but no such announcement happened.
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June is long gone with no sign of a new MacBook Air, but a report from DigiTimes says Apple is still planning on introducing a new MacBook Air with USB-C ports.
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Bloomberg has also confirmed that Apple is working on a new MacBook Air with a USB-C port, but the report does not mention whether other MacBook Air specs will be refreshed.
I agree, at least one extra port would help a lot. I would still miss magsafe though and not sure if I could ever get used to that keyboard. Might be ok for those using two fingers but for a proper typist I find it impossible to find a rhythm on this iPad type surface.
The bezel on the 11" only disturbs when you open it. Once you start using it you don't notice it much anymore.
Yep and yep. Huge increase of typing errors and lack of speed. Not to mention the lack of travel would make my fingers tingle/slightly numb after typing on it for long periods.
I switched from a 2012 11" i7 2.0 Air to 2016 12" 1.3 m7 MB. Only for iMovie imports or Video editing type of cpu intensive tasks, I do not feel any lack in speed. In fact, since the memory and the flash disk is faster than the Air, this machine feels just as fast if not faster than the Air for ordinary use.
I solved the single port problem with a Hootoo adapter. After 3 months of living with the 12" MB, my only complaint is still the keyboard. It is not unlivable but still feels weird.
Whatever I threw at this machine, it handled very well and did not get any hotter than my Air with its fan blowing like a hair dryer.
I don't miss MagSafe one bit as the MagSafe 2 used to inadvertently disconnect far too frequently and piss me off to no end.
Oh, last but not least, 12" MB beats the Air for battery life. I used to get about 4 hours on the average on my Air, and the 12" MB runs at least twice as long doing similar things.
In conclusion, I'm happy about my "courageous" choice and don't miss my old Air.
I solved the single port problem with a Hootoo adapter. After 3 months of living with the 12" MB, my only complaint is still the keyboard. It is not unlivable but still feels weird.
Whatever I threw at this machine, it handled very well and did not get any hotter than my Air with its fan blowing like a hair dryer.
I don't miss MagSafe one bit as the MagSafe 2 used to inadvertently disconnect far too frequently and piss me off to no end.
Oh, last but not least, 12" MB beats the Air for battery life. I used to get about 4 hours on the average on my Air, and the 12" MB runs at least twice as long doing similar things.
In conclusion, I'm happy about my "courageous" choice and don't miss my old Air.
Well that is not surprising, since you are comparing it to a 2012 MBA. In 2013, Apple greatly increased the battery life on the MBA. Apple currently rates battery life at 9 hours on the 11" Macbook Air and 10 hours on the Macbook…. pretty similar.