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Macbook Air (11") Advice

sebastienDS

sebastienDS

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 30, 2015
5
2
Hi everyone,

Does anyone have more info on the future of the Macbook Air 11" ?
Is it likely to be updated with retina display, or will it probably be discontinued?

I really like the form factor, usb ports, 16:9 ratio (I watch lots of YT and Movies), and the fact that it doesn't have a useless processor (like the 12" Macbook).

The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've been using retina Macbook Pro for a few years now and the MB Air display is only like 130 DPI, so I'm afraid that the quality will be disappointing.

(I work as an airline pilot so I use it on the flightdeck and airports, trains, in bed at hotel, need take it out alot for security scans.. )
PS. Been using iPad Air 2 but that doesn't keep up in terms of typing and productivity/file management.

Cya
 
It will probably be discontinued, it's the odd man out in the notebook line up with the macbook set to replace both airs at some point.

The processor in the macbook is more than enough for your usage, to be honest though you look like a perfect target for the ipad pro.
 
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Samuelsan2001 said:
It will probably be discontinued, it's the odd man out in the notebook line up with the macbook set to replace both airs at some point.

The processor in the macbook is more than enough for your usage, to be honest though you look like a perfect target for the ipad pro.
Click to expand...

What he said ^
Spot on!
 
Samuelsan2001 said:
It will probably be discontinued, it's the odd man out in the notebook line up with the macbook set to replace both airs at some point.

The processor in the macbook is more than enough for your usage, to be honest though you look like a perfect target for the ipad pro.
Click to expand...

If you're cool with a horrible hybrid UI of using the keyboard and then awkwardly reaching for your screen instead of a mouse/trackpad, yes. Oh, and you also have to be cool with having your screen propped up at one floppy angle instead of having a real, adjustable screen hinge. Also give up having USB ports. While you're giving things up, how about losing the file system? You'll have a lot of fun shuffling files from app to app in iOS, because you won't have folders with visible files like you do in OS X. I guess use Dropbox?

Seriously, the iPad Pro looks like a direct copy of the Surface. While the MBA screen isn't retina, it's a pretty decent DPI and quite usable for real-world work. I'm in the same boat of wanting a better screen and not being impressed with the 1st gen new Macbook -- but for now my Macbook Air is serving me quite well at everything from text editing to Photoshop and Illustrator. The 2015 ones will drive an external 4K monitor at 60hz, even.

So yeah, I'd pass on the big, expensive tablet with the improvised "keyboard".
 
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As I said the Ipad is not what I'm looking for.
And I forgot to mention that I also do some light gaming on the go.
Btw I don't like the retina Macbook's keyboard
 
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So then buy the Air. It's a solid enough laptop even if it's heavily dated at this point. Or wait until next spring/summer and see if anything new is released. Anything sub 13" will almost certainly come with a keyboard closer to the rMB's than the MB Air's though.
 
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sebastienDS said:
As I said the Ipad is not what I'm looking for.
And I forgot to mention that I also do some light gaming on the go.
Btw I don't like the retina Macbook's keyboard
Click to expand...

Well the latest rumours show we MAY get new airs with retina and 13 and 15 inch sizes but they are supposedly slated to be thinner so I expect we'll get the macbook keyboard in them.
 
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I have an 11" MacBook Air -- Early 2014, and it's been great for my usage during the year plus that I've had it. I do wish I'd gotten the 13" instead, as at times I feel cramped for space on the 11" but I still enjoy using it. As far as the display, it's certainly not a Retina display, and it won't be mistaken for one. I'd describe the screen as just being fine. It's not up to the rMBP or new rMB standards, but its usable, at least for my use. If screen quality is one of your biggest needs, I'd suggest the rMB, though it does have limitations of its own. And I, like you said above, am also not a fan of the rMB keyboard. On the other hand, I love typing on my 11" MacBook Air.
 
As I see it, the LAST iteration of the 11" MBA, will be just what everyone wants,11" Retina Screen,along with the
13", milk it for a 2 year period, then release the 12"/13"15" RMBA with USBC, along with updated13"/15" MBP
As the final line up, the Air has been a money maker.
 
Just had about 10minutes with rMB and MBA 11.. Think i'm gonna stick with my RMBP for the moment
 
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