Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacBook Air 13. I5 or i7?

mattferg said:
What were you planning to use your Air for?
Click to expand...

Browsing, youtube, iWork, iLife (mostly iTunes and iPhoto, some iMovie), Textwrangler, some gaming (most demanding games would be World of Warcraft and X-Com). No heavy photo and/or video editing, no creative suite level stuff. Also some website management via CMS or lightweight desktop editors (something like Rapidweaver).
Nothing too taxing, really.

I know an i5 just has to be able to handle stuff like this with ease, but I sometimes tend to listen too much to negative feedback. I guess I should stop reading this thread :D
 
Dr. McKay said:
...I know an i5 just has to be able to handle stuff like this with ease, but I sometimes tend to listen too much to negative feedback. I guess I should stop reading this thread :D
Click to expand...

Please understand that people's feedback is often colored by their circumstances. Coming to a forum like this and reading posts is very useful, but you have to take the "advice" with a grain of salt. Some folks say their i5s stutter when browsing some webpages. Others say that is impossible and its all in their heads. Some people say their i7s run too hot and will melt their laps. Others say its not a big deal.

There is some value in reading these posts to help you make a decision, but in the end it will be up to you to decide (of course) so you need to consider your uses, your budget, and other sources of information. I put more weight on reviews done by other websites than on random posts by anonymous strangers on an internet forum (like me :D ). But even the website reviews could potentially be biased, so I don't simply accept them as gospel. Anandtech has a fairly strong reputation for doing good reviews. Check out their review for additional information.

Also, when considering random anonymous advice from the internet, its a good idea to understand the motivation behind it. Some people recommend the i5 because its $150 cheaper, and they are big on saving $150. Others (like me) recommend the i7 because we value extra performance over saving $150. We rather get the most computer we can afford, because we believe no one ever complained about their computer being too fast or too powerful.

Whichever one you buy, the MBA is a great machine. Good luck.
 
ZBoater said:
Please understand that people's feedback is often colored by their circumstances. Coming to a forum like this and reading posts is very useful, but you have to take the "advice" with a grain of salt...
Click to expand...

Well stated. :)
 
You're missing out a few pointers on why people recommend the i5. The primary reason - most people will not ever use the extra power. The i5 will suffice for browsing, media, light gaming, office...

Secondly, i7 drains 20% more battery than i5 at med-high usage (up to 2 hours loss)

but yes, it will give you 20% extra performance for some tasks, like importing 720p (from 10 seconds to 8 seconds...yes this means 20%boost). I guess you'll save a minute for an hour's work. Might end up saving 10 minutes using the i7 on a busy day on the Air.
 
AXs said:
You're missing out a few pointers on why people recommend the i5. The primary reason - most people will not ever use the extra power. The i5 will suffice for browsing, media, light gaming, office...

Secondly, i7 drains 20% more battery than i5 at med-high usage (up to 2 hours loss)

but yes, it will give you 20% extra performance for some tasks, like importing 720p (from 10 seconds to 8 seconds...yes this means 20%boost). I guess you'll save a minute for an hour's work. Might end up saving 10 minutes using the i7 on a busy day on the Air.
Click to expand...

Kept the i7 as I will routinely use Lightroom and after exporting several hundred SLR images, that 20% can easily make a difference of 10-15 minutes per hour not 1 minute. In all honesty, I really didn't need the i7, but since I'm lazy and like to use my MBA instead of my much heavier rMBP 15, I use the MBA for photo editing and video conversions and in those 2 uses, the i7 walks all over the i5. Which the average Macrumors user doesn't do.
 
Last edited:
AXs said:
You're missing out a few pointers on why people recommend the i5. The primary reason - most people will not ever use the extra power. The i5 will suffice for browsing, media, light gaming, office...

Secondly, i7 drains 20% more battery than i5 at med-high usage (up to 2 hours loss)

but yes, it will give you 20% extra performance for some tasks, like importing 720p (from 10 seconds to 8 seconds...yes this means 20%boost). I guess you'll save a minute for an hour's work. Might end up saving 10 minutes using the i7 on a busy day on the Air.
Click to expand...

No offense, this post is a mixture of accusations, facts and opinions, which sends threads down a rabbit hole.

Anandtech posts the facts. People should read the review there and apply it to their, specific circumstances.
 
AXs said:
You're missing out a few pointers on why people recommend the i5. The primary reason - most people will not ever use the extra power. The i5 will suffice for browsing, media, light gaming, office...

Secondly, i7 drains 20% more battery than i5 at med-high usage (up to 2 hours loss)

but yes, it will give you 20% extra performance for some tasks, like importing 720p (from 10 seconds to 8 seconds...yes this means 20%boost). I guess you'll save a minute for an hour's work. Might end up saving 10 minutes using the i7 on a busy day on the Air.
Click to expand...

Are you trying to justify your purchase on the I5?
 
Actually not at all. I don't need to justify anything to anyone. I have a $2500 laptop for performance tasks. And a MacPro equivalent custom PC.

I just don't see why people would buy an air for graphics designing? Unless it is a question of budget in a case where you MUST use a mac?

Whatever. i5 or i7. Pick your poison - Less battery life, or less power. Your call.

Just stating that to the 'average' user (which the Air is aimed at), i5 will suffice.

People are going on about how i5/8 is stuttering, or i5/4 wont work. It is utterly hilarious. An in-store product by apple cannot browse the web in 2013? Ridiculous.

If you need the i7 specifically, because you want to do graphics/engineering work, I think it's a great decision. Albeit, picking a pro with dedicated graphics would make more sense?
Again, Maybe budget is the issue? Our in-house designers all have iMacs or 15" Pros.

But that's a different topic for a different day. Maybe if you ONLY have the Air, you should go for an i7. Definitely in that case.

But I don't think owning the Air solely will suffice in 2013. Gotta have a graphics card, know what I mean?

Good day.
 
Dr. McKay said:
Browsing, youtube, iWork, iLife (mostly iTunes and iPhoto, some iMovie), Textwrangler, some gaming (most demanding games would be World of Warcraft and X-Com). No heavy photo and/or video editing, no creative suite level stuff. Also some website management via CMS or lightweight desktop editors (something like Rapidweaver).
Nothing too taxing, really.

I know an i5 just has to be able to handle stuff like this with ease, but I sometimes tend to listen too much to negative feedback. I guess I should stop reading this thread :D
Click to expand...

You do pretty much what I do on my Air, and I've never noticed it stutter or struggle to do any of this :) Get the i5, save $150 and enjoy your Mac. Enjoy the $150 even more :)

A lot of people in this thread have been coloured by 'Apple logic' which is what I call 'more expensive is always better' which is definitely not true in a lot of cases. Most people will never use the power of the i7, and as such the i5 is a great CPU to have. We're in this class my friend, enjoy your Mac :)
 
Let's make it a bit more interesting :
With my budget, I can get the i5/8/256.
I've got some money left, so I can either go for the i7, or spend practically the same amount on Applecare.

Tough one :D
 
Dr. McKay said:
Let's make it a bit more interesting :
With my budget, I can get the i5/8/256.
I've got some money left, so I can either go for the i7, or spend practically the same amount on Applecare.

Tough one :D
Click to expand...

Applecare. Applecare Applecare Applecare.
 
Dr. McKay said:
Let's make it a bit more interesting :
With my budget, I can get the i5/8/256.
I've got some money left, so I can either go for the i7, or spend practically the same amount on Applecare.

Tough one :D
Click to expand...

Well - I like the i7 but if you have to make that choice, I only can say: go for AppleCare. (Wow, mattferg and I have the same point of view. Wonders happens from time to time - just kidding. :p)

My stepfather has an late 2011 MBP 13" and of his USB ports stopped working. He went to the Apple store and they made some tests. The result: the mainboard needs to be replaced. Normally it will cost round about $400, but because he bought an AppleCare, he got the replacement for free. On the other hand, it was the first of 6 MacBooks that I know where AppleCare comes in use. But there will always a chance that your MacBook is the one.

AppleCare is something you possibly will regret if you don't need it (maybe except the whole 3 years phone support). But you will be happy that you invested the money for it, if somethings goes wrong with your Apple-Hardware.

cu
SchodMC
 
I generally use two computers as follows:
  • MBA - light use
  • iMac - Heavy use
However... often, when I am on the road, or spending a week at my beach house... my MBA (w/ATD) is my only machine... in that case:
  • MBA (on batteries) - light use
  • MBA (plugged in) - Heavy use, as my iMac replacement.
What I have found, is that during light use, there is no significant difference in battery life between an i5 and i7. Furthermore, I have never ever used my MBA for heavy use while running on batteries. When doing heavy work... I am plugged in, have external drives attached, and typically using my 27" ATD. In these case, the extra performance is welcomed.

Hence... there is zero penalty for having an i7 in my normal usage.
For me... the extra $150 is totally immaterial. I understand that it would not be the case for everyone.

/Jim
 
Having to plug it in everytime you want to use a high-performance tasks is definitely a penalty for a laptop that emphasizes portability - whether i5 or i7.

Should get yourself an iMac for your beach house. I dont know about you but $2000 is a tiny investment for a getaway house, right? Even if you may just visit periodically.
 
AXs said:
Having to plug it in everytime you want to use a high-performance tasks is definitely a penalty for a laptop that emphasizes portability - whether i5 or i7.

Should get yourself an iMac for your beach house. I dont know about you but $2000 is a tiny investment for a getaway house, right? Even if you may just visit periodically.
Click to expand...

I cant tell if your serious or not
 
AXs said:
Having to plug it in everytime you want to use a high-performance tasks is definitely a penalty for a laptop that emphasizes portability - whether i5 or i7.....
Click to expand...

Huh? :confused:

Who has to plug in "every" time??? I can play Civ5 for 3 hours before I need to plug in. I don't expect to be able to play Civ5 unplugged for 9-12 hours. It's just not realistic. Nor am I going to give up portability because I want to run a high-performance application.

You can have your cake AND eat it too. Portability AND power. It's called the MBA i7. :cool:
 
zboater said:
huh? :confused:

Who has to plug in "every" time??? I can play civ5 for 3 hours before i need to plug in. I don't expect to be able to play civ5 unplugged for 9-12 hours. It's just not realistic. Nor am i going to give up portability because i want to run a high-performance application.

You can have your cake and eat it too. Portability and power. It's called the mba i7. :cool:
Click to expand...

:d

Actually I wish it was powerful enough. I'm buying my 12 year old nephew a laptop for his birthday next month. And he loves to play games so I have to buy that bugger a 15" Pro... to play in his friend's house... because he can't carry his Mac Pro around. (he specifically asked for a 15" Apple Laptop).

(Not sure if bad parenting, or awesome Apple advertising).
 
Last edited:
AXs said:
Having to plug it in everytime you want to use a high-performance tasks is definitely a penalty for a laptop that emphasizes portability - whether i5 or i7.

Should get yourself an iMac for your beach house. I dont know about you but $2000 is a tiny investment for a getaway house, right? Even if you may just visit periodically.
Click to expand...

I think you totally missed the point... or maybe you just enjoy being difficult. I never said that I NEEDED to plug it in when I do high performance work... it is just that it is always convenient to do so.

Furthermore I don't want a 27" iMac at my beach house. The purpose (for me) of my 27" iMac is to be the repository of 100% of my original data. I do not need two such places. I just need (and want) one. Also... not that it matters to me... but my iMac does not cost $2000. It is closer to $3500.... or over $6000 when you add in the second TBD & Pegasus R4. However... it has NOTHING to do with money. It has to do with having the proper tools for an efficient workflow. For me... that is an iMac and a MBA... both as powerful as possible.

By contrast to my iMac (which is home to 100% of my personal data)... my MBA just has the data that I need and want to have while being mobile. It generally contains any photos that I shoot while on a trip... or some Aperture projects that I might migrate to my MBA to work on while on a trip. I also might be using FCPX or Handbrake. All of those apps will take advantage of the i7. All of them (especially Aperture)... work fantastic in an iMac/MBA combination... the workflow is impeccably efficient.

At the beach house, I use a 27" TBD. That is a better solution while there than having an iMac... because when I show up with my MBA... I can plug it in, use my high performance apps, and have a powerful enough workstation to do my work... with the data that I need to have with me already loaded onto my MBA.

Hence... my MBA gives me all the battery life I can possibly want while being mobile. The battery lasts just as long as an i5 when mobile... it outlasts me 100% of the time. I've never needed more battery in a full work/play day. It also gives me the performance that I want when I want to use high performance apps. It is the perfect machine for my usage.

/Jim
 
Last edited:
ZBoater said:
Huh? :confused:

Who has to plug in "every" time??? I can play Civ5 for 3 hours before I need to plug in. I don't expect to be able to play Civ5 unplugged for 9-12 hours. It's just not realistic. Nor am I going to give up portability because I want to run a high-performance application.

You can have your cake AND eat it too. Portability AND power. It's called the MBA i7. :cool:
Click to expand...

Not that the battery life or performance would be any different running Civ5 on an i5, as it doesn't take advantage of the extra CPU as the game is GPU-limited. I suppose you'd be able to buy/afford other games if you hadn't spent $150 on unused performance.

Portability and power? m8 this is the Macbook Air thread, not the rMBP.
 
mattferg said:
Not that the battery life or performance would be any different running Civ5 on an i5, as it doesn't take advantage of the extra CPU as the game is GPU-limited....
Click to expand...

Civ 5? GPU limited? Do you even KNOW what Civ 5 is??? :confused:

Please, at the very least Google something before you type misinformation like this. :rolleyes:
 
ezekielrage_99 said:
Spot on, it's both the best price point with the best performance + longevity.

For most users out there they won't notice a difference between i5 and i7.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I don't see the point in advocating for someone to get an i7 when they would truly would not benefit from it. Sure if cost is no issue, but for some people it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back