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MacBook or MacBook Air?

OK, MBA has the nicest screen ever made by mankind... :rolleyes:
... now only if you can fit your photo library in it to view them.

I guess it's still good for watching DVDs, oh wait... where's my superdrive? No, no, it's already ripped, just need to delete some more photos and it'll fit.

You think I'm being sarcastic? No, that's my real experience living with my MBA in the past few months. If I can refund it, would have done it in a heart beat.

EDIT: I take it back. Apparently over at the MBA forum, some people are complaining that the Rev B MBA's screen is not as good as Rev A...
 
I know that this is a slightly odd suggestion, but why not buy her another iMac. I think it might suit all of you better.
 
Do you enjoy slow Internet speeds that come as a result of having to use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter which acts as a bottleneck? If so, then buy a MacBook Air.

Do you enjoy being permanently stuck with 2GB of RAM while MacBook owners will--in a year from now--be able to cheaply increase their RAM to 8GB? If so, then buy a MacBook Air.

Do you enjoy paying many hundreds of dollars more for a computer that runs significantly slower than one you'll have to pay many hundreds of dollars less for? If so, then buy a MacBook Air.
 
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Macbook. The difference in weight is 1.5 lbs. For walking around the house, that is nothing. And if she uses aperture, the extra ram and processor will be nice.
 
aristobrat said:
So no complaints with the Eye-Fi? I'd love to get pictures from my camera onto my computer without having to deal with a USB cable. Do they import directly into iPhoto, or do you have to use a special tool or something?
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Yes you can import them to iPhoto or any other file, I love mine, no issues works awesome !
 
silverblack said:
OK, MBA has the nicest screen ever made by mankind... :rolleyes:
... now only if you can fit your photo library in it to view them.

I guess it's still good for watching DVDs, oh wait... where's my superdrive? No, no, it's already ripped, just need to delete some more photos and it'll fit.

You think I'm being sarcastic? No, that's my real experience living with my MBA in the past few months. If I can refund it, would have done it in a heart beat.
Click to expand...

Dont apply your experience with Rev. A Air's to the Rev. B's.

128GB SSD is sufficient for many people....but yes the original 64 & 80GB were jokes. Also...Why take dvds on the road when you can just handbrake them to ur drive? There's alternatives to everything.
 
ThomasJL said:
Do you enjoy slow Internet speeds that come as a result of having to use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter which acts as a bottleneck? If so, then buy the MacBook Air.
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I've hooked my Air up to internet via ethernet, let's see. umm, never. There's this new thing called wireless that I use all the time. Only used the enet dongle for migration once.
 
kabunaru said:
Is the 20" iMac screen better compared to the MacBook Air?
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No but I would say that the 24" is. It also costs less than the MBA, and alot less than the MBA + display. The OP is also used to the iMac already and it seems to work for the family.
 
CoreyMac said:
128GB SSD is sufficient for many people....but yes the original 64 & 80GB were jokes. Also...Why take dvds on the road when you can just handbrake them to ur drive? There's alternatives to everything.
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You are right, 128GB may be sufficient for many people, just not for those with a large photo/video library of young babies/kids. Think about how big is a typical SD card in most people's cameras. 4 GB, 8 GB?

Besides, I wonder how many will still think 128GB is sufficient a year from now?

Yes, I had a Rev A MBA. Would it have changed if I had the Rev B? Of course. I wouldn't have any core shut downs when ripping with handbrake like you suggested.
 
NC MacGuy said:
I've hooked my Air up to internet via ethernet, let's see. umm, never. There's this new thing called wireless that I use all the time. Only used the enet dongle for migration once.
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If you were to travel to the many countries in the world that offer FTTH, you would not want to be using wireless. Even in some parts of the US, you can get FTTH with 100Gbps+ speeds.

Your Air is sufficient for now, but it is not anywhere as future proof as the MacBook.
 
ThomasJL said:
If you were to travel to the many countries in the world that offer FTTH, you would not want to be using wireless. Even in some parts of the US, you can get FTTH with 100Gbps+ speeds.

Your Air is sufficient for now, but it is not anywhere as future proof as the MacBook.
Click to expand...

Typically when I travel, I'm not moving 100's of Megs of data. Email, transfer a few doc's and not a whole lot more. All over the U.S. Since Feb. with Air exclusively and without issue.
 
capps said:
I am debating on whether to get her a MacBook air as well, or one of those gorgeous new MacBook's. The MacBook will be used for email, internet and picture editing. She will be using programs such as Aperture and Photoshop, so I am thinking she wont be needing a huge workhorse.
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Based on your description of what your wife will be using the computer for, I'd say that she'd be best served by another iMac. She'll appreciate the screen, which, even if you get the low end model, will be much larger than the one in the MacBook or the MacBook Air. It'll also be easier to set her up with her own printer, which she'll probably want for all those baby pics, and the iMac's sound will also be better.

I have a 2006 iMac (2 GHz core duo) that's slower than my new MacBook, but I'd still rather use the iMac for my work.
 
Roller said:
Based on your description of what your wife will be using the computer for, I'd say that she'd be best served by another iMac. She'll appreciate the screen, which, even if you get the low end model, will be much larger than the one in the MacBook or the MacBook Air. It'll also be easier to set her up with her own printer, which she'll probably want for all those baby pics, and the iMac's sound will also be better.

I have a 2006 iMac (2 GHz core duo) that's slower than my new MacBook, but I'd still rather use the iMac for my work.
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Yes but with active children you're tethered to that spot. A notebook w. a printer hooked to an Airport works wonders. You can actually use it while in kitchen, folding clothes, upstairs, downstairs, sitting on deck or porch - you get the idea.
 
NC MacGuy said:
Yes but with active children you're tethered to that spot. A notebook w. a printer hooked to an Airport works wonders. You can actually use it while in kitchen, folding clothes, upstairs, downstairs, sitting on deck or porch - you get the idea.
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True, but the more you carry the laptop around the house, the greater the chance of something happening to it, especially if you're taking care of a toddler and a newborn. :)

I also find it much easier to work with photos on a larger screen.
 
I was faced with an identical decision, and after playing with both, I decided to go with the MacBook. As someone previously said, the new aluminium MacBook has almost no bulk to it, that fraction of an inch cut off, and the half pound make it incredibly more compact than the previous model, it almost feels like the air.

Why? Well, the Air weighs only a pound and a half less. Is a pound and a half less worth no superdrive, one USB port, horrid battery life, uglier - smaller, trackpad, durability, and above all - speed!

Thinness an issue? Well, on average the MacBook is only two tenths of an inch thicker than the MacBook Air.

I don't see those insiginificant things making me want a slow MacBook Air over the speedy and elegant MacBook.
 
Doju said:
I was faced with an identical decision, and after playing with both, I decided to go with the MacBook. As someone previously said, the new aluminium MacBook has almost no bulk to it, that fraction of an inch cut off, and the half pound make it incredibly more compact than the previous model, it almost feels like the air.

Why? Well, the Air weighs only a pound and a half less. Is a pound and a half less worth no superdrive, one USB port, horrid battery life, uglier - smaller, trackpad, durability, and above all - speed!

Thinness an issue? Well, on average the MacBook is only two tenths of an inch thicker than the MacBook Air.

I don't see those insiginificant things making me want a slow MacBook Air over the speedy and elegant MacBook.
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On one hand you say the loss of 1/2 lb helps make the new MB incredibly compact. On the other, you say weight difference is only 1 1/2 lb between an Air and a MB...

I've had both and there are other differences in the two models that you failed to mention favoring the Air It seems you're a bit enamored w. your shiny new MB at the moment to be impartial.

Roller said:
True, but the more you carry the laptop around the house, the greater the chance of something happening to it, especially if you're taking care of a toddler and a newborn. :)

I also find it much easier to work with photos on a larger screen.
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The Air is made to carry everywhere. I pretty much do.

You are correct about the screen though. A nice option is to have a large ext. monitor for those tasks.
 
Don't twist my words. It's more of a feeling versus an actuality. It doesn't exactly feel lighter (again, not a significant amount) but the half a pound less makes it feel more sturdy, while still being portable.

A pound and a half less for a crap machine with horrid specs, battery life and features. A pound a half is nothing, and unlike the MB, it doesn't make the MBA feel sturdier.

I am impartial.
 
Zebra Testing

To see for yourself the difference of Air vs. Macbook Alu, go to a store and try this on any machine:

System preferences --> Desktop Screen Saver --> Select the nature Folder then select the Zebra photo as a background.

Notice the hair in its forehead.

The Air gives color and detail where the macbook shows it as a blotch of black.

I use to think that the Macbook, although bad for viewing angles, was good enough to be seen directly. Not anymore. There is actual detail that's completely missing from the macbook that the air handles superbly.

I would only consider getting a macbook under the condition of permanently hooking it to an LCD external with the lid shut, which defeats its purpose.
 
Doju said:
A pound and a half less for a crap machine with horrid specs, battery life and features. A pound a half is nothing, and unlike the MB, it doesn't make the MBA feel sturdier.

I am impartial.
Click to expand...

And the impartiality starts when?? Crap machine is a bit harsh.

Glad you "played with one." I've owned an Air since Feb. and I disagree with you. The MB is an okay machine but there are things I find lacking in the MB. The biggest of which is the sub-standard display. Being a portable, a user interfaces w. the display #1, trackpad/mouse #2, keyboard #3. #1 isn't that great and being a heavy mobile user, it was unsatisfactory to me for extended usage. No matter what's under the hood, you see the display the most. The glass in front of the display exasperates the issues even more.

The Air, especially the new model is pretty darn nice and is not that far from the MB in performance specs. More ports yeah but performance is not far behind and I'll gladly trade the ports for the 1.5 lbs.
 
Doju said:
Don't twist my words. It's more of a feeling versus an actuality. It doesn't exactly feel lighter (again, not a significant amount) but the half a pound less makes it feel more sturdy, while still being portable.

A pound and a half less for a crap machine with horrid specs, battery life and features. A pound a half is nothing, and unlike the MB, it doesn't make the MBA feel sturdier.

I am impartial.
Click to expand...

it doesn't feel lighter? Dear sir, there must be something wrong with you :eek:.

Most people will be able to tell the weight difference straight away. Everyone would be able to feel the weight difference after carrying it around for the whole day,
 
I'm sorry, I don't feel a pound and a half. Perhaps you should go to the gym a bit more.

And the screen, from what I saw, is exactly the same between the MBA and MacBook. Nothing noticeable. And even if it is 1% better (which would be pushing it) it HARDLY makes up for the horrid processor, bad battery life, no optical drive, and the other shortcomings that one could write a book on. Oh, yeah, and you pay more for a lack of features, a bit over a pound lighter, and two tenths of an inch thinner.

I applaud your judgment.

And FYI, by played with it, I mean I used it within the fourteen day return period, and wasn't too big on it. I used it a fair bit during those two weeks, and am very, very VERY pleased with my decision. The gloss screen is incredible.

Edit: "the user interfaces with"? That doesn't even make sense.
 
Doju said:
I'm sorry, I don't feel a pound and a half. Perhaps you should go to the gym a bit more.

And the screen, from what I saw, is exactly the same between the MBA and MacBook. Nothing noticeable. And even if it is 1% better (which would be pushing it) it HARDLY makes up for the horrid processor, bad battery life, no optical drive, and the other shortcomings that one could write a book on. Oh, yeah, and you pay more for a lack of features, a bit over a pound lighter, and two tenths of an inch thinner.

I applaud your judgment.

And FYI, by played with it, I mean I used it within the fourteen day return period, and wasn't too big on it. I used it a fair bit during those two weeks, and am very, very VERY pleased with my decision. The gloss screen is incredible.

Edit: "the user interfaces with"? That doesn't even make sense.
Click to expand...


Seeing display = visual interface with computer.:rolleyes:

It's quite obvious that if you believe the display is the same between the two, your opinion should be disregarded.

Case in point:
Doju said:
1. What are some good apps I should get for my Mac?

2. DDR2 or 3 RAM?

3. What does 8x slot-loading super drive mean? (I know that it's an optical drive, but what does 8x mean?)

4. How many megapixels is the iSight?

5. What does frontside bus mean? 3mb l2 cache? overclocking?

6. Average boot time for 2.4 macbook?

7. what does ethernet do?

8. what does RPM on a hdd do?

thanks
Click to expand...

Genius, pure genius...
 
What do you mean by seeing display?

For the record, there is like no difference between the screens, other than the MacBook being gloss. Care to prove some of your claims?

My son uses my computer also, don't try to be smart and bring things like that up.
 
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