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MB Air?

cheekybobcat

cheekybobcat

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 26, 2007
533
0
U-S of A
I am about to sell my HP laptop IF I get a Mac for my birthday soon. I've been looking up on the MacBook Air and my requirements don't really necessitate any more than what the MacBook Air offers.
It would either be between the Air or the MBP but I don't really want to spend 2k or more...

For someone who stores only about 30-50 GB of data (almost all music, movies, and pictures) on their computer, would need the Microsoft Office programs, travels mostly by car, and uses Internet the MOST, would you reccomend the MacBook Air or MBP?
Explanations of why you chose one or the other would help me greatly too.
Oh, and I'm buying one by January 30th.
thanks.
 
Seeing as you're not doing heavy duty video editing or graphics work and you're traveling, the MacBook Air seems to fit the bill.
 
MacBook Air. There isn't cause to get a MBP for what you do. It's a professional notebook with professional power, you won't be using any of that, so I recommend the MBA, but have you considered a MB? You'll get a whole lot more features for less, but the MBA is sweet you must admit. I'd buy one as a secondary computer if I had the money. For your needs, the MBA seems fine.
 
I really do want a MBA but I've heard there is no way to replace the battery except sending it back to Apple.
Will that cost money to have Apple replace the battery
I mean more money then just the cost of the battery, like an installment fee.
 
cheekybobcat said:
I mean more money then just the cost of the battery, like an installment fee.
Click to expand...
Nope. $129 for a new battery-- and Apple replaces it w/out extra cost. (Note: that's about how much Apple's other portables' batteries cost anyway.)
 
Dude. Get a Macbook. The MBA has a crappy 1.8 inch IPOD hard drive. Those puppies are prone to failure. Not to mention.. how are you going to get all of your 50 gb of music off of your HP? Wireless will take hours...

So lets do some math..

80 GB hard drive = 74.5 Gigs formatted.

74.5 - 7 gigs for leopard = 67.5 gigs
-------------------------
67.5-50 gigs for music/video= 17.5 gigs
------------------------
17.5-7.45* gigs= 10.05 gigs for everything else

*The 7.45 gigs is 10% of the drive.. Leopard recommends that you keep this free for virtual memory and stuff like that.

Dude, get the macbook with bigger drive. MBP is way too much tower and pricetag. Macbook.
 
If you are not going to be really traveling, MacBook might be a better choice, as it is cheaper and have a few more ports. If you want something that is more of a fashion statement, Air is more suitable, of course.
 
I think with 30-50GB of content, not including applications and OS, you might be pushing the limits of the MBA drive.

You might want to consider the MB or maybe wait for the next MBA with larger drives?

(EDIT: This from the perspective of someone who is eagerly awaiting my MBA)
 
eddietr said:
I think with 30-50GB of content, not including applications and OS, you might be pushing the limits of the MBA drive.

You might want to consider the MB or maybe wait for the next MBA with larger drives?

(EDIT: This from the perspective of someone who is eagerly awaiting my MBA)
Click to expand...

I'm now considering the MacBook.
I think I may have been basing my choice on aesthetics and the MBA can take any computer in the world in visuals.
The MBA I would want was $2,099 and I can get a better performance MacBook for about $300 less so I may get the MB.
Ugh..this is a difficult decisions....

ChemiosMurphy said:
Dude. Get a Macbook. The MBA has a crappy 1.8 inch IPOD hard drive. Those puppies are prone to failure. Not to mention.. how are you going to get all of your 50 gb of music off of your HP? Wireless will take hours...

So lets do some math..

80 GB hard drive = 74.5 Gigs formatted.

74.5 - 7 gigs for leopard = 67.5 gigs
-------------------------
67.5-50 gigs for music/video= 17.5 gigs
------------------------
17.5-7.45* gigs= 10.05 gigs for everything else

*The 7.45 gigs is 10% of the drive.. Leopard recommends that you keep this free for virtual memory and stuff like that.

Dude, get the macbook with bigger drive. MBP is way too much tower and pricetag. Macbook.
Click to expand...

I have all my music and video and stuff on a 250GB external HD so since the MBA does has a USB i was gunna use that. But I'm almost positive that I am going to get the MB now. It seems a much better choice.
 
cheekybobcat said:
I really do want a MBA but I've heard there is no way to replace the battery except sending it back to Apple.
Will that cost money to have Apple replace the battery
I mean more money then just the cost of the battery, like an installment fee.
Click to expand...

Apple has said that the battery installation doesn't require any tools other than a P-zero screwdriver, the same tool you would need to add ram to a MBP or a MB.
 
cheekybobcat said:
I'm now considering the MacBook.
I think I may have been basing my choice on aesthetics and the MBA can take any computer in the world in visuals.
The MBA I would want was $2,099 and I can get a better performance MacBook for about $300 less so I may get the MB.
Ugh..this is a difficult decisions....
Click to expand...

Maybe not really difficult. If this is your primary computer, I would get the MB or MBP personally.

For example, with the way I work and what I need when I go on trips or to a client location, I won't even be using iTunes on this thing. My iTunes base will continue to be my MP. And with smart playlists, I take 6-7 GB of content with me on a trip on my phone.

But the 64 GB in the MBA will be all business. 64GB is tight. (Imagine reading that statement 10 years ago! :))
 
plus, leopard is almost 10 gigs, not just 7. sucks not to get the mba though... it is so cool.
 
MBA is a first generation of that platform so that means that there will be a better upgrade will come out some time but I dont know when..
if I were you I would get a MB bit cheapper and packs more features ..
 
I would get the MB if this is your main machine. The MBA really works best as a 2nd Mac.
 
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