mba as 2nd mac

I love my Air so much that in a few months it may be second Mac.

Not buying a Pro though but an iMac or why not just get the new iPad as a second Mac. I just don't see the point of having two MacBook's.

 

I don't see a point in two MacBooks either. I can see having one powerful desktop (PC/iMac) and one ultra portable, be it the 13" or 11" Air, but I wouldn't get one Macbook Pro for workstation and another Air for pleasure/travel. I enjoy my 27" iMac, iPad, and 11" Air combo.

 

13''

11'' is almost like iPad to me.

 

Price was not a factor, as they're priced similar enough I could get a 2011 11"/13" and 2012 11"/13" for pretty much the same price. Difference is I get 256GB on the 2011 model and 128GB for the 2012 model. With the newer model I get the option for 8GB ram, HD4000, and USB 3.0. I prefer 2011 for value for the dollar. Ram and USB 3.0 was a nonissue for me, HD4000 was, but gaming on the HD4000 wasn't that much significantly better for me to worth giving up 256GB SSD drive. I value space over GPU performance.

The 11" may seem small at first, but after a week or two, you get used to it (at least I did) and find that it was indeed the perfect balance of all things I wanted in an ultra portable. I wanted an ultra portable from the beginning, and honestly couldn't be happier.

Again, price is not a factor. I was looking for an ultraportable value buy, and the 2011 11" 256GB priced at $1086 is exactly what I realized I wanted in the end. In fact, I did diss the 11" when I first saw it at Apple store, stating it is more of a kid's toy. Boy was I ever wrong.

 

I use my gen1 13" MacBook air as a mobile alternative to my powermac G5. Previously my 12" iBook was the backup, but I needed adobe CS5 for a class and picked up the air, passing the iBook down to my son.

 

11" is cute. It's neat. It's so portable. But it's just not practical. Considering the price of macs, you don't want to be spending over a grand and having something with a screen barely bigger than the iPads.

13" is just right for a laptop. I think its the sweet spot.

This is just my opinion. I know there are people who are happy with their 11" Air.

 

That's how I felt. The 11" had the same portability as my iPad but the screen (IMO) was too small for comfortable extended viewing so I prefer 13" to differentiate it more.

 

Not hours because for the first month I absolutely loved the size. So I didn't actually "feel" it was too small, but after a few months I started noticing some severe eye fatigue and my wife noticed that I was leaning into my Air11 more and more (she said i looked like i was going to jump in). I sold it and got a 13" and I'm back to normal with my posture (no more hunching) and my eyes feel more relaxed.

Obviously this is only my experience but I have read about how net book/air11 users have noticed themselves hunching over more than usual in order to compensate for these smaller screen computers that aren't necessarily optimized for optimal sitting distances. As a. 2nd Mac with limited usage it's probably fine but I really don't recommend it as a primary machine.

 

I would not recommend a MBP & MBA combination.

My recommendation for those with 1 computer:
- MBP

My recommendation for those with 2 computers:
- MBA
- iMac (preferably with a 2nd 27" display)

For the single Mac user, the MBP gives a great compromise in portability, power, storage capacity. For the dual Mac user, the MBA & iMac combo gives an ideal (for me) environment for both fixed location, and mobile computing.

I am a dual Mac user. I also have an iPhone and iPad to compliment the MBA and iMac.

/Jim

 

I'm thinking along those lines as well. It's just difficult buying the air over a retina... Plus I'm waiting for the new iMac.

 

I have a 1.6Ghz MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010) connects to a 27-inch Cinema display 24/7. Last week, I decided to order a 1.8Ghz MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid-2012). Besides the speed and higher resolution display on the 2012 MacBook Air, I gain a SD card slot and backlit keyboard. It will be my second Mac.

I like the 11-inch form factor a lot.

 

I agree with you. I'm not sure about losing popularity, but the 13-inch is a well-rounded computer. In terms of traveling, the 11-inch is a no brainer.

 

I am on my 4th MBA. I generally buy one every year, and waterfall my 1yo machine within my family. My history is:

2009: 13" MBA rev C
2010: 11" MBA rev D
2011: 11" MBA rev E
2012: 13" MBA rev F

I am still torn between the 11" and 13". The screen of the 13" is nicer. Carry weight difference is insignificant. In-use weight gives a strong advantage to the 11"... but primarily if you are the type of person (I am) who uses the MBA in a variety of positions (reclining in a chair, sitting up on sofa, reclining in bed, moving with one hand from side to side as you reposition yourself, etc).

So... this time I bought a 13". I do like getting an integrated SD card reader as I am an avid photographer. I like the larger screen. I like the longer battery life... but I also think the 11" is the most comfortable computer that I have ever owned. If I am disappointed in my purchase, then I'll switch back next year.

/Jim

 

I had a 13" Pro, I sold it after buying my 11" 2011 MBA, I now also have a 2012 11" MBA, love them both, the 2011 sits at home as a work station on my 24" monitor, the 2012 comes with me everywhere.

 

Even as a shareholder, I don't know the numbers. However, the $999 entry price is certainly nice on paper.

A non-scientific quick search on Geekbench, there were way more 13-inch than 11-inch.

My 13-inch MBA should come in days, I would like to see how it performs as a standalone Mac.

 

Looked at a retina at best buy. Fell in love all over, but the air still draws me to it... Plus with a 2012 iMac I think I would be ok. Tough decision.

 

It seems my vote was the equalizer - 13-inch for me.
Not anymore, apparently

As much as the 11-inch had the portability factor going for it, I didn't want to worry about battery life when working outside. There are times when I have to crank up CPU usage, so that would definitely eat into the battery life. As such, the additional 2 hours' worth would make all the difference.

 

@Jim, how can I become a member of your family

As for me, the 13" is the winner.

 

I actually do go for the idea of using two laptops, 1 15" MBP the other an 11" Air. But I also have the Tb Display. This made the most sense to me, the MBP/Tb combo basically functions the same as an IMac, and gives me performance on the go when I need it. The Air I will take with me every other day. You can't get up and go with an iMac, so I really like this combo.