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mba as 2nd mac

mba

  • mba 11 inch

    Votes: 47 52.2%

  • mba 13 inch

    Votes: 43 47.8%
  • Total voters
    90
MB Pro, 15" and two MBAs

I use my MB Pro daily at work with a 27" Apple monitor. It only goes home with me on weekends. Got a 2011 11" MBA a year ago for it's ease of portability around the house and on the road. HOWEVER a year later, the 13" is sooooo much easier to see and use with photography so my 2012 13" i7, 8 GB memory and 512 GB SSD is now my easy to hump go to machine.

Only problem is I still love the 11". So I still have it.
 
plucky duck said:
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.
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I do have a 13" MBP and a 13" MBA. The MBP is my workhorse, lets me use my FW externals plus watch DVDs (no TV here, and DSL too slow for streaming). I'm not a fan of desktops, don't care for a large external display and loathe having to go where my data is or wonder if I will be able to access it. I'd rather have the data come along with me. That way my "desktop" can be in my studio, the kitchen, library, deck, wherever I choose to park for the work I'm doing.

Love the MBA for its featherweight property. It goes up and downstairs with me during the day if I'm doing fabric selections or refreshing inventory, and otherwise becomes my lazing on the couch surfing machine, holds rental movies and purchased movie downloads. I admit it's more or less a luxury, but otoh I have never operated without some kind of alternate for the workhorse, so it's a stand-in as well, and a good one.
 
I am in the same situation. I currently had a 21.5" imac and ipad. Really did not like the ipad missed having a real keyboard, ended up selling the ipad. Looking now at getting a refurbished 11 inch macbook air at apple store for my portable machine, think that would work better, ipad is to limiting.
 
I have an early 2011 MBP (2.0 i7) docked to a TBD on my desk. I think I last took the MBP somewhere back in February, if memory serves.

I have a 2012 (upgraded from 2011 to bigger SSD and faster processor) 11" MBA, which is the ultimate portable Mac.

I've always thought a laptop ought to be small enough to carry without really noticing. The MBP is an arm-bender ... at least for me. I can carry my 11" MBA all day and not mind the weight.

I have tried to make the switch to the 13" MBA - my wife has one - and I find it cumbersome in comparison to the 11". She, on the other hand, thinks the 11" is too small. So to each their own!
 
What is the purpose of this thread again?

Why would anyone need two macbooks? Buy what you need. Need a better GPU, get a macbook pro. As is a Macbook air can be used as a main desktop also hooked with a display. With a i7 and 8gb of ram can be also used for a workhorse for most people with no issues. Fast i7 ULV processor, SSD, 8gb of ram is enough for almost anybody.

The macbook air is a powerful machine. It will be faster in most day to day tasks than a stock MBP without a SSD. If you like wasting money, by all means get both. But with the last gen, and espicially with this latest gen, the MBA is more powerfull than ever. With a Macbook air 2012 version, there really is no need for another machine.
 
tim100 said:
the issue is 11 or 13
Click to expand...

I have a MacBook Pro 15, a White MacBook 13, and a MacBook Air 11.

You know what I think? I think the screen size doesn't matter (unless you're a pro who uses After Effects and Motion, I use both but the screen size still doesn't bother me). At first, things may seem too big or too small, but eventually, you'll adapt to it. I thought the 11 Inch MacBook Air is hell to work with, but now I use it everyday. I use my MacBook Pro for pro stuff, but sometimes, I even let my MacBook Air do the job.

Screen size doesn't matter. But I think the best is always the smallest. It's more portable.
 
rMBP and 11" Air is the perfect combination in my opinion.

rMBP essentially functions as a desktop; main work computer, but is still portable and can take it home in the evening. Air is perfect for travel and for sitting on the couch when the rMBP is a little big.
 
MBA 11", but it's slowly becoming my main Mac, never mind 2nd.

Which has led me to consider ditching both and going for a rMBP + monitor!

Still can't make my mind up fully on that one though....
 
iamthedudeman said:
What is the purpose of this thread again?

Why would anyone need two macbooks? Buy what you need. Need a better GPU, get a macbook pro. As is a Macbook air can be used as a main desktop also hooked with a display. With a i7 and 8gb of ram can be also used for a workhorse for most people with no issues. Fast i7 ULV processor, SSD, 8gb of ram is enough for almost anybody.

The macbook air is a powerful machine. It will be faster in most day to day tasks than a stock MBP without a SSD. If you like wasting money, by all means get both. But with the last gen, and espicially with this latest gen, the MBA is more powerfull than ever. With a Macbook air 2012 version, there really is no need for another machine.
Click to expand...
Because the trend of buying desktops is long gone, but the need for SOME people (not you) owning two distinct machines is not.

As capable as the air may be as a solo system, it does have some severe limitations in terms of storage and upgradability. So it's perfectly reasonable for a person to buy a beefier notebook workstation and a slimmer ultralight for travel.
 
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urkel said:
Because the trend of buying desktops is long gone, but the need for SOME people (not you) owning two distinct machines is not.

As capable as the air may be as a solo system, it does have some severe limitations in terms of storage and upgradability. So it's perfectly reasonable for a person to buy a beefier notebook workstation and a slimmer ultralight for travel.
Click to expand...

I never said me. I have two machines, a MBP and a Air for travel. Because I bought a Air last year and the 4GB of ram was limiting. So I gave it to my wife.

Bought another maxed out Air this year, well almost. i7/8/256, and use it for travel. Also bought a Retina but returned it for the Air because of the third party support for the screen. The Air limitations are gone as far as I am concerned. 8GB of ram is good for most usages. Processor is fast, and the SSD speaks for itself. Out of the box a i7 Air will outperform because of the SSD a MBP is most tasks that are not only CPU bound. Now why would you have both? A Air can do prety much what ever you throw at it.

The same limitations you speak of are the same for the Retina. And I did say 'most' not all people. The majority of people using a Air will not need another machine.

Storage, 512 GB, i7, 8GB of ram is good enough for most people. Upgrades, well that is the price you pay of its thiness. Macbooks going foward will have the same limitations.

The thing is that even though I have my pick of what ever I want to use at the office, Mac Pro, Imac, MBP, I usually use my Air. Just because it is that good. It is a powerfull machine. If you need more space buy a external, more GPU and CPU power buy a MBP or Mac Pro or Imac. No need for both.

Most people are not business owners, and do not have my usage needs. There really isn't a need for both. Redundant. Buy what you need. Why waste money?
 
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AtticusRyan said:
rMBP and 11" Air is the perfect combination in my opinion.

rMBP essentially functions as a desktop; main work computer, but is still portable and can take it home in the evening. Air is perfect for travel and for sitting on the couch when the rMBP is a little big.
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what went into to your decision pairing rmbp with 11 inch mba and not 13 inch mba?
 
We have a mac mini as our primary desktop and a 13" MBA. The MBA is mostly for my fiance to write with, but we do both have iPads.
 
how i rock it
iPhone (everything)
order of importance
27" iMac (main, everything)> 13" MBA (for class, travel)> iPad (books, news, media on the go,etc)

mac mini currently not in use 🙁
 
the main factor for me was all the time i spend in the air doing cross country hops and a little international jumps...it fits on the little tray table perfectly😀
and for inflight reading i use a nexus 7, which replaced my fire this month

so if still on the fence imagine your day and what/where you'll be doing what you do...that is what decided it for me
 
Sadly I think I will have to go back to my MBP 13 and send the MBA 11 back, it is just too small and when you have to make compromises for a device, it means it will inevitably be sent back or replaced with the right thing in the end, costing money 🙁 - really sad though because I love the speedy flash memory on it.
 
Mba11

My first Mac was a 13". I used it as my main machine connected to a 24" Cinema Display with the BT keyboard and mouse. When the first generation Air came out, I skipped because it was too slow and too restricted. When the first 11" Air came out, I bought it and ditched my 13" Pro. Connected to the same Cinema display with the Magic Trackpad replacing the Mouse this time, it became my main work station. I have an iMac as well as a Mac Mini Server to do more CPU/GPU intensive tasks but my 11" Air is my main machine. I upgraded the 11 Air to the 2011 maxed-out model mainly for the backlit keyboard. It is still my number one work horse. I don't understand the arguments regarding the display being too small. My 60" plasma 10 feet away from me is exactly the same perceivable size as my 11" Air being 12" away from me. I specifically chose the 11" over the 13" because of its size and weight (or lack of it). 13" has more vertical height compared to the 11", but the width is exactly the same and I can scroll up and down with no problem. Computers are tools to fulfil one's needs. Pick one to fulfil your needs, whether it is a 13" or an 11" is up to you to decide, based on your priorities. For me, smaller and lighter it is, the better it is.
 
I got an 11" Air a few weeks ago. Great little machine. It's an ideal second computer and if something happens to my beloved MBP I won't be without a laptop. I love both my Pro and Air equally though 😉
 
OnceYouGoMac said:
I got an 11" Air a few weeks ago. Great little machine. It's an ideal second computer and if something happens to my beloved MBP I won't be without a laptop. I love both my Pro and Air equally though 😉
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did you consider a 13 inch?
 
OnceYouGoMac said:
I was thinking about it but I have a 13" MBP already and I fell in love with the 11" when I saw it. I had wanted one ever since the 11" came out.
Click to expand...

the 11 inch air is a unique mac. i have stated before that in my opinion the 11 inch was very popular when first released. many mac tech writers and long time mac fans wrote glowing reviews of it. it seems with the discontinuation of the white macbook the 13 inch air is gaining in popularity. the 11 inch seems to have lost its retail space in my local apple store it only accounts for 2 spaces on the macbook air table when it used to be displayed in the window. i am sure part of this is due to the retina macbook pro.

my questions is what is going to become of the 11 inch air will it be a niche product or a best seller like the 13 inch macbook pro?
 
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tim100 said:
the 11 inch air is a unique mac. i have stated before that in my opinion the 11 inch was very popular when first released. many mac tech writers and long time mac fans wrote glowing reviews of it. it seems with the discontinuation of the white macbook the 13 inch air is gaining in popularity. the 11 inch seems to have lost its retail space in my local apple store it only accounts for 2 spaces on the macbook air table when it used to be displayed in the window. i am sure part of this is due to the retina macbook pro.

my questions is what is going to become of the 11 inch air will it be a niche product or a best seller like the 13 inch macbook pro?
Click to expand...

It's certainly a great little machine. Last time I was in an Apple Store I saw a couple of the little guys. They're popular enough I guess but I don't think it'll be discontinued. I kinda hope it becomes a best seller like the 13" MBP.
 
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