Ready to Buy - Want MBA, not sure if it can handle Music Production needs

[halledise]

new MB Pro models coming in January.
if you can hold fire until then, you will have a really interesting choice to make.

irrespective of that tho, a 13" Air with 4 gb of memory should do it for you - a MBPro definitely will

decisions, decisions …

 

[Cerano]

an 13" MBA ultimate will definitely cut it for you. no need to lug around a heavy brick MBP

 

[miggitymac]

an 13" MBA ultimate will definitely cut it for you. no need to lug around a heavy brick MBP

I'm not sure that a MBA would "definitely" cut it...

I use Reason on my 15" MBP and the fans go nuts and it starts to stutter. Some times worse than others...

I didn't even bother installing Reason on my MBA. Partly because I assumed that it'd be a spinning beachball fest and also because I'm trying to be minimal with what I put on to the MBA.

From the OPs description of his needs I'd say either get a MBP and keep the iMac at home, OR buy a MBA now, wait until the new MBPs are released, then sell the iMac and get the new MBP.

But if he wants to keep the iMac I'd say he needs a Pro.

 

[Cerano]

I'm not sure that a MBA would "definitely" cut it...

I use Reason on my 15" MBP and the fans go nuts and it starts to stutter. Some times worse than others...

I didn't even bother installing Reason on my MBA. Partly because I assumed that it'd be a spinning beachball fest and also because I'm trying to be minimal with what I put on to the MBA.

From the OPs description of his needs I'd say either get a MBP and keep the iMac at home, OR buy a MBA now, wait until the new MBPs are released, then sell the iMac and get the new MBP.

But if he wants to keep the iMac I'd say he needs a Pro.

well it was my understanding that music production typically requires copious ram and a heavy use of sequential read/write which is the MBA's SSD's strong point (in fact much faster than an Intel X-25V/M)

 

[Matumeak]

The Contenders - leaning towards Pro

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger and buy. Of course, I understand it's my own $$$ and my own decision in the end, yet I appreciate all the vast knowledge here in the forum and the comments (mostly) have been really helpful and insightful. Thanks!

I've put them in 3 groups. I'm actually leaning towards the MacBook Pro, which is a surprise for me, because I've been patiently waiting for an Air update since the first Airs arrived. It's just that I understand the potentiality of the Pro's. I have a question - I love the SSD drives, but just can't drop an extra $1300 dollars right now. I can upgrade the pro later, right? I would love to upgrade the harddrive to a SSD drive at some point.

The groupings, probably don't make sense. I'm actually leaning towards group B. It's really hard to not get the Air. I can spend up to $2200, but less would be awesome right now, and I could use the extra $ on software that I have been craving - Adobe suite programs and or Final Cut Pro.

Or, I could use the extra cash for an audio interface that I've been wanting.

Ok... Time to weigh in your opinions! Remember, I travel 80% of the year, I have a 24" iMac that I LOVE with 1T space and I tend to perform live - a lot. I do video editing of short films on iMovie, I use Reason and Abelton Live 8, and I'm a playwright, who always has ideas on the go. Even if I'm in the same town, I'm very mobile - I travel.

Thanks again in advance! At the end, I may still go with my heart and get the Air, because I just love the Air! Yet, my logical brain is starting to kick in and I'm actually leaning towards a perhaps much smarter choice of a Refurbished Pro.

Yay!

Group A:

Ultimate 13.3" Mac Book Air
$1749
$174
=$1923
plus case and bag ($250) and i Work ($80) =$330
$2253

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7
15.4' LED glossy screen
4GB ram
500GB serial ATA @5400 rpm
$1869
$349 protection plan
$50 speck case
$80 iWork
Already have an expensive backpack that fits
total $2348

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.53GHz Intel Core i5
17" LED glossy display
4GB Ram
500GB Serial ATA @5400 rpm
$1879
$349 protection plan
$80 iWork
$50 speck case
Already have an expensive backpack that fits
total $2358

Option B -
Refurbished MacBook Pro
2.4GHz Intel Core Duo
13.3" LED glossy screen
4gig ram
250 GB Serial ATA at 5400 rpm
$1019
$249 protection plan
$50 Speck Case
$80 iWork
Already have an expensive backpack that fits
total - $1398

Option C -
Ultimate 11.6" MacBook Air
$1369
$174
= $1543
plus case and bag ($250) and iWork ($80) = $330
$1873

Refurbished MacBook Pro
2.66 GHz Intel Core Duo
13.3" glossy screen
4gig ram
320GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
$1269
$249 protection plan
$50 Speck Case
$80 iWork
Already have an expensive backpack that fits
total $1648

Refurbished MacBook Pro
2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
17" antiglare screen
4GB memory
500 GB harddrive @5400 rpm
Expresscard slot
$1699
$349 protection plan
$50 speck case
$80 iWork
Already have an expensive backpack that fits
$2178 total

Refurbished MacBook Pro
15.4" glossy screen
2.53GHz Intel Core i5
4GB ram
3MB L2 Cache
500 GB Serial ATA @5400 rpm
$1699
$349 protection plan
$80 iWork
Already have an expensive backpack that fits
$2128 total

 

[Hellhammer]

Yes, you can upgrade the MBP later on. Remember that there is no need to buy AppleCare now, it can be bought at anytime during the first year so if money is a bit tight now, don't buy it now. Plus 3rd parties sell it for less $.

One option is to get MBA and try it, you have 14 days to return it. That should be enough for you to give it some good testing to see if it is enough for your needs. If it is, then keep it as you seem to drool after the MBA anyway. If you find it to be too slow, then return it and get a MacBook Pro. That way you don't have to regret the decision you made because it was based on your experience. Sure, you might have to pay restocking fee but you may be able to avoid it if you get the MBP

 

[Cerano]

Yes, you can upgrade the MBP later on. Remember that there is no need to buy AppleCare now, it can be bought at anytime during the first year so if money is a bit tight now, don't buy it now. Plus 3rd parties sell it for less $.

One option is to get MBA and try it, you have 14 days to return it. That should be enough for you to give it some good testing to see if it is enough for your needs. If it is, then keep it as you seem to drool after the MBA anyway. If you find it to be too slow, then return it and get a MacBook Pro. That way you don't have to regret the decision you made because it was based on your experience. Sure, you might have to pay restocking fee but you may be able to avoid it if you get the MBP

+1 best answer ever

when in doubt, try it out

 

[Matumeak]

I'm not sure that a MBA would "definitely" cut it...

I use Reason on my 15" MBP and the fans go nuts and it starts to stutter. Some times worse than others...

I didn't even bother installing Reason on my MBA. Partly because I assumed that it'd be a spinning beachball fest and also because I'm trying to be minimal with what I put on to the MBA.

From the OPs description of his needs I'd say either get a MBP and keep the iMac at home, OR buy a MBA now, wait until the new MBPs are released, then sell the iMac and get the new MBP.

But if he wants to keep the iMac I'd say he needs a Pro.

From my research, the Air can handle Reason and Abelton Live just fine. It's just that I won't be able to do many tracks when recording, which works for my mobile needs.

I love my 24" iMac and the case was quite an investment, and it's in such great shape, that it would take a lot for me to sell her. I would only do so if my cousin gave me a good deal on his projector and then I could use the projector as a big screen with my Air or a Pro.

I'm leaning towards the 11.6" Air also because if the new Pro's come out and blow the old Pro's out of the water, the 11.6" Air will still be great for a long time yet, and it wouldn't compete with a new Pro or my iMac.

I'm really excited! I wish I could wait another month or two to see what happens with the Pro's, yet I need to strike while the iron is hot.

As a writer - I tend to get a lot of ideas while hiking/travelling/driving/etc, and I'm drawn to the Air because of the Uber-Portability factor. Yet, I've owned two MacBook Pro's and the weight didn't seem to bother me, I even loved loved loved my 17" - until he got stolen ruthlessly from my life.

I loved the 17" so much that I just put up with the extra weight. It was awkward at times. So, I listed a 17" as an option - because I like that it has extra ports and is even better for professional audio (any thoughts on this?)

I'll definately let everyone know what the final choice is! I'm new to the idea of planning hard drive upgrades to a Pro - so anyone with insight on the upgradability of the pro - that insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

 

[Hellhammer]

I'm new to the idea of planning hard drive upgrades to a Pro - so anyone with insight on the upgradability of the pro - that insight would be greatly appreciated.

Up to 1.75TB (1TB + 750GB) of storage if you replace the ODD with a hard drive. With the ODD, up to 1TB. If you prefer speed, then 750GB 7200rpm drive is your best bet. Even better, two of them in RAID 0 if you remove the ODD.

 

[toxic]

^ yeah, you should try that. based on what you've told us, though, I think a 13" MBP is what suits your needs best.

I don't understand why anyone would spend $50 to ruin Apple's industrial design with an ugly case... what do you have to protect a solid block of aluminium from

 

[ZenErik]

Up to 1.75TB (1TB + 750GB) of storage if you replace the ODD with a hard drive. With the ODD, up to 1TB. If you prefer speed, then 750GB 7200rpm drive is your best bet. Even better, two of them in RAID 0 if you remove the ODD.

Might I also suggest my setup for his needs. Small SSD boot drive and 1 TB HDD for storage.

 

[Matumeak]

Up to 1.75TB (1TB + 750GB) of storage if you replace the ODD with a hard drive. With the ODD, up to 1TB. If you prefer speed, then 750GB 7200rpm drive is your best bet. Even better, two of them in RAID 0 if you remove the ODD.

Thanks - What is ODD? I'm guessing it is the optical drive. How much could I upgrade the...
Refurbished MacBook Pro
2.4GHz Intel Core Duo
13.3" LED glossy screen
4gig ram
250 GB Serial ATA at 5400 rpm

How much space could I get on this with a SSD? And how much space with a fast 7200 rpm drive? Is the 15" more upgradeable?

 

[Matumeak]

^ yeah, you should try that. based on what you've told us, though, I think a 13" MBP is what suits your needs best.

I don't understand why anyone would spend $50 to ruin Apple's industrial design with an ugly case... what do you have to protect a solid block of aluminium from

My last Pro - I put on a Speck case in a color I liked and I put stickers on the case, which was fun. I'm guessing people put on cases for the re-sale-ability of having a non-scratched mac. I also think it is easy to "pop" off the colorful stickered case when you need to for situations where the stickers may be inappropriate for work needs.

As far as the MBP, what I've read is that the 13" MBA does better than the 13" Pro in tests. It's only bonus is the firewire port, the upgrade factor and the larger hard drive capacity.

I never thought about trying it out and paying a re-stocking fee! If I got the Air - I'd be pretty hard pressed to pay them money to take it back? I think they'd have to pry it from my hands first, so I want to make a decision that will hopefully stick from the get-go.

 

[Hellhammer]

Thanks - What is ODD? I'm guessing it is the optical drive. How much could I upgrade the...
Refurbished MacBook Pro
2.4GHz Intel Core Duo
13.3" LED glossy screen
4gig ram
250 GB Serial ATA at 5400 rpm

How much space could I get on this with a SSD? And how much space with a fast 7200 rpm drive? Is the 15" more upgradeable?

Yeah, ODD is the optical drive (or SuperDrive like Apple calls it).

With SSDs, you can get up to 1TB (2x512GB) but those cost more than the MBP itself. It really depends how big SSD you need. As suggested above, small SSD as boot drive + big HD is probably your best bet, assuming you can get rid of the ODD. With 7200rpm drives, you can get up to 1.5TB if you remove the ODD and 750GB with the ODD.

13" is as upgradeable as 15"

 

[Matumeak]

Might I also suggest my setup for his needs. Small SSD boot drive and 1 TB HDD for storage.

Interesting. What does a small SSD boot drive mean? I'm definately getting very intrigued by the idea of having 1T with me as I travel. I like the 13" Pro size and I have an intuitive feeling the 13" Pro will go away with the next Pro update.

 

[nfl46]

Definitely get a MBP! I love my MBA but if I were into music and video, then I would have chosen the MBP over the MBA.

 

[sunrisemusic]

I like the idea suggested earlier to get an Air and try it out and return it within 2 weeks if it doesn't suit your needs. Then you can really test drive it and see what you think. As a writer on the fly you'll definitely love how light it is. I'm taking my 11" all over the place where I'd never bother with my white macbook.

 

[drxcm]

One thing you haven't mentioned is battery life. If you plan to do anything CPU intensive off battery power, the Air will last a couple of hours only, it drains extremely quickly when doing heavy CPU work. The MBP will fare MUCH better in this regard.

Also, if you plan to do FCP, CS5 as well as audio, I think you'll find the 128GB hard drive space quite restrictive on the 11" Air. Your installed apps will take up a lot of space. Yes you can always use an external HD, but you'd have to have it plugged in a lot!

I still think the answer here is pretty obvious - I'd suggest an i5 or i7 15" MBP. I'd also go for a 7200 rpm internal HD unless you plan to upgrade to SSD in the very near future.

I suspect the new MBP's will be out this month so if possible, I'd wait like 3-4 weeks.

 

[Hellhammer]

One thing you haven't mentioned is battery life. If you plan to do anything CPU intensive off battery power, the Air will last a couple of hours only, it drains extremely quickly when doing heavy CPU work. The MBP will fare MUCH better in this regard.

Why is that? 13" MBA gets 7 hours according to Apple while 15" MBP gets 8-9 hours. That ain't much better. When the CPU is under full load, both computers' battery will drain, quickly.

Or do you have something to prove that MBP gets much better battery performance when under full load?

 

[drxcm]

Why is that? 13" MBA gets 7 hours according to Apple while 15" MBP gets 8-9 hours. That ain't much better. When the CPU is under full load, both computers' battery will drain, quickly.

Or do you have something to prove that MBP gets much better battery performance when under full load?

The OP has made it pretty clear in this thread that he is more interested in the 11" Air than the 13"

So its 5 vs 8-9 hours.
In my experience running Logic Pro on the 11" air, 15" pro and 17" pro - you can cut that number in half.

So roughly 2.5 hours vs 4-4.5 hours.

 

[toxic]

As far as the MBP, what I've read is that the 13" MBA does better than the 13" Pro in tests. It's only bonus is the firewire port, the upgrade factor and the larger hard drive capacity.

I don't know where you read that, but these reviews don't support that:
http://www.barefeats.com/mbpp31.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3991/apples-2010-macbook-air-11-13inch-reviewed/7

note that Anandtech was using a 2.26 13", so you should be looking at the early '08 15" results to see how the current 2.4 13" would perform.

there isn't a huge difference at times, and the MBA fares well in some tests because of its SSD...but you can put an SSD in an MBP as well, they support 8GB of RAM, and you can swap out the optical drive for another hard drive.

I never thought about trying it out and paying a re-stocking fee! If I got the Air - I'd be pretty hard pressed to pay them money to take it back? I think they'd have to pry it from my hands first, so I want to make a decision that will hopefully stick from the get-go.

they might waive the fee since you'd still be buying something from them.

 

[Hellhammer]

I never thought about trying it out and paying a re-stocking fee! If I got the Air - I'd be pretty hard pressed to pay them money to take it back? I think they'd have to pry it from my hands first, so I want to make a decision that will hopefully stick from the get-go.

Well, I would try to make an "open-deal", i.e. negotiate with them so that you don't have to pay the fee if you return it. Simply tell them your story (love the MBA but not sure is it enough for your needs but you'd like to try it out) and I'm pretty sure the rep will be happy to take the MBA back without charging restocking fee, as long as you buy the MBP from them.

 

[mixvio]

I've never been charged a restocking fee for anything I bought from Apple. They always take things back with few questions asked.

 

[Matumeak]

About to pull the trigger - BAM!

As a power-hungry owner of an 8-core Mac Pro constantly working with 1080p 5D Mark II footage, gaming, audio postproduction, graphic design/web development, etc....I've oddly been considering the MBA 11 since the day it came out. I was turned way off by the dated CPU and the general lack of power, and couldn't fathom paying $1000+ for something that's, on paper, slower than my late 07 MBP. I have an iPad as well, which, since my MBP is on its death bed from 3.5 years of very heavy use, was being used for my mobile stuff. Still, I persisted to be interested, the size and weight seeming perfect. I hate low resolution glossy displays (cough 13" MBP cough), but this one doesn't have a clunky glass pane affixed to it, and the resolution is quite nice for an 11" panel.


I broke down and bought an Ultimate MBA 11" two days ago and let me tell you this notebook is the best thing I've ever bought. It's lightning fast, tiny as hell, and just as powerful as it needs to be. I've installed Final Cut, Adobe CS5 suite, Steam, and all my usual stuff and it takes everything I throw at it like a champ. Sure if I were to render/export 1080p prores video in Final Cut, it would take forever, but i've found it great in my testing to throw a cut together of footage, throw the FCP final to the Mac Pro and do all the hard video processing on that. Steam for Mac is great, I tried Garry's Mod, Portal, and TF2 and they all run maxed out at the native resolution with seemingly way over 30-40fps.

And the battery life, also great. I used Coolbook to undervolt the CPU and it runs stable at the lowest selectable voltage(.875v?) at all processor speeds. I believe I got around 6 hours and 15 minutes of battery doing a little bit of everything.

If you're doubting the power, forget it and go buy one, you won't be disappointed. Even if you don't like it, I think the restocking fee would be worth the few days you spend with it, haha.



Oh, and it runs Minecraft like a charm, heh.

Quoted from - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1068859/

At this point in the thread, I as the OP, might be upsetting some people by my final purchase. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'm about to.

I really appreciate the feedback and comments in this thread, although at times some came off a little harsh and rude. Others have been tough and fair. I'm brand spanking new to this forum - and having the space to interact with other mac users has been phenomenal to me, as right now I am in a remote Alaskan village (in the Arctic) and although I've seen the new Airs in person and am familiar with all of Pro's and other options - this decision is being made in a really isolated place, so the sparks of insight and community feedback has been greatly appreciated.

That being said, I finally found the quote from a different thread that made me think that I could take a chance and go with something that I've always craved... An ultra-portable Mac.

If I didn't already have my beloved 24" 1T iMac, then it would be different. If I didn't have two sad experiences with two separate MacBook Pros - it would be a little different too. (My 17" was stolen, my 15" had a liquid accident, each were a year old - so I cut myself off from owning a laptop for almost two years).

And, as crazy as it may seem to most people - if I didn't also have a way to travel with my 24" iMac (super nice Tenba aircase) if I absolutely need to, then it would be different too.

Do I want a MacBook Pro? Yes, I do. Do I know my usage habits are in line with what a MacBook Pro can do? Yes, I know that I would be well suited to a 15" MacBook Pro - especially a souped up one with SSD.

Yet - I'm willing to wait a bit to get my ultimate setup - which will be a 11" Air, a 15" pro and my 24" iMac. If I could afford to wait for the new Pro's to come out, it could be possibly a different story - it's just that the MacBook Pro's that catch my eye come at a significantly higher price point than an Ultimate 11". I also feel great that the 11" are not due for an update for awhile and that is a great time to take the plunge in the ever-changing river of newer and better technology.

If writing my screenplays and plays weren't such a big part of who I am, then I probably wouldn't be salivating as hard for the 11". Yet, I am a writer and the potentiality of truly being able to take the 11" everywhere and use it quickly in many different situations - excites me to my core. I suspect that the difference between an Ultimate Air 13" and an Ultimate Air 11" will be a transformational one - in my case.

Another poster in this thread mentioned:

11.6 1.6/4G/128 here running Live 8.2.1. Mainly for djing so lighter use than production but 3-4 tracks with a few plugs works well for me.

I swapped out my Echo Audiofire2 for a NI Audio 2 DJ/CME midi combo.

I was using a 2.2GHz 2007 MBP 15" but the Air is much quicker.

I use Abelton Live 8.2.1 and I'm confident the 11" can handle Reason also. I love hearing all the feedback that the 11" can handle Adobe CS5 and some video editing. I'm also encouraged by the fact that there is a way for my 24" iMac to be wirelessly connected to my 11" while I'm on the road.

To me, the 11" feels not like a computer, but a revolutionary weapon. It seems to be as a knife - a personal friend that is always by your side to hack through the layers of work - information - interests - connections that need to be maintained and built upon.

I realize the 13" isn't a heck of a lot bigger, yet I suspect that my 11" will be with me everywhere I go - which means - when I feel inspired, I have a way to capture my inspiration - in writing, with a full-sized keypad. It's hard for me to imagine the same "take everywhere" sensation with an Ultimate 13".

I'm excited to take the plunge and buy the Ultimate 11". I also am excited to save and plan for my next computer to be a souped up MacBook 15" Pro.

I can't express enough gratitude to the people who took time to give some hard advice in a kind way. As far as the people who I seem to come across on these threads who seem to enjoy being rude and negative and disrespectful - I want to say to you that - your energy and comments and negativity and rudeness affect everyone around you - and that if you choose to contribute to an online forum - it's great to have dissenting opinions - yet there is an understated rule that respect needs to be the underlying river underneath each thread and post, no matter how different the opinions seem to be, or how passionately we defend our own point of view.

We are a community - albiet a virtual one - and it is my hope that we treat eachother with respect and kindness, especially when saying something that someone doesn't want to hear, or doesn't seem to understand.

I'm excited to be a part of this community of people who know Macs. When I found this forum, I felt that I found the missing resource of information that I've been yearning for.

I apologize for the long-winded response. I'll be sure to post photos of my new Mac, when it arrives! Thanks again for your patience with me in this process. And for the record, I'm a gal, not a guy. Matumeak is one of my Inupiaq names (Inupiaq Eskimo) and it is a male name. It is the name of my great-Uncle, who I am named for. He was an amazing musician and composer, so I like to use that name in forums where I am most interested in technology and music. I just mention this because I had been referred to as a guy by other posters, and although it didn't seem to matter (or bother me) since I intend to stay active in these forums, it seems like a good idea to clarify (once, anyways)

Ok! Wish me luck! And I'll be sure to post my review here after I have my software loaded in and I've done some real-world situational testing with my new Ultimate 11". Thanks again!

 

[Cerano]

Quoted from - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1068859/

At this point in the thread, I as the OP, might be upsetting some people by my final purchase. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'm about to.

I really appreciate the feedback and comments in this thread, although at times some came off a little harsh and rude. Others have been tough and fair. I'm brand spanking new to this forum - and having the space to interact with other mac users has been phenomenal to me, as right now I am in a remote Alaskan village (in the Arctic) and although I've seen the new Airs in person and am familiar with all of Pro's and other options - this decision is being made in a really isolated place, so the sparks of insight and community feedback has been greatly appreciated.

That being said, I finally found the quote from a different thread that made me think that I could take a chance and go with something that I've always craved... An ultra-portable Mac.

If I didn't already have my beloved 24" 1T iMac, then it would be different. If I didn't have two sad experiences with two separate MacBook Pros - it would be a little different too. (My 17" was stolen, my 15" had a liquid accident, each were a year old - so I cut myself off from owning a laptop for almost two years).

And, as crazy as it may seem to most people - if I didn't also have a way to travel with my 24" iMac (super nice Tenba aircase) if I absolutely need to, then it would be different too.

Do I want a MacBook Pro? Yes, I do. Do I know my usage habits are in line with what a MacBook Pro can do? Yes, I know that I would be well suited to a 15" MacBook Pro - especially a souped up one with SSD.

Yet - I'm willing to wait a bit to get my ultimate setup - which will be a 11" Air, a 15" pro and my 24" iMac. If I could afford to wait for the new Pro's to come out, it could be possibly a different story - it's just that the MacBook Pro's that catch my eye come at a significantly higher price point than an Ultimate 11". I also feel great that the 11" are not due for an update for awhile and that is a great time to take the plunge in the ever-changing river of newer and better technology.

If writing my screenplays and plays weren't such a big part of who I am, then I probably wouldn't be salivating as hard for the 11". Yet, I am a writer and the potentiality of truly being able to take the 11" everywhere and use it quickly in many different situations - excites me to my core. I suspect that the difference between an Ultimate Air 13" and an Ultimate Air 11" will be a transformational one - in my case.

Another poster in this thread mentioned:


I use Abelton Live 8.2.1 and I'm confident the 11" can handle Reason also. I love hearing all the feedback that the 11" can handle Adobe CS5 and some video editing. I'm also encouraged by the fact that there is a way for my 24" iMac to be wirelessly connected to my 11" while I'm on the road.

To me, the 11" feels not like a computer, but a revolutionary weapon. It seems to be as a knife - a personal friend that is always by your side to hack through the layers of work - information - interests - connections that need to be maintained and built upon.

I realize the 13" isn't a heck of a lot bigger, yet I suspect that my 11" will be with me everywhere I go - which means - when I feel inspired, I have a way to capture my inspiration - in writing, with a full-sized keypad. It's hard for me to imagine the same "take everywhere" sensation with an Ultimate 13".

I'm excited to take the plunge and buy the Ultimate 11". I also am excited to save and plan for my next computer to be a souped up MacBook 15" Pro.

I can't express enough gratitude to the people who took time to give some hard advice in a kind way. As far as the people who I seem to come across on these threads who seem to enjoy being rude and negative and disrespectful - I want to say to you that - your energy and comments and negativity and rudeness affect everyone around you - and that if you choose to contribute to an online forum - it's great to have dissenting opinions - yet there is an understated rule that respect needs to be the underlying river underneath each thread and post, no matter how different the opinions seem to be, or how passionately we defend our own point of view.

We are a community - albiet a virtual one - and it is my hope that we treat eachother with respect and kindness, especially when saying something that someone doesn't want to hear, or doesn't seem to understand.

I'm excited to be a part of this community of people who know Macs. When I found this forum, I felt that I found the missing resource of information that I've been yearning for.

I apologize for the long-winded response. I'll be sure to post photos of my new Mac, when it arrives! Thanks again for your patience with me in this process. And for the record, I'm a gal, not a guy. Matumeak is one of my Inupiaq names (Inupiaq Eskimo) and it is a male name. It is the name of my great-Uncle, who I am named for. He was an amazing musician and composer, so I like to use that name in forums where I am most interested in technology and music. I just mention this because I had been referred to as a guy by other posters, and although it didn't seem to matter (or bother me) since I intend to stay active in these forums, it seems like a good idea to clarify (once, anyways)

Ok! Wish me luck! And I'll be sure to post my review here after I have my software loaded in and I've done some real-world situational testing with my new Ultimate 11". Thanks again!

damn sis. wonder how you managed to carry your imac around. even a 15" is like a brick to me