Should I choose 11" or 13"?

[dmk1974]

If you need it for a camera, why not hook the camera up directly through USB? Saves you bringing a reader altogether, just bring a mini-USB cable.

Thanks, that's probably the best solution (as long as I keep the correct USB cable in the camera case).

So, back to the OP's question...I wound up selling my MC965LL/A 13" MBA and decided that I'll keep one of the 11" MBAs. I have been using the MC968LL/A (2/64) and it seems fine, but I also have a MC969LL/A (4/128) that I haven't even opened yet. For about an extra $200, is the 969 a worthwhile upgrade over the 968? Storage space isn't really an issue at the moment (yes, I know more is better), but the RAM of course isn't upgradeable in the future (if it's needed).

 

[57004]

For about an extra $200, is the 969 a worthwhile upgrade over the 968? Storage space isn't really an issue at the moment (yes, I know more is better), but the RAM of course isn't upgradeable in the future (if it's needed).

I totally think so. It depends how long you want to keep it for, and what you use it for, but I'd only recommend 2GB for very light use and only if you want to get rid of it before 10.8 comes out. There's a good chance it will require more memory since Lion is already at 2GB.

For anything heavier or if you want to keep it more than a year or so, I'd really recommend 4GB. I used the latest VMWare Fusion with a Lion VM last night on my Mac Mini which also has 4GB, and because I had to assign 2GB to Lion (the minimum requirement), it filled up all its memory and started thrashing the swap file, making everything unbearably slow.

Only a year ago 2GB was plenty but it's rapidly becoming an unsufferable amount of memory.

And if you end up upgrading to 4GB you might as well get the bigger drive for the extra $100. If you want to save money maybe you could go for a refurb, they'll probably come online pretty soon.

 

[vitzr]

I have both, since prior to the purchase I simply could not decide.

Since these are "extra's" for me and will never be my main computer I have the latitude to use whatever suits me on any given day.

That said I find the 11" rarely gets used as it's just not large enough to be comfortable. The display is simply too small, as is the rest of the machine. I find it's all too easy to be drawn in by it's appearance.

As a very light use machine it's fine. Anything more it's just too small & all the scrolling gets tedious.

 

[shznit]

the new 13 already has worse battery life than 2010, I can't imagine being happy with even less from the 11. And 1336x768 is awful.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

And 1336x768 is awful.

I agree. I prefer a 12" at 1280x800 than a 11" at 1336x768. Vertical scroll is tedious indeed.

 

[dmk1974]

Well, after a couple weeks, I'm still really liking that I decided to stay with the 11" over the 13". I kept the MC969LL/A for myself and gave the MC968LL/A to my wife (for her use, 2GB/64GB is just fine). Great machines!