Should I switch my 2010 MBA for 2011 model

I have recently been in the same situation as Omar, but for different reasons. I don't really think you'll notice much of a difference between the 2010 and 2011 models for the reasons listed.

For me the upgrade will be worth it. I have sold my 2010 ultimate 13" and will be picking up the 2011 13" in a day or two. At the moment the air is my only machine as I am waiting for the new Mac Pro's to come out. I really need more screen real estate as well so I wanted to get a 27" apple moniter. I didn't like the thought of getting the cinema display instead of the thunderbolt display so I got rid of the 2010 air. Most of the work related tasks I use my Mac for are very processor intensive (3D rendering), so the upgrade will help with this. Although I haven't been able to do much work related tasks recently since the air has been my only machine for the past three months and will likely be the same for the next three months. However I did buy the air to play around on and browse the internet rather than working on.

So unless you need thunderbolt, and want a backlit keyboard I don't really think you need to upgrade because it doesn't seem like you are maxing out your processor with the tasks you listed. However I haven't actually used the 2011 model yet so my opinions probably not that valid.
 
I agree with the responses stating that for your use pattern (which is similar to mine) it simply may not be worth it. I tried out the 2011 13" MBA for two weeks, only arriving to the conclusion that in my regular use there was no substantial performance difference. The lit keyboard is great and the machine overall is fantastic. At this stage though, I will wait for Ivy Bridge. Hopefully then we'll also see some noticeable graphics performance improvement and an option to add 8 GB RAM.
 
I went from the 2010 version the the 2011 version via an Apple Care replacement. Not noticing too much... the only stand out thing is the the back lit keyboard which I love... but that is it.
 
I purchased my 2010 about two months before the 2011 came out. Kinda ticked about that. But with the rumors of a possible 15inch Macbook Pro that is as thin as the Air coming out early 2012 I'm willing to see what the next revision brings.
 
For daily programming tasks, there is really no need, unless a backlight keyboard is worth hundreds of dollars for you. I own a 2010 C2D model, and its more than powerful enough to handle word processors/safari/etc; which is all I really use it for.

Unless your doing some hardcore CPU intensive work, the upgrade is throwing money towards speeds you will never achieve. I always find it amazing how much money people on MacRumours apparently have to through at Apple without using their brains...
 
Xikum said:
For daily programming tasks, there is really no need, unless a backlight keyboard is worth hundreds of dollars for you. I own a 2010 C2D model, and its more than powerful enough to handle word processors/safari/etc; which is all I really use it for.

Unless your doing some hardcore CPU intensive work, the upgrade is throwing money towards speeds you will never achieve. I always find it amazing how much money people on MacRumours apparently have to through at Apple without using their brains...
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Yup I couldn't agree more. I'm a web developer/designer and regularly have safari, firefox and chrome with dozens of tabs open. MMAP running, coda, photoshop and transmit and usually also have ical and mailplane running in the background. And thru either itunes or pandora running via adobe air and I rarely see any problems. Actually I haven't yet unless I open a zillion youtube pages in firefox.

I went from a 2009 Macbook Pro with 2.5ghz and 6gb ram (upgraded) and a 500gb 7500rpm to my current 2010 1.8ghz 4gb 250gb ssd and I'm happy. I think it even runs zippier than the MacBook Pro, which is probably mostly due to the SSD.

I'd be curious to see what pans out for the Air's future as far as memory. I'd like to see more memory personally.

I've only noticed how slow this is one time when I tried to run handbrake and it told me to come back in 55mins.
 
You have to be very Zen about your technology purchases imo, because from the moment you lay your money down, it's just a few months to a year (max) before that same pile of money will get you so much more in terms of specs.

The only sane way to do it is just identify your use-case, and purchase a machine that will serve it well over the amount of time you intend to own it.

Just repeat to yourself "I have no need for this! I have no need for this!" like a mantra as endless desirable specs and features that you don't have get brought to the market and the rumor mill :p

Not very easy is it? ;)
 
mikekey said:
Yup I couldn't agree more. I'm a web developer/designer and regularly have safari, firefox and chrome with dozens of tabs open. MMAP running, coda, photoshop and transmit and usually also have ical and mailplane running in the background. And thru either itunes or pandora running via adobe air and I rarely see any problems. Actually I haven't yet unless I open a zillion youtube pages in firefox.

I went from a 2009 Macbook Pro with 2.5ghz and 6gb ram (upgraded) and a 500gb 7500rpm to my current 2010 1.8ghz 4gb 250gb ssd and I'm happy. I think it even runs zippier than the MacBook Pro, which is probably mostly due to the SSD.

I'd be curious to see what pans out for the Air's future as far as memory. I'd like to see more memory personally.

I've only noticed how slow this is one time when I tried to run handbrake and it told me to come back in 55mins.
Click to expand...

Yep, exactly. For general consumer use, a C2D processor with 2-4 GBs of RAM is perfect (and lets not forget the the C2D in the 2010 Air isn't the same C2D that was released 6 years ago or whatever it was), and the SSD makes it much faster than what you might think.

The only time you will realise a difference is when it come to CPU intensive work; like you said, your example was using Handbreak.

But some people really just have an unreasonable desire to do everything quickly, no matter how much it will cost them. I use Handbreak on my i5 iMac, and it takes no time at all to convert a DVD. If I did it on my MBA, I know it would take probably twice as long (maybe 20 minutes or something if it was all I was doing); now, is that extra time really worth hundreds of dollars? Absolutely not. People really need to be realistic, and I get the impression on MacRumours that some people just seem all too happy to give Apple bundles and bundles on money, for machines that if they just spent a time thinking about, they would realise they dont really need the upgrade.

Hell, I remember speaking to a guy on here who had 3 MacBook Airs (2 11"s and 1 13"), a couple iPads, a MBP and an iMac. What the hell is the point in that? He said something like he thought Apple deserved the money; if you ask me, people like that are completely brainwashed. But hey, thats just my opinion, who am I to tell people how to spend their hard-earned cash.
 
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