Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Upgrade Air or go Pro?

joshuaginter said:
Wow. That thing is tiny! I could definitely live with something like that. Will consider it.
Click to expand...

Using a USB flash drive is not a good idea. It seems worth it but they are very slow! Much slower than the SSD for data read/write.

If you're happy with the screen size of the 11" then your best option is probably OWC SSD as they have 6G/SATAIII ones which will speed up your laptop more. I make iOS apps/websites (among other bits of programming) and I don't think the 11" would be able to accommodate well for this (personally) due to not being able to program to the full potential when on the move so it might be worth you upgrading to the 13". I use the i7 and it's a beast..much better than the old 13"pro I had and the screen resolution is fantastic!!
 
I've had the 13" 2010 MBA and both the 2010 and 2011 "ultimate" 11".

There's substantial difference in day-to-day use. While the footprint doesn't seem to be markedly different between the two, the 11" is a more useable machine when the portability factor is taken into account.

I know others have expressed difficulty with the small screen; it has yet to be an issue for me. The resolution is superb and the full-screen feature in Lion minimizes the amount of scrolling I do.

After using the 11" for a few weeks, the 13" seems positively huge by comparison. For almost everything I do, the 11" suffices.

I travel a good deal, and enjoy not having to take the 11" out of the bag for airline security.
 
jamesr19 said:
Using a USB flash drive is not a good idea. It seems worth it but they are very slow! Much slower than the SSD for data read/write.

If you're happy with the screen size of the 11" then your best option is probably OWC SSD as they have 6G/SATAIII ones which will speed up your laptop more. I make iOS apps/websites (among other bits of programming) and I don't think the 11" would be able to accommodate well for this (personally) due to not being able to program to the full potential when on the move so it might be worth you upgrading to the 13". I use the i7 and it's a beast..much better than the old 13"pro I had and the screen resolution is fantastic!!
Click to expand...

The context is using USB flash as an interim MP3 repository. Are you saying 28MBPS is not fast enough for that intended use?
 
jamesr19 said:
I make iOS apps/websites (among other bits of programming) and I don't think the 11" would be able to accommodate well for this (personally) due to not being able to program to the full potential when on the move so it might be worth you upgrading to the 13".
Click to expand...

In what ways does the 11" fall short? Is it something that, as a beginner, I can overlook for now because of my primitive knowledge? Or will it completely hinder my learning experience?

----------
jmoore5196 said:
I've had the 13" 2010 MBA and both the 2010 and 2011 "ultimate" 11".

There's substantial difference in day-to-day use. While the footprint doesn't seem to be markedly different between the two, the 11" is a more useable machine when the portability factor is taken into account.

I know others have expressed difficulty with the small screen; it has yet to be an issue for me. The resolution is superb and the full-screen feature in Lion minimizes the amount of scrolling I do.

After using the 11" for a few weeks, the 13" seems positively huge by comparison. For almost everything I do, the 11" suffices.

I travel a good deal, and enjoy not having to take the 11" out of the bag for airline security.
Click to expand...

My girlfriend has the 13" Air. It is a beast next to my 11". I right away did not like how big it was, but as others were saying that the 13" Air might be my best choice, I found a way to justify it. Still, I have a hard time buying a machine that I'm not TOTALLY in love with.
 
re: 11" vs. 13" vs. ??

It's interesting how perceptions vary with these things.... I was shopping for an Air for my wife earlier this year, and went back and forth, back and forth, debating on the 11" or the 13" version.

After something like 45 minutes, I concluded the 13" made much more sense all the way around. Basically, you were getting a slightly faster processor, a display with much better resolution, more battery life and an SD card slot with the 13", all for not that much more money.

The 11" Air reminds me much more of Apple's direct response to the cheap PC netbooks out there. It definitely feels a lot smaller than the 13" when you alternate between the two units, but I think after a few days of regular use, you're going to get accustomed to whichever one you go with and the other will seem "too big" or "too small" by comparison.

If you remember back when Apple sold the Powerbook G4 notebooks, they offered a 12". Maybe that was really the ideal compromise in size? :)

I agree with the comments towards the original poster though, that he doesn't sound like someone who will make any real use of the extra computing power a 15" Macbook Pro would give him. His complaints are purely disk storage space related (with a side concern about the fans cranking up high and the machine getting rather warm when driving an external display -- which may be running at a much higher resolution than the native 11" LCD, explaining the extra demand on the computer).

I'd probably upgrade the SSD to the largest one from OWC he can afford and call it a day.

jmoore5196 said:
I've had the 13" 2010 MBA and both the 2010 and 2011 "ultimate" 11".

There's substantial difference in day-to-day use. While the footprint doesn't seem to be markedly different between the two, the 11" is a more useable machine when the portability factor is taken into account.

I know others have expressed difficulty with the small screen; it has yet to be an issue for me. The resolution is superb and the full-screen feature in Lion minimizes the amount of scrolling I do.

After using the 11" for a few weeks, the 13" seems positively huge by comparison. For almost everything I do, the 11" suffices.

I travel a good deal, and enjoy not having to take the 11" out of the bag for airline security.
Click to expand...
 
I assume that the 13" Pro is a good machine. But the screen and portability and the hdd make it less attractive comparing with the Air. I have an ultimate Macbook Air 13", 2010 model myself.

If I had to make a decision like yours, I would consider the following options:
- stick with your 11" 64GB MBA until something new comes out next year (spring-summer)
- sell your MBA and get the base 128Gb SSD MBA 13"

but I think if you're comfortable with a 11" screen and the only thing that bothers you is storage space - take the first option and wait for something next, either a new, lighter Macbook Pro, or an Air. To ease the pain of storage restrictions, buy yourself a mini-sized flash drive for 32 Gb.

Good luck!
 
kingtj said:
I agree with the comments towards the original poster though, that he doesn't sound like someone who will make any real use of the extra computing power a 15" Macbook Pro would give him. His complaints are purely disk storage space related (with a side concern about the fans cranking up high and the machine getting rather warm when driving an external display -- which may be running at a much higher resolution than the native 11" LCD, explaining the extra demand on the computer).

I'd probably upgrade the SSD to the largest one from OWC he can afford and call it a day.
Click to expand...

Funny. I had a 2009 15" MacBook Pro originally and downgraded to the 11" because I felt I would benefit more from a computer that I could truly use and take with me wherever I needed. You hit the nail on the head.

----------
s2dio said:
but I think if you're comfortable with a 11" screen and the only thing that bothers you is storage space - take the first option and wait for something next, either a new, lighter Macbook Pro, or an Air. To ease the pain of storage restrictions, buy yourself a mini-sized flash drive for 32 Gb.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input.

I love the idea of having a 32GB flash drive. I just don't know if it'll be big enough to add all the things I will need in my iTunes library for updating my illiterate father's iPod (lol).

I am also worried about the amount of work the 11" Air has to do in order to power the big external display. Do you think this is something to worry about over the long term? My gut feeling was that Apple would not design the 11" Air in a way that would destroy the computer if you bought another Apple product. Maybe I just want to believe in the good side of Apple.

Again, thank you.
 
joshuaginter said:
Thanks for your input.

I love the idea of having a 32GB flash drive. I just don't know if it'll be big enough to add all the things I will need in my iTunes library for updating my illiterate father's iPod (lol).

I am also worried about the amount of work the 11" Air has to do in order to power the big external display. Do you think this is something to worry about over the long term? My gut feeling was that Apple would not design the 11" Air in a way that would destroy the computer if you bought another Apple product. Maybe I just want to believe in the good side of Apple.

Again, thank you.
Click to expand...

Of course, having a 32gb or even 64gb flash drive is not as convenient as having a bigger SSD, but think of it as a temporary solution.

As regards the external display, I'd say "hell no it's incapable". It should drive the external display just fine, it's made to do that. If it has that functionality, it should carry that out. Otherwise, it's a defective unit. So don't stress about it too much, it's a computer that should help you accomplish your daily tasks, not a fragile toy princess that should sit on the shelf and be praised. And it's a truly great computer that is way ahead of the competition.
 
For all those who are interested:

I have found a PHENOMENAL deal on a (essentially) brand new 13" Air.

Looks like I'll be dealing the 11" to get the 13" Air instead. It is by far the cheapest option and, going by the advice everyone has given me, probably the overall best choice.

Thanks again!
 
joshuaginter said:
For all those who are interested:

I have found a PHENOMENAL deal on a (essentially) brand new 13" Air.

Looks like I'll be dealing the 11" to get the 13" Air instead. It is by far the cheapest option and, going by the advice everyone has given me, probably the overall best choice.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Well that's nice to hear. Although I have an Air 13" myself, it's interesting to know a bit more about that. Could you share some details about that phenomenal, magical, extraordinary deal you got there? Is it some Black Friday kind of deal?
 
s2dio said:
Well that's nice to hear. Although I have an Air 13" myself, it's interesting to know a bit more about that. Could you share some details about that phenomenal, magical, extraordinary deal you got there? Is it some Black Friday kind of deal?
Click to expand...

I found a very slightly used 13" 2011 Air. Slightly used as in 1 week of minimal use. It was basically taken out of the box.

Grabbing it for $1000. I think I've done well.

Thanks again.
 
As someone who has owned every 13" MBA since it came out, and now both 11" MBA's, as well as the 13" MBP. Here is my take. I loved all machines, but the 11" is my favorite machine by far!!!!!! I too was running out of disk space, was using an external, but found that to be a pain. I ordered the 480 gig SSD from OWC and LOVE IT! It has made my 11" MBA rock! I no longer worry about disc space. It was so easy to put in. I bought the external case to house my old SSD.

With 4 gigs of Ram, you have plenty to do what you need for most things. I have mine hooked up to a Thunderbolt display and never hear the fans go. Maybe because of the SSD. I also got the ultimate to begin with so it may be the faster processor.

I know you will love your 13", but that 11" will always be in your heart. Don't be surprised if you go right back to it.
 
uniforms said:
As someone who has owned every 13" MBA since it came out, and now both 11" MBA's, as well as the 13" MBP. Here is my take. I loved all machines, but the 11" is my favorite machine by far!!!!!! I too was running out of disk space, was using an external, but found that to be a pain. I ordered the 480 gig SSD from OWC and LOVE IT! It has made my 11" MBA rock! I no longer worry about disc space. It was so easy to put in. I bought the external case to house my old SSD.

With 4 gigs of Ram, you have plenty to do what you need for most things. I have mine hooked up to a Thunderbolt display and never hear the fans go. Maybe because of the SSD. I also got the ultimate to begin with so it may be the faster processor.

I know you will love your 13", but that 11" will always be in your heart. Don't be surprised if you go right back to it.
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Of course, the 480 GB SSD is over $1000, which is something I don't have. Nevertheless, this makes me think about the whole thing once more.

Would you spend money and upgrade storage or would you strictly trade up an 11" for a 13" for no money at all? Essentially, thats what my whole situation comes down to.

Thanks.
 
I went through this same thing for a month and I decided to get the 11" air and I've never regretted it. It can do everything I need it to do and go everywhere much easier. It's my main computer and I have a 40gig iTunes library.
 
superstarmc said:
I went through this same thing for a month and I decided to get the 11" air and I've never regretted it. It can do everything I need it to do and go everywhere much easier. It's my main computer and I have a 40gig iTunes library.
Click to expand...

There is no doubt in my mind that the 11" Air is all the computer that 75% of the population would need. It surpasses all of my processing needs and I love the portability.

But my question is whether I should upgrade the internals of my Air or sell it and get a different model. I think the 13" Air will not be too "unultraportable" next to the Pro, but I see the 13" staying on my desk a lot more than my 11".
 
superstarmc said:
I went through this same thing for a month and I decided to get the 11" air and I've never regretted it. It can do everything I need it to do and go everywhere much easier. It's my main computer and I have a 40gig iTunes library.
Click to expand...

Does the battery life not bother you?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back