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What is it about the 11" MBA? The 13" ticks more boxes but still want the 11!
- Thread starter entatlrg
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i'm hoping so. i think the deal has always applied to the $999 white macbook. (correct me if i'm wrong.)
then again, the ipod touch went up in price last year. i've wondered whether they might change it to "free ipod nano" or something. hope not.
we'll see.
I agree the 11" is one of the better small devices out there. For my needs I chose the 13" for mainly work purposes. I work on a lot of spreadsheets and powerpoints, and the 13" just made more sense. I didnt want to get an 11" and "try" it out to find out I needed more space on the screen or drive. Plus the SD card slot was a deal breaker for me as well. I recently picked my wife up another 13" even though she wanted the 11", I know in the end she would have wanted to go bigger...
With the base 11" 64GB SSD I do miss the SD card slot. That would be a great addition. The 11" is just the perfect size for business travel. I work on huge spreadsheets and just deal with scrolling until I can get to my iMac in one of my offices. Dropbox and the MBA 11" make perfect companions.
Cheers,
Why don't you use your Air?
I've had the opposite experience, I went from a 15" MBP to the Air ... in fact we're just about to sell off two 15" MBP's from my office and I'm going to replace them with 13" MBA's, my staff can't wait.
Recently I had a brain fart and thought I'd enjoy a 'large mobile screen' so I tried the 17", it's a GREAT computer but for me it's not worth the trade off in size and weight.
I'm back to the 13" MBA. When I had the 15" MBP I felt the 2" more screen real estate definitely wasn't worth the weight as the Air surprisingly handles my workload really well.
So interesting to read people's viewpoints, I have to agree with all the arguments in favor of the 13" MacBook Air .... but that doesn't make me want my 11" back any less
I had both for a short time. I had originally intended to give the 11" netbook version to my exec assistant. But even she found it too small to use comfortably on a daily basis. I sold it and bought her a 13" MBP instead since she doesn't travel much and the extra size was fine with her.
I think its popular due to the novelty/size of having an OSX device that small. But I'm happy with the 13" MBA instead.
I think its popular due to the novelty/size of having an OSX device that small. But I'm happy with the 13" MBA instead.
I got a nice fast MBP 13 a little over a year ago. Then I got an MBA 11 for its portability. Worried whether it was different enough to be worth it. But now I use the MBP 13 far less often, it's become my desktop computer.
The MBP used to go places in a backpack or briefcase. The MBA 11 gets carried around like a magazine.
The MBA 11 is more portable than an iPad plus a small Bluetooth keyboard.
The MBP used to go places in a backpack or briefcase. The MBA 11 gets carried around like a magazine.
The MBA 11 is more portable than an iPad plus a small Bluetooth keyboard.
I've been torn between the MBA 11 and MBA 13. I'm replacing a desktop PC with it, though - this will be my main machine.
The price doesn't really enter into it, much - the 11/4/128/1.6 MBA runs 1399, and the 13/4/128/1.86 MBA runs 1399 as well. For the 11, you get the sweet small size and higher portability - for the 13, you get the higher resolution and the SD card slot.
Hopefully there'll be a more clear-cut winner once the refresh hits.
The price doesn't really enter into it, much - the 11/4/128/1.6 MBA runs 1399, and the 13/4/128/1.86 MBA runs 1399 as well. For the 11, you get the sweet small size and higher portability - for the 13, you get the higher resolution and the SD card slot.
Hopefully there'll be a more clear-cut winner once the refresh hits.
Finally, decision made.
Today I came down off the 11" high a little bit .... I still have access to the 11" in our office so I decided to work on it again today.
I started the day working on a small text only instruction manual for a product, then I took a few photo's with my camera, edited them and inserted the into the manual.
Two things I noticed:
1. The lack of vertical screen real estate, it felt cramped, compared to the 13" too much scrolling required.
2. No SD slot ... Lucky I remembered where my SD/USB adapter was, that's an easy solution. Though it is an extra step and with the adapter it can't be plugged into either usb port if I want the power cord or ACD display plugged in, adapter is too wide, so I'd also have to carry a usb hub as well.
Half way through all this I switched over to my 13" Air and continued working. It was much better, the screen seemed huge after using the 11" for few hours straight.
For typing and editing long documents in word and/or doing light photo editing a few or more hours at a time in my experience yes the 13" is quite a bit better to work on. Actually I'd say it's a lot better.
With the 13" I found the screen is large enough so that you don't really think about it or feel cramped, even compared to the 15" I found the 13" was fine.
With the 11" today I was thinking man, I need to plug into an external monitor, or this kind of work needs a 15/17" screen ... I was doubtful the 13" would be that much better ... I was writing and scrolling though a lot of paragraphs at the time...
For fun I took the 13" and started working on it, to my pleasant surprise the difference was huge, for me it is the sweet spot.
So I'm sticking with my original plan to have the 13" as my main machine, it's a relief I could own both I can't justify that and I also think I have a better frame of mind when using one main machine, seem more organized.
I'm going to carry it everywhere too, just as if it was the 11" Air and why not the 13" isn't much larger than a legal pad of paper...
That's my experience... so far.
Today I came down off the 11" high a little bit .... I still have access to the 11" in our office so I decided to work on it again today.
I started the day working on a small text only instruction manual for a product, then I took a few photo's with my camera, edited them and inserted the into the manual.
Two things I noticed:
1. The lack of vertical screen real estate, it felt cramped, compared to the 13" too much scrolling required.
2. No SD slot ... Lucky I remembered where my SD/USB adapter was, that's an easy solution. Though it is an extra step and with the adapter it can't be plugged into either usb port if I want the power cord or ACD display plugged in, adapter is too wide, so I'd also have to carry a usb hub as well.
Half way through all this I switched over to my 13" Air and continued working. It was much better, the screen seemed huge after using the 11" for few hours straight.
For typing and editing long documents in word and/or doing light photo editing a few or more hours at a time in my experience yes the 13" is quite a bit better to work on. Actually I'd say it's a lot better.
With the 13" I found the screen is large enough so that you don't really think about it or feel cramped, even compared to the 15" I found the 13" was fine.
With the 11" today I was thinking man, I need to plug into an external monitor, or this kind of work needs a 15/17" screen ... I was doubtful the 13" would be that much better ... I was writing and scrolling though a lot of paragraphs at the time...
For fun I took the 13" and started working on it, to my pleasant surprise the difference was huge, for me it is the sweet spot.
So I'm sticking with my original plan to have the 13" as my main machine, it's a relief
I could own both I can't justify that and I also think I have a better frame of mind when using one main machine, seem more organized.I'm going to carry it everywhere too, just as if it was the 11" Air and why not the 13" isn't much larger than a legal pad of paper...
That's my experience... so far.
in fact, part of me knows i'm dreaming when i plan on an 11".
aside from the amazing tininess, the lower price has its power too.
but the difference in price isn't really enough to weigh in much on a long term purchase. and, in fact, i don't plan on travelling much with my next mac. (not that i wouldn't enjoy a small size around the house.)
i think the 16:9 aspect ratio is one of the worst things about the 11". it seems really crippling on such a small screen/resolution. its like walking around with your eyes half closed and constantly having to move your head up and down.
currently, the power on the 11" is a no go for my needs, or else i would have already given it a chance, but i hope the update will improve things.
when it comes time to buy, i'll have to think hard, and be realistic. the 11" is a beautiful little creature, and it works well for some. for many, as we're seeing in this thread, the undeniable charm of this machine is overruled by the practical superiority of the 13"; that's assuming ultra-portability isn't the main priority.
i'll certainly keep your comments in mind, though i had already thought of a lot of what's been said, and agree.
is there a reason we're not hearing much from the 11" clan?
aside from the amazing tininess, the lower price has its power too.
but the difference in price isn't really enough to weigh in much on a long term purchase. and, in fact, i don't plan on travelling much with my next mac. (not that i wouldn't enjoy a small size around the house.)
i think the 16:9 aspect ratio is one of the worst things about the 11". it seems really crippling on such a small screen/resolution. its like walking around with your eyes half closed and constantly having to move your head up and down.
currently, the power on the 11" is a no go for my needs, or else i would have already given it a chance, but i hope the update will improve things.
when it comes time to buy, i'll have to think hard, and be realistic. the 11" is a beautiful little creature, and it works well for some. for many, as we're seeing in this thread, the undeniable charm of this machine is overruled by the practical superiority of the 13"; that's assuming ultra-portability isn't the main priority.
i'll certainly keep your comments in mind, though i had already thought of a lot of what's been said, and agree.
is there a reason we're not hearing much from the 11" clan?
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I agree with your comments for the most part. I still love the 11" form factor but the 13" really does everything necessary and does everything better than the 11" except fit in a smaller case. I'm going to wait for the rumored June upgrade. If the 11" gains storage and battery life along with a faster processor I might get it then. If it's only a processor upgrade than I'll likely stay with the 13".
Today I came down off the 11" high a little bit .... I still have access to the 11" in our office so I decided to work on it again today.
I started the day working on a small text only instruction manual for a product, then I took a few photo's with my camera, edited them and inserted the into the manual.
Two things I noticed:
1. The lack of vertical screen real estate, it felt cramped, compared to the 13" too much scrolling required.
2. No SD slot ... Lucky I remembered where my SD/USB adapter was, that's an easy solution. Though it is an extra step and with the adapter it can't be plugged into either usb port if I want the power cord or ACD display plugged in, adapter is too wide, so I'd also have to carry a usb hub as well.
Half way through all this I switched over to my 13" Air and continued working. It was much better, the screen seemed huge after using the 11" for few hours straight.
For typing and editing long documents in word and/or doing light photo editing a few or more hours at a time in my experience yes the 13" is quite a bit better to work on. Actually I'd say it's a lot better.
With the 13" I found the screen is large enough so that you don't really think about it or feel cramped, even compared to the 15" I found the 13" was fine.
With the 11" today I was thinking man, I need to plug into an external monitor, or this kind of work needs a 15/17" screen ... I was doubtful the 13" would be that much better ... I was writing and scrolling though a lot of paragraphs at the time...
For fun I took the 13" and started working on it, to my pleasant surprise the difference was huge, for me it is the sweet spot.
So I'm sticking with my original plan to have the 13" as my main machine, it's a relief
I'm going to carry it everywhere too, just as if it was the 11" Air and why not the 13" isn't much larger than a legal pad of paper...
That's my experience... so far.
...or jump back on the 11" tomorrow and change your mind again
I went thru the same thing and decided to settle on an 11" MBA when a good refresh happens...
I was also choosing between the 11 and 13 back in December. My reasons for the 13 was that I was coming from a 15-inch 2007 MBP and I thought going down to the screen size of the 11 was too drastic. Plus, the 13 has the same resolution as that MBP. However, the portability of the 11 was tempting.
What I did was get my wife an 11 for Christmas to replace her 2006 MacBook. She wanted that size anyway. Then I tried using it a few times. At work I'm the Mac Support Tech, so any new Mac passes through me for setup and configuration. The company bought a few 13-inch MBA's so I was able to use those, too.
After comparing the experience with both sizes, I chose the 11. The screen size wasn't a problem for me since I only use it for e-mail and Web browsing. The size and weight are also great and I take the MBA to the office instead of my MBP. Great for traveling, too.
I think the 11 is a great 2nd Mac. My MBP is still my primary Mac for more intensive tasks. In thinking of the 11 as a secondary Mac, it's perfect for me. If I wanted to replace my MBP, then I would prefer the 13.
What I did was get my wife an 11 for Christmas to replace her 2006 MacBook. She wanted that size anyway. Then I tried using it a few times. At work I'm the Mac Support Tech, so any new Mac passes through me for setup and configuration. The company bought a few 13-inch MBA's so I was able to use those, too.
After comparing the experience with both sizes, I chose the 11. The screen size wasn't a problem for me since I only use it for e-mail and Web browsing. The size and weight are also great and I take the MBA to the office instead of my MBP. Great for traveling, too.
I think the 11 is a great 2nd Mac. My MBP is still my primary Mac for more intensive tasks. In thinking of the 11 as a secondary Mac, it's perfect for me. If I wanted to replace my MBP, then I would prefer the 13.
I'd still love to have an 11" myself. That size is just too awesome. It's that perfect size in which it fits in a lot of spaces that even the 13" can't fit. (Think of it as one of the only truly disappearing full-fledged laptops).
On the other hand, I don't have 15" laptops now, but I did have one 17" Old Gateway that had 1440x900 resolution. I didn't like the bulky size and the weight of it, but that resolution is awesome. The 13" was a way to get the best of all worlds. Highly compact and yet a full blown resolution that handles some of the bigger space-using jobs that any laptop could have. What's nice is that some of my (full screen) using apps now only use a portion of my desktop as a window. Fantastic stuff, and surprisingly good performance.
While I had no real doubts about the 11" performance, my 13" resolution has come in handy a lot and so has that SDcard slot. (I think my learning of how that slot can also utilize the real high density SDXC cards, sealed the deal). Not to mention, the speed of the SDcard slot. I think the impressive 13" MBA battery life was another little factor.
Still, as a true *on the go* machine, that 11" seems quite nice.
On the other hand, I don't have 15" laptops now, but I did have one 17" Old Gateway that had 1440x900 resolution. I didn't like the bulky size and the weight of it, but that resolution is awesome. The 13" was a way to get the best of all worlds. Highly compact and yet a full blown resolution that handles some of the bigger space-using jobs that any laptop could have. What's nice is that some of my (full screen) using apps now only use a portion of my desktop as a window. Fantastic stuff, and surprisingly good performance.
While I had no real doubts about the 11" performance, my 13" resolution has come in handy a lot and so has that SDcard slot. (I think my learning of how that slot can also utilize the real high density SDXC cards, sealed the deal). Not to mention, the speed of the SDcard slot. I think the impressive 13" MBA battery life was another little factor.
Still, as a true *on the go* machine, that 11" seems quite nice.
Yes, the 11" is definitely an awesome notebook.
I'm looking for a 'main machine'.
For the long hours I'm on a computer and the type of work I do the 13" is the sensible choice, you get a noticeable amount of added screen real estate which I appreciate.
I'm looking for a 'main machine'.
For the long hours I'm on a computer and the type of work I do the 13" is the sensible choice, you get a noticeable amount of added screen real estate which I appreciate.
(quick history)
First Mac: Powerbook 3400c, running Linux cuz it was way after its shelving date. great!
Then Macbook white, unibody white Macbook, and finally Macbook Pro 15" anti-glare, 2010 model.
I started traveling a lot, and in a country where everything is small - Japan. I needed something portable to take with me without destroying my back or slowing me down. On a whim, I went with the 11"
Since then, the 15" MBP has been collecting dust, trying to be sold off.
The 11" has become my main machine, at home, on trips, at cafés, while biking, sometimes even in the trains! Coupled with my wimax wifi router which has an 8 hour battery, I can work pretty much anywhere and be connected whenever I need.
What do I do with it???
I'm a system administrator, so I log on to servers (ssh, remote desktop), run Java apps, use the web browser and email a lot to manage work-related stuff, IM for communicating with coworkers, etc. I even comfortably run Linux and Win7 VMs on an as-needed basis (running off my external USB drive, so no VM when I'm out and about - which is good for the battery anyway)
On my own time, it's IM again for friends, Skype for videochatting, VLC/Flash for movies and TV shows, some iTunes thrown in (yup got my whole 30GB music collection on the MBA - I've seen people with massive 100GB+ collections, that's not me haha).
I reguarly run 2-3 browsers at once, got 2 accounts on the system often running simulatneously, each with Mail.app, browsers (Chrome is my main one, got Opera and Safari also) sometimes running, iTunes sometimes, Terminal and so onnnnnn.
This machine does everything my MBP 15" did except run Civ5 well. Good thing, too busy to play that anyway. Once in a while I feel like the CPU is struggling (scrolling web pages while other pages with Flash are in other tabs for example), otherwise the SSD makes up quite nicely for the speed that I feel from the machine.
Used to be I had to think hard about what I would do on a given day and when I'd come back home to see if I had to bring my MBP or not so I could get some work done. Now, if I expect to be gone for at least a couple of hours, I just plop my MBA in my bag and barely think about it until I need it. Charger is small and light too so I tend to bring that more often than before.
First Mac: Powerbook 3400c, running Linux cuz it was way after its shelving date. great!
Then Macbook white, unibody white Macbook, and finally Macbook Pro 15" anti-glare, 2010 model.
I started traveling a lot, and in a country where everything is small - Japan. I needed something portable to take with me without destroying my back or slowing me down. On a whim, I went with the 11"
Since then, the 15" MBP has been collecting dust, trying to be sold off.
The 11" has become my main machine, at home, on trips, at cafés, while biking, sometimes even in the trains! Coupled with my wimax wifi router which has an 8 hour battery, I can work pretty much anywhere and be connected whenever I need.
What do I do with it???
I'm a system administrator, so I log on to servers (ssh, remote desktop), run Java apps, use the web browser and email a lot to manage work-related stuff, IM for communicating with coworkers, etc. I even comfortably run Linux and Win7 VMs on an as-needed basis (running off my external USB drive, so no VM when I'm out and about - which is good for the battery anyway)
On my own time, it's IM again for friends, Skype for videochatting, VLC/Flash for movies and TV shows, some iTunes thrown in (yup got my whole 30GB music collection on the MBA - I've seen people with massive 100GB+ collections, that's not me haha).
I reguarly run 2-3 browsers at once, got 2 accounts on the system often running simulatneously, each with Mail.app, browsers (Chrome is my main one, got Opera and Safari also) sometimes running, iTunes sometimes, Terminal and so onnnnnn.
This machine does everything my MBP 15" did except run Civ5 well. Good thing, too busy to play that anyway. Once in a while I feel like the CPU is struggling (scrolling web pages while other pages with Flash are in other tabs for example), otherwise the SSD makes up quite nicely for the speed that I feel from the machine.
Used to be I had to think hard about what I would do on a given day and when I'd come back home to see if I had to bring my MBP or not so I could get some work done. Now, if I expect to be gone for at least a couple of hours, I just plop my MBA in my bag and barely think about it until I need it. Charger is small and light too so I tend to bring that more often than before.
What company wimax router do you use and what's the monthly fee?
I'm trying to decide on a 3G sim for my iPad or a wimax router for my laptops and iPod touch with in the next month so any info you could give would be appreciated.
Sorry, don't get it.
768 vertical pixels was not enough back in 12" PB days and is not enough now. I feel like I'm looking at my document through a little gunslit.
900 vertical pixels is a big improvement. And the 13" is still tiny and featherweight for a notebook.
768 vertical pixels was not enough back in 12" PB days and is not enough now. I feel like I'm looking at my document through a little gunslit.
900 vertical pixels is a big improvement. And the 13" is still tiny and featherweight for a notebook.
I think that's not correct. Some people need more than 128GB you know. Yes, you can carry an external drive but then why not carry a larger machine with more internal storage?
The 1366x768 resolution can be limiting. For example, Apple's own Server Admin software will barely show the summary page at 768 pixels tall. The bottom row of graphs are tiny squished things at the bottom. It's clearly not meant to run on this small a display. And it's a perfect example of something you would want on a small carry it anywhere Mac.
