Which lower-end portable: MBA 11/MBA 13/rMB 12?

[takeshi74]

Which do you think is the best choice?

What I or others think doesn't matter. You can't just poll to answer your question. Best is highly subjective on any topic. What are your priorities? Select the option that best fits your requirements and priorities.

My wife has a 13" MBA and I would say it's the best "compromise" of the MacBooks.

Every decision on any topic is a matter of compromise. You can't max everything. You have to decide based on where you're willing and where you're not willing to compromise.

 

[dmk1974]

What I or others think doesn't matter. You can't just poll to answer your question. Best is highly subjective on any topic. What are your priorities? Select the option that best fits your requirements and priorities.


Every decision on any topic is a matter of compromise. You can't max everything. You have to decide based on where you're willing and where you're not willing to compromise.

Not helpful at all. Of course I know how to make a decision. I was soliciting feedback from fellow members on a few specific models and relative to the price I can get them for. I described my main use in earlier posts, what an optimal MacBook would be (does not exist) and as you can see I went with the one that has the least number of votes.

Just please try to be helpful when replying. Your post is very generic and can apply to a house, car, toaster...anything.

 

[Meister]

Well Apple made them feel that way by stuffing 8GB into rMB as if it were gonna make up for the much slower CPU...

The mba , rmb and 13" rmbp have integrated graphics which share the overall system memory.

A retina screen requires more memory to be allocated to the igpu.

That's why ram specs for win10 vary depending on the screen resolution run by the device.

And that's why the mba is still amazingly effective with a measley 4gb.

Well, that and super fast ssd

 

[dmk1974]

Well, that and super fast ssd

You are right! I ran that DiskSpeedTest and while the write was a good ~330, the read was a whopping 1020! Very impressive!

 

[ghanwani]

I'm in wait mode too. If I had to pick something today, I could go either MBA 13 or rMB. MBA 13 has the best graphics performance because of the low res screen, and at the same time has a fast SSD (which the 11 lacks). The biggest issue I have with the MBA are the super sharp edges. Those are significantly improved in the rMB, but now we have to deal with a smaller screen size, funny keyboard, lack of ports, slow processor, high price, ...

 

[Meister]

I'm in wait mode too. If I had to pick something today, I could go either MBA 13 or rMB. MBA 13 has the best graphics performance because of the low res screen, and at the same time has a fast SSD (which the 11 lacks). The biggest issue I have with the MBA are the super sharp edges. Those are significantly improved in the rMB, but now we have to deal with a smaller screen size, funny keyboard, lack of ports, slow processor, high price, ...

The lack of ports is really bad!
But the missing magsafe is a absolute dealbreaker for me.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I've been a fervent MBA advocate over the past few years. I bought a refurb MB last week (the 1.3/256 configuration) and absolutely love it. It's quite a change from my 'ultimate' 11" MBA, but the improvement in the display is incredible. I can get used to the keyboard and work around the limitations of the single port.

As others have noted, an MBA with a retina display would really defeat the purpose of the MBA. Adding the display would tax the processor, which now handles almost anything with aplomb, and it would dramatically shorten the battery life. Everything that could be added to the MBA as a 'new feature' brings with it a compromise of sorts. I trust Apple will not 'gimp' the MBA by saddling it with a retina display.

I fully agree with the OP's notion that the MBA represents the best 'compromise' laptop. However, the best compromise is also a compromise: Display quality is sub-par by modern standards, and the broad bezel and overall design are aging.

My key criteria is portability, and perhaps the 11" MBA is less of an obvious choice. As I've said, the MB is certainly the laptop of the future ... just how far in the future remains an open question.

ALL GOOD POINTS!

 

[Sensamic]

I was in the same boat 2 weeks ago. Wanted to wait for the new apple keynote, but there was an amazing offer here at a local retailer for the 13 MBA base for 799 euros (200 euros off normal price). I decided to buy it, since it's gonna be used as a secondary machine in the couch, therefore I wanted to spend as little as possible. MB is 1200 euros here, so there was a huge difference.

Tried the MB and felt too small for my use: web surfing, writing Word documents, watching videos, etc. a 12 inch screen is too small to do any real work.

So far I'm really really happy. Battery life is impressive (I get 2 days of use without recharging), screen is OK (not as bad as I thought it would be. At a normal distance it looks decent enough), boots up in 8 seconds, great trackpad + keyboard, USB 3.0 ports, 720P webcam (which MB lacks), great performance, etc.

It's a great computer for 799 euros. Didn't want to pay 999 euros, the normal price.

I couldn't pass the offer. I don't really need Skylake or whatever the new Air gets. I doubt it will get a new screen (maybe 1080P?). Price was the deciding factor in my case.

 

[jmoore5196]

A 12 inch screen is too small to do any real work.

I KNEW there was some problem with my 11" MBA that I was overlooking!

In all seriousness, I am finding the 12" MB pretty enjoyable. The display quality is terrific, and I've only had a couple of processor-induced beachballs while working with Photoshop and InDesign files. The USB-C is manageable if you buy one of the dongles. The slightly reduced weight helps as well.

I find that the lack of key elevation on the keyboard makes me focus on accurate typing. With some use, I think I'll become accustomed to the keyboard itself.

The 11" MBA is a terrific machine; I'm not sure I'll sell mine, even though I cannot justify keeping it. The new MB (mine is a 1.3GHz) is a decent performer and a more attractive package overall. No more wide display bezel!

 

[AFEPPL]

rMB without a doubt... great portability, more ram and more storage.

 

[dennya]

If you're a touch-typist, be sure to try the rMB before making the decision. I can go full-speed (about 100 wpm) on a MBA or rMBP, but the weird flat keys on the MacBook slow me by half. I'm actually faster on the crappy Type Cover on my iPad Pro than I am on the rMB.

 

[jmoore5196]

If you're a touch-typist, be sure to try the rMB before making the decision. I can go full-speed (about 100 wpm) on a MBA or rMBP, but the weird flat keys on the MacBook slow me by half. I'm actually faster on the crappy Type Cover on my iPad Pro than I am on the rMB.

I typically type 180wpm; I've been hitting about 125 on the MB after a week of use. My guess is that the speed will improve slightly, but the nearly-flush keys do make touch-typing a little more difficult. I did try the iPad Pro Smart Keyboard in an Apple Store last week and found it a little better for touch than the MB keyboard.

 

[Meister]

I was in the same boat 2 weeks ago. Wanted to wait for the new apple keynote, but there was an amazing offer here at a local retailer for the 13 MBA base for 799 euros (200 euros off normal price). I decided to buy it, since it's gonna be used as a secondary machine in the couch, therefore I wanted to spend as little as possible. MB is 1200 euros here, so there was a huge difference.

Tried the MB and felt too small for my use: web surfing, writing Word documents, watching videos, etc. a 12 inch screen is too small to do any real work.

So far I'm really really happy. Battery life is impressive (I get 2 days of use without recharging), screen is OK (not as bad as I thought it would be. At a normal distance it looks decent enough), boots up in 8 seconds, great trackpad + keyboard, USB 3.0 ports, 720P webcam (which MB lacks), great performance, etc.

It's a great computer for 799 euros. Didn't want to pay 999 euros, the normal price.

I couldn't pass the offer. I don't really need Skylake or whatever the new Air gets. I doubt it will get a new screen (maybe 1080P?). Price was the deciding factor in my case.

That's what I keep telling everyone.

Saturn and Mediamarkt always have sales going on where you can grab a base mba for €800.

 

[Sensamic]

That's what I keep telling everyone.

Saturn and Mediamarkt always have sales going on where you can grab a base mba for €800.

That's exactly where I bought it, at MediaMarkt. Great offer. Last month it was at 875€. Just a month later I got it for 799€, the cheapest offer they've had in a whole year. Awesome!!