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lambertjohn

macrumors 68000
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Jun 17, 2012
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No poll or anything. Just curious how many of you are planning to purchase a new 2018 Air, and why the Air over any other computer Apple offers. Also, what configuration are you going to get?
 
I already placed an order for the base model, space grey. I don’t need much, just a more portable device with macOS.

I’ve had issues with two different MBP variants, so I’ll try my luck with the air. I’m excited for the Touch ID, which I liked on the MBP.
 
I'm considering one, but I read that they're not using MBP chips and I don't want the processor to be a bottleneck when I use an eGPU ― I've been wanting to game on PC for a while but I don't want a desktop so an eGPU working nicely is absolutely essential

Unfortunately I also can't spend $2000 (2 ****ing grand!) on a new computer (TB MBP w 16GB RAM)
 
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I went ahead and ordered a base, space gray model. That’s all I need for my freelance writing business. We’ll see how it works out in seven days when it gets delivered to me, and if it’s a dud, I’ll just return it.
 
Need something with minimum 500 GB. In my country the Air is tied for cheapest Apple laptop and more featured than a MacBook.
 
Had they kept using the Air class CPUs in there and not used retina MacBook level CPUs and not put that keyboard in there I was totally going to be in the market, irrespective of over pricing.

What they’ve done here though it’s basically make a 13 inch retina MacBook not a new MacBook air that is inspired by what people liked about the previous MacBook air and its power and reliability and flexibility.

I find what they released to be really an uncompelling compromise.
After all this waiting for a new MacBook Air this is pretty disappointing.
 
I might buy an old MacBook Air, as Apple is still selling it. You sacrifice speed and pixels but you get a good keyboard, magsafe, USB-A, and an sd card slot.

Either that or I'll just punt Apple and go Lenovo/Linux. Tough call as OSX is still really great.
 
I’m considering it, I really like the design of the Air with the wedge shape. This new Air not only comes with a Retina display but also 12 hour battery life for web browsing and general tasks and 13 hours for video playback :) that’s the best in the MacBook lineup.

Also Touch ID is a nice touch (pun intended :p:eek:) it’s also thinner and lighter than the last gen Air and it comes in space grey (amount other colours).

If you don’t need to do heavy tasks like video editing then this would be great!
 
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I'm tempted. For bed + some travel I use an iPad Pro 10.5. But after getting an XS Max I can't look at the ~200PPI screen on the iPad with pleasure anymore, and it is a struggle to get work done efficiently on iOS, as much as I've tried to make it work over the last year or so. I was looking earlier in the year at getting the 12" for bed stuff and travel, as lugging my 15" inch is somewhat cumbersome too (first world problems, I know). Tempted to sell my 10.5 and put towards a 13" Air, but I'll go into the store and play with them first.
 
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Im still undecided. Im starting school soon, so I don't know if I should sell my 2014 MBP and get an air, or just keep the MBP. I definitely want to get the new iPad though.
 
I just ordered the base in space grey but debating if I should cancel and get the gold. Think it’s plenty for my needs since I have a desktop whenever I need to do something more demanding.
 
really wish 16 gb of ram was standard, or at least available as a stock configuration available in store. exchanging a BTO machine can be a bit more of a hassle if theres a quality issue.
 
I just ordered the base in space grey but debating if I should cancel and get the gold. Think it’s plenty for my needs since I have a desktop whenever I need to do something more demanding.
Gold is nice but it’s so hard to sell when ur ready to part with it. I’d stick with space gray.
 
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I bought the new 13” MBA space gray, 16gb, 512gb last night.

I’ve been using a fully loaded 2015 11” MBA I got on Craigslist since I returned the 13” 2016 MBP.

I have posts here about that failed endeavor. Price / battery performance (even after apples tweaks) / tb all underperformed. And that was before we all found out about the keyboard issues.

I write software and use engineering tools. I also do a lot of tasks in web applications, some running in Fluid. Also occasional media work with photos and video.

I had hoped to jump directly from the 2015 11” to what I believe will be an ARM based MacBook with Face ID.

But I believe that may take another year and the 2015 11” is showing it’s age, especially at the 8gb ram limitation.

I also considered keeping the 11” and instead getting a Mac mini—because I dock most of the time with the matchine.

I think I would turn around and sell this next year if Apple did drop an amazing ARM machine. But this also now lets me coast through to gen 2 of that—I suspect it could be a bit rocky of a transition at first.
 
I honestly was initially excited about the new air... but then learning about the specs and processor.... besides battery life... there is no compelling reason to buy an air over the new MacBook pro.

I am "happy" that they are continuing the air line... hopefully they will fine tune it in later generations (not make us wait 4 years !)...

maybe a gen 2 of this new air might be more compelling, lower or same price point with better cpu.... but this one is not it for me. And I am a lifelong MBA exclusive owner. Such a great laptop. I would recommend to others to buy a 2015-2018 (early) MBA - they are essentially the same exact model.... and wait it out.
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I think I would turn around and sell this next year if Apple did drop an amazing ARM machine. But this also now lets me coast through to gen 2 of that—I suspect it could be a bit rocky of a transition at first.

this is what i think as well.....it is a good strategy... i have had great luck buying a MBA...then selling it and buying the next generation.... hope you have success with that going to gen 2 !
 
I ordered one. I have an early-2011 15" MBP and it's starting to show its age. Can't get gigabit internet since it's only a 802.11n, no longer supports the latest OS (which was really the kicker for me). I weighed my options, and considered the nTB MBP for not much more. But in the end, decided on the slightly cheaper, thinner and lighter Air. My usage is mainly Chrome, iTunes, and Photo. Not sure I need a more powerful CPU. I did upgrade to the 512 hdd and 16GB ram. I'm looking forward to it!
 
im debating it as well. im still on a
MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)

lol i think its about time for an upgrade. this one is still going strong kinda lol the battery is the only thing
and some of my keyboard keys fly off here and there lol
 
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I ordered one. I have an early-2011 15" MBP and it's starting to show its age. Can't get gigabit internet since it's only a 802.11n, no longer supports the latest OS (which was really the kicker for me). I weighed my options, and considered the nTB MBP for not much more. But in the end, decided on the slightly cheaper, thinner and lighter Air. My usage is mainly Chrome, iTunes, and Photo. Not sure I need a more powerful CPU. I did upgrade to the 512 hdd and 16GB ram. I'm looking forward to it!

Chrome you say? Look at the 15” rMBP :p
 
I honestly was initially excited about the new air... but then learning about the specs and processor.... besides battery life... there is no compelling reason to buy an air over the new MacBook pro.
I'm banking on meaningful improvements in both graphic and processor performance compared to the 2015 11" (last of its kind). This machine can just barely drive a 4k, where switching between spaces is not smooth enough at all.

If this new 13" MBA I've ordered does not provide substantially faster and smooth performance over the 2015 11" MBA, I'll be returning it.

I realize there are low expectations, given the 7W dual core processor--but I would be somewhat aghast if Apple put out a machine almost four years later does not run substantially better.

You can count on both benchmarks and real world tests of the machine from me.

And I am a lifelong MBA exclusive owner. Such a great laptop.
I've also been through at least three full generations of the 11" MBA. I still think it has been Apple's most compelling portable for the price in history. It is an incredible workhorse and I have yet to have one fail on me, in any way. Which is remarkable.
this is what i think as well.....it is a good strategy... i have had great luck buying a MBA...then selling it and buying the next generation.... hope you have success with that going to gen 2 !
Thanks, but like I said, I'm really hoping to go to an ARM based mac in my next machine. I'm disillusioned by the MBP line and Intel's stumbles.

If that fails to materialize, I may also go to an iMac and just keep this for portability.

It does feel like Apple has made a single step forward with MBA, but the laptop line is just as crazy as people have identified. I really hope we see a series of "fixing" laptop hardware releases over the next 18 months to straighten out mobile macs.
 
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I was waiting for an new Air to replace my 11" from 2011, but I decided to get an MBPr from 2015 instead. I do not like the new keyboard - I don't want to pay for apple care just to get be sure that I can use my notebook for 4 years .. where I know that a proper one will last for years, and is cheap to service if something goes wrong.

Now I can wait 4-5 years, and as there will be at least 1-3 iterations of the keyboard, I can then get something which actually will last.
 
Can you say what does that mean? Are their processors that bad? Or, perhaps, there is some other reason.
I had a really bad experience with the fully loaded 13” 2016 mbp. So the processor / battery setup was not well compromised. From what I could tell, the company rushed those out after a last minute failure in custom shaped batteries.

I did not like the removal of the esc key and did not find much value in the touch-bar.

But re intel processors as a whole, ya that company has been failing to release substantial updates on deadline for years.

And seeing how far and how fast Apple has come along with the A series make a me think we’d be better off with Intel getting cut out of the product.
 
Its time to change my ageing but reliable 2011 MacBook Pro. I have a new 11" 256gb cellular iPad on order to carry around and just need something for home use for internet browsing and word processing.
Apple will give me £115 on the giveback programme and i get 6% discount on Apple products via a work scheme so thats over £200 reduction. So at the end of the month, i shall visit my nearest Apple store and pull the trigger on a new air with a 512SSD.
 
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