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Would you use a Macbook Air as your only computer?

Would you use a Macbook Air as your ONLY computer?

  • Yes

    Votes: 89 24.7%

  • No

    Votes: 236 65.4%

  • Unsure

    Votes: 36 10.0%
  • Total voters
    361
Techguy172 said:
Because it has soldered in ram and the computer will get hot and ramp down it's processor



Maybe because it's screen is smaller
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I have a feeling it's not because the screen is smaller, I think it's the way it's built. There's no plastic intermediate like in the Macbook Pro. I'd be willing to bet it's a step up in construction and that when the pros see a full redesign their cases will resemble the MBAs case (not the thinness, obviously).
 
I had a powerbook 17" that got broken just a few days before the macworld. I used that as my only computer and the tech specs were far worse than the MBAs and it worked perfectly for me (prob too big for my lifestyle).

I never had anything plugged into the ports of my pb so I dont care that the MBA has just 3 ports, I can live without them. And I never used DVDs for anyhing, just when I wanted to install something, so I can live without DVDs too.

The MBA is perfect for me, thats why Im going to use it as my only computer. I dont understand those people who just complain and complain... maybe the MBA was not made for them.

I also think that many people were hoping for the next MUST HAVE im an apple geek gadget and it turned out it wasnt like that... the mba is targeted at a niche.
 
CaptainCannabis said:
The MBA is perfect for me, thats why Im going to use it as my only computer. I dont understand those people who just complain and complain... maybe the MBA was not made for them.
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Wise words. Some people don't seem to understand that there are many of us out there who don't constantly need an optical drive and rarely use any ports at all.... I've never had more than one thing plugged into my USB drives at the same time. Different computers for different people is a pretty simple concept, I'd think.
 
kuwisdelu said:
Wise words. Some people don't seem to understand that there are many of us out there who don't constantly need an optical drive and rarely use any ports at all.... I've never had more than one thing plugged into my USB drives at the same time. Different computers for different people is a pretty simple concept, I'd think.
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So well said. Thanks
 
f1400 said:
I have a feeling it's not because the screen is smaller, I think it's the way it's built. There's no plastic intermediate like in the Macbook Pro. I'd be willing to bet it's a step up in construction and that when the pros see a full redesign their cases will resemble the MBAs case (not the thinness, obviously).
Click to expand...

You could be right but having a smaller screen also does help but plastic isn't as flexible as aluminum my guess is there adding more chemicals to reduce the flex of the metal.
 
Quite simply I think if you only had a MBA I would feel severely limited. I'd perhaps consider purchasing one for limited use (eg. travelling, taking notes during lectures etc.) but most likely not at its current price point. To me, it'd make more sense to use another cheaper notebook in the same way. The weight difference is not enough to counter the price and lack of versatility.

However, I'm willing to rethink once people have been using them for a few months.
 
kuwisdelu said:
Wise words. Some people don't seem to understand that there are many of us out there who don't constantly need an optical drive and rarely use any ports at all.... I've never had more than one thing plugged into my USB drives at the same time. Different computers for different people is a pretty simple concept, I'd think.
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Its true. I found the dismissal of the optical drive a smart move, but other compromises (ports essentially) to be unacceptable. Also how everything is sealed down is really bad to many, lets say that since you use it as your main computer the battery health has diminished to the point of being useless and you want to buy a new one; no you either send it to Apple or you open it up and risk the computers interiors. I solidly stay in the position that the MacBook is NOT meant to be a main computer. I would find no use for the MBA not only because I have a better faster stronger MacBook as my main computer but because my just revived 12" PB G4 will fill the gap of something small to carry around.

-Victor
 
NYCMacFan said:
I use a ibook 12inch G4 as my main computer at home. Before that I had a Dell laptop, before that I had one of the really old mac laptops (albeit plugged into external keyboard and monitor).

It has a full sized screen, full sized keyboard, 2 megs of ram and a core 2 duo processor. What more could I need? Want a drive, just make sure to have an external one on your desk or nearby.
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Very true, NYC. It's an amazing computer, don't get my wrong, I just like to wait to buy things have a couple generations or so, when all the bugs are worked out.
 
I had been considering the 17" MBP, but I may look at pairing an MBA with a Mac Mini instead of buying the MBP... But I would not buy the MBA as my only computer.
 
Can't really choose a main computer independently from the applications you use daily. For this to be my main computer it would need to run Maya, Shake, Adobe CS3, and Logic Studio. Now if the MBA was a little cheaper I would definately use it as a secondary machine for office related things (like mahjong and websurfing 🙂
 
Zeos said:
I had been considering the 17" MBP, but I may look at pairing an MBA with a Mac Mini instead of buying the MBP... But I would not buy the MBA as my only computer.
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The pairing of the MBA and Mac Mini would be a waste. You could just buy the Macbook Pro and have a more powerful machine than either of those 2. The Pro would give you the mobility and you could hook it up to a larger monitor at home to be a desktop replacement.

I thought about a Mac Mini and Macbook , but someone recommended that putting all the money into the PRO would be the better option......and thats what I plan to do 🙂.

Ok enough discussion about the MBA, when is the MBP update coming? lol
 
Father Jack said:
If you have any sense you won't even consider using the "air" as your only computer .. 😱
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Hey, I've lived on three TZs and was the first one to own one in the U.S. on June 13 and speaking from experience:

1. SSDs materially speed up use of a 1.2 computer to the point of being comparable to a 2.2 CPU.

2. I couldn't live with just a 32GB SSD, but I've learned to reduce my frequently used files size down to 30GB so I can live permanently in the MBA's 64GB space *with* an XP partition, which requires at least 5GB of space.

3. While the TZ's footprint is clearly preferable from a traveler's standpoint (I travel 40 weeks per year), I will take the MBA until Jobs recants on this strategy and will try to fly business class as much as possible. 😛

4. The MBA is designed for a new world. Combined with Time Capsule, I will be able to wirelessly share my MBA with my archived files and the TZ, which I plan to keep.

5. As someone who has to travel with two laptops most of the time, let me tell you: *every single ounce counts.*

6. I carry a lot of stuff with me on trips as a speaker to make sure I'm "failsafe," so a 320GB Western Digital Passport is definitely part of the package, although I plan to leave the SuperDrive at home and just bring the Ethernet dongle in my suitcase. 😎
 
2GB RAM, dual 1.6-1.8 Ghz 64-bit CPUs, and a slightly slower HD are only good for surfing and light tasks?

That's power equal to some multi-thousand-dollar dual processor towers from not long at all--and MORE power than plenty of pros are using every day for high end tasks! 🙂

It's a little out of touch to call Core 2 Duo slow. Look around you at the computers people are using every day--MOST are slower than dual-1.6 Core 2. I know I'll be using my MacBook Air for lots of high-end, processor-intensive tasks. Ones I've done before on machines much slower than an Air. And when I later upgrade to SSD, I'll get the slowest bottleneck (read/write) turned into a spec that outruns a Mac Pro tower 🙂

As for ports--unless you want to connect a DV camcorder, the Air can do anything. Just in new ways.

A LOT of people could use the Air as their only machine. But only for SOME will the portability be worth the cost.

Ultraportables have always cost extra and made compromises. The Air is a great deal compared to a lot of Windows ultraportables--AND it runs OS X, on a full screen with full keyboard. I've been wishing Apple made an ultraportable. And now they do. I never had any illusions that these small machines carry a price. Those who don't care about portability enough will therefore choose a different MacBook.
 
It can easily be used as an only computer - as long as you are an 'average' user who doesn't do graphically intensive tasks or edit DV.

Hook it up to an external display and USB hub and you have a fully functioning desktop replacement. This is what I do with my macbook and I see no reason why the Air couldn't be used the same way. The lack of ports don't bother me at all as I never use any ports on the road except for the odd USB device. I've never used the ethernet jack on my macbook and I rarely use the superdrive - the external superdrive is more than enough for the rare times I'll need it.

If using it as a main computer - which I intend to do so- the SSD is a must as the 4200rpm 80gb hdd is a little slow for my liking. At home the Air can access Time Capsule or another external storage device for storing files not needed on the road like video etc.

The processor is fast enough for any average user, as someone pointed out it is just as fast if not faster than the processor that came with the first MBP's and macbooks. The SSD will speed things up nicely and the computer will be much snappier than those previous machines.

The simplicity of a 1 computer lifestyle coupled with the power and portability of a macbook air make for an elegant solution.
 
i0Nic said:
cheaper than an iMac plus a macbook, and less hassles and more portability.
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Agreed. I have a MacBook and iMac now, but need the MBA's SSD for speed, its lit keyboard for typing in the evening, and its LED screen for superior viewing -- those are all irrefutable advantages over the existing MacBook. 😎
 
With my computer usage, definitely NO.

If I have enough cash to spend, I'd go Mac Pro + MBA.

else, MBP is the only option for me.
 
My wife would.

Email, Safari, iLife, iWork, Office 2008?

Thin, light and beautiful?

MacBook Air is absolutely perfect for her.


As for me, it makes for a great secondary computer.
 
I game too much to make the MBA my only computer, but I think it will see more use than any other computer I have. Currently going on a "diet" to get all my files from my MacBook to fit.
 
I couldn't use it as my main computer. I have 17" 2.4 MacBook Pro that I always connect to a 30" display. Run CS3 and Parallels, often at the same time, along with a lot of other apps at the same time. The Air would be nice to take to meetings with clients, but that's about it.
 
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