MacBook Air?

Beepcake

Beepcake

Beepcake

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Anyone here use a MacBook air for serious work? I quite like the look of them in the shop but I'd need to run vmware and visual studio with a half decent battery life and I'm not sure its completely up to the job?

I currently have a dell x1 as my ultra portable so it would have to be "better" than that.
 
I would recommend you look at the Vaio TZ21/TZ31 range instead of the Air especially if you're needing to use Windows apps.

It weighs less than the Air, has a better (removable) battery, stereo speakers (as opposed to mono on the Air) HSDPA and the optical drive built in.

Yeah, it's arguably not as pretty but the specs of the Vaios speak for themselves. If you factor in buying the optical drive with the Air then the TZ21WN/B works out about the same price with a 3 year warranty.
 
EVH said:
For the money you'd be better off with a MacBook Pro.
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What he said. Seriously, while the Air is a technical feat it is very overpriced and targeted at a very niche market who put form firmly over function.

My MBP lasts easily for around 4 and a half hours doing normal tasks (iTunes, Word, MSN) etc. Great machine.
 
I've already got a MBP and an ultraportable Windows laptop. I use the MBP for most things, and the X1 when I need portability more than power. I mainly want to replace the X1 because it's not a Mac to be perfectly honest :p But looking more at the reviews of the air it's really not for me.. I expected brilliant battery life but it seems to be pretty naff :( The X1 isn't the fastest thing in the west (although it's fast enough for on the move) but I can get pretty much a full day of work out of it on the extended battery, which is kind of the whole reason for having an ultraportable in my opinion.

Ho hum.. I wanted a new toy to play with :)
 
Never really thought about that to be honest. I was in Livepool today having a look at the new shopping centre and was being wooed by the Macbook Air and the 17" MBP (I've got the 2.33 C2D 15").. I think I want a new toy and i'm trying to justify it ;)
 
Beepcake said:
Never really thought about that to be honest. I was in Livepool today having a look at the new shopping centre and was being wooed by the Macbook Air and the 17" MBP (I've got the 2.33 C2D 15").. I think I want a new toy and i'm trying to justify it ;)
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I seen a guy with a 17' MBP at Uni and it looks massive, definately not what your looking for if you are wanting 'ultra-portable.' What about the standard macbook if your wanting to stay mac? Quite decent performance and smaller than the MBP being a 13.3' The only downside is the weight, they seem quite heavy tbh.
 
I have a MacBook too.. although I kind of gave it away when I got my MBP.

I might have a looksie how much extra batteries are for the MBP. The main reason I switch to the X1 is the amazing battery life.. I can barely get 2/2.5 hours out of the MBP :(
 
I had the 17" MBP, it is a big laptop if you're constantly on the move, but for a desktop replacement it's great.

I'd wait until the new MacBooks that come with LED backlit screens, just so they'll have even better battery. That way, you could downgrade to a top-spec MacBook, without sacrificing too much power.
 
I still haven't seen an Air in-person.

I blame the lack of Apple stores in Wales *cough-Steve-cough*
 
I played with one of them in the store today, they do look nice, but the low res screen and crappy battery life has put me off completely now.

Maybe Air v2 will be more for me :)
 
Beepcake said:
Never really thought about that to be honest. I was in Livepool today having a look at the new shopping centre and was being wooed by the Macbook Air and the 17" MBP (I've got the 2.33 C2D 15").. I think I want a new toy and i'm trying to justify it ;)
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Waah - me too! Liverpool 1 is lookin good!

EDIT// I have to say, that if I had the choice between all of the macbook range, I'd most definitely go for the MBP.. The air is a stunning feat of engineering and definitely raised the bar - but its aimed at a specific market and at the moment, I think that the sensible choice would be the Pro..

I know its why I'm seriously considering changing up....

Although, with WWDC round the corner, I dunno.... HMM!
 
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I've had a Macbook and borrowed a Pro and now have an Air. I don't see why people have problems with them. The Air can do anything the Pro can, maybe 5secs slower. Are we really that impatient?
 
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