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MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

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Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#41

Post by stuff4ben »

bergie wrote: post #28
baudehlo wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. In a corporate environment wifi just isn't allowed. We have it in our office but it is stunted beyond reproach. You need to be plugged in to access stuff.

Makes me happy not to work for a large corporation. Our company has been WiFi-only since 2001

Not all large corporations are like that. Here at Cisco most employees are given only laptops (Thinkpad or MBP) and the wireless here is usually fantastic as one would expect. Now if only I could get my hands on a Cius...

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#42

Post by achompas »

My MacBook Air was $1,799 and the equivalent MacBook Pro (top of the line 15″, because why would you buy the 13″?) would cost me just over $3,200 (adding 3rd party SSD, Apple 8GB RAM and the Hi-Res screen).

Man, this is disingenuous. 8GB RAM? As if you can't get it cheaper (or the MBA even offered 8GB RAM as an option)? Or as if the 15" MBP doesn't blow the Air out of the water in every other aspect? I bought a 13" Pro because (a) it's smaller and lighter than the 15" and (b) I don't play PC games.

When we run THAT comparison, well:

13" MBP with 256GB Crucial SSD [0], 4GB RAM, 2.3GHz Core i5 -- $1699

13" MBA with 256GB SSD, 4GB RAM, 2.13 GHz C2D -- $1799

Sure, I don't have a Hi-Res screen (the one Pro feature I wanted on the 13"), but I can actually upgrade my computer in 3 years when 4GB RAM becomes a bottleneck. Now that's a low year-over-year computing cost.

The MacBook Air is an awesome machine, to be sure, but it's awesome because of the built-in SSD--not because of the value it provides.

[0] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148...

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#43

Post by shawndumas »

bergie wrote: post #14
chime wrote: post #12

I use MBA (4GB RAM upgrade, 128GB SSD) for doing a lot of XCode development. XCode4 runs very smoothly and I've never had any speed issues with running the iOS Simulator. It's light, doesn't heat up, and is very stable. I gave up my http://chir.ag/stuff/5lcd.jpg setup for a single MBA and I couldn't be happier (my electric bill went down by $125/month). From personal experience I know that I'm more productive on 5 LC…

I'm the only one in our company not using any external monitors. The added screen real estate would be nice, but the downside is that then you have a different setup in the office and on the road. I rather get used to a single screen I always have with me.

Use an iPad as a touchable external monitor... http://avatron.com/apps/air-display

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#45

Post by Volscio »

dadro wrote: post #4

I concur with authors opinion of MBA. The 13in MBA is the best computer I've ever owned. My current Mac Lineup consists of: * Latest gen 13in MBA * 17in MBP (~1yr) work paid for it * 13in Black Macbook (loved this one too!) * Mac Pro (totally pimped out) work paid for it * 3rd gen mac mini The only machine I use now is the MBA. It is everything a Web Dev needs, great resolution, fast, travels well. It even plays Mine…

Same here, 13" 4GB MBA, bought after my neighbor's apartment fire forced me to get a new system for the 4.5mos without my old computers. Got it all back eventually. I use my MBA constantly, at work and home (hooked up to a 24" at home). I have a W7 quadcore w/ 3 monitors that I only use for Photoshop/server stuff.

Best purchase I've made in a long time, that MBA.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#46

Post by glhaynes »

masklinn wrote: post #39
bergie wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HDMI is almost the same size as the Mini DisplayPort. Apple just loves their own connectors, unfortunately. I was shocked when I noticed the VGA adapter wasn't included in the package. Luckily I realized this before my first conference presentation with the new computer ;-)

> HDMI is almost the same size as the Mini DisplayPort. Not it's not. HDMI is almost the same size as full DisplayPort (and nowhere near as good a format for computers). An HDMI Type A connector is 13.9mm x 4.45mm, a mini-DP connector is 7.4mm x 4.5mm. The mini-DP connector is half as wide. > Apple just loves their own connectors, unfortunately. You are aware mini-DP is now under VESA and has been integrated by a num…

Can you say a little bit more about why DP is more suited for computers than HDMI?

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#47

Post by tvon »

kayoone wrote: post #40

I got the early 2011 MBP 15" because i wanted a single machine i work on in the office and at home. I am using it with an external screen though, mostly for ergonomical reason. Working Laptop-only hurts you, dont do it all day! But the most annoying thing currently is that its fans speed up so quickly during work. Because of this i regret buying it and not going for a MBA11 + iMac.

I've never attempted this myself, but you might want to google around for ways to underclock your MBP to keep it cool. I'm guessing it's either impossible due to firmware restrictions, or there are tools out there that make it crazy simple.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#48

Post by rufo »

bergie wrote: post #2

Also my personal notes on the same, running Ubuntu instead of OS X: http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/11-macbook_air-the_best_computer_i...

You say you get 3-4 hours in Linux, but the benchmarks you link to claim easily 7 hours in OS X (though dramatically less if you max out the CPU).

Are you pretty much always at high CPU utilization, or is Ubuntu's power management of Mac hardware that poor?

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#49

Post by ascendant »

I was seriously entertaining the idea of getting a top-end MBA earlier this year (refurbed for $200 off) but then the new MBP's came out and I couldn't justify a 13 inch screen and a Core 2 duo when for almost the same price I could have the 15 inch screen and a Sandy Bridge Core I7. I got the MBP and truly love it. I imagine the lightness of the air goes a long way towards what makes it so popular but I don't really travel that much, I just carry my MBP to coffee shops and tech events so it's not that big of a deal to me.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#50

Post by achompas »

calebhicks wrote: post #29

I use a 13" MBP with 8GB RAM and an Intel SSD. I could have gone with the MBA, but didn't like the thought of another Core 2 Duo. I have a 24" monitor at my office, and a 27" iMac (my wife's) that I use as a second display for my MBP. Best of both worlds. Speed, mobility, and big screens when I need 'em.

Which Intel SSD are you using? I'm about to make the same purchase myself.
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