MacBook Air is enough for a work machine • Hacker News Board

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#111

Post by markkanof » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 4:43 PM UTC

xbryanx wrote: post #95

I know it sounds trivial but the lack of a optical (CD/DVD) drive is my biggest barrier. In my work place, I still get all kinds of files and media on CDs and DVDs.

That's an interesting data point. I recently got a Macbook Air and before doing so I was thinking about the optical drive. I realized that for the way I use a laptop, it's been 8+ years since I've used an optical drive on my laptops for anything other than installing software. And now with more and more software being distributed via download even that is becoming less of an issue.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#112

Post by aaronblohowiak » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 4:43 PM UTC

stcredzero wrote: post #83

notaddicted wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is easy for the comparison to come out either way depending on personal preferences because the specs are pretty close. I did the exact same assessment as you 4 months ago and bought the MBA 13" because a) I cared about the high-res screen more than the processor speed, and b) I only expect it to last 2 years so 4GB RAM is enough (insofar as you can ever have enough RAM.)

so 4GB RAM is enough (insofar as you can ever have enough RAM.) If you're doing lots with VirtualBox or VMWare, then 4GB isn't quite enough. 6GB is pretty comfortable, though.

I have the tiny MBA and the 4gb ram is only an issue when I am doing ruby development. Also, I pretend that ie doesn't exist ;)

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#113

Post by elviejo » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 4:46 PM UTC

swah wrote: post #105

enko wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm the same way. I actually have an external monitor on my desk; it sits unused. I used to use it but over time I became so used to a single screen, and context switching within it, that I don't bother plugging it in any more. Ditto my external keyboard, though I confess to occasionally reaching for my bluetooth mouse. I have co-workers who are the exact opposite; 3 or 4 screens, it's never enough, but I just feel l…

This would be true for me if not... RSI. Alt-tab gets painful.

for RSI you can try switching to Dvorak keyboard. It really helped me.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#114

Post by moe » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 4:54 PM UTC

ernestipark wrote: post #53

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…

I don't understand this obsession for backlit keyboards I've been reading about a lot lately on forums. It definitely looks nice but its just a battery drain and I assume most HN people don't look at their keys. I always keep mine off for the sake of my battery.

It definitely looks nice

Does it?

I have always considered the poor execution of the backlight an embarrassment to the otherwise very polished exterior.

The light-bleed is uneven. It gets the job done, but I'm sure apple could do better if they wanted.

[1] http://allnewmac.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/7e79c_macbook_p... [2] http://mygadgetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Alienware... [3] http://www.thinkdigit.com/FCKeditor/uploads/alienware%20hand... [4] http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/211947046_c3c234a2da.jpg

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#115

Post by mcculley » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 4:55 PM UTC

benologist wrote: post #98

I use my maxed out 13" for all my work now with an external monitor. It's an interesting change, the only problem I really have is I live in a hot country so the laptop runs hot and kernal_task screws around trying to get the temperature under control.

I live in Florida and was amused when I got my most recent 15"MBP that the technical specifications state the the max operating environment temperature is 95F.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#116

Post by SkyMarshal » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 4:55 PM UTC

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.

I'm in the process of abandoning my desktop and switching to laptop full time, and after weeks of figuring out the best laptop setup, I've come to the same conclusion - 13" MBP i5, 8GB, SSD = best of all worlds. Only left is to make sure I can dual boot some linux distro on it without issues (the HD3000 gfx drivers for linux may be an issue, but appear solved in Ubuntu 11.04).

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#117

Post by SkyMarshal » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 5:03 PM UTC

matthew-wegner wrote: post #103

Not MBA-related, but for MBP machines you can use an OptiBay bracket to pull out the optical drive and replace it with an SSD or HD. Couple notes on that: - The OptiBay is $80, but includes a USB enclosure for your SuperDrive to turn it into an external drive: http://www.mcetech.com/optibay/ - Cheap clone brackets are ~$20 on eBay, work just as well. - The original HD bay includes a sudden motion sensor to park the h…

Awesome info, thanks! I'm looking at doing exactly this soon. A few questions:

How do you have your OSX directories partitioned across the drives? Can you move, say /, to the SSD while keeping /home/media on the larger platter drive? I only know how to do this with Linux, not very familiar with OSX despite it being BSD-based.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#118

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 5:04 PM UTC

dasil003 wrote: post #104

Every time I get on a plane I wish I had an Air, but it's just not justifiable. Not only do I have and use my 8GB RAM (Photoshop, Parallels, browsers, Rails + large test suite), but the peripheral ports are critical. I don't think my Time Machine backup would ever get off the ground without the initial Ethernet plugin, not to mention the times when the DSL goes out at the office I can just plug into the hardline norm…

[deleted]

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#119

Post by onedognight » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 5:04 PM UTC

dasil003 wrote: post #104

Every time I get on a plane I wish I had an Air, but it's just not justifiable. Not only do I have and use my 8GB RAM (Photoshop, Parallels, browsers, Rails + large test suite), but the peripheral ports are critical. I don't think my Time Machine backup would ever get off the ground without the initial Ethernet plugin, not to mention the times when the DSL goes out at the office I can just plug into the hardline norm…

> my Time Machine backup would ever get off the ground without the initial Ethernet plugin

For this one time usage the tiny USB/Ethernet adapter seems like a fine compromise.

> Even the SD card reader is quite handy.

The MacBook Air has an SD card reader.

Re: MacBook Air is enough for a work machine

#120

Post by anr » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 5:06 PM UTC

MBAs have glossy displays too, right? That would be a turn off for me.