MacBook air

jtwrace · « **Reply #20 on:** 8 Dec 2010, 01:40 pm »

Quote from: Levi on 8 Dec 2010, 01:33 pm

Hey John, take a look at Shirt-pocket's "SuperDuper!". It is great software for disaster recovery.

Yes! I can't recommend it enough.

It's the best $27 I've spent on audio. I now keep three backups (two onsite and one off).

JohnR · « **Reply #21 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 09:02 am »

OK, but I have the desktop using Time Machine to a firewire drive, and the Air using Time Machine to the desktop. And occasionally, I remember to run my rsync script to back up my home directory on the desktop to a network drive.

What I would really like is a way to automatically keep my my Documents directory in sync on the Air and the desktop. And provide a way to recover files in case something goes wrong.

skunark · « **Reply #22 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 09:04 am »

Quote from: JohnR on 9 Dec 2010, 09:02 am

OK, but I have the desktop using Time Machine to a firewire drive, and the Air using Time Machine to the desktop. And occasionally, I remember to run my rsync script to back up my home directory on the desktop to a network drive.

What I would really like is a way to automatically keep my my Documents directory in sync on the Air and the desktop. And provide a way to recover files in case something goes wrong.

MobileMe is pricey but basically does what you want.

JohnR · « **Reply #23 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 09:06 am »

Oh. Really? I already have Mobile Me. I thought it only did bookmarks and contacts and things like that. I'll have a look

skunark · « **Reply #24 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 09:15 am »

set up iDisk, keep your files there and you can have it sync with all your favorite mac, windows, ipods, iphones, ipads, and perhaps your dog... Keep in mind iDisk is in the *cough* cloud, so your bank accounts and favorite porn shouldn't be stored there... unless you have no dignity

The iDisk is quite useful in keeping your documents synced with the laptop and desktop, up to 20GB worth.

Levi · « **Reply #25 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 01:22 pm »

I basically use the "Super Duper" for a bootable cloning of my HDD in conjunction with Time Machine. I would eventually switch to solid state HDD in the very near future.

My understanding with MobileMe, it syncs and stores your email, contacts, and calendar across your iPhone, iPad, Mac.

Pez · « **Reply #26 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 04:03 pm »

That it does! and very well. My wife and I use MobileMe's calendar to keep all of our appointments straight and it works across all our iDevices. It's a bit pricey and really all the services they offer can be done free elsewhere, but not in a unified way like MobileMe offers.

Also for Syncing financial info like purchases and bills check out Home Sync

excellent app!

Philistine · « **Reply #27 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 04:19 pm »

MobileMe - My original plan expired 6 weeks ago, bought the one year renewal keys on eBay for $39.99. I received them electronically in 24 hours.

I use the backup utility in Snow Leopard, you can specify the source folders/files and the destination. In my case iDisk is the destination and I've programmed daily backups for critical folders, works a treat

Still haven't figured out the benefits of using SuperDuper, doesn't Time Machine/Time Capsule take care of all this?

Levi · « **Reply #28 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 05:28 pm »

Quote from: Philistine on 9 Dec 2010, 04:19 pm

MobileMe - My original plan expired 6 weeks ago, bought the one year renewal keys on eBay for $39.99. I received them electronically in 24 hours.

I use the backup utility in Snow Leopard, you can specify the source folders/files and the destination. In my case iDisk is the destination and I've programmed daily backups for critical folders, works a treat

Still haven't figured out the benefits of using SuperDuper, doesn't Time Machine/Time Capsule take care of all this?

SuperDuper creates a clone of the HDD and makes it bootable. Time Machine is a built-in backup software that creates backup of your data. That's it.

skunark · « **Reply #29 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 12:51 am »

Quote from: Levi on 9 Dec 2010, 05:28 pm

SuperDuper creates a clone of the HDD and makes it bootable. Time Machine is a built-in backup software that creates backup of your data. That's it.

With the MAC OSX install disk you can restore your Time Machine backup with either the latest or any of the older snapshots Time Machine made.

It's just not bootable, but to make the SuperDuper bootable with the "convenience" sales pitch, you need to use the right form-factor drive and the skills to swap it out. Otherwise you still have to boot SuperDuper as a USB/FW drive and then copy the contents over to the main HDD, which is no gain.

skunark · « **Reply #30 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 12:55 am »

Expanding this a bit..

Quote from: skunark on 10 Dec 2010, 12:51 am

It's just not bootable, but to make the SuperDuper bootable with the "convenience" sales pitch, you need to use the right form-factor drive and the skills to swap it out. Otherwise you still have to boot SuperDuper as a USB/FW drive and then copy the contents over to the main HDD, which is no gain.

With a MacBook Air, SuperDuper and TimeMachine are both roughly the same. ~~assuming the MacBook allows you to boot from USB.~~

Edit: It has to as they now come with a thumb drive as the install disk.

Levi · « **Reply #31 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 02:49 am »

You can always pay someone like me to do tech stuff for you.

Quote from: skunark on 10 Dec 2010, 12:51 am

With the MAC OSX install disk you can restore your Time Machine backup with either the latest or any of the older snapshots Time Machine made.

It's just not bootable, but to make the SuperDuper bootable with the "convenience" sales pitch, you need to use the right form-factor drive and the skills to swap it out. Otherwise you still have to boot SuperDuper as a USB/FW drive and then copy the contents over to the main HDD, which is no gain.

skunark · « **Reply #32 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 02:56 am »

Quote from: Levi on 10 Dec 2010, 02:49 am

You can always pay someone like me to do tech stuff for you.

Thanks, but I can manage that just fine.

kingdeezie · « **Reply #33 on:** 11 Dec 2010, 11:41 pm »

I was looking into getting my wife a laptop for christmas; after reading this thread I decided to go into the Apple Store and take a look at the Macbook Pro/Macbook/Air.

I ended up leaving with a 13 inch Macbook Air for her...

This thing flies! The SSD storage really makes the computer feel much faster then it actually is. I just kept opening up programs to try and kill this thing, but it never faltered. One program loaded up after the next.

Its going to be absolutely perfect for her. I am so excited about it, I wish tomorrow was Christmas.

Of course, I can see the limitations of it; if you needed more power under the hood for photo editing and video editing; but the speed for most normal processes like web browsing and email is excellent.

Thanks for this thread!

Pez · « **Reply #34 on:** 12 Dec 2010, 12:02 am »

That is so great! Glad to hear you bought the air. I still go back and forth in my mind between the 13" and the 11". For the 13" if you spec it at $1400 you get a better processor, 4 gigs ram, SD card, longer battery life and of course bigger screen with higher rez. But I just love the 11" form factor. Not saying the 13 for factor is bad, it's damn good! It is a personal preference.

I am loving my 11" MBA, as a matter of fact I am working on selling both of my 15" macbook pros. I picked one up to move it and was surprised at how damn heavy the thing is! I forgot that, despite it being somewhat lighter than most, it is still a very hefty computer. I can't believe I carried that thing around with me for so long. It most certainly is a powerhouse of a computer, but to my surprise I haven't missed it one bit since I got the air. The 15" used to be my only computer, but I have since purchased a 27" iMac that does all the heavy lifting so I don't need nearly as much raw power for on the go nerding/working. The Air fits the bill! And it runs cool enough to truly be a "laptop"

Oh one last note, glad to say the palm rests are not an issue for me at all.

Tyson · « **Reply #35 on:** 31 Dec 2010, 08:43 pm »

Anyone tried the Air as a music server? I'm wondering if the SSD drives make an improvement over a standard spinning HD.

JDUBS · « **Reply #36 on:** 31 Dec 2010, 08:52 pm »

SSDs are still too (imo) expensive for server use. I keep my music files on my LAN in a different room (server with conventional hdds) and stream them to my ALIX for decoding via USB. There are no moving parts in the ALIX and it buffers the music coming in from my music server.

Jim

AllynW · « **Reply #37 on:** 2 Jan 2011, 06:17 pm »

Another convert. I have a 17" MacBook Pro that is not that portable. Based on my needs the iPad is just too limited. So for a few hundred more the 11" basic Air made more sense. My only issue was the tiny text. A couple tweaks to the Camino and I am a happy camper.

JohnR · « **Reply #38 on:** 9 Jan 2011, 05:22 am »

Quote from: Tyson on 31 Dec 2010, 08:43 pm

Anyone tried the Air as a music server?

I wouldn't - just the wrong type of device. You can get SSDs to put into a mini or something like that.

Jason - still in love? (With the 11 I mean)

wilsynet · « **Reply #39 on:** 9 Jan 2011, 06:41 pm »

Another way to keep files in sync between multiple devices is DropBox. Support for Mac computers, iPhone, iPad and Windows too. If you only have 2GB of files to sync, then the service is free.