[Levi]

(I need  ) a MacBook Air for my school.  My iPad2 just does not cut it anymore simply because all my projects had to be in PowerPoint presentations and cannot save files into USB drive.  Obviously, I am leaving my MacBook Pro at home.

I heard the new MB Air are much faster.  Any recommendations?

[JohnR]

I'd get the small one. The new one has the backlit keyboard again.

[Crimson]

+1.

The small one is super portable. Just slightly larger than an iPad. Backlit keyboard and fast.

[wilsynet]

The newest ones are faster, but the previous version with the same form factor (just slower processor and USB only instead of Thunderport) is fast enough that I haven't thought about upgrading.

The bigger one at 13" is a perfectly good substitute for larger notebooks.  With a 1400 pixel wide display, it's screen resolution is best in class and better than many 14" and 15" laptops.  You can really do all of your work on the 13" MacBook Air.

I'm a heavy computer user and the Air meets all of my needs.  If I were still doing a lot of programming, I'd probably want 8GB, but the 4GB memory and 256GB solid state drive, and how super light it is has really delighted me.

[Mike Nomad]

As a MacBook Air user, I just don't see the ROI (thankfully, the unit belongs to my employer). If it were my money on the table, I would buy a low-end 13" MacBook Pro with a Solid State Drive, take out the DVD drive, and add a second SSD.

[Levi]

Thanks everyone. 

It looks like most recommended the smaller AIR = lightweight = slightly cheaper.  I will check it out this weekend. 

[Æ]

Thanks everyone. 

It looks like most recommended the smaller AIR = lightweight = slightly cheaper.  I will check it out this weekend. 

If you want to save a little bit of money take a look at the Apple.com - Store - Refurbished. Look/scroll down to the bottom left. Look under Special Deals.
Personally I'd rather have a MacBook PRO than a MacBook Air.

[Levi]

Thanks AE. 

I have a MacBook Pro already and it gets heavy lounging around with it most of the day. 

Another alternative is growing some back muscles and carry my MBP (like what I used to do) to truly save money.  Having an iPad spoils the soup.  Boys got to have our toys you know.

[cujobob]

Some nice new netbooks coming out that are worth looking into if you want to save money. Money no object the Air is a nice machine, but the slight boost to portability didn't persuade me from going with that over a Pro

[TONEPUB]

Love my Air too.  The only mistake I made was buying a 2GB memory model, thinking Id get more later, only to find out you can't upgrade the memory on these - it's soldered to the board.

SO, get the extra memory now...



It's by far my favorite laptop ever.  Gave my MacBook Pro to my daughter.

[saisunil]

Did anyone test is for audio ... how does it compare with mac-mini ...Using a usb-dac or usb processor into an external dac ... I like that idea

[pardales]

Love my 11" Air. I have last years model. If you have an MBP at home and portability is important, get the smaller one. Can't live without it, myself.

I would think that an Air would be as good as a Mini for Audio and too would love to know if anyone has tried it or compared the two. Probably should be a thread of its own.

[gsm18439]

I have the second generation Air for one year; I bought the 13" version with maximum ram and solid state memory and the fastest processor available at that time. The second generation was a big improvement on the first generation; but (other than the backlit keyboard) I did not see a need to upgrade to the third generation. I previously used a Macbook Pro. The Air was as good as my Macbook Pro. More importantly, since I travel almost every week, its lighter weight and longer battery life were huge improvements. (The Air is almost 75% battery, and it does not have a hard drive. I get 5-7 hours of continuous use depending on what I am doing.) It is the best laptop that I have ever owned.

[mr_bill]

Some nice new netbooks coming out that are worth looking into if you want to save money. Money no object the Air is a nice machine, but the slight boost to portability didn't persuade me from going with that over a Pro

Which new netbooks are you referring too?

[ckimmelshue]

I'm a longtime Apple user and the MacBook Air is one of the best creations to come out of Cupertino. 

I am able to do everything I could do on a MacBook Pro a few years ago on this super lightweight Air. 

You can't go wrong.

[wgscott]

I still have the first generation Air and I use it every day for teaching, etc.  Keynote, in my case.  I have 10.7.1 on it, and it has 2 gig of memory.  That isn't enough.

Make sure you get the maximum allowed memory.  I think it is soldered in, so you have to buy it at the time. But you really need it with Lion.  Don't cheap out.

I bought the 4 gig memory 11" air for my kid.  It is superb.

[konut]

Just over at the Apple store looking at the various options and I have a couple of questions. I see 2 USB and 1 Thunderbolt port, and under the accessories offered I see a Moshi Moshi  to HDMI adapter and a Mini Display port to VGA adapter listed. Where do these adapters hook up to? If its possible to get a HDMI out from the Air, has anyone tried a de-embedder to separate digital audio from video?

[srb]

I see 2 USB and 1 Thunderbolt port, and under the accessories offered I see a Moshi Moshi  to HDMI adapter and a Mini Display port to VGA adapter listed. Where do these adapters hook up to?

The DisplayPort adapters will fit the Thunderbolt ports, although a few users have reported some compatability problems that didn't exist with their DisplayPort-equipped Macs.
 
Steve

[Pez]

Have/Love the 11" MBA. It is the only laptop I have ever owned that actually lives up to what it is, a portable computer. It is fantastic and I wish mine has the illuminated keyboard like the new one.

[konut]

The DisplayPort adapters will fit the Thunderbolt ports, although a few users have reported some compatability problems that didn't exist with their DisplayPort-equipped Macs.
 
Steve

Thanks! You think they would work under VMWare and Win7?