[PeteWK]

Hello all. I'm a few days away from pulling the trigger on an 11in MacBook Air with the 1.8 i7 option. It would have the standard 128 Gig HD and no other options.

I have as my home based computer a 24in iMac with the 2.4 core2duo processor and 4 gigs or ram.

I'll be using the MBA as I go back to school in a Master's program.

What do ya think? I'm hoping the 11 is ideal for the sort of things I'll be doing: research, category specific software, web and writing ye olde research papers.

Pete

edit here - The computer I'm looking at would be 1284 plus tax including the education discount.

[SierraDragon]

I believe you mean SSD not HD.

It sounds good to me if you are happy with the small display and the keyboard. Personally I like to access multiple sources when I am writing ye olde research papers so I much prefer more screen real estate.

The only real issues are what "category specific software" you intend and the very significant limitation of only 4 GB RAM. Some apps (e.g. Aperture) are basically unusable with only 4 GB RAM under OS 10.7 Lion. And over the life of any new box apps' and the OS's RAM demands will be increasing.

Six months ago I went from Mac Pro + 2006 Macbook Pro workflow to a 2011 Macbook Pro + external display (MBP as desktop replacement (DTR)). I far prefer the new workflow and the 2011 MBP is plenty powerful as a DTR. You could consider selling the iMac and getting a MBP plus external display if the finances worked for you.

HTH

-Allen Wicks

[PeteWK]

Originally Posted by SierraDragon 

I believe you mean SSD not HD.

It sounds good to me if you are happy with the small display and the keyboard. Personally I like to access multiple sources when I am writing ye olde research papers so I much prefer more screen real estate.

The only real issues are what "category specific software" you intend and the very significant limitation of only 4 GB RAM. Some apps (e.g. Aperture) are basically unusable with only 4 GB RAM under OS 10.7 Lion. And over the life of any new box apps' and the OS's RAM demands will be increasing.

HTH

-Allen Wicks

Thanks for the reply, Allen. I just meant Hard Drive, knew it was the solid state one though.

I'm with ya on the screen real estate. It's just that I don't see any usable difference between the 13.3 and the 11.6. I'm sure to do some fair amount of work on the 24 inch iMac so I can live with it. Big plus is size. I used to drone on to friends that I would get a MBA when they offered a smaller screen, but I would only do that in conjunction with a desktop.

As for the software, I don't do Aperature or any CAD work on any computer so no biggie there. My stuff is ancient languages, texts, history and Greek studies. I've got the software, for the most part, and it should run without a hitch.

Bigger keyboard would be nice but I do have some fine bluetooth versions if I need them.

I've convinced myself that the only option worth having is the i7 as I can't upgrade it later. 8 gigs of ram would be nice but that ain't a gonna happen.

Pete

[SierraDragon]

The MBA is more powerful than your iMac anyway. You could sell the iMac and live with the MBA plus a $300 external display. Laptop plus desktop is a PITA from a workflow standpoint.

-Allen

[PeteWK]

Well, ended up getting the 1199 MacBook Air from the Apple Store in Pasadena (i5/128GB) rather that ordering an i7. Just decided I didn't need the scant extra speed.

Can't comment on it as it's taking FOREVER to transfer my apps from the iMac. Geez, I wish this thing had a firewire port!

8 hours and counting. . . and it's read "five minutes remaining" for the last 45 minutes. Lying sons of . . .

Pete