13" Air versus 15" MPB general impressions

MacDoc · May 2nd, 2011, 03:38 PM

Just doing a side by side on a

2.13 MacBook Air 4 gig 256 SSD versus a 15.4" Core2 2.53 8 gig 256 SSD I have been travelling with.

This is not about horsepower but rather screen and battery life plus portability.

Weight 3 lb versus 5.6 lbs. That is significant given the screen resolution is the same.

1440x900.

I was concerned the smaller screen would be problematic and it may yet with tired eyes but the smaller form factor brings the Air closer to your eyes by a couple inches so that somewhat offsets that and the screen is very crisp for text.

The air is lower/thinner so there is no "edge" which is easier on the wrists.

Ports.

SD card slot on both.

Dual USB

MiniDisplay port.

Headphones out

MacBook Pro only

Firewire 800 which enable target mode and is more reliable than USB transfers and allows some outboard devices.

Audio in - not sure of the implications here

More to come on battery life.

The real killer is the lack of a back lit keyboard

.

I'm going to add a 13" Air previous gen to the test group.

At $1850 the 2.13 air is better value for some than the 2.0 i7 as the 256 SDD tips the useability balance for the non- rendering user.

groovetube · May 2nd, 2011, 05:49 PM

the -only- thing that made me pause was the lack of firewire. But truthfully, I use it mainly for backup, I just hate waiting is all.

Rendering? not really. Disk access is supreme, nice cpu power is a cherry on top really. The lightness, HUGE for me.

MacDoc · May 2nd, 2011, 05:52 PM

I suspect I will take it next year travelling with a 13" MacBook Pro 2.4 as a secondary machine and the long battery life.

May 2nd, 2011, 06:48 PM

When it's time for me to upgrade my MBP it will likely be with a 13" air. The weight difference is huge and the Air does pretty much everything I need a portable to do these days. Again the only hesitation is lack of firewire, but I don't require it on my portable these days (no more on-site video editing required). For backups at home I do them all over my network now, for backups on extended trips I guess I'll have to suffer with a slow USB drive

MacDoc · May 2nd, 2011, 09:29 PM

The USB is really weak - maybe low voltage - will not mount a USB drive that pops right up on the MBP. The With dual USB on either side of the machine the option to use double power cables is gone.

THe killer remains the lack for back lit keyboard - sitting typing now - have to tip the screen down to see the keyboard - surely Apple could come up with something.

Means the brightness needs to be up 2/3. Guess Apple figures we're all complete touch typists - there is at least a locator bump on the F and J keys.

At full bright it's rather straight forward to type but then battery goes to hell.

It's snappy - then so is the mpb - thats all the ssd

The Air is very cool running and feels like a feather compared to the MPB.

Lion will help the high dpi tho the screen is incredibly crisp. Not sure it's a keeper for my use - backlit really is an issue.

I want to have this work and it's iffy. Daytime use seems okay - the smaller high dpi screen less of an issue than anticipated.

MacDoc · May 2nd, 2011, 10:32 PM

Battery is looking decent - 6.36 in light use. Still that's 30% down from the 15" under the same conditions. Oh battery jumped to 8.27 - that's good for readers.
Would go up if just reading..

More impressed with the battery than I thought.

still not sure on the backlit issue.....

fyrefly · May 3rd, 2011, 02:44 AM

I have to agree that the omission of the BL keyboard on the 2010 MBA is a huge loss, IMHO.

One of things that makes Apple Computers even better is these fun little marquee features, things that seem trivial, but get used every day. To me, the BL keyboard is just that. I'm really hoping that the rumoured Sandy Bridge update to the MBA brings the Backlit Keyboard back...