It is indeed great news if the backlit keyboard returns but my only consideration right now in buying a new computer is if it has 6-8GB of RAM. 4GB simply doesn't cut it for my every day usage. With 6, I'll buy. With 8, I'll be thrilled. If the new Air still maxes out at 4GB, I'll suffer with my 4 year old laptop and its 4GB limit until the next Air release. *fingers crossed*
Sounds like a little exaggeration. If you put an SSD in a recent 17" MBP, it's going to blow the MBA away. You're probably comparing the MBA's SSD to the MBP's conventional hard disk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcarling
That's equally true for the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models.
Oh yes, off course.
That said, good luck trying to get a third party SATA3 SSD to work in the Early 2011 MacBook Pros!
It is indeed great news if the backlit keyboard returns but my only consideration right now in buying a new computer is if it has 6-8GB of RAM. 4GB simply doesn't cut it for my every day usage. With 6, I'll buy. With 8, I'll be thrilled. If the new Air still maxes out at 4GB, I'll suffer with my 4 year old laptop and its 4GB limit until the next Air release. *fingers crossed*
I'd agree, my brand new MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM does struggle a bit, but my MacBook Air with 2GB doesn't.
Again, I'll go back to my theory that 2GB of RAM swapping out to a SSD is faster than 4/8GB swapping out to an HDD. And I think that nowadays most users demands will probably cause an 8GB machine to swap out.
I think there's a lot to be said for buying a second hand machine and installing a SSD, than buying a new machine with an HDD installed...
The Airs I've looked at in the Apple Store could barely (ie slowly) handle the basics of the UI.
I'll take another look after this refresh and see.
Quote:
Originally Posted by diamondgeeza
eh? I replaced my 15" MBP with an air as my main work machine and have never looked back (mostly science apps and office type stuff). Slowly handle the basics of the UI? eh? You must have been looking at some beat up airs...
I thought crack was illegal. Even an iPad could run regular OS X.
Was a stupid move to remove it anyway. Yet a good portion of the people here on these boards backed the move
Now those same people will probably be praising the move to bring it back
I don't recall reading a single person "backing the [re]move" of the backlit keyboard. I do remember plenty of rational people saying that it's not a deal breaker feature even though they wished it was included and/or those wondering if perhaps there was an engineering reason that prevented Apple from including the backlighting HW in this new svelte design for a multitude of possible reasons from engineering limitations to cost. Why do those sound so unreasonable to you?
What about the Apple Remote sensor? Doesn't any body else use it anymore? I'm dying to get this feature back because I use my 11" Air to present work everyday.
The Airs I've looked at in the Apple Store could barely (ie slowly) handle the basics of the UI.
I'll take another look after this refresh and see.
Just how long has it been since you looked at an MBA, anyway?
This 13" 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD MBA keeps up with the UI just fine; it's not as fast as the 3.06GHz iMac with 8GB RAM in the other room, but it's quicker booting up and starting applications.
It works fine with Aperture 3 and FCPX, with expected limitations running the latter as it's not connected to a RAID1 drive through FW800. It's certainly faster than the 2008 15" MBP that it replaced earlier this year.
Sounds like a little exaggeration. If you put an SSD in a recent 17" MBP, it's going to blow the MBA away. You're probably comparing the MBA's SSD to the MBP's conventional hard disk.
I don't think that was shown to be the case. I think the MBA's SSD card has shown to be considerably more efficient either in HW or driver design than 2.5" SSDs for other Macs even though the MBA uses considerably slower HW in other areas. I think the MBAs boot in 10 seconds, can come back from hibernation in under 1 second. If that's the case I'd bet many app launches are faster on the MBA, too, providing it's about read speeds not about processing after the app loads in order to make it usable.
That said, good luck trying to get a third party SATA3 SSD to work in the Early 2011 MacBook Pros!
I think I finally picked up on you point about the 4th time I read this. You are saying the SATA3 interface is the problem, not getting a high performance SSD installed and working beautifully in a MBP right? I'm seriously contemplating getting an OWC SSD for our new MBP along with an 8GB memory upgrade. I'm operating on the assumption that this would make for an absolutely ridiculously fast laptop.
Now, this system might not be quite as fast as an SATA3 SSD system, but I think at that point it's really going to be splitting hairs. I mean is anyone really going to notice the difference between an SATA2 SSD and a SATA3 SSD? Especially after coming from a 5400 RPM HD...
I think I finally picked up on you point about the 4th time I read this. You are saying the SATA3 interface is the problem, not getting a high performance SSD installed and working beautifully in a MBP right? I'm seriously contemplating getting an OWC SSD for our new MBP along with an 8GB memory upgrade. I'm operating on the assumption that this would make for an absolutely ridiculously fast laptop.
Now, this system might not be quite as fast as an SATA3 SSD system, but I think at that point it's really going to be splitting hairs. I mean is anyone really going to notice the difference between an SATA2 SSD and a SATA3 SSD? Especially after coming from a 5400 RPM HD...
I've posted the pics several times already so I'll spare doing them again, but if you look at the iPad 2 pics on iFixit, the CDMA/CDMA2000 and GSM/UMTS boards are small daughter boards that appear to be the same size. This standardization could work very well for a crossover to Mac portables.
Also note the evidence of Find My Mac strings in Lion yet this feature is still not yet active on any Mac or MobileMe/iCloud which makes me think it will be a part of new Macs with GPS chips, which might come as a component on cellular daughter boards.
You can do either. There are two modes for using two or more monitors:
1. Mirroring
2. Extended Desktop
Mirroring, as the name suggests, show exactly the same image on the two monitors at the same time - so whichever screen has the lowest resolution is the limiting factor. This mode tends to be useful for presentations and the like.
With the extended desktop mode, each monitor operates at its native resolution and shows different content - you designate a certain monitor to be your "main" monitor (with a laptop the main monitor can be the built-in monitor or the external one) and that shows the Menu Bar and Dock, and you can drag windows from one display to another.
I was also wondering about it - thanks for the clear explanation.
Nothing. They're different lines and completely different products though they both happen to be 13". More people may opt for MBA's over MBP's but that's to do with consumer demand and interest, and not obsolescence.
That is good new the product will not be dropped that fast. Thanks
I dont know what you are smoking Messiah, but it sure is messing with your head!
Try doing some research and you could be amazed. Personally, I have a 240GB OWC SSD installed in my 2.3GHz i7 17" MBP which utterly destroys my maxed out 2.13 GHz 13" MBA. The MBA is awesome for light work, but when I'm earning money, I need the computational power of the quad core i7, and the speed of the OWC SSD (which is significantly faster than the SSD of the MBA). Check out barefeats.com and macsales.com (and OWC ship internationally too as I live in Australia).
Sorry, I don't think I've been clear in my original post. I have both machines, and I'm comparing the MBA 11" SSD to the MBP 17" with a 5400rpm HDD.
My argument is that the MBA with its SSD is faster than the 17" with its HDD for the vast majority of CS5 stuff that I work on. Apart from a few Photoshop filters, multiple cores are neither here nor there with CS5 as it can't take advantage of them.
Hence my original reply to the forum member who was considering replacing his 17" MBP with a MBA ? it is viable.
Obviously a 17" MBP with an SSD will be faster still. I tried installing a C300 in my 17", and it was VERY FAST when it worked briefly. But for the time being at least, it doesn't seem possible to install a reliable third party SATA3 SSD.
Does your OWC SSD ever beachball? Did you have to replace the SATA3 cable, or wrap it in tin foil? If not, I'd be interested in buying one...
Comments
Sounds like a little exaggeration. If you put an SSD in a recent 17" MBP, it's going to blow the MBA away. You're probably comparing the MBA's SSD to the MBP's conventional hard disk.
That's equally true for the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models.
Oh yes, off course.
That said, good luck trying to get a third party SATA3 SSD to work in the Early 2011 MacBook Pros!
It is indeed great news if the backlit keyboard returns but my only consideration right now in buying a new computer is if it has 6-8GB of RAM. 4GB simply doesn't cut it for my every day usage. With 6, I'll buy. With 8, I'll be thrilled. If the new Air still maxes out at 4GB, I'll suffer with my 4 year old laptop and its 4GB limit until the next Air release. *fingers crossed*
I'd agree, my brand new MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM does struggle a bit, but my MacBook Air with 2GB doesn't.
Again, I'll go back to my theory that 2GB of RAM swapping out to a SSD is faster than 4/8GB swapping out to an HDD. And I think that nowadays most users demands will probably cause an 8GB machine to swap out.
I think there's a lot to be said for buying a second hand machine and installing a SSD, than buying a new machine with an HDD installed...
...just my theory!
The MBP has a better chance of running OSX.
The Airs I've looked at in the Apple Store could barely (ie slowly) handle the basics of the UI.
I'll take another look after this refresh and see.
eh? I replaced my 15" MBP with an air as my main work machine and have never looked back (mostly science apps and office type stuff). Slowly handle the basics of the UI? eh? You must have been looking at some beat up airs...
I thought crack was illegal. Even an iPad could run regular OS X.
Was a stupid move to remove it anyway. Yet a good portion of the people here on these boards backed the move
Now those same people will probably be praising the move to bring it back
I don't recall reading a single person "backing the [re]move" of the backlit keyboard. I do remember plenty of rational people saying that it's not a deal breaker feature even though they wished it was included and/or those wondering if perhaps there was an engineering reason that prevented Apple from including the backlighting HW in this new svelte design for a multitude of possible reasons from engineering limitations to cost. Why do those sound so unreasonable to you?
Was a stupid move to remove it anyway. Yet a good portion of the people here on these boards backed the move
Now those same people will probably be praising the move to bring it back
That's why it's called a ''back light'.
Fuck me.
Great. Bring also the matte display option. And a lighter and smaller model as well.
Backlit, thunderbolt, ssd, some sandybridge love and dare we hope.. a matte screen.
Man, that would be beastly.
I'd just about sell my 17" mbpro and swap to one of these hooked to a desktop monitor and an external raid. Hmmmm
Can't you just stick a $10 matte film on your display? It's not noticeable once it's on there.
The MBP has a better chance of running OSX.
The Airs I've looked at in the Apple Store could barely (ie slowly) handle the basics of the UI.
I'll take another look after this refresh and see.
Just how long has it been since you looked at an MBA, anyway?
This 13" 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD MBA keeps up with the UI just fine; it's not as fast as the 3.06GHz iMac with 8GB RAM in the other room, but it's quicker booting up and starting applications.
It works fine with Aperture 3 and FCPX, with expected limitations running the latter as it's not connected to a RAID1 drive through FW800. It's certainly faster than the 2008 15" MBP that it replaced earlier this year.
Sounds like a little exaggeration. If you put an SSD in a recent 17" MBP, it's going to blow the MBA away. You're probably comparing the MBA's SSD to the MBP's conventional hard disk.
I don't think that was shown to be the case. I think the MBA's SSD card has shown to be considerably more efficient either in HW or driver design than 2.5" SSDs for other Macs even though the MBA uses considerably slower HW in other areas. I think the MBAs boot in 10 seconds, can come back from hibernation in under 1 second. If that's the case I'd bet many app launches are faster on the MBA, too, providing it's about read speeds not about processing after the app loads in order to make it usable.
Oh yes, off course.
That said, good luck trying to get a third party SATA3 SSD to work in the Early 2011 MacBook Pros!
I think I finally picked up on you point about the 4th time I read this. You are saying the SATA3 interface is the problem, not getting a high performance SSD installed and working beautifully in a MBP right? I'm seriously contemplating getting an OWC SSD for our new MBP along with an 8GB memory upgrade. I'm operating on the assumption that this would make for an absolutely ridiculously fast laptop.
Now, this system might not be quite as fast as an SATA3 SSD system, but I think at that point it's really going to be splitting hairs. I mean is anyone really going to notice the difference between an SATA2 SSD and a SATA3 SSD? Especially after coming from a 5400 RPM HD...
I think I finally picked up on you point about the 4th time I read this. You are saying the SATA3 interface is the problem, not getting a high performance SSD installed and working beautifully in a MBP right? I'm seriously contemplating getting an OWC SSD for our new MBP along with an 8GB memory upgrade. I'm operating on the assumption that this would make for an absolutely ridiculously fast laptop.
Now, this system might not be quite as fast as an SATA3 SSD system, but I think at that point it's really going to be splitting hairs. I mean is anyone really going to notice the difference between an SATA2 SSD and a SATA3 SSD? Especially after coming from a 5400 RPM HD...
SSD is definitely the way to go!
Mba 3g?
I've often thought that.
3G would make a lot of sense in a MBA.
I've often thought that.
3G would make a lot of sense in a MBA.
I've posted the pics several times already so I'll spare doing them again, but if you look at the iPad 2 pics on iFixit, the CDMA/CDMA2000 and GSM/UMTS boards are small daughter boards that appear to be the same size. This standardization could work very well for a crossover to Mac portables.
Also note the evidence of Find My Mac strings in Lion yet this feature is still not yet active on any Mac or MobileMe/iCloud which makes me think it will be a part of new Macs with GPS chips, which might come as a component on cellular daughter boards.
You can do either. There are two modes for using two or more monitors:
1. Mirroring
2. Extended Desktop
Mirroring, as the name suggests, show exactly the same image on the two monitors at the same time - so whichever screen has the lowest resolution is the limiting factor. This mode tends to be useful for presentations and the like.
With the extended desktop mode, each monitor operates at its native resolution and shows different content - you designate a certain monitor to be your "main" monitor (with a laptop the main monitor can be the built-in monitor or the external one) and that shows the Menu Bar and Dock, and you can drag windows from one display to another.
I was also wondering about it - thanks for the clear explanation.
Nothing. They're different lines and completely different products though they both happen to be 13". More people may opt for MBA's over MBP's but that's to do with consumer demand and interest, and not obsolescence.
That is good new the product will not be dropped that fast. Thanks
I dont know what you are smoking Messiah, but it sure is messing with your head!
Try doing some research and you could be amazed. Personally, I have a 240GB OWC SSD installed in my 2.3GHz i7 17" MBP which utterly destroys my maxed out 2.13 GHz 13" MBA. The MBA is awesome for light work, but when I'm earning money, I need the computational power of the quad core i7, and the speed of the OWC SSD (which is significantly faster than the SSD of the MBA). Check out barefeats.com and macsales.com (and OWC ship internationally too as I live in Australia).
Sorry, I don't think I've been clear in my original post. I have both machines, and I'm comparing the MBA 11" SSD to the MBP 17" with a 5400rpm HDD.
My argument is that the MBA with its SSD is faster than the 17" with its HDD for the vast majority of CS5 stuff that I work on. Apart from a few Photoshop filters, multiple cores are neither here nor there with CS5 as it can't take advantage of them.
Hence my original reply to the forum member who was considering replacing his 17" MBP with a MBA ? it is viable.
Obviously a 17" MBP with an SSD will be faster still. I tried installing a C300 in my 17", and it was VERY FAST when it worked briefly. But for the time being at least, it doesn't seem possible to install a reliable third party SATA3 SSD.
Does your OWC SSD ever beachball? Did you have to replace the SATA3 cable, or wrap it in tin foil? If not, I'd be interested in buying one...
Was a stupid move to remove it anyway. Yet a good portion of the people here on these boards backed the move
Now those same people will probably be praising the move to bring it back
I don't recall a single person that said removing a backlit keyboard was a good move?