Today a blog post without direct photo reference.
To the last Twitter I dropped my camera bag so badly that my Macbook Pro that was stored in it was destroyed. The screen is split, the housing is bent, the trackpad is stuck - and the Apple still works (assuming an external mouse). It's just that it can no longer be used as a mobile workstation.
Since I had exactly that the next day mobile workplace on the edge of the playing field needed and the repair was in the upper three-digit euro range, I spontaneously bought a Macbook Air. And yes, I know there will be an update soon and I'll have scrap metal on my knees. But I don't care. Need an on-the-go calculator.
What can I say: best spontaneous decision ever. Honest. Macbook Air is an iPad killer. Just as quick to start, but more universally applicable. Really with programs and stuff. Lightroom is also running.
Of course the thing isn't as fast as a Macbook Pro, but what do I do with the thing? Viewing pictures, labeling pictures, editing pictures, surfing around, writing emails, watching videos,... Nothing that really worries the processor.
UPDATE on May 10.5.2011, 1,5: I measured the speeds with Geekbench and found that my old Pro is 7 times faster than the Air. However - and this is really not insignificant - the new Pro (with i2 instead of core3 duo) is XNUMX times faster than the old Pro. As I said: I don't have any speed problems for my work on the computer, but if you sit at the computer a lot with video and other processor-heavy tasks, you should - if the Air is an option due to the other mobility advantages - wait until the Air also has Sandybridge processors is equipped.
And since I bought it almost two weeks ago, the thing hasn't stopped working. What for? Shut up – it’s good. Open the flap, keep working. Other clear advantages over the Macbook Pro are the lower weight and the significantly lower heat generation. Anyone who has ever exported a dozen images from Lightroom with the MBP on their bare legs in the summer knows what I mean. If the situation is unfavorable, you can end family planning without using a scalpel.
But the best thing is the absolutely non-existent noise development. Apart from the clacking of the keys, you simply don't hear anything when working with an Air. OK, the thing also has a fan, but it starts later than with the MBP and is not as loud.
The only thing I miss now and then is the lack of keyboard lighting. And after these two weeks and three calibrations of the monitor, it shows the same colors as my old MacBook Pro. But I had expected this "break-in period".
So I can recommend a Macbook Air with a clear conscience. It now accompanies me much more often than my old Pro used to. With Kindle app It's also easy to read books on the train...
Which one did you get, the small 11″ or a larger one?
@Kiki, the little 13″
Hmm, isn't that more expensive than the MacBook Pro, with less power and fewer ports? I would be worried that the Air would collapse during video editing, or are you not doing that at all?
@Kiki, yes, but it is a kilo lighter and has no moving parts thanks to the SSD. So it's great for on the go.
I only converted a video for comparison: it took about 1/3 longer than with my Pro, which is from 2009. With a current one the difference would certainly be even greater. For video, CPU is required. I also wrote that I don't do such complex things.
Since Peter asked on Facebook, here's an addendum: Battery life is very good. With normal use, 5 hours shouldn't be a problem.
After the first football game I still had 68% battery remaining. The last time we played at HSV it was only 36%: after three hours of use and during the game the live ticker for the FC St. Pauli game was running the whole time 😉
Tell me, didn't you want to show us photos of your affected MBP? You rarely see something like that - and should therefore be a sought-after photo object 😉
Even if it hurts my soul.
& congratulations on the MBP – a great thing for on the go!
Ahem - aren't the pictures here in the post spectacular enough that you can't see the defect? 😉
@Stefan Groenveld
You can't see it quite so clearly in the pictures... 😉
Stefan, you wouldn't believe what a service you just did for me. 🙂 I am faced with such a decision. Need something small, mobile. Fluctuated between MacBookPro, a normal laptop, a netbook. And now this post.
I'm sorry about your MacBook, my heart probably would have stopped. But I love quick decisions.
And I would like to ask you if you don't miss a CD drive on it? Don't you just have to burn something down? And it's fast enough to digest all the images on the sidelines?
I left my first flattr with you. Logged in 3 seconds beforehand. 🙂
Best regards,
Heike
Now you have to tell me whether you have upgraded to 8GB RAM and are using the small or large SSD drive...because of speed and stuff...
Best regards…
@heike, Hi Heike, I have the small 13 inch Air without any upgrade: so 2GB Ram and 128GB SSD. That's enough for me, but as I said, I don't do anything really processor-heavy.
I haven't missed a CD drive yet, because software is usually available for download from the manufacturer's website instead of on CD. Otherwise, the €79 for the external drive doesn't make the cabbage any fat anymore...
hmm……. actually a good decision. Up until now I've always been lucky that my iBooks, PowerBooks and MBPS have only fallen on their corners. I don't know how many times I've taken the things apart to "bend" the upper case back into place, at least from the PowerBook onwards. 🙂 I'm always running around with the Air too – but it's useless as a main computer for me.
@paupi, I can understand it - depending on what you're doing, it's not enough as a main computer. But it's just great for on the go 🙂
It always depends on what you need. If you have a thick machine in the office/home that you do most of your work on, an MB Air is a good and lightweight alternative.
I often work at different locations and that's why I bought a thick 15″ MBP - always the complete workstation with everything with me and enough power. However, I don't sit on the sidelines or at weddings and take photos, so it's the ideal solution for me and my purposes - certainly not for others 🙂
"And since I bought it almost two weeks ago, the thing hasn't been turned off. Why would it? Close the lid - that's it. Open the lid and keep working."
And where is the difference now compared to before? So I do exactly that with my MBP. 😉
But with the Air it's similar to the iPhone and iPad - it's just there straight away. With the Pro I always had a certain waiting time.
I can only confirm your impression. I also bought the 13″ Air with 4GB and the external drive as a replacement/supplement for a 15″ MBP and am extremely happy with it. Even complex retouching isn't a problem with the way I work, and since most of the peripherals are connected to Bluetooth, the few connections don't bother me either. In fact, I find the design with a USB on each side more practical than the MacBook Pro, where I often need extensions because, for example, UMTS sticks are too wide and block the connection next to them.
Now I also want...
The (my) G4 iBook was really no longer up to date thanks to the processor. So here's something new.
Yes, an Airbook. As cute as the little 11-inch thing is, I went for the 13-inch discontinued model, which, unlike its successor, has a "real"/rotating hard drive - instead of permanent storage -, no SD card slot and only one USB. But I saved around 400 euros! Airbook? I'm not giving it away anymore...
Some more reading material:
“On the road with “Its tinyness” (MacBook Air)” from:
http://www.fotoespresso.de/fotoespresso/archiv/inhalt-111.html
RJ
Hi Stefan,
I can now add something to your posting. Yesterday I got the 11?-Air with 1.6GHz (Sandy Bridge) and 2GB RAM and after installing it I ran through my workflow a few times, including UMTS usage. The battery power of the small Air is also sufficient; after 2 hours of running time with five workflow runs, there was still 55% battery power left. The UMTS obviously takes a toll on battery performance and the display also eats up quite a bit. That's why there's a lot to be gained from running it with the automatically reduced brightness and a short interval when the monitor is in sleep mode.
The performance itself is completely sufficient; you notice the 2GB RAM when you load a lot of images into Photoshop. So it's better to expose better instead of reworking afterwards. The keyboard lighting is certainly pleasant when it's a bit dim, but in my opinion it's not a must.
Best Regards
Peter
Thanks Peter for your comment. And congratulations on the new Macbook! 🙂