The new MacBook Air is awesome. Really, really awesome. It almost makes me happy that my (also very nice) MacBook Pro died last week (a premature death, since it was only a couple years old). Having been a happy MacBook Pro user for the past three years, I grappled with whether to get one of the brand new Retina display models or to go with the sleek, light MacBook Air.
As a writer, I bring my computer with me everywhere; it is the nerve center of my professional life. It’s also powered-on many, many (too many) hours a day with numerous applications open on my desktop. And my Mac was dead, so I couldn’t really wait the week or two for the Retina models to make their way into my hands.
So, I went for the MacBook Air, 13-inch version, i7 Core. I packed it with 8 gigabytes of RAM and a 512 gigabyte solid state drive (SSD), knowing that my usage patterns stressed even the 8 Gig CPU of my 2011 MacBook Pro. I was curious about how the brand new Air would perform compared to my Pro, similarly outfitted.
All I can say is “Wow!” The thing barely breaks a sweat going full throttle with many apps open, including Chrome (with five open tabs), iChat, Word (with four documents open), iCal, and a few other third-party applications to boot. With all that open, the system is only using about a third of the available resources, and nearly a week later (without a restart), I’ve yet to hear the cooling fan trigger. It’s quiet, cool and damned efficient.
Although it’s a bit smaller than the 15.4” MacBook Pro to which I’d become accustomed, I have to say that the display is more than adequate for writing, browsing, watching Netflix movies or anything else I’ve wanted to do. The Pro had a matte high-definition screen, and I was concerned about eyestrain with the Air's glossy display. I needn't have worried; there is virtually no glare on the screen, to my mild (and pleasant) surprise.
Article comments
1 - Pat
I enjoyed reading your article because you described my same situation in layman's terms. I too am moving from a Pro to an Air but I have the mid 2010 version of the Pro so I might experience an even greater 'wow' factor than you described.
Thank you for taking the time to write down your experience. It makes me feel good about the Air that I ordered this morning and cannot wait for it to arrive next week.
2 - Cyrano
Many thanks for this article. I've been eyeing an MAB for some 3 months. I use & love Google Chrome and was not sure how it might handle Chrome with multi-tabs open. Thanks to your description, I think I'll pull the trigger today. Thanks!
3 - barbara barnett
Thanks guys. I can't say enough about the new Air. I'd gone back and forth several times, and this computer completely suits my needs in every way.
Go for it!
4 - David Chan
Nice piece Barbara! I too am grappling with MBA vs. rMBP (retina Pro). Sounds like you spec'd out the Air. Nicely done - should last you awhile. Enjoy!
5 - Mary Lockala
Thank you for your most informative and helpful article. I am dying to get a new MacBook Air and the information-especially about no glare-just won me over! I loved the fact that you used lay terminology to explain things, and also the fact that you described not transferring everything from you former MacBook Pro (my ideas as well). Gratitude for a great article in my humble opinion.
6 - barbara barnett
Thank you Mary (and David). Glad you like the article. I'm a geek, but I'm a non-techie geek. I know my way around personal technology, but strictly as a consumer :)
7 - Alex
8GB CPU? ... Ram? x
8 - Anonymous
cyano are you retarted of course a macbook air can handle google chrome *facepalm*
9 - barbara barnett
I've had as many as 10 tabs open on Chrome, and the computer barely breaks a sweat.
10 - Macek
"The thing barely breaks a sweat going full throttle with many apps open, including Chrome (with five open tabs)."
"5 tabs"? Lol. I'm lucky if my Chrome has less than 30 tabs open at any time; no exaggeration.
That said, my new Macbook Air isn't breaking a sweat with even 30 tabs open :)
11 - barbara barnett
I can have Firefox, Safari, and Chrome open (and playing Netflix) and still no problems.
12 - chris
thanks for writing this article. you helped me make my final decision as I was in the EXACT same situation. macbook pro 15" died. while i loved that computer, i often opted not to take it with me due to the weight, but was always hesitant to get a macbook air with its previous limitations of storage, ram, processor et as i am a heavy user of multiple apps and tabs simultaneously. i had one of the very first macbook airs - had it for about 2 months and it became useless due to the hard drive space. sold it and got the 15". but now with the option to trick the air out to 512, 8gb, and the i7 processor - along with your article - there was nothing further to think about when my macbook pro started to die out.. as you did, i started from scratch and i am so glad i did. everything is working seamlessly. the thing is crazy fast and while i do love my ipad mini, i can see how this will take over for lots of its activity given that i am a keyboard kinda guy! thanks again for easing my mind for this decision. it was a chunk of change to upgrade the air to its max, but well worth it. i cant believe the power packed into such a slim, small device!. all the best, Chris
13 - barbara barnett
Hey Chris...thanks for sharing. I've had it now nearly a year, and I am still in love with it. It goes everywhere with me!
14 - keelycraig
Just swapped from a 2008 15" MacBook Pro to a 13" Air. Beautiful. I will miss my hulking beast, but this little guy will suit me just fine.