Apple MacBook Air « Singletrack Forum

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Apple MacBook Air

52 posts & 21 voices | Started 10 months ago by zokes | Latest reply from maxray

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zokes - Member

Well, I think I'm finally going to take the plunge with an Apple. So, as a lifelong Windows user, what am I likely to find most difficult, and what will I like? If I take to the MacBook, I can see my next desktop being an iMac of some description, with a solid state HD for programs, NAS RAID array for storage.

Main reason for the jump - after playing with a few friends' MacBooks, I quite like the feel OS, and it does seem there's very little out there similar to the MacBook Air. As for a desktop, it does seem that Apple do know a thing or two about monitors....

Posted 10 months ago #
5thElefant - Member

I've got a macbook air. Lovely bit of hardware. The OS is pretty cumbersome when you come from windows though.

I wouldn't want to do any real work on one but for web browsing it's fine (except the eurosport player which is really very crap on the mac for some reason).

Posted 10 months ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

(except the eurosport player which is really very crap on the mac for some reason)

Just watched most of the TdF on it and it was fine.

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

The OS is pretty cumbersome when you come from windows though.

I wouldn't want to do any real work on one but for web browsing it's fine

Joke.

What do you find "cumbersome". What "real work" were you unable to do?

Posted 10 months ago #
Three_Fish - Member

The OS is pretty cumbersome when you come from windows though.

I wouldn't want to do any real work on one but for web browsing it's fine

The perfect troll. Seriously, I take my hat off to you.

Posted 10 months ago #
footflaps - Member

Install Parallels and run a copy of Windows as well - best of both worlds.

NB OSX's finder is no where near as good as Windows Explorer - that's my biggest gripe with it.

Posted 10 months ago #
pjbarton - Member

Both my productivity machines (earn me money) are macs - very good for work as you basically never have unexpected downtime. My iMac's been running for nearly 4 years, never crashed, only turned off for week+ holidays / moving house.

You're bound to struggle a bit if you're used to windows but it's pretty intuitive - you'll love it.

The new Air looks really strong - good processor now.

Posted 10 months ago #
zokes - Member

I wouldn't want to do any real work on one but for web browsing it's fine

This bit worries me - it will be mostly used for work as I travel quite a lot. Possibly also for light photo tweaking / backup duties on holidays too.

Main work would be writing scientific papers and presentations, editing those of others, and maybe some stats / graph drawing if I can get my windows software to work in parallels. However, this I could live without by prior organisation i.e. doing before I travel. Also in teh long run this would be an issue for any windows machine, as work will no doubt upgrade versions of software, and I'm not going to be keeping up with this. (Reason I'm buying my own laptop which I will also use for work is that we're tied to giant Dell desktop replacement laptops as our only option, and I'm not carrying one of them around!)

EDIT: for clarification, the stats / graph software I use and still have from student days is still just about compatible with current versions at work. As work will no doubt update to later and later versions, my student copies won't be much use any more anyway...

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

OSX's finder is no where near as good as Windows Explorer - that's my biggest gripe with it.

I don't find myself unable to do what I want with Finder. On the other hand, using Explorer, I miss the ability to preview files, a la Apple's QuickLook (or whatever it's called). Saves ages when searching for something.

Posted 10 months ago #
GaryLake - Member

I've got a macbook air. Lovely bit of hardware. The OS is pretty cumbersome when you come from windows though.

I wouldn't want to do any real work on one but for web browsing it's fine (except the eurosport player which is really very crap on the mac for some reason).

And suddenly this thread is a 10 pager in the making.

I was a stick in the mud windows user about 5 years ago. I still find Windows XP ok, but Windows 7 is proper backwards in just about everyway.

I do web design/dev and a bit of programming, writing, graphic design, and commercial photo editing and video on my Macbook Pro, so not 'real' work... seems to be alright for emailing and browsing the web too mind!

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

The perfect troll

I don't really understand the concept of "trolling"

Person A - [something idiotic]
Person B - "you're an idiot"
Person A - "ha ha !! got you!! it was a troll"

Yes, very impressive ...

Posted 10 months ago #
5thElefant - Member

Just watched most of the TdF on it and it was fine.

It stutters for me as if it can't get enough bandwidth, but fine on my windows laptop. Very odd.

It does hang a fair bit too using chrome (which may be the culprit I guess).

This bit worries me - it will be mostly used for work as I travel quite a lot. Possibly also for light photo tweaking / backup duties on holidays too

I'm sure mac-people find it most lovely and find windows cumbersome. But when you know how to do something and it's subtly different (using the 'same' software) it becomes a real pain in the arse.

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

EDIT: for clarification, the stats / graph software I use and still have from student days is still just about compatible with current versions at work. As work will no doubt update to later and later versions, my student copies won't be much use any more anyway...

You can rewrite it all in Python, which comes pre-installed with MacOS

Posted 10 months ago #
rewski - Member

what am I likely to find most difficult

The cost

and what will I like?

List too long to mention

Posted 10 months ago #
maccruiskeen - Member

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

I think pj was referring to the mb air as limited for work applications, not the os

Depends on your work, I guess. My current work pretty much requires twin 30" screens, so I suppose the MBA would struggle, but if you were, say, a writer of any sort I don't see a problem.

Posted 10 months ago #
Jamie - Member

Switching 101

As for a desktop, it does seem that Apple do know a thing or two about monitors....

Just got a mid-2011 27" iMac and can concur on that fact. In the interests of balance, Dell also do nice IPS monitors. not sure if they still do a 27" variety though.

Posted 10 months ago #
CaptJon - Member

MBAs supposedly struggle at multitasking - i saw some benchmarking stats somewhere.

Posted 10 months ago #
zokes - Member

The cost

Nah, can afford that, and it's actually cheaper here in Oz than W7 based ultralights by Sony and Samsung.

But when you know how to do something and it's subtly different (using the 'same' software) it becomes a real pain in the arse.

Yeah, this is what will grate I suspect, but I do have an old laptop I occasionally use that's only got OpenOffice on it, and seem to adapt well enough to it from Excel and back again.

Depends on your work, I guess.

Well, albeit slowly, I could just about manage most things on my now deceased EeePC; so I suspect the new MBA won't struggle - it's higher powered that the 'new' XP box that's just been plonked on my desk at work....

Posted 10 months ago #
rewski - Member

Nah, can afford that

Job done, switch.

Posted 10 months ago #
molgrips - Member

On the other hand, using Explorer, I miss the ability to preview files, a la Apple's QuickLook (or whatever it's called)

Like this?

Posted 10 months ago #
torsoinalake - Member

It stutters for me as if it can't get enough bandwidth, but fine on my windows laptop. Very odd.
It does hang a fair bit too using chrome (which may be the culprit I guess).

I would recommend completely removing and then reinstalling whatever browser plugin it is that Sky Player uses (Google tells me that it is Silverlight).

Posted 10 months ago #
Pimpmaster Jazz - Member

As for a desktop, it does seem that Apple do know a thing or two about monitors....

Their separate monitors (ie - not iMac) certainly used to be made by Dell.

I'm a Mac user (and designer/photographer) and run one - I didn't see the point of spunking out another 50% on the price of a monitor to have an Apple logo on it.

Things may have changed in the last few years, but there were certainly separate monitors out there on a par with Apple's for substantially less money.

Posted 10 months ago #
McHamish - Member

I had a Mac for two weeks once.

Posted 10 months ago #
zokes - Member

I had a Mac for two weeks once.

Good for you. Anything else you'd care to add?

Posted 10 months ago #
youngwilliam - Member

The Air is all but useless it's a nice little toy, but it really isn't a machine for work.

I work using a Mac Pro Desktop and two 22" Apple display only using a Macbook Pro to take work to pitch at clients.

Finder not as good as Explorer...You're using it wrong!

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

Like this?

@molgrips.
Yes. Is that part of W7? Or an add-on? I use XP at work and I never found that (but maybe I just looked in the wrong place!!)

Posted 10 months ago #
Jamie - Member

....certainly used to be made by Dell.

I think that should be, both had panels from the same factory, rather than Dell was making the panel for Apple.

....only using a Macbook Pro to take work to pitch at clients.

How old is the MBP? As the new MBA has the same, if not better, bench results as a 2010 MBP.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2011/07/20/2011-macbook-air-benchmarks-are-amazing-outperforms-all-2010-macbook-pros/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/macbook-air-benchmarks/

Posted 10 months ago #
DrJ - Member

The Air is all but useless it's a nice little toy, but it really isn't a machine for MY work.
I work using a Mac Pro Desktop and two 22" Apple display only using a Macbook Pro to take work to pitch at clients.

FTFY

Posted 10 months ago #
zokes - Member

The Air is all but useless it's a nice little toy, but it really isn't a machine for work.

Really? It's a dual core i7 Sandybridge with 4GB RAM and a SSD. It would be the most powerful laptop I've worked off, and I seem to be doing OK.

As said above, whilst less than ideal, I scraped by on a little EeePC with a few compromises until it died

Posted 10 months ago #
youngwilliam - Member

I'm not sure if you're right on that one the Dell bit...

I only know this as I have an Apple Cinema display open in the studio needing a new inverter and the screen came out of the LG Factory!

Posted 10 months ago #
molgrips - Member

@molgrips.
Yes. Is that part of W7?

Yep - not in XP. Windows 7 is honestly in a different league to XP. If you have't used it you can't compare Apple/MS fairly.

There's a series of icons above the top right of the right hand panel that allow you to choose the view you want - icon sizes and stuff, and the preview option is there too.

Posted 10 months ago #
Jamie - Member

Zokes. Read the links just above to see Master William is a bit off in his statement.

Yep - not in XP. Windows 7 is honestly in a different league to XP. If you have't used it you can't compare Apple/MS fairly.

I use both, and the Quick Look function IMHO is better implemented in Lion. For one, you can preview all files, including preview live websites from links, it does not take up any screen real estate when not in use and you can live previews from spotlight searches,

...both do what the user wants though.

Posted 10 months ago #
youngwilliam - Member

Macbook air has no ethernet, tiny screen, paltry drive and If I remember correctly only one USB port no firewire...Ok so it's got number and the Solid State Drive means it'll boot in seconds but the overall usability and upgrade potential suck.

What on earth does FTFY mean in English?

Posted 10 months ago #
Jamie - Member

If I remember correctly only one USB port

It's two.

Posted 10 months ago #