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Buying my first MacBook Air, but don't know which one
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So I've been a slave to Bill Gates all my life, until I picked up a bargain iPad Mini, to which I love.
I need a new laptop, but instead of getting another WIndows, I am tempted to follow through with my iPad love and get a MacBook Air.
Strangely, I found there's lots and lots of versions out there, so any advice on a decent, 2014, version (without going top spec) would be appreciated!
I need a new laptop, but instead of getting another WIndows, I am tempted to follow through with my iPad love and get a MacBook Air.
Strangely, I found there's lots and lots of versions out there, so any advice on a decent, 2014, version (without going top spec) would be appreciated!
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The bigger the screen or memory the more they cost, you will have to set a budget and go on from there. My Mac book pro is a delight to use, unlike windows, but it was expensive.
(just to clarify, I use both Windows based PCs and Macs so I'm not a fanboy of either. I've used both platforms for years, they're just tools to get my job done)
True there is a learning curve but I found that the problem was more unlearning windows than learning Mac. Mac assumes you are an ordinary person with few technical skills, windows is aimed more at engineers and geeks. Unfortunately being an engineer, and long time windows user, I kept looking for complicated solutions to simple things, I often kicked myself when I found out how simple and logical the solution to a problem was.
The 13" is a lot more screen for not much more size and weight, and has a better battery life. Only get the 11" if you absolutely need the small size.
The i7 is unlikely to make much difference for anything other than extreme workloads.
You can upgrade the SSD later, although it's not easy, so it's marginal if it's worth buying more "just in case". 128GB is probably fine. The 2013 models have USB3 so external disks are faster.
Applecare is a steal if you can get it on Higher Education Discount (about £35 for three years)
I would'nt as it will be out of date very soon when Yosemite comes out.
http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
They have got both the Mid 2013 and the Early 2014 model of the Air in 13" in the refurb store at the moment, aint a massive difference between them mainly a small processor jump, its just a case of deciding how much storage you want. The 128GB can fill up quick, so personally i would go for a 256GB , stick with the i5 , and go for the 8GB RAM if you can afford it.
Like you i had been a Bill Gates slave my entire life, got a 2011 Macbook Air few years back and love Macs now wish i had got one years before, it did take a few months for the Mac OS to feel natural for me. Good thing is it runs as fast today as it does the day i bought it, yet with Windows i re-install every 6 months because it just seems to get progressively slower, i.e. Windows Rot.
Macrumors is a great website/forum if you want to browse, has a dedicated Macbook Air Forum. Also a buying guide for Apple products.
That should'nt be an issue though, Apple state that after 1000 full charge cycles the battery will have 80% capacity compared to a new battery. So if you completed a full charge cycle every other day (which you probably wouldnt) then in almost 6 years the battery will still have 80% capacity.
I'm typing this on an 11" Air from 2012. I personally don't find it too fiddly. In fact I'm going on holidays next week and taking the 11" Air rather than the 13" Pro because I'm flying Ryanair and I'm not likely to play Windows games while I'm away. I guess it depends what you want to do with the computer.
*sigh*
It's not glued in place.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/macbook-air-faq/macbook-air-battery-replacement-instructions.html
I use it as my main system too since it is so fast at starting up and every task I have thrown at it so far, it has done with ease from browsing the internet, photo editing, video editing, DVD ripping and even playing games.
The only thing it has ever struggled with was a specific iMovie special effect (theatre curtains) which slows the system down quite a bit but other than that I've hardly ever noticed any slow down which is something I came across on a daily basis on my older Windows PC.
iOs is what's used on the iPhone/iPad Macs
But it's generally an easy transition - only problem I have is sorting out any problems as you get used to working it out with Windows but a Mac is different so sometimes takes a while to sort it out. I have the same problem when i use Linux!
and don't forget applecare as a 30 second glance at the price of apple spare parts is enough to require a few barrels (not bottles) of whiskey to steady the nerves
and you can of course dual boot it so you can run osx and windows for those programs that there just aint an apple version (games mainly or very high end specialist programs that cost as much as a car)
Do you require an Ultrabook or are you just getting the Macbook Air as it's the cheapest Apple laptop?
If you do require an Ultrabook I suggest you have a look at the competition http://www.ultrabookreview.com/3214-samsung-ativ-book-9-comparison/
Like others have said OSX is nothing like iOS so don't let that sway you.
However, I do find you get (slightly) more value out of a desktop Mac rather than the laptops.
I did but I would like to get a Mac Mini if they ever bother upgrading it.
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Mac
This page will be your friend. I've kept my eye on it many times when I go to buy an Apple product, and a lot of the time, it's paid off. Saying that, they very quietly update the Mac lines nowadays, so the rumour mill might not be worth as much as it used to.