Replaced my Windows desktop with a 13" Air

[mikegg]

Yep. Got rid of my Windows 7 custom built, overclocked, desktop for a Macbook Air 13". It's only got 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD but I'm pleasantly surprised by the speed. The PCIE SSD really does the trick.

I love being able to pick up my computer, put it in my back pack, and use it for 12 hours at a coffee shop without charging.

Yea, I'm missing the gaming part but I got too old for gaming anyway.

One of my main reasons for switching was I simply could not use a Windows 8 computer. It's too unintuitive and unpolished. So I stuck with Windows 7. One day I walked into a Mac store and was blown away by OSX and the Macbook Air. I always hated Macs because the iMacs I had to use in middle school and high school were straight up garbage. But boy did Apple improve the OS and the hardware.

Next stop, upgrade to the next generation Macbook Pro or the upcoming retina Air. Macs hold good value so I plan on selling what I have for the newest generation each year.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

Why did you say coffee shop instead of Starbucks?

 

[alkemyst]

Why did you say coffee shop instead of Starbucks?

Is Starbucks a synonym now for coffee shops?

OP, the Air is a great machine but not really a desktop replacement for most.

That said if it does what you need it to do, perfect choice IMHO.

 

[mikegg]

Is Starbucks a synonym now for coffee shops?

OP, the Air is a great machine but not really a desktop replacement for most.

That said if it does what you need it to do, perfect choice IMHO.

It's a desktop replacement to me. Besides gaming, there isn't anything that I can't do on my Air that I did on my 3.8Ghz i5 Quadcore with 12GB of RAM.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next-gen Air and Pro though.

 

[TuxDave]

...
I plan on selling what I have for the newest generation each year.

You... have much more time on your hands than I do.

 

[mikegg]

You... have much more time on your hands than I do.

Time machine makes it easy.

 

[halik]

Did the same 3 years ago, never looked back. I cannot use windows xp/7 on daily basis, the UX is just terrible.

 

[Kadarin]

I've been all Mac for about 4 years now. I've never touched Windows 8, and would likely loathe it if I did.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Okay.

 

[mikegg]

Did the same 3 years ago, never looked back. I cannot use windows xp/7 on daily basis, the UX is just terrible.

I enjoyed using Win 7 but my god, 8 is just so freaking bad. What was Microsoft thinking optimizing the OS for a touch screen when the majority of the market is still on a mouse and keyboard.

Many of the features that I enjoyed on Windows 7 such as snapping windows, I was able to duplicate the features on OSX.

 

[Essence_of_War]

It's a desktop replacement to me. Besides gaming, there isn't anything that I can't do on my Air that I did on my 3.8Ghz i5 Quadcore with 12GB of RAM.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next-gen Air and Pro though.

So you replaced a vastly over spec'd desktop with a correctly spec'd ultra-portable? Good call, I guess. I am amused to see that even with this big change you haven't managed to escape the hardware upgrade grind though

 

[sze5003]

I have a vanilla installation of osx on my desktop. I used to have a 15" MacBook pro and I kept the os disk when I sold it. I was suprised all my hardware is compatible too. I find myself booting osx a lot more often when I want to get something done quickly,and just boot Windows to game. I miss my MacBook though. If I wanted to get a laptop I would probably get a 13 inch. Can the air have a 256gb ssd? I feel like I would use up all the space pretty quickly.

 

[ponyo]

I thought about switching to Macs the last couple of years. The high price and the thought of having to learn a new OS kept me from making the switch. Then ChromeOS happened. I bought a Chromebook and loved it. So I ordered a Chromebox and I should get that today.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have a vanilla installation of osx on my desktop. I used to have a 15" MacBook pro and I kept the os disk when I sold it. I was suprised all my hardware is compatible too. I find myself booting osx a lot more often when I want to get something done quickly,and just boot Windows to game. I miss my MacBook though. If I wanted to get a laptop I would probably get a 13 inch. Can the air have a 256gb ssd? I feel like I would use up all the space pretty quickly.

You can buy an Air with up to 512GB of SSD space. The 256GB model is a standard production machine, priced at $1,199.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I tried switching too, but I just couldn't get used to the OSX interface.

And for some reason the screen on the air strained my eyes while looking at it for any extended period of time (~15minutes+).

 

[sze5003]

If it wasn't for the price I would have one. But my main use is for a desktop and the laptop would only be for around the apartment if I wanted to look something up while watching tv.

 

[fjmeat]

Glad you like it OP. I still have a very basic Win 7 pc at home. It's more for the kids to play on. The Air is very nice. You'll use it daily for years to come. Get a NAS storage device one day to free up space on your HDD.

 

[Childs]

I wish both the Air and Pro's RAM could be upgraded after the fact. While 8GB might be fine now, who knows in 2 years. Yeah yeah, I would probably buy a new one in two years, but I hand down my stuff to family. I do use my Mini for most things, and only use my PC for gaming.

 

[mikegg]

I thought about switching to Macs the last couple of years. The high price and the thought of having to learn a new OS kept me from making the switch. Then ChromeOS happened. I bought a Chromebook and loved it. So I ordered a Chromebox and I should get that today.

The higher starting price point was a tough go for me too but I got in on a good deal. Besides, instead of having to buy a new $400 PC laptop every 1.5 year because they fall apart, I can just use this for 3 years.

 

[sze5003]

Yea the high price point sucks and it looks like the cheapest models now come with flash storage and can't be upgraded unless you go to the next model up that starts with a 256gb hd. I feel like if I were to get a laptop now it would have to have an ssd.

 

[Koing]

The higher starting price point was a tough go for me too but I got in on a good deal. Besides, instead of having to buy a new $400 PC laptop every 1.5 year because they fall apart, I can just use this for 3 years.

My £800 macbook with upgraded ram £50 for 4GB and the 256GB SSD £190 has lasted me 6yrs so far

Koing

 

[sze5003]

My £800 macbook with upgraded ram £50 for 4GB and the 256GB SSD £190 has lasted me 6yrs so far

Koing

Is that the plastic model? I was wondering if I could find a used 2011 model and switch out the hd and ram easily. Then again I have a friend that works at a pawn place down south, by a casino and he says people will come in and sell their macbooks because they lost money. Unfortunately none have showed up or I would have paid him to ship one up my way.

 

[C_A_S]

Is that the plastic model? I was wondering if I could find a used 2011 model and switch out the hd and ram easily. Then again I have a friend that works at a pawn place down south, by a casino and he says people will come in and sell their macbooks because they lost money. Unfortunately none have showed up or I would have paid him to ship one up my way.

Yes, RAM and HD upgrades are easy. Find a lightly used machine and upgrade it yourself. I have a MBP 17" from 2011, 16G ram and I removed the optical drive and installed a second SSD in that slot using an adapter. The optical is now in a silver external USB enclosure, and is the boot disc. Spinning HD is for bulk storage in the original slot.

ifixit.com is a good resource for step by step guides. Just always be aware of static discharges