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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Mac Book Air, possible switch ?
John Taggart, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 3:59 PM on 07.12.08 |
->> I am thinking of selling my MacBook Pro to stepdown to the air. Why would I do this ? less weight which is better for my back, very portable and seems to be the perfect solution to edit and transmit on the fly without lugging around a massive heavy box. I do all of my video editing at home, so I am not worried about speed. Before I had the pro, I used a first generation macbook with 512 megs of ram for as long as I can remember and had no problems.
what do you think ? does anyone use one right now ? |
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Andrew Spear, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Chardon | OH | United States | Posted: 4:14 PM on 07.12.08 |
| ->> I believe the Air only has 1 USB port and no firewire ports. I'm not positive though. |
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Ronnie Montgomery, Photographer
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 4:59 PM on 07.12.08 |
| ->> The biggest issue that's preventing me from moving to the Air is the lack of any place to attach a laptop cable lock. |
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Evan Dyson, Photographer
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Harrisonburg/Va Beach | VA | United States | Posted: 6:27 PM on 07.12.08 |
| ->> According to their specs, the Air only has a USB port. That's it. If you want to do anything with CDs or DVDs you can use the "remote disc" feature, which lets you apparently access the CD drive of nearby computers. So it seems that you'd have to lug around an external burner or have a second computer around when you want to do anything with discs. It also has a much smaller hard drive than the MacBook Pro if that matters to you. No firewire either. Smaller, yes. Practical for a photographer... doesn't seem so. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 7:50 PM on 07.12.08 |
->> The Air is a great computer for business types and students who want a slim profile and don't have to add on many peripherals.
With the small pop-down access to a USB and ethernet port, smaller hard drive and RAM options and slower processor, the Air is not conducive to hard-core processor intensive users like photographers. As stated, if you want to burn DVDs or even watch movies or install software you have to buy an add-on drive (more to carry) or access another computer's drive through remote software which has to be installed on the host computer as well.
I would have one if I didn't have to attach a stack of FW800 readers, an iPhone or iPod and other things all at the same time, as well as process 30mb files. For that the Macbook or Macbook Pro is the only alternatives from Apple. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 7:58 PM on 07.12.08 |
| ->> I would have to agre with george. I read the specs on the air when it came out because of the "cool" factor. then I realized yeah it's cool...but why do I want a laptop that I can't do my work on? just buy an ipod touch....well THEY are cool. |
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Jack Kurtz, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 8:28 PM on 07.12.08 |
->> I agree with everyone else here. Air is a great computer for a reporter or writer, who doesn't need firewire or more than one USB port. But for a photographer I think it's kind of limiting.
If size is an issue, take a look at the MacBook. FW400, two USB ports. Significantly smaller than MacBook Pro and better battery life. |
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Zach Honig, Photo Editor, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 8:59 PM on 07.12.08 |
| ->> I use the Air as my primary notebook -- but having only one USB port is a HUGE PIA, especially without an Ethernet jack. I use a USB to Ethernet adapter to connect to the the internet from my hotel room in Beijing (where I'll be living for a total of two months), and I need to disconnect the Ethernet adapter each time I want to download images. I've been really frustrated with the Air for only this reason. If you can live with only one USB port, or have another notebook with two or more USB or one USB and one Ethernet port, I think the Air is a wise choice. I do often regret not keeping my MacBook Pro. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:09 PM on 07.12.08 |
->> "I am thinking of selling my MacBook Pro to stepdown to the air. Why would I do this ?"
You shouldn't. The Air is a laptop for people that do little more than surf the web and check their email. It is not a practical machine for a working photographer.
It's the dilettante's machine-of-choice. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 12:22 AM on 07.13.08 |
| ->> The air will eventually be updated, probably in the next year or so. With that kind of investment it might be worth it to wait around and see what the 2.0 version brings. |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 12:57 AM on 07.13.08 |
->> Zach,
Why not get a little portable USB hub? |
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John Taggart, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:28 AM on 07.13.08 |
->> Its Final -
I am going to keep the pro for home and get an air to transmit out in the field. It really is the perfect machine for working on the go. The only apps I use is photo mechanic and sometimes but its rare is photoshop. |
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Jeff Fusco, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 7:28 PM on 07.13.08 |
->> John
Since your only using it for PM and transmitting, why not grab a used 12"" powerbook . The last generation (1.33 and 1.5ghz) are more than fast enough for that. They go on *bay for about $500. I had one at PW, you may have seen it, small and light.I loved that computer. Save the money and buy me dinner next time I am up there. First week in August I may be up. Great coverage on the NY Times building climber. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 7:54 PM on 07.13.08 |
| ->> John, lemme know how that MacBook air shared video memory along with the inability to upgrade ram works out. I heard the video processor with photo mechanic is VERY slow. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 9:21 PM on 07.13.08 |
->> Save your typing - he has crossed into the PLZ - Product Lust Zone.
We've all been there...it is the zone where logic and financial considerations disappear in the blinding glare of shrink wrapped metal and plastic.
There is no escape... :-) |
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Louis Lopez, Photographer
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Fontana | CA | USA | Posted: 12:08 AM on 07.14.08 |
->> David,
Exactly what I was thinking. When I enter the "PLZ" there is no reasoning to divert me.
Most common with Laptops, Plasma televisions in excess of 50 inches, and of course cameras and lenses. |
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