Which MacBook Air choose?

We have already published articleWhere compared MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. If you decide that elegant MacBook Air stands in the plans of acquisition, it is now necessary to determine which MacBook Air is the best - a smaller 11-inch or larger 13-inch sibling? In addition, some configuration of a particular model to choose.

11-inch MacBook Air is the most inexpensive laptop from Apple, so to say the starting point, with the price of $ 1,000 (well, without the $ 1). For the money you get a laptop equipped with a 11.6-inch display (measured diagonally) with a 1366x768 pixels. It has 4GB of RAM and flash memory 128Gb. For an additional $ 200, you get a model with 256GB memory.

The base 13-dyumovy MacBook Air will cost you only $ 100 more expensive. There, the same 4GB of RAM and 128GB of flash memory. 13.3-inch display has 1440x900 pixels. Just by paying $ 200, you can increase the memory up to 256 GB.

With the lid closed, the height of MacBook Air -11 little more than a centimeter. The thinnest part of the front - 0.25 cm, rear - height of only 1.14 cm. MacBook Air -13 sizes from 0.4 cm to 1.94 cm. The width of the 11-inch model, 28.5 cm, 13-inch - 32.5 cm. Weight: 1 kg and 1.3 kg, respectively.

Both laptops are equipped with stereo speakers, support 802.11as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The keypad all model has a backlight, which automatically adjusts the illumination by establishing sensors. It is tempting, the keyboard is 11-inch and 13-inch model has the same size. On all installed OS X 10.9 Mavericks and iWork'13, iLife'13 application.

MacBook Air as standard equipment costs from $ 999 to $ 1299 and the price is compared to the baseline 13-inch model of the MacBook Pro with the Retina-display (and even $ 100 more expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro with the usual display). If you spend $ 1850 by ordering a maximum configuration you will get the heaped model MacBook Air.

Let's begin to compare models

Maximum mobility or larger screen

How is a fundamental difference in 2 inches?

11-inch MacBook Air is a certain ugly duckling in the company Apple's, this is the only laptop, available with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. All other laptops have a screen ratio of 16:10.

This approach to design makes it, despite the tiny size, more cinematic. This form factor you will see a flat HD TV. The same aspect ratio used in the movies. It turns out that you no longer see the image width than height. 11-inch MacBook Air shows wider and shorter than its 13-inch brother.

The density of 135 pixels per inch, even higher than the 13-inch model (where 128 pixels), but this difference is not great.

Some users like the wide screen, others hate it, claiming that the screen is too small. This is a very subjective opinion, so my advice is, look at the work that is best for you.

Resolution 13-inch MacBook Air 1440x900. At the same dimensions, it has an even higher resolution than the MacBook Pro without Retina-display. Permit more, but it not The Retina - this is a very important difference - no one model of MacBook Air not Retina-display. It is definitely easier to work MacBook Air batteries, making them surprisingly resilient. But the MacBook Air becomes less attractive to users who want to play the text and graphics in the best quality.

Still, talking about the Retina-display, it is necessary to bear in mind that for many years we lived without it. And if you have not started using it, it is still can be done without it. 13-inch MacBook Air shows on the screen is quite decent picture.

Lightweight or independence from the power outlet

How long can I use the MacBook Air without recharging?

Screen size is not the only fundamental difference between the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. The larger size allows the body to deliver high capacity batteries. Models have batteries 38 W-h and 54 Wh, respectively.

Both MacBook Air show outstanding operating time, thanks in part to Haswell processor, which is more energy efficient than previous processors. Apple said that while the 11-inch MacBook Air can reach up to 9 hours on a single charge, and 13-dyumovy to 12 hours. So, if you spend the whole day away from power sources, 13-inch model will be your best choice.

Sophisticated chassis or connecting third-party devices

That you can connect to the MacBook Air?

And the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air is equipped with a built-in the center, above the screen, 720p camera. They have a 1/8 inch headphone jack, two microphones (for better voice recording, or talk on the Skype or FaceTime), two ports USB 3.0 (one on each side) and one port Thunderbolt (on the right side). Thunderbolt, ordinary, not Thunderbolt 2.

The possibility of connecting external devices differ only a. The 13-inch MacBook Air on the right side there is a slot for the SDXC-card. If you already use or plan to buy a digital camera that records to SD-card, and intend to use MacBook Air for editing photos and video captured this camera, 13-inch MacBook Air is a choice that provides comfort.

More RAM

If necessary?

4 GB RAM is standard throughout the volume MacBook Air line. This is enough to start the Mavericks, for Internet applications and, in general, all applications that require normal performance. Well, if you really intensive use RAM: work with media editors at the same time run a variety of applications, and the like, it is worth considering about 8 GB of memory. It is worth thinking about buying a MacBook Air with the amount of RAM, if you think about the future. Apple releases their device with stepping stone for the planned changes. For example, the MacBook Air 2010 with 2 GB, enough already, "the brakes" running with the Mavericks.

It is said that once you should to determine how much RAM you need. Add the amount of additional memory soldered to the motherboard will not work.

More Flash Memory

If necessary?

This is probably the most difficult question when buying a MacBook Air. If you go with another car, most likely, you have applications and files you want to transfer.

Compared with the 512 GB hard drive, which in recent years are used in laptops, 128 GB of flash memory is scarce space. It will likely have to cut back on everything dramatically. Rarely used files can be archived, and transfer them to an external drive, server, or even in the cloud. It may also not be a bad idea to use iCloud.

decidingYou all this will use, consider options

256GB configuration will add to the price of the base model, $ 200 (get $ 1199 and $ 1299, respectively). If this is not enough, it is added to the price received another $ 300 and get 512 GB for $ 1499 and $ 1599, respectively, for the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air.

Either way, the increase in flash memory is expensive. There are companies such as Other World Computing, specializing in the SSD-drives for the MacBook Air older model year. Please note that for the newest MacBook Air do not yet have SSD-drives. This involves using a new Haswell processor and a change in the entire flash memory system operation.

i7 processor

Do I need?

On paper, the MacBook Air looks brakes, compared to MacBook Pro and some PC-laptops. But this is deceptive sight. Flash storage makes a substantial difference in performance. It also helps that the same company (Apple), produces and develops computer operating system that runs on the computer. The operating system has been carefully optimized to maximize the capabilities of the processor effectively.

Standard 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor is optimized for the MacBook Air performance. But if you're willing to fork over $ 150, you get a dual-core processor Intel Core i7. Besides the difference in clock frequency by 30 percent, there are other differences within the i7. It has an additional megabyte cache - 4MB instead, in 3 MV i5. The cache stores frequently accessed data. More cache, meaning that more data can be stored on the chip, and therefore i7 is faster.

acceleration technology «Turbo Boost» i5 and i7, automatically enables quick work of nuclei. This Turbo mode almost doubles the frequency - from 2.6 GHz to i5, and 3.3 GHz i7.

Both processors use an integrated graphics - HD Graphics Intel 5000, and i7 processor controls the graphics faster than the i5. If you want to maximize performance, you should spend $ 150 on a processor i7. But in principle, this does not necessarily - the standard CPU more than enough for everyday use.

To buy the 11-inch MacBook Air

If the weight and size of the main criteria for choosing a laptop, 11-inch MacBook Air is your machine. He was a little more than the iPad Air (although the weight is more than twice as heavy), but it is fully functional Mac computer that can do whatever you want. 11-inch MacBook Air is a terrific computer for children in schools and students who need an easy and flexible device.

There are some compromises that you agree - lower (about 20%) and lack of display SD-card slot. If this is not essential for operation, the light, a small 11-inch MacBook Air will be a perfect mobile laptop.

To buy the 13-inch MacBook Air

13-inch model in the base are higher by $ 100. But she has a larger screen, the best battery life, there is a slot for SD-cards. Before the October MacBook Pro upgrade, it was almost the perfect combination of lightness, performance and price. After the release of the MacBook Pro with the Retina-display, and the announcement of the new Apple prices in the $ 200 difference separates the base 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Retina-display. But after spending the $ 200, you get a processor that is significantly faster, better graphics performance, a much better screen, more RAM and memory for data storage (up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage Flash). With two Thunderbolt 2 ports and port HDMI, significantly increase the possibility of connecting external devices. MacBook Pro with Retina-display heavier by about 200 grams.

Bottom line: If you're not willing or able to pay for the MacBook Pro with Retina-display, or if you want to have a lighter weight, longer battery life and do not bother comparing the two machines, MacBook Air is an amazing, easy laptop.

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By the way, you can see overview MacBook Air-13, made directly by the buyer already.

Still undecided? Please visit Apple's page and specialized forums. Even better, if you leave your comments right here. One can be sure that, thanks to the ingenious engineers, Apple has created an incredibly airy the computer with which you are a long time will be able to work independently, which makes the MacBook Air fantastic companion.