Huge Bonus This Year: Looking to buy a Mac Book Air. Any thoughts?

[Dante]

Interested most in the 13" Screen MD760LL/B. Consumer Reports lists it as a best buy.

Any thoughts?

I recently got a MacBook Pro, 15.4" and I will never go near Windows or Microsoft again. I have iPads, but this is the first apple laptop I've had and I love it. My last laptop was a top spec Dell, cost the same, but was nothing but trouble from beginning to end. Sorry I'm not familiar with the Mac Book Air. And I've just realised this post is probably quite unhelpful too. Sorry

No, its helpful.

I bought my Dell laptop in 2013 after purchasing 2 other ones. This one has a giant mousepad that is almost like a postcard. My right thumb is not used when I type so it sort of "drags" on the pad while I type and my cursor will move as a result.

Other times when I try to move the cursor from one side of the screen to another, it opens up hidden programs. The desktop has these cartoonish icons for general topics like "money", "mail", "pictures", "news" and I guess I was supposed to assign a service to each of them for peronalized data. Never did it.
I understand that's a Windows thing but I don't like it at all. I've been prompted to download Windows 10 about 300 times....McAfee continues to pop up...and every now and then a scary looking DOS type window opens for no reason with a black background and lines of code. It goes away immediately but I feel like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show when he sees the Key Grips and production assistants instead of the Travel Agent at the store he goes into. It's like; "I wasn't supposed to see that, was I?"

The Windows 10 thing drove me insane. I just remembered, after going nuts over the Dell - one annoying issue was the overheating and the fan, I got a Lenovo idea Pad? And it was with that that the Windows 10 thing kicked in. I just couldn't get that sorted, seemed to go half heartedly round in circles and never got it sorted out. In the end I just reset the Lenovo and gave it to my niece who needed a pooter, and then I rather anxiously got the MacBook. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to use it, since it's not Windows. lol. It works like a dream and all I have to do now is get rid of my windows phone and go back to the iPhone, and I will be Windows free. Forever.

not too bright, eh? cool that you can admit it

 

[Tilly]

Interested most in the 13" Screen MD760LL/B. Consumer Reports lists it as a best buy.

Any thoughts?

I recently got a MacBook Pro, 15.4" and I will never go near Windows or Microsoft again. I have iPads, but this is the first apple laptop I've had and I love it. My last laptop was a top spec Dell, cost the same, but was nothing but trouble from beginning to end. Sorry I'm not familiar with the Mac Book Air. And I've just realised this post is probably quite unhelpful too. Sorry

No, its helpful.

I bought my Dell laptop in 2013 after purchasing 2 other ones. This one has a giant mousepad that is almost like a postcard. My right thumb is not used when I type so it sort of "drags" on the pad while I type and my cursor will move as a result.

Other times when I try to move the cursor from one side of the screen to another, it opens up hidden programs. The desktop has these cartoonish icons for general topics like "money", "mail", "pictures", "news" and I guess I was supposed to assign a service to each of them for peronalized data. Never did it.
I understand that's a Windows thing but I don't like it at all. I've been prompted to download Windows 10 about 300 times....McAfee continues to pop up...and every now and then a scary looking DOS type window opens for no reason with a black background and lines of code. It goes away immediately but I feel like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show when he sees the Key Grips and production assistants instead of the Travel Agent at the store he goes into. It's like; "I wasn't supposed to see that, was I?"

The Windows 10 thing drove me insane. I just remembered, after going nuts over the Dell - one annoying issue was the overheating and the fan, I got a Lenovo idea Pad? And it was with that that the Windows 10 thing kicked in. I just couldn't get that sorted, seemed to go half heartedly round in circles and never got it sorted out. In the end I just reset the Lenovo and gave it to my niece who needed a pooter, and then I rather anxiously got the MacBook. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to use it, since it's not Windows. lol. It works like a dream and all I have to do now is get rid of my windows phone and go back to the iPhone, and I will be Windows free. Forever.

Does it have the back-lit keyboard?

Yes, which is really helpful as I often find myself working in semi darkness as I'm an insomniac. I did get a wireless mouse with it as I find i seem to work more quickly with it as opposed than getting used to the 'gestures' on the trackpad. But I'm a bit lazy and impatient when it comes to computers.

 

[Tilly]

Interested most in the 13" Screen MD760LL/B. Consumer Reports lists it as a best buy.

Any thoughts?

I recently got a MacBook Pro, 15.4" and I will never go near Windows or Microsoft again. I have iPads, but this is the first apple laptop I've had and I love it. My last laptop was a top spec Dell, cost the same, but was nothing but trouble from beginning to end. Sorry I'm not familiar with the Mac Book Air. And I've just realised this post is probably quite unhelpful too. Sorry

No, its helpful.

I bought my Dell laptop in 2013 after purchasing 2 other ones. This one has a giant mousepad that is almost like a postcard. My right thumb is not used when I type so it sort of "drags" on the pad while I type and my cursor will move as a result.

Other times when I try to move the cursor from one side of the screen to another, it opens up hidden programs. The desktop has these cartoonish icons for general topics like "money", "mail", "pictures", "news" and I guess I was supposed to assign a service to each of them for peronalized data. Never did it.
I understand that's a Windows thing but I don't like it at all. I've been prompted to download Windows 10 about 300 times....McAfee continues to pop up...and every now and then a scary looking DOS type window opens for no reason with a black background and lines of code. It goes away immediately but I feel like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show when he sees the Key Grips and production assistants instead of the Travel Agent at the store he goes into. It's like; "I wasn't supposed to see that, was I?"

The Windows 10 thing drove me insane. I just remembered, after going nuts over the Dell - one annoying issue was the overheating and the fan, I got a Lenovo idea Pad? And it was with that that the Windows 10 thing kicked in. I just couldn't get that sorted, seemed to go half heartedly round in circles and never got it sorted out. In the end I just reset the Lenovo and gave it to my niece who needed a pooter, and then I rather anxiously got the MacBook. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to use it, since it's not Windows. lol. It works like a dream and all I have to do now is get rid of my windows phone and go back to the iPhone, and I will be Windows free. Forever.

not too bright, eh? cool that you can admit it

Well, I would say my enthusiasm for all things computer has waned and I just want them to work with minimal effort from me. I have three iPads ranging from the first to the iPad pro, and NOTHING has ever gone wrong with either of the first two, so I trust apple and prefer it over Microsoft.

 

[Tilly]

Interested most in the 13" Screen MD760LL/B. Consumer Reports lists it as a best buy.

Any thoughts?

I recently got a MacBook Pro, 15.4" and I will never go near Windows or Microsoft again. I have iPads, but this is the first apple laptop I've had and I love it. My last laptop was a top spec Dell, cost the same, but was nothing but trouble from beginning to end. Sorry I'm not familiar with the Mac Book Air. And I've just realised this post is probably quite unhelpful too. Sorry

No, its helpful.

I bought my Dell laptop in 2013 after purchasing 2 other ones. This one has a giant mousepad that is almost like a postcard. My right thumb is not used when I type so it sort of "drags" on the pad while I type and my cursor will move as a result.

Other times when I try to move the cursor from one side of the screen to another, it opens up hidden programs. The desktop has these cartoonish icons for general topics like "money", "mail", "pictures", "news" and I guess I was supposed to assign a service to each of them for peronalized data. Never did it.
I understand that's a Windows thing but I don't like it at all. I've been prompted to download Windows 10 about 300 times....McAfee continues to pop up...and every now and then a scary looking DOS type window opens for no reason with a black background and lines of code. It goes away immediately but I feel like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show when he sees the Key Grips and production assistants instead of the Travel Agent at the store he goes into. It's like; "I wasn't supposed to see that, was I?"

The Windows 10 thing drove me insane. I just remembered, after going nuts over the Dell - one annoying issue was the overheating and the fan, I got a Lenovo idea Pad? And it was with that that the Windows 10 thing kicked in. I just couldn't get that sorted, seemed to go half heartedly round in circles and never got it sorted out. In the end I just reset the Lenovo and gave it to my niece who needed a pooter, and then I rather anxiously got the MacBook. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to use it, since it's not Windows. lol. It works like a dream and all I have to do now is get rid of my windows phone and go back to the iPhone, and I will be Windows free. Forever.

not too bright, eh? cool that you can admit it

I'm not proud

 

[candycorn]

Interested most in the 13" Screen MD760LL/B. Consumer Reports lists it as a best buy.

Any thoughts?

I recently got a MacBook Pro, 15.4" and I will never go near Windows or Microsoft again. I have iPads, but this is the first apple laptop I've had and I love it. My last laptop was a top spec Dell, cost the same, but was nothing but trouble from beginning to end. Sorry I'm not familiar with the Mac Book Air. And I've just realised this post is probably quite unhelpful too. Sorry

No, its helpful.

I bought my Dell laptop in 2013 after purchasing 2 other ones. This one has a giant mousepad that is almost like a postcard. My right thumb is not used when I type so it sort of "drags" on the pad while I type and my cursor will move as a result.

Other times when I try to move the cursor from one side of the screen to another, it opens up hidden programs. The desktop has these cartoonish icons for general topics like "money", "mail", "pictures", "news" and I guess I was supposed to assign a service to each of them for peronalized data. Never did it.
I understand that's a Windows thing but I don't like it at all. I've been prompted to download Windows 10 about 300 times....McAfee continues to pop up...and every now and then a scary looking DOS type window opens for no reason with a black background and lines of code. It goes away immediately but I feel like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show when he sees the Key Grips and production assistants instead of the Travel Agent at the store he goes into. It's like; "I wasn't supposed to see that, was I?"

The Windows 10 thing drove me insane. I just remembered, after going nuts over the Dell - one annoying issue was the overheating and the fan, I got a Lenovo idea Pad? And it was with that that the Windows 10 thing kicked in. I just couldn't get that sorted, seemed to go half heartedly round in circles and never got it sorted out. In the end I just reset the Lenovo and gave it to my niece who needed a pooter, and then I rather anxiously got the MacBook. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to use it, since it's not Windows. lol. It works like a dream and all I have to do now is get rid of my windows phone and go back to the iPhone, and I will be Windows free. Forever.

Does it have the back-lit keyboard?

Yes, which is really helpful as I often find myself working in semi darkness as I'm an insomniac. I did get a wireless mouse with it as I find i seem to work more quickly with it as opposed than getting used to the 'gestures' on the trackpad. But I'm a bit lazy and impatient when it comes to computers.

Me too.
One of the reasons I'm wanting it.

 

[Dante]

Well, I would say my enthusiasm for all things computer has waned and I just want them to work with minimal effort from me. I have three iPads ranging from the first to the iPad pro, and NOTHING has ever gone wrong with either of the first two, so I trust apple and prefer it over Microsoft.

The point is in reality Apple and PC's are very much the same today except for packaging pricing. Never saw a tablet that was that much worse than an ipad. I suspect you are more easily swayed by marketing than common sense, but it's no crime

 

[edthecynic]

The point is in reality Apple and PC's are very much the same today except for packaging pricing.

Which gives you the opportunity to install the superior Mac OS on a less expensive PC.

tonymacx86.com

 

[candycorn]

Well, I would say my enthusiasm for all things computer has waned and I just want them to work with minimal effort from me. I have three iPads ranging from the first to the iPad pro, and NOTHING has ever gone wrong with either of the first two, so I trust apple and prefer it over Microsoft.

The point is in reality Apple and PC's are very much the same today except for packaging pricing. Never saw a tablet that was that much worse than an ipad. I suspect you are more easily swayed by marketing than common sense, but it's no crime

I wasn't happy with my last PC purchase...for reasons I listed here. I think it may be time to give a MAC a try. Thanks for the convincing everyone.

 

[Tilly]

Well, I would say my enthusiasm for all things computer has waned and I just want them to work with minimal effort from me. I have three iPads ranging from the first to the iPad pro, and NOTHING has ever gone wrong with either of the first two, so I trust apple and prefer it over Microsoft.

The point is in reality Apple and PC's are very much the same today except for packaging pricing. Never saw a tablet that was that much worse than an ipad. I suspect you are more easily swayed by marketing than common sense, but it's no crime

I base my decisions to purchase these expensive items based on my experience of them out performing the rest. I've tried other tablets and found them inferior, and I feel the same way about the laptop. I'm not easily swayed about marketing for anything.

 

[Tilly]

Well, I would say my enthusiasm for all things computer has waned and I just want them to work with minimal effort from me. I have three iPads ranging from the first to the iPad pro, and NOTHING has ever gone wrong with either of the first two, so I trust apple and prefer it over Microsoft.

The point is in reality Apple and PC's are very much the same today except for packaging pricing. Never saw a tablet that was that much worse than an ipad. I suspect you are more easily swayed by marketing than common sense, but it's no crime

I wasn't happy with my last PC purchase...for reasons I listed here. I think it may be time to give a MAC a try. Thanks for the convincing everyone.

I have come to the conclusion that it's worth shelling out a bit more than you'd like when it comes to laptops and tablets, I really have, and there's nothing worse than having to use something that is really disappointing but that wasn't really that much less expensive in the long term. I don't think a Mac will disappoint you, and you can say bye bye to Windows. It will be interesting to know how you find the Mac if that's what you choose. Best of luck to you, anyway.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

I have a 13-inch MacBook Air, and I have no complaints.

 

[candycorn]

I have a 13-inch MacBook Air, and I have no complaints.

I see 2 USB ports on the device. Do you ever have to plug in one of those "hubs" that have multiple USBs...

...to run something like an external hard drive?

If so, how did the Mac respond? All of my Dells have had multiple USB ports stacked and side-by side so it has never been an issue.

Also, does an HP printer run well off of a MAC?

 

[theDoctorisIn]

I have a 13-inch MacBook Air, and I have no complaints.

I see 2 USB ports on the device. Do you ever have to plug in one of those "hubs" that have multiple USBs...

...to run something like an external hard drive?

If so, how did the Mac respond? All of my Dells have had multiple USB ports stacked and side-by side so it has never been an issue.

Also, does an HP printer run well off of a MAC?

My HP printer works fine with it, although I've had problems with the printer connecting to my WiFi. I've never used a USB hub with it, but I don't know of any reason why it wouldn't work.

 

[Dogtanian]

Apple is triumph of hype over substance, I can't even really say style over substance because if you look at Apple products objectively, they don't look all that great, it's just that people think they are supposed to be impressed by their looks. I don't even like the way they feel; they are too thin and the edges are too square.

ReviewTechUSA on Apple build-quality:

 

[HenryBHough]

I noticed there were only 2 USB ports. I have a USB that plugs in that has 4 more ports on it (if that makes sense--the same way you plug in an extension chord to the wall outlet and you use that one plug but you can power 3 devices off the extension chord). Have you had any difficulty using such a device (if you have?). My portable hard drives all have 2 USB ports that are necessary for use with a laptop...I don't know how I'll be able to use them if I can't use my "exension chord"....

Sorry about the delay in answering. I'm recovering from some extensive eye surgery and only just now able to see a little.

I use the MacBook Air with a little four-port USB hub. One port is for a cute little travel mouse 'cause I just hate using a track pad. Another is for a dongle that lets me use a full size bluetooth keyboard when I'm transferring stuff to the full size Macs. In fact, I take the extra ports and TM with me when I travel but leave the KB at home. I also carry a camera/USB cable and one for a printer, light and short. That's because when I have a 2-week project overseas I often will buy a dirt-cheap printer to use when in the same place that long. Cheap enough that I just abandon it and "expense it" when I leave. If you do a lot of travel reading there's a small chance you've run across some of my stuff if not in magazines (no, never made "Geographic") or in commercial brochures. The MacBook Air is the perfect tool and even the 11-inch does OK with Adobe PhotoShop Elements for work purposes.

Poor little thing is over five years old and I'm dreading having to change the battery one day.

 

[FA_Q2]

I generally say not to buy anything from apple - they charge a premium for sub standard hardware. You can get a much better product for cheaper by avoiding the 'apple tax.' If you don't mind spending the money though they do work.

As for the hub - I use hubs and they work just fine. I would not suggest using it with a HD though. Use the hub for all your devices like mouse, kb etc and the other one for a HD. It will work but anything like that will slow the data transfer rate down and sometimes this is quite a significant difference.

 

[candycorn]

Got the MacBook air. Didn't know how slow my dell was until I started using the Mac.

 

[edthecynic]

I generally say not to buy anything from apple - they charge a premium for sub standard hardware.

Intel Macs uses the same hardware as a PC, and usually it is the better quality PC hardware. That is why you can build a PC that runs Mac OS X, a far superior operating system. OS X is UNIX based like Linux only with a better graphic user interface.

Building a CustoMac: Buyer's Guide January 2016 - tonymacx86.com

 

[FA_Q2]

I generally say not to buy anything from apple - they charge a premium for sub standard hardware.

Intel Macs uses the same hardware as a PC, and usually it is the better quality PC hardware. That is why you can build a PC that runs Mac OS X, a far superior operating system. OS X is UNIX based like Linux only with a better graphic user interface.

Building a CustoMac: Buyer's Guide January 2016 - tonymacx86.com

That has nothing to do with what I stated. They run on the same hardware - MAC charges a whole lot more for hardware that is not near top tier.

As far as MAC OS being 'far superior' that is rather objective and I believe the exact opposite. MAC OS is not even close.

 

[edthecynic]

I generally say not to buy anything from apple - they charge a premium for sub standard hardware.

Intel Macs uses the same hardware as a PC, and usually it is the better quality PC hardware. That is why you can build a PC that runs Mac OS X, a far superior operating system. OS X is UNIX based like Linux only with a better graphic user interface.

Building a CustoMac: Buyer's Guide January 2016 - tonymacx86.com

That has nothing to do with what I stated. They run on the same hardware - MAC charges a whole lot more for hardware that is not near top tier.

As far as MAC OS being 'far superior' that is rather objective and I believe the exact opposite. MAC OS is not even close.

UNIX is far superior to anything MS has.