MacBook air

FrankS

FrankS

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Aug 23, 2004
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Finally got one! Used on kijiji. Sold a studio flash and a couple of cameras. Arranged and met 3 different people at the same coffee shop earlier tonight. Sold gear to 2 of them, bought the computer from the last one.

I was frustrated, having only an iPad. Recently I took some documentary pics of a blacksmith shop about to be demolished, and due to lack of a USB port on the iPad, I had to send 10 separate emails with 3 pics in each, to get the pics to the owner. I'm also worried about clogging up the iPad with digital pic files.

So, yeah. I'm updating software and iOS right now. 1.9 of 6.2gb right now. Should take a couple of hours.



 
i have an ancient macbook that still trudges along...too slow for much but ok for net surfing...i keep it downstairs so i have a computer on each level and an iPad mini for lazy on the comfy chair surfing...
 
Hi Frank

Congrats on a great little machine!
I've used a MBA 11" since 2011 now and it's a great little machine.
One bit of advice is to keep things nice and tidy in regard to your storage.
The flash storage can fill up quickly with these little guys. It's best to get yourself a compact external drive to store bulky downloads.
Then keep just your keepers onboard.

My "drive" is a tiny 128GB. I try and keep at a minimum 15% clear in order to have the machine stay nice and perky.
On a a couple week long trip, it can be a challenge without a small external drive.
Seagate has a little 1Terra USB3 that you can find for about $50-$75 online. I bought one last year at Costco for $75... they are even cheaper now.
It's not the main back up rather a supplement to the MBA drive.

I just got my Girlfriend a Half Terra SD card to supplement her 13" MBP which has an SD card slot. Half a Terra would be plenty for my use.
The 11" MBA unfortunately does not have a Card slot.
 
Mine's a base unit too: 11', 128gb. It's that USB port that I really needed.
An external drive is next.
 
Enjoy your new Mac. I'm using a mid 2011 MacBook Air as my main photo system. Works fine with Lightroom 5.7.1 and latest OS X. Some larger raw files require a bit of patience, but it's OK to slow down every now and then :). Like Andy said, external storage is a necessary add-on.

-Thomas
 
I just traded my son a 2009 MBP for a 2008 Macbook. He needed Yosemite which the 2008 can't upgrade to. These machine keep on going. I also have a Ipad Mini and 6s+. Options!
 
Top lh corner of the screen is the apple. Click on it and then scroll down to about this mac... It's all there.

Check in on the storage usage bar from time to time.
Make sure the "other" category is not filling up randomly.
 
Great. It is so much more comfortable on my lap than my adult daughter's MacBook Pro. And my iPad has spoiled me for speed, which the mba matches with its flash memory, not a physically spinning disc.
 
FrankS said:
Great, thanks Andy.

Early 2014, 1.4ghz, Intel core i5,
4gb memory, 1600mhz ddr3
Click to expand...

Very well done!

Unless you are unlucky, this MBP will last a long time. There are about half a dozen MBP in my family. The only thing that wears out from time to time are the power cables.

Any USB3 external drive will do. A solid-state drive would have the highest performance. You should consider two drives. One to augment the MBP storage and another for automated back ups using Time Machine.
 
Very happy with this. Successfully updated to el capitan over night, and with iCloud, all my stuff and info is on the new computer.
 
The Air is a great computer. My GF uses one for professional graphic design. She uses a combination of external company servers, Dropbox, and Google for storage. She works on very big files. She does use Time Machine when at home to an inexpensive external Lacie, which I highly recommend.

@ only $1650 USD with 8GB, 512GB and a 2.2GHz i7, IMO there is simply no better portable. The base model is now only $899, about the same specs as Frank's. Used one's do tend to be pricy, so be patient for a good price.

As willie says, very reliable, even dropped a couple of times! BUY APPLECARE!
 
Up here north of the 49th parallel, the base model sells new for $1100 before tax, so I was happy to get this one for 600.
 
My first two issues were no DVD/CD but prices for external DVD writers are around $25/30 on line, $40 if you need it today and no RJ-45 several different interesting options also USB for under $50.

I'm souping up my wife's MBP 13 with an SSD (to boot), RAM, and a 2nd internal drive when she moves to a MBA in a bit.
 
I too have an '11 128g Air ... it's been all over the world with me. Has made me some decent freelance cash as a video editing and songwriting rig, too!

Recently it's been shutting off randomly, even though I keep it very lean, storage wise. Hmmm.

The small size but OS X power is a great combo. And, dare I say ... it's an "inspiring tool." :)
 
FrankS said:
Up here north of the 49th parallel, the base model sells new for $1100 before tax, so I was happy to get this one for 600.
Click to expand...

Yeah just signed in using a Toronto IP, actually cheaper than in the US at $822 USD at today's favorable exchange rate.

But with tax, based on Toronto final price was $1241 CD, or $928 USD. In NYC the price is $978 USD.

Today at least, better prices in Canada! Bless those currency traders.

$600 CD which is $448 USD is a great saving frank! Especially considering the base model has not really changed.

I got a great little LG CD writer for $30 USD, works perfectly, and has an eject button.
 
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