So I’m going to have to upgrade this SSD one day or figure out how to access and maintain multiple iPhoto libraries – one local, one on a NAS. However, I do like having most of my photos with me at all times. iTunes is mostly expendable at this point, as I get most of my music needs met via Slacker and XM these days. And I’m already regretting that decision to save a few bucks given my iTunes and iPhoto libraries. In terms of specs, I stuck with the standard 128GB SSD for storage (although upgraded to 4GB for memory). With all this Adobe hateraide going ’round, instead of loading up the new Adobe Photoshop Elements, I’m running exclusively with the lighter-weight Acorn for a few weeks. Plus, there’s much more OS X-compatible software these days ( Mac is back) and I’ve got Windows-based computers available when/as needed. Whereas I relied on Windows virtualization as a crutch when first going Mac laptop (in ’07/’08). Also, I have much less need for VMWare Fusion and Parallels these days. At some point over the last two years, I’ve replaced Microsoft Office and OpenOffice with Google Docs. On the software front, as I migrate stuff over it’s interesting to note what I’m choosing to leave behind. Otherwise, there’s not much to say about the hardware - as you’d expect, the build quality is outstanding. Not sure if the keys travel less or they’re just a bit softer, but the feeling is slightly different. Also, on the hardware front the keyboard feels a bit different. Not sure if this is truly the case, perhaps the silver metal bezel versus black glass and higher resolution contribute to some sort of optical illusion. Two positive surprises so far… The display appears less glossy than my previous laptop. Also, the SD slot is a very nice upgrade that I’m already enjoying – one less cable or adapter to travel with (or lose). Compared to my previous laptop, I expect to at least double battery life and the higher resolution display will be appreciated for certain tasks. So I went with the 13″ for the larger screen, larger battery, more powerful processor, and SD slot. I find the 11″ MacBook Air very appealing - so sexy, so small, yet pretty capable, But there are too many compromises required for me to use it as a full-time laptop. Additionally, in relation to performance, several publications ( like Macworld) show these new systems perform admirably despite their small stature. In fact, given SSD storage over spinning platters, the MBA should provide a more sprightly experience in many tasks. However, as I rarely render video on my laptop I expect a minimal real world performance hit. Choosing to upgrade now is a bit of splurge considering this MacBook Air actually sports a less powerful processor than the one housed in the laptop it replaces.
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January 2023
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