11-inch Macbook Air for web & word processing

I really like the size of 11-inch Air for its transportability, but I am concerned that the screen size is going to be too small for reading e-mail, internet, and word processing. I currently use a 13-inch Macbook when I'm away from my iMac and I am comfortable with its screen size for these activities, but at 46 years of age, I find I now have to take off my glasses to comfortably see things closer than 2-3 feet away.

Has anyone bought an 11-inch Air and regretted it because the screen makes some applications too difficult to read? Any other reasons why the 11-inch screen was/might be a pain compared to the 13?

Mark

I really wanted to like the 11" MBA but it gave me a headache within 15 minutes and eyestrain that lasted for over eight hours after I used it for 1.5 hours. From what I can gather it is probably due to its LED backlight; the high-resolution display probably doesn't help. I use prescription reading glasses that are optimized for computer use.

I have never had a problem with a display before the current portable Macs. In over 15 years I have used a variety of CRT and LCD displays from Apple and other companies.

There is a lengthy thread at the official Apple forums with dozens of posts beginning in 2008 by people experiencing similar problems with Apple's LED displays: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1677617?start=0&tstart=0 . A Google search will turn up quite a bit of information regarding problems with LED displays.

The problem doesn't occur with all LED displays and many people do not seem to have a problem using LED displays. My 2008 15" MacBook Pro had an LED display and it didn't cause me any problems. My current 13" MBP display has been problematic but it isn't as bad as the MBA. I made some adjustments that were suggested in the Apple thread and it improved my experience.

If you cannot spend some time using the 11" MBA be sure to buy it from a retailer who will accept its return within a reasonable time period.

The 11" Air looks great. But I wanted the bigger screen. I had a netbook at one time and the scrolling needed while surfing drove me crazy. I really wanted a 11" MBA, but bought a 13". I have zero regrets. The 13 is just right for me. They are both very light and very thin. little difference in carrying, but a big difference in screen real estate.

I had a 11" MBA (2010) and it is fine for surfing and WP. I didn't like it for photo work though. The display was just too small. I have passed the 11" MBA on to my mother when she retired two months ago - she only wanted it for surfing anyway.

I now have a 13" MBA (2011) and like it very much. At home I normally use a 2010 15" MBP with high-res anti-glare display but the other day I had to get a file from the MBA. After a few hours I realized the I was still using the MBA! Thats how much I like it

Peter

I had one for about 8 months before I gave in and bought a 13" air which is much, much easier to use. Word is fine, but there's really not enough screen to use 8 hours / day.

the 13" isnt noticeably heavier, and the extra battery, SD slot and extra oomph is all worth it, in my experience.

But the 11-inch is so tempting. It's so small that you wouldn't even notice you were carrying it. That's what makes me want the 11-inch so much.

I'm planning to go minimalist with my set-up and get a thunderbolt display for working at home. That means that although the MBA would be my only computer, I would not be limited by the screen size except when I'm not in my home office. However, based on what seems to be a pretty consistent message, the 13-inch makes the most sense.

Mark

DogShot said:

But the 11-inch is so tempting. It's so small that you wouldn't even notice you were carrying it. That's what makes me want the 11-inch so much.

I'm planning to go minimalist with my set-up and get a thunderbolt display for working at home. That means that although the MBA would be my only computer, I would not be limited by the screen size except when I'm not in my home office. However, based on what seems to be a pretty consistent message, the 13-inch makes the most sense.

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When I had the 11" I often had it with me even when I didn't really need a computer. with the 13" I don't do that as much! And its only now thinking back that I notice! Even though the 13" doesn't weigh a lot more than the 11", the 11" is less of a hassle to bring with you all the time. Its more like carrying an iPad.

When on the road I really like the 13" display. Specially so when I use it for photos. With the 11" I mainly rated and culled the photos, with the 13" I also make some adjustments at times.

Finally, as it is going to be your only computer make sure you get the 1.8GHz core i7 CTO option. On the 11" its a lot faster on the 13" its just faster. I would also get one with a 256GB SSD.

Peter

and, as another poster said, you're gonna carry it more often. I have mine all of the time (if I don't have an iPad). The screen resolution is the same as the 13", so I don't know what the concern is about (Word, etc.). Perhaps some people don't understand that - you're going to see the same things on the screen. It's very close to the resolution of the 13" MBP. I sold the 13" and have bought two of the 11" - one is on eBay now. I use a 24" iMac with extra 24" monitor at home and still love the little Air. I've had Airs since the first one in 2008 so I like to think I know the computers well.

By the way, I proof legal documents and, when traveling (as I'm doing now) there is no problem proofing documents in Word, using the Track Changes tool, Etc. If there was a problem, I wouldn't have the computer.

Corkcampbell said:

By the way, I proof legal documents and, when traveling (as I'm doing now) there is no problem proofing documents in Word, using the Track Changes tool, Etc. If there was a problem, I wouldn't have the computer.

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That's the confusing thing about small screens and Macs. Apple seems to have built many of the features in Lion to make small notebooks easier to use - full-screen functionality, multiple desktops, pinch-to-zoom, web-reader. When Lion first came out I thought that any hesitation I might have about an 11-inch screen would vanish, but some people do seem to find the 11 too small.

I am planning to get the 256GB SSD and the fastest chip I can. It's incredible to me that a current 11-inch MBA is faster than my 2007 24-inch iMac.

Is a special order MBA returnable within the 14-day window? The best thing might be to buy and use it for a while, and trade up if I really can't make it work.

Corkcampbell said:

The screen resolution is the same as the 13", so I don't know what the concern is about (Word, etc.). Perhaps some people don't understand that - you're going to see the same things on the screen

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That's not true. You see less on the 11".

13" MBA is 1440 x 900.
11" MBA is 1366 x 768.

one - fall 2010 - did everything, including photos and iMovie very well. I really didn't need to upgrade (although the bigger hard drive is nice), but didn't realize it at the time.

One thing you will notice is, when you use the Air for a few days and then return to your iMac or desktop, that the latter seems fuzzy. I am traveling for two weeks with my Air and I know that when I return to my home computer (2009 iMac) it will look fuzzy at first. That's because of the razor-sharp resolution of the Air. I think that you'll be happy.

Apple changed it with the July update, but I haven't heard anything like that.

I'm 6?, retired, and I love my 11" MacBook Air. I work part-time and would much rather tote it than a full-size MacBook Pro. Lion with its full-screen mode really makes it easy to use. It's the greatest. I wouldn't trade it.

Corkcampbell said:

Apple changed it with the July update, but I haven't heard anything like that.

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Apple hasn't change the resolution since the 11" was introduced in 2010. And the 13" does have a slightly higher resolution.

11": 1366x768
13": 1440x900

The old 13" MBA was 1280x800 like the 13" MBP

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/index-macbook-air.html

Peter

Corkcampbell said:

I've had Airs since the first one in 2008 so I like to think I know the computers well.

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You may like to think so but the fact is you don't - at least not the specs ;-)

The 13" does indeed have higher resolution than the 11". See my post further down the thread.

Peter

I'll chime in after having read the prior responses. I regularly use a variety of laptops for work. I used the 2011 11" MBA as my primary computer for a few months, then gave up on it as a day-to-day computer. When at my desk connected to a Thunderbolt display, it was great. Plenty powerful. High quality build in every way. But when on the go, the screen was simply too small in resolution to display my desired content and too small in dot pitch for my 45 yr old eyes. It was awesome from a portability perspective, and it was great for occasional use when on the road, but I would not enjoy it for regular use without the external monitor. I still use the 11" MBA for casual browsing and to read and compose brief email while sitting in the recliner, but if I know that I'm going to do something "more" or for more than 20-30 minutes, I grab a different machine.

Or glasses prescribed for computer use are the answer after you turn 40. I'm 63.

The 11" Air is fine for browsing and word processing. Too small for photos.
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Equipment in my User Profile.

I wanted to like the 11" because a powerbook 12" was my favorite laptop of all time up until now. But I found the 13" MBA I bought in November to be extremely light and portable while offering just enough extra screen real estate to be worthwhile (e.g., using Aperture). I have a Mac Pro for my real work, but I am finding more often that the MBA can suffice for more than just my backup and travel machine. And my employer would have bought me a Macbook Pro and I still chose the MBA. Lightweight trumps all when slinging it around a lot.

Peter Rongsted said:

Apple hasn't change the resolution since the 11" was introduced in 2010. And the 13" does have a slightly higher resolution.

11": 1366x768
13": 1440x900

Click to expand...

1440x900 being the same as the resolution of a 15" base model MBP (one that does not have the high-resolution graphics build-to-order upgrade).