between MBA 11 & MBA 13

Guys I cannot decide which to buy between MacBook Air 11 inch and MacBook Air 13 inch.
I do only basic work like web surfing and MS word and stuff !!
So I am least bothered about higher processor speed which I get with MBA 13 !!

The only apparent benefit for me between MBA 13 and MBA 11 is:
1. Higher batter life (7 hours as compared to 5 hours)
2. Bigger Screen.
3. larger trackpad
4. 64 GB of extra storage space.

and DRAWBACK is:
1. more weight and larger footprint.

So I am kinda confused it is worth to spend an extra 300 USD for all these extra stuff ?

Anand

 

Weight is about the same, size is the issue.

The MBA 11 is a lot more of a netbook, portable and useable for doing short stretches of things on the move. The screen can be too small to do anything extensive with.

I use my MBA 13 like a main computer. It's fast enough to do everything except gaming.

 

+ the MBP has a backlit keyboard which is a huge selling point, imo.

 

Not a selling point at all actually, this is basically a marketing thing that was never really needed. Your screen illuminates the keyboard in the dark and most people are touch typists.

The Macbook Pro is much heavier in comparison, it's a big reason for getting an Air if you move around with your computer a lot.

 

MBA 13 does not have a back lit keyboard. Neither MBA models have them only the MBP line has back lit keyboards.

Unless you were suggesting he get the MBP 13 instead, which is probably what I'd do if I was in the market for a 13".

 

?? Nobody ever said anything about the MBA having a backlit keyboard.

 

Actually, yes, it was a huge selling point for us. With the KB fully dimmed, it's not readable with the ambient light [from the display]. I passed on a MBA, and one of the reasons was the BL/KB availability on the MBP.

I'm not the only person from my small group of friends to say this either, and we're all from engineering/development backgrounds so we know our way around a keyboard pretty well. It's a BIG plus in my book!.

 

I would definitely get the MBA 13. It has a bigger high res screen, faster processor, more storage, and better battery life. They are both so tiny, you can hardly tell the size/weight difference.

 

It was completely useless in all the laptops I've ever used, and most of them had the backlighting. I would turn them off to save on battery life.

I don't quite understand why anyone needs to see the keys clearly in the dark. Screen illumination is plenty for finding a key you don't use very often perhaps, and that can be done whether the keyboard is lighted or not.

In a nutshell, I do not consider keyboard backlighting even an iota in my criteria when selecting a laptop.

 

thats the same thing i thought, some stupid marketing junk that was unneeded to try to make it look "cool" ....... until i got a macbook that had a backlit keyboard, and it was very nice... the newer chiclet style key backlit ones are even better than the older ones. I use it so much and love it I'd never buy a Macbook Air simply because it doesn't have the backlit keyboard. It is fantastic... I do not like bright ambient lit rooms, and the light from the screen does not let you clearly see the keys, and doesn't really let you see them at all depending on the angle your using to your eyes.

 

Well the whole point of the backlit keys is using it in the dark...

As you can see, almost all the keys are illuminated... The keys are lit by the screen.



All my previous Laptops (M11x, G73, G61, etc etc) have all had the illuminated, and they were just... pointless.

 

i agree that backlights are USELESS on a keyboard with high contrast lettering or unless you run your screen REALLY dim.

 

just because YOU find it useless, doesn't mean it holds true for everyone... its as bad as starting a whole Mac vs PC debate. Many people say Macs are pointless too.

 

Exactly.

Not to mention, I can take a picture where you can't see the keys. It's all in the particular settings, the angle you're using it (both orientation of the display and the position of the machine), your eyesight, etc.

Having had a number of notebooks without, and now one with, I can without any hesitation say it's been beneficial to us.

Maybe we sit around in the dark more than other people

[edit]

Sorry, this has gone OT a bit, but I had something to contribute to the OP (i.e., MBA 11 vs. MBA 13): The 11" is very nice, the display is excellent, it's super portable, but it is _tiny_. I think there's a point where you really start compromising usability.

You really have to sit and use them both. I kind of considered the MBA 11 for the wife initially, but for documents and for most anything I would do, I thought at the same price, the MBP was a better all around machine.

 

I have to say, in a dark room a backlit keyboard is very nice. In the picture above it may not look like you need a backlit keyboard, but upon future examination, you can see the screen is tilted abnormally down. It is Tilted so far down, it would make viewing difficult.

 

Um no, that picture was taken with the screen tilted over 90 degrees BACK. 95 - 100 degrees.

Even with the screen tilted back ALL the way (130-140 degrees), it hardly makes a difference. What does that look like to you? Yes, that's actually the screen at it's farthest position back:



Keyboard backlighting looks "cool" but I have never used it all of my laptops - 80% of which had the feature. IF you like it, great. I'm just showing you an OBJECTIVE picture of the keyboard being lit by the screen itself, which I find completely useless as well since I do not look at my keyboard even while working in the dark!

 

Yes, that is an objective view, but someone who likes the backlit keyboard is totally subjective. If they like it, great. If you don't like it, great. It's fine you find it useless, but not everyone does. You have given the OP something to consider, but do not need to keep ranting about how you don't like it, we understand.

 

I think the high res screen and SD card clinch it for me - I would get the 13"

But the non backlit KB is a huge minus (I hunt and peck really fast, and I write books).

 

I'm actually being objective about my need for the BL keyboard. I can look at pics being posted all night, but in my case, my non-backlit HP (DV7T, and my eMachines, Compaq, Asus netbook) and MBP with the KB turned off, is OBJECTIVELY problematic in very low light/dark conditions. It has zero to do with looking cool.

It's this simple: I can read the KB when backlit (and find oddly placed special keys) or I can't read the KB (and have to turn on a light or tilt the display WAY down to illuminate (into an unusable position).

For me, it's not up for debate, and it's not some vague, subjective metric.

Here's the bottom line: some people find them helpful and not just "cool" (see the post right above mine). Some people don't. The OP will have to determine their perspective on this.

 

I use it more for funky modifier key situations also.

Another thing is that I *do* turn the screen brightness way down at night. It's dark and there is no need to strain your eyes by blasting them. It isn't that effective at lighting up the keys anyway.

It's definitely something anyone could get by without, but it is convenient to have for most night worker types, maybe depending slightly on the kind of work you end up doing.