When should I purchase a MacBook Air, and what upgrades are worth it?

My MacBook Pro (early 2011) is moving as slow as a dinosaur... we are hoping if I get a MacBook Air for school and we only use one account on the Pro (instead of leaving both logged on and switching back and forth), we can get by for a few years without the cost of a new Pro. (I am a grad student. Money problems make it almost tempting to even get a PC at this point.)
With a minor "refresh" rumored in the upcoming days for the MacBook Air, and the 12" Retina coming a few months down the road... and with my next school term starting in May-- when should I get a MacBook Air?
I will be getting the 11" since it is cheapest.
Also, when considering the question of extending the lifetime of the computer (hoping in 4 years it doesn't slow to a crawl like our Pro has), what is more important-- upgraded processor, or RAM?

While it may be that the hardware you have is responsible for the slow performance, it is also possible that third party software incompatibility is the cause. If you run EtreCheck and post the results here, someone might be able to spot something.

Similar Messages

I have used Airport Time Capsule with my iMac for several years. I recently purchased a MacBook Air and when it tried to backup to Time Capsule it couldn't because Time Capsule is full. How can I now use the 3TB Airport Time Capsule to back up both?

I have used Airport Time Capsule with my iMac for a couple years. I recently purchased a MacBook Air and when it tried to backup to Time Capsule it couldn't because Time Capsule is full. How can I now use the 3TB Airport Time Capsule to back up both the iMac and MacBook Air? I don't mind losing earlier backups. I have excluded some items from backing up, but since the Airport Time Capsule is full, I can't even begin to back up the MacBook Air.

On your Mac.......
Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the Time Capsule icon, then click Edit in the smaller window that appears
Click on the Disks tab at the top of the window
Click Erase Disk
On the next window that appears, select the Quick Erase option, then click Erase
The operation will only take a few minutes.
Now you are ready to start new backups of both Macs. Back up one Mac first, then back up the other. Do not try to back up both Macs as the same time.

I downloaded hundreds of CDs to iTunes on my old computer and synced them to both my iPad and classic ipod. We purchased a MacBook air and I noticed the previously downloaded CDs were not in my library. How can I find them?

I Downloaded hundreds of CDs to iTunes on a previous laptop and synced them with my iPad and classic ipod. We recently purchased a MacBook Air, and I started downloading more CDs to iTunes. When I went to sync my iPod, it removed all my old music and only included the music that I had just downloaded. When I went to my iTunes library, the old music was missing. The old music is still showing up on my iPad. How do I get it back into the library, or do I have to download everything again onto the MacBook air?

rosefromlatrobe wrote:
I Downloaded hundreds of CDs to iTunes on a previous laptop and synced them with my iPad and classic ipod. We recently purchased a MacBook Air, and I started downloading more CDs to iTunes.
When I went to my iTunes library, the old music was missing.
You mean on the old computer, the music is missing?
Or on the new computer the old music that you transferred from old computer, is now missing?
Did you transfer the iTunes library from the old computer to the new computer?

I just purchased a macbook air, and because of the limited memory (256 gb) and my HUGE music library, I need aomne form of external storage. i am considering either using iCloud for iTunes, or purchasing an external hard drive. suggestions or opinions?

hi! just purchased a macbook air, and because of the limited storage (256 gb) and my massive music library, I am going to find an alternative storage method. I am debating between an external hard drive and utilizing iCloud. icloud makes me a little nervous....having my entire library in "the cloud" and deleted off of my desktop - do most of you who use icloud for music and photos have a backup on external hard drive anyway? So....iCloud vs. external hard drive for storage. Thoughts? opinions? thanks!

iTunes Match allows you to put 25,000 songs in the Cloud. At present it isn't possible to add more storage but I wouldn be surprised if that isn't an option offered in the future. With iTunes Match you allow Apple to match your songs (purchased from Apple, ripped from your own CDs are purchased elsewhere). When Apple cannot match a song a copy of yours is uploaded.
Once the match process is complete (for my 24,000+ collection it took a couple days) the fun begins. Since my MBA can't hanle all my music, I use iTunes Match to download a small selection of my music every couple of weeks. My music remains in the cloud even when I delete them from my computer and if I have WiFi accesss I can get new songs. It is a great service and much more convenient than keeping your MBA's music on an external drive.

I recently purchased a macbook air and i am now receiving my sisters imessages. How do i stop this?

I recently purchased a macbook air and I am now receiving my sisters imessages. How do I stop this?

Remove your sisters account from the computer.
Who bought it and who set it up when it was turned on for the first time?

I just purchased a macbook air and want to transfer files from my macbook (5 years old!). Can I transfer any of my software from one to the other?

Help! Can I transfer my SPSS software to my new computer? How about End Note?
I just purchased a macbook air and need to move files, etc., from my old MacBook.

Use Setup Assistant and a Time Machine backup of your old system. Details are described here.
http://pondini.org/OSX/Setup.html

HT1338 I cannot access my iphoto application on my imac as it says I have made changes in Iphoto using a newer version. We have recently purchased a Macbook Air and this has Lion (as opposed to leopard on the iMac) and we are sharing photos between the 2?

I cannot access my iphoto application on my imac as it says I have made changes in Iphoto using a newer version. We have recently purchased a Macbook Air and this has Lion (as opposed to leopard on the iMac) and we are sharing photos between the 2. I am awaiting the upgrade discs for snow leopard and then to Lion for the iMac but is there a way to access my photos until this arrives?

Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
*Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
*AdwCleaner: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
*SuperAntispyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/
*Microsoft Safety Scanner: http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
*Windows Defender: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender
*Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
*Kasperky Free Security Scan: http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
*Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller: http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
*"Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

Just purchased a MacBook Air and would like to access the LR5 that is installed on my iMac desktop

I just purchased a MacBook Air and would like to access the LR5 that is installed on my iMac desktop. How do I do tha

Since you have another Mac, you could share it's DVD drive in System Preferences > Sharing.
Then use Remote Disc found on the MBair's finder's sidebar. This will mount the DVD in your old Mac to the MBair.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1777
Regards,
Captfred

I have purchased a MacBook Air and access my gmail ok. However, I can find my contacts folder at the top of gmail. Any ideas ?

I have purchased a MacBook Air and access my gmail ok. However, I cannot see Contacts at the top in my gmail. Any ideas ?

I am not an expert, but assuming that you have a Windows or Mac folder with music in it and want to move that to a new laptop, I think you have to import it into iTunes. iTunes needs to associate each file with a link, so copying it over will not associate a link.
Delete the files and try importing.

I recently purchased a MacBook Air and was told by Apple that Keynote and Pages were compatible with MS Applications.. I have since tried to open a Powerpoint Presentation but it comes up with an error message and is not right. Help!

I recently purchased a MacBook Air and was told by Apple that Keynote and Pages were compatible with MS Applications.. I have since tried to open a Powerpoint Presentation but it comes up with an error message and is not right. Help!

If there are fonts, transitions, builds, video or audio in the PowerPoint file that are not compatible with Keynote, it will either prevent the presentation opening or Keynote will substitute the settings causing playback changes.
I use Open Office to play and open any PowerPoint files sent to me, they play exactly as in PowerPoint.
Open Office is free, you can download it here:
Open Office for Mac

Stolen my macbook air and what's next

stolen my macbook air and what's next
i was only serial number

Notify Credit cards (if you use online access) Change other sensitive financial information/ passwords.

My MacBook Air and my iPhone are coupled but they cannot connect via bluetooth. How can I solde this ?

My MacBook Air and my iPhone are coupled but they cannot connect via bluetooth. How can I solde this ?

For what purpose are you trying to connect them?
The only supported Bluetooth function between a Mac and iPhone is internet tethering.

I just purchased a Macbook Air and I didn't get the free os x mountain lion download

I just purchased a Macbook Air from the apple store and to install it i had to have my macbook plugged in so the technician told me to download it when i got home. Once i got home and turned it on it wouldn't allow me to install it without paying for it.

If you just bought it, it should already have Mountain Lion. Who did you buy it from?
If it really doesn't, got here: http://www.apple.com/osx/uptodate/

I have just purchased a macbook air and have the iWorks installed for free. Can I download those iWorks apps to my iPad 3 with the same account for free

I have an iPad 3 with iOS 6.1.3 and I would like to download the iWork's apps for free. I have just bought a Macbook air and have those apps installed in that computer. i just updated my system to OS X Maverick. I have iCloud connection between both of my devices. Thanks ahead

Thanks a lot I hoped there was a way like updating my iPad would help or smt but it ***** that they only made it free for some idevices...

Can I use a memory stick to back up my MacBook Air and what size do I need?

i Have a MacBook air , processor 1.3 Ghz Intel core i5, 4GB 1600 MHz DDR3 memory. Operating on OS X Yosemite Version 10.10.1.
it will not open up Safari, it crashed out of Safari with an error message and will not ooen it up now however many times I try. I was reading Daily Mail on line at the time. I can get onto the Internet by using Chrome but it feels as if Chrome is in charge of me rather than the other way round. when I type in an address it just takes me where it wants to go rather than the website I want to to. I now want to back up my data but left my drive in UK (I am in USA at the moment.) so wondered if I can back all my data (very important data) on to a memory stick so I can wipe my computer and start again. I have an appointment with a techie at the Apple shop on Saturday but need to back up my data before the appointment, so not sure what to do.
ALso my IPad is very unstable after using the Daily Mail site, it has always seemed to be fine before but this weekend seems to have created problems for both my MacBook Air and IPad Mini...

You'd probably be better served to use a conventional external USB:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/
Easier to use, harder to lose and more dependable.
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1772735/usb-flash-drives-reliable-externa l-hdds.html
"generally speaking, a HDD (or SSD) is always going to be more reliable than a flash drive. USB flash drives are made to TRANSFER files, not to store them. Still, you get what you pay for, and I have had a few flash drives that have lasted a very long time"

When should I purchase a MacBook Air, and what upgrades are worth it?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for