For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

Im ordering a bunch of netbooks/laptops for public use in my retail business and we want to make Apple users happy too.



We're ordering Samsung 10.4" netbooks for the PC side.



So the Air is the better companion to those netbooks visually/style-wise. But is the Air durable enough for that public use? Or should I go the regular Macbook route and trade more clunkiness for (presumptive) durability?



Are there factors Im not considering?



Thanks for any/all assistance...

Reply 1 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

I seriously doubt the standard macbook is any more durable than an Air... probably even less so... but its much cheaper to replace when someone breaks it.

Reply 2 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

The MacBook Air (along with standard MacBook or MacBook Pro) is going to also be much more powerful than those Samsung 10" netbooks. You are looking at dinky Intel Atom processors and comparing them to ones that give you desktop-like performance. Its like comparing a bicycle to Ford Mustang.



The MacBook Air is going to be more portable when compared to the standard MacBook and likely more durable. The MBA is made of aluminum while the standard MB is plastic. Whether that is going to be an issue or not depends on how they will be used. You are ordering plastic netbooks so that shouldn't be much of an issue.



You should go with the MBA if you/they want something that is extremely portable yet more powerful than a netbook. The standard MB would be better if you are on a budget and require a built-in optical drive. You can also upgrade the RAM and hard drives in a standard MB while you have to configure the MBA on Apple's website as you cannot upgrade the RAM or SSD aftermarket.

Reply 3 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kornchild2002 The MacBook Air (along with standard MacBook or MacBook Pro) is going to also be much more powerful than those Samsung 10" netbooks.

That's certainly true. If Apple had a netbook equivalent, that's what we'd get.



otherwise, thank you both for the input. We prefer the look of the Air and if there is no significant durability issue vs standard macbook (as you both indicate)...then that's what we'll go with.

Reply 4 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

If anything, the Air is going to be more durable simply because it is unibody aluminum. Essentially Apple takes a piece of aluminum and carves it out so that it takes the shape of the MBA casing. You are looking at three pieces for the casing: the bottom, the keyboard/top, and the display lid. I think the standard MB is similar just with plastic but aluminum is more durable anyway.

Reply 5 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

Out of curiosity are they to be placed on a table and locked in place with a tether or laptops that will move with people? It they are to be placed on a tether then go with a Macbook, if people will be carrying them around then go with an Air.

Reply 6 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarletvw Out of curiosity are they to be placed on a table and locked in place with a tether or laptops that will move with people? It they are to be placed on a tether then go with a Macbook, if people will be carrying them around then go with an Air.

Locked in place or locked by wire. This mitigates some of the usual advantages of Air, but since durability vs a reg macbook is an apparent non-issue...the choice of Air is more about what fits in best with netbooks & looks sleekest.

Reply 7 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

How about something novel like Ipad instead?



If after all your "customers" just want to surf web why put money into a laptop?



Business thought would be don't give them any computer to make them comfortable. Give them something to get them curious enough to want to go home or back to office to do serious followup. After all typing on the touch screen would have its limitations to get them to go.



Also attach an industrial chain on them because if they are not tethered down they will fly.



Reality is that if you are giving away free wifi people will bring their own and just soak you for the freebie.

Reply 8 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soloman How about something novel like Ipad instead? Also attach an industrial chain on them because if they are not tethered down they will fly.

Do you have any recommendations? I found this one, but it looks very clunky. Style matters to us (unfortunately!).



RE: Ipad. We thought about Ipad vs. laptop as there are some very slick commercial-grade stainless angled picture frame holders that some of our partners are developing (lining them up 3-4 in a row would look great); but ultimately our customers will want to use a hard keyboard and maybe a UBS stick and do some other things other than surf...thus a netbook/laptop offers the best solution.

Reply 9 : For Public Use: Reg Macbook or Air?

I really think that keeping a MBA locked in place defeats the entire purpose behind it. You could buy a Mac Mini and a non-Apple monitor (about 23" in size) for the same price as an entry level 11.6" MBA. The entire point behind the MBA is to offer the Mac OS X experience in a device that is insanely portable while giving you desktop-like performance. Take the portability option out and you essentially have a desktop.



Might as well go with something else if the units aren't going to be taken out and are just going to sit there chained to a desk. The MBA doesn't even offer a built-in lock option so you would have to modify the unit also negating any sleek design aspects. Might as well just go with a Mac Mini and a 3rd party monitor if you really want Mac OS X or just save the money and buy a standard MacBook. Not taking a MBA out and physically attaching some type of wire to it defeats the entire purpose behind the MBA line and even gets rid of the whole looking sleek option.