While I think we sometimes focus too much on the specific tools we use to do our work instead of the actual work, I do enjoy reading about what people use get stuff done. Up until now I've been doing all of my work on my 27" iMac and relied solely on my iPhone when I'm on the road. Since I've been doing more traveling recently, I decided to pick up an 11" MacBook Air (2010 model) so I can keep up with work when I'm away from my desk.
I've only had the Air for a few days, but got to test it out on my recent trip to SF. There are plenty of more in-depth reviews about the specific tech specs and performance, but I wanted to share a few firsthand observations on why I love using it:
- The compact size and weight of the 11" Air is incredible. I don't even notice it in my bag. I honestly feel bad for all those people lugging around their massive laptops and gigantic power bricks.
- The Air is the perfect size for using on a plane without feeling cramped, in fact I wrote this post while flying back to Philly. I was able to open the lid all the way without getting crushed by the seat on front of me.
- Not only is the computer super fast thanks to the SSD, but it also turns on/off instantly when the lid is opened and closed. This may sound like a small thing, but it's so nice to not have to wait those 20 seconds before everything loads back up.
- The 11" screen size doesn't feel that small since the pixel density is so high (1366 x 768). As an added benefit, the small screen actually seemed to help me focus on one task at a time. Full-screen mode in Lion is great.
So in my opinion, the Air truly is the ultimate travel computer. I wouldn't want to do all of my design work on it without having it connected to an external monitor, but as a secondary machine it's as good as it gets. If you're interested to hear more about rest of my setup leave a comment below.
