A Troll's Nightmare

*NOTE* If you don't want to read my meaningless chatter and save your precious time than you can skip below and answer my questions. However, you are on a notebook forum, how precious can your time be?
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I used to always be someone who disapproved of any type of Apple computers. I used to tell everyone that you can build a better computer than what Apple has to offer for cheaper. I used to tell everyone that the OSX was difficult to learn and you could never seriously game on the machine. Now, I see myself gallantly staring at the new Macbook Air. Equipped with Flash Storage, 2GB Ram, amazing Apple customer service, and a sleek design that everybody craves and admires.

I find it hard now to laugh at anyone who leaves the Apple store with a product. I find it hard to praise the Windows computer when a Macbook is so much better. I can't support the Windows PC anymore, The Mac is so much better...
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Questions:

1) I'm looking at the Macbook air right now (Both the 11 and 13in) and understand that people are disappointed that the 4GB ram is not standard. However, what are the benefits of 2GB over 4GB? I'm a student so primarily I'm just taking notes during the day. I don't do any type of video encoding or none of that other techy stuff.

2) I've read and have been given estimates of both the 11in and the 13in battery life but always when you ask someone what they are getting in terms of battery life, their answer seems to always be different. How much battery life are you getting with your macbook air? Make sure to state your specifications and weather its 11 or 13in.

3) How durable and study is the machine? At school, almost all of my classmates have a Macbook Pro. Almost all of them have dents on the exterior which they do not even care about anymore. Is it awfully easy to dent your mac?

4) Can you send me any helpful links for someone who is going from Windows 7 to Mac OS. In terms of, what kind of keyboard shortcuts there are, how to remove and delete software, how to install software, ect.

Thank you in advance!

 

1. The larger amount of RAM will come in handy if you plan on multitasking a lot. In my experience, OS X handles multitasking very well and it cruises along with 4GB (or more) of RAM while this can be limited with 2GB. Right now my system is consuming approximately 3GB of RAM with Safari open and Time Machine is running backing up everything on my internal primary hard drive. I am sure that will decrease once Time Machine is done but you get the idea. I think 2GB is enough for basic activity but 4GB is probably all that most people will need.

2. Their answers are different because people use computers differently. Turn up the brightness, access wi-fi and bluetooth, and run more intensive applications and the battery life will go down. Set the display backlight to 50%, turn off wi-fi and bluetooth, and run something as simple as Word and the battery life will be much higher. People can throw battery life numbers at you all day and it really won't do any good unless you actually do the same exact things they are.

3. I can't comment on the MBA but I haven't dented my MBP at all. Then again, I keep it in a padded sleeve slip case and don't just throw it in my backpack. I know someone who does that and their aluminum is starting to bend, mainly on the back of the display because they are putting it in a space so tight I can see keyboard keys on their display. For whatever reason, they refuse to put it in a bag with more space along with a padded slip case. I still think my MBP is more durable than most systems out there (especially since many are made of plastic) but it isn't indestructible and not as good as true business class notebooks.

4. Apple's website has a bunch of resources you should look through first. I went through all of the tutorial videos and whatnot, it took me about 30 minutes. That was well before I purchased my MBP as I wanted to see the real differences. However, the best way to learn OS X is to actually use it. Things can be a bit backwards compared to Windows but, once you get the hang of things, OS X is just as useful. Both are platforms that have their pros and cons just like any software out there and neither is perfect. I think learning OS X for the first time is about as difficult as migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7. It may complete tasks a little differently and look off but it shouldn't take you long to get the hang of things. Actually, if you do decide to buy a Mac, I think you will be surprised at how OS X handles some aspects as they seem more natural. The program dock at the bottom is a big example as I love that (I also liked it in Windows 7), the trackpad gestures now seem like second nature, and I like how OS X handles USB media in that you don't have to worry about drive letters or anything else. Lastly, I like how OS X handles the installation of programs. Most of the time you just have to drag a program into your Applications folder and it will be installed. Want to uninstall it? Drag the program to the trash bin and it will be uninstalled. You don't have to go through an installation and uninstallation procedure for most programs and, when you do, the process is very, very similar to what you experience in Windows.

 

I want a MBP but my budget is maxed at 1k...

So I bought an Envy 14 because I envy the Mac.

 

Microcenter is selling the baseline 13" MBP for $999 new. It is something they only do it in their stores but it is an option for people who are on a budget. That isn't to deter you from your Envy 14. Actually, I was going to buy that notebooks (the Beats edition no less) but HP took their time upgrading it to Sandy Bridge and, since Apple was one of the first companies to start rolling out SB notebooks, I started looking more their way.

 

Not sure how this post helps the OP whatsoever.


Now back to the topic:
@OP As far as the dents you've been seeing you have to realize that you're seeing Macbook Pro's owned by "students". They shove them in their backpack, unprotected with their books gadgets and other hard edged items in their bag. Couple that with many students harshly tossing their backpacks against the walls in their rooms.
I frequent cafe's weekly and I see Macbook Pros all the time and I've never seen dents. In fact the only thing I've seen without looking too hard are dirty screens and shiny keyboards from oily fingers. The Macbook Pro is quite resilient to dents and scratches. I've had aluminum Apple notebooks since 2003 and I've never had a single dent on them. I also had the second generation Macbook Air and had it for a year taking it on the go and never got a dent.
I suggest that you pick up a plastic case from Speck if you're really concerned. Speck Products | Protective, highly-functional and stylish cases to enhance your mobile device

OS X Lion is an amazing operating system and once you use it for a good month you'll wonder why you put up with Windows for so long. In the past Windows may have been the way to go due to more compatible software. Times have changed. You'll easily find at least 95% of the same software on both OS X and Windows and you'll find that a lot of developers make better versions of their software on the Mac OS. Case in point, Microsoft Office is actually better on Mac in terms of UI. Both offer the same basic features but there are some exclusive features only on Mac.

You will find that out of the box OS X is completely independent of needing 3rd party software as Windows is just the opposite. Over time you'll see why people celebrate the Mac as they do. I was in your shoes back in the day, I used to hate on Mac as my lot in life. Not anymore.

I think Kornchild2002 addressed your ram concerns.

 

I can comment on durability and RAM here with my Pro, but YMMV.

College students treat their laptops like crap. I know, I'm one (grad student). I feel like I'm in the minority that actually takes care of their stuff! The unibody design was a huge leap in durability for Mac laptops, and a unibody notebook (Air included) feels like it can take a beating. My older non-unibody MBP is fragile compared to my unibody MBP.

Get a sleeve, that's for sure. Incase makes some nice ones, that's what I use.

Regarding RAM, 4GB will give you a lot more room for multitasking, and possibly better battery life. At least with traditional spinning hard drives, more RAM allows the computer to spend less time writing to the disk, thus wasting battery life. With the SSD in the Air, this is not so much the case, but every little second counts. 4GB gives breathing room and room to grow, especially in the case of OS requirements for future versions down the road.

Go with the 4GB, since you can't upgrade the RAM down the road.

 

+1

Having non-upgradable RAM on the MBA IMO makes getting the 4GB a no-brainer. For one, muti-tastking will be greatly improved, more and more media-centric Mac apps are making use of more RAM, and finally the resale value will be greater especially 2 years down the road when most likely no computer will have less than 4GB RAM.

Also, there are many switchers' guides online, including the top of this forum in stickies, to ease the transition.

 

I have one of those for my MBP as well. It is black, pretty thick, and the inside is covered with a soft fake fur that protects quite nicely from scratches, bumps, and anything else like that. It was a little expensive (I think Best Buy was selling it for $40 or $45) but well worth the price especially since it allows me to put my MBP in my backpack without worrying.

 

Well worth the price, IMO, for such a nice sleeve. The white fur innards are great and the sleeve provides ample padding without being too thick.