Is the MacBook Air 11" Too Small?

Let me tell you right up front that this is going to be a lame blog post because the answer is quite simple -- the MacBook Air 11" isn't too small.  In fact I'm writing this blog post on the MacBook Air 11".   Actually I really debated a long time before I bought this thing so I don't think it's an obvious answer.
I owned the original Air when it first came out and I've used the upgraded MacBook Air 13" at work.  I really liked it and thought the screen was perfect.  So why not just get that computer.  Well for one I'm kind of cheap and the 11" is just a tad cheaper.  The other thing is this is going to be my vacation computer and I don't really want to lug more than I need.  In fact I mostly use my iPad on vacation now but there are still times you need a computer.

Anyway, I took a chance and I've been perfectly happy with the 11".  I haven't taken it on vacation yet and since I just started a new job I probably won't be taking many vacations any time soon.

The 11" Air is small enough for my wife to put in her purse.  Now it's a big purse so I guess it's not that impressive but the main point is that I don't think the 13" Air would have fit.  The speed of the system is fine.  I don't tend to crunch huge spreadsheets or render massive 3D graphics on this computer...or any computer for that matter but the speed has been fine.  I've actually played Civ V on it and it worked even though the Civ V reqs say it shouldn't.  You don't get any fancy effects like clouds and stuff but it played. I also have Parallels running Windows 7 on it too and it also works well.

Anyway, in my opinion the MacBook Air 11" is fine.  And remember I have bifocals so my eyes aren't that good and it's still fine for me.  Definitely go to an Apple Store to check it out before you buy.

iPad 3 vs iPad 2

Well I upgraded to an iPad 3...I just had to because of my bad habit of needing to be on the bleeding edge of Apple tech.  You see I justify it because I work in the software industry.  At least that's what I tell the wife.  Anyway, the bottom line is that it's a great product but it's not really that much better than the iPad 2.  In fact the iPad 2 is better in a number of ways such as longer battery life, runs cooler, it's thinner and now I think it's even cheaper.  In fact they've upgraded the chip in the new iPad 2 so that it's even better than the original iPad 2.  How can you beat that.  Well, the iPad 3 is better in some ways.  The screen is sharper but quite honestly I'm a little bit older and my bifocal enhanced eye's don't really notice the difference.  In fact I tried to brag to my mom and show her how much sharper my brand new iPad 3 was compared to her old school iPad 1so I started up iBooks on both devices and opened the same book and I literally couldn't tell the difference.  Lame.  The iPad 3 also has 4G but I couldn't rest that because I don't have one.  It probably screams but I don't know.

Anyway, if you have an iPad 2, keep it.  If you don't have an iPad, run and get the new iPad 3.  The iPad is a life changing product.  I use it in the morning and in the evening every single day.  I love my iPad.