Would the 1.7 GHZ processor in a MacBook Air be enough for a virtual machine though? Or does most of the dependency rely on RAM. I don't have much experience with the whole virtual machine front, so clarification would definitely be welcome. I originally only opted with the MacBook Pro because of the higher processor statistics, and glancing at a fully decked out MacBook Air 13 inch and a MacBook Pro 13 inch retina, they come out to roughly the same price.
On 5/4/14, David Taylor <e.david.tay...@icloud.com> wrote: > Many externals just work, even if they don't say they are compattible, and > we are needing such drives less and less often now anyway. > > On 4 May 2014, at 14:31, Eileen Misrahi <eileen.misr...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hello, >> >> I will ditto what David said. The way I handle a DVD/CD ROM drive is using >> an external one. There are plenty out there that shouldn't cost more than >> $20. The one I have is from my PC netbook days that didn't have an >> internal DVD drive. Just make sure that the drive is compatible for Macs. >> HTH. Oh by the way, I purchased an 11 inch MBA with all specs max out and >> it's well worth the cost if you can do it. I'm in the process of loading >> all the software that I can't run on the Mac on the PC side through >> bootcamp and it's doing a terrific job, barring the user's mistakes and >> learning Win 8. Good luck and I know you will enjoy the MBA. >> >> Take care. >> >> Eileen >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On May 4, 2014, at 5:31 AM, David Taylor <e.david.tay...@icloud.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi, >>> >>> I've gone for the 11 inch myself. I maxed everything out on it and find >>> it is plenty good enough for me. If you don't need a built in SD slot, it >>> has everything the 13 inch does, and easy enough to get any adaptors you >>> need for connections it doesn't have, such as Ethanet if you want that. >>> The portability is just awesome, performance perfectly good enough for >>> almost every conceivable use, and I get hours of battery even when sat >>> outside, streaming, tweeting, downloading and all sorts. I have a USB 3 >>> hub I plug in for connecting and charging everything. Works for me, >>> anyway. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Dave >>> >>>> On 4 May 2014, at 07:31, Tristan <theblinddj...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> This was a great post. It really reopens the door to potentially >>>> getting a Mac Air -- thanks Kayaker. I'd even maybe go for the >>>> 13-incher, as it offers a longer battery life; though I may be >>>> unnecessarily attempting to over compensate in terms of statistics. >>>> I'd be happy to discuss this further with you offlist. >>>> >>>>> On 5/3/14, Kayaker <sea...@me.com> wrote: >>>>> Hi, >>>>> >>>>> There have been a lot of unsupported and non objective replies to your >>>>> query. >>>>> >>>>> All Macs you can buy today are solid performers. We have reached the >>>>> point >>>>> in CPU performance that there's little difference between bottom of the >>>>> line >>>>> and top of the line machines for us who can't see, what's the >>>>> difference >>>>> between 500 frames per second in some game vs. 450 frames per second >>>>> when >>>>> your eye can't tell the difference. I promise you the average blind >>>>> user's >>>>> Mac barely breaks 30% cpu day to day. This part of the reason why the >>>>> PC >>>>> market is declining--people don't need to upgrade as often as they had >>>>> in >>>>> the past. >>>>> >>>>> There is absolutely no reason to buy the Macbook Pro if you are blind. >>>>> The >>>>> cost is mainly in the retina screen. >>>>> >>>>> The single most important factor is internal memory. That will be the >>>>> most >>>>> significant real world speed boost for you and will help you in both >>>>> bootcamp and or a virtual PC situation. >>>>> >>>>> Don't bother paying for the processor upgrade. Do max out your RAM >>>>> though. >>>>> The internal hard drive SSD is the other place to put your money. The >>>>> sweet >>>>> spot in price seems to be 256G. >>>>> >>>>> Some people will argue that using VM to run Windows needs every ounce >>>>> of >>>>> processor speed. I'll again argue the real world throughput for a blind >>>>> user >>>>> will be negligible. I suggest you test it out for yourself at an apple >>>>> store. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I've been using Macs since the beginning. They last. I still use a >>>>> PowerMac >>>>> G 5 that's 10 years old. Part of it works better than my MacBook Air >>>>> 2012 >>>>> running the latest version of Mavericks. >>>>> >>>>> For a blind person, the 11 inch MacBook Air is a steal. Max out the >>>>> RAM on >>>>> the entry level version and pick a HD size that fits your needs. >>>>> >>>>> Doubt my suggestions? Go to an apple store and see if you notice any >>>>> difference between the two models. You won't. >>>>> >>>>> Take the lightness, portability and power of the current 11 inch Air, >>>>> and >>>>> put the extra dollars towards apps. And if you don't want a laptop, >>>>> save >>>>> even more and get the MacMini. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Best, >>>>> --k >>>>> >>>>> Faith doesn't give you the answers, it merely stops you from asking >>>>> the >>>>> questions. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On May 2, 2014, at 7:13 PM, Tristan <theblinddj...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hello, >>>>>> >>>>>> I've been a part of this group for some time now, and have enjoyed >>>>>> the >>>>>> wealth of information that I've gleaned from observing. I've finally >>>>>> come to the decision on switching from Windows to Mac. I'll either be >>>>>> getting a MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro. >>>>>> >>>>>> One of the big things for me, however, is virtual machines (or >>>>>> bootcamp). I still want to be able to virtualize a copy of Windows in >>>>>> case I have programs that will only work on the Windows side. Right >>>>>> now, the main things I do on Windows are word processing, internet >>>>>> browsing, Skype which would be possible on the Mac side, music and >>>>>> the >>>>>> occasional game (mostly MUDs using a low memory client). I would like >>>>>> to get a steady balance between battery power and processing power >>>>>> without having to deal with busyness and lag. >>>>>> I have my eye on the MacBook Air 13 inch (with both processor >>>>>> options) >>>>>> or the MacBook Pro. >>>>>> MacBook Air configuration - 13 inch (256GB SSD HD): >>>>>> 1.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz >>>>>> 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory >>>>>> >>>>>> Or the MacBook pro (without Retina, 13 inch): >>>>>> 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz >>>>>> 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM -- 2x4GB >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm really stuck at this point -- what will work the bes? It's also >>>>>> sort of nerve-racking putting a large amount of money into something >>>>>> that's already two years old. In all, I'm looking for something that >>>>>> will last, has updated hardware, and can handle an OS running >>>>>> alongside the Mac environment without any hiccups. I'm on a budget of >>>>>> about 1,550 dollars. >>>>>> I warmly welcome any advice. And yes, I know this list is mainly for >>>>>> voiceover users -- but I thought, as a visually impaired user myself, >>>>>> that it would be appropriate to ask here. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks in advance. >>>>>> -Tristan >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups >>>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>> an >>>>>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an >>>>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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