It's plenty. My MBA runs faster with a VM than any Windows machine I ever had On 4 May 2014, at 17:31, Tristan <theblinddj...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 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. > 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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