13 inch MacBook Air v. 15 inch MacBook Pro Less Is Definitely More

13 inch MacBook Air v. 15 inch MacBook Pro

Less Is Definitely More

I took these two following comparison images of the all-new 13 inch MacBook Air, back-to-back with the 15 inch MacBook Pro. I replaced the 15 inch MacBook Pro with Apple's all-new 13 inch Air, and I want to share my observations with you, after having used the 13 inch Air for a few months.

Back To Back comparison of the 15 inch MacBook Pro and 13 inch MacBook Air

I will start at the end, with my conclusion. I think the 13 Air blows away the 15 inch MacBook Pro. The 13 inch MacBook Air is a perfect example of less being more. Not only is the 13 inch Air much less expensive, but it is faster and weighs significantly less. The 15 inch MacBook Pro weighs 5.6 pounds and the 13 inch Air only weighs 2.96 pounds, thus the Air weighs almost half as much and this is ALWAYS noticeable.

15 inch MacBook Pro and 13 inch MacBook Air pictured above

As you can see in the images above, the 13inch Air is also significantly smaller, but has the exact same size keyboard and trackpad. I am also surprised at how great and loud the speakers are on the Air. Also, the Air has the exact same number of pixels on the screen (1440x900). The pixel density is higher, so you have the same number of pixels in a smaller space which translates into a sharper image.

Also the front of the Air tapers down to only 0.11 inches which makes it WAY, WAY skinnier in the front, and way, way more ergonomic.

Since the Air only comes with a Solid State hard drive, it is really, really fast, and certainly faster than the 15 inch. I also really like the backlit keyboard.

If I was in-charge of Apple, I would literally discontinue every other laptop model and just make the 13 inch Air. So what don't I like about the 13 inch Air? Here is a list of changes I would make:

• Should be able to upgrade RAM to 8GB of RAM, and ideally 16GB of RAM.

• The dynamic range of the screen can and should be much higher. The screen looks washed-out compared to the MacBook Pro-model screens.

• Bring back the black bezel, like the MacBook has.

• I would really like to see a 13 inch BlackBook. In other words, I would like to see an all-black version of the Air.

• Bullnose the front edges of the keyboard. the right-angle is too sharp.

BTW: I seriously contemplated getting the 11inch MacBook Air, and I completed a Pro-Con list and the 13 inch completely blew the 11 inch out of the water. I think the 11 inch is a fascinating design, but too small and claustrophobic–in the final analysis.

The History Of IBM

The History Of IBM

The history of computing is absolutely fascinating, and understanding IBM's role in the development of the computer and personal computer is important. One of the best books I ever read, and I read it decades ago was written by Tom Watson Jr., and it was called "Father, Son & Co: My Life at IBM and Beyond." Tom Watson Sr., the founder of IBM was a really fascinating man.

Here is a recent video IBM put together which is interesting:

Sharp Shows Off 85 inch LCD with 8k x 4k Resolution...

Sharp Shows Off 85 inch LCD

with 8k x 4k Resolution

This 85 inch Sharp screen is stupefying!!! It has 16 times the number of pixels of 1080P and even though it does not have as high a pixel density as an iPhone Retina display, it is pretty impressive. Actually the 85 inch Sharp has a pixel density of 103.67 PPI, and the iPhone Retina display has more than three times as many at 326 PPI. Wow!!!

Corning's Idea Of The Future of Glass Technology...

Corning's Idea Of The Future of Glass Technology

2012 Vision

Corning Just came out with their 2012 vision of the future of glass in technology, and you can check it out below.

Here is a background video about the technology used in the above video:

2011 Vision

Here is Corning's original 2011 vision for the future of glass in technology.

GoPro Beautiful Crazyness

GoPro Beautiful Craziness

My pal Michael just sent me this GoPro video, and he said:

"Hi Jake, Watch this, then go to their YouTube channel, it's the camera company page. So good it won't seem like you were wasting time."

George Lucas & Johathan Ive

George Lucas & Johathan Ive

I came across this photo of Star Wars creator, George Lucas, hanging out with Apple's lead designer, Jonathan Ive. Pretty cool...

NGMoco Keyboard Coolness NGMoco Goes For A Ride On The BulletTrain Express

NGMoco Keyboard Coolness

NGMoco Goes For A Ride On The BulletTrain Express

NGMoco is one of the top game platform developers in the world, and they are located in San Francisco, as is BulletTrain. Recently NGMoco reached out to us recently saying they had employees who owned a BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform for the Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad, and that other employees had been eyeing their Express' and asking questions about where to get them.

NGMoco decided they were interested in offering the BulletTrain Express to employees who like them, so they placed an order for a bunch of them and asked us to laser-etch their NGMoco logo into the unibody aluminum top and they look great! If your organization is interested in purchasing Express Keyboard platforms with laser engraving, please contact Sales@BulletTrain.com.

Jake's Top 10: Must Have Applications for Mac

Jake's Top 10

Must Have Applications for Mac

There are certain applications for the Mac I ALWAYS highly recommend to friends, and I decided to put together a list to share with you. In the future, I plan to go into more detail on why these are must have apps, but in the meantime, here is the list.

1. Evernote (Free)

2. DropBox (Free)

3. 1 Password

4. JumpCut (Free)

5. Size Up

6. Typinator

7. App Zapper

8. OmniDiskSweeper (Free)

9. Better Touch Tool (Free)

10. MPlayerX (Free)

...Apple Coolness... David Bowie

...Apple Coolness...

David Bowie

Rockin' a PowerBook Duo & MacBook

We see David Bowie in the photo below taken in the mid 1990s sitting in front of his Apple PowerBook Duo, which was Apple's first Super-Portable laptop. The Duo slid into the DuoDock to turn it into a full desktop as seen below. In other words, the PowerBook Duo, slid into the case, below the monitor (just like and 8-track cassette) and you could eject it and it would pop out so you could use it as a portable.

Of course, I purchased the first PowerBook Duo, back in 1992, and I thought is was so cool. It had a mini-trackball and was really the Grandfather of the MacBook Air.

David Bowie has always been really into computers, and Apple in particular. We see David Bowie pictured below in 2007, working on his MacBook.

Girls Gone Wild In Madrid

...Random Video Of The Day...

Girls Gone Wild In Madrid

When I was a kid, growing up in San Francisco, California, I was a skate rat, which means I was really into skateboarding. Basically, my stick (skateboard) went everywhere with me until I was 16 and got a car. I was stunned when I saw this video because I have never seen girls getting this agro on sticks (old-school California Surfer-Dude lingo for skateboarding).

Windows Magazine Editor Becomes Apple Fanboy

Windows Magazine Editor Becomes Apple Fanboy

This is one of the most interesting, best write articles I have read in a long time. It was written by Mike Elgan, who is the Editor of Windows Magazine, and it is published on CultOfMac.com.

"The perfect out-of-box experience with the iPhone, the elegance of the whole experience of using an iPhone, re-set my expectations for how consumer electronics and computers should function. I started looking at the out-of-box experience of buying a Windows PC with a new contempt. The crapware. The stickers. The anti-virus software problem where the cure is worse than the disease. The flimsy hardware. It’s not so much that I despised Windows PCs, but that it felt like Microsoft and the PC makers despised them, like they all have no respect for their own platform."

–Mike Elgan (Editor of Windows Magazine)

Shelby Super Cars Tuatara

Shelby Super Cars

Tuatara

Shelby Super Cars (SSC) just gave their new 1,350 horse power supercar a name and it is Tuatara. Shelby claims the American made rocket ship is the fastest production car made today, but has yet to release performance numbers. Sure is a cool looking car...