Is a one or two pound difference in weight really noticeable?

[FearoftheNight]

I'm thinking of the 3 lb macbook air and the 4.4 lb retina macbook. Is that one pound difference really that noticeable in a bag that you're carrying about?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Not if its a backpack but I'm sure if its a one shoulder messenger bag, you may notice a slight increase in weight.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

This question comes up a lot. In 2010, my housemate fractured two vertebrae. So, assuming she'd be sympathetic to people with complaints about heavy shoulder bags or backpacks, I asked her what she thought. (She carries a ~5 pound Macbook Pro in a briefcase, and usually is carrying a few other things in a second shoulder bag.)

She told me not to be a sissy.

You'll notice the difference in weight, but it's immaterial in terms of hauling your crap around. If you're drinking bottled water, that weighs more than the difference.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Hmm so why do people always talk about the 13 inch like it's sooo much more portable.

 

[Anonemous]

Size/volume would be more noticeable than weight (since it's that light already).

The smaller mba would be more noticeable than the 13" mba.

 

[mavere]

It's only somewhat noticeable in a bag, but if your usage scenario involves lots of movement with the laptop in your hands, I'd put a lot of consideration into weight. Then it's not so much light vs heavy as wieldy vs unwieldy.

 

[pete6032]

As others have said, you will notice it if you are just carrying the laptops themselves but if you're carrying 10 lbs of books and other crap plus a 3 lb macbook air or 4.4 lb macbook then the difference is much less noticeable. 3 vs 4.4 lbs >30% difference versus 13 lbs vs 14.4 lbs, very small difference.

 

[EliteRetard]

 

[vbuggy]

What a larger / heavier notebook does is to reduce your mobility options. As others have said, the added weight is not really noticeable *if you're using a backpack*. However if you wanted to walk around with a day bag or a messenger, the added weight is extremely noticeable at the end of the day. A bigger machine = also more cumbersome.

My personal limit for an all-day machine is 1.7Kgs (3.7lbs). The only machine I break that limit with is the Retina Crapbook Pro, which with a case* is ~2.4Kgs(5.3lbs). I always use a backpack for that. I decided to standardise on the Retina as my single class of OS X notebook as it was a manageable weight and I only wanted one class of unreliable form-over-function crap to nurse frequently to and from the Store.

*The case is needed to resist warping after extended portage in non-rigid bags, something that anything else non-Apple I own - bar Sony, maybe - manages to do just as well on it's own.

 

[RobS10]

Unless something is a big difference, you probably won't even think about it after a week. It's not like you had the Air and thought how glad you were it wasn't any heavier, but decided to try the Pro to compare. Get what it sounds like you like better and you'll be happier with the more functional, yet slightly heavier Pro.

 

[dma0991]

I would suggest going with the MBA only if it is the 11" version. Laptop weight has been a big concern of mine, so much so that I'm willing to sacrifice other aspects(bigger screen, longer battery life, etc), but that's just my preference based on my experience of carrying my C2D laptop weighing ~2.5KG and a monstrous 5KG Dell M1730 in a backpack.

To make the weight of the laptop less noticeable in a shoulder bag, find ones that have wide straps. Preferably ones with a pouch at the back with strap as the weight is closer to your back and the strap prevents it from adding more strain as the laptop moves about.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Depends, if you are of strong physique, and often walk or hike a lot, a couple pounds would likely not slow you much at all.