A caveat to your comparison: the Dell XPS is a 14" ultrabook vs the 11 or 13" MBA. The XPS 14 holds a higher resolution @ 1600x900 vs 1440x900 on MBA. Also, for the same price as the 256GB SSD model of the 13" MBA, the Dell XPS comes with a dedicated GPU (albeit, an entry-level model, but still rated better than HD 4000), not to mention little nuances like a backlit keyboard etc. Also, the XPS 14 comes with an HDMI port, so no extra dongle needed. I know they can cost $5-10, but IMO it would be more of a convenience not to have to keep track of an extra dongle. The only measureable (and arguable) disadvantage in a (odd) comparison would be the 500GB HDD in the XPS 14 vs the 256GB SSD in the MBA, which makes it lighter. I’d also randomly note that the 500GB HD in the $1,500 XPS 14 comes with the 32GB SSD with the OS installed on it for the “instant on/faster boot” intel technology. While it would perform that task well, it will not mean anything for your day-to-day tasks and programs.</p>
<p>So that’s why the price may be getting a little higher than the 13" MBA.</p>
<p>A better comparison would have been the XPS 13 Ultrabook to the 13" MBA, which coincidentally at the same $1,500 price tag will net you all the same specs as the 13" MBA (256GB SSD + 4GB RAM), though it comes with an SB i7 vs an IB i5 and a lower resolution @ 1366x768 (updates to the XPS 13 are expected this Fall to include the CPU, and possibly a higher resolution screen). However, IMO the XPS 13 is made of better materials with carbon fiber bottom and magnesium alloy vs the all aluminum build of the MBA which reports to run hot (experiences vary, of course).</p>
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I absolutely agree that this is a good model line to look into since it’s relatively cheap considering what is offered. However, most of the building materials are plastics and if the OP is looking for something durable and up-scale looking, then they may be dissappointed with this line.</p>
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OP, keep in mind that basic Apple care is just like any typical manufacturer warranty with 90 days phone support and 1 year hardware coverage. If you want anything more than that, then you will have to pay more. For example, the $1,500 13" MBA model in the comparison above will cost another $250 for the extended warranty (dubbed Apple Care). So $1,750 plus any dongle (for HDMI) or accessories you would like.</p>
<p>OP isn’t going to game, so in my opinion, getting even an entry dGPU is pointless. A plus to the XPS 14 is that in Windows environments, it will have better battery life than the MBA. In fact, most ultrabooks will. Windows is not optimized for MBA.</p>
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<p>Subjective, but in OSX settings, all of the MBAs/MBPs I’ve worked with have not had heat issues. Windows usually turns Macs in general into small heaters. The XPS touchpads are a bit iffy in my opinion, since they do not utilize glass that Apple and some other companies are now employing.</p>
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<p>If looks were a factor, then as a side note, I would like to point out that at the business school at WashU, everyone has a Mac. Apple currently has a design chassis that just exudes luxury and class to the majority of society. Most of the senior level management at my company also have only Apple products, including the IT/tech staff.</p>
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<p>I should’ve have mentioned this, yes. Extending the AppleCare coverage from 1 to 3 years will run you about $183 (with student discount, if I remember correctly). Effectively, an i5/8/256 MBA will be $1722 with 3 year coverage.</p>
<p>However, AppleCare will quite literally give you peace of mind about any hardware failure within the 3 years you are covered. I don’t want to sound like an Apple fanboy, because I’m definitely sounding like one. You could theoretically go with the base 128GB model and upgrade with an OWC aftermarket SSD a few years down the road, when prices fall.</p>
<p>Having the OP play games isn’t my point (as I read they aren’t planning on it), but the fact that for the same price the Dell model is offering a dGPU whereas the Apple model is not, which is odd since the dGPU should cost mosre than the integrated.</p>
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<p>Again, individual experiences may vary, but there are other who report otherwise.</p>
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<p>That’s great for the OP if they were to attend WashU, I guess. Not every school is exactly like WashU, BTW. I’m not sure what else this proves other than Macs are stylish, which is moot and I do not refute. I mentioned that the Acer Timeline X line is made mostly of plastics because the OP mentioned they wanted something durable.</p>
<p>EDIT: The exact word they used was ‘sturdy’.</p>
<p>The point I was trying to get at when I mentioned both my school and companies that I’ve either visited or worked at is that if design and exterior appearance are a deciding factor, then Apple is a better choice.</p>
<p>The reason I’m going out on a limb and pretty much assuming all business schools are like ours is because that quite literally every middle management and up executive that I’ve interviewed with or visited has Apple. These people all have business school degrees, and appearance in the bschool is pretty important. This isn’t statistically significant or correlative, but it’s simple information that I figured I would throw in there if the OP was even considering appearance as a deciding factor. You just pay the Apple tax to look stylish, that’s all.</p>
<p>@del_psi</p>
<p>Hardware failure does not mean hardware damage :P</p>
<p>While having a slick, modern & trendy laptop is nice, I’d rather have a slightly heavier, less stylish yet durable laptop as making this my primary school & personal laptop, I know it will endure a lot of wear & tear. I really don’t mind having an “ugly” designed notebook, so long as it meets my demands.</p>
<p>Now with storage, I’d really like to get a SSD. It will making booting up & most daily tasks blazing fast. Storage is not an issue whatsoever, if I were to get a MBA or any ultrabook I planned on getting the 128 GB SSD. With my 6 year old desktop, I only had 70 GB (less than some iPods!) & I’ve never deleted any gigantic files to increase storage & still have over 30GB. So in the future, once SSD prices have fallen a bit, I would look into upgrading it. Right now thought 128 GB is plenty & I could always just purchase a lightweight external drive for more storage. Now just a quick question…Are they’re any advantages/disadvantages with programming with a Mac & vice versa are they’re any with a Windows system.</p>
<p>As with Applecare, I’ve yet to read their warranty policies so I was unaware of their lack of accident protection in their 3 year extended warranty. Protecting my investment is very important to me (possibly the most important factor is choosing a laptop). I have no problem paying extra if I can literally protect my laptop from anything that comes its way, that’s why Lenovo Thinkpad’s 3 year Depot + Thinkpad Protection (Accident Protection) really caught my attention, covering me from anything. So you could say solid support & a great warranty plan is also a factor in my decision.</p>
<p>No difference. Visual Studio will require Windows, but you can bootcamp if you choose to go down the MBA route. Xcode is also OSX exclusive, except bootcamping is significantly easier than Hackintoshing.</p>
<p>If only 128GB is enough, then any of the above PC ultrabooks will work. If what you buy has a HDD, then it’s not hard at all to switch to an SSD. If you choose to go with MBA, it’ll be $1422 with AppleCare and the $100 iTunes card they give you.</p>
<p>If you are considering lenovo’s ADP, getting it insured with homeowners’ insurance may be cheaper, with better coverage. The flip side to that coin is that it may be quite a hassle to get them to pay when you do suffer damage.</p>
<p>Now I’m a bit of a newbie, so pardon me when I ask what exactly is Visual Studio & Xcode? As with bootcamping, how often would you switch between operating systems?</p>
<p>As of right now, I’m highly considering going with the new 13 inch MBA after using it first hand at an Apple store yesterday & reading review after review online, CNET even labeled it as one of 2012 Top 5 Laptops, but still open to more suggestions. </p>
<p>Visual Studio is probably your college’s go-to IDE (integrated development environment) for C and C++, possibly Java as well. It’s where you’ll be writing your code.</p>
<p>Xcode is the IDE that Apple uses to write all of its apps for OSX and iOS. Whereas VS can be had on Apple with minimal effort, Xcode on a PC is impossible unless you Hackintosh or run virtualization software.</p>
<p>Once you install boot camp, you hold the option key and you can choose which operating system you want to boot. For me, there is no need to boot camp, since I have a Windows desktop. However, if you go with the MBA, it’s pretty painless. They made it fairly easy.</p>
<p>I looked up how to bootcamp a Mac & it looks fairly simple, without requiring extensive computer skills, if anything I can always ask my cousins whom Bootcamped his Macbook pro a while ago.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the information, it really has been tremendously beneficial.</p>