Air vs Pro, the future and now

[Chillaz]

Greetings friends, I graduated a week ago from high school, and I'm going to take 1-2 years off. Tough life, I know

Anyway, with the upcoming MBA and I'm aware we do not know specifics for sure, however I'm hoping people can somehow 'guide me' toward the right decision.

What I'll use it for:
1. iWork & MS
2. Email
3. Browsing
4. Music & movies
5. Playing League of Legends, Dota2.

Notes:
1. Weight & size are matters as I'll possibly be travelling to various countries/continents to help people.
2. If I buy Air I'lll most likely upgrade the RAM to 4gb & SDD storage
3. I'll go to university after these years to become a lawyer, so it'll be a plus if it's suitable there which I hope.

So basically, I'm hoping if people could help me by sharing their experiences with MBA regarding the things I've mentioned and what they think would work out best etc.

Thanks for taking your time to read this.

Best regards,
Chillaz

 

[Shoot]

i have the current 13" macbook air with the top config (everything upgraded) and i am actually unable to make it cry.

I work with 800,000 polygon 3d models, i do a fair bit of normal res photoshop work- i run 20 track logic projects and I have a lot of stuff open at the same time- i drive an external monitor.

its a fantastic machine. the screen as well is miles ahead of all of the other portable macs- the res for the size and the colour is immense. I am actually confident doing my work on the go with it because it is great.

the only thing is, and this sounds weird, but i kind of wish i had a 13" pro with a matte screen for this reason and this one only: i get worried about denting this thing in my bag. really worried. i have no marks or scuffs or dents but the thought is always there. it doesnt feel at all flimsy. kind of WANT the bulk of a pro. sort of. if only it was as light. sigh.

 

[Apple Expert]

i have the current 13" macbook air with the top config (everything upgraded) and i am actually unable to make it cry.

I work with 800,000 polygon 3d models, i do a fair bit of normal res photoshop work- i run 20 track logic projects and I have a lot of stuff open at the same time- i drive an external monitor.

its a fantastic machine. the screen as well is miles ahead of all of the other portable macs- the res for the size and the colour is immense. I am actually confident doing my work on the go with it because it is great.

the only thing is, and this sounds weird, but i kind of wish i had a 13" pro with a matte screen for this reason and this one only: i get worried about denting this thing in my bag. really worried. i have no marks or scuffs or dents but the thought is always there. it doesnt feel at all flimsy. kind of WANT the bulk of a pro. sort of. if only it was as light. sigh.

What's not to say the MBP will get dented easily? I think they will both get damaged if they are in the same situation.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Re the MBA, it is a superb computer, fast, great screen, incredibly light and thus exceedingly portable. I bought the MBA (Rev C SSD) last September, (I used to have a 15" MBP), and bought it mainly for the sheer portability, as I travel a lot and weight is an issue. The latest incarnation of the MBA also has an excellent battery.

You have mentioned a number of uses; 1, 2, and 3 are no problem anywhere and the MBA will do them, and do them better, and faster than most other computers. Re 5, I'm not a gamer, and so cannot comment on that aspect, but people who are seem to think that Windows (or other, more powerful Macs) may be better for games.

However, given what you have stated you intend to do for the next few years, "helping people", I'd say that no 4 might pose a few problems.

I have worked abroad a lot; more importantly, I have worked in countries that have recently emerged from conflict situations in a "helping democratisation" capacity (for I have worked with international organisations as an election monitor/observer, and more recently, with the EU for two years in the Caucasus).

The point I wish to make is that movies/videos may be difficult to watch (unless you are viewing them on DVD) in such places; fwiw, that has been my experience; indeed, forget movies, I found watching the news online extremely difficult when I was in the Caucasus. In the Caucasus, internet connections were irregular, unreliable and extremely erratic. Cyberattacks were not unknown. Equally, the frequent summer thunderstorms caused crashes and cut-outs. One day you might have a reasonable connection, whereas on other days, electric power and internet access would cut out - frequently, even in our offices. Moreover, this situation re connectivity and erratic internet infrastructure will happen in conflicted countries where "you have to help people" irrespective of whether you have a MBA or a MBP.

Meantime, good luck with your travelling and humanitarian activities.

Cheers