Cant Decide - 13" Air vs 13" Pro

[topmounter]

best value is the MBP. if weight is the number one priority get the air but everything else on the MBP is better.

The screen on the MBA is also better.


If I didn't have an iMac on my desktop, then it would have been a harder choice for me choosing between the MBA and MBP. But if I would have gone with a MBP instead of my 13" MBA Ultimate, then I would have definitely gone with another 15" MBP. The screen resolution alone on the 13" MBP is a non-starter for me.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

I was in your same dilemma, but the poor screen resolution on the MBP broke the deal for me and went for a MBA 13" Ultimate instead.

I couldn't be happier with my purchase: ultra portable and 100% powerful enough for everything I throw at it. Seriously: best laptop I've ever owned.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

best value is the MBP. if weight is the number one priority get the air but everything else on the MBP is better.

Wrong. The MBP uses a 5400 rpm hard-drive and a 1280x800 resolution, which was OK back in 2007, but not in 2011. To say nothing about the substandard HD3000 GPU...

The ONLY thing MBP is better is A) back-lit keyboard and DVD drive and B) Sandy Bridge quad core processor. And the truth is that 95% of the people buying a 13" laptop don't need an i7 Quad Core for their daily use.

In my opinion, the MBA makes more sense as an all-around great 13" laptop than the MBP.

 

[kdoug]

Wrong. The MBP uses a 5400 rpm hard-drive and a 1280x800 resolution, which was OK back in 2007, but not in 2011. To say nothing about the substandard HD3000 GPU...

The ONLY thing MBP is better is A) back-lit keyboard and B) CPU. And the truth is that 95% of the people buying a 13" laptop don't need an i7 Quad Core for their daily use.

In my opinion, the MBA makes more sense as an all-around great 13" laptop than the MBP.

The intel chip is not inferior but on par with the nvidia. Still, disappointing considering the nvidia is a year old.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

The intel chip is not inferior but on par with the nvidia. Still, disappointing considering the nvidia is a year old.

The intel chip is indeed inferior. Tests show equal graphic performance on MBA and MBP because the MBP's SandyBridge's muscle keeps the GPU from falling behind, but the GPU's own processing power is lower than that of Nvidia's.

 

[kdoug]

The intel chip is indeed inferior. Tests show equal graphic performance on MBA and MBP because the MBP's SandyBridge's muscle keeps the GPU from falling behind, but the GPU's own processing power is lower than that of Nvidia's.

In terms of performance where is it inferior? I've read dozens of articles and the intel chip, (regardless of what's powering it) is on par with the nvidia. I'm providing a link. If anything, the nvidia could be considered inferior.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1102927/

 

[AppleScruff1]

In terms of performance where is it inferior? I've read dozens of articles and the intel chip, (regardless of what's powering it) is on par with the nvidia. I'm providing a link. If anything, the nvidia could be considered inferior.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1102927/

There you go, being logical.

 

[Faux Carnival]

I would say MBA but now neither of them. Wait for the MBA update with new generation Sandy Bridge CPU's.

 

[neteng101]

I can't imagine why people keep comparing 13" MBA to 13" MBP... the lo-res 13" MBP screen is a true deal breaker.

13" MBP + hi-res 1440x900 screen, would make things a whole lot harder (even if the screen was a $100-150 upgrade option).

And the SB 13" MBPs are rather toasty (ie. run hot) so maybe Ivy Bridge is the answer, plus a screen upgrade option (if Apple ever decides to offer it).

 

[KohPhiPhi]

In terms of performance where is it inferior? I've read dozens of articles and the intel chip, (regardless of what's powering it) is on par with the nvidia.

Because in those tests, the HD3000 is paired with a Sandy Bridge, whereas the Nvidia is paired with a C2D. That's why the results are moreless equal: because the Sandy Bridge's muscle overcomes the HD3000's lack of oomph, bringing the overall outcome up. If you paired both cards with the same processor, the tests would clearly tilt towards the Ndivia.

 

[rower]

I have both.

I used the 11" more for casual work as you suggest you do.
The 13" now feels too big, unless I am working at a desk.

The 11" definitely feels smaller and more portable, despite the dimensions appearing close when you read about it. Big difference.

The screen density is smaller so I pinch and zoom more on the 11".

I don't feel any compromises on the 11 vs 13, for what I do.

If I was doing lots of work etc the 13" has much more screen real estate.

If I had to keep one, it would probably be the 11". When I am in school, writing papers etc without an external monitor, then the 13".

I would not go back to a mbp.

And there doesn't seem to be any difference in performance between the 11 and 13". Both of mine are maxed out models.

 

[HiddenGem]

I would say MBA but now neither of them. Wait for the MBA update with new generation Sandy Bridge CPU's.

Does anyone think the update will include Thunderbolt, backlit screen and lce with better colour gamut?

 

[kdoug]

I can't imagine why people keep comparing 13" MBA to 13" MBP... the lo-res 13" MBP screen is a true deal breaker.

13" MBP + hi-res 1440x900 screen, would make things a whole lot harder (even if the screen was a $100-150 upgrade option).

And the SB 13" MBPs are rather toasty (ie. run hot) so maybe Ivy Bridge is the answer, plus a screen upgrade option (if Apple ever decides to offer it).

On the other hand, having an outdated processor, unlit keyboard, limited upgrades and no ports would seem like a deal breaker to others.

 

[teerexx52]

Sold my 13" MBA ultimate yesterday locally and bought a base 13" MacBook Pro. My MBA was giving me trouble and after several visits to the genius bar I decided to make the switch.

 

[Ridley]

I am of the opposite view of a lot of the posts here. I've been debating buying the 11 inch or 13 inch MBA for my girlfriend. I went to the store yesterday to really look them over with my own eyes. The 13 inch MBA didn't seem that much more portable than the 13 inch MBP. For the money, I would go with the MBP, you can upgrade the hard drive (even to SSD) and RAM in the future. You don't have to worry about filling it up with movies and pictures, and you've got a little more raw horsepower just in case.

Seriously even if you are not a power user, but have a decent point and shoot you can fill up the 128 gigs SSD on the MBA really quick... especially with the HD movies and movie clips that point and shoots do now. That is before adding in applications, music, and other media to the mix. So then what do you do, spend another grand on the OWC MBA drives? Ruin your portabilty by tethering to external drives?

Now maybe you don't have a camera, not interested in media, you just want to surf the web, word process, email, etc. Then it seems like you'd be perfect for the 11 inch? And if you occasionally want more screen space use your cost savings to pick up an external monitor. Just my opinion but after seeing and holding the 13 MBA and 13 MBP I didn't really get it.

 

[entatlrg]

Sold my 13" MBA ultimate yesterday locally and bought a base 13" MacBook Pro. My MBA was giving me trouble and after several visits to the genius bar I decided to make the switch.

Sorry to loose a member from the MBA club

Do you think it was your Air that couldn't handle the tasks you where doing or just a problem with that one particular notebook? Did you try another Air or swap out for the 13" MBP right away.

How do you like the MBP?

 

[s.hasan546]

Wrong. The MBP uses a 5400 rpm hard-drive and a 1280x800 resolution, which was OK back in 2007, but not in 2011. To say nothing about the substandard HD3000 GPU...

The ONLY thing MBP is better is A) back-lit keyboard and DVD drive and B) Sandy Bridge quad core processor. And the truth is that 95% of the people buying a 13" laptop don't need an i7 Quad Core for their daily use.

In my opinion, the MBA makes more sense as an all-around great 13" laptop than the MBP.

How is he wrong? Hands down its a better VALUE keyword: VALUE.

All of you MBA users keep forgetting to mention the price factor. Im not comparing the mbp 13" to the mba 11". the only fair comparison is to the MBA 13". For the extra $$ you save you can get a MBP 13" + 8gb ram + ssd.

my mbp 13" cost me $1100 + $60 (ram) = $100 (Momentus XT).
So $1260 for a computer that is a ton faster than a MBA.