I knew this would happen...

[r00]

I bought a MBP on Monday after playing with the 1.6/80 Air and thinking it was too slow. I kept thinking "you need the power, you need the power". Well after having it for almost a week (yeah not that long, but enough to tell) I realized the only thing I actually use the Pro's power for is very slight gaming. Since I'm an engineering student I do bring my notebook to class a lot and actually my notebooks have almost always left the house with me whereever I go.

I've lived off of ultra portables for a couple years now and the latest being a 1.2GHz Core Solo 12" widescreen PC with 1GB RAM for 6 months and actually thought it was one of the best notebooks I used because of the size. I would definitely imagine the 1.6 C2D would out perform that notebook in everywhere.

Anyway, I know I'll get hit with the 10% restocking fee but since the Air is cheaper and I can use the HE discount it would almost be an even exchange.

Anyone else recently get a MBP and feel the same? Any Air users think this machine can get me through the basics of what I now use my Pro for (Web, Mail, Music, SSH, and some Programming)?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[zapp]

I didn't just buy a Macbook Pro, but I have one I bought when the last ones were released. It never left the house, it was just to big. I received my macbook Air last Monday, and it has been with me when I go to class everyday. I use it as my main computer now, wife got the pro. I don't do any hardcore gaming or do any processor intensive things. If I do that I would get a Mac Pro. So if you do return it I think you would be happy. I have found the Air is a very useful tool to be productive. The full size keyboard and screen let you work fast, yet its three pounds let you haul it around. Best of luck with your decision.

 

[r00]

Thanks zapp,

You make a valid point with the productivity and that's exactly what I need and NOT the gaming. Having the the Pro makes me feel like I have to game because it's a notebook that can handle it and it justifies the bulkiness. After 10 minutes I'm back to listening to music and using Terminal 80% of the time. The Air seems like a great idea for Sys/Net admin work and coding that I'll be using it for.

 

[zapp]

Alternately you need to factor in the time lost to co-workers oohing and ahhing over your new Air

 

[DaveSM]

It all depends on which branch of engineering you study. I'm in mechanical engineering ad I'm glad I have an MBP (2.4ghz) over a MBA just beause I can properly run SolidWorks. I still prefer to use a sun ultra 40 work station to open an assembly of 600 parts and work with it but my laptop can deal with that kind of assembly as well. The only downside is that even the better graphic card (256mb) ain't perfectly sufficient for SolidWorks which is designed to run smoothly on GPU with a quadro chipset.

 

[Captnroger]

I used a MBP daily for 7 months. Loved the machine. It was more machine than I needed for simple work email, word processing, spreadsheets, surfing, presentations. I have a Xbox 360 for games.

I got my MBA Wednesday on the way to the airport for a 4-day business trip and I LOVE IT. It's plenty snappy for me, and oh so light (I travel quite a lot).

 

[russtic]

Hey at last an advantage of living in the UK - NO restocking charge! Return within 14 days with all packaging - no questions or cost involved.

I am planning to use this as I am not totally convinced that the MBA will be up to my needs.

 

[zippster]

erm not that i should be mentioning this on ere as i will probably get shot but i bought a 2.4 MBP 2 months ago and have just sold it! as for what i use it for i really didnt need the PRO (photo editing,web,email) and felt i would benefit much more from the smaller footprint and weight of the Air.


now if it would only be delivered already!!

 

[kingtj]

re: Macbook Pro for school

Not that one system fits all needs or anything, but as a rule, I recommend that anyone in a college or university look primary at the Macbook, if they want a portable.

I can see where the "Air" might also be a good choice if you want something lighter-weight and a little more "flashy/stylish", and have the extra $'s for it.

But all things considered, the Macbook seems like it's squarely focused on the needs of a student. It keeps the price down by not including things you really won't need for school purposes (high performance 3D video, a backlit keyboard, etc.), while offering all the practical things that ARE relevant. (EG. It's built tough, to withstand getting shoved between heavy school textbooks in a backpack. The hard drive is easily user-swappable, so if it crashes on you, it's not something you have to send off to a shop to get fixed, and wait days to get it back. It has better battery life than any other portable Apple sells.)

I have a Macbook Pro myself, and I *love* it -- but I wouldn't find it so practical for school usage. You practically have to carry around a cleaning cloth to keep it from getting all smudged up with fingerprints and such. It scratches real easily, so you have to be careful where you're sitting it - if you don't want the bottom all scuffed up. Drop it once and it'll have a nasty dent in the case. Sure, it has a bigger screen - but that also means it's less portable. I noticed my girlfriend's Macbook fits perfectly on smaller desks like you might find in a university lecture hall or classroom. My 15" MB Pro tends to feel "cramped" on the same type of desks.

I didn't just buy a Macbook Pro, but I have one I bought when the last ones were released. It never left the house, it was just to big. I received my macbook Air last Monday, and it has been with me when I go to class everyday. I use it as my main computer now, wife got the pro. I don't do any hardcore gaming or do any processor intensive things. If I do that I would get a Mac Pro. So if you do return it I think you would be happy. I have found the Air is a very useful tool to be productive. The full size keyboard and screen let you work fast, yet its three pounds let you haul it around. Best of luck with your decision.

 

[aiongiant]

at first i was the same as the op thinking yea! i need power more power!
so i bought the mbp a lil over a year now.. and when the mba got annouced i thought man thats freaken awesome but not enough power...

then i thought man i don't even use my laptop for anything intensive.. internet, itunes, a lil photoshop, movies thats basicaly it
and since i have a Mac Pro i use that if i do anything crazy like play games or work hahah

but yea i have the mba now.. and man i love it!
alot of ppl complain about footprint.. i think it can get a lil bit smaller.. but i'm a big guy.. i think the size is perfect haha
and im findiung myself carrying it around more often and using it on the "go"
while before with the mbp i would place it in one spot and never moving it

and i agree with zapp haha
you do waste alot of productivitly time with the oohing and ahhing
but it's all part of the fun! heeh

 

[kuwisdelu]

Not that one system fits all needs or anything, but as a rule, I recommend that anyone in a college or university look primary at the Macbook, if they want a portable.

I can see where the "Air" might also be a good choice if you want something lighter-weight and a little more "flashy/stylish", and have the extra $'s for it.

Overall, I agree with this, but then it really all comes down to what you need and if you have the extra money.

I'm a college student and I have a MacBook, but if I had the money I'd get an Air. When this needs replacement, I'll probably get one. I'd find it very convenient, but I already have a computer for now. Those books get heavy when walking the mile to campus. You're definitely right it may not be the most cost-effective option, but if you can spare the $$ (in my case, the extra money I got from my merit scholarship would have covered it, but I'd already bought my computer, so it would be silly to get a new one), I think it would be a worthy purchase, and very convenient.

Now I have a friend who's a graphics design major, and thus uses Photoshop CS3 all the time and kind of needs the power of a MacBook Pro. He even lugs it around to class with him. The 17". I think I'd get sick of that pretty quickly, and end up leaving it home all the time, but to each his own. I find that kind of crazy.

I have yet another friend who's here on financial aid, and needs a new laptop badly. And since she's kind of poor, she needs one that will last her. She's an English major and probably won't be doing much more than word processing, chatting, and browsing the internet, and she takes her laptop to her classes, too, so ideally a MacBook Air would actually be perfect for her. But alas, it's far too expensive, so I suggested she get a refurbished MacBook that fits her situation a little better.

So even among college kids, the variance is pretty great. We all have different needs, and thus different computers.

 

[deniser]

Hey at last an advantage of living in the UK - NO restocking charge! Return within 14 days with all packaging - no questions or cost involved.
.

I got charged a restocking fee on something I sent back to Apple in November and I'm in the UK :-(

 

[interstink]

New MBP coming soon, so I would hold off getting a MBP. The MBA is a GREAT machine, love it for its size and weight.

 

[Mr.Green]

I would try to sweet talk the manager if you're planning on returning the computer to an Apple Store. They have the power to waive the restocking fee, especially if you're planning on exchanging rather than just returning.

 

[bov]

bringing a MBP to class isnt bad at all. im sitting in class right now with my MBP and im lovin it!

 

[weckart]

I got charged a restocking fee on something I sent back to Apple in November and I'm in the UK :-(

Did you buy online and did you send it back within seven days? Cannot by law charge you a restocking fee, unless you damaged it in some way.

 

[r00]

Thanks guys. It helps a lot to hear different views from people. I've made up my mind and I'm exchanging it tomorrow morning. I called the local Apple store an hour before they closed asking if they had the base Air in stock and the girl said yes and then I distinctly asked if she "thinks" the remaining stock would sell out in the last hour or should I be fine waiting for tomorrow and she said that I should be fine. Hopefully they got a fresh batch in today and I'll have a new Air bright and early tomorrow morning.

I'll let you guys know how I make out. Thanks again!

 

[GoCubsGo]

New MBP coming soon, so I would hold off getting a MBP. The MBA is a GREAT machine, love it for its size and weight.

Someone didn't read.

To the OP:
I do believe based on what you're saying the MBAir is the best idea for you. You can sell your MBP for nearly what you paid and pick up the Air with additional out of pocket cash. I don't think you really need a MBP if you're using iTunes and terminal 80% of the time.

 

[kuwisdelu]

Thanks guys. It helps a lot to hear different views from people. I've made up my mind and I'm exchanging it tomorrow morning. I called the local Apple store an hour before they closed asking if they had the base Air in stock and the girl said yes and then I distinctly asked if she "thinks" the remaining stock would sell out in the last hour or should I be fine waiting for tomorrow and she said that I should be fine. Hopefully they got a fresh batch in today and I'll have a new Air bright and early tomorrow morning.

I'll let you guys know how I make out. Thanks again!

Good luck! I agree with what jessica said. For what it sounds like you use, the MBP is really kind of overkill, and if you're not using the power, then there's not much point to the extra weight and size. If you have the money, the MacBook Air should be a wonderful choice for you. I'm jealous

 

[joegomolski]

This is how I see the MBP vs MBA debate.

I got the first MBP when it was released 2 years ago. The MBA today has a more powerful CPU then that first MBP, and for both the max RAM is/was 2GB.

I do not use any software applications today, that I didn't use 2 years ago.

For me the main attraction of the MBA is weight. Because it's so much lighter there will be few times that I'll be without it. So it will be more useful to me.

The MBP vs MBA argument is similar to the photography debate. If you buy professional gear, you'll be able to make better images. But how many opportunities will be lost because I choose to leave the heavy gear at home.

Personally I'm devolving, simpler, smaller, lighter is, For Me, better.

 

[SFCAMacuser]

This is how I see the MBP vs MBA debate.

I got the first MBP when it was released 2 years ago. The MBA today has a more powerful CPU then that first MBP, and for both the max RAM is/was 2GB.

I do not use any software applications today, that I didn't use 2 years ago.

For me the main attraction of the MBA is weight. Because it's so much lighter there will be few times that I'll be without it. So it will be more useful to me.

The MBP vs MBA argument is similar to the photography debate. If you buy professional gear, you'll be able to make better images. But how many opportunities will be lost because I choose to leave the heavy gear at home.

Personally I'm devolving, simpler, smaller, lighter is, For Me, better.

Actually you are not devolving, it's that you have progressed and realized that you really do not need to carry all the excess garbage that you thought you need..

 

[Sweetbike40]

I would try to sweet talk the manager if you're planning on returning the computer to an Apple Store. They have the power to waive the restocking fee, especially if you're planning on exchanging rather than just returning.

Yes, sweet talk the manager. Don't have an attitude, you may get away with no restock fee. I've heard it's been done before. Esp. since you'd be buying their newest laptop. More advertising for them!

 

[skyrider007]

You shouldn't regret your MBP purchase. It is truly a marvelous machine.

 

[JCT]

This is how I see the MBP vs MBA debate.

I got the first MBP when it was released 2 years ago. The MBA today has a more powerful CPU then that first MBP, and for both the max RAM is/was 2GB.

I do not use any software applications today, that I didn't use 2 years ago.

For me the main attraction of the MBA is weight. Because it's so much lighter there will be few times that I'll be without it. So it will be more useful to me.

The MBP vs MBA argument is similar to the photography debate. If you buy professional gear, you'll be able to make better images. But how many opportunities will be lost because I choose to leave the heavy gear at home.

Personally I'm devolving, simpler, smaller, lighter is, For Me, better.

Nice post, I'm in the identical situation -- 2-yr old MBP (that I love) maxed out at 2GB RAM and tons of travel forthcoming.

Agree with the photography analogy, I normally shoot with a D2x and have amassed a nice collection of Nikon glass over the past 10 years. More recently I have gone "backwards" to shooting more film, now about 70% large format-- as zeroth-order as it gets. One lens, a box that lets in light. a hand-held meter and a little film . Sometimes less is more...

Now if only my 1.8/SSD would ship, damn EDU orders.

JT

 

[r00]

Hey guys, I though I would just let you all know that I am now a proud owner of a 1.6/80 MacBook Air!

I showed up at the store 5 minutes before the opened and was the first person in there. Asked for an exchange and sure enough they had them in stock. I'm actually surprised after using it for a little bit how quick this little laptop is. I'm definitely happy I switched from the Pro to the Air.