MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

[Macadamian]

Come on, boys, play nice....

I have high regard for everyone participating in this thread, and for the very important information and opinions they share as I try to make some buying decisions.

AND this all would be even more useful if we could check our egos at the door.

 

[Manatee]

I have a first gen MBA, and a unibody 15" MBP. I always carried the MBA because of the lighter weight, and the ability to slip it inside my portfolio that I carry to meetings (leather folder with 8.5x11 paper).

That was... until I got a 13" MBP. That has proven to be the happy medium for me. Yes, the MBA is notably lighter, but it's not really that much thinner. To me, the entire case might as well be as thick as the thickest part. I like having the extra memory in the MBP, the extra ports, the SD card slot, the optical drive (although I don't use it much), and I love the new track pads.

Both the old MBA and thew newer 15" MBP get much less use now that I have the 13" MBP. I'll admit I do like the less glossy screen on the MBA, though.

Even if I had the newer MBA with the 2.13GHz processor, and 128GB SSD, I think I'd still prefer the 13" MBP. I have the 2.53, with 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD in it. The extra weight doesn't seem to make a difference to me, and I like having all the extra capabilities.

Still, I'm sure I'll be tempted by the next version of the MBA if the specs are decent. Then the competition between models will begin again.

 

[bavarian3]

There was a recent discussion on the idea of netbooks and why are they so popular. The common argument was that people want something minimalistic and simple. They don't need a high end graphics card, large memory and the latest technology. Dell commented that Netbooks are running on 02-03 technology; they also commented that they make barely any money on them. They thought it would be a commodity; rather than a trend.

While I am not stating that the MBA is a Netbook; I'm stating that it's minimalistic. Yes the MBP has extra ports and is *on paper* faster; but people don't always want that. How many times are you using three USB, your SD card and FireWire?

This is why Dell is profitable because people think they *need* a faster processor, more memory, etc. I would argue people go with the MBA because it has something the MB line doesn't... design and if we can argue *soul*. It's the same reason I would rather have a Ferrari 250 GTO instead of an Enzo.

 

[powerbook911]

When the MBA first came out, I was fairly certain I'd get one soon after.

However, I feel as though it's getting a bit tired. For one, I wonder if it should have had a smaller screen from the start.

Nevertheless, the biggest thing for me, when I go to an Apple store and compare a MBA to a MBP, to me, the MBP 13 feels like a better, high quality, machine. It just seems so much more sturdy and even more beautiful in a way to me.

Now if I got a shiny brand new MBA out of a box, I'd probably think differently. Considering the foot print is about the same though, I think one has to consider that you get so much more on a 13 MBP.

I'd still take either, but over time the MBP 13 won my heart.

 

[Scottsdale]

When the MBA first came out, I was fairly certain I'd get one soon after.

However, I feel as though it's getting a bit tired. For one, I wonder if it should have had a smaller screen from the start.

Nevertheless, the biggest thing for me, when I go to an Apple store and compare a MBA to a MBP, to me, the MBP 13 feels like a better, high quality, machine. It just seems so much more sturdy and even more beautiful in a way to me.

Now if I got a shiny brand new MBA out of a box, I'd probably think differently. Considering the foot print is about the same though, I think one has to consider that you get so much more on a 13 MBP.

I'd still take either, but over time the MBP 13 won my heart.

The MBA is shear joy to all who have used it in v 2,1 form. The whole point of the MBA is it has same full sized keyboard and display as MB and same performance too yet is super thin and lightweight. Most who use it fall in love.

 

[cababah]

I played around with a lot of MBAs and MBP. I think the Air is a beautiful machine for all of its aesthetics, but unfortunately it sort of ends there. I look at my computer 20% of the time and use it approx 80% of the time so the Air would not cut it.

I wonder how they will up the specs in a Rev D. if the current ones are already throttling/shutting down cpu cores to prevent overheating. Coming from the MBA, the 13 MBP may be "bulky" but in the real world of laptops, it is amazingly portable. Play with a feather for a week and the MBA will feel like a brick. In the grand realm of portable machines, they are both very portable and slim.

I would very much like a MBA but I just see myself crippling it's design elegance with a corded SuperDrive and USB hub and just the thought of it having wires dangling from it or lugging around accessories to make it functional really irks me. I appreciate it for what it is but the machine would just make me feel confined in terms of what I can do and what I can upgrade down the road..sort of like a ceiling where as with the 13 MBP I know I can upgrade and take it with me knowing I have everything I need to make things work.

Also, the 13 MBP is my only machine so that has an influence on things a bit. It is hands down a better single machine than the MBA. I don't want to knock the MBA, I think it is a great piece of technology and I would like to own one if they made it a tad more expandable and better battery life and resolved the heat issue.

Granted, a lot of people don't need more than 1 USB port, or more than 5 hours of battery life, or an optical drive. Everyone is differnet, and I like having those things in mine to use. In the end, everyone's opinion is just personal preference as we all have different needs and tastes in what our ideal machine is.

I liken the MBA more to a netbook in what it can do while the 13 MBP is a real laptop. I think anyone who calls the 13 MBP fat for a laptop should let me know if they can get me a good price on the crack they are smoking...

 

[waynechriss]

For me, its got to be the macbook pro. I need that power because i'm huge into the graphic art, video editing, photo editing and storage. And only one USB? I can barely manage even having two (camera usb cable, ipod usb cable, wacom bamboo tablet cable, external hard drive usb cable, etc). I am always on the go and the macbook air does feel very nice but the macbook pro 13 really isn't that heavy and its very durable.

 

[Durious]

The MBA is shear joy to all who have used it in v 2,1 form. The whole point of the MBA is it has same full sized keyboard and display as MB and same performance too yet is super thin and lightweight. Most who use it fall in love.

Yes, absolutely amazing machine!!

 

[powerbook911]

The MBA is shear joy to all who have used it in v 2,1 form. The whole point of the MBA is it has same full sized keyboard and display as MB and same performance too yet is super thin and lightweight. Most who use it fall in love.

I believe this, and I was really in the Air camp for a long time, but I think something changed in me, with the way I look at it. It's just hard to accept 2GB of memory and small hard/SD drives. The same footprint but more weight gets you a lot more.

I'm not even so sure about the design of the air anymore EXCEPT for one thing. The aluminum edge around the Air Screen is MUCH more attractive, in my opinion, than the black around the MBP screens.

 

[RichardF]

Scottsdale: I had a positive impression of you. Your contribution to these forums is appreciated, in particular seeing how much you like the MBA.

First, I thought you were implying I had left out that the MBA has an inferior iSight to the MBA. I wasn't sarcastic but thought you were being.

Secondly, I didn't call you juvenile or other names. Why don't you grow up and realize that not everything gets across in an Internet post when the writing isn't clear.

I didn't name call but you did.. Grow up and realize your name calling is simply a reflection of yourself.

You misread me: I was merely objectively qualifying your attitude. I find that rather ironic that you'd advise me to "grow-up".


Reminder:

OMG, seriously? LMAO. So the MBP's iSight is different... cheers. more power to you for knowing that.

Not everything gets across on an internet post? Then take a neutral stance and ask for clarification if in doubt.

Or is your attitude simply a reflection of yourself?

 

[Scottsdale]

Scottsdale: I had a positive impression of you. Your contribution to these forums is appreciated, in particular seeing how much you like the MBA.




You misread me: I was merely objectively qualifying your attitude. I find that rather ironic that you'd advise me to "grow-up".


Reminder:


Not everything gets across on an internet post? Then take a neutral stance and ask for clarification if in doubt.

Or is your attitude simply a reflection of yourself?

I really let it slide... think about what you said... please back off.

 

[RichardF]

And you see nothing wrong with what you said?

I thought about it and I wish I never addressed you in the first place (asking the question about the iSight).

I only did because you are quite knowledgeable when it comes to the MBA and Mac computers in general.

 

[Scottsdale]

And you see nothing wrong with what you said?

I thought about it and I wish I never addressed you in the first place (asking the question about the iSight).

I only did because you are quite knowledgeable when it comes to the MBA and Mac computers in general.

And I thought you were joking... and replied appropriately. Then, YOU called me juvenile. Now, why are YOU so bent out of shape over this as to not just DROP IT? How about a PM or better yet an apology for calling me names? I am willing to just leave it where it is, so let's just stop here. I don't owe you any apology!