Macbook Air vs Macbook Pro

[MacModMachine]

i just recieved my air, replacing my macbook pro.

i think its fantastic, slim small and easily as fast as the mbp in all tasks.

the one usb is not a problem, most say it is but are just complainers, use a usb hub and stop bitching,

if you can carry around cd's and dvd's for your optical drive you can carry around a little usb hub.

i will use the MBA until they discontinue it.

 

[CPPMaster]

As a previous owner of a AIR 1.6 (1st gen), I would go to the MACBOOK PRO 13". The AIR is a really nice machine, " WOW" factor, etc. , but if you try the 13" PRO, you will see that have an AIR as a main machine, is "not" the way to go.

On the Apple stores around my zip code (VA), almost all of them have only one AIR on display, and tons of 13" / 15" and 17". In my case I need to have also boot camp with Windows (@!&%) running, since some of my work related software does not run on MAC. That said, on the AIR works ok, but for sure runs better on the 13" PRO.

I know that some will say, I have an AIR as my main machine, etc, and works great, etc. I said the same thing on the past, now, after the 13" PRO, is another thing. The weight, from the AIR and the 13" PRO, on the day by day, is really not that big deal.

1) You can not use an USB HUB and the external DVD.
2) Try to connect the AIR on an external monitor or Digital TV and play a 15 minutes video, the AIR will not hold that.
3) Line issues on the new AIR.

Regards,

 

[dubhe]

I had a MBA and managed with the one USB just fine. I now have a mini and all 5 USBs are in use, but that is because I am too lazy to unplug stuff. Most can manage with one USB, especially when you can have a hub waiting at home with stuff plugged in already...

 

[ehlfg]

Hmm, my experience seems to be different from most. I have both an MBA and a MBP, and I greatly prefer the MBA.

I use a Rev B MacBook Air (with SSD) as my primary work machine, but I do not use it for graphics/video. I find the MBA faster for most purposes than my 15" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz (7200 RPM disk), which I will probably sell. I also vastly prefer traveling and commuting with the MacBook Air, as compared with my MacBook Pro. I do travel a fair amount.

I do have other machines, however, including Windows machines and a Mac Pro on order for a home desktop (which will replace a Windows desktop). So I do have other machines that I can use when the MBA is not appropriate. But I consider the MacBook Air to be my workhorse computer for work purposes.

So if the OP is thinking of using the MBA as the main computer for now, supplemented later by an iMac, I think it is absolutely suitable. I like the combination of a fast (love that SSD!), highly portable main computer with a secondary desktop.

 

[Scottsdale]

Hmm, my experience seems to be different from most. I have both an MBA and a MBP, and I greatly prefer the MBA.

I use a Rev B MacBook Air (with SSD) as my primary work machine, but I do not use it for graphics/video. I find the MBA faster for most purposes than my 15" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz (7200 RPM disk), which I will probably sell. I also vastly prefer traveling and commuting with the MacBook Air, as compared with my MacBook Pro. I do travel a fair amount.

I do have other machines, however, including Windows machines and a Mac Pro on order for a home desktop (which will replace a Windows desktop). So I do have other machines that I can use when the MBA is not appropriate. But I consider the MacBook Air to be my workhorse computer for work purposes.

So if the OP is thinking of using the MBA as the main computer for now, supplemented later by an iMac, I think it is absolutely suitable. I like the combination of a fast (love that SSD!), highly portable main computer with a secondary desktop.

I know an engineer who "greatly" prefers his MBA over his Mac Pro. He has dual 30" ACDs, dual 3.2 GHz CPUs, and his Pro rocks/screams.

He bought a rev B with 1.86 and SSD, and within a week, he had migrated his whole life over to the MBA. He uses his MBA with one of the 30" displays and his Mac Pro sits there turned off six days per week. He uses the Mac Pro for a few hours once per week to, in his words, "compile" everything.

What a waste of a Mac Pro. He offered me to trade one of his 30" ACDs for my 24" LED ACD, but I declined as the 24" LED ACD is an absolute dream when paired with the MBA.

Really when you think of it, the MBA with SSD is amazing away from a desk but pretty powerful when connected to a 24" ACD. It's plenty powerful enough for the average Mac user. However, I suspect when the MBA gets 4 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD, and glass trackpad, it will no longer be the butt of people's jokes. The problem will be the price increase for that high end MBA will most certainly be closer to the $2500 mark. But all of those who cannot buy an MBA because they need 4 GB of RAM will jump anyways.

Apple truly has a goldmine just waiting to be mined. Put the RAM in their Apple. Anyone who has used a rev B or C MBA is hooked! It's incredibly fun! And amazingly snappy.

I just think anyone who spent a week with an MBA would have a hard time downgrading to the pro. However, if you haven't ever used an MBA, it's simple to not want it and definitely sensible to get the Pro.

 

[GeekGirl*]

really you are the only one who can answer the question

 

[ehlfg]

Just reread the original post and noticed that the MBA in question is the 1.6/120GB, which appears to be the HD version. I have no experience with that model -- my comments above pertain only to the SSD version.

Also, to be fair, I just bought a base 13" MacBook Pro for a family member and used as the only machine. It's a very nice machine that works quite well, with a nice balance of portability and power. If this is to be the only machine for a while, the MBP may be a better choice than the HD version of the MBA.

The MBA is still my workhorse machine, but there are some tasks where I use other machines because the MBA bogs down (mainly related to not having enough memory for virtualization).