Macbook or Macbook Air?!

[MaCamZa]

Hi people,

I currently own a White Unibody (Late 2009) 13" Macbook; 2GB RAM, 2.26GHz, 256GB Hard Drive and Nvidia GeForce 9400m.

I want to upgrade my Macbook now as i've had it for 2 years and want a change. I really like the portable aspect of the New 13" Macbook Air Base model. However, if i was going to buy it i would have to upgrade its RAM to 4GB instead of the base 2GB. I have a budget of £1200/$1400.

What do you recommend? Obviously, i need to know whether the Macbook Air is a step down from the White Macbook or a GOOD upgrade; especially for the price im going to pay.

Thanks, any input is appreciated.

 

[MikeinJapan]

Hi people,

I currently own a White Unibody (Late 2009) 13" Macbook; 2GB RAM, 2.26GHz, 256GB Hard Drive and Nvidia GeForce 9400m.

I want to upgrade my Macbook now as i've had it for 2 years and want a change. I really like the portable aspect of the New 13" Macbook Air Base model. However, if i was going to buy it i would have to upgrade its RAM to 4GB instead of the base 2GB. I have a budget of £1200/$1400.

What do you recommend? Obviously, i need to know whether the Macbook Air is a step down from the White Macbook or a GOOD upgrade; especially for the price im going to pay.

Thanks, any input is appreciated.

If I were you I would just upgrade the RAM and put an SSD in the MacBook. You would see an improvement with the MacBook Air but I would give it a year as you won't see too much of an improvement.

 

[MacRuler]

performence wise, you might see a little speed increase, but the "user- experience" will be greatly increased. the macbook air will feel pounds lighter. also the screen will be better, and let me tell you that the macbook air stays VERY cool. those are just things to consider. the money you spend to put in a ssd and extra ram will be around 300-400 dollars, you could sell your current macbook and put in a extra 400 and get a macbook air. these are all just things to consider.

 

[MaCamZa]

If I were you I would just upgrade the RAM and put an SSD in the MacBook. You would see an improvement with the MacBook Air but I would give it a year as you won't see too much of an improvement.

So do you recommend me waiting until the next generation of Macbook Air's come out?

 

[Hellhammer]

If you have late 2009 MB, how come you have owned it for 2 years? I think we're living year 2010 so that would be only one year.

As suggested above, just get more RAM and an SSD for your MB, it's still a very good machine and you can easily get a year or two out of it. MBA would be downgrade in some specs, wait for next gen

 

[dmelgar]

SSD will cost quite a bit to add to a MacBook.
You still wouldn't get all the speed improvement from the MBA.
I'd ditch (sell) the MacBook and get a MBA. Try one in the store. It feels much faster than the MacBook.
I have a 2009 MBP, better machine than the MacBook, and I'm planning to ditch it. I tried a 11 MBA and even that was faster. Im stuck debating between the 11 and 13, but definitely going with one or the other.

 

[MaCamZa]

SSD will cost quite a bit to add to a MacBook.
You still wouldn't get all the speed improvement from the MBA.
I'd ditch (sell) the MacBook and get a MBA. Try one in the store. It feels much faster than the MacBook.
I have a 2009 MBP, better machine than the MacBook, and I'm planning to ditch it. I tried a 11 MBA and even that was faster. Im stuck debating between the 11 and 13, but definitely going with one or the other.

Yh, apparently the MBA has been proven to be better, performance wise (surfing web, general work, ect.), than some of the Macbook Pro's which is interesting news. That's why i wanted to upgrade to a MBA, mostly because most MBP these days are better than what i have atm.

But i might hold out on the Macbook atm, and see if the next Macbook Air is any better. The thing is, the battery on my Macbook at the moment is terrible. I get about 3-4 hours of web browsing and video watching. Worse than my iPhone 4.

 

[KPOM]

You can get a decent 250GB SSD for about $450-$500 in the US (I'm not sure about the UK). It would put your system roughly in between the previous MacBook Air (which had the NVidia 9400m) and the current generation. It's a worthwhile consideration. I do agree with others here that the MacBook Air is likely to get the Core i-series in the 2011 refresh. Whether the graphics take a step back remains to be seen. The next generation Core i5 integrated graphics are rumored to have similar speeds to the NVidia 9400m. But the Core i5 is a significantly faster processor for CPU intensive tasks and can let OS X act as if it has 4 processor cores (even though it has only 2 cores like the C2D).

That said, the current generation of MacBook Air would be a step up. The 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo has a 6MB cache, so it partially offsets the slower clock speed from what's in your current MacBook. Plus it has a relatively fast SSD and a more powerful integrated graphics processor than what's in your MacBook.

 

[MaCamZa]

You can get a decent 250GB SSD for about $450-$500 in the US (I'm not sure about the UK). It would put your system roughly in between the previous MacBook Air (which had the NVidia 9400m) and the current generation. It's a worthwhile consideration. I do agree with others here that the MacBook Air is likely to get the Core i-series in the 2011 refresh. Whether the graphics take a step back remains to be seen. The next generation Core i5 integrated graphics are rumored to have similar speeds to the NVidia 9400m. But the Core i5 is a significantly faster processor for CPU intensive tasks and can let OS X act as if it has 4 processor cores (even though it has only 2 cores like the C2D).

That said, the current generation of MacBook Air would be a step up. The 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo has a 6MB cache, so it partially offsets the slower clock speed from what's in your current MacBook. Plus it has a relatively fast SSD and a more powerful integrated graphics processor than what's in your MacBook.

If the next generation of MBA had an Core i3/5 processor, it would either increase the size of the MBA or surely decrease battery-life?

I personally want a new laptop to go nicely with the new OSX coming in next summer. So i can wait.

Also, when is the new line of Macbook Pro's being released? Is it beginning of Q1? I could always opt for them and get reading for Lion.

 

[KPOM]

If the next generation of MBA had an Core i3/5 processor, it would either increase the size of the MBA or surely decrease battery-life?

I personally want a new laptop to go nicely with the new OSX coming in next summer. So i can wait.

Also, when is the new line of Macbook Pro's being released? Is it beginning of Q1? I could always opt for them and get reading for Lion.

Not necessarily. The Core i3/i5 has a higher TDP, but it includes integrated graphics. Plus, the processor is more efficient at processing than the Core 2 Duo, so CPU-intensive tasks may use up less power.

No one but Apple knows for sure when the next MacBook Pro comes out, but a lot of people think it will be in January or February when Apple traditionally makes a product announcement of some kind. The last speed bump was in late spring. Plus, the Core 2 Duo is nearing the end of its life, and the 13" MacBook Pro in particular looks outdated, now that Windows competitors have Core i5 and even i7 processors in machines of similar size.

 

[MaCamZa]

Not necessarily. The Core i3/i5 has a higher TDP, but it includes integrated graphics. Plus, the processor is more efficient at processing than the Core 2 Duo, so CPU-intensive tasks may use up less power.

No one but Apple knows for sure when the next MacBook Pro comes out, but a lot of people think it will be in January or February when Apple traditionally makes a product announcement of some kind. The last speed bump was in late spring. Plus, the Core 2 Duo is nearing the end of its life, and the 13" MacBook Pro in particular looks outdated, now that Windows competitors have Core i5 and even i7 processors in machines of similar size.

So do you think the next generation of 13" macbook pro's will have the i5 processors? Or do you think they will still have the same Core 2 Duo? Surely they must opt for the i5? Or will they go with the SSD like they did with the Macbook Air's instead of the upgraded processor?

 

[KPOM]

So do you think the next generation of 13" macbook pro's will have the i5 processors? Or do you think they will still have the same Core 2 Duo? Surely they must opt for the i5? Or will they go with the SSD like they did with the Macbook Air's instead of the upgraded processor?

In my opinion they almost have to go with the Core i5 (or possibly the i3). All their competition uses it now, and if they remove the optical drive and/or replace the hard drive with a blade SSD, they should have sufficient room to a discrete GPU. Their argument last time was that there wasn't enough room to fit a Core i5 and discrete GPU in the last 13" MacBook Pro, and that the Core 2 Duo plus NVidia 320m produced better real life performance on OS X than a Core i3 or i5 with just the integrated graphics built into the Core i3/i5.

With the Core 2 Duo going end of life, and the new MacBook Air a mainstream product rather than a niche product, supply becomes an issue, as well. Right now both MacBooks Air, the MacBook, the 13" MacBook Pro, and the Mac Mini use the Core 2 Duo and NVidia 320m. The Core 2 Duo and NVidia 320M are being discontinued and are not expected to be in big supply beyond next year. They can probably support one main line product through 2011 but 4 would be tough. I wouldn't be surprised to see the polycarb MacBook discontinued, and the Mac Mini and 13" Pro gain the Core i5 with some improved graphics system.

 

[dmelgar]

In my opinion they almost have to go with the Core i5 (or possibly the i3). All their competition uses it now, and if they remove the optical drive and/or replace the hard drive with a blade SSD, they should have sufficient room to a discrete GPU. Their argument last time was that there wasn't enough room to fit a Core i5 and discrete GPU in the last 13" MacBook Pro, and that the Core 2 Duo plus NVidia 320m produced better real life performance on OS X than a Core i3 or i5 with just the integrated graphics built into the Core i3/i5.

With the Core 2 Duo going end of life, and the new MacBook Air a mainstream product rather than a niche product, supply becomes an issue, as well. Right now both MacBooks Air, the MacBook, the 13" MacBook Pro, and the Mac Mini use the Core 2 Duo and NVidia 320m. The Core 2 Duo and NVidia 320M are being discontinued and are not expected to be in big supply beyond next year. They can probably support one main line product through 2011 but 4 would be tough. I wouldn't be surprised to see the polycarb MacBook discontinued, and the Mac Mini and 13" Pro gain the Core i5 with some improved graphics system.

I thought apple is continuing to use the c2d because of the lawsuit between intel and nvidia. Apple doesn't want to use intel integrated graphics. I haven't kept up with what's going on with the lawsuit.

 

[lucashungaro]

Get the Air with 4 Gb of RAM. If you can increase your budget a bit, throw in the 2.13 Ghz processor too.

It will be a great improvement over your current MacBook (even if you update it with a SSD). You won't regret it.

 

[larryr99]

windows 7 on the new macbook air or macbook pro 13"

I want to purchase a new laptop....either Macbook Pro or the Air and want to run windows 7. Will Windows 7 run smoother on the MBPro or the Air? I would prefer to buy the Air but not if it does not run as quick/snappy as the Pro.

 

[Hellhammer]

I want to purchase a new laptop....either Macbook Pro or the Air and want to run windows 7. Will Windows 7 run smoother on the MBPro or the Air? I would prefer to buy the Air but not if it does not run as quick/snappy as the Pro.

MBA is just fine although it depends on what you do on Windows

 

[larryr99]

I am going to be using windows for email (Microsoft Outlook) mainly as I have an exchange and seems to run smoother on windows than Mac. It (windows) would be my main OS but just using the laptop for travel purposes, internet surfing, watching videos etc (no gaming). I am going to use the Mac OS for itunes and iphoto mainly.

 

[foiden]

The choice was easier for me. I'm technically upgrading my 2008 Macbook to the MBA. Even though it's a difference from 2.4 to 1.86, the entire system architecture is miles different. I'll hardly lose even CPU performance.

 

[andygabriel]

The choice was easier for me. I'm technically upgrading my 2008 Macbook to the MBA. Even though it's a difference from 2.4 to 1.86, the entire system architecture is miles different. I'll hardly lose even CPU performance.

I have the same 2008 white macbook and i'm still deciding wether to get an Air or not! i tried the Air at the store and for sure it's a NICE machine and is pretty fast but i'm not willing to buy old tech and it's near EOL.

My macbook still works fine for most tasks but i started getting into photography(hobby) and Aperture is kinda slow and i'm willing to wait and see what Apple does with the 13" Pro.

I'm hoping they get rid of the SSD and put and discrete graphic card and make it thinner and lighter. Maybe not as light at the Air but if the 13" loses a pound or so, it'd be light enough and still a powerful machine.

Just my 2 cents

 

[MaCamZa]

I have the same 2008 white macbook and i'm still deciding wether to get an Air or not! i tried the Air at the store and for sure it's a NICE machine and is pretty fast but i'm not willing to buy old tech and it's near EOL.

My macbook still works fine for most tasks but i started getting into photography(hobby) and Aperture is kinda slow and i'm willing to wait and see what Apple does with the 13" Pro.

I'm hoping they get rid of the SSD and put and discrete graphic card and make it thinner and lighter. Maybe not as light at the Air but if the 13" loses a pound or so, it'd be light enough and still a powerful machine.

Just my 2 cents

I too want to sell my macbook, obv, but i think ill wait to see what Apple do with their 13" Macbook Pro line; hopefully Core-i processor, otherwise - back to MBA dilemma

 

[foiden]

That's the main thing. I would doubt Apple would make the 13" Pro any smaller or lighter than it already is. Part of that reason is because it is the Pro. They have the unibody size down, and they'll probably continue to use it for some time to come. Anything noticeably thinner would be the Air line.

SSD is sort of the emergent technology right now. And it seems to be going through the proper period of depreciating prices for the amount of ram. Obviously, right now, if the Airs went back to the 1.8 drives, the costs for all of them would drop to the floor; but this isn't a bad transition period. A way to help drive SSD costs down and make them the new Hard Drives almost the same way CD/DVD killed the floppy drive.

I already have the MBP, and I'm keeping that for some time. If I was to upgrade that, I'll not only wait to see the i-series processors; I'll wait until they're paired with some suitable graphic hardware before I'd even consider it. And then again, my MBP serves all my Logic Pro needs and I haven't hit any walls with which I need more power, yet. I can also edit high-def video with it in Final Cut, no problem. I don't forsee a need to go beyond it, for some time. I may upgrade it with SSD after they have a few price depreciations, in the next couple of years.