Should I purchase a MacBook air 13"? I currently have a 24" 2.66 core 2 duo iMac, a 16 gigabyte iPad and cannot decide between the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. I am a high school student and can go as high as $1499. I would use the laptop for Photoshop, programming, video watching, ilife suite usage, abelton, Microsoft office. Since I am a student weight is an option. What is your opinion? (I would wait for the updated mbp )
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MBA VS MBP for High School Student
- Thread starter Jdstew1234
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Macbook is the most durable for a high school student, i am a H.s student, i take mine everywhere.. Plastic holds up better, doesnt dent or ding..
MBA holds up the best. Macbook plastic scratches and cracks and discolors. MBA tossed in between a bunch of books won't develop any keyboard impressions on the screen (possibility with a macbook), and will be the lightest least noticeable addition to your bag. Well worth it, IMO. No need to wait, make it a Christmas gift 
Aluminum can easily dents and dings, and scratches to give those deep grooves. It's much less durable than the white polycarbonate in my opinion. Also being thinner, I'm not surprised if the whole thing warp when tossed around with books.
I wish I had that kind of money when I was in HS. I remember working my ass off all summer long so I could afford to buy an Atari 800 (yeah, this was a looooong time ago).
There are very, very few reasons I'd recommend the 13" MBP. In its current form, its performance is laughable when compared to a 13" MBA. You are basically buying an aluminum-clad plastic Macbook and for that reason I'd suggest the plastic Macbook over the 13" MBP. Seriously, its the worst buy in the whole Mac lineup now on a price-to-performance ratio. The only people who defend it are those who are clearly jealous of the 13" MBA out-performing it in benchmarks.
That said, I can see where the optical drive would be of value to a high school student. You'll use it for ripping, watching ordinary DVD's and maybe even playing audio CD's since this could be your only media center in your room.
I'd say go Plastic Macbook and take the $500 you'll save and sink it into something like a really good backpack or maybe some software.
There are very, very few reasons I'd recommend the 13" MBP. In its current form, its performance is laughable when compared to a 13" MBA. You are basically buying an aluminum-clad plastic Macbook and for that reason I'd suggest the plastic Macbook over the 13" MBP. Seriously, its the worst buy in the whole Mac lineup now on a price-to-performance ratio. The only people who defend it are those who are clearly jealous of the 13" MBA out-performing it in benchmarks.
That said, I can see where the optical drive would be of value to a high school student. You'll use it for ripping, watching ordinary DVD's and maybe even playing audio CD's since this could be your only media center in your room.
I'd say go Plastic Macbook and take the $500 you'll save and sink it into something like a really good backpack or maybe some software.
I just graduated from College and would have loved to have an MBA during that time. Carrying my hefty laptop in my bag with my steel/concrete books got to be a workout. I vote MBA. How can you afford this? haha
Yeah I planned to get the 13" mbp but after the mba refreah it just became a silly buy. The only thing it has over the air is storage space. I'll just wait till the next refresh to pick one up
I am also a high school student and bought the 13in air. I could not be happier with it. I previously owned a 13in MBP 2009 and the new air runs circles around it plus it being 1.5LBS makes a big difference when you have 20+ pounds of books.
I would say get the air.
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