MBP to MBA?

[DonMega]

I currently own a Late 2008 (5,1) MacBook Pro 15" 2.53GHz C2D. I am looking to go smaller and more portable. Here are the options I'm considering.

1. 11.6" MacBook Air with 4GB RAM. Does the 1.6GHz vs. 1.4GHz make that much difference?

2. iPad 2 64GB Wi-Fi +3G

3. Keep the MBP and replace the HDD with OCZ Vertex 2 from amazon ($400) and bump the RAM to 8GB (~$70) (This option is strictly from the realm of fiscal responsibility; my current MBP is still an awesome machine and is in mint condition despite being hauled all over the SE United States.)

I am a photographer and am pretty mobile. I shoot youth sports among other things and have a booth that I sell photos out of. I also like the idea of the MBA or iPad as a portfolio.

Please chime in with any questions or advice that you may have.

Thanks,

Don

 

[HawtTuna]

I think you should be fine with the Macbook Air, if you're just transferring photos, light photoshop work to touch them up.

Storage space may be an issue, carrying around a few extra external harddrives might not make it so portable after all plus you'll have to get the 13 inch to get the SD slot.

Also 1.4ghz vs 1.6ghz isn't much at all, I wouldn't waste the money on it. If you're dead set on the Macbook Air 11 inch, I'd say get the 4gigs of ram and 128 gig SSD drive.

 

[vincenz]

I'd suggest going for the SSD and extra RAM, especially since you're a photographer. Not to mention the extra screen space. The extra processing power you have right now will be useful at some point too. No sense in downgrading.

 

[DeusEx]

The MacBook Air: A professional photographer's best friend


http://www.macworld.com/article/158047/2011/02/mbaforphotographers.html

 

[MrXiro]

I am pretty sure I have the same MBP as you; Late 2008 Unibody 15 inch with the 9600m GT (512mb RAM)... I thought it maxes out at 6gb of RAM though... not 8... I could be wrong. I asked a similar question the other day though. I'm also debating on getting the "Ultimate" 11-inch MBA... but then the extra SD slot and .26ghz of the base model 13-inch (with upgraded 4gb RAM) over the 11-inch sounds like a better deal. Considering they are the same price on Refurb. Not sure which one to get...

I read that an SSD will show speed increase but very little battery life increase and I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $$ just for that.

I'm planning on selling mine (including the 500GB Momentus XT HDD) for 1000 bucks to a friend so I can buy one of the MBA

I'd love to know what you all think.

Also can the 1.6ghz 4gb 11inch handle 1080p video? I know the base one cannot.

 

[danielveeee]

i just sold my 15 mbp ag, and bought a base model 13...
i dont do much, no editing or anything, just schoolwork,
but for what its worth... IM SUPER HAPPY. and having a blast working on it

 

[marzxbarz]

I was in the same boat as you, and decided to pick up a refurbished MBA 13" Ultimate to at least give it a test drive (no restocking fee, yay!), and really loved it. I quickly got over the fact that there was no backlit keyboard, and the weight is incredible.

I was lucky and found another 13" MBA Ultimate on eBay for 1.5k flat, and saved myself about a hundred bucks returning the refurb. It's been about two months since I've had the MBA and I definitely do not miss the 15"

 

[DonMega]

I am pretty sure I have the same MBP as you; Late 2008 Unibody 15 inch with the 9600m GT (512mb RAM)... I thought it maxes out at 6gb of RAM though... not 8... I could be wrong. I asked a similar question the other day though. I'm also debating on getting the "Ultimate" 11-inch MBA... but then the extra SD slot and .26ghz of the base model 13-inch (with upgraded 4gb RAM) over the 11-inch sounds like a better deal. Considering they are the same price on Refurb. Not sure which one to get...

I read that an SSD will show speed increase but very little battery life increase and I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $$ just for that.

I'm planning on selling mine (including the 500GB Momentus XT HDD) for 1000 bucks to a friend so I can buy one of the MBA

I'd love to know what you all think.

Also can the 1.6ghz 4gb 11inch handle 1080p video? I know the base one cannot.

I just found out that with 10.6.6 and the lastest EFI bootrom it can handle 8GB just fine.

 

[DonMega]

Solution Update

Well,

I just wanted to come back and update the thread. I decided to purchase the SSD and RAM to keep my MacBook Pro viable for a little while longer. I think it was the most economical approach.

It comes in tomorrow and I will post another update on performance when I get everything installed.

Thanks to everyone that responded.

 

[MrXiro]

I just found out that with 10.6.6 and the lastest EFI bootrom it can handle 8GB just fine.

Is the efi bootrom something I need to do besides update to snow leopard? I just ordered 8 gb ram and a 256 gb crucial ssd based on your recommendation. Eager to hear about your progress. Battery life speed etc.

 

[MrXiro]

Well,

I just wanted to come back and update the thread. I decided to purchase the SSD and RAM to keep my MacBook Pro viable for a little while longer. I think it was the most economical approach.

It comes in tomorrow and I will post another update on performance when I get everything installed.

Thanks to everyone that responded.

What's the verdict? How's it work?

 

[Cerano]

I am pretty sure I have the same MBP as you; Late 2008 Unibody 15 inch with the 9600m GT (512mb RAM)... I thought it maxes out at 6gb of RAM though... not 8... I could be wrong. I asked a similar question the other day though. I'm also debating on getting the "Ultimate" 11-inch MBA... but then the extra SD slot and .26ghz of the base model 13-inch (with upgraded 4gb RAM) over the 11-inch sounds like a better deal. Considering they are the same price on Refurb. Not sure which one to get...

I read that an SSD will show speed increase but very little battery life increase and I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $$ just for that.

I'm planning on selling mine (including the 500GB Momentus XT HDD) for 1000 bucks to a friend so I can buy one of the MBA

I'd love to know what you all think.

Also can the 1.6ghz 4gb 11inch handle 1080p video? I know the base one cannot.

yes my 11" ultimate can handle without any prob

 

[MrXiro]

yes my 11" ultimate can handle without any prob

Sweet! I really want to get one.

 

[2IS]

I would opt for the 1.6GHz. I've read numerous complaints on here that the 1.4GHz doesn't play back certain HD video's very smoothly where as the 1.6 does.

 

[MrXiro]

Man... Well I know someone who wants to buy my mbp... if they do I'm moving to MBA