MPA/MBP... Blah, blah, blah

[ademuth93]

I posted this in the MacBook Pro thread, but I'll post it here, too.

Well, I'm heading off to college next year, and I'm looking to got a laptop. I'll probably be doing some CAD work, a little photography, some programming, and, of course, some gaming.

There seems to be endless debate on the forums about which laptop is best for which person, and I'll be the first to admit my thread is nowhere near unique.

I would really love the sleekness, portability, and price (as compared to 15" ultimate MBP + SSD, AG) of the MBA, but I would really like my computer to last me through my undergrad years, and hopefully some grad school. It seems like the MBA could become a little dated in that amount of time.

So, I ask you all: will the MacBook Air be relatively future-proof for 8 (or at least 4) years, or will its performance start to suffer with new OSs, et c. that Apple throws at us? For that matter, will the MBP be future-proof (to a certain degree)?

Let's hear what you have to say!

 

[theyanman]

Agree that the MBA will seem outdated in even a couple years time, but if your primary purpose is to ensure that your computer doesn't become outdated, then go with the MBP.

You can upgrade to a SSD and replace the HD. You can upgrade the 4GB of RAM to 8GB of RAM. It has a quad core processor in it. It should handle anything you throw at it during your undergrad and grad years.

If you don't mind the added weight, I think the MBP is the best choice for you.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[MRU]

Any computer in 4 years will seem outdated by the present standard, regardless of whether it's a MBA or a MBP.

That being said your mileage will prob go further with the MacBook Pro.

If your planning on future proofing the device upgrade components that can not be updated at a later date.

Choose the best screen option (higher res), the best processor modl you can reach to and the best GPU available. These are more important than upgrading the HDD to a SSD as that can be done at a later date whilst the former can not.

 

[vincenz]

Go for the MacBook pro. Until they update the MBA with the new chips, I don't see how theyre worth it.