I am glad I waited on purchasing myself a new laptop!! Also grateful I came to this site last night!! Anyways I currently have a MB and i am wanting an upgrade. I mostly use this for the web browsing and for college. I have online classes. I am considering the 13' MBA. Will it be able to handle college web browsing my Itunes and w/e else I may use it for or should I just get the MBP? I am also wanting to take w/e laptop I choose on a long flight in december as I may get very bored during the 15 hour flight! Anyways I do love the look of the MBA but not sure what to go for. Im not a gaming person just the web and college. Also if I wanted to upgrade to the 4GB does the Apple retailer sell those are or they only something you can do as an online purchase? Sorry it has been a while since I purchased a new laptop but I deff want to upgrade to something better and faster. Either one that would be best I am more than likely going with the 13' screen as I have a Dell mini and it sucks!! Going to get rid of that one!!
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New MBA or MBP?
- Thread starter bolsen78
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I think the MBP gives the best bang for everything you need it for.
plus you can add 8GB Ram and SSD yourself
I still like the option to rip a disc
before the next refresh I think is the best time to buy ... The 2010 13.3 MBP is just one slick little machine that will go down as being one of the best.
time will tell
plus you can add 8GB Ram and SSD yourself
I still like the option to rip a disc
before the next refresh I think is the best time to buy ... The 2010 13.3 MBP is just one slick little machine that will go down as being one of the best.
time will tell
Hmm you can have Microsoft Office on an Ipad? I did compare prices online and the MBA was slightly cheaper than the MBP.
I remember being in college, I had one computer which had to do everything I threw at it for a few years. My vote: MBP! I'm gonna get a new MBA but it won't be my principle computer...just my .02
Pages, Keynote, and Numbers are available on the iPad. Also keep in mind that the MacBook Air has a higher screen resolution than the 13" MacBook Pro and is equivalent to that of a 15" MacBook Pro (low-res).
Out of a 17" MBP, a Mac Pro w/ 12GB RAM, the MBA was handidly the fastest Mac I have ever used. Until I put an SSD in my new 13" MBP. Now that's the fastest.
MBA boot 25 Sec.
MBP boot 12 Sec. (hot damn)
You will also get more battery out of the MBP, 10 hours vs. 7
Note: Speed and power are not the same. While MBA is fast, rendering anything will be much slower than just about anything else apple sells.
MBA boot 25 Sec.
MBP boot 12 Sec. (hot damn)
You will also get more battery out of the MBP, 10 hours vs. 7
Note: Speed and power are not the same. While MBA is fast, rendering anything will be much slower than just about anything else apple sells.
I think the new MBA will boot faster than 25 secs. It won't be instant on like the iPad, probably, but it will be a lot faster than 25 secs.
I guess I will have to take a look at the MBA and MBP. I would want something that is lighter to carry this MB is heavy. Or I could keep the MB for school work and just get the base MBA for when I travel. But the Ipad sounds good to. I do not mind tossing my Dell mini I hate it with a passion and have always used my MB for everything. I just purchased the dell for some courses that Apple couldnt do. Until I recently found out about the Bootcamp. I looked online and the MBP isnt much lighter than what I have now. Idk tho as I have never held a MBP either so I guess I will have to compare them and see as long as the apple stores are selling them now.
I am deciding between the MBA and the MBP. I just got my 27in i7 imac so I am set for home use. When going to work I need something portable and light weight.
Now the MPA is 2.6lbs (13in)
the MBP is 4.5 lbs (13 in)
The battery is better in the MBP.
The cons of the MBP are it is heavier by a few pounds and its startup is a bit slower. (not that big of a deal to me) (what is 30-50 seconds anyways).
I like the mba because of its look and that is uses flash ssd. That is what I got in my iMac and I love it. Apps are instant open and the computer boot time is about 20 seconds.
The MBA also has a better display.
Most people probably wont understand what I just said because it is really just me having an internal debate but typing it out... lol.
I like the MBP because of the better battery and more power. But the ssd is a big deal for me. Yes I can get that in the MBP but it will cost about 300.00 extra.
Hmmm....
I will let you know what I decide.
Now the MPA is 2.6lbs (13in)
the MBP is 4.5 lbs (13 in)
The battery is better in the MBP.
The cons of the MBP are it is heavier by a few pounds and its startup is a bit slower. (not that big of a deal to me) (what is 30-50 seconds anyways).
I like the mba because of its look and that is uses flash ssd. That is what I got in my iMac and I love it. Apps are instant open and the computer boot time is about 20 seconds.
The MBA also has a better display.
Most people probably wont understand what I just said because it is really just me having an internal debate but typing it out... lol.
I like the MBP because of the better battery and more power. But the ssd is a big deal for me. Yes I can get that in the MBP but it will cost about 300.00 extra.
Hmmm....
I will let you know what I decide.
2.4ghz mbp is a way better deal. backlit keyboard, user upgradeable ram and hd, optical drive, sd slot on all mbp models, fw800, ethernet etc
It depends on how you would value the Mac and your money. If money is no object, the MBA is a heck of a lot more fun. It's also much faster for normal tasks you would be using it for. Instant on, super fast drive access, and fast apps, OS, and file opening.
Now, if your money is hard to come by, buy a MB or 13" MBP refurbished. Or, I guess you have educational discounts too. If you would value lightweight, ultraportable, don't need an optical drive, and don't care about ports, the MBA is a great alternative.
I actually think if I were in college, I would choose the 11" MBA low end. Add to that a display for the dorm room. You can connect up to a 30" ACD to it for full resolution. Use an external drive in the dorm room for major media and large files you don't use on a daily basis. You would have a heck of a Mac with both desktop and ultraportability. I have found 24" displays on Craig's List for my kids Macs for less than $125 each. There you could have the display and Mac and even a 320 GB mobile drive for around $1150 including taxes. Something like that would have been amazing back when I was in school.
The deal is you really need to decide what's important to you. Some might think the 10-hour battery is cool in the 13" MBP or MB, but in reality I doubt you would need it. Especially if the new MBAs actually get 5 and 7 hours from them.
Good luck with the Mac, and more importantly, good luck with school. Any current Mac is a wise choice and will retain value if you take care of it.
Now, if your money is hard to come by, buy a MB or 13" MBP refurbished. Or, I guess you have educational discounts too. If you would value lightweight, ultraportable, don't need an optical drive, and don't care about ports, the MBA is a great alternative.
I actually think if I were in college, I would choose the 11" MBA low end. Add to that a display for the dorm room. You can connect up to a 30" ACD to it for full resolution. Use an external drive in the dorm room for major media and large files you don't use on a daily basis. You would have a heck of a Mac with both desktop and ultraportability. I have found 24" displays on Craig's List for my kids Macs for less than $125 each. There you could have the display and Mac and even a 320 GB mobile drive for around $1150 including taxes. Something like that would have been amazing back when I was in school.
The deal is you really need to decide what's important to you. Some might think the 10-hour battery is cool in the 13" MBP or MB, but in reality I doubt you would need it. Especially if the new MBAs actually get 5 and 7 hours from them.
Good luck with the Mac, and more importantly, good luck with school. Any current Mac is a wise choice and will retain value if you take care of it.
Thank you for your response I was googling some more and even the base 11.6 isnt all that bad for college I just recently read that some where. I am not all that concerned about the battery life either. The light weight would be very nice as I am a very tiny girl. Money isnt a big issue I have the funds to get one. I was going to get the MBP but found out about the new MBA last night browsing the forum. So Im glad I didnt go to the apple store yesterday. I am also not concerned with the boot speed either just something lighter and something that will do what I do on my MB now. Thanks for your help I believe I like your response better!! So Apple store tomrrow and take a look and maybe purchase!! So excited!!
Yeah, for a notebook? That will be amazing!
SSD and weight are a big deal to me. I bike to work as much as possible so every lb. counts when it is hauled in a pack.
Agreed. And on a side note: if money is hard to come by, these forums are dangerous territory! Lol!
@chimera-se
Well riding a bike and having a big MB in my backpack would be a pain in the butt!! I usually lug my MB with me pretty much every where so I love that the MBA is very light and the MBP I found out isnt much lighter than my MB. I am not concerned with the price. I am also wanting to take it with me for my Dubai flight in December. I tend to get bored easily and ADHD kicks in madly when I sit too long so this and my Iphone plus the flight movies will keep me occupied. So for me I am thinking I am going with the base MBA 11.6. But I will also keep my MB for at home use. And give my Dell to a family member as I find it to be nasty!! Not trying to knock Windows but my MB performs much better than my Dell by far and my Dell is not a year old yet but I have had to restore it 4 times already to factory. My MB is 3 years old and nothing wrong with it a of yet except a few cracks in the plastic. So I think I made my decision and hoping to have the new MBA tomorrow!!
Well riding a bike and having a big MB in my backpack would be a pain in the butt!! I usually lug my MB with me pretty much every where so I love that the MBA is very light and the MBP I found out isnt much lighter than my MB. I am not concerned with the price. I am also wanting to take it with me for my Dubai flight in December. I tend to get bored easily and ADHD kicks in madly when I sit too long so this and my Iphone plus the flight movies will keep me occupied. So for me I am thinking I am going with the base MBA 11.6. But I will also keep my MB for at home use. And give my Dell to a family member as I find it to be nasty!! Not trying to knock Windows but my MB performs much better than my Dell by far and my Dell is not a year old yet but I have had to restore it 4 times already to factory. My MB is 3 years old and nothing wrong with it a of yet except a few cracks in the plastic. So I think I made my decision and hoping to have the new MBA tomorrow!!
Awww, I'm jealous! I'm going to go look at the new MBA's this weekend! I don't know how long your Dubai trip is, but consider an external battery charger. I know too many people who have had their laptop batteries toasted by differing currents overseas...then again everything in Dubai is kinda top of the line, so you might be ok. And don't even get me started on Dell Good luck with the new Mac, and safe travels!
Cheers!
Good luck with the new Mac, and safe travels!Cheers!
Awww, I'm jealous! I'm going to go look at the new MBA's this weekend! I don't know how long your Dubai trip is, but consider an external battery charger. I know too many people who have had their laptop batteries toasted by differing currents overseas...then again everything in Dubai is kinda top of the line, so you might be ok. And don't even get me started on Dell
Cheers!
Thanks!! Good luck to you as well when you are able to purchase one. I read some where that the Apple Stores may not even have them until this weekend or maybe early next week. Ill be in Dubai for a month so I will keep the external battery in mind for sure thanks for the tip!! LOL looks like you hate Dell as mush as I do!!
well if i were in your situation which i was about 2 months ago even with the new air update, i would still pick the pro every time. Ill list some pros/cons just from my personal experience.
Air
Pro's
Lighter
faster boot and app launches
smaller
Cons
Not upgradeable for memory or ram
no optical drive for discs (movies,cd's,software)
no backlit keyboard
not a very nice spec set compared to pro (longevity)
MBP
Pro's
Better specs, will last longer
better battery
backlit keyboard
optical drive
upgradeable yourself
Cons
Heavier
a bit more expensive
Now thats just from my experience the air is cool, but for future proofing not so much. I actually even went for the 15in macbook pro as the extra weight doesnt bother me since i carry it in a backpack. College doesnt require very intensive programs unless you are in media/autocad. But to get the best bang for your buck i would go with the MBP.
Even with externals and such a external HD has slower speeds then a built in from my experiences with them. Which for certain things can be very bothersome.
Air
Pro's
Lighter
faster boot and app launches
smaller
Cons
Not upgradeable for memory or ram
no optical drive for discs (movies,cd's,software)
no backlit keyboard
not a very nice spec set compared to pro (longevity)
MBP
Pro's
Better specs, will last longer
better battery
backlit keyboard
optical drive
upgradeable yourself
Cons
Heavier
a bit more expensive
Now thats just from my experience the air is cool, but for future proofing not so much. I actually even went for the 15in macbook pro as the extra weight doesnt bother me since i carry it in a backpack. College doesnt require very intensive programs unless you are in media/autocad. But to get the best bang for your buck i would go with the MBP.
Even with externals and such a external HD has slower speeds then a built in from my experiences with them. Which for certain things can be very bothersome.
A lot of people are comparing mbp or MBA they are completely different machines and their uses are totally different. A photographer or video editor wouldn't buy a MacBook air its isn't quick enough it loses functionality mba is for business heads that need documents on the go and emails internet maybe some music and light photo uses. Why people are comparing is beyond me,
MBA vs MBP - Performance only?
Sounds like a lot of us have been waiting for the new MBS to make this decision!
I've currently got a 2008 unibody 13" pro, 2.4GHz, 4g RAM, 256G SSD (Crucial M225). It copes perfectly with my usage - running all of the MS Office Apps at the same time, including 8+ spreadsheets simultaneously.
I've been desperate to switch to the Air for weight loss, and am now wondering if the current version (13", 2.13 GHz, 4g RAM, 256 flash) will cope as well.
Does anyone have any idea whether it will give the same performance in terms of speed of application operation, switching, and start-up?
(I'm only looking to match performance here - not worried about battery, keyboard, cost, ports, optical drive, and user upgradeability)
Thanks in advance!
Sounds like a lot of us have been waiting for the new MBS to make this decision!
I've currently got a 2008 unibody 13" pro, 2.4GHz, 4g RAM, 256G SSD (Crucial M225). It copes perfectly with my usage - running all of the MS Office Apps at the same time, including 8+ spreadsheets simultaneously.
I've been desperate to switch to the Air for weight loss, and am now wondering if the current version (13", 2.13 GHz, 4g RAM, 256 flash) will cope as well.
Does anyone have any idea whether it will give the same performance in terms of speed of application operation, switching, and start-up?
(I'm only looking to match performance here - not worried about battery, keyboard, cost, ports, optical drive, and user upgradeability)
Thanks in advance!
I have the MBP, but am tempted to get the air. If you can afford the highest spec 13" air then that will have a CPU nearly as fast as the MBP anyway.
The only reason I'm looking into getting an air is because of all the hype around it and how amazing it looks. However, the power of my MBP is a ton greater than the lowest end MBA and so is better value imo.
Up to you, power vs portability.
The only reason I'm looking into getting an air is because of all the hype around it and how amazing it looks. However, the power of my MBP is a ton greater than the lowest end MBA and so is better value imo.
Up to you, power vs portability.