Please help me in my dilemma to decide! // Ultimate Air or MBP

[jinxednuance]

Ahh, I hate MacRurmos! All they do is confuse me further and further! I am glued to this website!!!!

Ok, so I got the Ultimate Air two weeks ago and used it for a little while and loved it. Apple however labeled it DOA because I had a flickering screen (it was a refurb). Now, all the time that I've used the Air, it was instant love. Admittedly, I was annoyed by the no-wake-up issue after a long sleep, but I was forgiving because of how beautiful and smooth the machine was.

Then after returning it, I got the new Macbook Pro (not refurb) and now I'm sitting around with this rather bulky (compared to the Air) machine.

What will I be needing it for? Primarily, I plan on installing Parallels and Windows 7 with moderate computing. I don't have sophisticated needs (from my experience, ultimate handled what I needed more promptly than base / air).

The only reason why I want to stick with the Pro is value for money -- only. If the new Air comes out, I know I would lose more money than if the new Pro came out (ratios, respectively for each model).

But on the other hand, I'm completely in love with the Air Ultimate and I think it's THE machine, even though, compared to a Pro, it is 600$ more expensive.

What do I do?! Shove up 1kg of extra weight into my back and save $600 or just pay $600 and get the ultimate computing machine?

Yes, I can afford both. But I'm trying to be logical...

 

[Onimusha370]

i'm loving the ultimate air, i think you'd enjoy it much more than the pro.
just spend the extra money and enjoy every minute of it.

 

[jinxednuance]

I know this might be untrue and it's just in my head, but I felt like the Air Ultimate is faster than the Pro... Maybe it's just me. But honestly, I never waited on anything with the Ultimate.

It's like having a Bentley GT and a Lambo SuperVeloce . Both are fast, but one is lighter and swifter than the other!

 

[entatlrg]

Okay ....

#1 - it's obvious you want and like the MacBook Air

#2 - you concern is "value for the money"

#3 - you can afford either one

Definitely buy the MacBook Air.

Buy what you truly want. You only live once.

What does value for the money mean anyway ... people make a decision based on what's best for the 'money' ... then in this example you buy the 15" and can tell yourself "good move for the money".

But what about your everyday needs? You get this 15" and often or always wish it was the thinner, lighter, cooler, more fun, easier to carry MacBook Air, there's no value there, except at the end you 'might' get a higher resale value for it.

The true value in a notebook is from how it serves you everyday and enjoy using it everyday ... not from making a buying decision on maybe getting a few hundred bucks more on the back end.

Buying what you think you need, or perceived future value ... is it worth it? No, begrudging the size and weight of a computer everyday you're using it, knowing there's another notebook out there you enjoy using more ... it lessons the enjoyable computer experience...

Your decision should be easy now

Post back what you end up buying, good luck!

 

[jinxednuance]

I'm removing all the software installed on the pro and going to the Apple Store to buy a the Air in one hour.

I can't believe I considered the Pro...

 

[entatlrg]

Right on, congrat's!

 

[neteng101]

What do I do?! Shove up 1kg of extra weight into my back and save $600 or just pay $600 and get the ultimate computing machine?

Price out a 256GB SSD upgrade for the Pro... it won't be such a bargain after that. I really never want to ever have a laptop with a normal hard drive again as the boot drive, its horribly slow in comparison with any SSD.

It sounds like you really like the Ultimate - I'd say get one today if it meets your needs. Really happy with my 13" Ultimate, yes it doesn't have the pure CPU horsepower of the new MBPs (not talking the 13" but the 15"/17" models with the quads) but it does everything I do daily on it beautifully.

 

[christophermdia]

I "downgraded" from the 15" i7 with ssd to the 13" ultimate air....the air is much peppier, and the "take with you" experience is second to none...well maybe second to the 11" only

I have no regrets. When it comes time to upgrade and sell, well thats a decision we will have to make when its time. I plan on passing this air down to my wife once new airs come out that way its not so much a waste. I was going to get her an 11" but I benefit more to wait a while. In the end I wanted to sell my 15, but resale isnt that great on the 2010 15" so I am hanging on to it to use as a server until the price is right....

 

[major7]

I plan on passing this air down to my wife once new airs come out that way its not so much a waste

me too!

 

[stockscalper]

Everything you say you're running will run great on the Air. Just get it, and you won't regret it.

 

[teerexx52]

I'm going to keep my 13" Ultimate Air, my iphone and ipad 2. Going to sell the 11". The 13" for me is the sweet spot. My wife is going to go from her 11" Air back to a 13" MBP. No accounting for wives

 

[HiddenGem]

I'm going to keep my 13" Ultimate Air, my iphone and ipad 2. Going to sell the 11". The 13" for me is the sweet spot. My wife is going to go from her 11" Air back to a 13" MBP. No accounting for wives

I take it you are totally happy with the washed screen compared to the pro's?

 

[teerexx52]

I take it you are totally happy with the washed screen compared to the pro's?

My son was here a few weeks ago with his new MacBook Pro 13". For whatever reason we sat his and my 13" Air next to each other on the table. He took a look and said " why does my screen look so yellowish compared to yours"?

I did take my wife's 11" to the Apple Store locally and we compared the screens of her's and a Pro 13" We both saw no real fault with either. The glass on the 13" did give it a different look but not better or worse in our opinions.

Anyone else make the comparison between the Air's screen and the 13" Macbook Pro? Would appreciate some additional opinions

 

[tmoerel]

I take it you are totally happy with the washed screen compared to the pro's?

After proper calibration the MBA's screeen looks great!

 

[teerexx52]

After proper calibration the MBA's screeen looks great!

Did you use any particular profile?

 

[Boston007]

I think it's pretty clear you want the Ultimate Air.
Get the Ultimate Air
Deep down you really want it, and if you don't get it you will have a lingering doubt for the rest of your life(or the life of the MBA LOL)

You know it

I know it

The American people know it

 

[HiddenGem]

After proper calibration the MBA's screeen looks great!

What's your colour profile?

 

[tmoerel]

Did you use any particular profile?

Nope.... I used a Huey Pro calibrator. This generates a color profile specifically for your screen. If you need to rely on real colors, investing in a hardware color calibrator is essential!

Every LCD panel can be slightly different so using someone elses profile never is a perfect solution!!

 

[ovrkast]

A few days ago I switched to the 13" MBA Ultimate from the 2011 SB MBP 15" Hi-Res, 256SSD, 8GB RAM. The 15" was just too much of a computer for my needs, and was too bulky to lug around. Although it was a very snappy and powerful computer, it also heated up pretty quickly to the point where I can hardly touch the aluminum body.

I used to own the 11" MBA Ultimate but sold that to get the 15" MBP, and now I find myself back with the MBA. The 11" was awesome, but the screen real estate was too diminuative for my needs. My new 13" MBA is a great median between the three, and does everything I need regardless of the dated C2D processor. As you can see, I've experienced all 3 three models and have had my trials and tribulations, but in the end I couldn't be more happy with the 13" MBA Ultimate.

 

[The Catalyst]

I'm removing all the software installed on the pro and going to the Apple Store to buy a the Air in one hour.

I can't believe I considered the Pro...

You've made a wise decision.