Which would be FASTER?

[mikeBCpro5]

So I was contemplating between a MBP and MBA both being 2010 models and which one would be faster? Here is the comparison:

Macbook Pro 2.4ghz with Crucial 256GB SSD with Crucial 8GB of RAM

or

Macbook Air 2.13ghz/4gb/256gb

I mean faster as in overall performance/ photoshop / and other programs in that nature. Another reason I am asking is because I have financing at best buy and can't get an "ultimate" macbook air there but can get a macbook pro and upgrade myself.

Thanks.

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

The MBP

 

[zstar]

Don't bother comparing the latest MBA's and MBP's, the MBP will always win.

 

[mikeBCpro5]

oh okay, well thank you for your comments!

 

[eba]

The MBP will definitely be faster. You can't justify getting a MBA over a MBP based on speed or any other measure of performance. That's why the MBPs are the "pro" version.

The only reason to get a MBA is if you want/need a smaller form factor. The new MBA cuts the performance gap somewhat, and thus makes the MBA a viable option to a MBP. But the MBP is still a better performing machine.

This isn't criticism of the MBA. I love mine. But people shouldn't view it as an alternative to a MBP in terms of sheer performance.

 

[kdoug]

The MBP will definitely be faster. You can't justify getting a MBA over a MBP based on speed or any other measure of performance. That's why the MBPs are the "pro" version.

The only reason to get a MBA is if you want/need a smaller form factor. The new MBA cuts the performance gap somewhat, and thus makes the MBA a viable option to a MBP. But the MBP is still a better performing machine.

This isn't criticism of the MBA. I love mine. But people shouldn't view it as an alternative to a MBP in terms of sheer performance.

Keep in mind he's using a MBP with a 256SSD. None of the 13" MBP's offer a speed advantage over the Air with a HD.

 

[Gen]

mbp

 

[zub3qin]

MBA-
Even with SSD, the MBP won't read/write to the drive as fast.
The MBA SSD is more "integrated" into the motherboard and Apple has optimized it in a way that replacement SSD drives in other MBP's can't be.

I don't see much difference in everyday usage between 4 and 8GB RAM (there would be a real diff between 2 and 4GB)

The differences in processors will also be negligible.

 

[zstar]

MBA-
Even with SSD, the MBP won't read/write to the drive as fast.
The MBA SSD is more "integrated" into the motherboard and Apple has optimized it in a way that replacement SSD drives in other MBP's can't be.

I don't see much difference in everyday usage between 4 and 8GB RAM (there would be a real diff between 2 and 4GB)

The differences in processors will also be negligible.

You forgot the graphics card, easily x2, x3 of the MBA's performance. Processor performance is definitely noticeable in more demanding apps and tasks (Photoshop etc.)

SSD in the MBA may be a little faster but easily beaten by getting a top of the line SSD drive for the MBP.

 

[kdoug]

So I was contemplating between a MBP and MBA both being 2010 models and which one would be faster? Here is the comparison:

Macbook Pro 2.4ghz with Crucial 256GB SSD with Crucial 8GB of RAM

or

Macbook Air 2.13ghz/4gb/256gb

I mean faster as in overall performance/ photoshop / and other programs in that nature. Another reason I am asking is because I have financing at best buy and can't get an "ultimate" macbook air there but can get a macbook pro and upgrade myself.

Thanks.

Here's a link to my Xbench benchmark score on my 13" MBA ultimate. BTW, it smoked my 13" MBP 2.66GHZ........
http://db.xbench.com/merge.xhtml?doc2=479731

 

[jnc]

Faster, newer processor, better GPU, twice the RAM - surely the MBP config wins it.

 

[miata]

The other nice thing abou the MBPs is that you can upgrade the SSDs over time to get even faster and bigger. The MBAs are pretty nice today, but in two years you are stuck with old technology.