XCode Development Laptop Recommendation

[BBuff]

I would appreciate any input you guys can provided.

I'm a Windows/Web developer and looking to dip my toes in the iOS world and I'm in the market for a new laptop. I've got a pretty powerful desktop for the Windows side. I've been looking at the entry level MBP since I won't do any gaming on it (although I think I'd like to do some basic video editting of my daughter - not sure if that makes a difference in which model). Then the Airs caught my eye - I believe this is simply due to the form factor and I don't plan on really taking the laptop anywhere all that often. I've got a Dell Precision M4400 Core 2 Extreme that I don't think has left the house more than 5 times in 2 years. Now, if it were more portable that might be different story.

Anyway, I can get the Air from my local BB with 2GB ram, but for development that concerns me - especially since it's not user upgradable. My closest Apple store is almost 2 hours away and I don't want to order it online. Yeah, I'm weird like that.

So, all that being said, what's the recommendation for me for doing XCode, MS Office, and the like?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond.

BBuff

 

[PraisiX-windows]

I'm pretty sure Apple won't secretly give your credit card and shoe size details to aliens who will soon invade the earth, and use the information to probe you, so I'd say don't be afraid to buy online, it's easier.

Not knowing the requirements of xcode I wouldn't know whether the MBA or the MBP will be best for you. But I'd think the Sandy Bridge specced MBA which is to be released according to rumors in a few weeks, will be sufficient.
- I would definately order it online to be able to get the 4gb of ram, however, the refresh of the MBA MIGHT contain a 4gb ram standard configuration, but I doubt it.

My advice is to get the MBA after the refresh, but if you find that xcode is a heavy program, I'd probably get the MBP.

 

[NutsNGum]

Yep. Wait for the sandy bridge refresh and go for a 128gb ssd, 4 gigs of RAM on the low end 13. Just order it online with a credit card and you should be fine.

I'm going to be getting mine on the release day, I had a shot of the 11 and 13 today and feel the 13 would be a bit better doing work on for a longer period. The 11" is very cool, but the 5 hour battery life is the thing putting me off, compared to the 7 hours on the 13.

It should improve in the next model though, especially if apple decides to go the fully integrated graphics route with the HD3000, which wouldn't bother me especially as I'm no gamer and if I was, I wouldn't do it on an Air.

 

[BBuff]

I'm not afraid to buy but would rather buy locally so I can have it now. There's not an advantage to me buying online if I can get the configuration I need locally.

Thanks for the laugh...

 

[SeanU]

I would appreciate any input you guys can provided.
BBuff

I've been using XCode 4 on the base 11" (2gb/64gb). The only slowdown i have seen so far is when the program went online to download the docs and things got really slow. Disk space is getting a little cramped with the 64gb SSD. It's the only laptop I've owned that I don't mind carrying every day, so from that perspective its a real winner. As everyone is saying, if you can wait a bit... see what happens when the refresh comes along.

Sean

 

[firewood]

There are some reports that the latest XCode 4 works better with 4 GB, which is what I have. The MBA 11 is so portable that I've been using it as my primary Xcode development machine, so that I am rarely ever tied to coding at my desk. It's about like carrying a magazine to read out under a tree in the garden on a nice summer day.

My current MBA 11 builds large iOS apps reasonably quickly, but if you don't use it for gaming or OpenCL, the upcoming MBA models will probably perform even better.

 

[PraisiX-windows]

I'm not afraid to buy but would rather buy locally so I can have it now. There's not an advantage to me buying online if I can get the configuration I need locally.

Thanks for the laugh...

Hehe, alright. - However I do think the only way to get 4 gb of ram is to buy it online.

 

[michaelz]

My advice is to get the MBA after the refresh, but if you find that xcode is a heavy program, I'd probably get the MBP.

xcode is not a heavy program doesn't require much processing power. But 4GB should be the minimal to have for OS X. The yet to be released 13" MBA should be perfect machine for almost anything.

 

[BBuff]

Yeah, I think you're right on that point. I'm holding out to see what the new MBA's hold. Not a big deal since I'm currently stuck in the "Analysis Paralysis" phase.

Hehe, alright. - However I do think the only way to get 4 gb of ram is to buy it online.

 

[rovitotv]

Here is my setup for XCode

I have an 11" Ultimate 4 GB RAM/128 GB SSD plus 32 GB USB Lexar, the machine is used almost everyday for development in xcode. Normally my MBA would be connected to a 30" LCD panel with Apple Magic Mouse and Apple keyboard. I have both Mac OS X and Windows 7 installed for development testing, the machine can run both (even at the same time). So for me the Ultimate was worth the $300 extra it costs, I could not imagine doing development on less. My only compliant is being constrained for SSD space which is why I got the 32 GB USB Lexar (tiny) drive.