Macbook Air 13" Or Pro 13"?

I need to get myself a new laptop as my son has pretty much taken my Asus G73 to be his own. I dont actually mind as its too big a clunky for what I need a laptop for, in fact I wonder what ever possesed me to buy it in the first place.

I used to own a Macbook Pro 17" and that served me well. I am now looking for something to take away on business with me and to just have floating around the house to use as and when. I will definaltelybe putting photoshop on it and will possibly want to do video editing on it. Games? undecided. would be nice to have a few on it, but its not a neccescity.

With this in mind I cant seem to decide what to get. Macbook Air would be perect but the storage options are really not very good. Maybe an Air with a good external drive?

Pro seems really attractive. More storage, but do I need the extra weight? Do I need an optical drive?

I do get a corporate discount through my firm as well so I get an addiotnal 8% off.

I just cant decide.

What do you think?

 

I would say go for the air, there is hardly any reason to go for the cmbp 13. if you really want gaming and are satisfied with the performance that you have with your g73, the rmbp 15 is a good choice. the 650m is around 20-30% faster than the g73 in terms of gpu.

 

If its between the Air 13 and Pro 13, take the former. I would also like to call your attention to the 15-inch "classic." The low-end model still has decent gaming chops and can be ordered with a matte screen, which I highly recommend.

 

Its a tough call because they are priced so similarly

 

You have to decide what your priorities are. If you value portability over gaming, get the Air. If the opposite, get the Pro.

 

keep in mind that the cMBP comes with a HDD while the MBA 13" comes with an integrated SSD.

 

Not true. Though you can replace the Air's SSD, it's not usually cost effective to do so unless you can find a deal on eBay for a 2nd hand OEM part. The drives OWC sells are too pricey.

 

lol, you are totally correct obviously. i was mixing up RAM and storage in my head. apologies.

 

I find myself in the same boat as you are Shaggy.

Its really tough to get a fix between MBA & MBP. I need a laptop for home use, Mostly web browsing, movies and stuff. - So between MBA & cMBP this is what I feel

13in MBA -
* + Ultraportable
* + Better Screen
* - 8 GB base model costs around $1300
* -- Zero Upgrades (huge negative)

13in cMBP -
* + Better Processor
* + Upgradable (I am planning to use this for the next couple of years atleast)
* ~ Weight (since I dont travel with the laptop a lot, weight is not a major factor i am not seeing it under the negatives)
* - Lower Res Screen - I saw them together in an apple store and I feel MBA has a better screen, but cMBP screen isnt bad.

Personally, apart from the Screen, cMBP is more than makes for MBA's advantage.

So here are my queries -

If I change the HDD in a 13in MBP to an SSD, would it perform similar if not identical to MBA? Theoretically, since MBP has a much better processor it should do tasks quicker than the MBA which has a ULV.

Amazon sells these MBP for 1099 (saw it retail at 1019 a couple of days ago), so is it OK to get it from Amazon instead of apple?

Or am I missing something that makes MBA much more a worthy buy than MBP at any cost point?

Sorry to hijack your thread Shaggy, didn't want to create a new thread for a very similar question!

 

actually the cpu on the mbp 13 is not radically better than the one in the mba. Actually the i7 3667m has the same power as the i5 that the mbp has. Its a very minimal difference as it stands right now.

The SSD in the mbp 13 is going to add the responsiveness of it, a very worthy upgrade

you can also find the mbp 13 for 999, also check the refurb part of apple store. Btw the mbp screen is better, but the res on the mba is higher.

 

I can only think of two reasons to buy the non-retina MBP 13 over the MBA 13:
If you need more than 256GB storage (512GB is available in the Air but really expensive)
If you really need the optical drive while traveling

The MBP does have a slightly better processor, but the performance difference is small enough to be irrelevant unless you're converting a lot of videos or doing 3D rendering or something like that - in which case neither machine is a good buy. Similarly, the MBP can run games a little faster, but not significantly faster and if gaming is a priority then neither is a good choice.

They both max out at 8GB of memory, so the difference in upgradeability is limited to being able to install a HDD in the MBP.

 

actually the mbp 13 can take 16gb.

 

To add, this capability was available in last year's model. Apple's documentation always showed 8 GB as the max.

 

It's easier to make this choice once you can decide for yourself which is more important: the Air's higher resolution 1400x900 screen, or the 13" Pro's upgradability.

I had last year's Air 13 for a while. Performance is perfectly fine, but I was limited by the 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD as I run Parallels with multiple VMs. I saw a deal on the Sandy Bridge 13" Pro and I made the switch. Right away I popped a 240GB and 8GB RAM in there, and then upgraded to 16GB RAM when dropped to $55. And then couple months ago I jumped on an Amazon warehouse deal on the Ivy Bridge 13" Pro for $875, I lucked out as this thing is literally brand new. I moved the upgrades from the Sandy MBP over to the Ivy, after selling the Sandy MBP I actually made $50

I love the Air, especially miss the 1400x900 screen, but I just don't like the idea of not being able to upgrade anything on it. To buy an Air with 256GB and the 8GB RAM max it'll cost $1600 as you'll have to custom configure for the 8GB option; the Pro costs ~$1300 buying the base model and installing your own 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD, assuming $1099 for the base 13" Pro. Even if you don't factor in the cost, you can't have 16GB in the Air, if you have any reason at all to have 16GB that is. And when prices of 512GB SSD comes down, I'll pop one in.

So, for me, there's a lot more pluses to go with the Pro.

PS if you're a fast touch typist, the Pro's keyboard is much better!

 

There is some excellent info here, everything I think I know what I want, someone posts a counter arguments

I'm sure I want the pro as portability is not a massive requirement, but I don't need the optical drive , the better screen is a teaser on the air but then is 128mb enough ?

God dammit

 

I went with a MBP 13 cause I purchased it for $175 replaced the front glass for $60 added a 1.5tb HDD and installed 16GB of ram I had laying around. I toyed with the idea to get an air but for the price I payed for the pro and the upgrade ability you can't go wrong with a pro.

 

How much is memory nowadays?

 

16gb is 70-90

 

Many thanks, Can you upgrade the 2012 model past 8?

 

the mbp 13 or 15 can. the 2011 models could as well.

 

Many thanks for the replies. I think MBPS is probably the way to go for me.

 

16GB 1600MHz is $50 on Amazon, search for Komputerbay 16GB SODIMM.

I moved my 16GB 1333MHz from my 2011 Sandy Bridge 13" MBP to the 2012 Ivy Bridge and works without problem. The 2012 model comes with 1600MHz RAM but my 1333 sticks work just fine.

 

I would normally say RAM is RAM, but I have to make an exception for this stuff. It's absolute garbage and probably the only time you can say "you get what you pay for" when it comes to RAM.

High quality, name brand memory is not much more expensive, and if you time it right, you can pick up a bargain. Just yesterday, Newegg was selling 16 GB of 1600 MHz G.Skill RAM for $50. I picked up some low-voltage (1.35v vs the standard 1.5v) 1333 MHz Crucial RAM for $60 last week and plan to install it as soon as it arrives. G.Skill and Crucial are probably my top two picks for performance, reliability, and price. Both companies also do a fantastic job of standing behind their products in the event something goes wrong.

 

Absolutely, RAM is RAM, it works or it doesn't. Works for me, no need to spend more on "name brand" - there are only so many DRAM chips makers in the world, chances are this "Komputerbay" brand uses the same chips in other name brand. You don't think G Skill has their own DRAM fab do you? All my desktops use G Skill, because they were the cheapest at the time.

 

I ended up getting the basic MBP in New York yesterday. I got a $70 discount too via my firm so ended up paying about $1119 after taxes.

First impressions.

1. its great to have a MAC back
2. its not too bad on speed, boot up time is fine and its seems to cope with most thing.
3. I noticed that the display is not the greatest. I must be used to an excellent display because this one looks a little fuzzy in comparison to everything else I have (i.e. Desktop and Asus G73) but I put that down to the onboard GFX and available screen res?)
o idea why these models come with a DVD drive.
4. Need to get down to best buy today and get some RAM

 

WOW , put 16MB of Crucial in today. $65 from Amazon. Made this laptop a million times better.

 

Is the i7 in a Macbook Air a ULV? I ended up getting macbook Air with the i7 after considering the fact if I needed 16GB for the 13 then I would most likely need a QC i7 I don't that's what logic is telling me there's no point to getting the 13" other then HDMI and optical drive? Apple really puts the 13" in the middle to where I don't see a point in buying it. Still, I really liked the retina display. That's why I am wondering.

 

I believe the CPU in the MBA line is a custom LV/ULV series. It doesn't really matter though as benchmarks and tests have shown that the i7 (and even the i5) in the 2013 MBA are more than capable of keeping up with the i5 and i7 in the 13" MBP (both of which are still dual-core) for everyday tasks. The MBP will pull ahead when it comes to video encoding, gaming, and large photo exporting/editing but even then I doubt you would really notice a difference. The big one would be video encoding when working with 60+ minute video content. The 13" MBP also doesn't have HDMI output built-in. Like the MBA, it must use a MiniDisplay Port to HDMI adapter. The 13" Retina MBP is the only 13" MBP with built-in HDMI output. I honestly feel that the MBA is the better buy for the money. The standard 13" MBP is priced way too high for what you get. Apple has almost always been priced higher than competitors, that isn't anything new. However, the 13" MBP seems outrageously priced compared with the competition yet the MBA isn't really that bad. In fact, it is often priced competitively with other ultrabooks especially considering its trackpad, keyboard, all aluminum design, etc. That's why I sold my 13" MBP a while back and ended up getting a 13" MBA instead. I had a couple hundreds dollars left over from the deal which went to other things. I would have purchased a MBA right away but Apple was still using the older Core 2 Duo chips in them at the time.

 

the cpu in the mba is a ulv. its not custom, its readily available if you are willing to pay the price

the performance of the i5 that the mbp uses and the i7 that the mba uses is nill.

 

I agree completely, I am thinking that the 13 MBP is pointless. I went to check them out today and I can't see any reason to buy maybe that's why so many people return them for the air. Either the air, or the 15 if you need it for that stuff. Perhaps Apple does this on purpose? I read a whole thread few days ago how it's nearly pointless to get the 13" model with 16GB because at that point you'll mot likely need the power for true QC i7. I have the Air and the 15" retina. The 13 needs justify it's price more to me. It be nice if they designed it to have a discreet gpu/QC then I'd get it. I am tempted to try BF3 just for kicks on my Macbook Air. Right now on the same table I am staring as I right this, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro Retina, Macbook pro Hi Res Matte. I cannot see a 13 fitting in here for any reason really especially for the price you might as well get something way better. I am testing all 3 out side by side at the moment.

 

Hello! I´m been searching for a new notebook for a while now. My windows notebook died couple months ago. Then i bought Asus UX32VD but it had so much problems so i returned it and got refund. Zenbooks still seem to have same problems and i cant wait anymore. I'm fed up to windows notebooks and their problems. Even on premium notebooks. Can i expect higher quality on Macs?
I'm been looking at Macbook Air 13 and Macbook Pro Retina 13. I need a notebook that lasts for years, like 4-6 years without having problems and dying. I will be using it for studying, browsing, writing... But also for little more demanding like music production, light gaming (HD4000 is enough), photoshop and maybe video editing in the future. I'm sure that both do well, but just wanted to ask that which one would be better for longevity? Here, Retina costs 400EURO more than Air (with 8gb ram). Is it worth it? This would be my first Mac. Thank you!

 

I would go to a store and take a look, I dont think that the screen is worth that much difference between a load out mba 13 model. but if you are comparing base against base....

 

One thing to keep in mind is that any computer you buy, Apple or not, may not last a full 4-6 years whether the notebook itself becomes physically broken or the hardware is outdated. Tasks that you complete today on the notebook are only going to become more complex over time and make the hardware outdated. For example, I purchased a top of the line Dell XPS notebook in 2005. It could edit videos, photos, play games (it could handle Doom 3 at its native resolution of 1920X1080 on high settings without skipping frames), and do all sorts of stuff that was advanced at the time. Fast forward to 2010 and it would be incapable of editing videos (which are now in HD), basic photo editing was fine but any more advanced (such as removing blemishes) couldn't be done, and it definitely couldn't handle any modern game at any setting.

Technology moves at such a fast pace that you will likely end up replacing whatever notebook you buy now with a new model 2-3 years down the line. The 128GB SSD you get in the MBA rMBP is going to fill up, the RAM won't be enough, and/or the processor is going to be way too slow. I think asking a system to last a solid 4-6 years is a lot especially since everything continues to move so quickly. 2-3 years is a lot more reasonable.

 

Well, you were using Asus so there you go. You can last a notebook a long time if you are doing basic things and are ok with not having the best hardware and speed like my aunt who has an hp (business laptop) from 2004. I think the only slowdowns might be in the hardcore graphics stuff, though I think that you should be ok if you are on an SSD. Though, you actually might burn your SSD if you abuse it enough.

 

For bootcamp do you guys use windows 8 or windows 7???

 

if you're already bottlenecked by CPU power, then you won't be able to burn through an SSD unless the only thing you do on your computer is run storage torture tests (even then, it'll last for years).

 

Windows 7. For one, there are no official Boot Camp drivers for it. For two, Windows 8 is a steaming pile.

By the way, putting in three question marks won't get your question answered any faster. One piece of punctuation will suffice.

 

It was more of an expression and not impatience,
Thanks for the reply though will stick with Windows 7.

 

Considering the fact that you responded here AND you took additional time to send me a similar private message, I would say I rather struck a nerve.

 

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