Macbook Air...Performance Ideas.

Hi,
i am quite curious about the performance of the Mb Air, I was pretty much set on buying a MBP, but the air is much smaller, etc.
But i am wondering if the performance (i dont game) and boot up time fo the two machines will be any different, based on the two configs below.
keep in mind windows will also be used via bootcamp.
mbp 15inch:
2.6ghz 6mb cache penryn t9500 (supposed to be available soon)
4gb ram
200gb hdd 7200rpm

mb air:
1.8ghz core 2 duo
2gb ram
64gb ssd



i know based on specs alone without an ssd, the mbp would smoke the air, but i am wondering if with the ssd , the air would launch apps and boot up in the same amount of time as the mbp and could handle having multiple apps open wihtout bogging...just itunes, mail, windows, rare photoshop, office...

i multitask and am impatient, but i dont game or videoedit.

also i understood that the air uses custom core 2 duo cpus and not ulvs...any info
thanks a lot

 

The write times on the MBA will be longer (according to what I've seen in benchmarks) then the MBP. The read times will be faster on the SSD though, no matter how filled it is. One of the big drawbacks to normal HDD is that the more it gets filled, the worse it's performance is.

Yes, it uses a smaller C2D, but it is not a ULV.

 

thanks...
do you think i would notice a difference in performance when using the air versus a pro...discount graphics.
ie, like bootup and sufing the web and all that, would it feel faster and smooth on the pro? or deos the ssd make up for only 2gb of ram and the smaller c2d cpu?
thanks a lot

 

For basic use you would not see much difference. But the MBP would be overkill for what you are wanting to use it for. Unless you want a 15" screen.
Bootup is very fast with the MBP. Within 30 seconds you would be at your desktop with firefox open as well as connected to the wireless.

IMHO the SSD does not make up for 2GB of ram. Granted, most of what you do would not require more and it would not make up for the slower CPU really. But again, depends on what work you end up doing. I'm not sure you would see much of a difference in just web browsing.

Honestly, best route for that would be getting a MB, adding in 2 gigs of ram and a SSD hard drive down the road when they come down to a reasonable price. I think within 8 months, those 64 GB drives will be about $400-$600 in the open market and Apple will probably move up to offering the 128 GB drive for the $1000 upgrade.

 

thanks again for all the help/
my issue is i know that i dont really do anyuthing hardcore on my laptop, but i will always have 4 programs running, and i really hate lag and am impatient on boot-up and stuff...so i was wondering in things like this, like in using firefox and itunes, if i could notice that i would be on an air or not...
i dont really like the mb...the air is interesting cause its so small and cool and has decent power.
i know ssd is stupid now...but i was wondering if because of the ssd the air could make-up for its other lower specs, and compete with a pro (no graphics again)


cause i know most people say, for fast boot up and launch time and all...you need an ssd.
2 gb or 4gb wont really affect it, and a decent cpu wont make much difference, unless i game or videoedit.

thanks a lot

 

the MBP may be overkill, but the price of the MBA is more than overkill for you.

id go with the MBP, maybe even a MB (since your considering the AIR)

i think a MB would be perfect. and @ a fraction of 3k$

 

It's hard to say. We'll probably have to wait till some people on here (or other sites) can compare both the SSD MBA and MBP.

I doubt it will make a huge difference since most of the work will be done through on RAM and processor anyway. If say, you are using Firefox, there should be little to no disc activity after it starts up.

Curious though, why are you looking at upgrading from your Asus?

 

The MBA will lag. If you are like me and like everything to run perfectly smooth, it won't on the MBA. I'm talking about buttery smooth here. I have used my friends MB, and the dock lags a bit, while my friends MBP doesn't lag at all. I also installed a dock just to test it out on my laptop, and it didn't lag.

You will be unhappy with the MBA.
*Small hard drive
*1 usb port
*No CD drive
*what happens if you need to reinstall the OS from scratch?
*No removable battery (on long plane rides you can't swap out)
*Battery will need to be replaced by apple
*"Big" footprint for an ultraportable.
*No Ethernet port (no internet access at most hotels)
*A lot slower than the MBP and you only pay $200 more for a LOT more speed.
*I have used Raid 0, Single 7200RPM, Single 5400RPM, and I don't notice the difference, since with the stuff you do you are not really stressing the hard drive that much. I don't think you will be happy with paying over $700 for something in which you may notice the speed with.

 

hi thanks
i returned the asus in my signature, it will be exchanged for either a mbp or something, essenjtially i have 3450 in portable one credit.
and i like small with serious power, essentially i am waiting for the updated 15inch pro, but the air caught me by surprise, thats why i am curious, as i will carry it around a lot, and its about the smae price as the pro, based on my config.
the lack of an optical drive is a real killer for me.
i was thinking about the sony sz, but i cant buyu it in the states and bring it to caanda where i live, as i was told, in case of issues with it, i will have to have it serviced in the states....

ok. so there will be a noticeable performance gain with the pro...hopefully the update will come soon

and thanks a lot to all of you for your help and arguments, i really do appreciate it.
thanks a lot

 

hrm... I don't think you can buy the MBP in the states and take it to Canada either. Not sure on that, Sam would be more knowledgeable on that bit.

I think we forgot to mention, that in OS X, the video card is used for normal things. The interface will actually take advantage of the video card so it can free up some processing power off the main CPU. At least thats what I've been understanding. Though I don't really see there being much difference in that effect with the x1300 and the discrete card in the MBP.

So why did you not like the Asus? I'm always curious why people don't like their particular laptop.

 

hi...i didnt know wabout that graphics thing you pointed out...thanks
i was told that i can buy the pro from a reseller in the states and just buy my applecare later and put my name and canadian address in...i hope this is right, if anybody knows please help.

the asus i had was by far the best looking laptop ive ever seen, better than the mbp...but the batt life wasnt enough for me, it was too big (very thin, but its foot print was huge),heat (the exhaust was in a dumb place, and mine had a faulty keyboard, instead of replacing it for another i said id change alltogether.

but i hope i am allowed to buy from apple usa and use it in canada and have it serviced here///

do you guys think the new/updated mbp's will have multitouch and all the new things on the air?

thanks a lot for all your help

 

As far as the multitouch, it is hard to say. The one in the current line already supports some methods, so I think they could release a software update that would allow that to work. Will they do that for current models? No idea... But I think future updates will have it.

Yeah, I'm not sure. I think it would be frowned upon trying to buy it in the US and taking it through the border without paying for customs taxes. But again, Sam will hopefully give you a better answer. And if you want to be crystal clear on this issue, best call Apple sales.

 

Just to clarify, Apple warranty is worldwide, so it doesn't matter where you buy, you can get support and service wherever Apple is .

As for buying in America and bringing to Canada...Canada Customs lets you, but they'll charge you duties for bringing it in, as you bought it in a foreign country and it exceeds the maximum no-duties personal exemption of $750 per person for someone who's out of Canada for more than 7 days...if its less than 7 days, the max. exemption is even lower....as for how much duties you have to pay, I believe its 7%.

 

The MacBook Air is perfect for your needs. They didn't build this thing with a core 2 duo processor to be slow. I think it will perform just fine. OS X doesn't have large specification requirements and I believe that 2 GB memory and the SSD is great. Steve even said that the instant you open the book from sleep mode it is on because of the LED and SSD.

I'm going to get the Air on the next refresh. I was hoping there would be 3g support.

 

hi everyone, thanks a lot
i checked with apple, its no problem.
obviously i will pay duty and such but its still much cheaper than buying in canada.
also, i forgot to tell you that i do plan on using bootcamp quite a bit.
thanks a lot
i guess the air is out for me.
thanks again