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MacBook air vs pro

  • 08-08-2013 10:35pm
    #1
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭


    Option 1. 13 inch MacBook Air 128gb ssd and 4gb ram.

    Option 2. 13 inch entry level MacBook Pro (one without retina display)

    I want to buy a new mac in the next few weeks or so. I was all set to buy an air but then seen there is only around 100 euro of a difference in price for an entry level pro. I'm in college so the laptop will be used for word spreadsheet reports etc. then just Internet storing photos and iTunes. So it won't be used for anything too severe really.

    I'm just wondering is there any major downsides to buying a air over a pro? Also I know the ssd in the air makes it quicker than the pro is there much of a difference? Obviously I want it to be quick and the air battery life is a big plus too. I'm leaning towards the air but is there any reason that would make the pro a better buy? Thanks for your help.


Comments

  • #2
    whiterebel
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,120 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Bpmull wrote: »
    Option 1. 13 inch MacBook Air 128gb ssd and 4gb ram.

    Option 2. 13 inch entry level MacBook Pro (one without retina display)

    I want to buy a new mac in the next few weeks or so. I was all set to buy an air but then seen there is only around 100 euro of a difference in price for an entry level pro. I'm in college so the laptop will be used for word spreadsheet reports etc. then just Internet storing photos and iTunes. So it won't be used for anything too severe really.

    I'm just wondering is there any major downsides to buying a air over a pro? Also I know the ssd in the air makes it quicker than the pro is there much of a difference? Obviously I want it to be quick and the air battery life is a big plus too. I'm leaning towards the air but is there any reason that would make the pro a better buy? Thanks fir your help.

    If you use the search facility, you'll find this is asked quite regularly, and should answer most, if not all your questions.


  • #3
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,693 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    Get the Air. The standard MacBook Pro is being phased out in favour of the thinner Retina MacBook Pro.

    You'd be mad to buy any of the Pro models now anyway as they are due a refresh which should bring the same battery life improvements the Air recently received. It might be worth holding off as long as you can to see what these new models are like. The entry-level Retina may even drop in price.


  • #4
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    Get the Air. The standard MacBook Pro is being phased out in favour of the thinner Retina MacBook Pro.

    You'd be mad to buy any of the Pro models now anyway as they are due a refresh which should bring the same battery life improvements the Air recently received. It might be worth holding off as long as you can to see what these new models are like. The entry-level Retina may even drop in price.

    Great thanks does the ssd in the air make it much faster ?


  • #5
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,693 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    Bpmull wrote: »
    Great thanks does the ssd in the air make it much faster ?

    Yes. Ridiculously fast! Going from a HDD to an SSD is probably the biggest speed boost you'll ever experience.

    You can of course put an SSD in a standard MBP as well (as I and others have done) but I still think the Air is the better choice.


  • #6
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    Yes. Ridiculously fast! Going from a HDD to an SSD is probably the biggest speed boost you'll ever experience.

    You can of course put an SSD in a standard MBP as well (as I and others have done) but I still think the Air is the better choice.

    I've never used an ssd before so it should be a good bit quicker then. I think ill go for the air. I have no real need for a pro. And the air would probably suit my needs better. The battery life and light weight is a major bonus too. Thanks. If I order of apple education store are they generally quick to deliver?


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  • #7
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,693 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    Pretty quick. Usually in about 2 working days. Unless it's BTO which might take a week. It depends.

    Just something important to consider though: the MBA is non-user-upgradable. Technically the SSD can be replaced but afaik you'd need a third party upgrade kit. The bigger issue is the RAM which is soldered to the logic board. There's no replacing it. 4GB would probably be plenty for now (that's all I have in any of my Macs), but down the road you might wish you'd gotten it built-to-order with 8GB. It would cost an extra 100 (probably less with education pricing).


  • #8
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    Pretty quick. Usually in about 2 working days. Unless it's BTO which might take a week. It depends.

    Just something important to consider though: the MBA is non-user-upgradable. Technically the SSD can be replaced but afaik you'd need a third party upgrade kit. The bigger issue is the RAM which is soldered to the logic board. There's no replacing it. 4GB would probably be plenty for now (that's all I have in any of my Macs), but down the road you might wish you'd gotten it built-to-order with 8GB. It would cost an extra 100 (probably less with education pricing).

    I was thinking about the ram alright. But I can't really think of a situation where I would need the 8gb. The fact it's only for word, Internet, iTunes that kind of stuff it won't be used for gaming or anything like that. Do you still think is need 8gb?


  • #9
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,693 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    With that kind of usage, you wouldn't need 8GB now, no. But down the road you might. What I'd be worried about is that a future, more RAM-hungry release of OS X would require 8GB or would simply not perform well with 4GB. It's really about future-proofing the machine.

    It's a fairly cheap upgrade, so I would recommend it. Personally if I was buying a new Air tomorrow I would be getting it with 8GB. However, if money is tight and you expect to replace the machine after 3 years, then you should be fine with 4GB.


  • #10
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    With that kind of usage, you wouldn't need 8GB now, no. But down the road you might. What I'd be worried about is that a future, more RAM-hungry release of OS X would require 8GB or would simply not perform well with 4GB. It's really about future-proofing the machine.

    It's a fairly cheap upgrade, so I would recommend it. Personally if I was buying a new Air tomorrow I would be getting it with 8GB. However, if money is tight and you expect to replace the machine after 3 years, then you should be fine with 4GB.

    you've definitely given me something to think about. its 93 odd euro extra so it might be just worth getting specially when i plan on keeping it good few years. Ill let you know what I go for in the end. Hopefully ordering in the next 2 weeks. thanks for all the help.


  • #11
    whiterebel
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,120 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Bpmull wrote: »
    you've definitely given me something to think about. its 93 odd euro extra so it might be just worth getting specially when i plan on keeping it good few years. Ill let you know what I go for in the end. Hopefully ordering in the next 2 weeks. thanks for all the help.

    I got an Air earlier this year, and got it maxed out to 8GB Ram. Great machine and capable of taking anything I can throw at it.


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  • #12
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    whiterebel wrote: »
    I got an Air earlier this year, and got it maxed out to 8GB Ram. Great machine and capable of taking anything I can throw at it.

    do you find it fairly quick just comparing it to a bog standard hdd laptop? I think I will get the 8gb ram no point on scrimping on the ram. And whats the real life battery life like.


  • #13
    whiterebel
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,120 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Bpmull wrote: »
    do you find it fairly quick just comparing it to a bog standard hdd laptop? I think I will get the 8gb ram no point on scrimping on the ram. And whats the real life battery life like.

    Mines the last model. SSD makes it lightning fast startup and shut down. Battery is pretty good, I think it was quoted at 7 hours, but I haven't really tried it to see, TBH.


  • #14
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    whiterebel wrote: »
    Mines the last model. SSD makes it lightning fast startup and shut down. Battery is pretty good, I think it was quoted at 7 hours, but I haven't really tried it to see, TBH.

    Great thanks for the help. I think I have my mind made up anyway the air would just suit my needs the best.


  • #15
    Maoltuile
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 634 ✭✭✭Maoltuile


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    Yes. Ridiculously fast! Going from a HDD to an SSD is probably the biggest speed boost you'll ever experience.

    You can of course put an SSD in a standard MBP as well (as I and others have done) but I still think the Air is the better choice.

    I have to disagree. If you're someone who can open a MBP and complete the steps to put in something like say the OWC DataDoubler, the non-retina MBPs are much better for upgrading and longevity.

    Incidentally, I think nVidia, AMD or whoever else coming out with affordable external TB 2 enclosures for graphics cards is the other shoe waiting to drop with the new Mac Pro. The fact that these cards can then be hooked up to the likes of MBAs or the UltraBook clones gives them their mass-market to keep the prices down.


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