LaQuita M

Q: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro??

I am new to using Mac and deciding on which one to buy.

 

I am currently deciding on which is best: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro ??

 

These are what my uses will be:

 

  • Surfing the Web
  • Listening to music on iTunes ( have approx 700 songs)
  • Word processing
  • Play 1 game or two (nothing extensive)
  • Burn an audio cd ( rarely ever burn cds)
  • Store photos and documents ( I don't try to keep a lot of my photos on my hard drive. I usually have them synced to my DropBox account and/or burned to a data cd)

 

Not really interested in the Retina Display. Not too concerned about size. Just want to make sure that it runs good and smoothly and has enough memory.

Confused on all the memory and processors, etc etc...

 

What is your suggestion??

 

Thanks!!!

Posted on Mar 10, 2014 10:07 PM

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Q: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro??

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  • Helpful answers

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Mar 10, 2014 10:13 PM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 10:13 PM in response to LaQuita M

    The NEW macbook Pro and Air are EXTREMELY close in form factor

     

    The newest macbook Pro is essentially a larger macbook Air with Retina display and options for speed in increasing prices up to an independent graphics and quad core processor.

     

    both Air and new Pro now have PCIe SSD and permanent RAM.

     

    The Air is the lightweight portable form factor, fast to boot and shut down, but with longer battery life than any of the macbook pro in 13"

     

    Now the new macbook Pro and macbook Air are extremely close in form factor and nature.

     

    both have 802ac wifi

    both have permanent RAM, no superdrive

    both are slim profiles and SSD

     

    The only real differences now between Air and Pro....are (in the most expensive Pros) faster processors and quadcore processors and top end model autonomous graphics and the Pro has HDMI output.....and of course the retina display

     

     

    both are now "very good for travel"

     

    Other than features the form factor of the Air and Pro are VERY close now,....so now its merely a matter of features and price more than anything.

     

     

    You need an external HD regardless of what you get for backups etc.   Drop into an Apple store and handle both and make your choice based on features, such as Retina or non-retina, .... both at a distance now look like the same computer.

     

    The Pro weighs more, ....but nowhere near what it used to just a month ago on the older macbook Pros

     

    The NEW macbook Pro is a different creature entirely than the older macbook Pro, .....the new Pro is thicker than the Air, but id frankly call the NEWEST Pro a "macbook Air with Retina display" , or

     

    Maybe a “macbook Air PRO with Retina display” 

     

    Instead of Air VS Pro now,.....its really a smooth transition from Air to pro without comparing say, 2 different creatures, now its like contrasting a horse from a race horse.

     

    Either one in 8gig of RAM (preferably)... the 4gig upgrade costs very little,  the I7 you will notice only 15% faster on heavy applications over the I5, and NOTHING on most APPS.....I5 has longer battery life.

     

     

    As you see below, the non-Retina 13" AIR is 82% of the Macbook with Retina display in resolution

     

    there is no magical number of pixels per inch that automatically equates to Retina quality.

    http://www.cultofmac.com/168509/why-you-might-be-disappointed-by-the-resolution- of-those-new-retina-display-macs-feature/

    screenshot_530.jpg

     

     

    A huge internal SSD isnt a game changer for anything, you need an external HD anyway

     

    what you WONT READ on Apple.com etc. is that the larger SSD  are MUCH FASTER due to SSD density

     

    "The 512GB Samsung SSD found in our 13-inch model offers roughly a 400MB/s increase in write speeds over the 128GB SanDisk/Marvell SSD"

    http://blog.macsales.com/19008-performance-testing-not-all-2013-macbook-air-ssds -are-the-same

     

     

    Here is an excellent video comparison between the 11” I5 vs. I7 2013 Macbook Air.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDqJ-on03z4

     

     

    http://www.anandtech.com/show/7113/2013-macbook-air-core-i5-4250u-vs-core-i7-465 0u/2

     

    I5 vs. I7 performance 13” Macbook Air 2013

     

    Boot performance

    1. 11.7 I5 ……11.4 I7

      Cinebench 

    1. 1.1 I5….1.41 I7

    IMovie Import and Opt.

    1. 6.69 I5….5.35 I7

      IMovie Export 

    1. 10.33 I5…8.20 I7

    Final Cut Pro X

    1. 21.47 I5…17.71 I7

      Adobe Lightroom 3 Export 

    1. 25.8 I5….31.8 I7

    Adobe Photoshop CS5 Performance

    1. 27.3 I5…22.6 I7

    screenshot_184.jpg

     

     

    Macbook Pro processor and configuration options:

    http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/

    screenshot_591.jpg

    Macbook Pro ports:

    screenshot_574.jpg

     

     

    Macbook Air (13") ports:

    screenshot_575.jpg

  • by LaQuita M,

    LaQuita M LaQuita M Mar 10, 2014 10:52 PM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 10:52 PM in response to LaQuita M

    I saw that it has Flash Memory...how much Flash is reasonable 128 or 256??

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Mar 10, 2014 11:04 PM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 11:04 PM in response to LaQuita M

    128 is fine for most everyone.

     

     

    Air OR Pro, you can get 128, 256 or 512

     

     

    Pro can get 1TB SSD, however its extremely expensive.

     

     

    NO notebook is a data storage device, you need external HD regardless for data redundancy, backups, and storing larger media files..........so.

     

     

    see here:

     

    The working premise of your Solid State Drive and having enough space inside your Macbook

  • by LaQuita M,

    LaQuita M LaQuita M Mar 10, 2014 11:07 PM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 11:07 PM in response to LaQuita M

    And which is better..Flash or the actual hard drive??

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Mar 10, 2014 11:43 PM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 11:43 PM in response to LaQuita M

    NONE have hard drives

     

     

    The mention of hard drives was regarding external data backups / archives, to protect / copy your data OFF computer.

     

     

     

    Air and pro BOTH use  SSD   (solid state drives)

     

     

    flash drives, / SSD /  sold state drives.

     

    same thing

     

     

     

     

    Seems you might be confusing RAM "flash memory",  with what some call a "flash drive", or SSD

     

     

     

    Current Pro and Air both use Sandisk or Samsung SSD modules,  in PCIe connection.

     

    Comparison-SSD-vs-HDD.jpg

     

     

     

     

    However the Air and Pro SSD look like this :

     

    screenshot_943.jpg

     

     

    SSD, or flash storage, or solid state drives.

     

    no moving parts, much much faster.

  • by LaQuita M,

    LaQuita M LaQuita M Mar 11, 2014 1:10 AM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 1:10 AM in response to LaQuita M

    I was looking at where it said ssd where it had no moving parts. But I think I may have come to what I want to get. Since I am not doing any hard core gaming or using any extensive apps, think I just get the 2.5 processor, 4 gb ram, 1 tb hard drive. Does that sound good? Or should I get 8gb?

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Mar 11, 2014 1:13 AM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 1:13 AM in response to LaQuita M

    always get 8gig RAM .... Why? costs very very little more, and is very worth it, all here with any knowledge will recommend same.

     

     

    SSD being faster has far less to do with gaming, than JUST being faster period.

     

     

    Did you price the 1TB SSD?  Its very expensive.  Most people dont need that much onboard 'space' .   However if cost is no issue, go for the moon.

     

    If you plan on spending that much for a SSD, most certainly get 8gig of RAM, period.

  • by LaQuita M,

    LaQuita M LaQuita M Mar 11, 2014 1:24 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 1:24 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Oh no, its not the 1 TB SSD...just the regular hard drive. 

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 11, 2014 1:37 AM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,274 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 11, 2014 1:37 AM in response to LaQuita M

    For those wanting the built-in superdrive, the base model MacBook/Pro 13-inch

    model has one. In the built-to-order add-on or upgrade list in the Store, there are

    options SSD since a HDD is stock. Over in the special deals refurbished section,

    these are about $200. less at $999. when available; so that'd almost offset the

    optional extended AppleCare plan if bought with a refurbished 13" base model.

     

    The B-T-O options aren't available from the special deals refurb page, however

    different models including an occasional 15" with superdrive (no retina) appear.

     

    The base model specs are in the main store page, harder to find now, though.

    Looks like 4GB RAM and 500GB HDD, is the initial level. {In refurbished, the

    specs for those appear with each item.}

     

    So if you don't mind more heft, a less robust display, & built-in optical drive,

    as available the special deal may be enough of a deal. Of course for burning

    to optical media, the external USB superdrive or an equivalent, is available.

     

    Sort of like a retro idea, to have an optical drive. Not sure what media in DVD

    may be included with the base-model, but a system on disc may be handy if

    you don't have fast internet to use Internet Recovery, or need to revert an OS.

     

    There are some nice choices, including items good to have where your MB/Air

    or /Pro would call home; backups, wireless options, and so on.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

     

    {since the retina models get 'extra attention' in public & in schools, I've suggested

    students and those to reconsider buying them, since they are targets for theft}

  • by LaQuita M,

    LaQuita M LaQuita M Mar 11, 2014 11:03 AM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 11:03 AM in response to LaQuita M

    Ok so getting a MacBook Pro ( IM NOT GETTING RETINA!!!) with the 2.5 processor, 8 gb RAM memory, and 1 TB Serial ATA Drive is not too much for my needs?

     

    I barely even use the optical drive, mostly only when installing software for like my printer or a game I might want to play ( no extensive games like COD and stuff).

     

    Other than that, it's just going to be used to listen to music ( over 700 songs) ...browse the web, and maybe use an application here and there. And word processing when needed.

     

    I don't want to spend the extra money on something that I don't really need. Is the MacBook Pro upgradable??

     

    ( Please check out store and selecing MacBook Pro and look at options to see what I am talking about, if needed)

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Mar 11, 2014 11:28 AM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 11:28 AM in response to LaQuita M

    For what you indicate you what to do, get the base model Macbook Pro RETINA model with 8gig of RAM.

     

     

    Would NOT get the non-retina model.

  • by LaQuita M,

    LaQuita M LaQuita M Mar 11, 2014 11:56 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 11:56 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Sorry I just saw this...but would you prefer to buy new or refurbished? I see a MacBook with a 2.9 processor, 8 GB, 750 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive that was released in June 2012. Good idea or no?

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 11, 2014 11:58 AM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,274 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 11, 2014 11:58 AM in response to LaQuita M

    re: MacBook/Pro 13" (non-retina) w/ optical drive, Store configuration page:

    http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MD101LL/A&step=config

     

    So this is available from the Store, if configured there with more RAM + large HDD.

    {looks like 4GB RAM and 500GB HDD, is the initial or base-level + $200 for above}

     

    Then, there is this model at Special Deals refurbished online Store page:

     

    •refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro 2.9GHz dual core Intel i7 - AppleStore US:

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD102LL/A

     

    The specs on the second link look fairly good, with smaller HDD.

     

    Anyway, these are good computers, even if you got an MB/Air or retina/Pro then

    an external USB superdrive device (if the price is nice, altogether.) Not sure of

    the RAM upgrade path in the base model MB/Pro 13 w/ superdrive. Didn't read.

     

    Hopefully your choice(s) work out OK.

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Mar 11, 2014 12:35 PM in response to LaQuita M
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 12:35 PM in response to LaQuita M

    would NOT get a refurb, no.  The cost between the two isnt that much.

     

    Some here will protest that statement.  Its a subjective statement,  alas, you asked.

     

     

    The base model Retina Pro is another world better than the non-Retina pro you indicate

     

    namely 802ac wifi

    Haswell

    faster

    Retina,

    and new vs. refurb.