Choosing between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

VinnyBoom wrote:

Longtime (1987) Mac user need a new laptop since nothing runs on the 2019. Can I just get an Air or do I need another Pro? Images etc on external hard drive.

That will depend on what you use the Mac for exactly.

But yes, for the vast majority of users a MacBook Air is more than enough these days.

Unless you do like 4K or 8K video editing or demanding activities like video game coding or extra hi res image and photo editing, the MacBook Air is fine for the vast majority of uses.

What kind of budget do you have?

Do you have any specific screen requirements?

Do you need support for accurate color reproduction or high speed processing?

Do you need support for more than 2 external displays?

Things like that will help you decide what you need.

There's no way for us to know what may be usable for you or not without any details.

You can always use Apple's Chooser tool to see what it suggests for your needs.

click here ➜ Mac - Which Mac is best for me? - Apple

Random comments...

You're running macOS 13 per the footer, and an upgrade to macOS 15 is an option for MacBook Pro 2019.

macOS 15 is one of the three most recent macOS releases at present, which most apps will support.

Replacing? 16 GB memory minimally, and as much or more storage than you have now. Expect expansion.

One of many overviews: https://www.engadget.com/2218722/macbook-air-missing-fan-reason-why/

MacBook Pro has better cooling, which means it can be pushed harder. Most folks don't push that hard.

Alternative scheme for mostly-fixed-with-some mobile computing usage: Mac mini, and an iPad.

PS: 1987? Some of the active helpers started with Apple gear in the 1970s. 😉

VinnyBoom wrote:

nothing runs on the 2019.

a 2019 MBP can run sequoia. when you say "nothing runs", is the Mac fully upgraded to Sequoia? it is still supported by apple. and should be for about another year. in my case, my iMac is topped out at sequoia, and I am not having any compatibility issues at all.

depends on your needs. but, IMHO, the MacBook Air is enough machine for the majority of users. especially when discussing the modern M series Macs. and if you need more inputs, you might find the pro more useful. but then again you could always get a dock to acquire more ports.

VinnyBoom wrote:

Longtime (1987) Mac user need a new laptop since nothing runs on the 2019. Can I just get an Air or do I need another Pro? Images etc on external hard drive.

You said "nothing runs" but that is due to your old operating system 13.7, as others have pointed out, updating to Sequoia should enable you to run everything from Adobe apps to Microsoft apps to games to Tax software to almost anything. I recently updated my 16" Macbook Pro 2019 from Sequoia to Tahoe, and while I like Tahoe, I have found nothing that requires it versus Sequoia. Because you have the 13" model you can go to Sequoia (not Tahoe).

If you update to Sequoia I think you will find everything runs.

As for a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, those M5 models will be 10x faster than your current computer. I would decide based on how many ports you want to have (MacBook Pro has more ports), cost, and weight (ease of portability). Unless you are doing demanding things like video editing in which case I would suggest the MacBook Pro.

If you update to Sequoia you could then be in good shape and could then also wait a several more months after which the even better M6 models will be coming out.

VinnyBoom wrote:

Longtime (1987) Mac user need a new laptop since nothing runs on the 2019. Can I just get an Air or do I need another Pro? Images etc on external hard drive.

It depends on your needs.

Go from a M5 MacBook Air (either size) to a 14" MacBook Pro with a plain M5 chip, and you get

• A third multi-purpose USB-C (USB 3, USB4, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Charging) port
• A HDMI port
• A SDXC card slot
• A cooling fan
• A fancier screen with HDR support for prerecorded movie content
• The same processor (plain M5) with the same RAM options (16, 24, or 32 GB), and the same limit (two) on the number of external displays.

MrHoffman wrote:

PS: 1987? Some of the active helpers started with Apple gear in the 1970s. 😉

I was late to the party with an Apple IIe.