Macbook air vs Macbook Pro

chelseafan456 wrote:

I need it to last 4-5 years. Is 128 gb enough?

not over 4-5 years. However you could also purchase an external hard drive.

Here's a good comparison article for you:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57458148-37/13-inch-macbook-air-vs-13-inch-mac book-pro-which-should-you-buy/?tag=postrtcol;posts

Do you travel often? If so, I would consider the Air. If not, get the MBP. You may want to consider AppleCare as well, only because the SSD's allow for so many writes to the drive (but you wouldn't really need to worry about it).

Here's the deal. You can't upgrade the Air. Whatever you get now, you get forever.

You can upgrade the Pro. So you can get more RAM and a larger HD later on if you want it.

However, the Air comes with SSD, which is very desirable--and certainly faster; it is lighter than a Pro. And if you get the 11", then it's really lighter, will give you a lot more room in your backpack, and fit on very small desks in just about any classroom. The Pro is not so portable nor fits so well on desks.

My recommendation? First, go to a store and try out both. It's always important to get the laptop you fall in love with, as that's the one you'll want to work on. You can get around having a limited HD, but you can't get around working on a laptop you don't like. My suspicion is that you should probably the 11" Air which might give you extra $$ so you can upgrade to a 256gb HD (you'll have to order it online) and 8gb RAM. 128gb probably won't be enough for 4-5 years of school, because you never know what program or game or whatever you're going to want or need in those 4-5 years that might max out the HD. Better to get 256gb which tends to be enough for most people over four years, with room to spare. Especially given that people now keep a lot of information on their phones, clouds, etc.

Students haul around a lot of weight, and you will feel the extra weight of that Pro, especially as compared to an 11" Air. Also, you will be glad to have a small machine for your desk, giving you room for other stuff, and you will be glad to have a laptop that doesn't take up a lot of room in your bag or backpack, one you can slip in and out with one hand. The Air can go with you from class to class for the next four years without making you feel weighed down. So 11" Air would be my recommendation. But please don't take anyone's recommendation before going to a store and trying out both computers. You can only know which one is right for you if you do a little hands-on.

My wife just ordered an 11' Air. She is a teacher who will carry it in a backpack daily and we travel a lot. She thought it would be too small until she saw it in the store.

The two most important aspects of any computer is,

# 1 the processor

#2 ram

Forget about storage size, because there are ways around it. And the price for the higher size SSD is not worth it at this point. Where as the ram is.

Quite frankly though, anyone buying a laptop at what an Apple cost to play games on is, never mind.

But, as the poster above made note, you really should try and get to a store that carry's Apple and see first hand. An Apple computer is an investment.

So, to your question, it depends. Perhaps less asking and more doing, as in figuring out a way to get to that Apple store you mention being so far away. Start early, and bring water and some trail mix. Also put a small blanket in your backpack in case you get loss. If you have a cell phone bring that with you. And do not under any circumstance accept any ride from a stranger. Stay on the main roads.

Good luck, and God speed.

No one here can tell you what to buy. That is a decision you must make based on what is most important to you.