Macbook Pro 13" 2012 vs Macbook Air 13" 2012

This choice is a nice position to be in 🙂

If you compare the MacBook Air and Pro base models then yes, the Air is faster for everyday use. This is mainly due to the SSD. However the Pro can be upgraded with a SSD (same as the Air). You can do this through Apple or you can do it yourself very easily and more cheaply.

The Pro has more processing power, something you may or may not notice depending on your uses.

It is true the storage on the Air is a lot less unless you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars upgrading it. Look at the hard drive on your current computer and see how much you have used. This will give you an idea of how much you need.

Also the Pro can be upgraded to 16GB RAM and the Air will only take 8GB but this is more than enough for your uses.

Graphics on both models are exactly the same unless you put 16GB in the Pro, in which case more memory is dedicated to the graphics (I think).

True the Air does have a higher quality screen, something not available on the Pro models.

I would get the Air with the external superdrive unless the storage is a large factor for you. I play a lot of games and do other demanding tasks on my 2011 Air with 4GB RAM/Intel 3000 and I get good performance. With the upgrade to Intel 4000, and the 8GB option, you should notice even better performance.

There are two reasons to buy a MBA - its superior portability and battery life. While it might look like the memory limitation is a problem, because the Air uses an SSD instead of a conventional hard drive virtual memory is incredibly fast. A computer with an SSD can operate nearly as fast as a computer with twice the memory.

Given that you want to store CDs on your computer the MBPro may be your better choice. It doesn't take long for CDs to seriously eat up hard drive space. If you have an iOS device Apps (and perhaps backups) will take another chunk. The only way I can have the Air and my music collection and be happy is by subscribing to Apple's iTune Match which puts my collection online and available wherever I have WiFi. I keep about 3 GB of music on my computer at any one time and swap it out frequently.

I have always been of the biggest is better school and up until the past few months a 17" MBP was my everyday laptop. Then a few months ago I had the opportunity to start using a 13" MBA for mostly just casual personal stuff. Mine is a 2010, 2gb with 256gb ssd.

Most of what I have to offer has already been said so just adding my confirmation.

By rationalizing what I really need on my laptop, adopting a cloud drive for my data (which I did anyway for backup and sync purposes), subscribing to iTunes match, etc, I have gotten to where the only laptop I use is the MBA, and I could not be happier. In fact, I sold the 17" when the retina's came out and Apple dropped the big MBP, figured it was a good time to capitalize on demand.

Of the 256gb of SSD, I only use about half for my regular data storage, so I have lots of free space to import movies, music, photos etc which only stay there temporarily until I export them to their permanent home on my network storage (or external HD, which ever works best for you).

Until I upgrade to a 2012 model, I do compromise by using iPhoto instead of Aperture, iMovie instead of FCP, just because the pro apps don't do very good with just 2gb ram, but it does not sound like these should be any consideration for your needs. Getting the external superdrive would be a requirement if you rip CD's. I store my music on a NAS but any external drive would do, once it is synced with iTunes Match you basically have access anywhere that you are connected to the internet. I am sure there are other options as well.

I don't know what else to mention that the others have not covered. The screen is beautiful, the whole computer is like a jewel. I keep mine in a portfolio style case but even wrapped up in that I marvel at the slim size each time I pick it up. Only my iPad seems to last as long on one batter charge.