Doug Lerner2
Level 4 (1,079 points)
Desktops

Q: The value of the HDMI port?

I am debating whether to get a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

 

There are the usual considerations: cost, weight, retina display or not, etc.

 

One that has me wondering if it is worth considering is the presence of the HDMI port on MacBook Pro, which is not present on the MacBook Air.

 

That's the port I would use to hook up to, say, a projector for giving a demo. Or to a larger screen, right?

 

I notice there is an adaptor for this for the MacBook air for just $28. So naturally I'm wondering if this is even an issue I should worry about in making my decision.

 

Any other "really important stuff" I'm not considering while weighing my decision?

 

My main computer will probably remain my iMac (late 2009). But if the specs are good enough, I might consider just using the laptop with, perhaps a larger screen at home. Or I may just use the laptop when on travel, or out doing demos or teaching.

 

Thanks!

 

doug

iMac, Mac OS 9.0.x, iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009, 12 GB)

Posted on Dec 21, 2013 1:35 AM

by PlotinusVeritas,Solvedanswer
PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas
Level 6 (14,811 points)
A:

Hows Japan!        I had BOTH for a few weeks, still have the Air.

 

 

but id frankly call the NEWEST Pro a "macbook Air with Retina display" , or

 

Maybe a “macbook Air PRO with Retina display” 

 

Yes, you can get a HDMI dongle for $30 for the Air..However if you have an Apple TV, theres no real need for it. Just wifi Airplay movies and vids to your AppleTV hooked to your TV.

 

Either the Air or the new Pro are so much more light weight than youre used to, youre gonna love it either way.

 

DETAILED bench tests between the new AIR and the new PRO here:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/11/how-to-choose-13-inch-macbook-air-vs-13-i nch-retina-macbook-pro/2/

 

 

Have some other folks weigh in,,....but Ive got some good comparison info below:

 

 

 

 

 

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 are (in the most expensive Pros) faster processors and quadcore processors and top end model autonomous graphics, also HDMI output on the new macbook Pros!. ....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,

 

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 (rough analogy)

 

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

 

 

Reviews of the newest Retina 2013 Macbook Pro

 

13”

Digital Trends (13") - http://www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-...h-2013-review/

LaptopMag (13") - http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/lap...play-2013.aspx

Engadget (13") - http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/29/m...-13-inch-2013/

The Verge (13") - http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/30/5...ay-review-2013

CNet (13") - http://www.cnet.com/laptops/apple-ma...-35831098.html

 

 

15”

The Verge (15") - http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/24/5...w-15-inch-2013

LaptopMag (15") - http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/lap...inch-2013.aspx

TechCrunch (15") - http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/25/lat...ok-pro-review/

CNet (15") - http://www.cnet.com/apple-macbook-pro-with-retina-2013/

PC Mag (15") - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2426359,00.asp

Arstechnica (15") - http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/10...-pro-reviewed/

Slashgear (15") - http://www.slashgear.com/macbook-pro...2013-26303163/

 

 

 

 

Macbook Pro ports:

screenshot_574.jpg

 

 

Macbook Air (13") ports:

screenshot_575.jpg

Posted on Dec 21, 2013 1:55 AM

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Doug Lerner2

Q: The value of the HDMI port?

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  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Dec 29, 2013 9:32 PM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 6 (14,811 points)
    Dec 29, 2013 9:32 PM in response to Doug Lerner2

    oddly most monitors dont come with HDMI cables, theyre $10 here, who knows there.

     

    yes, conventional HDMI cable.     Yes, but 27" is oh so nice watching Itunes vids etc, youtube .

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 29, 2013 9:48 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 29, 2013 9:48 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    The cables are about the same here.

     

    Still looking them all over. Really tempted by the 27". :)

     

    Doug

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 29, 2013 10:02 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 29, 2013 10:02 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    It's the same store, but if you buy from their online shop they also have one model older, which is about ¥5000 last. Looking at the specs, the only difference I can see is that the response time is 8 ms versus 5 ms. Of course I can't actually see it, because they only have the newest model store.

     

    Doug

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 29, 2013 11:49 PM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 29, 2013 11:49 PM in response to Doug Lerner2

    I didn't buy one today. I might order one from their online shop and get it delivered tomorrow. The one-version-older of the 27" sounds intriguing. The contrast and all the other specs are exactly the same as the one in the store except the response time is 8 ms rather than 5 ms. Yet it is more than $50 cheaper. My only hesitation is not seeing it in person.

     

    In Japan, unless an item is actually defective, there aren't really easy returns. It's more of a "caveat emptor" kinds of sales situation here.

     

    doug

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 30, 2013 1:45 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 30, 2013 1:45 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Anyway, this is the one I went for (the one I saw in the store), also sold in the U.S. at Best Buy:

     

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-27-34-ips-led-hd-monitor/7979086.p?id=12188631833 26&skuId=7979086#BVRRWidgetID

     

    It looked good in the store, and has good reviews at Best Buy and Amazon, so I think it will be fine. I found info on the specs in more detail, and there are a few improvements over the slightly older model, such as better contrast, higher response time and supposedlly better glare protection.

     

    The price here is lower. In the U.S. it is $379.99 (at least at Best Buy). But at Yodobashi Camera here in Tokyo it is ¥29,800 = $283 at today's exchange rates. It will be delivered tomorrow, along with an Apple HDMI to HDMI connector.

     

    Since I had to buy a refrigerator earlier this year when my 25 year old one died I had "points" I was able to use towards the purchase, so the total only came to $201.

     

    I need to think of the best monitor arrangement to make best use of it with the smaller 13" MacBook Pro display.  Should be fun.

     

    doug

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 30, 2013 8:28 PM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 30, 2013 8:28 PM in response to Doug Lerner2

    Everything arrived!

     

    I've posted my first impressions of my MacBook Pro here in my blog:

     

    http://lerner.net/new-macbook-pro-arrived/

     

    I love it so far! I want to start talking about details, so I think I'll basically finish this thread. We've gone about as much as we can, and I'll open a new discussion to ask some detailed questions and make more comments.

     

    Thanks, everybody! I hope I see you in the new discussion!

     

    doug

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Dec 30, 2013 8:39 PM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 6 (14,811 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 8:39 PM in response to Doug Lerner2

    good sized monitor like that will double as a TV screen

     

     

    dont let those Finch birds poop on your new lovely macbook

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 30, 2013 9:03 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 30, 2013 9:03 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    PlotinusVeritas wrote:

     

    good sized monitor like that will double as a TV screen

     

     

    dont let those Finch birds poop on your new lovely macbook

     

    You mean the 27" that arrived but is still in the box? I would need a tuner in that case. My TV is still my Fujitsu General 25" CRT TV that I bought in 1988! When Japan went digital in 2011 I needed to get a tuner adapter. But the monitor I got has no tuner.

     

    My java sparrows are well trained.

     

    doug

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Dec 30, 2013 10:40 PM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 6 (14,811 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 10:40 PM in response to Doug Lerner2

    when I say TV screen I refer to youtube, internet films news and Itunes movies

     

    Have fun

     

    screenshot_635.jpg

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 31, 2013 12:02 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 31, 2013 12:02 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    PlotinusVeritas wrote:

     

    when I say TV screen I refer to youtube, internet films news and Itunes movies

     

    Have fun

     

    screenshot_635.jpg

     

    Ah. So what happens if I use it  in extended desktop mode like you do and run a netflix move in full screen mode? Part of the movie is in the MacBook Pro screen and part in the external monitor?

     

    doug

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 31, 2013 7:00 AM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
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    Dec 31, 2013 7:00 AM in response to Doug Lerner2

    Full Screen is another feature they dragged over from IOS, the land of tiny screens and one at a time activities. It should have stayed on the iPhone where it was useful.

     

    When you enable Full Screen, the window expands to take over the entire screen it is on, even occluding the MenuBar. The other screen gets the Linen wallpaper.

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 31, 2013 7:05 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
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    Dec 31, 2013 7:05 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

     

    Full Screen is another feature they dragged over from IOS, the land of tiny screens and one at a time activities. It should have stayed on the iPhone where it was useful.

     

    When you enable Full Screen, the window expands to take over the entire screen it is on, even occluding the MenuBar. The other screen gets the Linen wallpaper.

     

    Well, that is neater then letting them overlap when full screen is clearly intended to be one screen. But how does it know which screen to make full screen?

     

    doug

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 31, 2013 7:18 AM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 31, 2013 7:18 AM in response to Doug Lerner2

    Doug-

     

    I have used Extended desktop off and on since 1987 when I bought a Mac-II.

     

    "Full Screen" is such an abomination (shutting OFF the second screen) it makes me scream.

     

    If it does not use the correct screen, all it takes is dragging the tiny MenuBar to the Big display to make it the "Primary". Look closely at this graphic. The tiny MenuBar is shown, and draggable:

     

    Arrange Window screenshot.png

     

    .

  • by Doug Lerner2,

    Doug Lerner2 Doug Lerner2 Dec 31, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 4 (1,079 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 31, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I see. I imagine most of the time my main focus would be on the screen of the computer I'm typing on - the smaller MBP. But if I were watching a Netflix movie in full screen mode I would want it to be on the larger external monitor I got. So it sounds like a lot of switching back and forth between which screen is primary.

     

    I haven't done this for some years, but it seems that when I used to give PowerPoint presentations on my older MacBook Pro (like 7+ years ago) I would see one view on my MBP, where I could control the presentation and see notes, and the projected screen would be a full screen view of just the slides I was showing.

     

    Is that different from extended desktop?

     

    doug

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 31, 2013 7:48 AM in response to Doug Lerner2
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 31, 2013 7:48 AM in response to Doug Lerner2

    Is that different from extended desktop?

     

    It may be, but only slightly.

     

    If the projector screen had a window frame around it, that was exactly Extended Desktop, with the Presentation window placed on the projector screen and the Control window on the desktop nearby, implemented with the built-in display.

     

    But I expect Microsoft did back-flips to make the projector screen be similar to "Full Screen" with no window frame. They probably had to seroiusly hack the system interface to make it go. Discouraging that hacking in System Routines may be why "Full Screen" has gained any traction at all.

     

    The problem is, when you turn OFF the second display, ¿where is the annotated copy and the controls you used to see on the little display?

     

    EDIT: If you are running 10.9 Mavericks, the whole busness changes again, to a hybrid of Extended desktop and multiple, individual displays:

     

    OS X: Using multiple displays in Mavericks

     

    .

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