Macbook vs Macbook Air

The 13" MBP has not been upgraded in over a year so you are buying older technology. Its processor is more energy hungry and slower than newer processors of the same clock speed. Those are the two disadvantages but that's not to say it isn't a good computer. For someone who needs an optical drive on the road - especially off grid - it is a good choice. One reason I've held onto my 2009 MBP is because I do need to burn discs on the road ocassionally and I don't want to carry another piece of equipment. For every day use I've downsized to a 13" MBA precisely because I want to travel as light and gadget free as possible.

It is also a good choice for someone who has a limited budget and wants longevity. With the MBPr and MBA for longevity you have to upgrade now which can but a reasonably priced computer (for now) outside your budget (after upgrading for the future). The MBP memory and hard drive can be upgraded later when needed...though I'd suggest upgrading the RAM to 8GB immediately buying the RAM from a 3rd party vendor such as Crucial to get a better price.

What do you mean by 'lack of quality'? And if you are thinking that having an SSD is a disadvantage, I highly disagree. While the cost per gigabyte of an SSD is higher than that of a conventional hard drive, the speed more than makes up for it. After upgrading my 2009 MBP with a 256GB SSD it was like having a new computer and I decided then and there I'd never buy a computer with only a conventional hard drive again. If the time came when I had to replace my aging 2009 MBP and I decided to replace it with the current 13" MBP I'd immediately install an SSD.

JMPC wrote:

Personally, I believe that the most recent models (such has the Retina Displays & Air) have one thing that I don't enjoy: SSD! I mean, I enjoy that kind of hardware, BUT, I still think it has a low quantity of Gbs! Also, I still think it's too expensive to change to a better SSD!

Yes, a drawback of the SSD is the relative high cost per gigabyte but the advantages include speed and durability. Working on your MBP on the bus that hits a pothole and your drive may be damaged. Not going to happen with an SSD. The SSD is so fast that virtual RAM is nearly as fast as real RAM. My 2011 4GB MBA feels faster than the 2012 8GB Mac mini. The mini has a much faster processor and more memory in every way the older MBA feels faster and in any operation that requires a drive access it is significantly faster. Even my 2009 MBP with an SSD feels faster than the 2012 mini. For me these two factors make the price per gigabyte moot.

Has for the 'low quality', I was refering to the Processor! I mean, I undestand that they're very good... but I noticed that the MBA has a lowwer processor, compared to the MBP...

Sure, it is older tech but that doesn't mean lower quality. Quality to me means how well it is made. I can buy a much faster HP notebook than the MBP but that doesn't make the HP a higher quality computer. Fact is, the HP is a piece of garbage - and I speak from experience.

It is natural to think the Air is Apple's answer to the low cost underpowered netbook. It isn't. I own a 2011 MBA and a 2013 iMac and I'm as happy to use Photoshop on the MBA as the iMac (especially when it's connected to my external display). I'd go for the 8GB model if at all possible from a standpoint of longevity but my 4GB MBA doesn't feel constrained at all. I frequently run Word, Mail, Safari, EverNote and FileMaker Pro at the same time, along with assorted helpers.

JMPC wrote:

I'll probably be buying the Macbook Air after all

good choice

dont let its small sizes confuse you, its a powerhouse.