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Upgraded 2010 MacBook or 2012 MacBook Air?

  • 2010 MacBook 2.4 C2D/4GB/128GB SSD ($503)

    Votes: 1 14.3%
  • 2012 MacBook Air 1.8 i5/4GB/128GB SSD ($850)

    Votes: 6 85.7%

  • Total voters
    7

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,385
460
Well, my kids apparently are happy enough with their Windows 8 machines (for some reason) and I currently have 2 Mac laptops in my possession while I only have the need for 1. Which one should I keep/sell?

Here's their configurations and what I paid for each:

2010 MacBook, 2.4 C2D, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB Samsung 830 SSD
AppleCare 'til March 2014
Paid: $502

2012 MacBook Air, 1.8 i5, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD
AppleCare 'til January 2014 (AC not yet extended)
Paid: $850

Basically, worth spending the extra ~$350 for:
76% faster processor, higher-res screen, 1.8 lb lighter, thinner, better GPU, SATA 3, USB 3, AirPlay, SD card slot, 10% longer battery, backlit keyboard

Thanks!
 
Last edited:

B...

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2013
1,949
2
If it is worth it to you...
For me the answer would be a resouding yes.
 

AshMan

macrumors regular
May 1, 2010
125
0
I would go with the one that you would feel more comfortable using. that being said, the air is more upgraded hardware and more up to date than the c2d macbook.
 

vistadude

macrumors 65816
Jan 3, 2010
1,423
1
Put both up for sale and sell the one that gives you the most money. It seems you don't need high performance since you have other computers at home. The air is a little faster but you can't upgrade it at all. The macbook will allow a second hard drive, since 128 GB won't last long. The macbook also has some level of uniqueness while the air looks like any other laptop on the streets.
 

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,385
460
Put both up for sale and sell the one that gives you the most money. It seems you don't need high performance since you have other computers at home. The air is a little faster but you can't upgrade it at all. The macbook will allow a second hard drive, since 128 GB won't last long. The macbook also has some level of uniqueness while the air looks like any other laptop on the streets.

That's actually a pretty good suggestion and what I might very well wind up doing. I do think I can make more "profit" on the 2010 MacBook.
 

gryffinwings

macrumors regular
Mar 25, 2012
118
0
Well you could just keep the Macbook, depending on the model you can still upgrade the ram and instead of a SSD, why not get a hybrid drive that allows you to have more space and some advantages of the SSD?
 

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,385
460
Well you could just keep the Macbook, depending on the model you can still upgrade the ram and instead of a SSD, why not get a hybrid drive that allows you to have more space and some advantages of the SSD?

Storage space actually isn't an issue since I only use about 60GB of space on my laptop. I have a home server PC that houses all of our photos/videos/music and I network connect to it when needed. I like the full speed of the SSD on the portable machine.
 

B...

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2013
1,949
2
Put both up for sale and sell the one that gives you the most money. It seems you don't need high performance since you have other computers at home. The air is a little faster but you can't upgrade it at all. The macbook will allow a second hard drive, since 128 GB won't last long. The macbook also has some level of uniqueness while the air looks like any other laptop on the streets.

Sorry, but that is incorrect. You can upgrade the SSD with a proprietary one from OWC. Expensive, but prices will drop. You can't upgrade the RAM, but with your other computers, 4 GB should be plenty. Just don't use the Air for Virtual Machines and HD video editing.
 

vistadude

macrumors 65816
Jan 3, 2010
1,423
1
Actually you can put 16 GB ram in a 2010 macbook and also dual hard drives or dual ssd's if you take out the optical drive.

Sorry, but that is incorrect. You can upgrade the SSD with a proprietary one from OWC. Expensive, but prices will drop. You can't upgrade the RAM, but with your other computers, 4 GB should be plenty. Just don't use the Air for Virtual Machines and HD video editing.
 

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,385
460
Well, I convinced my daughter to take the upgraded 2010 MacBook. The 2012 MBA I will continue to use as my own. Thanks for all the feedback!
 
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