Is MacBook Air just a cheaper MacBook Pro with inferior specs.

Samtb · Jan 28, 2013, 01:19 PM

Many people have said that the only reason for ipad mini is lower cost. Would people say the same thing about MBA?

GGJstudios · Jan 28, 2013, 01:20 PM

No, it's a completely different model, designed for a different purpose.

MTD's Mac · Jan 28, 2013, 02:22 PM

iPad mini is a one-handed, pocket device, small and cheap enough to be given to kids, etc.

iPad is a slightly more powerful full-sized tablet, much better screen for photos and videos, etc.

MacBook Pro is a mainstream/high end laptop, balancing portability and power.

MacBook Air is an ultra-portable, as thin as it can be while still running a desktop OS well.

When you remove pricing from the equation, you see that there's very little overlap between these products.

wolfpuppies3 · Jan 28, 2013, 03:24 PM

Not at all, completely different machines.

Violet1337 · Jan 28, 2013, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfpuppies3

Not at all, completely different machines.

I noticed that you have a MBA with 8GB of Ram. Is that far too much for your usage and what do you use it for? I'm not sure whether to go for 4GB or 8GB.

coldjeanzzz · Jan 28, 2013, 03:32 PM

What inferior specs?

Slower processor is the only thing but that's more than compensated for by the SSD in the MBA.

In 2013 the MBA is just a much better buy than the cMBP.

blesscheese · Jan 28, 2013, 04:53 PM

When it came out, the MBA was a premium model that was way more expensive than a MacBook, and even more expensive than a MacBook Pro.

Since they are so wildly popular, I think Apple has been able to cut their costs through volume dealing with the OEM's, but they do not appear to have cut down on the quality.

In fact, a recent post in another forum told of a school IT person who so preferred the MBA screen, he "repurposed" his MBP and got himself assigned a MBA.

rabidz7 · Jan 28, 2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldjeanzzz

What inferior specs?

Slower processor is the only thing but that's more than compensated for by the SSD in the MBA.

In 2013 the MBA is just a much better buy than the cMBP.

0 dedicated VRAM = 0 speed

MultiFinder17 · Jan 28, 2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabidz7

0 dedicated VRAM = 0 speed

For certain uses, sure. For certain other uses, the GPU really doesn't matter all that much.

throAU · Jan 28, 2013, 10:11 PM

It is designed with different priorities - those being weight and form factor.

Different trade offs are made to obtain those goals.

it's like comparing a Ferrari to a truck and saying the ferrari is worse. It depends what you are intending to use the machine for.

Doesn't matter how much better the MBP spec is if it is too big/heavy/whatever for the user, and the user doesn't need the higher spec of the MBP.

coldjeanzzz · Jan 28, 2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabidz7

0 dedicated VRAM = 0 speed

the 13 inch MBP doesn't have dedicated VRAM either?

AnorexicPig · Jan 28, 2013, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldjeanzzz

the 13 inch MBP doesn't have dedicated VRAM either?

And neither does the 13" rMBP.

JHUFrank · Jan 30, 2013, 12:17 AM

Nope. I havent found the specs in the MBA to inhibit my ability to work at all, and for what I do, I value the lightness of the MBA over the MBP's weight. FYI, my family uses all Apple products, and my wife uses a MBP.

Technarchy · Jan 30, 2013, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabidz7

0 dedicated VRAM = 0 speed

You might want to brush up on your Apple specs...

Nightarchaon · Jan 30, 2013, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technarchy

You might want to brush up on your Apple specs...

i think he means no dedicated graphics = i cant use it as a gaming machine, i really wanted a MBA with 4 Nvidia 680s in quad SLI with a 4K screen capable of playing Crysis 3 in super HD, but weight no more and have the same battery life as the MBA now

barkmonster · 07:00 AM

I think when the Thunderbolt docks come out and people get a chance to see how they fit in with the MBA or Macbook Pro, the MBA will be a perfectly viable alternative to the Macbook Pro to all but FPS obsessed gamers.

For audio work specifically, it offers several advantages now there's a Firewire to Thunderbolt adapter: -

1) It's small, light and portable.

2) It can still support a second drive with the Firewire adapter so that's the recording drive taken care of. Don't listen to anyone who claims you can use the system drive for multitrack work, even if it is an SSD, they're full of it.

3) Once the docks come out, you don't need the Thunderbolt display. You can use any LCD you like to use a second display AND all your perpherals down 1 Thunderbolt cable including the second drive.

These 3 things make the MBA more than viable. Particuarly as the raw CPU power of even the entry level model is roughly equal to the entry level Mac Mini and it's a full blown SSD driven laptop!

The Macbook Pro still has more CPU power and less reliance on adapters and docks because of it's connectivity. In this sense, you still get more for the same money with the entry level Macbook Pro than the higher end Macbook Air but for people who see weight and size as an issue, things are a little blury these days on whether the Macbook Air is either an over-specified/priced subnotebook or an underspecified Macbook Pro with less connectivity to compromise for it's size.

Mrbobb · Jan 28, 2013, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samtb

Many people

Gotta expand your circle of informants.

gnasher729 · Jan 30, 2013, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samtb

Many people have said that the only reason for ipad mini is lower cost. Would people say the same thing about MBA?

Many people talk a lot of nonsense. So yes, the "many people" who talk nonsense about the iPad Mini are very likely to talk the same nonsense about the MBA, and the answer is "yes".

The big reason for the iPad Mini is the small size and low weight.
The big reason for the MacBook Air is the small size and low weight.

Which makes your "many people" completely wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by throAU

it's like comparing a Ferrari to a truck and saying the ferrari is worse. It depends what you are intending to use the machine for.

Both have enormous pulling power. :-)

Jan 28, 2013, 01:19 PM	#1
Samtb macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2013	Is MacBook Air just a cheaper MacBook Pro with inferior specs. Many people have said that the only reason for ipad mini is lower cost. Would people say the same thing about MBA?
	0

Jan 28, 2013, 02:22 PM	#3
MTD's Mac macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles	iPad mini is a one-handed, pocket device, small and cheap enough to be given to kids, etc. iPad is a slightly more powerful full-sized tablet, much better screen for photos and videos, etc. MacBook Pro is a mainstream/high end laptop, balancing portability and power. MacBook Air is an ultra-portable, as thin as it can be while still running a desktop OS well. When you remove pricing from the equation, you see that there's very little overlap between these products. __________________ 2013 13" Retina MacBook Pro; 2.6 GHz i5, 8 GB RAM, HD4000 // 24" LED Cinema Display // iPhone 5 16GB (black & slate)
	2

Jan 28, 2013, 03:24 PM	#4
wolfpuppies3 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Virginia, USA	Not at all, completely different machines. __________________ 2012 MBA 13, 2 Ghz i7, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD; 2011 MBA 11, 1.8 Ghz i7, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD; 2010 MB Pro 15, 2.66 Ghz i7, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD; two iPad 3s and a mini, two iPhones and a bunch of iPods
	0

Jan 28, 2013, 10:11 PM	#10
throAU macrumors 68020 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia	It is designed with different priorities - those being weight and form factor. Different trade offs are made to obtain those goals. it's like comparing a Ferrari to a truck and saying the ferrari is worse. It depends what you are intending to use the machine for. Doesn't matter how much better the MBP spec is if it is too big/heavy/whatever for the user, and the user doesn't need the higher spec of the MBP. __________________ MBP (early 2011) - Core i7 2720 2.2ghz, Hires Glossy, 16GB, Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Mac Mini (mid 2007) - Core2 Duo 1.8, 2gb, 320gb 7200 rpm iPhone 4S, iPad 4
	0

Jan 30, 2013, 12:17 AM	#13
JHUFrank macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2010	Nope. I havent found the specs in the MBA to inhibit my ability to work at all, and for what I do, I value the lightness of the MBA over the MBP's weight. FYI, my family uses all Apple products, and my wife uses a MBP. __________________ 13" Macbook Air, 4gigs ram, 256gig SSD ; Lenovo T420, 16gigs ram, 256 SSD, 750 Hybrid Samsung Galaxy Note 2; Lenovo and Apple Fanboy
	1

Jan 28, 2013, 01:20 PM	#2
GGJstudios macrumors Westmere Join Date: May 2008	No, it's a completely different model, designed for a different purpose.
	7

Jan 28, 2013, 03:32 PM	#6
coldjeanzzz macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012	What inferior specs? Slower processor is the only thing but that's more than compensated for by the SSD in the MBA. In 2013 the MBA is just a much better buy than the cMBP.
	2

Jan 28, 2013, 04:53 PM	#7
blesscheese macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central CA	When it came out, the MBA was a premium model that was way more expensive than a MacBook, and even more expensive than a MacBook Pro. Since they are so wildly popular, I think Apple has been able to cut their costs through volume dealing with the OEM's, but they do not appear to have cut down on the quality. In fact, a recent post in another forum told of a school IT person who so preferred the MBA screen, he "repurposed" his MBP and got himself assigned a MBA.
	1

Jan 30, 2013, 06:54 AM	#16
barkmonster macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lancashire	I think when the Thunderbolt docks come out and people get a chance to see how they fit in with the MBA or Macbook Pro, the MBA will be a perfectly viable alternative to the Macbook Pro to all but FPS obsessed gamers. For audio work specifically, it offers several advantages now there's a Firewire to Thunderbolt adapter: - 1) It's small, light and portable. 2) It can still support a second drive with the Firewire adapter so that's the recording drive taken care of. Don't listen to anyone who claims you can use the system drive for multitrack work, even if it is an SSD, they're full of it. 3) Once the docks come out, you don't need the Thunderbolt display. You can use any LCD you like to use a second display AND all your perpherals down 1 Thunderbolt cable including the second drive. These 3 things make the MBA more than viable. Particuarly as the raw CPU power of even the entry level model is roughly equal to the entry level Mac Mini and it's a full blown SSD driven laptop! The Macbook Pro still has more CPU power and less reliance on adapters and docks because of it's connectivity. In this sense, you still get more for the same money with the entry level Macbook Pro than the higher end Macbook Air but for people who see weight and size as an issue, things are a little blury these days on whether the Macbook Air is either an over-specified/priced subnotebook or an underspecified Macbook Pro with less connectivity to compromise for it's size. __________________ 16Gb iPhone 5 • 2.53Ghz Mac Mini (8Gb, 60Gb Vertex 2) • Mbox2 • LG W2343T • Samsung SyncMaster 913n Last edited by barkmonster; Jan 30, 2013 at 07:00 AM.
	2

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