Macbook Air 13 vs Macbook Pro Retina 13

Tharius · Dec 22, 2012, 07:56 PM

I'm deciding on whether to get either a Macbook Air 13" or a Macbook Pro Retina 13".

If I get the 13" Air the specs would be i5, 8GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD which comes to $1,650 after tax.

However, I would be able to get the Macbook Retina for $1,600 and it comes with the same exact specs, except that it comes to 128 GB SSD.

I'm a college student who would take this laptop to class everyday, and the main application I use is Adobe Photoshop.

I already ordered the Air 13", but i'm regretting my decision since I feel like buying a Macbook Pro Retina and 64 GB SD (or something like that) would be a better option since it's actually a cheaper option and I get the Retina screen.

Thoughts?

AlexHunter · Dec 22, 2012, 08:17 PM

The screen on the rMBP is *WAY* better than the screen on the MBA. If you don't need the extra space, I would go with the Retina for sure. If you do need the space, but don't need to travel with some of the data, consider using an external HDD with the Retina. In any case, if I were you, I would choose the Retina hands down.

osxlovers · Dec 22, 2012, 09:33 PM

Macbook Air is pretty enough for sure, I'm using 2012 MBA for my application development and still happy with it

iAppl3Fan · Dec 23, 2012, 02:32 AM

You did good on the MBA 13. Stay with that.

skubish · Dec 23, 2012, 07:57 AM

Wirelessly posted

I am basically trying to decide the same thing. I read reviews that say the mbp retina is sluggish. Is that true?

xekret · Dec 23, 2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skubish

Wirelessly posted

I am basically trying to decide the same thing. I read reviews that say the mbp retina is sluggish. Is that true?

There are tons of reviews online and I put one to the test the other day and noticed some scroll lag. The 15" is the better option IMO since it has a GPU and can still be carried around.

lightz39 · Dec 24, 2012, 11:55 AM

I don't know why anyone would buy an air. Especially in that situation. Its ugly (silver screen boarder isn't for me) and the monitor can't compete with the retina.

mankar4 · Dec 24, 2012, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skubish

Wirelessly posted

I am basically trying to decide the same thing. I read reviews that say the mbp retina is sluggish. Is that true?

No sluggishness here. When there is scroll lag, its usually the app that is not optimized for retina, not the failure of the computer. For example, the same websites that scroll lag in Chrome are smooth in Safari or even (almost) smooth in Chrome Canary.

I highly recommend the 13" retina. I'd go to the store and put the rmbp and mba next to each other and see if the retina screen makes a big difference to your eyes. It does to mine, but others dont care. Also, the black screen border is definitely prettier than the silver, but the mba is noticeably lighter. Not that the rmbp is heavy by any means.

Dec 22, 2012, 07:56 PM	#1
Tharius macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2011	Macbook Air 13 vs Macbook Pro Retina 13 I'm deciding on whether to get either a Macbook Air 13" or a Macbook Pro Retina 13". If I get the 13" Air the specs would be i5, 8GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD which comes to $1,650 after tax. However, I would be able to get the Macbook Retina for $1,600 and it comes with the same exact specs, except that it comes to 128 GB SSD. I'm a college student who would take this laptop to class everyday, and the main application I use is Adobe Photoshop. I already ordered the Air 13", but i'm regretting my decision since I feel like buying a Macbook Pro Retina and 64 GB SD (or something like that) would be a better option since it's actually a cheaper option and I get the Retina screen. Thoughts?
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 02:32 AM	#4
iAppl3Fan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2011	You did good on the MBA 13. Stay with that. __________________  2012 15" Retina MacBook Pro + Thunderbolt Display + B&W MM-1  2011 27" iMac + Bose QC15  Unlocked iPhone 5 AWS + Bose QC3 \|  TV \|  Time Capsule \| B&W Zepplin Air
	1

Dec 23, 2012, 07:57 AM	#5
skubish macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan	Wirelessly posted I am basically trying to decide the same thing. I read reviews that say the mbp retina is sluggish. Is that true? __________________ iPad 3G 32GB iMac C2D 24" iPhone 3GS 32GB Black iPod Nano 8GB Blue
	0

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Dec 22, 2012, 08:17 PM	#2
AlexHunter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2012	The screen on the rMBP is WAY better than the screen on the MBA. If you don't need the extra space, I would go with the Retina for sure. If you do need the space, but don't need to travel with some of the data, consider using an external HDD with the Retina. In any case, if I were you, I would choose the Retina hands down.
	2

Dec 22, 2012, 09:33 PM	#3
osxlovers macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Macbook Air is pretty enough for sure, I'm using 2012 MBA for my application development and still happy with it
	1

Dec 24, 2012, 11:55 AM	#7
lightz39 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012	I don't know why anyone would buy an air. Especially in that situation. Its ugly (silver screen boarder isn't for me) and the monitor can't compete with the retina.
	0