13" MBP w/500GB HDD vs 13" MBA w/ 128GB SSD?

[madrona]

All,

This is my first post on this forum, and I am on the verge of buying my first Mac. I've been surfing the site for a number of weeks and thought you may be able to help me with my decision on what Mac laptop to purchase. Here is what I am thinking (these two computers are around the same price):

13" MacBook Pro w/ 500 GB HDD
Pros:
- 2.7GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7 processor
- Built-in Superdrive
- FireWire (my wife has a 20" iMac G4 so I was thinking of using ScreenRecycler to make it a 2nd screen, and connecting it with FireWire)
Cons:
- No SSD

13" MacBook Air w/ 128 GB SSD (plus I'll buy a SuperDrive)
Pros:
- SSD rather than HDD. I can use my external HD for additional storage
- Weight
Cons:
- No FireWire, so I'd have to use Screen Recycler through an ethernet port. (which would take one of the USB slots).

I am torn between the two computers. Any thoughts? And, would the iMac G4 function well as a 2nd screen with these computers? I know I'm missing out on the AMD Radeon HD graphics card, but not sure if this would make or break my ability to use Screen Recycler.

Thanks!

 

[egi]

well the MBA certainly would seem snappier because of the SSD and mostly the extra horsepower of the MBP wouldn't even be noticable, unless your doing some rendering/compressing etc.

keep in mind the MBA has only 2 usb (so does MBP) ports and using one as ethernet port would leave you with only 1 left.


might I ask why you chose the top end MBP 13 with 2.7ghz i5 ? my choice here would be to go with the base model and buy an SSD, which would make the MBP superior to MBA.

 

[akhbhaat]

Get the base model MBP with a 128 GB SSD. The i7 processor is a very expensive upgrade which offers only marginal performance improvements, and certainly won't compare to an SSD-equipped system in overall day-to-day performance. Then you'll have a faster machine (in every respect) than the MBA plus the Superdrive and the ports.

 

[madrona]

Thanks for the comments!

I hadn't considered the base model MBP. I guess the faster i7 processor appealed to me, but given that the improvements will only be marginal, I think you just made my decision for me. Thanks!

Do you think running the 2nd screen through firewire (with Screen Recycler) will have lots of lag?