2011 or 2012?

[dirtymagician]

Hello to everyone, long time reader 1st time poster and like most newbies im after some advice.

At present im using a 2011 MBP 13" but im travelling more with work now, coupled with going back to college im looking at getting something more portable. The 11" MBA and its what i want. I can get a refurb 2011 11" with 128gb and 4gb of ram for £719 from apple, the same 2012 model is £919.

I wont be selling my MBP to fund as my partner is having this due to suffering with windows computers for years and i think its high time she moved over to something nicer (also gives me an excuse to get her an ipod later on down the line).

I dont do much on my computers other than the usual itunes, internet browsing, documents here and there and playing Back To The Future Game/Angry Birds, i also dual boot to windows 7 (which i would like to continue) plus i have a 1tb western digital external hard drive.

I have watched many many youtube videos, read tons of comments about 2011 vs 2012 but i still cant decide - the 2011 is better for my wallet but if the 2012 with ML being out shortly is worth the extra then i'll wait and buy that....eventually.

Opinions and comments please 😀

Thanks

 

[kodeman53]

For your uses? Save the 200 quid.

 

[lukekarts]

The 2012 is a small step up from the 2011 - more power, USB 3 etc.

But, for your uses, the 2011 is absolutely fine. Personally I'd save the money but if you're expecting to start using more intensive apps in during its lifespan the 2012 will be slightly more future proof.

 

[Xikum]

If you ask me a 2010 model would still be 100% fine for you. I do all that on a 2GB 2010 and I still feel like the computer is over-powered for its use with its full SSD.

 

[lamboman]

If you absolutely want your girlfriend to have the old machine, I'd spend the extra £80 and get a refurb 2011 MBA 13, not the 11.

 

[bembol]

I had a chance to save $100 more but I always want the latest.

Except for Handbrake I do what exactly I do on my Samsung Galaxy S3. It's just me being picky and lamboman is right, I could REALLY save by buying a 2011 Refurbished Air.

 

[jmgregory1]

I agree that you really might want to consider the 13" air, not the 11", 2011 model. From the standpoint of the screen size, resolution, overall size and battery life difference, the 13" is, I believe, the better option (it is for me at least).

The 13" air, compared to the 13" pro you're using now is a drastic difference in weight AND performance. You'll benefit from a higher resolution screen on the 13" air and you'll get almost 7 hours of use with it, compared to about 4 with the 11".

 

[RightMACatU]

Just to add to the confusion 😉

The 2012 MBA has faster processor, graphics, a significant faster SSD controller and two wonderful USB3 ports 🙂
2012 hands-down from my side of the fence...

 

[OneMike]

Just to add to the confusion 😉

The 2012 MBA has faster processor, graphics, a significant faster SSD controller and two wonderful USB3 ports 🙂
2012 hands-down from my side of the fence...

Agreed.

USB3 and graphics make it beyond worth the upgrade to me.

2012 model is a better starting point since beyond processor, hardware changed. Either will work for you though.

 

[Nioxic]

personally i would say, get the 2011. the upgrade is tiny, as stated.
you gain faster cpu (and graphical) performance, which you will have no use for, when just browsing and writing and other light-tasks (and it can easily encode a video too, just takes longer than the 2012 😛)

Usb 3 is useless atm. its backwards computable anyway, and you probably own nothing that utilized 3.0 today...

also I've read from people that the newer recharger (magsafe) is worse on the newer? (need some confirmation)