2012 MacBook Air 13in vs 2012 MacBook Pro 13in

[alstrike]

Going crazy over this too...

I can get an i7 13" MBP for the same price as a baseline MBA but this is what is driving me nuts:

- If I get the MBA I have to upgrade it to 8GB + get an external USB 3.0 drive (at least 1TB).

- If I get the i7 MBP it will come with standard 8GB RAM (plus I cant get 16GB if I wish) but I have to buy a SSD and an external USB 3.0 enclosure for the HDD.

To be honest I won´t play games on the computer but I do stream A LOT of 1080p mkv´s and play them with XBMC but I don´t know if the MBA can handle that. All other tasks will be browsing, office and maybe some Photoshop (if I learn how to use it).

It will be my ONLY computer and I´m still deciding which one to get.

P.S. Anyone with a MBA can run some stream tests with 1080p files?

 

[asting]

Going crazy over this too...

I can get an i7 13" MBP for the same price as a baseline MBA but this is what is driving me nuts:

- If I get the MBA I have to upgrade it to 8GB + get an external USB 3.0 drive (at least 1TB).

- If I get the i7 MBP it will come with standard 8GB RAM (plus I cant get 16GB if I wish) but I have to buy a SSD and an external USB 3.0 enclosure for the HDD.

To be honest I won´t play games on the computer but I do stream A LOT of 1080p mkv´s and play them with XBMC but I don´t know if the MBA can handle that. All other tasks will be browsing, office and maybe some Photoshop (if I learn how to use it).

It will be my ONLY computer and I´m still deciding which one to get.

P.S. Anyone with a MBA can run some stream tests with 1080p files?

Are you using the built in screen? If so neither can support 1080p, but the MBA has a higher res.

Do you also mean you can get a cheaper MBA than pro? The Pro and Air 13" both start at 1199...

 

[alstrike]

Are you using the built in screen? If so neither can support 1080p, but the MBA has a higher res.

Do you also mean you can get a cheaper MBA than pro? The Pro and Air 13" both start at 1199...

I stream them to a PS3 hooked to a 47" 1080p using PS Media Server, did the same thing with my old 2011 MBP i7 (sold it). I don´t have any other monitors at home...

No chance of getting a cheaper MBA , plus I have to wait like 14 days to get it from the Apple online store (BTO sucks sometimes).

 

[asting]

I stream them to a PS3 hooked to a 47" 1080p using PS Media Server, did the same thing with my old 2011 MBP i7 (sold it). I don´t have any other monitors at home...

No chance of getting a cheaper MBA , plus I have to wait like 14 days to get it from the Apple online store (BTO sucks sometimes).

Wait, what? Why can't you choose which one you want if you're BTOing?

 

[riveting]

This has been debated to death. I personally can't find any reason to go with pro than air for the 2012 model. You can buy a windows laptop that is similar to macbook pro in spec. for like $500, but when you buy a comparable windows laptop to macbook air (ultrabook), it cost almost as much as a macbook air.

 

[radiohed]

The Air has been refined to a very fast, slim and very usable computer. I had a 1st gen which was so limited and the new models amaze me. My wife loves hers and ssd is the way to go. With the Air you get the SSD, better display, slim design and light weight. The Ssd more than makes up for the slower processor.

 

[ayres]

so many emphasize the vast disparities between the models... there isnt much - especially for basic daily tasks... with that said, I should mention that I'm a firm believer in apple's base models... I'd love an air, but the idea of only getting 128gb for $1100 is a red flag - and I can't do something simple like upgrade the ram myself. the base 13 mbp is the ultimate compromise in so many ways... price, resale value, upgrade-able, and it isn't like carrying around an anvil... and don't feel like you HAVE to get ssd... the hhds in apple's machines, and their responsiveness is not exactly terrible. what's wrong with waiting an additional few seconds for non-intensive tasks? in a year or two apple will provide a 256gb in the base model, and then it will make more sense...

 

[jena55]

I had the same dilemma as you a couple weeks ago. I actually ended up getting both a pro and an air to compare them. Initially, I was worried because text was smaller on the air and I don't have the best eyes. I was able to make adjustments to settings, however, that have alleviated that problem. After a week with both machines, I just couldn't bring myself to choose the Pro so I returned it. The Air seems so much slicker and is much nicer to work on when sitting on the couch and things due to the light weight and wedge design. The Pro wasn't bad but did feel more outdated due to it's weight and screen resolution. I also wasn't a huge fan of the glare the Pro produced.

That being said, I don't game or do programming... for average school work, social media, internet, music, etc though, the Air has been fantastic!

 

[alstrike]

Wait, what? Why can't you choose which one you want if you're BTOing?

If I get the MBA it would be from the Apple Online Store, but the MBP is from a guy in a forum (sealed in box).

One of the main concerns about the MBA is the resale value, I sold my 2011 i7 13" MBP and lost like 10% in 10 months.

 

[soccerfan5667]

Yesterday I just went and bought the Pro. Going into the store, I was 100% sure I was going to get a MacBook Air with 8gb of ram, but the lady that helped me convinced me otherwise. Even though the Air is fast and almost just as good as the Pro, the Pro is still better in terms of schoolwork and all. Though you won't be doing any CPU intensive tasks, I bet you you will be doing multiple tasks at once, have multiple workspaces, or 'desktops', open at once. In which case, an Air won't be able to handle it as well as the Pro. I just got my Pro yesterday, but so far I'm loving it. It handles videos well, the internet speed is super fast, and the screen is pretty good!

 

[Barna Biro]

Great that your happy, but for your needs, the MBA would have been just as good. All that "multiple workspaces" affirmation is just a load of bull... The MBA can handle multi-tasking more than decently ( not to mention - again - that your needs are extremely basic anyway ). Just my 2 cents.

 

[jena55]

Great that your happy, but for your needs, the MBA would have been just as good. All that "multiple workspaces" affirmation is just a load of bull... The MBA can handle multi-tasking more than decently ( not to mention - again - that your needs are extremely basic anyway ). Just my 2 cents.

I agree. I have the 4gb basic Air. I have done a few tests opening several web pages, word documents, PowerPoint, excel, playing ITunes, playing YouTube videos, twitter, Facebook menutab, Mail etc all at the same time and I have yet to come close to utilizing all 4gb or have any page outs. As a basic user, that is pretty much the most I would ever do and realistically it will usually not be all at once. The basic Air handled it all amazingly fast w/no issues.

 

[Greg M]

Yesterday I just went and bought the Pro. Going into the store, I was 100% sure I was going to get a MacBook Air with 8gb of ram, but the lady that helped me convinced me otherwise. Even though the Air is fast and almost just as good as the Pro, the Pro is still better in terms of schoolwork and all. Though you won't be doing any CPU intensive tasks, I bet you you will be doing multiple tasks at once, have multiple workspaces, or 'desktops', open at once. In which case, an Air won't be able to handle it as well as the Pro. I just got my Pro yesterday, but so far I'm loving it. It handles videos well, the internet speed is super fast, and the screen is pretty good!

She lied to you or she has NO idea what she's talking about.

That's just plain bull that the Air won't handle it as well as the pro. As a matter of fact the air can probably handle those tasks BETTER then the pro. The SSD makes a huge difference. If you have to use the swap file which is better, using a 5400rpm drive or an SSD?

Plus the MBA has much less problems with glare! Wait till you're sitting in class with all those florence lights on. I've used my MBA outside in full sun without much problem. That MBA screen can get very bright and it's not a mirror like the pro.

The higher res of the MBA is so much more beneficial with school work because you're getting the real-estate of a 15" screen on a 13" screen.

 

[riveting]

That reason is kind of funny, probably because she think the name has a "Pro" on it, then it must better for "pro" work. Seriously, the extra screen real estate+ssd speed would be far better for "have multiple workspaces" or "desktop" open at once than the extra maybe 10% better CPU performance offered by the "Pro". You should compare yourself to make a decision, not by listening to the lady who is trained by offering advice based on marketing terms.

Yesterday I just went and bought the Pro. Going into the store, I was 100% sure I was going to get a MacBook Air with 8gb of ram, but the lady that helped me convinced me otherwise. Even though the Air is fast and almost just as good as the Pro, the Pro is still better in terms of schoolwork and all. Though you won't be doing any CPU intensive tasks, I bet you you will be doing multiple tasks at once, have multiple workspaces, or 'desktops', open at once. In which case, an Air won't be able to handle it as well as the Pro. I just got my Pro yesterday, but so far I'm loving it. It handles videos well, the internet speed is super fast, and the screen is pretty good!

 

[Jeepman88]

The Air will be faster for those tasks because of the flash storage. The Macbook Pro has a spinning mechanical hard drive, which has lots of storage space but is slow compared to the Air's solid state storage.

Rebooting the computer, launching applications, and opening and saving files will all be faster on the Air.

As for which model to get, that depends on how much storage space you want/need. The good thing is that since the 2012 Air has USB 3.0, you could always get a USB 3 external hard drive if you needed more space for things like music and movies.

so if for example you got the MBP with the SSD, are you saying that you'd be getting the best of both worlds?? The faster processor 2.5GHZ and flash storage, so it would be MUCH faster than the MBA?? Or am I missing something here?

 

[alstrike]

Ah scr*w it, I just ordered an Air.

13" i5/8gb/128 Let's hope I can run a virtual machine (W7) for my xbox 360 needs.

Estimated delivery on the 24th July which happens to be my birthday!!!

 

[P0stalTek]

Ah scr*w it, I just ordered an Air.

13" i5/8gb/128 Let's hope I can run a virtual machine (W7) for my xbox 360 needs.

Estimated delivery on the 24th July which happens to be my birthday!!!

I think you made the better decision. For a student, 99% of the time a MBA will be better than a MBP (of any size for that matter). This is coming from someone who has both and uses the MBP more because of my needs.

Either way, hope you both enjoy your Macs.

 

[Stetrain]

so if for example you got the MBP with the SSD, are you saying that you'd be getting the best of both worlds?? The faster processor 2.5GHZ and flash storage, so it would be MUCH faster than the MBA?? Or am I missing something here?

Sort of, except for the lower resolution screen and increased weight. I wouldn't call it MUCH faster, but it would be faster in CPU-bound tasks. Plus you would have the ability to upgrade to more RAM.

 

[Greg M]

Ah scr*w it, I just ordered an Air.

13" i5/8gb/128 Let's hope I can run a virtual machine (W7) for my xbox 360 needs.

Estimated delivery on the 24th July which happens to be my birthday!!!

You're going to love your birthday present to yourself!!!

 

[riveting]

The frequency difference is deceiving as they both can turbo boost to much closer frequency. On geek bench (which test CPU and memory) there is only around 10% performance difference between base 13 MBP and MBA, and 2012 base 13 MBA is already faster or as fast as the 2011 base 13 pro model, and 2012 or even 2011 MBA is easily twice as fast as 2010 13 MBP. That means, on CPU intensive task, say some thing takes 10 seconds on MBA, it will take 9 seconds on MBP, and for tasks that are not using much CPU power, the speed difference would be negligible (that is assume you have upgraded the pro to a comparable SSD, otherwise MBA will feel much faster).

To me, the only real advantage of 13 MBP is the easier upgradability (RAM and HD), however, you have to decide whether that is worth an extra 1.5lb, a low resolution screen and no SSD to boot unless you upgrade yourself. I bought a refurbished 13 MBP because of the cheap price and ram upgradability, but end up returning it as I can't stand the low screen resolution.

so if for example you got the MBP with the SSD, are you saying that you'd be getting the best of both worlds?? The faster processor 2.5GHZ and flash storage, so it would be MUCH faster than the MBA?? Or am I missing something here?