So I'm considering these options mostly due to price. The 2012 MBP is $450 which I much prefer, but it lacks SSD that I'll have to later upgrade. I'm figuring on putting a 1 TB EVO in it so adding another $200 to the price. It already has 8 GB of RAM. So I'd be out of pocket at least $650.
The MBA is also spec'd with 8 GB of RAM, and already has the 256 GB SSD which is likely sufficient for my needs (I just like going for excess when upgrading so I don't need to do it a second time). MBA has the advantage of being newer and having faster CPU, but for my use case I am going to leave this plugged in most of the time powering an external display so the portability is largely a moot point. But technically because the '12 MBP was in production until '16 it would be supported until 2021 to the MBA's 2020. The MBA is $700, but I might be able to get it for $650.
I'm taking it the biggest difference between these two is the CPU, graphics, portability, and screen. But for my use the screen and portability are largely going to not matter (though I do prefer higher quality screens, all my monitors are IPS or PVA - no TN panels). I don't like TN screens, but for the few times I'd ever use the MBA's screen I don't know how much it would matter. Seems like the MBP might be better at cooling so less chance of throttle. I will be driving a 2560x1600 or 2560x1440 display with either machine.
I have no idea how long I plan to keep either of them, I'm trying to make the switch to a Mac for my everyday usage (web browsing, video streaming, word processing) so I get the impression either of these has sufficient power for me to do what I need. Or to throw a wrench into all this, should I just up my budget to like $900 or so and try for a newer MBP? I absolutely don't want to spend more than $1k, but want whatever this is to be reliable and have the best resale. Do MBA's hold value a bit worse than a MBP? It kind of seems that way to me, but I haven't been looking that long.
The MBA is also spec'd with 8 GB of RAM, and already has the 256 GB SSD which is likely sufficient for my needs (I just like going for excess when upgrading so I don't need to do it a second time). MBA has the advantage of being newer and having faster CPU, but for my use case I am going to leave this plugged in most of the time powering an external display so the portability is largely a moot point. But technically because the '12 MBP was in production until '16 it would be supported until 2021 to the MBA's 2020. The MBA is $700, but I might be able to get it for $650.
I'm taking it the biggest difference between these two is the CPU, graphics, portability, and screen. But for my use the screen and portability are largely going to not matter (though I do prefer higher quality screens, all my monitors are IPS or PVA - no TN panels). I don't like TN screens, but for the few times I'd ever use the MBA's screen I don't know how much it would matter. Seems like the MBP might be better at cooling so less chance of throttle. I will be driving a 2560x1600 or 2560x1440 display with either machine.
I have no idea how long I plan to keep either of them, I'm trying to make the switch to a Mac for my everyday usage (web browsing, video streaming, word processing) so I get the impression either of these has sufficient power for me to do what I need. Or to throw a wrench into all this, should I just up my budget to like $900 or so and try for a newer MBP? I absolutely don't want to spend more than $1k, but want whatever this is to be reliable and have the best resale. Do MBA's hold value a bit worse than a MBP? It kind of seems that way to me, but I haven't been looking that long.