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2015 MBP retina 13" vs MBA 13"

M

MaximeL09

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2015
6
0
Hello to the community,

I'm Maxime, from Belgium. I've been using a Sony Vaio VPCSB for 4 years and I want to move for an Apple machine.

I'd like to have your opinion about my dilema: should I choose the new 13-inch Macbook Pro with Retina display or the 13-inch Macbook Air.

2015 13-inch Macbook Pro Retina configuration:
256GB PCIe-based flash storage
2.7GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
8GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
Eur. 1649

(+) Retina display, new trackpad, power
(-) Weight (?), design

2015 13-inch Macbook Air configuration:
256GB PCIe-based flash storage
2.2GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
Eur. 1599

(+) Weight, design, autonomy
(-) No Retina display, no new trackpad -> soon outdated?

Prices are similar (MBP is a bit more expensive, but not significantly).

I use mainly my machine to run applications like Excel, Word and accounting softwares (Sage BOB50, SAP ERP). I also use it of course for web browsing, downloading, music listenning and films watching. Sometimes Photoshop, and maybe games if I have the time (but not at all the primary aim) :).

I take my machine to the University to take notes, and I like to use it in my sofa, on my knees :p.

Notes:
This will be my single machine, I don't have any desktop machine.
I'll have to install Windows 8 on it.
I don't want a machine that will be outdated in 1 year, if possible :rolleyes:.

So, which one should I choose?

Thank you in advance for your advice,

Regards,
Maxime
 
Last edited:
For the tasks you're doing, Air will be enough, it's also slightly ligher and lasts longer on a full charge.

But Pro will be more powerful, has significantly better screen, faster RAM (which in turn further improves the performance of the iGPU).

I'd go with Pro, going by your wording, it's cheaper than Air?
 
Idarzoid said:
For the tasks you're doing, Air will be enough, it's also slightly ligher and lasts longer on a full charge.

But Pro will be more powerful, has significantly better screen, faster RAM (which in turn further improves the performance of the iGPU).

I'd go with Pro, going by your wording, it's cheaper than Air?
Click to expand...

MBP is a bit more expensive :) ($50/Eur.50).
 
Not even a close race IMO, go with the MBP. The airs are just plain not a good deal right now, specs wise.

Plus, apparently the overall footprint of the MBP is actually less than the MBA (though the MBP still weighs more of course)
 
Im also debating between a new MBA and the rMBP. The retina screen is not a deal maker for me. But going 16GB and 1TB SSD is definitely calling my name. I wonder how much will the extra girth and weight matter? On paper it is a very small difference, and I can't quite get a sense of the rMBP at the store. I've been using an MBA for years now and have all sorts of cool cases. Hate to have to get rid of those.

Decisions...
 
ZBoater said:
I've been using an MBA for years now and have all sorts of cool cases.
Click to expand...

I used my 2010 MBA for 3+ years before switching to the rMBP 13" last year. I don't miss the MBA form factor at all, but the screen even though you think you don't need it, will change your mind over time. I run it scaled at 1440x900 equivalent to the MBA, and its just so much sharper.

Switch. You know you want to! ;)
 
neteng101 said:
I used my 2010 MBA for 3+ years before switching to the rMBP 13" last year. I don't miss the MBA form factor at all, but the screen even though you think you don't need it, will change your mind over time. I run it scaled at 1440x900 equivalent to the MBA, and its just so much sharper.

Switch. You know you want to! ;)
Click to expand...

I just bought a new Saddleback leather sleeve for my yet-to-be-bought rMBP. I want one. I know it. I'm just trying to rationalize it. I don't NEED it. I just want it.... :p
 
I had the both devices during my time at the university. I switched from an Air to the Retina for the screen. Personally, the Air's screen is a no go for me. I find it ridiculous that Apple is still shipping this age-old display.

On the other hand, I prefer the Air's weight and feel. As a student, you'd check out the local Apple on Campus program. Almost every university has it here in Germany.
 
Thares said:
I had the both devices during my time at the university. I switched from an Air to the Retina for the screen. Personally, the Air's screen is a no go for me. I find it ridiculous that Apple is still shipping this age-old display.

On the other hand, I prefer the Air's weight and feel. As a student, you'd check out the local Apple on Campus program. Almost every university has it here in Germany.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice :).
I also prefer the thin design of the Air, but as you said, it's a bit outdated :(. Air with Retina would have been perfect...
Concerning Campus program, this computer will in fact be purchased as a professional expense (thank you dad), so I'll save the VAT on it.
 
Do you think that it worth sth to select the 2.9 Ghz instead of 2.7 Ghz; or to move from 8 Go to 16 Go?
 
I wonder if 256G is enough storage for having Windows in a partition and still have room for your OS X stuff.
 
barefeats said:
I wonder if 256G is enough storage for having Windows in a partition and still have room for your OS X stuff.
Click to expand...

It is. I had a 50GB Windows partition and a 200GB OSX Partition. I then moved to 512GB and kept the 50GB partition, but then went strictly VM, got rid of the partition. Now I am going 1TB. I have a lot of VMs....
 
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