Air or Pro??

[dgnr8]

I currently have a 13 inch Macbook Air for 2011. I love the computer but my spouse cracked the screen. No big deal because I am starting a new job that has given me around $2000 for a new computer.

I'm debating between a new 13 inch air fully upgraded with a 512ssd and the fastest processor it offers or a refurb pro, specifically the Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro 2.0GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5 with Retina Display — Space Grey 512gb

I'm in the legal profession and I often have 5-6 windows with pdfs open. I need to be able to search pdfs and find key words as fast as possible using spotlight. Other than that I sometimes use Photoshop to design infographics.

Also, my new workplace runs on a Windows server. I don't know details but they said they have a shared drive that they use and all calendars are on a shared server. Worse case scenario I can boot in Windows.

I also travel with the laptop and need something very light.

What should I order?

 

[cruisin]

For you I think it mainly comes down to the better screen in the Pro and the better battery life in the Air, unless the Pro is entirely too heavy.

How much typing do you do? The newest Pro has a very shallow keyboard that can take a while to get used to, so if you have a store in your city with demo MacBooks you should try out the new keyboard. People with a light typing force find it the easiest to transition.

The Pro is now entirely USB-C based, so your older USB cords and devices need adapters. Not really an issue as everything is slowly transitioning over, but it might be a hassle if you forget the adapter.

Depending on how you feel about the keyboard and USB, you might have to aim for a refurbished 2015 Pro model if you want the Pro but don't like the changes. It will still be faster than the Air and you can avoid the new Pro if is not to your liking.

For myself I prefer the sharper screen of the Pro, so I would try for the 2015 Pro for the screen but skips the new USB.

 

[dgnr8]

My struggle is that on paper the air has better specs for almost everything but the screen. The screen is upgraded on the pro, but in every other area it is behind the air. I just feel silly for buying such an old model.

The 2015 is out for me because of the weight.

 

[kohlson]

As noted above, I think either will be fine from a computational perspective. The things that will matter to you are the human interfaces: screen and keyboard. Can you use an external monitor? I use one even with a 15-in MBP. They are relatively inexpensive and hugely more productive.

You can always run Fusion/Parallels for Windows needs.

 

[phairphan]

My struggle is that on paper the air has better specs for almost everything but the screen. The screen is upgraded on the pro, but in every other area it is behind the air. I just feel silly for buying such an old model.

The 2015 is out for me because of the weight.

Which specs, precisely? The processor in the MBP benches around the same, if not slightly faster, as the processor in the MBA, despite being an i5 and 200 MHz slower at base. Memory is the same, but you have the option of increasing the memory on the MBP to 16 GB. Storage is faster (which is useful if you're searching through mountains of pdfs). You also get faster, but less convenient connectivity. Battery life is considerably better on the MBA.

 

[fig]

For you I think it mainly comes down to the better screen in the Pro and the better battery life in the Air, unless the Pro is entirely too heavy.

The difference between the current 13" Air and 13" Pro is fractional so that probably isn't a factor. The Pro is technically thinner now (comparing them at their thickest points).

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I could not go back to non retina screen

 

[kschendel]

+1 to find a store and try for yourself. Travel is very subjective, I have no problems with my 15 inch rMBP (2013 model) but some people would rather haul bricks. I don't think I could deal with the Air's screen after working on a retina. You might even find that the Macbook (12 inch) works for you. The screen is too small for me but that's another very subjective thing. Performance wise, for what you're doing, any of the choices mentioned would work, even the Macbook (the base clock sounds low but the boost clock is right up there with the rest).

 

[Starfia]

Based on what you've mentioned: for reading and typing, the Retina displays on all Apple devices make a staggering difference when it comes to text and graphics. The 13" Pro is more powerful, weighs the same as a 13" Air, and will likely support the current OS further into the future. Unless you really hate temporarily using USB converters, I can't see why to prefer the Air if you can afford the Pro.

 

[dgnr8]

Thanks for all the advice, I went into a bestbuy and checked out the computers. It took 10 seconds to decide at that point, I'm going for the refurb pro. I hate that I have to buy so many adapters, but the screen difference is extreme.

Now I just have to wait for stock of the model I want to be re added to the refurb shop.

 

[mpConroe]

I have MBP 13'' with TB 2016 model and my friend has MB Air. I can say that the main difference it's not just screen but the available ports and the design. For me, MBA is a little bit outdated. I mean, it's still good laptop with really good battery and it's screen is not terrible (worse than Retina but not that worse).
What I personally think is, that the only disadvantage of my MBP is lack of SD card slot and it forces me to use Satechi hub (which is terrible cos it keeps disconnecting).
But, I have two another computers with SD card slot built in (iMac and Mac mini) so it's not sth really important.
Anyway, the USB-C is fine but they really should keep the SD card slot .
I just bought Anker USB A to C adaptors for 3.99 pounds and they are much better for USB cables than Satechi hub.

 

[dgnr8]

I have MBP 13'' with TB 2016 model and my friend has MB Air. I can say that the main difference it's not just screen but the available ports and the design. For me, MBA is a little bit outdated. I mean, it's still good laptop with really good battery and it's screen is not terrible (worse than Retina but not that worse).
What I personally think is, that the only disadvantage of my MBP is lack of SD card slot and it forces me to use Satechi hub (which is terrible cos it keeps disconnecting).
But, I have two another computers with SD card slot built in (iMac and Mac mini) so it's not sth really important.
Anyway, the USB-C is fine but they really should keep the SD card slot .
I just bought Anker USB A to C adaptors for 3.99 pounds and they are much better for USB cables than Satechi hub.

As I wait for the laptop to appear on the refurb site I am starting to research adapters. I know I'm going with the pro, but Apple really screwed its customers with the ports on this device.

I need hdmi, ethernet and usb. I also present at various venues so I need an adapter incase they only have vga. I really hope I'm making the right choice.

I looked at PCs, but I just find the OS such a pain.

 

[Black.Infinity]

I just tried air and didn't like the screen, specially the colors. I found it hard to stare at its screen for long periods and I returned it. Go with a Retina display MacBook Pro

 

[dgnr8]

So I ended up going with an i5 macbook. When I got to the store the weight really swayed me.

But now I'm having regrets. I started the computer about an hour ago and there is so much lag. iPhoto downloading from iCloud, background updates and safari open meant that iMessage wouldn't even open.

Beachball after beachball. I'm hoping it's because I'm just setting up but I've never experienced this while setting up another Mac.

 

[green86]

So I ended up going with an i5 macbook. When I got to the store the weight really swayed me.

But now I'm having regrets. I started the computer about an hour ago and there is so much lag. iPhoto downloading from iCloud, background updates and safari open meant that iMessage wouldn't even open.

Beachball after beachball. I'm hoping it's because I'm just setting up but I've never experienced this while setting up another Mac.

I would say that's not normal. I had the BASE 1.1 Ghz 2015 MacBook, you know, the one everyone knocked on for being slow and told you to stay away from. I would regularly have 4-5 programs open with 50 tabs going in Safari and the system would remain responsive and NEVER beachball. It was an awesome little machine. Might be something else going on.

 

[AFEPPL]

The base MacBook on benchmarks out performs the air at every level.
So if you crave for small and light the 12" device will be totally fine. If you want better performance and a bigger screen the MBP is the one. It's not hugely heavy to carry around, I've traveled internationally with one pro model or the other ever few week for the last 6 year and never had an issue.

I can't really think of any reason to go with the air unless you are saving $. It's just old EOL stuff.

 

[kschendel]

Either DNS or network issues or something isn't right. Should not beachball on everything; an occasional delay is one thing but not persistent.

 

[dgnr8]

My iCloud photo library is downloading now and it is 40gigs, I'm wondering if thats causing the slowdown. My nickname for my MacBook is the beachball.

I'm typing this while I am waiting for a pages document that I was asked to collaborate on is trying to open. It just says retrieving and it has for a minute or 2. I'm hoping this is the photos.

 

[ZapNZs]

So I ended up going with an i5 macbook. When I got to the store the weight really swayed me.

But now I'm having regrets. I started the computer about an hour ago and there is so much lag. iPhoto downloading from iCloud, background updates and safari open meant that iMessage wouldn't even open.

Beachball after beachball. I'm hoping it's because I'm just setting up but I've never experienced this while setting up another Mac.

Something is not right. I'm typing this on a base model m3 rMB from a Windows 10 VM while simultaneously playing around manipulating a massive dataset and there is zero lag.

What is your CPU utilization and what processes are running?

 

[theluggage]

But now I'm having regrets. I started the computer about an hour ago and there is so much lag. iPhoto downloading from iCloud, background updates and safari open meant that iMessage wouldn't even open.

Its not unusual, in my experience, for a new Mac or fresh Mac OS install to run like a sloth on valium for a few hours while it is indexing, making its first backup etc. especially if you've just transferred your stuff form an old Mac (and I guess that iCloud would count there).

In particular, newer versions of Mac OS like to go through your entire photos library and run face/location recognition on them for you, which can reduce even a more powerful Mac to its knees. So, yeah, I'd leave any new Mac to stew for a couple of hours before making judgements about performance.

That said, the rMB prioritises size and weight over power and connectivity - its a great machine for "personal productivity" if you've just about outgrown your iPad, but it isn't the versatile jack-of-all-trades that was the Air. The modern equivalent of the Air is really the non-touchbar 13" MBP - at a price.

 

[Billrey]

Get the Pro. End of.

 

[dgnr8]

`````

Get the Pro. End of.

Just ordered a pro from the refurb store. I am hoping to see an improvement from my beachball.

 

[JamesPDX]

So I ended up going with an i5 macbook. When I got to the store the weight really swayed me.

But now I'm having regrets. I started the computer about an hour ago and there is so much lag. iPhoto downloading from iCloud, background updates and safari open meant that iMessage wouldn't even open.

Beachball after beachball. I'm hoping it's because I'm just setting up but I've never experienced this while setting up another Mac.

Give it a few days: Leave it on while the MBP does its indexing and encryption. The beach-balling should go away soon if you leave the machine on (not clamshell mode, let it breathe) and let it chug away. YMMV. Good luck.

 

[dgnr8]

So here is my newest example. I am transferring photos between my air and MacBook. I moved 600 photos onto a hard drive from the air, plugged it into the MacBook and transferred them over.

I then tried to throw the 600 photos on the hard drive in the trash. Beach ball, waited 5 minutes and I couldn't select anything on the desktop, I had to hard reset.

Plugged the hard drive into the air and deleted the photos on the hard drive in seconds.

I have to have a lemon, no way users are cool with this performance.

My pro should be here tomorrow, I am actually going to miss the size and weight of the MacBook.

 

[ZapNZs]

So here is my newest example. I am transferring photos between my air and MacBook. I moved 600 photos onto a hard drive from the air, plugged it into the MacBook and transferred them over.

I then tried to throw the 600 photos on the hard drive in the trash. Beach ball, waited 5 minutes and I couldn't select anything on the desktop, I had to hard reset.

Plugged the hard drive into the air and deleted the photos on the hard drive in seconds.

I have to have a lemon, no way users are cool with this performance.

My pro should be here tomorrow, I am actually going to miss the size and weight of the MacBook.

You have either a lemon or there is a problem with your macOS installation to a point where you may need to reinstall it (should you decide to keep the rMB or troubleshoot to see if you can fix the issue before returning it.)