I was torn between nxgMBP and the MBA. And I almost ordered the nxgMBP, but the smart wife insisted that I test out the machines at the apple store, before ordering, finally following criteria and test results at the aplle store made me go with the MBA
1.PERFORMANCE: I tested both the machines by launching a large number of applications - safari, ms word, excel, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes etc. And the stock MBA was as fast as the nxgMBP. I couldn't tell the difference. TIE.
2. PORTABILITY: The MBA was way more lighter than the nxgMBP. I want to carry it to work everyday. I was initially thinking its an ok compromise to carry the heavier machine for the higher performance. MBA WON.
3. PRICE: At i7 2.0 ghz 8gb RAM and 256 gb SSD, and after my companys EPP discount the 13" MBA came in at $1600, about $500 less than the nxgMBP. Given that I did not notice significant performance difference between the dual core and the quad core (for my use case) - MBA WON.
4. PRODUCT MATURITY: given that the MBA design has been around for 4 years, gave me a lot of comfort in buying the MBA. While there was the unknown set of issues that could crop up with a substantially jampacked new hardware in the nxgMBP.
5. RETINA DISPLAY: I'm getting old, but I could tell the difference between the displays. But to me, the MBA's display was gorgeous already! retina display just took it to another level. Decided that I can move to the retina display nxgMBP, in 2016.
Ordered on 24june, arriving 7/2. Upgrading from my early 2009 unibody MacBook. My BTO MBA I found out is 23% faster than the 2012 13" MBP!
http://www.macworld.com/article/1167418/ultimate_macbook_air_2012_models_put_to_the_test.html
1.PERFORMANCE: I tested both the machines by launching a large number of applications - safari, ms word, excel, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes etc. And the stock MBA was as fast as the nxgMBP. I couldn't tell the difference. TIE.
2. PORTABILITY: The MBA was way more lighter than the nxgMBP. I want to carry it to work everyday. I was initially thinking its an ok compromise to carry the heavier machine for the higher performance. MBA WON.
3. PRICE: At i7 2.0 ghz 8gb RAM and 256 gb SSD, and after my companys EPP discount the 13" MBA came in at $1600, about $500 less than the nxgMBP. Given that I did not notice significant performance difference between the dual core and the quad core (for my use case) - MBA WON.
4. PRODUCT MATURITY: given that the MBA design has been around for 4 years, gave me a lot of comfort in buying the MBA. While there was the unknown set of issues that could crop up with a substantially jampacked new hardware in the nxgMBP.
5. RETINA DISPLAY: I'm getting old, but I could tell the difference between the displays. But to me, the MBA's display was gorgeous already! retina display just took it to another level. Decided that I can move to the retina display nxgMBP, in 2016.
Ordered on 24june, arriving 7/2. Upgrading from my early 2009 unibody MacBook. My BTO MBA I found out is 23% faster than the 2012 13" MBP!
http://www.macworld.com/article/1167418/ultimate_macbook_air_2012_models_put_to_the_test.html