I have a 2011 MBP with 8Gb of RAM and a 512Gb SSD (both from Crucial) that I self installed.
I also bought an 11.6" MBA base model (2013) right before the 2014's were announced but I still got a NIB base model machine for less than a 2014 base model and had ~5 months extra to use my new toy (how long it takes the base exchange to get new models where I'm stationed).
Both machines are roughly the same speed due to the SSD's in them and the CPU benchmarks...but the 11.6" MBA travels with me everywhere and the MBP stays in the house office room 90% of the time or across the street in the park = not something I want to carry around in my briefcase all day long
Yes I wish the MBA had extra RAM and a 256Gb SSD but since its a second machine its not necessary so the $$ saved can go towards the latest and greatest in ~3 - 5 years when I feel either of these machines would need to be replaced (unless they met an untimely beverage)
For me, the MBA is a better machine due to the portability and battery life vise the 2011 MBP that I have or the last non-Retina 2012 MBP (it was also still somewhat user upgradable unlike the rMBP models that now have to be ordered with the "extras").
I also bought an 11.6" MBA base model (2013) right before the 2014's were announced but I still got a NIB base model machine for less than a 2014 base model and had ~5 months extra to use my new toy (how long it takes the base exchange to get new models where I'm stationed).
Both machines are roughly the same speed due to the SSD's in them and the CPU benchmarks...but the 11.6" MBA travels with me everywhere and the MBP stays in the house office room 90% of the time or across the street in the park = not something I want to carry around in my briefcase all day long
Yes I wish the MBA had extra RAM and a 256Gb SSD but since its a second machine its not necessary so the $$ saved can go towards the latest and greatest in ~3 - 5 years when I feel either of these machines would need to be replaced (unless they met an untimely beverage
)For me, the MBA is a better machine due to the portability and battery life vise the 2011 MBP that I have or the last non-Retina 2012 MBP (it was also still somewhat user upgradable unlike the rMBP models that now have to be ordered with the "extras").