With that much extra battery life, I can almost see myself NOT buying an additional charger for work. I could charge it at home and have it run completely on batteries when I am at work or visa versa.
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I'll say it loud - I prefer MBA over MBP retina
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With that much extra battery life, I can almost see myself NOT buying an additional charger for work. I could charge it at home and have it run completely on batteries when I am at work or visa versa.
The CPU performance depends. The 11" MBA with 1.7 GHz i7 boosts to 3.3GHz, and seems to be able to stay in the boost mode as long as needed. Only the 2.8GHz i7 (boosting to 3.3GHz) 13" MBP can beat it on CPU performance, but by only ~2%. The other 13" MBPs are slower than it.
MBPs do have more RAM maximum (8GB vs 16GB?). Good for running virtual machines.
MBPs do have more RAM maximum (8GB vs 16GB?). Good for running virtual machines.
This bickering about battery life is stupid.
1. None of you are going to be glued to a computer for 12 consecutive and continuous hours. You will need to eat, you will need to sleep, and if you value your mental health at all, you will also spend some time not looking at your computer.
2. 9 consecutive and continuous hours is still a long time to be glued to your computer. Overseas flights (as all local flights will not exhaust your battery unless you are playing serious games on it) or not, that's still crazy and not at all realistic. I'm sorry.
3. No one is arguing that the battery life isn't superior in the MacBook Air. What is being debated is (a) the fact that the difference in battery life is practically nil given that both batteries have a life of greater than 8 hours, which is a standard work day, (b) the weight difference between the retina 13" MacBook Pro and the 13" MacBook Air is really nominal (unless you have trouble carrying things) and (c) the former machine is a markedly superior machine in terms of what's under the hood (and let's be real here, when we're talking about computers, that's what really matters).
4. The retina screen isn't being debated at all here. IF it were, that'd come down to a simple matter of "is your software optimized" and if so, that screen is superior and if not, stick with the MacBook Air. End of story. Is it mandatory for those with optimized apps? No, but again, I don't recall anyone saying it was.
5. If we are going to have the "in-flight" debate, for those of you going across the pond, are you really going to have both WiFi and Bluetooth on? You do know that having those turned off increases the battery lives of these respective machines that much more, right? If your retina 13" MacBook Pro has 12 hours of consecutive and continuous battery life without those two things on, are you really going to tell me that the extra 3 hours does that much for you even still? Because that's a trite bit silly, I'm sorry.
For me it's the complete opposite. Even my old and unloved 2009 MBP had a better screen. I pulled it out to compare. The panel on the MBA is disappointing and I cannot understand why people are happy with it.
So basically, you're trying to justify your decision on the internet because you're not satisfied with the decision you've made? I don't understand the point of this...
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Yep, I do a lot of VM work so I went with the rMBP but I was already pretty set on the retina display so I don't think I'd get the MBA simply because of that. I used to have a i7 based 11" MBA with 4GB ram (max at the time), I did love the thing but the screen res and 4gb ram was the biggest limiting factor for me as far as usability. Was still a great machine for it's size and could barely tell it's in my backpack.
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Yep, I do a lot of VM work so I went with the rMBP but I was already pretty set on the retina display so I don't think I'd get the MBA simply because of that. I used to have a i7 based 11" MBA with 4GB ram (max at the time), I did love the thing but the screen res and 4gb ram was the biggest limiting factor for me as far as usability. Was still a great machine for it's size and could barely tell it's in my backpack.
I had the new macbook air but returned it a week after I bought it for the new 13 inch retina. The screen is definitely enough for me to pick it over the air.
I wanted the new rMBP, truly I did. I had enough money saved for most any Apple laptop. After going to the store and looking over both of them numerous times, the 11" Air was just to awesome FOR MY needs. And thats where it all comes in, what YOU want out of a machine. For me, the 11" was ideal for how I work and what I wanted. The screen fit my needs, I dont expect to do serious watching on my laptop, a couple episodes on a flight at most, and I'd probably use my iPad for that anyway.
Honestly, you cant go wrong with any mac, it jsut comes down to what works for you!
Honestly, you cant go wrong with any mac, it jsut comes down to what works for you!
How did you come to the conclusion that the 2013 13" MBPs are slower than the MBA 1.7? Could you provide some more insight, as I am very curious?
This is dumb overall... most these laptops do not have the cooling capacity to run at the stock speed for 100% of the time, never-mind the boosted speed. They will usually hit the thermal limit and start to throttle. It's just people trying to rationalize their buying decisions.
Only slightly (for 2.4GHz and 2.6GHz 13" MBPs). Here is the Geekbench result, which measures CPU performance. http://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks
64-bit single-core score
MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Late 2013), Intel Core i7-4558U 2800 MHz (2 cores), 3296
MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), Intel Core i7-4650U 1700 MHz (2 cores), 3147
MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Late 2013), Intel Core i5-4288U 2600 MHz (2 cores), 3107
It's not a surprise. The "1.7GHz" i7 in the MBA boosts to 3.3GHz. The 2.8GHz i7 boosts to 3.3GHz too, but the 2.6GHz i5 boosts to a less 3.1GHz.
In the past, a processor may not stay for a long time in a boost mode because of heat constraint. But the new Haswell processors have changed the game. They rarely overheat in MBA, so they can stay in a boost mode as much as needed (there was an Anandtech test on this).
I thought you may be focussing on Geekbench and single core tests. Thanks for the confirmation.
Well, there are other benchmark results, if you're willing to search and assemble.
MBA and 13" MBP use about the same memory and PCIe SSDs. Their processors are the same type (the same microarchitecture). In this case, Geekbench does tell the difference.
Don't get me wrong. The 13" rMBPs are wonderful machines and the retina display is beautiful. And they have better GPUs. But it's a false statement to say they have more capable CPUs (over a few percents) than the MBAs.
MBA and 13" MBP use about the same memory and PCIe SSDs. Their processors are the same type (the same microarchitecture). In this case, Geekbench does tell the difference.
Don't get me wrong. The 13" rMBPs are wonderful machines and the retina display is beautiful. And they have better GPUs. But it's a false statement to say they have more capable CPUs (over a few percents) than the MBAs.
I thought you may be focussing on Geekbench and single core tests. Thanks for the confirmation.
You obviously haven't read the posts you were quoting or didn't take enough time to understand them, because the points you are making have already been discussed. I'd say in quite an unbiased way.
As far as CPU power goes, I hope you know benchmark results are idiotic and rarely have anything to do with real world use. Those are just numbers for discussion boards fiends to feel hot to. The truth is that neither the rMBP 13" or the MBA is a "pro" machine. Whatever the name they put on it. Who cares if there's a few points difference between the two in such a case.
I am by no means trying to defend the MBA, because in all honesty I could not care less. I chose it over the rMBP for my own good reasons, I'm not entirely happy with it at all and I'm sure I wouldn't be with the rMBP either. The point is, don't try to prove to others they made a mistake in their purchase. It's just silly. I made a very well informed decision, played around with both of these machines enough, had the money at the time and went with the MBA. The reasons for my decision haven't changed. As far as that goes, I am getting exactly what I hoped for (it's the other little things that made me a little disappointed with the MBA). I feel no regret for not getting the rMBP and frankly I would be an idiot if I did.
Do you think Apple made a design mistake by creating a laptop with a 12 hour battery? Do you think it is useless to have a battery that lasts longer than 8 hours?
You obviously didn't read my first sentence in which I said that the CONTINUOUS bickering was stupid. I have read every word and have presented my opinion on the matters as such. Similarly, I welcome your opinion, despite it being similarly worthless to the topic, which was already worthless to begin with.
Okay pal, I'm gonna stop you right there. I've been working with computers, both Mac and PC, for nearly three decades. You needn't talk down to me because I DO know what I'm talking about.
That being said, I'm not talking about benchmarks. I'm talking about a faster integrated graphics processor (on an OS that boasts drastically improved OpenCL performance on integrated graphics processors) and a processor that is 1.1GHz faster on one model than the other. I know that clock speed differences aren't what they used to be; 300MHz isn't much, but even 1.1GHz even in today's machines is pronounced and you cannot deny that. Then there's Thunderbolt 2, which, I'm sorry, is superior to Thunderbolt 1 and USB 3; period. Great if you don't use it or care; some of us do.
I don't recall calling either machine a Pro machine. We were comparing one to the other and I'm sorry, one is faster than the other. One has a minimum of a 1.3GHz Haswell Core i5, one has a minimum of a 2.4GHz Haswell Core i5. The latter has better graphics. Therefore, even if the margin is small, the latter one is better. I'm pretty sure that's all I was trying to say. But whatevs.
You should actually read comments before making assumptions about them. I even stated that I'm not trying to make MBA buyers feel bad about their purchases, just to poke necessary holes in their logic that one machine is superior to the other. Again, reread before making assumptions.
I believe that falls under the "good for you" category. Again, I never said anything to belittle those who picked one machine over the other. Given the lack of retina-ready versions of software that I use, I probably would go with the Air over the retina Pro myself.
Where did I ever say that it was a mistake? I don't think it's useless to have a 12-hour battery life, nor did I ever say that. I said that after 8 hours, additional time becomes NEEDLESS because it's extremely rare that one will go THAT long without a charger. Useless vs. Needless; two different words with two different meanings.
Just asking; I was genuinely curious to try and understand your reasoning. No need to be pedantic about it.
The only point I was ever trying to make is that I personally prefer having the longer battery life and form factor of the MBA over any features that the rMBP 13 has. The title of this thread has the word "prefer" in it. Would you like to hear the definition of it?
Price-wise, the rMBP isn't that much more expensive than the 13" MBA when equivalently specced (especially for the 8gb RAM / 256 SSD option). Seems the main reason to get an air would be if you want the 11" version.
I am taking this as an indication that Apple plans to converge the two next year. No more distinction between macbook airs or pros, just 1 retina macbook of each size category, aptly named Macbook.
I am taking this as an indication that Apple plans to converge the two next year. No more distinction between macbook airs or pros, just 1 retina macbook of each size category, aptly named Macbook.
I bought the mid level 13" rMBP a few weeks ago (1499.00 model) and it was a great machine. It lasted my entire work day (developing) and had some left over, though I returned it because I'd prefer 16GB 512GB 2.8Ghz i7 due to my needs (VM/RDC, Photoshop, Chrome/FF/Safari open while testing, iTunes and other behind the scene task). Side note, WTH is up with the 3-4 week BTO times for 13" 16GB...
I really want to buy an 11" maxed out Air but for me it's mainly the display, if it even had a non Retina IPS screen I'd be all over it. With that said I've been spoiled by Retina based devices for a while, 2012 15 Retina, iPhone 4/5 and iPad. I could probably do without Retina but I can't do without IPS, considering I've been using some sort of IPS screen for a few years; Cinema Displays and Retina 15.
Their is no denying the MBA is an amazing machine, the maxed out current models are shockingly good workhorses... At least for my needs I could rock out with a maxed out Air. Actually I bought a maxed out Mid 2011 (in 2011) and used that for a few months but ended up giving it to my wife for a 2011 cMBP 15 (1650x1080 Matte) w/SSD upgrade and 16GB ram.
With that said, using a 15 rMBP since 2012 I've become extremely spoiled by the IPS Retina screen and of course SSD (moot point). If Apple decides to move to IPS for the Airs, even none Retina, count me in. Todays SSD speeds make 8GB of ram on the Air a non-issue since page ins/outs are 1000% better than the old 2.5" counterparts, but if you can have a 16GB BTO option plus O.C.D., best to curve the sleepless nights.
Both are amazing machines, arguing over the two is a very subjective topic, suit your needs, not forum trolls. The rMBP will ever so slightly edge out the Air in performance but I'm willing to bet most people using either won't notice a difference in performance and if you're doing "Pro" work, get the 15 (Quad i7 > Dual i5/i7 for demanding processing needs in everyway). Oh and reading text on a Retina is a dream for sans 20/20 vision people like me.
I really want to buy an 11" maxed out Air but for me it's mainly the display, if it even had a non Retina IPS screen I'd be all over it. With that said I've been spoiled by Retina based devices for a while, 2012 15 Retina, iPhone 4/5 and iPad. I could probably do without Retina but I can't do without IPS, considering I've been using some sort of IPS screen for a few years; Cinema Displays and Retina 15.
Their is no denying the MBA is an amazing machine, the maxed out current models are shockingly good workhorses... At least for my needs I could rock out with a maxed out Air. Actually I bought a maxed out Mid 2011 (in 2011) and used that for a few months but ended up giving it to my wife for a 2011 cMBP 15 (1650x1080 Matte) w/SSD upgrade and 16GB ram.
With that said, using a 15 rMBP since 2012 I've become extremely spoiled by the IPS Retina screen and of course SSD (moot point). If Apple decides to move to IPS for the Airs, even none Retina, count me in. Todays SSD speeds make 8GB of ram on the Air a non-issue since page ins/outs are 1000% better than the old 2.5" counterparts, but if you can have a 16GB BTO option plus O.C.D., best to curve the sleepless nights.
Both are amazing machines, arguing over the two is a very subjective topic, suit your needs, not forum trolls. The rMBP will ever so slightly edge out the Air in performance but I'm willing to bet most people using either won't notice a difference in performance and if you're doing "Pro" work, get the 15 (Quad i7 > Dual i5/i7 for demanding processing needs in everyway). Oh and reading text on a Retina is a dream for sans 20/20 vision people like me.
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