Laptop advice needed

[NiVanc]

Ok, here's my situation. The Mac that I currently use is a unibody Macbook Pro 2008 (intel C2D 2,4ghz, 2gb ram, 250gb hd). For the things I do, this machine is really getting way to slow.

Here are the things I do:

• Itunes, MAMP (if doing web development), Mail, Safari en Twitter are used whenever I'm using my Mac
• Web & software development (Coda 2, Eclipse for Java, Xcode)
• Graphic Design (Logo's & UI): Fireworks, Illustrator, Photoshop
• iWork, Billings, Transmission, iPhoto
• I travel each day and will use my Macbook daily on the train (90 minutes in total). This is something I do now every singly day with my unibody Macbook Pro
• I would love to try some video editing in the short future. Nothing to fancy though.
• It would be my main computer (already have an iPad2)

Now which device should I buy:
a) Macbook Air 2012 13" i5 1,8ghz/8gb ram/128gb hd. I already have a 24" external screen and external disk that I could use at home. Ideally this could be replaced with a Thunderbolt Display once those are updated with USB 3.0
b) Retina Macbook Pro (base model)
c) Upgrade my current MacBook Pro with 8gb ram

I would love to hear your thoughts about this issue as it's driving me crazy

 

[Man9z0r]

For the kind of work you are doing I think the MBA would be perfect. I think a lot of people think the Air doesn't have much power but that is a huge misconception. It will handle everything you are talking about and then some. The only thing I would be worried about is lack of hard drive space because you can't really upgrade. (I say can't really because I think iFixIt has a kit or something. I would have to get back to you on that.)

I know I know the rMBP is the new thing on the block so everyone has to buy it but it is way overkill for what you do or even plan to do. Not to mention with my use of it, it makes a lot of things really pixelated. I know that will change over time when more things support it.

Also the MBA will be really light for your traveling use. Those are my thoughts.

 

[NiVanc]

Thanks for the input.

More thoughts are always welcome though