Macbook Air 13" for graphic designer???

[sasapig]

Hi all,
I am new to this forum.
The reason why I register here is to ask this question and hope to get your suggestion....

I am a graphic designer, or multimedia....
I am targeting to buy a support machine for my graphic works.....
I use PC in my office and MBA will be my altering machine outside office.
Software I always use are:
- Photoshop, AI, Dreamweaver, Flash, ......etc.
- programming for APP, Xcode.
- a little bit 3D software, e.g. Maya, aftereffect...etc.
(3D will not be important, as I mainly use PC to work with it)
- music editing, I will use Garage band and logic as well...
(MBA contain enough audio-IO? )

Therefore, I am thinking to buy MBA 13" or MBP 13" (as similar price range, MBP 15" is too expensive for me...)

I am confusing about which one is the best for my case.....


Hope to receive your suggestion~~~

 

[Flagg]

Buy a refurbished 15" Macbook Pro. For the cost of a beefed-up Air you will get something that will do what you need it to do.

 

[thatisme]

not sure about 3D work, but everything else on your list should run just fine on the MBA 13". I have one, and I can attest that Photoshop runs really well on it, and it can get pretty processor intensive when working in large RAW files. No problems tacking them on the new Air....

 

[taxbax]

agreed, I am a graphic designer as well and all regular production programs run great. I just flipped my old air for the new and now they run even better. I suspect that it could handle some basic 3D stuff and I think the extra cores will help alot. However, if that was your primary use of the machine, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Apple Expert]

not sure about 3D work, but everything else on your list should run just fine on the MBA 13". I have one, and I can attest that Photoshop runs really well on it, and it can get pretty processor intensive when working in large RAW files. No problems tacking them on the new Air....

Do you have i5 or i7?

 

[bigglesinuk]

I would suggest that you go for the 11 inch Macbook Air for portability and then get a good matte screen external monitor for graphic design. This would give you the best of both worlds. It's what I am contemplating doing at the moment. Make sure you get the 4 Gb RAM model. 2 Gb isn't enough.

 

[JasonR]

You'll be perfectly happy with a Macbook Air.

FYI Just ordered a 13" Macbook Air i5 w/ 256gb HD.

 

[sasapig]

Thanks~

MBA will be my second supporting machine ...
for picking around and work at home...

I will go for it then~

 

[MRU]

Do not rely on the MBA 13" screen for color accuracy even when calibrated. The slightest tilt changes the color you see. If the project you are working on requires exact colors - the mba 13" screen can be deceitful.

Other than that the new MBA's are great second / supplemental machines if you already have a design setup.

Now if only they could build in a mini wacom

 

[thatisme]

Do you have i5 or i7?

13" i5