[RESOLVED: READ EDIT3]
Hello here, I'm a new medstudent, I just started class about a month ago and I need a new computer.
I bought this MacBook Pro 15" back in 2009, so almost 5 years ago, but since it's from an older generation he lasts only about 2 hours and after that I have to write everything down on papers. And he still works surprisingly well for a computer that is from 2009 I'm actually really impressed, and even better since I upgraded for Maverick a few days ago (For free, yay Apple).
Don't laugh at me but I have been struggling so much between the MacBook Air 13" (MBA) and MacBook Pro 15" (MBP) that it's been an entire month I keep making orders then canceling them few days after. (actually taking MBP then canceling it for MBA because I keep viewing sites that compare these two and vice-versa).
Let me explain my thoughts:
MBA 13":
-Pros: Lighter than MBP; battery will probably last longer because screen is not retina; 12 hours of battery (I except at least 8 hours of use, I highly doubt the 12 hours is for real).
-Cons: no retina screen; dual-core; 8 Go RAM (if upgraded); Intel HD Graphics 5000; 512 SSD (if upgraded).
MBP 15":
-Pros: Not that heavier than MBA (I mean I tried holding one and it was so much lighter than the one I'm using right now!); Intel Iris Pro Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 2GB GDDR5 memory; quad-core; 16 Go RAM; 512 SSD and Retina screen! (yay).
-Cons: 8 hours battery (I mean, for real, I'm pretty sure it will be good even if it last 5 hours with all these things that I put above).
It's just the 8 hours battery that is preventing me from buying MBP, I really don't trust that it can last more than 5 hours of use with all these goodies they put in it, and for my studies I will probably need more than 5 hours of use, probably at least 6 to 7 hours. I would buy a MBA, really, but come on with a few hundred euros more it's like I'm buying a monster that would put MBA to shame (except for battery of course).
Edit1: If I buy either one of them I will be mostly using them for everything as I don't have a desktop computer actually; I'm also afraid that if I buy MBA in 5 years I will eventually have to upgrade it. (I don't really know much about them, I just know if I buy MBP he will for sure last for few years, hehe).
Edit2: Sorry MBP from 2009, not 2005..
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Edit3: Hello everyone, I decided to buy MBA 13" for my college. I will tell you why; so if anyone is struggling like me hopefully he can choose reading this.
So today I contacted Apple by using their amazing chat feature and asked a bunch of things and they answered me perfectly. I will try to resume what they told me.
-First and the most important question I always wanted an answer: Yes the MBP does last 8 hours, and even if it doesn't and you don't like it you have 2 weeks starting from the day you received it to return it to Apple.
-rMBP has 16 Go RAM and MBA has 8 Go RAM, will it be enough? Well yes! Simply because Apple actually only use 8 Go of RAM and tbh if you plan on buying the rMBP with all these high specs you're probably going to have to wait a few more years till you actually use 100% of your rMBP, when they'll add new amazing features.
-So i5 or i7? Well it's true that maybe with i7 you'll have one hour less of battery, but it will be really odd taking 8 Go RAM and not going for i7 but i5; so if you're going to take 8 Go RAM just go with i7!
-SSD 256 Go or SSD 512 Go? I heard that the SSD 512 Go is much faster because of the high density; Well yes the SSD 512 Go will sure be faster than the SSD 256 Go but it won't be noticeable to you at all, since all the SSD are already really fast. And you probably won't need that much if like me you have some external drives.
Of course I asked a lot of other things but I think I posted the most important things above.
Hello here, I'm a new medstudent, I just started class about a month ago and I need a new computer.
I bought this MacBook Pro 15" back in 2009, so almost 5 years ago, but since it's from an older generation he lasts only about 2 hours and after that I have to write everything down on papers. And he still works surprisingly well for a computer that is from 2009 I'm actually really impressed, and even better since I upgraded for Maverick a few days ago (For free, yay Apple).
Don't laugh at me but I have been struggling so much between the MacBook Air 13" (MBA) and MacBook Pro 15" (MBP) that it's been an entire month I keep making orders then canceling them few days after. (actually taking MBP then canceling it for MBA because I keep viewing sites that compare these two and vice-versa).
Let me explain my thoughts:
MBA 13":
-Pros: Lighter than MBP; battery will probably last longer because screen is not retina; 12 hours of battery (I except at least 8 hours of use, I highly doubt the 12 hours is for real).
-Cons: no retina screen; dual-core; 8 Go RAM (if upgraded); Intel HD Graphics 5000; 512 SSD (if upgraded).
MBP 15":
-Pros: Not that heavier than MBA (I mean I tried holding one and it was so much lighter than the one I'm using right now!); Intel Iris Pro Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 2GB GDDR5 memory; quad-core; 16 Go RAM; 512 SSD and Retina screen! (yay).
-Cons: 8 hours battery (I mean, for real, I'm pretty sure it will be good even if it last 5 hours with all these things that I put above).
It's just the 8 hours battery that is preventing me from buying MBP, I really don't trust that it can last more than 5 hours of use with all these goodies they put in it, and for my studies I will probably need more than 5 hours of use, probably at least 6 to 7 hours. I would buy a MBA, really, but come on with a few hundred euros more it's like I'm buying a monster that would put MBA to shame (except for battery of course).
Edit1: If I buy either one of them I will be mostly using them for everything as I don't have a desktop computer actually; I'm also afraid that if I buy MBA in 5 years I will eventually have to upgrade it. (I don't really know much about them, I just know if I buy MBP he will for sure last for few years, hehe).
Edit2: Sorry MBP from 2009, not 2005..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit3: Hello everyone, I decided to buy MBA 13" for my college. I will tell you why; so if anyone is struggling like me hopefully he can choose reading this.
So today I contacted Apple by using their amazing chat feature and asked a bunch of things and they answered me perfectly. I will try to resume what they told me.
-First and the most important question I always wanted an answer: Yes the MBP does last 8 hours, and even if it doesn't and you don't like it you have 2 weeks starting from the day you received it to return it to Apple.
-rMBP has 16 Go RAM and MBA has 8 Go RAM, will it be enough? Well yes! Simply because Apple actually only use 8 Go of RAM and tbh if you plan on buying the rMBP with all these high specs you're probably going to have to wait a few more years till you actually use 100% of your rMBP, when they'll add new amazing features.
-So i5 or i7? Well it's true that maybe with i7 you'll have one hour less of battery, but it will be really odd taking 8 Go RAM and not going for i7 but i5; so if you're going to take 8 Go RAM just go with i7!
-SSD 256 Go or SSD 512 Go? I heard that the SSD 512 Go is much faster because of the high density; Well yes the SSD 512 Go will sure be faster than the SSD 256 Go but it won't be noticeable to you at all, since all the SSD are already really fast. And you probably won't need that much if like me you have some external drives.
Of course I asked a lot of other things but I think I posted the most important things above.
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