Hi all. I can't remember if I have posted here before, but I have been lurking for a while, so hello everyone!
Ok so back in 2011 I bought an Air, with the i5 and 256GB SSD. It's a beautiful machine (as you all know), and for the most part it still does exactly what I need it to do. Just yesterday, I performed a clean install of Mojave, and it's now running in Dark Mode and still looks awesome. I wish it could be upgraded with more RAM. I know I can also change the Wireless card if I need to.
More recently, I purchased a non-retina Pro 2012, which I got for what I think was a good price. It came with 16Gb RAM alredy installed, but I had to buy an SSD so I have a 500Gb Crucial SSD in it. I know the optical bay can be swapped out for another SSD, but as this is the 13" model, I have read that it only really works around the 3gbs rate (SATA II) rather than 6gbs (SATA III). This isn't really a problem, as the Air only runs at SATA II speeds anyway and I don't find it particularly slow. The Pro also has the i5 in it, but one generation later, and running Mojave as well.
I can't decide which one I want to keep (and one does need to be sold). I love the Air, and I have had it for years. I could upgrade the SSD to 512 Gb from Transcend or OWC but not immediately necessary to do so. However, the RAM can't be changed (if it could even go to 8Gb, I'd be happy). The Pro already has 16Gb which is a bonus. I like both machines for different reasons. Physically, the Air is in better condition and it has been pretty well looked after. The battery does need replacing at some point in the near future.
My usage includes the normal stuff you would expect, including Office 2016. I also want to do some light photo and possibly video editing (non-work related, mostly involving the daughter / family stuff) and I want to learn programming (at the moment, Python, but this might develop in due course).
Any thoughts? I'm not worried about the Air no longer being supported, I have managed to install Mojave already so I'll be happy for the next year or two at least. The Pro has better graphics although being non-retina, the screen resolution isn't as good as that on the Air. Both models are 13" versions. I know the Air has USB 2 v Pro USB 3, but I don't really have anything to take advantage of USB 3 anyway. My external HDD is accessed wirelessly, although I need to use an ethernet - usb adaptor for a wired connection to it, versus a native ethernet port on the Pro which should have a much faster transfer speed.
I have thought about getting the Mini as the next machine, but can't afford it right now. I'm also tempted to try and build a Hackintosh (mostly to see if I can, aware that I'll be stuck with Windows / Linux if I can't and while Linux is fine for some things, I'd rather noth be using Windows).
In short, heart is saying keep the Air but the head says keep the power of the Pro. I know the history of the Air, but not the Pro (not that I think it really matters as the Pro appears to be working fine, although does have a little dent on the back of the screen.
Sorry for the long post and rambling!
Ok so back in 2011 I bought an Air, with the i5 and 256GB SSD. It's a beautiful machine (as you all know), and for the most part it still does exactly what I need it to do. Just yesterday, I performed a clean install of Mojave, and it's now running in Dark Mode and still looks awesome. I wish it could be upgraded with more RAM. I know I can also change the Wireless card if I need to.
More recently, I purchased a non-retina Pro 2012, which I got for what I think was a good price. It came with 16Gb RAM alredy installed, but I had to buy an SSD so I have a 500Gb Crucial SSD in it. I know the optical bay can be swapped out for another SSD, but as this is the 13" model, I have read that it only really works around the 3gbs rate (SATA II) rather than 6gbs (SATA III). This isn't really a problem, as the Air only runs at SATA II speeds anyway and I don't find it particularly slow. The Pro also has the i5 in it, but one generation later, and running Mojave as well.
I can't decide which one I want to keep (and one does need to be sold). I love the Air, and I have had it for years. I could upgrade the SSD to 512 Gb from Transcend or OWC but not immediately necessary to do so. However, the RAM can't be changed (if it could even go to 8Gb, I'd be happy). The Pro already has 16Gb which is a bonus. I like both machines for different reasons. Physically, the Air is in better condition and it has been pretty well looked after. The battery does need replacing at some point in the near future.
My usage includes the normal stuff you would expect, including Office 2016. I also want to do some light photo and possibly video editing (non-work related, mostly involving the daughter / family stuff) and I want to learn programming (at the moment, Python, but this might develop in due course).
Any thoughts? I'm not worried about the Air no longer being supported, I have managed to install Mojave already so I'll be happy for the next year or two at least. The Pro has better graphics although being non-retina, the screen resolution isn't as good as that on the Air. Both models are 13" versions. I know the Air has USB 2 v Pro USB 3, but I don't really have anything to take advantage of USB 3 anyway. My external HDD is accessed wirelessly, although I need to use an ethernet - usb adaptor for a wired connection to it, versus a native ethernet port on the Pro which should have a much faster transfer speed.
I have thought about getting the Mini as the next machine, but can't afford it right now. I'm also tempted to try and build a Hackintosh (mostly to see if I can, aware that I'll be stuck with Windows / Linux if I can't and while Linux is fine for some things, I'd rather noth be using Windows).
In short, heart is saying keep the Air but the head says keep the power of the Pro. I know the history of the Air, but not the Pro (not that I think it really matters as the Pro appears to be working fine, although does have a little dent on the back of the screen.
Sorry for the long post and rambling!