Macbook Air or Macbook Pro for college

[Toughpuddle]

This is the first Mac I will be buying, I've never been a huge fan of Apple I prefer my Pre to the Iphone but that's a whole other story. I'm heading off to college this fall and I want a lightweight portable laptop that will suit my needs. I really only use my laptop for internet, office, and basic video/music/picture editing. I don't drive, so I'll be carrying my laptop with me on the bus/train and just walking around the majority of the time.

I was wondering which model would better suit my needs, the 2.53GHz 13 inch MBP and I add my own SSD drive or the refurb 2.13GHz Macbook Air?

Or just get the baseline MBP 13 and put my own ram and SSD drive in?

 

[SilentPanda]

I got a MBA a few years back and I regret it. I wish I had gotten a MB/MBP. Unless weight is a concern (and let's be honest, the full laptops don't weigh that much more) I'd go with a MB/MBP. The MBA doesn't get you anything and tends to cost a fair amount more for lower specced hardware.

 

[IBradMac]

I got a MBA a few years back and I regret it. I wish I had gotten a MB/MBP. Unless weight is a concern (and let's be honest, the full laptops don't weigh that much more) I'd go with a MB/MBP. The MBA doesn't get you anything and tends to cost a fair amount more for lower specced hardware.

Agreed. The MBP is is freakin' sweet.

 

[drjuice]

I think the better value would be the Macbook Pro. In fact, I'd say get the baseline 13" Pro, then upgrade it. You'll miss 0.27 GHz - which you might not even notice - but you'll save $300 to throw at upgrades.

You'll probably run into some sort of wall with the Air faster than with even the baseline Pro - no built-in optical drive, 1 USB port, no Firewire, something.

And I'd say upgrade the RAM before throwing an SSD in there. For the price of a 120 GB SSD (at newegg, anyway) you could easily go to 4GB and toss in a 320 or even 500 GB mechanical HDD - I dropped a 320 Hitachi (5400 RPM) in my unibody MacBook for $80. Now I've got plenty of space and 3 OSes on here for no other reason than to have them.

 

[MB98XJ]

Get the MacBook Pro. I got the 15" and love it. However, you should look at the 13" MBP. Seems very popular among other students at my college.

 

[dacreativeguy]

The macbook pro 13" is the exact same footprint as the air and only a bit thicker, but gives you so much more for your money. I talked my wife out of an air for a 13" and she doesn't regret it.

 

[NikFinn]

This is the first Mac I will be buying, I've never been a huge fan of Apple I prefer my Pre to the Iphone but that's a whole other story. I'm heading off to college this fall and I want a lightweight portable laptop that will suit my needs. I really only use my laptop for internet, office, and basic video/music/picture editing. I don't drive, so I'll be carrying my laptop with me on the bus/train and just walking around the majority of the time.

I was wondering which model would better suit my needs, the 2.53GHz 13 inch MBP and I add my own SSD drive or the refurb 2.13GHz Macbook Air?

Or just get the baseline MBP 13 and put my own ram and SSD drive in?

I faced the same decision a few weeks ago, I decided for the MBP not because I didn't think the MBA would be up to the tasks that I'd throw at it but for the longevity of it. 2GB of RAM seems decently snappy now, but in 4 years are you still going to be ok with 2GB of RAM? Other things that influenced my decision was the 7 hour battery, and the addition of more ports, oh and the optical drive, even though I have only used it like..twice.

I think the better value would be the Macbook Pro. In fact, I'd say get the baseline 13" Pro, then upgrade it. You'll miss 0.27 GHz - which you might not even notice - but you'll save $300 to throw at upgrades.

You'll probably run into some sort of wall with the Air faster than with even the baseline Pro - no built-in optical drive, 1 USB port, no Firewire, something.

And I'd say upgrade the RAM before throwing an SSD in there. For the price of a 120 GB SSD (at newegg, anyway) you could easily go to 4GB and toss in a 320 or even 500 GB mechanical HDD - I dropped a 320 Hitachi (5400 RPM) in my unibody MacBook for $80. Now I've got plenty of space and 3 OSes on here for no other reason than to have them.

Get the MacBook Pro. I got the 15" and love it. However, you should look at the 13" MBP. Seems very popular among other students at my college.

This is what I did, 4GB of crucial ram for about $60 on newegg and a 500GB WD 5400 for about $90.

 

[Jigsawjammer]

Another vote for the 13" MBP. The air is awesome but you will be better off with something that has more upgrade options as well as connection options. I went from a 15" PowerBook to the 13" MBP and I don't even notice in my bag at all anymore. Get a decent sleeve to protect it and just throw it in your bag.