Macbook Air?

[Blues003]

Hi guys!

I'm considering buying either a MBA or a MBP 13'' in the future, and one of the toughest tasks I'd like to do with it would be running GarageBand or Logic Pro. Mainly, I'd be composing Jazz pieces (Piano, Bass, Percussion, Sax and Guitars, in any number of combinations), some solo piano pieces, and maybe some Game-music.

I'd like to know if any of you has experience with the MBA 13'', and can tell me if it is powerful enough for this kind of task. While I would like the portability, I want my laptop to be my sole computer. I know the MBA can run all the other tasks I intend it to alright (Web Browsing, Video-watching, Chatting, Photoshop, PS2 and Nintendo DS Emulation). Music-creating is the only one still holding me back.

Cheers!

 

[Satori]

It will be great as long as you go for 4GB RAM.

 

[iLucas]

Hi guys!

I'm considering buying either a MBA or a MBP 13'' in the future, and one of the toughest tasks I'd like to do with it would be running GarageBand or Logic Pro. Mainly, I'd be composing Jazz pieces (Piano, Bass, Percussion, Sax and Guitars, in any number of combinations), some solo piano pieces, and maybe some Game-music.

I'd like to know if any of you has experience with the MBA 13'', and can tell me if it is powerful enough for this kind of task. While I would like the portability, I want my laptop to be my sole computer. I know the MBA can run all the other tasks I intend it to alright (Web Browsing, Video-watching, Chatting, Photoshop, PS2 and Nintendo DS Emulation). Music-creating is the only one still holding me back.

Cheers!

If you plan to use it as your sole computer, i would get a MBP. The MBP can be upgraded to 8gb of ram which will be plenty for you to use for years to come.

 

[Blues003]

I was actually thinking of waiting until I could get 8GB and SandyBridge (iX) processors. But the fact they'll have to be ULV will still make their performance lower than the MBPs.

 

[Ommid]

2GB ram on the MBA is rubbish!

 

[iLucas]

I was actually thinking of waiting until I could get 8GB and SandyBridge (iX) processors. But the fact they'll have to be ULV will still make their performance lower than the MBPs.

A MBA with SandyBridge and 8GB of ram would be a really nice machine

 

[Blues003]

A MBA with SandyBridge and 8GB of ram would be a really nice machine

Thing is, SandyBridge comes with slightly worse graphics. Would worse graphics affect music-creating software? I heard Garageband is GPU-intensive. Not so sure about Logic Pro.

 

[chrismacguy]

Thing is, SandyBridge comes with slightly worse graphics. Would worse graphics affect music-creating software? I heard Garageband is GPU-intensive. Not so sure about Logic Pro.

Neither is what I would call GPU-intensive. As a matter of fact GarageBand '11 runs perfectly happilly on my iMac 1.83 Core Duo with a ATI X1600, and my MacBook White with a Intel X3100 - neither of which is remotely powerful compared to the GPU in my 11" Air. The situation is the same with Logic Pro, however the big downside with an Air is the lack of FireWire. If it fits in your workflow then a MBA w 4/8GB RAM should handle GarageBand/Logic Express/Logic Pro just fine (Heck my low-end 11"/1.4/2GB MBA handles Final Cut Pro for basic editing and even Motion 4 at a pinch, so Graphics definitely shouldn't be an issue).

 

[Blues003]

Neither is what I would call GPU-intensive. As a matter of fact GarageBand '11 runs perfectly happilly on my iMac 1.83 Core Duo with a ATI X1600, and my MacBook White with a Intel X3100 - neither of which is remotely powerful compared to the GPU in my 11" Air. The situation is the same with Logic Pro, however the big downside with an Air is the lack of FireWire. If it fits in your workflow then a MBA w 4/8GB RAM should handle GarageBand/Logic Express/Logic Pro just fine (Heck my low-end 11"/1.4/2GB MBA handles Final Cut Pro for basic editing and even Motion 4 at a pinch, so Graphics definitely shouldn't be an issue).

That is great to know. I do not fear that much regarding FireWire, put simply because it is likely that Thunderbolt/Lightpeak is incorporated in the next MBA revision. I had been told that the MBA 13'' with 4GB of RAM studdered a bit when creating music on Garage Band '11 (input being an electrical guitar). That's the reason I created this topic, and still request for more feedback.