In three years..I would recommend the MacBook Pro. As for right now, I'm with everyone else keep what you have. It is possible though within three years the MacBook Air might be a much better option. I think you should probably post this again in three years as both machines will probably be quite different from what we have today.
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MacBook Pro or MacBook Air For College?
- Thread starter rekhyt
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As I already said, DO NOT BUY A COMPUTER FOR COLLEGE THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE. It will be obsolete. There's no way a computer will last you 7 years.
Like I said, I bought an iMac before my senior year of high school, and had to buy a new one halfway through my junior year of college.
About to start my senior year, and I'll also be picking up an MBP. My old iMac is useless.
Like I said, I bought an iMac before my senior year of high school, and had to buy a new one halfway through my junior year of college.
About to start my senior year, and I'll also be picking up an MBP. My old iMac is useless.
Nehalem is due next year, as is USB 3. There could be any number of processor jumps in 3 years.
Bluray has to come soon.
Don't base your decision on a computer for college in your sophomore year of high school. By the end of your senior year in high school you would probably be considering a new computer mainly because your computer that you would buy now would be out of date by then. Base your decision on your needs now, not in 3 years.
I must admit, I had the same "dilemma" when trying to choose the ideal laptop for college.
I've been very attracted to the MBA, especially due to its style and very light weight.
However after doing more research and playing with them both, I ended up ordering MBP.
For me the logic was as follows:
1. The MBA is limited in RAM and HDD, neither of which can be upgraded - and I want to keep my laptop for a least 3 years (until the AppleCare runs out). Also, the MBA's battery can't be swapped on the fly so you have to charge it every few hours - can't go the whole day on campus without recharging it somewhere at some point.
2. You actually lose a lot of screen on the MBA due to the relatively thick bezel around the screen - they could've fit a 14.1" screen in there, although the thinness may have been a limiting factor there. In comparison, the 15.4" screen of the MBP goes much closer to the edges - which gives you a much better screen-size-to-footprint ratio.
3. The laptop I'd choose would have to be my one and only computer, and have to perform lots of functions effectively. Just read the MBA forum for a day and see how many issues MBA owners are having with performance issues, core shutdowns, overheating, etc.
4. Although the MBA is definitely lighter, you'd have to carry around many more accessories with you given its limited ports, lack of CD drive, etc. whereas you can just take the MBP *and an extra battery!* with you for the entire day - no superdrive, USB hub, or even a charger to worry about!
5. This may sound silly but I liked the positioning of my hands on the MBP a lot more than the MBA - and the edges might not be as sharp on the MBA as on a regular MB, but they are still sharp!
6. Last but certainly not least: with the student discount, you get $200 off the MBP whereas you only get $100 off the MBA. If you then add $99 for the superdrive, you end up with the exact same price for a base MBA as for a base MBP. This is where it boggles the mind as to why you'd buy an MBA for college!
Having said all that, my situation is fairly different, as I am a professional having worked (and earned my own dough) for 8+ years and just now finally going back to business school - not starting undergrad.
If I were you OP, I'd seriously take everyone else's advice: save your parents the $2k they'd unnecessarily spend now (or invest the $2k you've saved up yourself, if that's the case) and enjoy your MacBook until you graduate from high school.
When you do, see what's currently available, take advantage of the back-to-school promo, and enjoy the latest dazzling technology!
-Marc
I've been very attracted to the MBA, especially due to its style and very light weight.
However after doing more research and playing with them both, I ended up ordering MBP.
For me the logic was as follows:
1. The MBA is limited in RAM and HDD, neither of which can be upgraded - and I want to keep my laptop for a least 3 years (until the AppleCare runs out). Also, the MBA's battery can't be swapped on the fly so you have to charge it every few hours - can't go the whole day on campus without recharging it somewhere at some point.
2. You actually lose a lot of screen on the MBA due to the relatively thick bezel around the screen - they could've fit a 14.1" screen in there, although the thinness may have been a limiting factor there. In comparison, the 15.4" screen of the MBP goes much closer to the edges - which gives you a much better screen-size-to-footprint ratio.
3. The laptop I'd choose would have to be my one and only computer, and have to perform lots of functions effectively. Just read the MBA forum for a day and see how many issues MBA owners are having with performance issues, core shutdowns, overheating, etc.
4. Although the MBA is definitely lighter, you'd have to carry around many more accessories with you given its limited ports, lack of CD drive, etc. whereas you can just take the MBP *and an extra battery!* with you for the entire day - no superdrive, USB hub, or even a charger to worry about!
5. This may sound silly but I liked the positioning of my hands on the MBP a lot more than the MBA - and the edges might not be as sharp on the MBA as on a regular MB, but they are still sharp!
6. Last but certainly not least: with the student discount, you get $200 off the MBP whereas you only get $100 off the MBA. If you then add $99 for the superdrive, you end up with the exact same price for a base MBA as for a base MBP. This is where it boggles the mind as to why you'd buy an MBA for college!
Having said all that, my situation is fairly different, as I am a professional having worked (and earned my own dough) for 8+ years and just now finally going back to business school - not starting undergrad.
If I were you OP, I'd seriously take everyone else's advice: save your parents the $2k they'd unnecessarily spend now (or invest the $2k you've saved up yourself, if that's the case) and enjoy your MacBook until you graduate from high school.
When you do, see what's currently available, take advantage of the back-to-school promo, and enjoy the latest dazzling technology!
-Marc
The words MacBook Air and Final Cut do not mix. You cannot run Final Cut on a MacBook Air. Trust me, you dont want to. Just go with a high end MacBook and you should be fine with Final Cut. I am a media production major at college and I have a MacBook Pro. I am upgrading to a 4GB memory MBP in a couple of weeks so I can run Motion, AfterEffects, Color, and all that good stuff without the computer slowing down. I think you'll be fine with a new MacBook. BUT, to answer your original question, go with the MacBook Pro instead of the Air. Two totally different computers!
why are you buying a college laptop if you have 3 more years to go before college???
BUY IT WHEN YOU NEED IT
a lot of things can happen in those three years, honestly I think you will regret buying anything MBA or MBP 3 years in advance...by the time you start college, most computers will be WAY more advance than you have.
continue using your macbook now. enjoy High School
Cross the bridge when you get there
BUY IT WHEN YOU NEED IT
a lot of things can happen in those three years, honestly I think you will regret buying anything MBA or MBP 3 years in advance...by the time you start college, most computers will be WAY more advance than you have.
continue using your macbook now. enjoy High School
Cross the bridge when you get there
Wow!
I didnt even realize he was only a freshman in high school! What are you doing buying a computer for college now? It'll be outdated by Christmas! Just keep using your MacBook! Wow!Good idea.
Hmm, I bought my MacBook last year so the specs aren't as good-2.2 ghz i think, 120 GB HD, 2 GB RAM.
I don't plan to use Final Cut in College, only now...
So do you guys suggest that I get the laptop in 3 years?
1. Don't buy a computer 3 years in advance.
2. If you are weighing a MBP vs a MBA for college, I would easily go with the MBP. The Air is far too overpriced and underpowered for what you get. I would not want to bet on it's performance over 4 years of school, whereas a MBP will easily last you 4 years and be a powerhouse.
2. If you are weighing a MBP vs a MBA for college, I would easily go with the MBP. The Air is far too overpriced and underpowered for what you get. I would not want to bet on it's performance over 4 years of school, whereas a MBP will easily last you 4 years and be a powerhouse.
3 years is quite some time. I would suggest that you save your money and buy a Mac at the appropriate time, which in your case would be a month or two before you go to College.
Judging by Apple's policy for short product cycles, I would strongly recommend that you wait. Patience could be very rewarding some times
Judging by Apple's policy for short product cycles, I would strongly recommend that you wait. Patience could be very rewarding some times
Unless you are a design student or something, the MBA is really perfect for school. I use one for Naturopathy school and leave my MBP at home.
I really think that all the votes here for the MBP are based on feature and power lust more than addressing what will best suit your actual needs.
If you aren't a gamer and want to take the notebook to school everyday and use it for writing, email and web stuff, the MBA is actually a much better choice. You'll probably never need the MBP's features, and you certainly won't have to lug them around.
Of course, in 3 years, none of the above may apply anymore as the MBA may have loads of features and the MBP may be light as a feather.
I really think that all the votes here for the MBP are based on feature and power lust more than addressing what will best suit your actual needs.
If you aren't a gamer and want to take the notebook to school everyday and use it for writing, email and web stuff, the MBA is actually a much better choice. You'll probably never need the MBP's features, and you certainly won't have to lug them around.
Of course, in 3 years, none of the above may apply anymore as the MBA may have loads of features and the MBP may be light as a feather.
Save your money. And unless you are going to be doing intensive design work and film, etc. don't bother to upgrade until the Macbook gives up. It should be a more than capable system as long as you don't need to do stuff that needs an independent and capable GPU - in which case wait as long as possible then get an MBP - the Air won't give you any advantages here.
They suggest you buy the computer you need today, today. When you go to college, then buy the computer you need for college.