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MBA vs MBP for a math major

A

ana.la2

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 4, 2020
6
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So, let me begin by saying I currently own an early-2011 13 MBP (i5 and 16gb RAM). I know any of my options will be a major improvement.
I've been saving money for a new MBP and this is finally the year. I was pretty sure I'd buy a MBP but now that's out I'm not sure I need it? Maybe the air will suffice?

My daily use is basically web browsing (tons of tabs) + some R programming (R Studio). I'm also learning some linear programming with python now, so add some Jupyter Notebook and VSCode. In the next few months, I'll probably need to draw some plots for one of my professors (as in actually drawing with AI or some other tool). I'm not a gamer, but I do enjoy some The Sims 4 or Civ games every once in a while. My current MBP does everything I need, albeit very slowly. I'm hoping my next one will last me a long time (maybe not 9 years like this one but at least 5/6).

I want 16GB and 512SSD. I was hoping to buy the new $1799 13', but in my country that will cost me $2600 (and that's the cheapest option. If I get it from the official apple store it will cost me $3900).

So now I'm thinking that's what too much money and I've been considering the Air, also with 16GB and 512 SSD (the i5 one). But then again, for $100 I get the Pro with a better processor.

So these are my current options, all with 16GB RAM / 512 SSD.

MBA - 1.1 GHz 8th gen - $1499
MBP - 1.4 GHz 8th gen - $1599
MBP - 2.0 GHz 10th gen - $1799

Should I go for the $1799 MBP? Should I wait a few months for the possible 14 or the next 13 design?

EDIT: I got it wrong and I know now the air has the 10th gen. Does that make the air the better choice for my use?
 
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its clear that user, dont code since he made that kind of comment
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nill1234 said:
There is a mistake, the MBA has a 10th gen chip. Im using it for IOS Dev (just started) but it runs smooth as butter.
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nobody said that....Op just said that mbp has better cpu
 
deeddawg said:
Is there a reason you're not looking at the 2020 model MBA which has the 10th gen CPU?
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No reason. I got it wrong actually. Didn’t realize it had the 10th. My mistake.

Now that I know that, would the air be a good choice for my use?
 
Sounds like your intended usage will be more about sustained CPU loading rather than brief bursts.

As such, the MBP is probably going to be the better choice from that aspect.

The MBA is great at bursty CPU usage. Photo edits. Opening an app. Stuff that can be done quick and doesn't require sustained CPU effort.

I think an MBA would still do the job - though you might hear the fan in sustained CPU scenarios. It also has the advantages of lighter weight, nicer shape without as much of a front lip, and function keys instead of touch bar. Though if those are not important to you go with the MBP
 
As I understand by your statement, you are a vigorous yet careful and patient user. I think MBP is a better choice for you, especially considering the MBA's heating issue.

You want a device that could survive some 5-6 years and takes the load of your daily tasks easily. The MBP certainly looks like an overall better device for you.
 
The new 13" with the 10gen CPU would be an amazing choice for you, but I also believe that you'd do fine with a MBA. Except that gaming performance of the MBA might be quite lackluster.
 
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throAU said:
*shrug*

I'm doing iOS application stuff on my MBA just fine.

That said if gaming is a thing, go for the Pro. Or buy an Air and a Nintendo Switch or something :D
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Wait 'til you hit Metal stuffs (especially shaders) and/or intensive data processing. Also iOS Simulator running on a MacBook Air is a scary thought considering my experience with the Air...

Let's just say it depends on the scale of the project. Mine won't fit the MacBook Air at all. Especially the Android side. The Air will scream, cry and bawl as soon as I try to compile any of those projects.
 
Thank you so much for your input everyone. I'll stick to my initial plan of buying the pro then. Thanks!!
 
You probably could get away with the MBA but the MBP is a much more capable machine. You will be happy you spent the extra money.
 
Will throw another opinion in the ring.
You‘re a math major, unknown year or ultimate study goal, but mentioning R, AI, and graphing of data sets.
A likely path in your studies is going to make those data sets larger, whether via model training, for additional analysis, or just playing or doing more interesting things. Throw some mat lab and various python ML in for good measure.

I’d be much less concerned doing some IOS development vs where R and AI mentions take a math major than the above. Quad core and 32GB with reasonable thermals should be your baseline system, or I expect another year of school in and you’ll be upgrading. You can skimp a bit on storage if you have to, but I’d look at a 13” 32GB MBP, or a used 32GB MBP 15 and skip the MBA altogether. Don’t worry about discrete or internal graphics but quad core or more and 32GB.

Try processing specific real world data sets over a year or more from various sources.devices/countries.... to train or validate a model, and your not-very-future self will thank you. ;)
 
bill-p said:
Wait 'til you hit Metal stuffs (especially shaders) and/or intensive data processing. Also iOS Simulator running on a MacBook Air is a scary thought considering my experience with the Air...

Let's just say it depends on the scale of the project. Mine won't fit the MacBook Air at all. Especially the Android side. The Air will scream, cry and bawl as soon as I try to compile any of those projects.
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Sure.

But that's a lot different to "if you write a single line of code"... :D

Will it be the best machine for the job? No, of course not. It's a compromised machine for cost, weight and power consumption. But that doesn't mean you can't use it to write code if that's something you do occasionally.

If you're doing iOS development properly you really need to be running your code on a real device anyway, but the simulator works for what I've done so far just fine. Mostly because when you run in the simulator, you're actually running native macOS code somewhat :D (and it is or was actually possible to include non-iOS native APIs in it and have it run in the sim - which is why a real device is essential to test properly with).
 
Short answer: Any of these models will be fine for learning linear programming, data science and programming.


Full answer:

I am VP of Engineering for Gurobi, the fastest solver for linear programming. I personally use a 27" iMac (mid-2017 5K Core i7 4.2 GHz) at my desk and a 12" MacBook (mid-2017 Core m3 1.2 GHz) for travel. The MacBook is not a fast computer, but it is more than enough for me to give presentations and software demonstrations while traveling.

Most of our support staff use a 13" MacBook Pro. Sure, it's faster than a MacBook or a MacBook Air. However, for customer applications, we don't use laptops - we use Linux servers. It's incredibly easy and cheap to get powerful servers on Amazon EC2. A compute-optimized cloud server like c5.4xlarge will outperform any laptop for just a few cents per hour, and top configurations will beat the top-of-the-line Mac Pro. If you don't know Linux already, it's valuable to learn it while you study analytics.

Finally, if you're enrolled at a university, you can get a free Gurobi license from the website.
 
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gglockner said:
Short answer: Any of these models will be fine for learning linear programming, data science and programming.


Full answer:

I am VP of Engineering for Gurobi, the fastest solver for linear programming. I personally use a 27" iMac (mid-2017 5K Core i7 4.2 GHz) at my desk and a 12" MacBook (mid-2017 Core m3 1.2 GHz) for travel. The MacBook is not a fast computer, but it is more than enough for me to give presentations and software demonstrations while traveling.

Most of our support staff use a 13" MacBook Pro. Sure, it's faster than a MacBook or a MacBook Air. However, for customer applications, we don't use laptops - we use Linux servers. It's incredibly easy and cheap to get powerful servers on Amazon EC2. A compute-optimized cloud server like c5.4xlarge will outperform any laptop for just a few cents per hour, and top configurations will beat the top-of-the-line Mac Pro. If you don't know Linux already, it's valuable to learn it while you study analytics.

Finally, if you're enrolled at a university, you can get a free Gurobi license from the website.
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I know of Gurobi, since the company I was interning for before this covid-19 crisis uses it a lot, but I don't know much about it. I'll definitely get this free license now. I decided to go for the mbp, but will also add Linux and Linux servers to the list of things to learn before I'm finished with college. Thank you for your recommendations!
 
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