Out priced on new MBP - Air 2016 instead?

[Damodici]

Evening all,

I currently run a MBP 13" Mid 2009 2.53 core 2 duo which id upgraded to run a samsung 500gb SSD and 8GB ram

Theres nothing wrong with per se, but the trackpad has started to falter a bit and obviously it was left out of the recent Sierra upgrade path, so it just feels like its been left behind.

It starts without issues, seems to run ok with the occasional beachball, but i guess it just feel old to me now.

So I started to look at the Macbook 12" but just cant get used to the single port.

Id get annoyed with dongles and call me old school but having normal USB port to hand is kinda useful, also it sounds silly but i just find the screen a touch too small somehow. (although i find the Surface pro 4 MS product ok...go figure)

The old/current retina MBP just seemed very samey , ok its higher spec but in terms of looks and feel it just didn't seem like buying something new if that makes sense.

Anyway, waited for yesterday new launch and sigh...... too pricey for me I'm afraid, especially given that i only web surf, play iTunes, do a bit of office work and use pixelmator casually to mess about with photos trying to self teach myself.

I know we've had a loss of value in the GBP vs the USD but even that doesn't quite account for the hikes in price across the board.

So here i am looking at John Lewis website and the 2016 MBA 13" with 256gb and 8GB ram is looking kinda tempting at £999 with a 3 year warranty

http://www.johnlewis.com/apple-macbook-air-intel-core-i5-8gb-ram-256gb-flash-storage-13-3-/p2680042


so the questions i have are whether id actually feel an improvement over the MBP 2009 i have?

I'll lose some SSD space as i don't believe you can upgrade the MBA?

But the ram stays the same, screen stays the same (maybe better?)

Also as its Sierra supported and built in 2016 do we think it'll make the next upgrade without being culled?

Sorry, i appreciate this all sounds very basic, but id never really looked at the air as i really expected the MBP to come in a tad cheaper, but nearly £1500 for the basic one without the bells and whistles is just too much

 

[BenTrovato]

Depends what you need the system for. Certainly a capable machine for a decent price, especially if you don't value the higher quality retina screens. I wouldn't go back to this type of system but if it does suit your needs, there's no reason why it wouldn't be a good buy.

 

[Damodici]

Oh and one last thing, without saying a nasty swear word on here i am also seriously considering the MS Surface pro 4

Why?

Well because its about the same price as the MBA in the UK as the moment for the 256gb, 8GB Ram i5 and i 'think' the processor is faster?

Ok id need to buy the keyboard (£84 on Amazon) but currently they're even bundling in a Xbox One S and Fifa

technically its actually £20 cheaper here - https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msuk/en_GB/pdp/Surface-Pro-4/productID.326546100/vid=326561300


I think id miss Safari for a start, but saying that i used to have PC's and liked Chrome and that runs dog slow on my MBP so kinda switched to Safari

I must say, its a compelling offer which for £64 more (inc keyboard) spend gets me an Xbox one S as a bonus

You see another problem i might start having soon is that I'm running an iPad air (1), and knowing Apple they'll probably soon stop supporting that.

Its even running buggy on the new IOS10.1 so kind feels like its being made to feel clunky before its times up, and I've been stung by apple before on numerous things when new apps won't work, you cant update to the latest OS etc etc

Im just gutted the new MBP is way out of my budget so looking for answers TBH
[doublepost=1477689319][/doublepost]

Depends what you need the system for. Certainly a capable machine for a decent price, especially if you don't value the higher quality retina screens. I wouldn't go back to this type of system but if it does suit your needs, there's no reason why it wouldn't be a good buy.

You see thats the thing kinda putting me off, Its not that i don't think the Air would do the trick, but at £999 I'm still spending big money on a product thats clearly being left by Apple and hasn't really been changed for years and years

Its like buying a new old thing.... which just isn't progress

 

[Boyd01]

I still have my 2008 15" MBP, specs are probably similar to yours (2.4ghz core2duo). The MBA has a CPU that is between two and three times as fast. The SSD is also going to be much faster than the SSD you put into your old computer. It also has wifi that's maybe 5x faster and USB that is probably 10x faster. It will also be lighter with a battery that runs maybe 3x longer.

Do you need all these things? Only you can say.

 

[Poly]

Since you are considering the surface, take a look at the Razer Blade Stealth as well!

 

[friedkimchi]

The MBA is a great device minus the lousy screen. Storage can be expanded via SD card. It'll continue to receive updates for a long time, wasn't the 2009/10 MBP support only recently dropped? That's close to 10 years of Official updates.

I was hoping to see a small processor update since Kaby Lake chips are available but oh well.

Connect it to an external monitor and you'll be fine.

 

[Damodici]

I still have my 2008 15" MBP, specs are probably similar to yours (2.4ghz core2duo). The MBA has a CPU that is between two and three times as fast. The SSD is also going to be much faster than the SSD you put into your old computer. It also has wifi that's maybe 5x faster and USB that is probably 10x faster. It will also be lighter with a battery that runs maybe 3x longer.

Do you need all these things? Only you can say.

Well, when you put it like that it does sound like a reasonable upgrade doesn't it
[doublepost=1477727643][/doublepost]

The MBA is a great device minus the lousy screen. Storage can be expanded via SD card. It'll continue to receive updates for a long time, wasn't the 2009/10 MBP support only recently dropped? That's close to 10 years of Official updates.

I was hoping to see a small processor update since Kaby Lake chips are available but oh well.

Connect it to an external monitor and you'll be fine.

Yes I'd forgotten about the Storage expansion options, possibly a nifty or minidrive with a 128gb card would give me all I need on top to be fair like

Cheers

 

[Poly]

The MBA is a great device minus the lousy screen. Storage can be expanded via SD card. It'll continue to receive updates for a long time, wasn't the 2009/10 MBP support only recently dropped? That's close to 10 years of Official updates.

What? 2016-2010=6....not 10

 

[Meister]

The mba is a much better deal than the 2016 rmbp.

Get one while you still can.

 

[thekev]

Check the battery for swelling. It's probably subtle, but it can get really bad. It's the most frequent cause of trackpad problems in these older models.

 

[Hal~9000]

The mba is a much better deal than the 2016 rmbp.

Get one while you still can.

Picked up a brand new 2015 11-inch MBA from Best Buy for only $599 a few months ago and couldn't be happier

Hopefully 4-5 years down the line when I'm ready for a new laptop the insane MacBook or MacBook Pro pricing by Apple has settled back down to sub $1000 levels.

 

[Jazzman 76]

Picked up a brand new 2015 11-inch MBA from Best Buy for only $599 a few months ago and couldn't be happier

Hopefully 4-5 years down the line when I'm ready for a new laptop the insane MacBook or MacBook Pro pricing by Apple has settled back down to sub $1000 levels.

[doublepost=1477755825][/doublepost]Like the OP, I was looking forward to an updated MacBook Pro. Or at least a revised MacBook Air. I have the 2014 Air and it's not to shabby. The new MacBook Pro without touch bar is far too expensive for what it is. Also the processor is only 2ghz. If you do decide on the Air, be quick as the Apple Store is selling it for £1099, where as John Lewis are doing a better deal until the 9th of November. Good luck!

 

[BornAgainMac]

The Surface Pro tends to noisy and get hot and battery is poor. The tablet experience is disappointing (apps are not good) and as a laptop you can get a better laptop for less. Surface Pro in vertical mode as a tablet is good for web browsing or reading a book.

I have seen the Surface Book and it makes a better laptop experience. Battery at 16 hours is only with the high end versions.

 

[SweetLou122]

I too am still running my 09 MBP 2.5 core 2 duo Probably will go with the 11 or 13 air depending on the deals floating around, really was hoping for an XPS 13 style (13in screen in 11inch form factor). I guess the 12 inch macbook is but it lacks too many things, ports, graphics, processor power.

I will take a look at the new MBP (base, without touch strip) but it's looking like a very tough sell for 5-700$ more than an air.

Keep in mind though that our computers are 7.5 years old, and mine at least still runs decently. Don't know anyone with a windows laptop or desktop (that hasn't been upgraded multiple times) that could say the same thing. Also the surface pro keyboard is garbage imo.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

I'm very tempted to buy a MacBook Air 2016, too. Trying to hold out, I'm hoping that Best Buy have a crazy deal once the MacBook with the touch thingy is released...

 

[Damodici]

Thanks for all the comments guys, I think if any macbook gets purchased it would be a macbook air purely for convenience reasons (less dongles) and bang for buck.

I'm still struggling with how Apple have managed to even try to suggest that a thin pencil like strip of touch screen technology is innovative on the new macbook pro. Alternative manufacturers have produced high end touch screens on their laptops for many years now.

I know what apple have done isn't a touch screen, it's a touch bar..... So is that a 'less is more' statement? I mean how can a smaller area of touch interaction be classified as innovative?

Surely if you have an entire screen you can touch, then any software developer for Microsoft is going to be able to simply overlay an interactive bar which works in tandem with whatever software the customer is using

I can see interactive app or software specific bars popping up within weeks /months on Windows 10 platform

I just feel that Apple have done very little to justify the price.

 

[Savor]

For months, I was going to get a Note7. We all know how that turned out. The MacBook Air was kinda late to the game for me to consider it. Better late than never! Best decision I ever made that I rarely use my phones anymore except when I go out. It basically killed my craving and lusting for anymore smartphones!

I have no regrets picking it over a PS4, iPhone SE/7/7+, LG V20, and OnePlus 3. I really was going to get the $830 LG V20 or $880 iPhone 7 Plus. Something to flaunt, right? I said nah. Passed that stage to care and the MBA is so much more practical especially for the long run. Getting it for $850 at Best Buy was just a bonus when I saw the 2016 MB 13 go for $1,500 and without the ports! My only qualms is the display is non-Retina and the footprint is a bit too large as I prefer the footprint of the "12 rMacBook.

This review below is what pushed me towards it along with Karl Conrad's because the reviewer is a Mac newbie like me. I like seeing perspectives with a similar situation as mine.

I kinda get annoyed by how Lisa Gade talks but this was a great comparison from her between MB v MBA. I was fully expecting the 2016 MacBooks to lose the ports and glowing Apple logo. The weaker processor, battery life, and USB-C only on the MB 12 for a higher price is why I went for the MBA 13....

RIP MacBook Air (2008-2016)

Enjoy the last of its kind.

 

[kattskrall]

Guys, fiy, it's not a 2016 laptop.. It's still from early 2015 (the hardware). It's a very good machine (got two) but the screen was due for an upgrade in 2012 which never happened. If you are somewhat picky about this, go see it in person beside another screen.

TBH, if you can find the old(er) rmbp for a good price that's a better buy i guess considering the screen, more ports and better performance.

 

[ApplNat]

I decided on the 12" MB. Portability with a Retina screen is highest priority for me. I already have a USB-C hub I got for free a few months ago, so I'm set with that. I don't use an external monitor or keyboard or any other peripherals. I'm keeping my current 2013 MBA 13".

 

[username:]

I would 100% recommend a better screen. I have the 2013 MBA and love this machine but the screen is bugging me. Going from retina phone to the MBA is pretty bad.

I want to upgrade to a laptop with higher quality screen as soon as I can afford it.

 

[HardBall]

It would be very difficult to recommend a legacy device like the MBA right now. This machine was outdated in 2012 and completely outclassed by the original rMBP. Going back to that screen, that bezel, and the chunky design is probably not going to cut it for the next 3 years, even for basic tasks. It's basically a machine designed in the previous decade with slightly upgraded (yet still pretty out of date) internals. The 12" rMB is a far better choice around the same price points, especially one of those refurb units.

 

[asoksevil]

For months, I was going to get a Note7. We all know how that turned out. The MacBook Air was kinda late to the game for me to consider it. Better late than never! Best decision I ever made that I rarely use my phones anymore except when I go out. It basically killed my craving and lusting for anymore smartphones!

I have no regrets picking it over a PS4, iPhone SE/7/7+, LG V20, and OnePlus 3. I really was going to get the $830 LG V20 or $880 iPhone 7 Plus. Something to flaunt, right? I said nah. Passed that stage to care and the MBA is so much more practical especially for the long run. Getting it for $850 at Best Buy was just a bonus when I saw the 2016 MB 13 go for $1,500 and without the ports! My only qualms is the display is non-Retina and the footprint is a bit too large as I prefer the footprint of the "12 rMacBook.

This review below is what pushed me towards it along with Karl Conrad's because the reviewer is a Mac newbie like me. I like seeing perspectives with a similar situation as mine.

I kinda get annoyed by how Lisa Gade talks but this was a great comparison from her between MB v MBA. I was fully expecting the 2016 MacBooks to lose the ports and glowing Apple logo. The weaker processor, battery life, and USB-C only on the MB 12 for a higher price is why I went for the MBA 13....

RIP MacBook Air (2008-2016)

Enjoy the last of its kind.

The MBA will be in the lineup for a couple of years more a la 2012 MacBook Pro. The guy wasn't taken down until 4 years down the road.

 

[organic bond]

It would be very difficult to recommend a legacy device like the MBA right now. This machine was outdated in 2012 and completely outclassed by the original rMBP. Going back to that screen, that bezel, and the chunky design is probably not going to cut it for the next 3 years, even for basic tasks. It's basically a machine designed in the previous decade with slightly upgraded (yet still pretty out of date) internals. The 12" rMB is a far better choice around the same price points, especially one of those refurb units.

If you consider refurbished 12" rMBs then you can only find the first model, which is slooooowwww. No comparison with an Air, which is a far better machine except the screen. I say this because I owned both and returned the 12" rMB after 3 days. And I do not find the MBA screen bad at all, I have a Samsung S7 and switching between the two is not a problem at.
To the OP: get the Air.