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Which MacBook Air model would suit me best?

A

Anthony T

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 10, 2008
1,021
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I have a 2009 13" MBP that is running kind of slow, even though I upgraded it with an SSD a few years back.

I'm thinking of getting one of new MB Air models. Deciding on which tier. I really don't use my laptop that much. When I do, I usually just use it for web browsing, word processing, storing photos, and syncing with iTunes. Nothing crazy.

Is the base model good enough for me or should I get the mid-tier model?
 
Even if you are using iCloud for photos (iCloud Photo Library) and iTunes Match for music, you might outgrow 128 GB storage.

How big are they now? Unless you have very small photos and music library, it would seem wise to spring $200 for 256 GB storage.
 
I think we have FINALLY reached that time where I would genuinely recommend an iPad over a MacBook Air. I have a 2012 MBA and the last gen iPad; the iPad serves no purpose as I use these devices on a professional level - the MBA is better for pretty much everything... (EDIT: everything I NEED)

However with your use-cases, everything you want to do can be handled excellently on the new iPads. You don't use your laptop for anything heavyweight - it's all casual or media-based. The only thing I'd say is grab the keyboard thingy for word-processing?

I have NEVER recommended an iPad over a MBA to anyone before, but I think after today's anouncements, there is a slight shift in the line and some people (like yourself) would suit an iPad over a MBA.
 
joewillmott said:
I think we have FINALLY reached that time where I would genuinely recommend an iPad over a MacBook Air. I have a 2012 MBA and the last gen iPad; the iPad serves no purpose as I use these devices on a professional level - the MBA is better for pretty much everything... (EDIT: everything I NEED)

However with your use-cases, everything you want to do can be handled excellently on the new iPads. You don't use your laptop for anything heavyweight - it's all casual or media-based. The only thing I'd say is grab the keyboard thingy for word-processing?

I have NEVER recommended an iPad over a MBA to anyone before, but I think after today's anouncements, there is a slight shift in the line and some people (like yourself) would suit an iPad over a MBA.
Click to expand...
That's interesting because there is effectively no difference in capabilities of these new iPad Pros over the previous models.
 
sracer said:
Right, but why would the new iPad Pros make them a more capable alternative to the Macbook Air? No matter what they do to the hardware, iOS is NOT macOS.
Click to expand...

That was a failed attempt at humor, to suggest that the iPad Pros hadn't become preferable to the Macbook Air because of any change in them, but because Apple had abandoned the previous model of the Macbook Air in favor of one like the recent laptops with the butterfly keyboard and so on.

Never mind. ^^
 
Anthony T said:
I have a 2009 13" MBP that is running kind of slow, even though I upgraded it with an SSD a few years back.

I'm thinking of getting one of new MB Air models. Deciding on which tier. I really don't use my laptop that much. When I do, I usually just use it for web browsing, word processing, storing photos, and syncing with iTunes. Nothing crazy.

Is the base model good enough for me or should I get the mid-tier model?
Click to expand...

You said which NEW Macbook Air so you apparently want the Retina Screen, and you installed an SSD in your 2009 MBP, so you also should know what size SSD to get. So if the base model fit's your need's for the light work you do, get it. Sounds like it would be perfect for web browsing, word precessing, photo's ( possibly a cloud account of some kind maybe to store them ), and iTunes, ( maybe cloud for it too). Think about it, most people have 128 they figure out a way ( that's me ), they get a 1TB, they find a way to fill it up.

I have a base model 2012 that is still rocking and rolling and I love it. Best computer that I have ever owned but it fit's my light computing need's also like yours, but no photo's and music for me! I am very happy they kept the line, and maybe it will stay for a long time. But if you even think you need a bigger SSD, get it now, or you will regret it. Only you know that for sure.

Best of luck. Let us know what/if you order one! And how you like it if you do!
 
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