Which one to keep...?

[Nia3088]

I have a Macbook Pro (early 2011) and a Macbook Air (late 2010).

I'll be giving one of them to my mother, who isn't particularly tech-savvy so she doesn't really care which one she gets. Which one is the better one to keep?

The Air feels a lots quicker than the Pro, but has a weaker CPU. The Pro feels really sluggish because of the HDD. I know I can upgrade the Pro's storage to SSD, but I don't have the money to do that anytime soon (lots of other things that need to be bought first).

Let me post the specs:
Air (late 2010)
1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Ram 1067 MHz DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce 320M
128 GB SSD

Pro (early 2011)
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
4GB Ram 1333 MHz DDR3
Intel HD Graphics 3000
320 GB HDD

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[T5BRICK]

I'd keep the MBP and upgrade the HDD to a SSD as soon as you possibly can. MacBook Airs prior to the 2011 models were pretty slow.

 

[snaky69]

I have a Macbook Pro (early 2011) and a Macbook Air (late 2010).

I'll be giving one of them to my mother, who isn't particularly tech-savvy so she doesn't really care which one she gets. Which one is the better one to keep?

The Air feels a lots quicker than the Pro, but has a weaker CPU. The Pro feels really sluggish because of the HDD. I know I can upgrade the Pro's storage to SSD, but I don't have the money to do that anytime soon (lots of other things that need to be bought first).

Let me post the specs:
Air (late 2010)
1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Ram 1067 MHz DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce 320M
128 GB SSD

Pro (early 2011)
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
4GB Ram 1333 MHz DDR3
Intel HD Graphics 3000
320 GB HDD

Thanks in advance for your advice!

With no intended usage mentioned, anybody answering is taking a stab in the dark.

 

[andreyush]

Keep the MBP ...Later you can upgrade RAM and buy a SSD

 

[Nia3088]

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies.

re: T5BRICK - Really? I haven't played around with any of the newer models yet. My MBA has been lightning quick for most of my usage. It'd be interesting to compare how they felt to use.

re: snaky69 - Sorry, I should have specified more. Most likely Office/iWorks, Safari, Keynote, and watching movies. So, very light usage really.

re: andreyush - Yeah, I'm kinda veering towards this option too..! Thanks!

 

[maflynn]

The simplicity of the MBA, along with the small size and light weight would make this an ideal machine for your mother, I vote like the others on giving the MBA to your Ma and keep the MBP

 

[Barna Biro]

Give the Air to your mother due to the added mobility / convenience. Make her life easier by having to carry around less and more easily if needed.

 

[Nia3088]

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies! I've decided to keep the MBP and give my mother the MBA. I don't think she'll be going anywhere with it, but it will definitely be easier for her to move around the house whilst Facetiming with her grandchild.
Thanks once again!

 

[T5BRICK]

re: T5BRICK - Really? I haven't played around with any of the newer models yet. My MBA has been lightning quick for most of my usage. It'd be interesting to compare how they felt to use.

It's the SSD in the MBA that makes the biggest difference. The Core2 Duo CPU is a real dog. The i5 in the MBP will run circles around it, spend ~$100 on a SSD and the thing will fly.

 

[Evren Carven]

It depends on how you will use. If you will take your Mac every day, choose Air. If you use your Mac at home most of the time, please choose Pro.

 

[MushroomMan]

Go the pro - at least you can upgrade the RAM, HDD etc...