Questions for MacBook owners - Should I get an Air or Pro?

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mid83

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So my gf and I both have old laptops that are badly in need of an upgrade. We both have iPhones and iPads so I've been looking at a MacBook Air or Pro just for consistency with our Apple products.

For those of you who own Mac laptops, any suggestions on which model to get? I'd love the retina MacBook Pro, but it sure is pricy for a model with more than just Intel graphics. Not sure if the price jump is worth it over a MacBook Air. Also, how often do they announce new models? I'd hate to buy one right before a new model comes out.

Most of our usage will be typical web browsing. I'd like to use Bootcamp for Steam at times but most of my gaming is on console now so PC gaming isn't number one for me anymore.
 
don't get an Air. The display is ass. It hasn't been changed for 5(!) years.

I strongly believe that the Air is on the way out, as 13" retina pro are becoming lighter and lighter (they're only 200g heavier) and the "MacBook" (the new super-thin one, also retina) is going to become more and more affordable.
 
it doesnt sound like you'd get much benefit from a pro, not for general web use, and if it makes any difference macrumors buying guide advises to wait for a refresh across most mac models

SmqJuf7.png
 
If you aren't going to carry it around then you might as well go for the more powerful version. I own one of each but I rarely use either. My 11" Air is good for meetings and presentations because of its low weight and size.
 
Fliesen said:
don't get an Air. The display is ass. It hasn't been changed for 5(!) years.

I strongly believe that the Air is on the way out, as 13" retina pro are becoming lighter and lighter (they're only 200g heavier) and the "MacBook" (the new super-thin one, also retina) is going to become more and more affordable.
Click to expand...

So you are telling him to wait? I agree with you on the air, but that could take a year or two.
 
If you can afford it, then I'd definitely go for the Pro. It's only slightly bigger, and the performance is (or at least was - it was a year or so ago when I got mine) a big step up.
 
iNvid02 said:
it doesnt sound like you'd get much benefit from a pro, not for general web use, and if it makes any difference macrumors buying guide advises to wait for a refresh across most mac models

SmqJuf7.png
Click to expand...

yup, the 13" pro has had a refresh in March '15 (which is where it received a force touch trackpad - another thing the Air lacks)

gamz said:
So you are telling him to wait? I agree with you on the air, but that could take a year or two.
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wait and buy a retina 13. imho.
 
I got a MacBook Pro for Christmas and I love it.

Runs 4K video well.

I can edit huge pictures in PhotoShop with no slow down.

And everything else is a breeze.

Glad I got this instead of the Air. The Air looks ugly with that silver bevil anyway.
 
Just got an Air at Christmas. I had a Pro before but it was getting really old (six years) so I switched to Air. I love it. It's just so comfy. Other than that, there's not much difference with a Pro (well yeah, okay there's no disc drive on the Air one)
 
Grizzo said:
Just got an Air at Christmas. I had a Pro before but it was getting really old (six years) so I switched to Air. I love it. It's just so comfy. Other than that, there's not much difference with a Pro (well yeah, okay there's no disc drive on the Air one)
Click to expand...

The new Pro doesn't have a disc drive either.
 
Grizzo said:
Just got an Air at Christmas. I had a Pro before but it was getting really old (six years) so I switched to Air. I love it. It's just so comfy. Other than that, there's not much difference with a Pro (well yeah, okay there's no disc drive on the Air one)
Click to expand...

The Pro you had, while still being sold as a current model is a totally different beast to the "real" MacBook Pro (which has a Retina Display).

The 13" MBP with Retina Display is only 17% heavier than the 13" Air, has a retina display, faster processors, more ports, and also doesn't have a disc drive.
 
Don't get the air. Every time you go from your ipad's screen to the air's screen will feel like you've regressed 5 years. The Pro is definitely worth the extra money to me, but if you don't need any of the extra power and can wait, then you should wait for a better air.
 
Pros are a nice performance bump - the normal MacBooks and Airs are only now starting to hit the Geekbench scores of my 2011 MacBook Pro. But yeah, they are expensive. I'm due for an upgrade and I'm going to see if it's worth dropping down to a high-end Air when they get revised.
 
mrkgoo said:
The Pro you had, while still being sold as a current model is a totally different beast to the "real" MacBook Pro (which has a Retina Display).

The 13" MBP with Retina Display is only 17% heavier than the 13" Air, has a retina display, faster processors, more ports, and also doesn't have a disc drive.
Click to expand...

Oh I see! Well to be totally honest it wasn't even a Pro, it was a MacBook. Not the black or white ones made of plastic, but a metal one, which looks exactly like a Pro but was actually just a MacBook Alu.

0810macbook_imovie_12.jpg
Click to expand...

In any case, I'm happy with my MacBook Air. I use it for work (writer) and leisures, don't have to record music or edit videos or something so it's more than enough for me.
 
mid83 said:
So my gf and I both have old laptops that are badly in need of an upgrade. We both have iPhones and iPads so I've been looking at a MacBook Air or Pro just for consistency with our Apple products.

For those of you who own Mac laptops, any suggestions on which model to get? I'd love the retina MacBook Pro, but it sure is pricy for a model with more than just Intel graphics. Not sure if the price jump is worth it over a MacBook Air. Also, how often do they announce new models? I'd hate to buy one right before a new model comes out.

Most of our usage will be typical web browsing. I'd like to use Bootcamp for Steam at times but most of my gaming is on console now so PC gaming isn't number one for me anymore.
Click to expand...

Sell your Apple products for a hefty chunk of change and then save an assload of money by rolling with Windows/Android.

but really I think Apple is refreshing their products soon, id wait or buy used
 
The macbook pro retina base model is worth the extra money over the air, it will last you a lot longer due to the more powerful processor and better display.

Do not buy one just now, like someone else posted most of the line is due a refresh, if you must buy one now then try and get one at a discount or you will be kicking yourself when they update within the next month or so.
 
QuantumZebra said:
Sell your Apple products for a hefty chunk of change and then save an assload of money by rolling with Windows/Android.

but really I think Apple is refreshing their products soon, id wait or buy used
Click to expand...

I just moved to an android phone so I am halfway there myself and I have a PC desktop, the only laptop I have seen so far that comes close to the build quality/display/trackpad of a mac is the XPS15 from DELL, but it's a DELL and I can't get my head around it or looking at other laptops priced around £1000 that are still bendy and plasticy
 
The Air is amazing. I pray every night that Apple finally does the right thing and puts a Retina display in. If the shitty 12 inch can have it, the Air can too.
But yes, don't buy a 1440x900 display in 2016.
 
I got a Retina Pro, it's a great laptop for home/office use. But I hate carrying it around or using it on the go.
 
SlickShoes said:
I just moved to an android phone so I am halfway there myself and I have a PC desktop, the only laptop I have seen so far that comes close to the build quality/display/trackpad of a mac is the XPS15 from DELL, but it's a DELL and I can't get my head around it or looking at other laptops priced around £1000 that are still bendy and plasticy
Click to expand...

I have an Asus and I love it.

Was $399 at Best Buy for a AMD A10/1TB HDD/8GB RAM system. Wicked deal.
 
Grizzo said:
Oh I see! Well to be totally honest it wasn't even a Pro, it was a MacBook. Not the black or white ones made of plastic, but a metal one, which looks exactly like a Pro but was actually just a MacBook Alu.



In any case, I'm happy with my MacBook Air. I use it for work (writer) and leisures, don't have to record music or edit videos or something so it's more than enough for me.
Click to expand...

Nah, you might have actually had a pro.

The "MacBook" was originally the "consumer" model with the plastic black and white. But after the first generation Aluminium MacBook came out, Apple proposed that there wasn't much difference any more, and just called that line MacBook Pro from there on out, even after they got rid of the just "MacBook".

To confuse matters more, early last year (2015), they re-introduced a model called just "MAcBook", which is an ultraportable, lighter and thinner than even the MacBook Air.

Their naming conventions are all over the show. Like how iPad went from 1st generation to 6th like this:

"iPad"
"iPad 2"
"New iPad"
"iPad 4th generation"
"iPad Air"
"iPad Air 2"
 
I had a 2010 macbook pro, and was absolutely certain on upgrading to a Air. I went with the 13" retina macbook pro and its so much better. In my opinion the best laptop they make.

> Great power
> Retina screen
> More ports
> Very good battery
> Pretty slim and light

Affordable price compared to Air and you're getting so much more.
 
Tangential question - I have a Macbook Air 13" 2012 model. I'm thinking of buying a Surface Pro 4, though. I mainly use web browser and MS Office. Sometimes photoshop and garageband to edit my podcast. Anyone made the switch? Regrets?

Those colored keyboards seem surprisingly decent on Surface Pro. Really tempted after trying them at MS store. The Surface Book is out of my price range, though.
 
For your needs, Air should be enough. Only reason I'd go Pro is if you plan on doing more gaming or heavier development on it. Now's a good time for the '15 models too since they're getting discounted, presumably because the '16 models will be coming out soon.
 
SlickShoes said:
I just moved to an android phone so I am halfway there myself and I have a PC desktop, the only laptop I have seen so far that comes close to the build quality/display/trackpad of a mac is the XPS15 from DELL, but it's a DELL and I can't get my head around it or looking at other laptops priced around £1000 that are still bendy and plasticy
Click to expand...

I just bought an XPS13 and it's amazing. Give one a try before you dismiss them, you might be surprised.
 
Get Pro the display on Air should be considered as crime against humanity.

Also it has better cpu so It'll run games bit better than Air
 
I have the pro, my wife has the air. For what I do, I wish I had the air. it's lite and fast. If I every have to get a laptop it will be between the air and the razer ultrabook.

I mainly use office products and web browser.
 
Interested in seeing how the new Macs sing under Skylake. The updates to the lines should be interesting.

Macbook Air has a bad screen, but the price is very low. You get a lot of computer for the price, but if you already have an Ipad. Well.. Ipads are not that much less powerful than an Air. I'd say it depends on what you need to do.

You could also buy a keyboard cover for your Ipad. For some people its enough if all they need to do is word processing.
 
I wouldn't mind doing some gaming on a Pro but that would involve Boot Camp and then it seems pointless to pay close to 3k for a pro w/ retina when I can buy a gaming Lenovo/Asus for well cheaper.
 
Grizzo said:
Oh I see! Well to be totally honest it wasn't even a Pro, it was a MacBook. Not the black or white ones made of plastic, but a metal one, which looks exactly like a Pro but was actually just a MacBook Alu.



In any case, I'm happy with my MacBook Air. I use it for work (writer) and leisures, don't have to record music or edit videos or something so it's more than enough for me.
Click to expand...

review-macbookpro13retinavsair.jpg

the difference between the air and the 13" pro is rather tiny. the air is actually "longer"

3.48 pounds (13" rMBP) vs. 2.96 pounds (13" air)

currently:
the 13" pro has a WAY(!) better display (not just higher res, but also better, more vibrant colors, as well as brighter and better viewing angles)
has 1 more thunderbolt port, as well as an HDMI port which the Air lacks
a pressure sensitive trackpad
 
curls said:
.

Both the Air & Pro are dated and overdue a redesign - hopefully in 2016.

There was a rumour of a new Air in development, despite talk of the Air line being phased out.

Thinner MacBook Air in 13" and 15" Sizes Coming at WWDC 2016?
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i don't see how the pro would be "redesigned".
they have made it thinner through iterative upgrades (0.75in -> 0.71in).

the air is gonna make room for a bigger "Macbook", most likely, essentially replacing the Air as "the ultra-portable"
 
I really want a pro but the lack of USB is a no for me, I need at least one slot for my wireless mouse so I can use it as a work station.
 
btrboyev said:
It has usb
Click to expand...

Wait, we not talking about the one with USB-C? I have a feeling you already knew this..

My point is, I can't charge it and use a mouse at the same time, having a gross dongle hanging out of the laptop just doesn't do it for me. The laptop looks amazing and is ruined by the port thing hanging out of it.
 
I just retired an Air and I don't really get the hate on the screen. Sure, the Pro is objectively better but it doesn't matter for a lot of use cases. I used mine for work, none of which was with photos or video. It was fine. Most people with retina screens are running them at a similar effective resolution anyways.

Picked up a 12" Machook to replace it. Performance is fine for my office tasks and and other work, plus it's a lot easier to carry with me everywhere.
 
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