zimom Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 So which do I want to get DD1, a HS Jr. I've used PCs for decades. I purchased my first Mac, the Mac mini about six months about. I love it. We have numerous apple products. Yes I am now ready to switch my family :) DD1 is taking three online classes. She currently has a 7 y.o. bulky Toshiba that she never complains about. We travel a good bit. I have the Office subscription service so she will have access to Word, Excel, etc. I am trying to decide between the low end MacBook Pro 13" or a MacBook Air. I like to get the most bang for my buck. I'm leaning toward the Pro. Is there any reason I want the Air beside is being lighter? Only being 6 months new to Macs I just don't know enough about them to make the best decision. At this point I am planning on her using it for 2-3 and then handing it down to DD2 who will just use it at home for another couple of years. At that point, DD1 will get a new computer for college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 It would be a downgrade to go with the low-end 13" Pro. Yes, it has a faster processor, but it has an old-school platter hard drive instead of flash memory, and that is a huge downgrade in speed. It also has an older, slower video card. The Airs have been updated more recently. So basically your daughter will have a faster laptop that is easier to travel with if you go with the Air. If money is tight, check out the refurbished Apples. They are all I buy now, and I've never had a problem. You want a 2013 model. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_air ETA: My husband is on his second Air. Our daughter has his old one, and they are wonderful. He does photo/video editing and MMO gaming on it without issue. There is no downside to the Air. The low end 13" Pro doesn't come with a Retina display, so that's not a consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyk Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I can't compare the two, but I recently got an Air (June) and I LOVE it! I purchased an external disc drive with it -- you just plug it in and go :) I plug it in at night and it is rare that I ever have to plug it in during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Can't compare the two (although I can ask Tony), but I *love* my Air. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I have a Pro. I love it, but I've never had an Air. DH hates the air because he wants a DVD drive. Honestly, I think that just dates us as old fogies. LOL (Here…let me get out my big ol' 5-1/4" floppy drive too!) I'd go for the Air. You can buy an external drive (and it doesn't have to be an Apple) should he need it in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 i already have an external drive for my mini so that is certainly not a problem. i mainly want to make sure I get the most hardware/processing power for the $$, around $1000 (plus the cost of the applecare). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Ok, so basically I am down to one question: these are the two I am deciding between. The air: 13-inch : 128GB Specifications1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz Intel HD Graphics 5000 4GB memory 128GB PCIe-based flash storage And the Pro: 13-inch: 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz 4GB 1600MHz memory 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive1 Intel HD Graphics 4000 Built-in battery (7 hours)2 From my googling, I now understand, that the flash drive is going to be much faster, better battery life. My concern is a 128 drive seems tiny. I guess I just eventually purchase her an EHD for photos, etc? This tiny drive will be sufficient? I want her to be able to run Office products and ideally Photoshop. The refurbs do not seem much of a discount compared to educational pricing to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerico Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I'm savings up for a new macbook. Where can i find more info on the education pricing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Jerico, If I remember before when I purchased from Apple, I just went into the 'educational store' as if I was a college student or teacher. When I went to check out there was a place you could check that you verify you are a homeschool teacher. When I make my purchase this time, if the process is different, I will let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I thought someone told me once the Airs can't be upgraded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I thought someone told me once the Airs can't be upgraded. Yes, this was the main issue that drove me to get the Pro over the Air. I don't store anything in the cloud. If I want my stuff, I want to have it available to me whether or not I have an Internet connection. I also wanted the DVD drive, because sometimes we use it in the car to watch DVDs, and I'm not paying iTunes every time I want a movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Neither Airs nor Pros can be upgraded now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 The Air, without question. Those are the two I was comparing for you in a prior post. 128GB is rather small, but external hard drives are small and cheap. It will run Office and Photoshop just fine...far better than the Pro you are looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Thanks mamajag. As someone who use to very up to speed on PCs, kept all my office computers working before I 'retired' 7 years ago, it is bothersome to me that I no longer know all this! Will be placing our order tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 You own a Mac now. You don't have to know all this stuff any more. ;) I had to go to the site and read about them to give you a rundown of the pros and cons of each. I used to build high-end custom gaming PCs. My friends are horrified that I went Mac. Nothing made me happier than to tell a friend the other day that I couldn't troubleshoot his girlfriend's laptop because it runs Windows 8 and I've never used it. Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Neither Airs nor Pros can be upgraded now. WHAT?!?!? Tell me more, and if I need to start a new thread. 3 of us are on SL, one on Lion... 2 on SL are topped out, I may be able to upgrade to ML, and Lion to ML or mavericks. Its so confusing, and macs didn't used to be confusing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivey Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Ds19 just replaced his 5-year-old MacBook Pro and the new one is so much lighter! He didn't get the Air because he was afraid he would crack it in half (with him, this is a legitimate concern), and the new Pro seems like the perfect middle ground between the size/weight of the old Pro and the Air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 My work computer is a MacBook Pro, and I love it. The retina screen is very nice. It's still small and light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 WHAT?!?!? Tell me more, and if I need to start a new thread. 3 of us are on SL, one on Lion... 2 on SL are topped out, I may be able to upgrade to ML, and Lion to ML or mavericks. Its so confusing, and macs didn't used to be confusing... Hardware wise, none of the newer Macs are upgradeable now. No more adding memory aftermarket or putting in a bigger hard drive. You buy what you want upfront. My Pro is an impossibility now. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I have a newer Macbook Pro with flash memory and retina display. I got it from the education store for a discount, but refurb is usually the way to go. We bought our iMac and iPad refurbished and they're great. I don't have an Air, but when I asked before buying my Pro, most people seemed to think the Pros were more stable and hardy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 If the Air can stand up to my husband who travels internationally constantly and my 8yo daughter, I'm not worrying. I own an older Pro from the days when you could pimp them out. When I do finally replace it, it will be with a Pro but only because my eyes don't handle the smaller screens well. Other than that, I'd just get an Air. They are nice little beasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okra Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 We have a Pro and an Air. There is not too much difference, but the Air doesn't have a moving hard drive. My husband pointed out that the less moving parts the better. Moving parts break more often. Also, the Air is MUCH lighter if it matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaffeineDiary Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I have both. If you're really considering the 13" model of each one, get the Air. Hands down. It's incredibly light, perfectly powerful and capable, and remember that the lack of a spinning hard drive is a huge advantage which basically means "This computer will last twice as long or more." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 My boys each have a 13" MacBook Air. We've been very happy with them and they have held up well so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Air. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.