Another Apple question

Lnazli on 18/09/2014 - 12:50

Long time reader first time poster here - Im going overseas and will need to purchase a laptop. Ive decided to ditch my windows and become an Apple user, I have no idea which i should go for pro or air….

Heres a little background

1 - as said im going to run my business from overseas through Office 365, i mainly use Word, MYOB, and heaps of internet /blogging/ research.

2 - our budget is $2500

3 - which ever one i decide to get, im not allowed to "complain / whinge" as hubby thinks i should stick to what i know (windows) and we cant have any issues with my laptop / connection / work while im overseas….in other words the boss is telling me he doesnt want excuses!!!!!! lol

I wont be travelling around with it so weight its an issue.

I thought the pro would be perfect but after some research alot of people seem to prefer the Air - is it faster or is just because of the weight?

Thank you

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Comments

  • randomuser645 on 18/09/2014 - 13:10
    +2

    I own both a 15" MacBook Pro Retina and a 13" Macbook air so I think I can add some input here.

    MacBook Pro:
    -Better screen (Higher resolution - 2880x1800 vs 1440x900)
    -Faster (Quad core i5 or i7 vs ULV i5 or i7)
    -Better Graphics (Iris Pro/GeFore GT 750M vs Intel HD 5000)
    -Better Speakers
    -Can output up to 3 screens at once (2 thunderbolt and a HDMI port)

    MacBook Air
    -Battery life (12 Hours vs 7-9 Hours)
    -Way lighter and more portable

    Overall, I much prefer my MacBook Pro primarily due to the very high resolution and due to the fact that I'm using it with 2 external monitors with an option for another if I wanted. I however use my Macbook Air when I'm at uni, it's more than enough to get me through the day and very light compared to the Pro.

    If you don't travel a lot, get the Retina as mass and battery life are not a factor (Can be plugged in and doesn't need to be carried a lot).

  • ozhunter on 18/09/2014 - 14:30
    +4

    Macbook Air is enough for your needs. Battery life and portability as ryuzaki371 said are the main reasons to get the the mba.

  • mrmarkau67 on 18/09/2014 - 17:41

    For the needs you mention, the 13" Air will work very nicely.

    If you are just doing what you mention above 4GB of RAM is fine for MacOS.

    You don't need to ditch Windows, but the best of both worlds option doesn't come cheap:
    - option your Air up with 8GB of RAM ($$$. Damn you Apple!)
    - buy a Windows License
    - install Windows using Bootcamp, VirtualBox, VMware Fusion or Parallels

    $2500 will get you a top of the line Air and an iPad Mini with cellular connectivity, which you can use as a second screen and Wifi Hotspot while you are travelling.

    • dogboy on 19/09/2014 - 09:09

      An extra 4GB of laptop RAM is around $20 to buy…how much do Apple charge for it?

      • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 20/09/2014 - 11:08

        Inside the new apple laptops the ram is soldered into the logic board

      • mrmarkau67 on 20/09/2014 - 21:06

        Woohoo! If I send you $50 will you upgrade my laptops from 4GB to 8GB of RAM?

        I don't think so.

        DDR3 Laptop RAM sells for around $50-$60 a stick.

        My 2 laptops have 2 sticks of 2GB of RAM, filling both RAM slots.

        So to upgrade to 8GB, I need to throw out the 2 sticks of 2GB, and buy 2 sticks of 4GB - about $100 worth.

        How much extra does Apple charge for an 8GB Macbook Air? $120. Probably costs them less than $20, but not you or I.

  • nazli on 18/09/2014 - 19:28

    thank you so much - Air is a cheaper option as well…..more left over for me !

  • pebee47 on 18/09/2014 - 20:03

    Yeah I've got both and I must admit the pro has become my desktop, and the Air (With Sim card) is the on-the-go unit. I use a logitec "snap" on keyboard/half-case for whem I get serious and want to upgrade my keyboard stroke rate (like from 10 to 15 wpm, LoL). Also, its a damn sight easier to use Air on plane to read books etc. Plus the Air is a lay down misere weight-wise and general portability.

    You'll probably miss all the Windaz viruses tho'

    • ozhunter on 18/09/2014 - 20:10
      -1

      Coz macs don't get malware or viruses right :S

      • mrmarkau67 on 18/09/2014 - 20:24

        Yes, they do. But very very rarely. I'm not sure if its because Mac OS is just better, or if average Mac users are just more tech savvy than average Windows users.

        • jzdhgkd on 18/09/2014 - 22:13
          +3

          Probably because OSX doesn't come bundled with the abomination that is internet explorer.

        • victorwilson on 18/09/2014 - 23:02
          +2

          Considering that Windows has a market share of 91.58%, why would hackers bother targeting the minority?

        • RockyRaccoon on 20/09/2014 - 10:31

          @victorwilson:

          Actually it's both

          MacOS is more secure AND there are less users, meaning more effort for less return for Hackers, and for these thieves a buck is a buck, nothing to do with OS loyalties etc.

  • dylanando on 18/09/2014 - 20:13

    Love my macbook air. Defiantly recommend it.

  • nazli on 18/09/2014 - 20:53

    I think the "4gb" is what had me concerned, but besides MYOB and invoicing clients, banking, blogging and my site theres nothing else i do -of course theres also my online shopping addiction.

    I believe the Apple MD712X/B MacBook Air 11.6"/ 1.4GHz/ 4GB/ 256GB should be the better choice for me …. Initially I was planning to purchase the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display ….

    • Noblejoker on 19/09/2014 - 14:37
      +1

      I don't own one but have seen strong recommendations for the 13" air over the 11"
      My quick look in store says 11" is too small and mba 13" is still very portable - so suggest you go the bigger screen

  • l2argain on 19/09/2014 - 09:51
    +1

    If your travelling lightest and longest battery is best = air

  • ethereal88 on 19/09/2014 - 10:12
    -1

    Why bother? Pick up a custom laptop from logical blue one for less than $2K or so that would blow any Macbook out the water, is easily upgradeable not soldered tight and you are not locked unto death into Apple's environment:

    http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/

    Forget 4GB RAM, you can stack up 16GB+ with an mobile i7 and still have something in the kitty for a fat SSD and HDD, plus an extra battery.

  • Member 0230 on 19/09/2014 - 17:40
    +2

    I have owned both the MacBook Air and over the last two years the MacBook Pro Retina. One thing you can be assured of: both are fine machines, and Mac OS X is a great system. The base models of each type can both do all that you require, though if you want to run Windows then I agree with others that you should go for an 8GB model.

    However, having used a Retina-class display, I have become absolutely spoilt and am sadly now… an official screen snob.

    There is simply a WORLD of difference to my eyes between a regular LCD screen and the MacBook Pro's Retina display beyond the marketing hype. I can read text at an insane 4 points. Older LCDs are painful to look at. sigh First-world problems, I know.

    Having said that, there's more to your needs than just the display, though it was more than enough to make me choose the Pro. And I will make the same choice again.

    Regardless, I strongly recommend you visit your local Apple store / Myer / DSE / JB and see and feel both for yourself, before you make a final decision. The Air could be simply perfect for your needs.

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